Chapter 1: Mt. Gagazet and Zanarkand

Story mode. Written for a first playthrough and kept free of spoilers — it will not tell you what happens here, only what the game is asking of you.

Do the mountain before the ruins. The ruins are the last stop before the chapter’s finale, and the finale is where Chapter 1’s optional scenes close.

Mt. Gagazet

There is nothing to pick up here this chapter, only people to talk to. A short scene plays on arrival, and a few steps on you meet an old friend.

When the scene asks what you will do about the two young Ronso, say you will look after them. Then talk to Kimahri again — keep talking until he gives you the option “You have to learn to deal with these things!” and take it. It matters a long way down the line.

Then talk to every Ronso on the mountain, seven besides Kimahri. Whenever you are offered a choice, pick the warm, supportive one: sympathise, honour the dead, back the Gullwings, agree with them. One Ronso is up in the Fayth Scar cave; use the teleporter behind Kimahri to get there.

You do not need to walk the mountain trail. Teleport back to the gate and warp out.

Zanarkand Ruins

The ruins are a tourist attraction now. A crowd blocks the road — walk up the slope to the man on the hill and talk to him. It does not matter what you say the first time.

On the road down you meet a group of children playing guardian, and some goons talking about treasure and a password. You do not need to remember the password. Two chests on the way down: one at the intersection, one near the end.

Stay away from the monkeys. Touching one costs you gil.

Through the old temple, past the dancer, ride the lift down and save. An old man you may remember asks whether you have a bone to pick with him. Answer “You bet I do!” — it leaves you more chances at a later scene.

Talk to the researcher next to him and the monkeys scatter. The round hall beyond has six chests; open them all.

On the platform past the hall, a voice asks you some questions. When it asks the meaning of life, answer “Is that you, Isaaru?” You get a healing garment grid for it. Equip it.

The boss

Down the steps and through the winding corridor is the treasure, and the thing guarding it. It is weak to every element — a Black Mage does real damage — and once it is badly hurt it starts hitting the whole party for half their health. Keep a White Mage ready to heal straight after, and keep everyone above half.

Completionist mode. Full spoilers, in play order, with every permanent loss called out before you reach it. 1 entries below are marked where our sources disagree with each other — we have not picked a winner for you.

Spoilers from here.

Mt. Gagazet is optional in Chapter 1 and Zanarkand is not. Finishing “Claim the Treasure Sphere!” points you at Kilika, and beating YSLS-Zero there ends the chapter. So the mountain comes first, and everything else on the map you still owe Chapter 1 should be done before you land in Kilika.

Mt. Gagazet

No treasure this chapter. What you do here is talk, and it pays later in three ways: the Trainer dressphere, how hard Garik’s Battle Blockade is in Chapter 3, and how the Ronso’s Chapter 5 episode goes.

1. The arrival scene and Kimahri’s reunion are the 0.4%.
2. When Garik says the Ronso are not saved yet, choose “We’ll take care of Lian and Ayde.”
3. Kimahri. Talk to him again, twice if needed, until you are offered “You have to learn to deal with these things!” This is the first of two chances at Trainer — the same conversation in Chapter 2 is the second and last. Most guides say one correct answer in either chapter is enough, but one wants both and one counts only Chapter 2, so answer right both times. The dressphere itself comes from him in Chapter 3.
4. The other seven Ronso. Pick the supportive line each time one is offered:
   • “Leave it to the Gullwings!”
   • “I can imagine how you must feel…”
   • “I will never forget their sacrifice.”
   • “I’m sure you’re right.”
   • “I wouldn’t forgive them, either.”
5. The last Ronso is in the Fayth Scar cave. Teleporter behind Kimahri, choose Fayth Scar, and answer “A change for the better, I hope.”

Rapport talks score no Story Completion this chapter. Skip the mountain trail unless you want the AP; teleport to Mountain Gate and warp out.

Zanarkand Ruins

Isaaru is on the hill above the road; talk to him to clear the crowd. His first question has no right answer. The dome road has Pacce and the Kinderguardians, then Leblanc goons talking about a password. Ignore the password — Rikku will handle it.

Chests on the way down:

• Mega Phoenix at the next intersection.
• Phoenix Down near the end of the road.

The Behemoths here do not cast Meteor on death in this game. The monkeys steal gil on contact; steer round them.

The yellow merchant at the dome sells the usual restoratives and Holy Water, plus Iron Bangle and Silver Bracer (500) and Mythril Gloves and Defense Veil (1,000). The old Cloister of Trials chests have all been emptied by tourists. Go through, past the dancer, down the central lift, and save.

Cid’s question

Cid asks if you have a bone to pick with him. “You bet I do!” It scores nothing now but gives the follow-up Cid scene (0.2%) two windows, Chapter 2 and Chapter 3. “Not really.” leaves only the Chapter 3 window.

The Great Hall

Talk to the researcher beside Cid; the monkeys clear off. Six chests round the hall, monkeys still roaming:

Unopened chests here carry forward and grow in later chapters, so nothing is lost by missing one — but there is no reason to.

The Beyond: Heart Reborn

On the platform, a voice asks for the password (Rikku answers) and then the meaning of life. Answer “Is that you, Isaaru?” — it is his prank, and he gives you Heart Reborn. Any other answer forfeits it.

Heart Reborn: auto-abilities Cure and Life; the blue gate adds Cura, blue and red together Curaga. It turns any dressphere into a back-up healer, which is exactly what the next fight needs.

Boss: Guardian Beast

Two phases. Above roughly 1,000 HP it swipes three times and casts Curse. Below that it adds Damocles Photon, which takes half of every party member’s max HP. Shell halves that again.

• Thief first: Steal the Defense Veil and Pilfer Gil for 1,500, then change dressphere.
• Black Mage for the damage — any element works.
• White Mage, or Heart Reborn, to heal straight after each Photon.
• Berserk shuts the Photon off entirely: a Berserked Guardian Beast never casts it.

You win the Sphere Fragment, half of something. Back on the Celsius, Brother has heard about an “awesome sphere” in Kilika. Kilika ends the chapter. Before you go, read the closing list on the next page.