FF WalkthroughCrescent Island sits in the middle of the ocean, shaped like its namesake. You'll reach it via ship after leaving the Library of Ancients. The island itself is small but holds an important secret: the Black Chocobo.
Reaching the Island
Sail south from the Library's dock until you spot a crescent-shaped island. There's only one town here, also called Crescent. The residents are bards and musicians; they'll teach you songs if you have a Bard in your party.
The shops here sell mid-tier equipment. Nothing essential, but if you're behind on gear, it's worth checking. The Inn is cheap at 40 Gil per night.
Finding the Black Chocobo
The Black Chocobo hides in the forest north of town. Walk into the forest area and explore until a scene triggers. The chocobo is startled and runs; chase it down through the trees.
When you catch the Black Chocobo, it joins you. Unlike regular chocobos, the Black Chocobo can fly. This opens up the entire world map. You can now reach locations previously blocked by mountains or water.
One catch: the Black Chocobo can only land in forests. Keep this in mind when planning your route. If there's no forest near your destination, you'll need to land at the closest one and walk.
Optional: Summon Encounter
While in Crescent's forest, you might encounter Mini Mage in random battles. These enemies can be rare. If you're a completionist, fight in the forest until you encounter one.
Mini Mage isn't a formal summon like Ifrit. Instead, it's a rare enemy that drops a spell scroll or teaches abilities. The actual encounter varies by version; in Pixel Remaster, it's mainly for bestiary completion.
What the Black Chocobo Unlocks
With flight capability, several optional locations become accessible:
- Istory Village - Hidden town with Ramuh summon nearby
- Jachol Cave - Optional dungeon with decent treasure
- Bartz's Hometown (Lix) - Story content and character development
You can tackle these in any order. The main story eventually points you toward the Lonka Ruins, but exploring now yields useful items and character backstory.
Crescent Island Items
| Item | Location |
|---|---|
Black Chocobo | Forest on the north side of the island (event) |
Mini Mage (summon encounter) | Forest, random encounter |
Next Steps
With the Black Chocobo, fly to Lix (Bartz's hometown) for story content, or head to Istory to recruit Ramuh. Both are optional but recommended. When you're ready to advance the plot, the Lonka Ruins await; look for a large floating structure in the sky near the desert region.