Welcome to Gran Pulse! This is the largest area in the game, and probably the only chapter that I'm going to have to split up into more than one page. The world of Final Fantasy XIII now contains optional areas, optional Mark missions, and areas that are larger than a hallway. Luckly for you, you have Cymbeline to guide you through the big "bad" world of Gran Pulse.
Chapter 11: Gran Pulse, Vallis Media[]
We now get to see the scenery of Gran Pulse, and the sad, sad, death of a Chocobo. And some more city ruins, and Fal'Cie. We also see some giant turtles or the Adamant Family. Anyway our team has been on Gran Pulse for an undisclosed period of time, and have made themselves a Base Camp. Anyway we now have to look for Hope, but first rearrange your team so that its, Vanille, Fang and Lightning. Then give them these Paradigms to work with:
| Paradigm | Vanille | Fang | Lightning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relentless Assault | Ravager | Commando | Ravager |
| Diversity | Medic | Commando | Ravager |
Man I can't remember the last time we only needed two Paradigms. Anyway just run forward down the linear path. None of the enemies are strong and they're all weak to Fire. Eventually you'll run into a treasure sphere with the Partisan for Fang. Then just continue onward all the way to the end and you'll find Hope. Back at Base Camp Hope wakes up only to cause us some drama and then dispares and calls his Eidolon and he teams up with Lightning and Fang for our next boss fight.
| Boss Fight: Alexander |
Alexander's punches hit hard. Thus your going to want Delta Attack for offence and Combat Clinic for healing. This honestly isn't that hard at all. You should be able to finish this battle with about 200 on the Doom counter. |
Well all that leaves is Vanille to get her Eidolon. After some scenes we end on on the Archylte Steppe, the largest map in the game. I'm not covering this now as there is another area we should seek out first, although its entirely optional your still going to go there because you are my loyal follower and my will is your command. Start off by changing your team back to Vanille, Fang, and Hope, then give them these Paradigms to work with:
| Paradigm | Vanille | Fang | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relentless Assault | Ravager | Commando | Ravager |
| Diversity | Ravager | Commando | Medic |
| Combat Clinic | Medic | Sentinel | Medic |
| Espionage | Saboteur | Saboteur | Synergist |
Now turn around and head back to Base Camp. At Base Camp, head back up the way you went to rescue Hope and when you get to the area where you found Hope and climb up the rocks by the waterfall and open the treasure sphere here for a Rune Bracelet. Now just continue forward and we'll reach that optional area I was talking about.
Yaschas Massif[]
Welcome to the first, entirely optional area in the game. Exciting isn't it? Anyways head forward and save, this area has some new enemies that we haven't fought yet. Speaking of enemies the Rangda and Leyak are both weak to Ice and Water, the Gorgonopsid is weak to Ice, the Tiffid is weak to Fire and Wind, the Svarog is weak to Ice and Wind, the Alraune is weak to Fire and Ice, the Hybrid Flora is weak to Fire and Wind, the Munchkin and Munchkin Maestro are weak to Ice and Wind, and the Taxim is weak to all elements. The Behemoth King is far from easy and is why Espionage is an almost must, and even then you can only get him with Deprotect and shell and Imperil. Anyway when fighting the enemies in the area hit them for their weakness to make the battles eaisier.
Anyway from the save station follow the path through the valley and when you reach a more open area head to the right and to the right of the Save Station you see here open the treasure sphere for Diabolic Tailx9. You'll also get a scene between Vanille and Hope around this area. Hope flirts with Vanille and then they run off. Basically nothing important but its nice to know its their. After that continue forward and save, then turn right and follow the thin path by the Save Station. At the intercection turn left and open the treasure sphere here for a Watchman's Amulet. Turn around and head down the other path. I would suggest avoiding the Bahamut because he has two Tiffids for help and they make the fight even harder than it needs to be. Around the Behemoth you'll run into a Svarog and two Tiffids so wipe out the Tiffids first then hit the Svarog. Around the area of this battle you will see a thin path head down it and open the treasure sphere here for Millerite. Head back and continue around the Crecent Moon shape this area has and follow the thin linear path to the end for a Glass Orb. (I strongly advise against fighting the Behemoth King and his three Tiffid allies. I strongly suggest you save before making the trip back to the first treasure sphere. Avoid all the Behemoths if you get into battle with any Retry.
From the Save Station by the first treasure sphere, I advise that you develope your character some more. The stat boosts from the Crystals is going to be noticed a lot quicker than usual and your going to want to develope constantly over our trip through Gran Pulse to make the tough enemies, not as tough. Now head forward and jump down into the ravine. When you get down the tree stump go back and fight off the Tiffids guarding a treasure sphere with Esoteric Oilx8. Continue down into the Ravine, save when you get the chance, then jump down one more time and head onto the tree thing to your right and open the treasure sphere for a Rune Bracelet. Afterwords continue downward. Soon you'll reach an area where you can either take a high path or a low path. Take the high path to reach a treasure sphere with 1,827 Gil. After that go back and take the low path so you can save, then continue onward. After you beat the Munchkin's take the path directly in front of you first to reach a treasure sphere with Milleritex2. Then go back and take the path to your right which is the only path left to take. This path is short and linear, but when you reach the next Save Station the path splits.
Take the path to your right and open the threasure sphere here for a Mythril Bangle. After that just continue forward until you reach the next Save Station. Here you'll get a cutscene introducing you to the city of Paddra, now just a pile of rubble. The crew talks about the past but nothing of any real importance. Save, then head into the city to finish up the last of this area. Drop into the city, and turn to the right and head that way and open the treausre sphere for some Rhodochrosite. Now head up the stairs and head straight forward then turn to the left and open the treasure sphere here for Spined Hornx3. After head up to the area with the four Taxim and wipe them out. Then head around to the opposite side and open the final treasure sphere for a Whistlewind Scarf. After that get ready to make the long journey back to the Archylte Steppe to continue forward in our journey to Oerba.