Hey.

We are in the low 60s and have completed all the hunts except Ixion, The Seer. The Phoenix is gone, but the Subterra is proving much too difficult. The way has been opened to Zodiark but the Hecteyes and other fiends are ripping us apart.

Here's my question: What should we be doing? Grinding into the 70s?

Vaan: Golden Axe, Demon Shield, White Mask, Rubber Suit, Bubble Belt

Balthier: Deathbringer, Demon Shield, White Mask, Rubber Suit, Bubble Belt

Fran: Perseus Bow, Demon Shield, White Mask, Mirage Vest, Bubble Belt
(may also use Sage's Ring or Opal Ring)

Basch: Golden Axe, Demon Shield, White Mask, Rubber Suit, Bubble Belt

Ashe: Masamune, Demon Shield, Crown of Laurels, Rubber Suit, Bubble Belt
(may also use Sage's Ring, Nihopaloa, Aegis Shield)

Penelo: Golden Axe, Demon Shield, Golden Skullcap, Megapower Shishak, Bubble Belt (may also use Diamond Armlet)


As you can see, we haven't had much luck finding any super-great weapons but have managed to beat the million plus-HP Fafnir and Behemoth King. We have all magicks and technicks, and we are close to finishing up our license boards.

Any suggestions??

Axes' damage output varies tremendously, you'd want something more consistent. For the most part, you'll be dealing with enemies who are Holy-weak, so you should equip 2 characters with Holy Lances alongside another who wields the mighty Excalibur once you get it. Try and get a hold of some Maximillian armour for your tank or damage dealer too, as they boost your defence and strength stats considerably. They can be purchased off the Baknamy Merchant in the Necrohol of Nabudis, consult a guide or a map if you're unsure of his whereabouts. The Necrohol is also a fine place to train with Embroidered Tippets should you want to grind to level 70 and above.

As for the Hecteyes, I think equipping Bowline Sashes to 3 of your characters is a better alternative to negate the effects of Confuse from the flans' Mythril Bubbles than Esuna or Smelting Salts. Bubble, you can organise as a gambit instead. Hopefully, with this setup you can handle at least one Hecteye. There's not much fruit in fighting several of them at once unless you're confident of defeating them, so flee to another zone in this case.

Yeah, the Henne Mines would be the better place to net your characters the most EXP but not everyone can handle that place below level 70, which was why I suggested Necrohol. I guess the secret areas of Lhusu Mines and Great Crystal are better to train than Necrohol, so if you don't mind being remotely away from civilisation, try those places instead.

The best area to train in Henne Mines is in Pithead Junction C where you'll confront up to 20-30 level 65 Abysteels all at once when you flip the switchboard nearby. With the right strategy or even without one, you can come out of that area having accumulated 180,000 EXP with the Embroidered Tippet. If you want more, you can just zone out twice then return and repeat the massacre.

believe me to fight zodiark you have to have the max stats since he is one of the hardest bosses in the game and the equipment is critical in this fight since you need equipment that protects against dark attacks. and you still need to fight yiazmat i suppose.