FF WalkthroughThe Lonka Ruins are an ancient civilization's remnants, floating impossibly in the sky above the desert. Getting here requires the Black Chocobo; land on the platform jutting out from the structure's base. The ruins connect to the larger Ronka complex, which houses the Earth Crystal.
Exploring the Ruins
The Lonka Ruins sprawl across four floors of crumbling stone corridors and collapsed chambers. Ancient traps and hostile creatures fill every room. This dungeon is longer and harder than previous areas.
Enemies here include Lamia (can confuse), Ronkan Knight (high defense), and Enchanted Fan (casts wind magic). Most are weak to lightning; Ramuh and Thundara make quick work of groups.
Watch for crumbling walls. Some lead to hidden treasure rooms; others drop you into pits with extra fights. Save your game when you find save points; they're rare here.
Floor by Floor
1F: The entrance area. Straightforward layout with two treasure chests. Head north to find the stairs.
2F: The floor splits into multiple paths. The northwest path leads to the Gold Shield. The eastern path has a crumbling wall you can walk through; check suspicious wall tiles for hidden passages.
3F: More complex navigation. Moving platforms and switches control access to different areas. Hit switches in order to create a path to the stairway. The Power Staff chest is guarded by a monster-in-a-box; be ready for a fight.
4F: The boss floor. Grab the Ancient Sword before confronting Archaeoaevis. This weapon casts Old on enemies when it hits; useful for slowing down fast foes.
Archaeoaevis
An ancient guardian that cycles through five forms, each with different elemental weaknesses. Revives once after being killed, then dies permanently. Total HP across all forms is roughly 12,500.
Strategy
- Form 1: Weak to wind. Use Aero or wind-elemental attacks
- Form 2: Weak to fire. Switch to Fira/Ifrit
- Form 3: Weak to ice. Blizzara/Shiva time
- Form 4: Weak to lightning. Thundara/Ramuh handles it
- Form 5: No weakness. Just damage race
- After "dying," it revives with confusion ability. Heal confusion immediately
- Keep HP high throughout; form transitions hit hard
Rewards: 2500 EXP, 0 Gil
This fight is a marathon. Five forms mean five health bars. Each form shift also triggers a powerful attack, so don't relax between phases. Having all four elemental spells (or summons) ready makes the fight much smoother.
After the fifth form dies, Archaeoaevis revives one final time. This zombie version can inflict Confusion and attacks aggressively. But it has no elemental resistances; just pile on damage and finish it.
After Archaeoaevis
Defeating Archaeoaevis opens the path deeper into the Ronka Ruins. The Earth Crystal waits ahead. But don't rush; make sure you grabbed all the treasure and your party is healed. The Ronka Ruins proper are even more dangerous than what you just survived.
Lonka Ruins Treasure
| Item | Location |
|---|---|
Gold Armor | 1F, southeast corner |
Elixir | 2F, hidden room behind crumbling wall |
Gold Shield | 2F, northwest chamber |
Power Staff | 3F, guarded by monsters |
Shuriken | 3F, near stairway |
Ancient Sword | 4F, before boss room |
5000 Gil | 4F, side passage |
Next Steps
Beyond Archaeoaevis lies the Ronka Ruins and the Earth Crystal. You're past the halfway point of World 1 now. The enemies ahead hit harder, and the story takes darker turns. Make sure you've experimented with your job combinations; the flexibility of FF5's system becomes crucial in the challenges ahead.