FF WalkthroughAfter Desch's sacrifice at the Tower of Owen, the floating continent is stable and the seas are fully navigable. Sailing to new waters brings new challenges - and new enemies. This chapter covers the journey to the Dwarven Hollows, two major dungeons (Subterranean Lake and Molten Cave), two bosses, and the Fire Crystal that grants powerful new jobs.
High Seas Bestiary
As you sail to the Dwarven Hollows, you'll encounter new sea monsters. Make sure to fight enough battles to register all four entries:
- Anet (Entry 071) - Common sea enemy
- Mermaid (Entry 072) - Can cast magic
- Seahorse (Entry 073) - Water-based creature
- Sea Serpent (Entry 074) - Larger, more dangerous serpent
Spend some time sailing and battling until all four entries appear in your bestiary. Thunder magic is effective against these water enemies.
Dwarven Hollows
The Dwarven Hollows is an underground settlement carved into the mountains. The dwarves here have been suffering - a creature named Gutsco has stolen one of their valuable horns, and a fire beast threatens their mining operations. They need your help.
Explore the settlement and talk to the dwarves to learn about the situation. The Subterranean Lake is where Gutsco hides, and the Molten Cave leads to the Fire Crystal - currently guarded by the Salamander.
Subterranean Lake
The Subterranean Lake is accessible from within the Dwarven Hollows. This water-filled cavern is where Gutsco, the horn thief, has made his lair.
Lake Enemies
Enemies in the Subterranean Lake (all bestiary entries):
- Bomb (Entry 055) - Can self-destruct when low on HP
- Manticore (Entry 056) - Dangerous beast with powerful attacks
- Stalagmite (Entry 057) - Rock-based enemy
- Sea Devil (Entry 058) - Aquatic demon
- Merman (Entry 059) - Fish-men warriors
- Ruinous Wave (Entry 060) - Elemental water creature
Be cautious of Bombs - kill them quickly before they self-destruct for massive damage. Fire magic works well on the water enemies, while physical attacks handle the rest.
Lake Treasures
On 1F, grab the Gold Needle from the chest. Descend to B2 where you'll find the bulk of the treasures: two Zeus's Wrath items, two more Gold Needles, and two chests each containing 300 Gil. That's 7 chests total in this dungeon.
Gutsco Boss
At the depths of the Subterranean Lake, you'll confront Gutsco - the creature who stole the dwarves' horn.
Gutsco has no elemental weaknesses. This makes him a bruiser fight - you can't exploit any vulnerabilities, so raw damage is your only option.
Strategy
- Use your strongest magic regardless of element - damage is damage
- Physical attackers should use their best weapons
- Keep your healer focused on Cura/Curaga
- Gutsco hits hard, so don't let HP get too low
- Consider buffing your party with Protect if the damage becomes overwhelming
After defeating Gutsco, return to the dwarves with the stolen horn. They're grateful for your help, but there's still the matter of the Salamander blocking access to the Fire Crystal.
Molten Cave
The Molten Cave is a volcanic dungeon filled with fire-based enemies. The Fire Crystal lies within, but the Salamander guards it. Stock up on ice magic and items before entering - fire enemies are everywhere.
Cave Enemies
Enemies in the Molten Cave (all bestiary entries):
- Balloon (Entry 061) - Fire-based, can explode
- Myrmecoleon (Entry 062) - Ant-lion creature
- Crocotta (Entry 063) - Beast enemy
- Adamantoise (Entry 064) - High defense turtle
- Red Marshmallow (Entry 065) - Fire slime, weak to ice
Blizzard and Blizzara spells are extremely effective throughout this dungeon. The Red Marshmallow in particular takes massive damage from ice. The Adamantoise has high physical defense, so magic is recommended against it as well.
Cave Treasures
The treasures in Molten Cave are appropriately themed with ice items to help against the fire enemies:
B1: Two chests containing Antarctic Wind items. These deal ice damage and are useful against the Salamander if you run low on MP.
B2: The Freezing Blade - an ice-elemental sword that's perfect for this dungeon and the upcoming boss.
B3: Three Hi-Potions and one Potion across four chests. Grab these for healing supplies.
Salamander Boss
The Salamander guards the Fire Crystal at the heart of the Molten Cave. This fire elemental is predictably weak to ice.
The Salamander is weak to ice - no surprise there. If you stocked up on Blizzara and ice items, this fight won't last long.
Strategy
- Cast Blizzara every turn for massive damage
- Use the Freezing Blade you found on B2 for ice physical damage
- Antarctic Wind items deal good damage if your mages run low on MP
- The Salamander's fire attacks hit hard - consider Flame Mail if you have it
- Keep HP high; fire attacks can quickly overwhelm an unprepared party
Fire Crystal Jobs
After defeating the Salamander, approach the Fire Crystal to receive four new jobs:
- Thief - Fast and agile, can steal items from enemies and unlock doors
- Knight - Heavy armor user with the ability to protect allies
- Ranger - Bow specialist with the Barrage ability for multiple attacks
- Scholar - Can analyze enemies with Study and use items with increased effectiveness
The Knight and Ranger are solid combat jobs. The Scholar's Study ability? You'll want it later - there's a boss coming up that changes elemental weaknesses mid-fight. The Thief can open locked doors, which opens up new areas. Try these new jobs and see what works for your playstyle.
Cleanup and Rewards
Return to the Dwarven Hollows after obtaining the Fire Crystal. Speak to the dwarf near the southeastern stairs in the main hub area. Grateful for your help with both Gutsco and the Salamander, he unlocks access to a treasure room containing 16 chests.
The dwarf treasure hoard includes valuable equipment and items:
- Ottershroom - Unique accessory
- Gauntlets - Solid hand armor
- Scholar Robe and Scholar Hat - For your new Scholar job
- Knight Armor and Heroic Shield - For your new Knight job
- Killer Bow - For your new Ranger job
- Book of Fire, Book of Ice, Book of Light - Scholar weapons
- Various consumables including Elixir, Phoenix Downs, and Gysahl Greens
Hidden Item: Talk to the dwarf walking near the stairs to receive a Magic Key (Hidden Item 20/61). Magic Keys open locked doors and chests throughout the game. Don't miss this important item.
After the Fire Crystal
With the Fire Crystal's jobs unlocked and the dwarves' treasures claimed, you're well-equipped for the challenges ahead. Your next destination involves a journey through enemy territory - Castle Hein awaits, and it contains many missable items and enemies.
Before leaving the Dwarven Hollows, make sure you have:
- Registered all 4 High Seas bestiary entries (Anet, Mermaid, Seahorse, Sea Serpent)
- Registered all 6 Subterranean Lake bestiary entries
- Collected all 7 chests from the Subterranean Lake
- Defeated Gutsco and returned the horn
- Registered all 5 Molten Cave bestiary entries
- Collected all 7 chests from the Molten Cave
- Defeated Salamander and obtained the Fire Crystal jobs
- Collected all 16 reward chests from the grateful dwarf
- Obtained the Magic Key hidden item from the walking dwarf
Treasure Chests
This chapter contains 30 chests total - 7 in the Subterranean Lake, 7 in Molten Cave, and 16 from the dwarf rewards.
Subterranean Lake
| Item | Location |
|---|---|
Gold Needle | 1F |
Zeus's Wrath | B2 - first chest |
Zeus's Wrath | B2 - second chest |
Gold Needle | B2 - third chest |
Gold Needle | B2 - fourth chest |
300 Gil | B2 - fifth chest |
300 Gil | B2 - sixth chest |
Molten Cave
| Item | Location |
|---|---|
Antarctic Wind | B1 - first chest |
Antarctic Wind | B1 - second chest |
Freezing Blade | B2 |
Hi-Potion | B3 - first chest |
Hi-Potion | B3 - second chest |
Potion | B3 - third chest |
Hi-Potion | B3 - fourth chest |
Dwarf Reward Chests
| Item | Location |
|---|---|
Ottershroom | Dwarf reward chest 1 |
Gauntlets | Dwarf reward chest 2 |
Echo Herbs | Dwarf reward chest 3 |
Scholar Robe | Dwarf reward chest 4 |
Scholar Hat | Dwarf reward chest 5 |
Knight Armor | Dwarf reward chest 6 |
Phoenix Down | Dwarf reward chest 7 |
Heroic Shield | Dwarf reward chest 8 |
Elixir | Dwarf reward chest 9 |
Killer Bow | Dwarf reward chest 10 |
Gold Needle | Dwarf reward chest 11 |
Book of Fire | Dwarf reward chest 12 |
Book of Ice | Dwarf reward chest 13 |
Book of Light | Dwarf reward chest 14 |
Phoenix Down | Dwarf reward chest 15 |
Gysahl Greens | Dwarf reward chest 16 |