FF WalkthroughExiting Mist Cave puts you directly at Mist Village. But the moment you step inside, everything goes wrong.
Mist Village - The Tragedy
The Bomb Ring activates on its own. Cecil and Kain watch helplessly as their package destroys the entire village. This was King Baron's true plan - not a simple delivery, but genocide against the summoners who lived here.
A young girl named Rydia emerges from the flames. Her mother was the summoner who controlled the Mist Dragon. When you killed the dragon, her mother died too. Rydia is furious. She summons Titan in her rage, and the earthquake separates Cecil from Kain while reshaping the landscape.
You wake up on the other side of the mountains with an unconscious Rydia. Mist Village is now inaccessible - the path is completely blocked. You can return later to collect items, but not for a long while.
Story Note: This is one of FF4's defining moments. Cecil carried a weapon of mass destruction without knowing it. His blind obedience to the king cost innocent lives. This guilt drives much of his character development going forward.
Journey to Kaipo
Head northwest across the desert to reach Kaipo, a small oasis town. Cecil carries Rydia the entire way. You'll encounter desert enemies during the trek. Cecil can handle them alone, but watch your HP.
Desert Enemies
The desert between Mist and Kaipo has several enemy types. With only Cecil in your party, conserve HP by using regular attacks rather than Darkness (which costs HP to use).
- Goblin - Weak enemies, one or two hits from Cecil
- Insectus - Bug-type enemy, nothing special
- Flying Eye - Can inflict status effects, kill quickly
- Hundlegs - Standard insect, no real threat
- Sand Worm - Higher HP than other desert creatures
- Sahagin - Fish-man enemy, sometimes appears near water areas
If your HP drops below 100, use a Potion. Cecil's Dark Knight equipment gives him solid defense, but don't take unnecessary risks before reaching town.
Arriving at Kaipo
Once you reach Kaipo, Cecil takes Rydia to the inn to rest. A cutscene plays - he watches over the sleeping girl. During the night, Baron soldiers break in.
Boss: General and Baron Soldiers
Baron has sent men to capture (or kill) Rydia. Cecil refuses to hand her over. This fight has a missable bestiary entry, so pay attention to the strategy.
The General commands three Baron Soldiers. This is a story battle - losing isn't an option. But you won't lose if you follow the right approach.
Strategy
- Target the General first - ignore the soldiers until he's dead
- The General will flee if you kill all his soldiers before defeating him
- If the General flees, you may miss his bestiary entry
- Cecil's normal attacks deal plenty of damage - no need for Darkness
- After the General falls, clean up the remaining Baron Soldiers
- Use a Potion if HP drops below 80
Missable Enemy Warning
The General only appears in this battle. If he flees before you defeat him, you'll miss the bestiary entry permanently. Always kill the General before his soldiers.
Rewards: Rydia joins your party
Rydia Joins the Party
After the fight, Rydia officially joins Cecil. She's still a child and deeply traumatized, but she recognizes that Cecil protected her. Their relationship starts rocky. She refuses to use fire magic because of what happened to her village.
Party Setup: Rydia is a summoner and black mage. Put her in the back row immediately - she's fragile but deals solid magical damage. Cecil handles frontline duties while Rydia supports with spells. She starts with the Chocobo summon and basic black magic (Thunder, Blizzard - but NOT Fire due to her trauma).
Exploring Kaipo
With Rydia in your party, explore Kaipo properly. Small oasis town with basic supplies and one hidden item worth grabbing.
Shops
The weapon and armor shops sell decent upgrades for your party.
Weapon Shop:
- Rod - Buy this for Rydia. Boosts her magic damage and gives her a weapon for physical attacks when conserving MP.
- Staff - Alternative option, slightly different stats
- Bow - Long-range weapon
- Iron Arrows - Ammunition for the Bow
Armor Shop:
- Leather Cap - Head protection for Rydia
- Clothing - Body armor option
- Iron Armlet - Accessory slot equipment
Item Shop:
- Potions - Stock up on these (aim for 15-20)
- Phoenix Down - Buy 2-3 for emergencies
Rosa and the Sand Ruby
In the northeast house of Kaipo, you'll find a sick woman. It's Rosa. She came looking for Cecil and contracted Desert Fever during her search. Bedridden and barely conscious.
Talk to the people in the house to learn about her condition. Rosa needs a Sand Ruby to cure the illness. You can only get the Sand Ruby from the Antlion's Den, but to reach it, you'll need to pass through the Underground Waterway first.
Your path forward:
- Travel northeast from Kaipo to the Underground Waterway
- Pass through the waterway to reach Damcyan Castle
- From Damcyan, head to the Antlion's Den to obtain the Sand Ruby
Preparing for the Underground Waterway
Before leaving Kaipo, make sure you're properly prepared. The Underground Waterway is longer than Mist Cave, with tougher enemies than you've faced in the desert.
- Level Recommendation: Get Rydia to level 8-10 before attempting the waterway
- Grinding Spot: The desert outside Kaipo works well. Cecil's Darkness ability one-shots most desert enemies, making grinding quick. Just watch your HP since Darkness costs health to use
- Supplies: Stock up on Potions (15-20), Phoenix Downs (2-3), and buy a Rod for Rydia if you haven't already
- Row Formation: Keep Rydia in the back row to reduce physical damage taken
Tip: Running low on Gil? Grind in the desert for a while. The enemies give decent Gil rewards, and you'll level Rydia at the same time. Don't enter the Underground Waterway until you feel confident in your supplies and levels.
Chapter Summary
This chapter covers a lot of story ground. Cecil goes from loyal soldier to war criminal to protector of the girl whose mother he killed. Kain is missing after Titan's earthquake. Rosa is dying of Desert Fever. And the path forward leads deeper into the wilderness, away from everything Cecil knew.
Your next destination is the Underground Waterway, located northeast of Kaipo in the mountains. The waterway connects to Damcyan Castle on the other side, where you'll find help in your quest for the Sand Ruby.