If everyone is equipped with Cherub Down, you can avoid this enemy's Quake, Slide, and 50 Gs attacks. Defend against Honed Tusk with Golem.
Final Fantasy VI PlayStation Bestiary entry
The Earth Dragon, formerly called Dirt Drgn and DirtDrgn, is a boss in Final Fantasy VI. It is one of the eight legendary dragons, and is the dragon of the Earth element. The Earth Dragon is found in the Opera House in the World of Ruin by pulling the second switch from the right to fall onto the stage where it has roosted.
The Earth Dragon is re-fought in the Earth Labyrinth area of the Dragons' Den bonus dungeon in the Advance and 2014 Matrix Software releases, appearing in the Earth Labyrinth area. Both versions of Earth Dragon can be further re-fought in the Soul Shrine, as with most bosses in the game.
Stats[]
Opera House
Dragon's Den
Battle[]
First battle[]
The Earth Dragon attacks using Earth-elemental attacks, such as Quake, Magnitude 8, and Landslide. Its only non-
Earth-elemental attack is Honed Tusk, a powerful physical attack that can easily kill a character. The dragon uses 50 Gs to remove float status from party members. Earth Dragon is weak against the 
Wind and 
Water element.
The Earth Dragon is vulnerable to sleep.
When the Earth Dragon is defeated, it drops the Magus Rod, a powerful weapon that boosts to the holder's Magic power and Evasion.
Strategy[]
Gaia Gears absorb earth-elemental damage as HP, but have poor physical defense for the point in the game Earth Dragon is encountered. Players can equip Angel Wings for automatic float status, negating earth-elemental damage. This will prompt Earth Dragon to waste turns casting 50 Gs, as the Angel Wings will automatically re-apply the float status once it is removed. A simple trick is to enter the battle with the float status on.
Shadow is useful for this fight, as he can throw Shadow Scrolls to apply image status to himself to negate any damage made by Honed Tusk. Summoning Fenrir, Phantom, and Golem can also help to apply image and 
Invisible statuses, and block physical attacks outright, respectively, to deal with Honed Tusk, although Earth Dragon's magic removes the invisible status.
The Earth Dragon's location.
On the offense, Shadow should throw Sakuras, Tridents, and Water Scrolls, and Mog should equip Dragoon Boots and a Trident, and use Jump. If Mog equips Angel Wings and a Snow Scarf, Earth Dragon cannot harm him when he is in the back row.
Gau can use a Rage that absorbs earth, or provides automatic float status. This means that, unlike other party members, he can use a relic slot for an offensive one, such as a Hero's Ring. The Marchosias Rage is excellent as it allows Gau to cast Aero, which the Earth Dragon is weak to, and has automatic float status to negate earth-elemental damage. This means the only concern to Gau would be Honed Tusk, which is mitigated by applying image status or equipping a Snow Scarf. If Strago has learned Aero, he can also use it to exploit Earth Dragon's weakness to wind.
Second battle[]
50 Gs (2014).
The Earth Dragon uses the same earth-elemental attacks as before, but its normal attacks are much stronger. It absorbs earth this time, healing it for several thousand damage when it uses Quake. As before, the dragon uses 50 Gs to remove float status from the player, but immediately follows this up with Quake and Magnitude 8, giving the player no chance to heal in-between. When the Earth Dragon is nearly defeated, it will become enraged and launch several physical attacks in a row, and cease to use magic-based attacks.
Upon victory, the player receives Sabin's ultimate weapon, the Godhand.
Strategy[]
Earth Dragon can be prevented from being healed by Quake by casting Float on it. Powerful spells, such as Flare and Ultima, can be used to damage it. It is best to keep HP topped up because when the Earth Dragon receives enough damage, it will become enraged and deal several physical attacks that do massive damage. It is recommended to summon Fenrir and Phantom.
Formations[]
| Number | Enemies | Encounter flags | Introduction flag | Musical theme | Magic AP | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | Back | Surrounded | Side | |||||
| 368 | Earth Dragon | Sides, synch. | The Decisive Battle | 10 | ||||
| 458 | Earth Dragon (Gau return) | Sides, individual | Battle | 0 | ||||
| Unknown Earth Dragon special event flag. Hide start messages. | ||||||||
| 518 | Earth Dragon | Sides, individual | Battle | — | ||||
| 555 | Earth Dragon | Sides, individual | Battle | — | ||||
| 634 | Earth Dragon | Sides, individual | The Decisive Battle | — | ||||
AI script[]
First battle[]
Attack Turns:
1st Turn: Attack (33%) or Quake (66%)
2nd Turn: Attack (33%) or Magnitude 8 (33%) or Landslide (33%)
3rd Turn: Attack (33%) or Magnitude 8 (33%) or Quake (33%)
4th Turn: Attack (66%) or Landslide (33%)
If Timer >= 20:
- Set Timer = 0
- If Random Character has Float status:
- Target: All Characters
- 50 Gs (100%)
If attacked by anything: Honed Tusk (33%)
Second battle[]
Attack Turns:
1st Turn: Attack (33%) or Quake (66%)
2nd Turn: Attack (33%) or Magnitude 8 (33%) or Landslide (33%)
3rd Turn: Attack (33%) or Magnitude 8 (33%) or Quake (33%)
4th Turn: Attack (66%) or Landslide (33%)
If HP <= 25600 (only done once per battle):
- Display message: Earth Dragon becomes enraged!
- Attack (100%)
- Attack (100%)
- Attack (100%)
- Attack (100%)
- Set Var36
If Var36 is set:
- 1st Turn: Attack (100%)
- Attack (100%)
- Attack (100%)
- Attack (100%)
- 2nd Turn: Attack (100%)
- Attack (100%)
- Attack (100%)
- Attack (33%) or Savage (66%)
- 3rd Turn: Savage (100%)
- Savage (100%)
If any character has Float status:
- Target: All Characters
- 50 Gs (100%)
- Magnitude 8 (100%)
- Quake (100%)
If HP <= 25600:
- If attacked by anything: Attack (66%) or Savage (33%)
If attacked by anything: Attack (33%)
Other appearances[]
Pictlogica Final Fantasy[]
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Behind the scenes[]
The sprite that is shared between Earth Dragon, Weredragon, Chaos Dragon, Hexadragon, and Tyrannosaur, was used and modified for some of the Salmando class dragons in Bahamut Lagoon, namely the Deboahan and the Aspidredon.
Earth Tyrant's bestiary entry in Final Fantasy XII mentions him as a member of "Eight legendary Wyrms of great Power". Earth Tyrant may be a reference to the Earth Dragon from Final Fantasy VI, as they both have the appearance of a T-Rex.
Etymology[]
A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, which is featured in the myths of many cultures.