Maze of Tribulations

The Maze of Tribulations is accessible via VR Expel. To get to VR Expel talk to the Strange Old Man at the back of the Battle Arena in Fun City. Tell him you want to delve into your subconscious mind to be ported to Arlia. Outside of Arlia is your Psynard, mount it and fly to the island to the west where a pyramind is - this is the Maze of Tribulations. It is recommended that you are well equipped and roughly level 100. Some suggestions for gear choices are:

*A Mithril Helmet may be used if you are using a female melee character.

Best Avaible Weapons prior to Maze of Tribulations:

Keep in mind that most of these are created through Customize or won via the Fun City Battle Arena.

Basement Floor 1 - Ruins of Symbols

Head up from the entrance and open the chest containing [NECTAR]. Next, go right into the next room and open the chest for [COMBO SUBSTITUTE]. Down from this room and to the right is a [NUCLEAR BOMB] in a chest. Return to the last room and go down. Open the chest for a [TRI-EMBLUM] then proceed to through the top doorway. Chests here contain [SIRLOIN] and [WONDER DRUG]. Exit this room and head left, this is the boss area. Flip the switch but keep going left and take the top left exit to find a chest containing [BLUEBERRIES]. Return to the switch and enter the area you opened for a boss fight.

The Dark Enchantress has the ability to cast Demon Gate and her melee attacks can petrify you. Other than that, she isn't terribly difficult and is easily stunlocked. Take out the Phantom Knights first, they will drop with relative ease and the boss should soon follow suit.

For defeating this boss you awarded [BUNNY SHOES]. If you stole these from the Guy in Bunny Costume at Fun City this should be your second set. Make sure your melee are wearing them and proceed to the next floor.

IMPORTANT NOTE

There is a shortcut to floor 9 from here. Head left from the entrance til you come to a room where you can go down or up - go up. Walk over the cracked floor four times to make it break. You will land unharmed on the 9th floor but know that you should only use this shortcut after you have cleared the first 8 floors.

Basement Floor 2 - Lover's End

This floor contains a puzzle and the tablet tells a story that gives you the necessary information to complete it. The objective is to turn each statue to face the direction of the person mentioned.

Begin by heading all the way right and then down. Face Milena and Luke toward each other and then examine the floor between them to obtain a [COMBO LINK]. Backtrack two rooms head down and around the path to find a chest containing [ORGANIC VEGETABLES]. Return to the initial room continuing left and down. Go down and turn Yuffie south to face Lloyd. Head down to Lloyd and face him east towards Cistina, then head right and face her south into oblivion. Return to the previous room and head right, facing Felia east towards Milena and Luke. The chests in the room above contain [REFLECTING PLATE] and [RESURRECTION MIST] and Sharon is in the room at right, face her West towards Cistina. The door in the first room is now unlocked, proceed through it for another boss fight.

This boss isn't really a boss because you will begin to fight these mobs further along in the dungeon. Just pound away at it and end it quickly.

The reward for this boss is a [SERAPHIC GARB]. Arguably the best piece of armor in the game, equip this first of four on your healer. The tablet before the steps only tells you about the Combo Link between Milena and Luke; onward to the next floor.

Basement Floor 3 - One-way Cave

The puzzle in this room is that the tiles in the first room change color when you enter a room on this floor. It's a 4x4 grid area so it's not the difficult to navigate. Begin by heading up two rooms, left one, and down another. Open the chests for [NECTAR] and [RING OF LIGHTSPEED]. Down two more rooms to find another chest with [NECTAR] inside. Proceed right three rooms to find [WONDER DRUG], [DREAM CROWN], and [SIRLOIN] inside chests. Next, head up four rooms, left one room, and down one more for a chest containing [SYLVAN MAIL]. Head down and left to complete the puzzle, through the door is boss.

Each of these foes can halt time and begin thrashing your party. To avoid being chain frozen focus on one at a time. Make sure your healer is prepared once your are unfrozen because you likely have low health on someone. Luckily these guys don't have much HP so the damage output required is not high, just make sure you focus on one at a time to get the job done.

Continue down the stairs to the next floor.

Basement Floor 4 - Altar of the Dancer

When you enter this floor you will notice chests at the left and right that seem impossible to reach. The walls at the bottom of each are fake so pass through them and get [NECTAR] and Leon's [EXTINCTION]. If Leon is not in the party then the chest will just be closed and the item deemed unnecessary. The top left room's chest contains [ONYX EARRING] while the top right's contains a [MALLET CHARM]. Head right and obtain [ORGANIC VEGETABLES] and [RESURRECTION MIST] from the chests. Continue right and then up to find another [SERAPHIC GARB] in a chest. Backtrack two rooms this time going up then through the left wall. Flip the switch and return to the main room.

The middle room is now accessible and you will meet a goddess. Her request is that you play her some music. To be successful have a character with level 10 Music, the Rhythm Sense talent, and the Listening talent play the song. If you are successful then you awarded the [MYSTICAL SHAMISEN]. Leave this room and follow the left path until you reach the boss.

This boss comes alone but it's speed still makes it slightly difficult. Try to pin it down like any other boss and stunlock it. It can inflict the party with poison and other status ailments but they can be cleansed.

On to the next floor, there is no reward for defeating this boss.

Basement Floor 5 - Woman's Revenge

Open the two chests on the right for [RING OF LIGHTSPEED] and [REFRESHING SYRUP]. Proceed up to be interrupted by a girl who asks if you remember her name (it's PUFFY). The answer to her next question is BEASTS but what ever answers you provide her don't matter anyways as a battle ensues.

This boss battle features a first amongst the strange battles you've fought thus far. You must choose the option Escape from the menu in order to fight another day, that is unless you want to deal all that damage 1 point at a time.

Exit at the top right then proceed down and around to get the [SIRLOIN] from the chest. Leave at the bottom and head left. Walk through the wall and obtain [NECTAR] and [FAERIE RING] from the chests. Backtrack two rooms then enter the top room for [WONDER DRUG] in a chest. Return to the previous room and proceed right. Grab the [SERAPHIC GARB] from the chest at the top then exit at the bottom and go down one more screen. You run into Puffy again, choose to help her and defeat the Dreamcasters. As she takes off she drops the [PHANTOM SLAYER], a powerful weapon that can kill Phantom enemies in one hit. Return to the first room of the floor and enter the first room on the right.

As long as someone has the Phantom Slayer equipped just waltz up to him and punch him in the face. One hit and down it goes.

You obtain the [ORB OF FIRE] for defeating this beast. Leave this room and go right, down, right so that you are a red door. Approach it and use the Orb of Fire to open the door.

Basement Floor 6 - Nest of Thieves

If you did the side quest Ruddle the Traveler you will have obtained a Scumbag Slayer, equip it on one of your melee at this time. The majority of the enemies here are Scum, that meaning they will die in one hit from the Scumbag Slayer. From the start head left twice and then up. The left room's chest has a [DREAM CROWN] and the right room's chest an [ANTIDOTE]. Return to the middle room and examine the statue at the bottom right corner to open the boss door. Take note that a man named Santa may here near the bottom row of statues. He sells some very nice things such as tri-Emblems, Jewel of the Frog, and every mineral in the game. Jewel of the Frog will teleport you out of the dungeon and though expensive, it is highly recommended you purchase a few as well as the tri-Emblem accessory. Buy more than one tri-Emblem if you can afford it as they are superb.

Go left and follow the path until you reach the boss.

If you have a Scumbag Slayer then this is incredibly easy and requires no strategy. For those of you that don't, stick it to the Dreamcaster off the start and then try to keep up with the Thieving Scum LV99. It's fast, it can poison, and hits like a truck. Hopefully you equipped your melee with the Bunny Shoes since they will allow you to keep up with and hit the boss.

You are rewarded with a [SCUMBAG SLAYER] incase you didn't have one already. It becomes helpful seeing as the next floor contains many of the Thieving Scum LV99 mobs. There is also a warp point here that will return you to the first floor, allowing you to save.

Basement Floor 7 - Altar of the Goddess

Head up from the stairs into a large room with a pedestal and tablet. Examine the tablet then exit at the left. Enter the top room to find a chest containing [ORGANIC VEGETABLES]. Return to the previous room and enter the room on the right for a [MALLET CHARM] in a chest. Leave this room then continue down and pass through the wall on the right to obtain another [PHANTOM SLAYER] from the chest. Backtrack to the room with the altar.

Take the right path this time, heading down and around to grab the chest with a [TRI-EMBLUM]. Head back up and right taking the first path down then right to find [REFRESHING SYRUP]. Exit at the bottom and open the chests for [MARENNE OYSTERS] and [RESURRECTION MIST]. Go back up two rooms then take the path on the right. Follow it around and pass through the bottom of the wall to obtain the [FLAWED ORB] from the chest. Craft thie Flawed Orb to turn it into an [ORB OF FIRE]. It doesn't matter what your skill in Crafting is or whether or not you have the talents for it, it's a 100% chance to craft it. Place the orb in the altar and proceed through the top door.

This boss is a replica of the Barchian from the Minae Cave. It remains stationary for the duration of the fight and uses Pain Release when enough damage has incurred. Do your best to keep it stunned and if you do take a Pain Release halt your attack until everyone is topped off before assaulting the boss again.

The [MINDHEALER] is your reward for defeating this boss. It is a massive upgrade for either Celine, Leon, or Noel. Go through the left door and open all three chests to obtain [BUNNY SHOES], [CRAZY COW], and [SUNSET ISLAND]. The right door takes you to the next floor.

Basement Floor 8 - God of Food

Grab the [LAVENDER] out the chest behind the stair case then proceed to the next area. Go up from here to enter the main room then take an immediate right to enter another area. Continue going right to the next room and go through the wall to grab the chests containing [SERAPHIC GARB] and [AMOEBA SOUP]. Return to the previous room and take the path and follow it to another chest with a [SCUMBAG SLAYER] inside. Backtrack to the main room and take the top left path.

Follow the hallway to the end. The room above has chests containing a [MALLET CHARM] and [LEGENDARY OTORO]. Exit at the bottom and grab the [MINDHEALER] from the chest. There are two chests protected by fake walls, the entrances being on the top and bottom ends if you were standing between the chests. Open them for [OOZE COCKTAIL] and [SLIMY GELATIN] then exit the room at the bottom. Three more chests contain [REFRESHING SYRUP], [WONDER DRUG], and [MARENNE OYSTERS]. Return to the main room and go to the top then speak with the Food God. Feed him until he comments on how that's all you eat. At this point feed him some thing that isn't food to make Puffy come out from behind the wall and open the door. Enter the newly opened door for another boss fight.

Yet another boss that is a replica of past bosses. The boss is sluggish and doesn't really attack but instead devours your party members. When they get spit back out they are petrified, so use Condition Cure and continue to beat on the boss until it drops.

You receive a [GELATIN STEAK] for winning this battle.

Basement Floor 9 - The Sealed Casket

The 9th floor provides as a breather because you can drop to it from the 1st floor. Use this as a good time to save and heal up if you wish. Coming from the stairs head right and open the chest for [ARTEMIS LEAF]. Note that this is the room you land in if you take the shortcut. Pass through the top of the wall on the right side and grab the chest containing [VALIANT BOOTS]. Go left two rooms and open the chest at the top left for [RESURRECTION MIST]. Exit at the top and continue right for three rooms then head down. Open the chest for [WONDER DRUG] then backtrack two rooms and take the bottom exit. Follow this around until you can go up. Continue passed the coffin and down the stairs. The boss for this floor is not accessible at this time so just move on for now.

Basement Floor 10 - Moment of Courage

This floor contains some of the hardest groups of enemies you will face. The Life Flayers strike hard and fast hitting multiple targets at once. Not to mention they usually come at least four at a time. Be sure to strike the ones in the back first and take them out quickly because they are glass cannons, i.e.; they have low HP but can deal massive damage. The puzzle to this floor is that you can only open five rooms at a time. Yellow rooms are essentially safe havens while red rooms are death traps with increased enemy encounter rate and a HP/MP sap effect as you walk.

DIAGRAM 1

 _ _ _ _ 
|x|_|_|E|
|x|x|x|_|
|x|_|_|_|
|S|_|_|_|

DIAGRAM 2

 _ _ _ _ 
|_|_|_|E|
|_|_|_|x|
|_|_|_|x|
|S|x|x|x|

KEY: S: Starting room E: Ending Room x: Grids you step on

To unlock the rooms you must step on the grid squares. Step on the grids as shown in Diagram 1 first. Head up two rooms and grab the [SCUMBAG SLAYER] from the chest. Up one more room opening the chest for [BUNNY SHOES]. Exit this room then go right two rooms to find [VALKYRIE'S BOOTS] in a chest. Return to the first room then go to floor nine and return to reset the floor. Now step on the grids as shown in Diagram 2. Go right and open the chest here for [REFRESHING SYRUP]. The next room has three chests at the bottom containing [PHILOSOPHER'S STONE], [VALKYRIE'S BOOTS], and [RAINBOW DIAMOND]. Continue right for another chest containing [VALIANT BOOTS] then head up to the next area grabbing the [ORGANIC VEGETABLES] from the chest. Take the path to the right to find the last [MINDHEALER] and Celine's [METEOR SWARM] spell. If Celine is not in the party then the chest will be closed and deemed unnecessary. Enter the last room at the top and make sure you are healed up. Open the chest for [TRI-ACE], it is Ashton's ultimate Special Art, obviously deemed unnecessary if Ashton is not in the party. Go down the stairs and be stopped by a boss.

Another replicated boss, this one is the Guardian from the Fields of Might and Courage. It functions exactly the same, taking cover after a certain amount of damage has been incurred and hitting hard. Your best bet is to just keep it stunned for the duration of the fight.

The Valiant Guard is the best shield for male characters so it should go on Claude.

Basement Floor 11 - Dragon's Den

Make sure that you are completely prepared, fully healed, and ready to face the first real challenge of the dungeon. Proceed through the only path to find the boss.

To start things off make sure your melee characters have something to protect against petrify such as an Amulet of Flexibility. The reason for this is the Dragon Tyrant's breath attack. It chains and each hit has a chance to petrify the target. Everyone should have a Seraphic Garb on and the melee should be wearing Ring of Lightspeed. Make sure that the party is now wearing Valiant Boots and Valkyrie Boots as opposed to Bunny Shoes, the defensive part of the fight is key to victory.

Now that you're equipped for the battle you should have an easier time taking this foe out. Let your melee attack first then run around the backside with Claude and unleash a frivolous assault. This should stun the boss for a second and allow you to heal for the initial damage. Keep up the assault and repeat this technique and take him out. If you have an Experience Card it would bode well to use it to have all four party members gain 900,000 EXP for one battle. This technique is used later to boost your party to maximum level fairly quickly so get it down.

The Dragon Tyrant teaches the party [BACKSTAB], a combat skill that warps you behind the enemy. As you approach the door it will tell you to leave, so use the warp portal behind you and take the option to split the party down to a two person group. You are forced to take your protoganist so it is recommended that you take Claude and Rena regardless. Use the shortcut to floor 9 and make your way back to the door, this time it lets you through.

Basement Floor 12 - Warrior's Temple

This entire floor is tuned for a two person group, so keep that in mind. When your ready head up into the main room. The left room's chests contain a [BATTLE SUIT] and [VALKYRIE's BRACELET], while the right room's chests contain [BUNNY SHOES] and a [BATTLE SUIT]. The top room is where the boss is.

The Phoenix only uses one attack but it's devastating causing upwards of 7500 damage in a single shot. The easiest way to stop this is to launch an all out assault on it because it stuns easily. In comparison to the other bosses this one has low HP so it should go down rather quickly.

Your reward is the magnificent [HOLY SWORD FAREWELL]. The tablet reads that you need both the light and dark to enter the last floor. Assuming the Holy Sword Farewell is the light, you need to obtain the dark. Return to the mazes entrance to regroup with the party. Take the shortcut down to floor 9 and make your way towards floor 10 to notice the coffin here is open, examine it to initiate another boss fight.

The Sorcerer can cast the powerful Shadow Flare spell which would leave the party in bad shape. The Dreamcasters are here to make sure the spell gets off by halting your party. The objective here is single target the Dreamcasters and use offensive spells constantly, assuming you use a spell caster. This will keep the Sorcerer from casting and the Dreamcaster from freezing the party. If you don't carry a spell caster then be sure to give some attention to the Sorcerer. A single hit should give you the opportunity to damage the Dreamcasters.

Victory in this fight nets you the [DEMON SWORD LEVANTINE]. With a whopping 3000 ATK power this is easily the most powerful weapon in the game. Note that both this sword and the Holy Sword Farewell can be equipped by Ashton and Dias. Return to the 12th floor and defeat the Phoenix once more. Examine the door to make the swords glow and open the path.

Basement Floor 13 - Cave of the Archangel

This is the final floor of the Maze of Tribulations. Proceed up to the main area. The left path dead ends at a switch flip it upon getting there and don't miss the [VALIANT MAIL] in the chest of the room prior. The right path is a mirror image and it's chest contains [VALIANT SHIELD]. After you flip both switches the middle door opens. As soon as you pass through it you will speak with and engage the boss, so make sure you are prepared. A recommended gear list is below:

*The only reason you should use the Mithril Helmet is if you are using a female melee character. Chain of Might should be used on a character that uses Special Arts more than direct damage.

*If you are using Rena to heal for this battle equip her with the tri-Emblem as opposed to the Faerie Ring seeing as her Knuckles of Hope cancel out its effects.

Best Weapons Available:

This is a fight that will require constant healing and proper planning in order to emerge victorious. Gabriella can cast Meteor Swarm and occasionally will zoom around the battlefield dealing upwards of 5000 damage to anyone she hits along the way. She nullifies Light damage so using Aeterna is all but pointless. Be careful with your combos because she can and will slip out of them then counter you for massive damage, typically a one-shot. When it comes down to it this fight is all or nothing so make full use of all consumables and keep the pressure up. Be sure to micro-manage the party and preemptively heal when Gabriella starts zooming around the battlefield. Stick with it till the end because this is the longest battle you've had so far.

For winning this battle you receive the [SILVER TRUMPET]. The chest in the corner contains an [ARCHANGEL'S BRACELET] which is arguably the best melee accessory in the game. You are forced to leave the dungeon now but there are no random encounters along the way. If you choose to re-enter the maze then the enemies will come back.