Echidna (Final Fantasy III)

Echidna is a boss from Final Fantasy III located in the game's final area, the World of Darkness, at the southwest portal. Echidna is one of the four guardians of the Dark Crystals the Cloud of Darkness orders to kill the Warriors of Light. It guards the Water Crystal of the Dark World.

Strategy
The party's Sages should cast Haste on the Ninjas in the first round, then act accordingly: anyone who is petrified, should use a Soft on the petrified ally, while the Sage casts Bahamut; when Echidna uses Quake, both Sages should use Cure4 and if she uses Drain, one Sage should heal with Cure4 while the other one use Bahamut or another strong spell (like Flare or Holy).

DS Strategy
Echidna knows the spell Tornado, which, if successful, reduces the party's HP to single digits, and Death which knocks one character out. The battle is survivable easily despite the effects caused by Tornado and Death, since Death can be negated by equipping a Ribbon or Aegis Shields, and Tornado has a low chance of hitting, making Quake and her physical attacks the only thing worth worrying about. A Viking should be used to draw the Echinda's attacks with Provoke, and minimize the potential damage by equipping two Shields (one should be the Aegis Shield to negate status effects).

Related Enemies

 * Ahriman
 * Cerberus
 * Two Headed Dragon

Trivia

 * Echidna reappears in the Dawn of Souls and 20th Anniversary remakes of Final Fantasy, as a bonus boss in the Earthgift Shrine.
 * She also appears in Final Fantasy IV: The After Years in similar fashion.