I am the wellspring of darkness, fed by Zemus's unbridled hate... I am He who is called Zeromus... I am he who knows naught but hate!
Zeromus
Zeromus is the final boss of Final Fantasy IV and the spirit and hatred of Zemus incarnate. Zeromus appears with three battle scripts, with only the third being possible to defeat. The party faces him in the Moon.
After Fusoya and Golbez defeat Zemus, Zeromus emerges from his corpse, proclaiming itself as Zemus's hatred. Fusoya and Golbez's attacks have no effect on Zeromus, and when Golbez tries to use the Crystal, the creature proclaims evil hearts cannot wield it, and attacks both with Meteor.
Everyone left at Mysidia prays for Cecil. Their prayers revive him and his party, and Golbez hands over the Crystal and beckons Cecil to use it. Zeromus's invincibility disappears, revealing its true form.
Contents
Stats[edit | edit source]
Script
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Battle[edit | edit source]
Zeromus will counterattack Rydia's summons with a party-targeted Osmose (and can also cast it on occasion), Holy magic with Whirl (in his third phase, he can also cast it on rare occasion), and Black Magic with Flare (in his second phase, he can cast it occasionally). On occasion, Zeromus can cast Black Hole, removing all positive status effects (including Sap and Slow) from the party and himself. On the turn before he casts Big Bang, Zeromus will shake. When below 30,000 HP, Zeromus can cast Meteor.
Zeromus absorbs Flare, presumably to halt what would otherwise be the most efficient method of dealing magical damage.
A Dark Matter can be stolen from Zeromus. It can be used to fight the superboss Proto-Babil.
Strategy[edit | edit source]
Using summons prompts Zeromus to counterattack with Osmose, but this can be exploited; if used at the right time, Rydia's summon will cause a slight delay and counter with Osmose. However, this will not prevent Zeromus from using Big Bang immediately after.
Rosa should heal while the others concentrate in using their best attacks.
AI script[edit | edit source]
If HP => 90,001
- Turn 1: Black Hole
- Turn 2: (Shake)
- Turn 3: Big Bang
- Turn 4: Black Hole
- Turn 5: Osmose (party target)
- Turn 6: (Shake)
- Turn 7: Big Bang
- Turn 8: (Shake)
- Turn 9: Big Bang
- Turn 10: Osmose (party target)
- [loop]
If HP is between 30,001 and 90,000
- Turn 1: Osmose (Party target)
- Turn 2: (Shake)
- Turn 3: Big Bang
- Turn 4: Black Hole
- Turn 5: Flare
- Turn 6: Osmose (Party target)
- Turn 7: Black Hole
- Turn 8: (Shake)
- Turn 9: Big Bang
- [loop]
If HP <=30,000
- Turn 1: Meteor
- Turn 2: Osmose (party target)
- Turn 3: Whirl
- [loop]
At all times:
- If damaged by Summon magic: Osmose (100%)
- If damaged by Holy-elemental magic: Whirl (100%)
- If damaged by any other magic: Flare (50%)
Musical themes[edit | edit source]
"Zeromus" plays during the final battle. It was rearranged and included in the Black Mages' second studio album The Black Mages II: The Skies Above.
Gallery[edit | edit source]
Etymology[edit | edit source]
Zeromus is an extended version of Zemus, which is Amharic for "Prayer". Perhaps because of the added 'Zero', it means "No Prayer".