Memoria
Optional Nero Family Side Quest
Helpful Hint
There is a side quest that you can complete as you progress through Memoria. Check out the Nero Family guide in the Side Quests section for more information.
This side quest is entirely optional, and the reward (a 
Protect Ring), while relatively strong, is not unique, and you likely already have one in your possession.
Memoria Locations
Helpful Hint
It can be easy to lose your place in Memoria. Open the Menu Screen and look in the bottom-right corner to check which room you are in and ensure that you are in the correct place according to this walkthrough.
You can access Memoria by traveling to the Iifa Tree, but there are some preparations that you may want to make before entering. For starters, equip your characters with any Wind-resistant equipment they may have as a primary means of defense for an upcoming fight. Secondary to Wind-resistance, focus on Water-resistant items and equipment.
Ribbons work very well as they absorb both Water and Wind Elem-Atk (and you should have three at this point if you have been following the strategy guide all the way through). Protect Rings also work fairly well, as they reduce all elemental damage by 50%. Also, make sure that Zidane has the 
Master Thief Ability equipped.
Fly the Invincible straight into the purple orb when you are ready to proceed.
Boss Battle
Level: 67
HP: 54,940
Start having Zidane attempt to Steal items as soon as the battle begins. The 
Dragon Wrist is nice, but the 
Grand Armor that the Nova Dragon holds is a fantastic piece of equipment that is difficult to obtain elsewhere in the game.
It is also listed as a “Very Rare” steal item, meaning you will have to be very lucky to steal it successfully. Don’t hold up the fight trying to get it, but you should have Zidane steal throughout just for the shot at it.
Nova Dragon will use several Wind-based attacks, including Aerial Slash and Twister, which you should be familiar with. They will hit all four of your party members. It will also use a move called “Tidal Wave” to inflict Water-based damage to all party members. Assuming that you have a few Ribbon items equipped, you should have no problem weathering the storm of attacks while Zidane focuses on Stealing.
The dragon is also susceptible to Silence, Darkness, and Sleep, which you can inflict if you are having trouble withstanding the attacks.
Steal:
Remedy (common)- Dragon Wrist (uncommon)
- Grand Armor (very rare)
Drops:
There is a short cutscene at the entrance to Memoria, where Zidane will speak to Garland. Choose your party members and then proceed up the steps towards the large castle.
Save your game and use a 
Tent at the strange-looking multi-colored orb at the top of the steps. Search the right side of the screen for a hidden treasure chest that contains 
Kain’s Lance.
Kain’s Legacy
Achievement/Trophy
Obtaining Kain’s Lance will automatically reward you with the 
Kain’s Legacy Achievement/Trophy.
Kain’s Legacy is a fairly strong weapon for Freya, but it is not stronger than Dragon’s Hair. Either way, though, you may wish to equip it so that Freya can learn the 
Dragon’s Crest and Cherry Blossom Abilities. Continue along the pathway and out the back of the room.
Stairs of Time
There is an invisible character called the Master Phantom on the left side of the entrance that you can interact with by pressing the 
or 
button and challenging him to a game of Tetra Master. Master Phantom has a few high-level Tetra Master cards that you can win by challenging him to a match. Follow the stairs around and into the next room.
Recollection
Follow the pathway up the stairs to the left. There is a small platform that extends outwards towards the screen. Examine near the edge of it until a Field Icon appears.
Open it to obtain 
The Tower, which is a relatively strong weapon for Zidane, but certainly not stronger than Ultima Weapon if you managed to pick that up during the Chocograph side quest.
Close But No Cigar
Achievement/Trophy
Obtaining The Tower will automatically reward you with the Close But No Cigar Achievement/Trophy.
There is a boss in the next area that you are about to face that has Fire-based attacks. Equip items that absorb or resist Fire-based attacks, such as the 
Rosetta Ring, and equip the Body Temp ability to prevent the Heat negative status effect.
Proceed to the next screen and along the Outer Path when you are ready, and the boss battle will automatically initiate when you reach a certain point along the pathway.
Boss Battle
Level: 72
HP: 59,497
This boss is the one that Amarant and Freya dealt with at the Fire Shrine during the Shimmering Island sequence.
Most of Maliris’ attacks are Fire-based. It will cast Firaga and “Flame Slash,” which both deal Fire-based damage to a single party member. It also has an attack called “Sword Quiver,” which deals physical damage to all party members.
Lastly, it will use an attack called “Mustard Bomb,” which will inflict the Heat status effect on any character that does not have the Body Temp Ability enabled. Doing any actions while afflicted with the Heat status effect will instantly KO that character. Skip their turn until the status effect can be removed.
Zidane can use his Soul Blade attack on Maliris. If he has his Ultima Weapon equipped, it will automatically inflict the Sleep status effect, allowing you to Steal all three items listed above and easily finish the fight.
Maliris will use an attack called “Raining Swords” at the end of the fight that hits each party member for 500-1,000 damage, so make sure you keep all of your party member’s HP high enough to withstand it as you come to the end of the fight.
Steal:
Genji Armor (common)
Ultima Sword (uncommon)- Masamune (rare)
Drops:
Phoenix Pinion (common)
Phoenix Down (uncommon)
Ether (rare)
Elixir (very rare)
Continue forward into the next room.
The Past
Move to the right side of the room, and a cutscene will start once Zidane walks past the center pillar. The team will comment on how Memoria looks very similar to Alexandria, and a short cinematic will take place as they observe out the window.
Walk up onto the platform at the end of the cutscene and inspect the right side to find a hidden Save/Tent point. Inspect the left side to obtain an 
Angel Flute for Eiko.
The Ultimate Flute
Achievement/Trophy
Obtaining the Angel Flute will automatically reward you with The Ultimate Flute Achievement/Trophy.
Oblivion / Recollection
Continue up the stairs and into the next area, where Zidane will comment on the rain. There is another hidden Tetra Master player, known as the Defense Phantom, on the left side of the screen at the top of the stairs.
Proceed across the bridge, and another short cutscene will take place involving Zidane and Dagger discussing one of her memories. Go up the stairs and into the next area.
Time Interval
The next area contains a large set of stairs leading up to an eye in the sky. Search the left side of the screen to find the 
Rune Claws hidden behind the pillar. The Rune Claws are Amarant’s Ultimate Weapon.
The Ultimate Claws
Achievement/Trophy
Obtaining the Rune Claws will automatically reward you with The Ultimate Claws Achievement/Trophy.
Equip your characters with equipment that protects against Fire-based and Wind-based damage, similar to before, in preparation for an upcoming boss fight. Also, ensure that each of them has the Body Temp ability equipped.
Make sure that Zidane has the Master Thief ability equipped to help him Steal some valuable items. Climb the stairs when you are ready.
Boss Battle
Level: 72
HP: 59,494
Get Zidane to work on stealing the items, but be aware that the 
Grand Helm is incredibly difficult to successfully steal.
Tiamat is one of the more difficult fights in Memoria. His attacks include “Absorb MP,” which drains MP from a single party member; “Absorb Magic,” which lowers the Magic stat of a single party member; “Absorb Strength, which does the same but for the Strength stat; “Twister,” which inflicts Wind-damage to all party members, “Silent Claw,” which does some physical damage and can inflict the Silence status effect, “Jet Fire,” which does Fire-based damage and can inflict the Heat status effect and “Snort,” which removes a character from the battle.
Snort is the most devastating attack as it permanently removes a character from the battle. However, Tiamat will only use Snort as a counterattack and on a character who is floating. The best way to avoid the use of this attack is to either avoid attacking Tiamat while a character is floating and wait it out or cast Dispel and remove the status effect.
Tiamat is susceptible to the Sleep status effect, though, so have Zidane use the Soul Blade ability, and, assuming he has his Ultima Weapon equipped, it will automatically put Tiamat to sleep.
Steal:
Blood Sword (common)
Feather Boots (uncommon)- Grand Helm (very rare)
Drops:
Wing Edge (common)- Phoenix Down (uncommon)
- Ether (rare)
- Elixir (very rare)
Ruins / Lost Memory / Familiar Past / World Fusion
Continue down the pathway through the ruins and into the next area (“Lost Memory”). There is another hidden card player here called Strong Phantom that you can challenge to a game of Tetra Master.
Go straight through the next room (with the bells) and follow the bridge up the left side of the screen. Another short cutscene will take place, with Zidane observing Terra and Gaia colliding with one another. Follow the pathway into the castle on the far side of the screen.
Portal
There is another colored orb that you can use to save your game and heal your characters by using a Tent. Note that this is the furthest you can go while still intending to complete the Nero Family side quest. Check out the Nero Family guide in the Side Quests section for more information.
Behemoth
Warning
You may run into an enemy called a Behemoth in this area. Those familiar with Behemoths in other Final Fantasy games in the series will recall how dangerous they are. Behemoths will counter any physical attack with an attack called “Meteor Counter,” which will devastate your party member’s HP.
Use magical attacks (such as Vivi’s spells and Eiko’s Holy spell) and status effects on it, or just run away if you need to by using Zidane’s “Flee” command. You can also cast Silence on it.
Continue forward into the next area.
Birth / Ocean
There is an optional boss named Hades that you can find in this ocean area. Defeating it will reveal the Master Synthesist, which you can then use to synthesize high-level items for you.
Begin by equipping any Water-absorbing or resistant equipment. Check out the Master Synthesist side quest page for more information:
Master Synthesist / Hades
Side Quests
How to activate the battle against Hades and gain access to the Master Synthesist’s shop.
You may wish to go back and save afterward if you fought and defeated Hades. Continue through the ocean room and into the next room for a short cutscene, where the team discusses how Gaia used to be fully covered in water.
There is an upcoming boss fight at the top of the stairs. You should prepare by equipping each of your characters with armor and accessories that absorb or resist Water-based magic attacks. The Ribbon accessory works exceptionally well again, with the Protect Ring working as a half-decent substitute for those not equipped with a Ribbon.
Equip each of your characters with the Body Temp and Bright Eyes Abilities if they have them, and then continue up the stairs.
Boss Battle
Level: 72
HP: 59,496
Get Zidane started on Stealing the items that the Kraken is holding, specifically the 
Genji Helmet, which are hard to come by.
Kraken has two Tentacles that join it in battle. The right one will use an attack called “Water-gun,” and the left one will use an attack called “Ink” (which can potentially cause the Blind status effect). It can use an attack called “Leg,” which inflicts physical damage to one party member. It also has an attack called “Freeze,” which inflicts the Freeze status effect. “Freeze” will cause a character to shatter if the Kraken hits them with a physical attack, but it will not affect your party if they have the Body Temp Lastly, it can cast “Waterga.”
This fight is one of the easier boss battles in Memoria and should not cause you too much trouble.
Steal:
- Genji Helmet (common)
Wizard Rod (uncommon)
Glutton’s Robe (very rare)
Drops:
- Phoenix Pinion (common)
- Phoenix Down (uncommon)
- Ether (rare)
- Elixir (very rare)
Continue up the stairs and enter the next area.
Time Warp
This room has a large broken clock with a pathway leading around it. At the bottom of the stairs on the right side of the screen is a hidden Save Point / Tent Point that you can access.
There is also another hidden Rare Phantom at the top of the stairs in the area towards the back of the screen. You can challenge “the ghost of Card Master Empress…” to a game of Tetra Master to win some rare cards. Proceed west into the next room when you are ready.
Gaia’s Birth
Enter the large room, and another short cutscene will take place showing the birth of Gaia. Climb the ladder up and into the next area. Search the left side of the platform to find the 
Mace of Zeus. This weapon is Vivi’s strongest weapon, and it can teach him the Doomsday spell.
The Ultimate Mace
Achievement/Trophy
Obtaining the Mace of Zeus will automatically reward you with The Ultimate Mace Achievement/Trophy.
There is another Dark Phantom on the right side of the platform that you can challenge to a game of Tetra Master if you wish. Some preparation is required before you proceed up the ladder towards the next boss fight.
The next boss will cast a spell called “LV5 Death,” which will instantly kill any character who is currently a level divisible by 5. You may want to engage in a couple more battles to level your characters up until their level is not divisible by 5, especially if you have more than one character that this spell would impact.
Equip each of your characters with the Antibody and Locomotion Abilities, and equip your characters with equipment and accessories that can either absorb or resist Earth-based attacks. Feather Boots, 
Circlets, and 
Gaia Gear work extremely well.
Climb up the second ladder and go through the door at the top. Walk towards the doorways to initiate the next fight.
Boss Battle
Level:71
HP: 58,554
Lich has the following attacks this go around:
- “LV5 Death,” which will immediately KO any player whose level is a multiple of 5
- “Death,” which will kill a character instantly
- “Earthquake” and “Earth Shake” which both inflict Earth-elemental damage to all party members
- “Doom” / “Stop” which inflicts these two status effects
- “Venom Powder,” which inflicts the Venom status effect
- “Death Cutter,” which does physical damage to one party member and has a chance to inflict the Doom status effect
Make sure that Vivi does not use his new spell, Doomsday, on the Lich. Focus on regular physical attacks while Zidane attempts to Steal all three items. There are no other surprises, and this is a standard fight after those factors are considered.
Steal:
Genji Gloves (common)- Siren’s Flute (uncommon)
Black Robe (rare)
Drops:
- Phoenix Pinion (common)
- Phoenix Down (uncommon)
- Ether (rare)
- Elixir (very rare)
Gate to Space
The game continues in a large room with some archways in space. Search the left side of the room to find a hidden Save/Tent space. This is also where you would obtain 
Excalibur II if you managed to complete that side quest.
Go through the gateway and into the next room when you are ready. There is another short cutscene before you reach the final area of the game.
