Ahhh, finally! The Third Ascent, the last part of this grating dungeon! Sadly for you, it also means that the next part is going to be page upon page of Sidequests for you to complete, so relish in the relief whilst you can. Part 36 of Paramina's Final Fantasy XII Walkthrough, bringing the Pharos to a (much anticipated) close...
Pharos - Third Ascent: Mete of Dynasty[]
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Mission: Survive the Third Ascent and reach the Sun Cryst, finally.
I'm seriously running out of images for the Pharos, and it's really stressing me out. I've had to upload a couple myself because I really despise having chunks of text with nothing to break it up. It makes an easier read for you guys, right?
Spire Ravel, 1st Flight (80F)
Our first steps onto the Third Ascent and we're greeted by a welcoming troop of Purobolos. Make sure your HP is constantly topped up until all these guys are dead, because Self-Destruct can literally wipe out an entire team, and no one likes a Game Over screen. The Carven Pillar nearby tells us:
The game trusts you to interpret this by yourself, but luckily you have me telling you this means go for the Way Stone - Black Sigil first. Screw up the pattern here and you get sent to this strange room filled with torrents of Undead monsters and one solitary Map Urn. Since you don't actually need a map right now, it's not worth the MP-wastage, so follow my instructions, comrades.
Having taken the Black Sigil to the 81F, head East until you reach a Fool's Façade. There's a Treasure Chest containing a Rubber Suit (providing thunder resistance, plunder), grab this before taking the Green Sigil.
Spire Ravel, 2nd Flight (83F)
The first trap will heal your party, but I'd cast Float around to avoid triggering the other, less-friendly traps surrounding it. Head down either hall, you'll appear in the same area, regardless. You're faced with some more Fool's Façades, get rid of them until you find yourself by a Red Sigil, guarded by an Aeronite. Thundaga and Telekinesis will bring this thing down swiftly. Take the Red Sigil and teleport...
...another area guarded by more Aeronites. Easy enough to bring these guys down, and with them out of the way, you're left staring at four Way Stones and a Treasure Chest. This may contain the Circlet, so plunder that. Now, the Waystones: whichever you take depends on what you sacrificed back in the Reach. If you can't remember off the top of your head, here's a reminder.
- If you gave up Items, choose the Yellow Sigil
- If you gave up Magicks, choose the Purple Sigil
- If you gave up Weapons (crazy), choose the White Sigil
- If you gave up the Mini-Map, choose the Pink Sigil
Choose wisely to be teleported to the next area. There's another Carven Pillar around, immortalizing the riddled ramblings of the great Bearded One:
Which means we're going for a colourless Way Stone. The first bunch are all coloured, so we'll skip these. Head to the Northernmost end of the area to find a Fool's Façade. Strike it to reveal a Clear Waystone. Huzzah! Teleport away.
And now we're on the 88F, nearly finished. There may be a rare monster called the Tower (Final Fantasy XII) here, so watch out for this aggro-Golem. Quickly throw about any buffs you can before climbing onto the Dais of Ascendance. We skyrocket...
... into this guy.
| Esper Battle: Hashmal |
 Level: 50 It is totally integral you open with Dispel and Float. Float must be maintained at all times, because it renders Hashmal's main attack, Quakeja totally pointless. As usual, Berserk Reddas as we can't control him anyway, then support your Tank on the frontline. Sometimes Hashmal's normal attacks inflict Disease, so counter this with a Remedy (provided you have Lore 3), Vaccine or the spell Cleanse. He'll hit with Slow quite a bit, so be prepared to hit back with a round of Haste to keep our party ready to decimate. With Float, this battle is a piece of cake. |
With our little elevator interruption dealt with, follow the long route upwards. We must be getting near to the Sun-Cryst, as Fran says "the din of the Mist grows greater." In the meantime, what's-her-face gives us a nice commentary on how boring she is. Reddas interrupts with a deep boom and salvages this moment from fading into obscurity like everything else involving Pencil. Penelope. W'evs.
To keep our party in good shape, we have to keep climbing until we finally reach the 98F, where there's a Save Crystal. Hallelujah, Save Up and put on all your buffs. I mean it, all of them (incase you're buff-defunct, I'll list them to get my point across)Haste, Protect, Regen, Bravery, Faith, Bubble, Shell... um... that's it, methinks. If I've missed anything, put it on anyway. Now use the Way Stone.
Our party finally arrive at the Sun Cryst. Surprisingly enough, no one falls to their knees, kisses the ground and thanks Baby Jesus for the torment of the Pharos to finally be over. Instead, Ashe still doesn't know what she's going to do re: her plan. Destroy the Cryst or blow up the Empire? Eh, tough choice. So tough it requires more heavy breathing from Ashe's VA. Ashe seems to make her decision, and defiantly approaches the Sun Cryst... only for Spectral Rasler to show up. That ass-hat? Get lost, loser, we've found another Spectral Guide, and whilst he may leave us messages like Yoda on narcotics, at least he doesn't lead us to our probable deaths numerous times. This time, it looks like the whole party have been at Ashe's stash, because they can all see Spectral Ass-Hat staring judgmentally at his late wife. Whilst they have a little domestic, a tinned voice from behind pipes up.
'Tis Gabranth! In case you'd spent so long in the Pharos that you'd completely forgotten the plot, Vayne sent Gabranth to assess whether Ashe was after a peace or a bombing. Gabranth appears on scene with a swift, "I killed your father, bitch - cut the stone!" Sadly, Vaan feels the need to interject here rather lamely with "And Reks!" In case you'd forgotten (I had), Reks was his sports-bra wearing fanboy brother who died in the prologue. Before Gabranth can approach Ashe, Reddas steps in swiftly. This scene is full of awesome quotable moments, so you're getting them:
ZOMG, it was Reddas who destroyed Nabradia! Except he isn't Reddas at all - he is Judge Zecht! Oh, fantastic, fantastic twist, Square, far superior to that absolute balls ending of VIII, I almost forgive you for it (almost). Gabranth quickly swipes Reddas away (I think only because Reddas was caught off guard), and cries:
Ashe hesitates, before going loco and totally decimating Spectral Ass-Hat. Ashe has finally made up her mind - she does not want to revenge, but she wants to destroy the Sun-Cryst. Basch and Gabranth have a brotherly momento, the seething hatred between the two is really, really touching.
| Boss Battle: Judge Gabranth |
 Level: 47 Don't bother changing the size of the image by the way, this box is really small and the usual sized image looked stupido. Dispel, Haste, Protect, Berserk Reddas. A rather simple battle that acts as a warm-up to the barrage of slaughter we're about to face. Keep your HP up for HPs-sake, it'll make the next bout of fights that little bit easier. |
With Gabranth down, another of our antagonists makes an appearance. Well, well, it's none other than Cid, who stood us up in Giruvegan. This time Cid comes with a quick firing for Gabranth (hey, the economic climate really is tough right now) before casting him mercilessly aside. Cid absorbs the Mist, giving us a token maniac laugh, whilst Balthier informs his father he is a raving lunatic. I don't really think Cid was particularly listening:
(Eh... Ffamran? Cringe. No wonder he went with Balthier.)
| Boss Battle: Doctor Cid |
 Level: 50 Open with Dispel and have your Mage focus on re-Buffing whatever status have worn off from the fight with Gabranth. Cid tends to re-buff, so have someone with a constant eye on his status (Foe: Any - Dispel?) whilst Reddas and your Tank go in to make the most damage. Again, Berserking Reddas is a good strategy, provided you maintain control of your other Tank. Keep your HP above 60% at all times - thank Baby Jesus for Curaja - so you're not in too bad a state post S-85 Cyclotrone. Anyway, you only need to shave off around half of his HP, because then you're thrown into another battle... |
| Boss Battle: Doctor Cid and Famfrit |
 (Stats for Famfrit, Cid the same as before)
Level: 52 Two bosses in one go! Ouch! Turn your focus to Famfrit now, since Cid is invincible at the moment. Keep in mind that Famfrit's HP is displayed beneath him, whereas it's only Cid's in the Boss Bar in the corner. Cast Dispel then renew your Buffs if they're worn off, especially Shell, to take the edge of Waterja. Since Cid still attacks whilst Famfrit is our target, we need to get Famfrit out of the way ASAP. Cast Oil then spam Firaga to exploit the Esper's weakness, and make sure no one is inflicted with Silence by healing it up quickly or equipping a Rose Corsage to your Mage. Eventually, Famfrit should fall. Refocus onto Cid, who is invincible no more. First off, if you're looking pretty rough after Famfrit, your priority should be catching up with healing and casting Curaja until everyone's pretty much full-health. You don't want to be caught out by a S-85 Cyclotrone, so just be careful. Exploit Cid's slowness by casting Haste and giving your team the edge. Now continue pummeling him until that gratifying slow-mo scene happens and the cutscene triggers, which is so awesome I have to include it for those weird people who read walkthroughs without playing the game (I know you're reading this). |
Venat quickly ditches Cid's dying form as Balthier and the Doctor have a much belated, surprisingly touching father/son moment before he tragically crumples to the ground. Now that's a sign of a good villain, when his death is actually pretty sad. Pretty sure no one cried with Squall speared Ultimecia at the end of VIII. However, the drama does not stop here; the mist is going crazy by the Sun-Cryst and Fran can't behave herself any longer. She falls to the ground as Balthier runs to join her (*ahem* how can you not support Balfran, you crazy shippers?) and ensures her he will not leave without her. Ashe and Vaan try to vainly stop the Sun-Cryst's reaction, but Reddas jumps in, imploring the party to leave the volatile nethicite for him to deal with. Please don't do this, Reddas, I'm pretty sure you could get Penelo to stay behind. No one would care... or notice.
Reddas takes no heed to the party's cries (and my own silent weeping) and runs towards the Cryst, his swords wielded at the ready. For Nabudis. But what about us, Reddas?! Are you going to leave us to deal with what's-her-face and the brainless peasant? How I'll miss your deep booming voice...
My life is over. I'm so depressed right now. I think I need a moment.
→ So depressed.
← Pre-depression.
← Home. Whatever, I'm so depressed.