Ridorana... the great pharos and the bottomless Cataract. No man of Balfonheim would willingly go there, so oft are we warned as children.
Elza
The Ridorana Cataract is a location in the land of Ivalice in Final Fantasy XII. It is a strange geographical location on the verge of a huge hole in the ocean.
Sage Knowledge[]
A strange opening in the seafloor that has created an endless whirlpool, drawing the surrounding sea ever downwards. An island is situated at the cataract's edge, on which stands a great pharos surrounded by ancient ruins. Its size suggests that once a great city flourished here, but of its rise and fall nothing is known. The area surrounding the island is jagd, preventing approach by airship, while the proximity of the cataract and its tidal pull make it impossible to reach the island by sea.
Story[]
Party arrives at Ridorana Cataract.
After following Dr. Cid to Giruvegan to snatch the pieces of deifacted nethicite he holds, the party found Cid had tricked them and they were only met with the Occuria. The Occuria forged Ashe a sword to cut her own piece of nethicite from the Sun-Cryst and instructed her to find "a tower on the distant shore". After finding out from Reddas such location is found in Jagd Naldoa, the party modify their airship, Strahl, to be capable of flying through jagd and come to the Naldoan Sea, where they find the Ridorana Cataract on the edge of a deep waterfall.
The party leave Strahl and trek through the cataract to the base of the Pharos where they find a message left by the King Raithwall himself.
After Vaan has vanquished every tough Hunt mark Montblanc has given him, he is so impressed with his skills he sends Vaan to vanquish Yiazmat at the Ridorana Cataract Colosseum. After succeeding Montblanc tells Vaan why he founded Clan Centurio.
Locations[]
The Ridorana Cataract is located in the far east of Ivalice, in the Jagd Naldoa region. Since it is located in Jagd territory, it is impossible to reach by airship normally, and the tides surrounding it preclude normal ships from approaching. On the edge of the cataract is a small island with a tall tower called the Pharos, due to resembling a lighthouse. Other than that, not much is known about this region.
Footfalls of the Past[]
Entrance to Ridorana Cataract.
The westernmost location of the Cataract where the party arrives when they enter the place for the first time. A Save Crystal and the Strahl can be found here.
Echoes from Time's Garden[]
Echoes from Time's Garden.
The Trophy Rare Game Abelisk can be encountered here.
Colosseum[]
Colosseum.
A location similar to an amphitheatre in the south. The map of the Ridorana Cataract can be found here, also the fight with the Ultimate Mark, Yiazmat, takes place in the Colosseum.
City of other Days[]
City of other Days.
The Rare Game Pallicant can be encountered here.
Path of Hidden Blessing[]
The Save Crystal at the Path of Hidden Blessing.
A path in the east containing another Save Crystal and leading to the Pharos.
Treasures[]
In the original version, the most common item treasures are Hi-Potions, Ethers and other common items. With the Diamond Armlet equipped, the common item treasure is a Knot of Rust and the rare item is a rare Mote. In the Echoes of the Times Garden, the treasure in the middle of the the east edge that can have the Opal Ring. The Colosseum has many treasures that spawn in the ruined hallways around the center. One treasure that spawns in the right dead-end in the south can have the Cloud Staff. The treasure near the southern entrance to the opening in the middle of the Colosseum can have the Penetrator Crossbow. Many treasures can spawn in the northeast of the City of Other Days and one of them can have the Ivory Pole.
In the Zodiac versions, the treasures are different. Echoes of Time's Garden can have armor pieces without the Diamond Armlet equipped, and the Colosseum can have weapons. The City of Other Days has two guaranteed accessories: Pheasant Netsuke and Gillie Boots.
Echoes of Time's Garden[]
- Zodiac
| Chest | Spawns | Holds Gil% | Gil | Normal Treasure | Diamond Armlet Treasure | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 75% | 50% | ≤ 500 gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Common | Rare |
| X-Potion | Chronos Tear | Knot of Rust | Meteorite (A) | ||||
| 2 | 75% | 50% | ≤ 500 gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Common | Rare |
| Hi-Potion | Cleric's Robes | Knot of Rust | Meteorite (A) | ||||
| 3 | 75% | 50% | ≤ 500 gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Common | Rare |
| X-Potion | Phoenix Down | Knot of Rust | Meteorite (B) | ||||
| 4 | 75% | 50% | ≤ 500 gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Common | Rare |
| X-Potion | Cura Mote | Knot of Rust | Meteorite (A) | ||||
| 5 | 75% | 50% | ≤ 500 gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Common | Rare |
| Hi-Potion | Gigas Chestplate | Knot of Rust | Meteorite (A) | ||||
| 6 | 75% | 50% | ≤ 500 gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Common | Rare |
| Hi-Potion | X-Potion | Knot of Rust | Meteorite (B) | ||||
| 7 | 75% | 50% | ≤ 500 gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Common | Rare |
| Hi-Potion | Gigas Hat | Knot of Rust | Meteorite (A) | ||||
| 8 | 75% | 50% | ≤ 500 gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Common | Rare |
| Hi-Potion | Celebrant's Miter | Knot of Rust | Meteorite (A) | ||||
| 9 | 75% | 50% | ≤ 500 gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Common | Rare |
| X-Potion | Aeroga Mote | Knot of Rust | Meteorite (A) | ||||
- Original
| Chest | Spawns | Holds Gil% | Normal Treasure | Diamond Armlet Treasure | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 70% | 20% | Gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Gil | Common | Rare |
| ≤ 600 gil | Hi-Potion | Balance Mote | ≤ 1,500 gil | Knot of Rust | Balance Mote | |||
| 2 | 70% | 20% | Gil | Item | Gil | Common | Rare | |
| ≤ 600 gil | Hi-Potion | ≤ 1,500 gil | Knot of Rust | Hastega Mote | ||||
| 3 | 50% | 50% | Gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Gil | Common | Rare |
| ≤ 500 gil | Hi-Potion | Opal Ring | ≤ 1,400 gil | Knot of Rust | Vanishga Mote | |||
| 4 | 70% | 20% | Gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Gil | Common | Rare |
| ≤ 600 gil | Hi-Potion | Hi-Ether | ≤ 1,500 gil | Knot of Rust | Reflectga Mote | |||
Colosseum[]
- Zodiac
| Chest | Spawns | Holds Gil% | Gil | Normal Treasure | Diamond Armlet Treasure | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 75% | 50% | ≤ 500 gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Common | Rare |
| X-Potion | Balance Mote | Knot of Rust | Meteorite (A) | ||||
| 11 | 75% | 50% | ≤ 500 gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Common | Rare |
| X-Potion | Cura Mote | Knot of Rust | Meteorite (B) | ||||
| 12 | 75% | 50% | ≤ 500 gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Common | Rare |
| X-Potion | Phoenix Down | Knot of Rust | Meteorite (A) | ||||
| 13 | 75% | 50% | ≤ 500 gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Common | Rare |
| Hi-Potion | Greataxe | Knot of Rust | Meteorite (A) | ||||
| 14 | 75% | 50% | ≤ 500 gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Common | Rare |
| Hi-Potion | Holy Lance | Knot of Rust | Meteorite (A) | ||||
| 15 | 75% | 50% | ≤ 500 gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Common | Rare |
| Hi-Potion | Ame-no-Murakumo | Knot of Rust | Meteorite (A) | ||||
| 16 | 75% | 50% | ≤ 500 gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Common | Rare |
| X-Potion | Aeroga Mote | Knot of Rust | Meteorite (B) | ||||
| 17 | 75% | 50% | ≤ 500 gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Common | Rare |
| Hi-Potion | Yoichi Bow | Knot of Rust | Meteorite (A) | ||||
| 18 | 75% | 50% | ≤ 500 gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Common | Rare |
| Hi-Potion | Save the Queen | Knot of Rust | Meteorite (A) | ||||
| 19 | 75% | 50% | ≤ 500 gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Common | Rare |
| X-Potion | Remedy | Knot of Rust | Meteorite (C) | ||||
- Original
| Chest | Spawns | Holds Gil% | Normal Treasure | Diamond Armlet Treasure | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 70% | 20% | Gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Gil | Common | Rare |
| ≤ 700 gil | Hi-Potion | Balance Mote | ≤ 1,500 gil | Knot of Rust | Balance Mote | |||
| 6 | 70% | 20% | Gil | Item | Gil | Common | Rare | |
| ≤ 700 gil | Hi-Potion | ≤ 2,000 gil | Knot of Rust | Reflectga Mote | ||||
| 7 | 70% | 20% | Gil | Item | Gil | Common | Rare | |
| ≤ 700 gil | Hi-Potion | ≤ 2,000 gil | Knot of Rust | Hastega Mote | ||||
| 8 | 40% | 50% | Gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Gil | Common | Rare |
| ≤ 500 gil | Hi-Potion | Penetrator Crossbow | ≤ 1,200 gil | Knot of Rust | Balance Mote | |||
| 9 | 70% | 20% | Gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Gil | Common | Rare |
| ≤ 700 gil | Hi-Potion | Phoenix Down | ≤ 2,000 gil | Knot of Rust | Hastega Mote | |||
| 10 | 45% | 50% | Gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Gil | Common | Rare |
| ≤ 500 gil | Hi-Potion | Cloud Staff | ≤ 1,200 gil | Knot of Rust | Reflectga Mote | |||
| 11 | 70% | 20% | Gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Gil | Common | Rare |
| ≤ 700 gil | Hi-Potion | Ether | ≤ 2,000 gil | Knot of Rust | Vanishga Mote | |||
City of Other Days[]
- Zodiac
| Chest | Spawns | Holds Gil% | Gil | Normal Treasure | Diamond Armlet Treasure | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20[note 1] | 100% | 0% | N/A | Pheasant Netsuke | |||
| 21 | 75% | 50% | ≤ 500 gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Common | Rare |
| X-Potion | Phoenix Down | Knot of Rust | Meteorite (A) | ||||
| 22 | 75% | 50% | ≤ 500 gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Common | Rare |
| X-Potion | Bio Mote | Knot of Rust | Meteorite (A) | ||||
| 23 | 75% | 50% | ≤ 500 gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Common | Rare |
| X-Potion | Balance Mote | Knot of Rust | Meteorite (B) | ||||
| 24 | 75% | 50% | ≤ 500 gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Common | Rare |
| X-Potion | Serum | Knot of Rust | Meteorite (A) | ||||
| 25[note 1] | 100% | 0% | N/A | Gillie Boots | |||
| 26 | 75% | 50% | ≤ 500 gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Common | Rare |
| X-Potion | Cura Mote | Knot of Rust | Meteorite (A) | ||||
| 27 | 75% | 50% | ≤ 500 gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Common | Rare |
| X-Potion | Warp Mote | Knot of Rust | Meteorite (A) | ||||
| 28 | 75% | 50% | ≤ 500 gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Common | Rare |
| X-Potion | Remedy | Knot of Rust | Meteorite (B) | ||||
- Original
| Chest | Spawns | Holds Gil% | Normal Treasure | Diamond Armlet Treasure | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 70% | 20% | Gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Gil | Common | Rare |
| ≤ 600 gil | Hi-Potion | X-Potion | ≤ 1,800 gil | Knot of Rust | Hastega Mote | |||
| 13 | 60% | 80% | Gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Gil | Common | Rare |
| ≤ 500 gil | Hi-Potion | Ivory Pole | ≤ 2,000 gil | Knot of Rust | Reflectga Mote | |||
| 14 | 70% | 20% | Gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Gil | Common | Rare |
| ≤ 600 gil | Hi-Potion | Hi-Ether | ≤ 1,800 gil | Knot of Rust | Balance Mote | |||
| 15 | 70% | 20% | Gil | Item 1 | Item 2 | Gil | Common | Rare |
| ≤ 500 gil | Hi-Potion | Ether | ≤ 1,800 gil | Knot of Rust | Vanishga Mote | |||
| 16 | 70% | 20% | Gil | Item | Gil | Common | Rare | |
| ≤ 600 gil | Hi-Potion | ≤ 1,800 gil | Knot of Rust | Balance Mote | ||||
Path of Hidden Blessing[]
This chest only appears in the Zodiac versions.
| Chest | Spawns | Holds Gil% | Gil | Normal Treasure | Diamond Armlet Treasure | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29[note 1] | 100% | 0% | N/A | Sweep | |||
- ↑ Chest does not respawn
Quests[]
Rare Game[]
Pallicant will appear in the City of Other Days area when all enemies in the area are defeated and the player leaves, then reenters.
To find the Abelisk the player must have spoken to the "Huntmaster" in Phon Coast and defeated Thalassinon, which will trigger the start of the Rare Game quest. There is then a 30% chance that Abelisk will spawn in the Echoes from Time's Garden area of the Ridorana Cataract.
Hunts[]
Pylraster.
Rikken in Balfonheim sends Vaan and party to hunt the Pylraster without knowing where to find it. It is found in Ridorana, right outside Pharos.
Yiazmat is the ultimate Elite Mark and the ultimate boss. Defeating Yiazmat takes at least an hour at high levels and player skill, but usually takes longer. Yiazmat has well over 50 million hit points. This astronomically high number is the main reason he takes so long to kill, since regular attacks break the damage limit only in the Zodiac versions. Yiazmat is found at the Colosseum at the Ridorana Cataract where the arena is covered in traps.
The player can accept the hunt for Yiazmat from Montblanc in Rabanastre after vanquishing the Hell Wyrm and all Rank VII Marks except Shadowseer.
Enemies[]
Other appearances[]
Final Fantasy XIV[]
The Ridorana Cataract and accompanying Ridorana Lighthouse exist south of the country of Dalmasca. Legend says that it is an entrance to the Hell of Water. According to Jenomis cen Lexentale the cataract was formed from an explosion caused by a battle in the city of Goug that once stood on the island at the cataract's edge. The explosion disrupted the local aetheric flow, forming an extra-planal rift in the ocean.
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call[]
The Coliseum.
The Ridorana Cataract's Coliseum appears as the Battle Music Sequence for "Boss Battle".
Musical themes[]
The original background theme to Ridorana Cataract is called "A Moment's Rest" (一時の休息, Ichiji no Kyūsoku?).
In The Zodiac Age, it is "Memories Eternal" (悠久の記憶, Yūkyū no Kioku?), a new theme composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto.
Map[]
The map can be found in the northwest corner of the Colosseum.
Map from the original Final Fantasy XII that includes all treasure information
Gallery[]
