FF WalkthroughThe Antlion's Den is east of Damcyan, accessible only by hovercraft. Park the hovercraft on the sandy shore near the cave entrance. Rosa's life depends on the Sand Ruby inside - there's no time to waste.
Dungeon Overview
This is a simple two-floor dungeon with a save room before the boss. The layout isn't complex, but the enemies hit harder than what you've faced before. Keep Rydia in the back row and have Edward ready to heal with items when needed.
Enemies in Antlion's Den
You'll encounter these enemies throughout the dungeon:
- Goblin (6 HP) - Basic enemy, no threat whatsoever
- Yellow Jelly (55 HP) - Splits when hit with physical attacks, use magic instead
- Hundlegs (60 HP) - Centipede creature, nothing special
- Sand Worm (75 HP) - Burrows underground, can surprise you
- Basilisk (90 HP) - Can petrify party members, kill quickly
- Leshy (130 HP) - Plant creature, weak to fire
- Adamantoise (190 HP) - Tough turtle, high defense
Petrification Warning
Basilisks can petrify your party members. This is basically instant death until cured. You'll find a Gold Needle on B1, but that's only one. Consider buying extra Gold Needles at Kaipo before coming here if you want to be safe.
B1 - Entrance
The first floor is simple but contains the bulk of the treasure. Near the entrance, grab the Spider's Silk. The east branch has two Potions - don't miss either. Take the south path for a Gold Needle, which you'll want to hold onto for Basilisk encounters. Before the stairs to B2, pick up a Tent. There's one more Potion on the west side before you descend.
Six chests total on this floor. The map shows them clearly, so check each dead end before heading down.
B2 - Lamia Harp
B2 is smaller but has the dungeon's most important piece of equipment. On the west side, grab an Antarctic Wind - useful for tougher encounters. The south path has a Potion. Near the save room entrance, collect another Spider's Silk.
Essential Item: Lamia Harp
In the center of B2, you'll find the Lamia Harp. This is Edward's best weapon for a long time. It has a chance to confuse enemies when he attacks, making him actually useful in random encounters. Equip it immediately after grabbing it.
Save Room
Before the boss, you'll find a save room with three valuable chests: a Phoenix Down, an Ether, and an Emergency Exit. The Emergency Exit is particularly useful - it lets you escape the dungeon instantly if things go badly.
Use the save point here. The Antlion is just ahead. Make sure Cecil and Edward are healed up, and Rydia has enough MP for the fight.
Boss: Antlion
At the bottom of the nest, you'll find the Antlion. Edward recognizes it - normally these creatures are docile and only produce Sand Rubies when asked nicely. But something has made this one aggressive.
The Antlion counters every physical attack with a painful sting. There's no safe phase - every hit you land triggers a counter dealing 35-40 damage. This fight is a damage race.
Strategy
- Cecil attacks - His damage output is worth eating the counters. Just heal through it.
- Rydia uses Chocobo - Summon magic won't trigger counters. If she doesn't have Chocobo, just heal.
- Edward heals - Edward's attack power is pathetic anyway. Have him use Potions on whoever needs it most.
- Watch your HP - Don't let anyone drop below 50 HP. The counters add up fast.
- Use items freely - Don't be stingy with Potions or the Ether you just found.
Drops: Sand Ruby (key item)
The fight shouldn't take long with Cecil dealing consistent damage. Keep everyone alive, chip away at the 1,100 HP, and claim your prize.
The Sand Ruby
After defeating the Antlion, you obtain the Sand Ruby. This is exactly what you need to cure Rosa's Desert Fever. Now you need to get back to Kaipo - fast.
Return to Kaipo
Exit the Antlion's Den and board your hovercraft. You can't go directly west to Kaipo - there's no shallow water path that way. Instead, head west and loop around past Damcyan. From there, continue west and south until you reach the shallows near Kaipo.
Back in Kaipo, go to the house where Rosa is resting. Use the Sand Ruby to cure her Desert Fever. Rosa thanks Cecil and immediately insists on joining the party. She won't take no for an answer - she's not letting Cecil face danger alone.
Rosa Joins the Party
Rosa is a White Mage with excellent healing spells and the Aim command for ranged attacks. Her Cura spell is stronger than Rydia's Cure, making her your primary healer going forward. Finally, a reliable healer.
Nighttime: Edward's Trial
That night, while everyone sleeps, a mysterious voice calls out to Edward. He wanders outside to the lake and is attacked by a Sahagin (called Waterhag in some versions). This is a solo fight for Edward.
Edward's Solo Fight
This fight isn't hard. Just attack with Edward and use a Potion if your HP drops below 30. The Lamia Harp might confuse the Sahagin, making it even easier. After you win, the spirit of Anna appears and encourages Edward to be strong. Maybe he's not as useless as he seems.
The next morning, the party is ready to move on.
Next Destination: Mt. Hobs
With Rosa healed and the party reunited, it's time to head to Mt. Hobs. This mountain is northeast of Damcyan, blocking the path to Fabul. Use the hovercraft to cross the shallows east of Damcyan, then disembark and head toward the mountain cave entrance.
There's a catch - the mountain path is blocked by thick ice. You'll need Rydia's magic to get through. Make sure she's leveled up and ready for what comes next.
Treasure Chests
The Antlion's Den contains 13 chests total - 6 on B1, 4 on B2, and 3 in the Save Room. None are missable.
B1
| Item | Location |
|---|---|
Spider's Silk | B1, first chest near entrance |
Potion | B1, east branch (first) |
Potion | B1, east branch (second) |
Gold Needle | B1, south path |
Tent | B1, before stairs to B2 |
Potion | B1, west side before descent |
B2
| Item | Location |
|---|---|
Antarctic Wind | B2, west side |
Lamia Harp | B2, center - Edward's best weapon! |
Potion | B2, south path |
Spider's Silk | B2, near save room entrance |
Save Room
| Item | Location |
|---|---|
Phoenix Down | Save Room, left chest |
Ether | Save Room, middle chest |
Emergency Exit | Save Room, right chest |