Chapter 10: The Fifth Ark (Part 1)
Walkthrough

Concealed Vestige

The walkthrough for the Fifth Ark is broken up into two parts. The first section contains all the areas leading up to the confrontation with Cid Raines. If you are past this confrontation, navigate to the Fifth Ark Part 2 page using the navigation links.

The Fifth Ark from the outside during the opening cinematic

Upper Traverse

Map of the Upper Traverse on the Fifth Ark for Chapter 10

After a short discussion amongst the team members, with Snow looking sullen and keeping quiet in the corner, you will regain control of Lightning in this starting area with no one else in your party (yet).

Starting area of the Fifth Ark

You can wander around and talk to the other characters, though it serves no purpose, and you can also save your game at the Save Station nearby. Run down the hallway towards Vanille and Hope when you’re ready to continue.

Snow and Lightning will have a brief chat and then you will be back in control of a full party ready to move forward into the next area. There’s yet another Save Station just up ahead, but more importantly, take this time to rearrange your “Battle Team” so that it has the right party members and revisit your paradigms to make sure they are set up properly.

You can’t change the leader of your party just yet, but you will be able to soon. Take Lightning into the next area to continue the story with a brief explanation of where the team has found themselves.

Lightning in the second area of the Upper Traverse

Vestibular Hold

Map of the Vestibular Hold on the Fifth Ark for Chapter 10

Your team will automatically be thrown into battle against two Pulsework Knights so it’s important to set up your party ahead of this cutscene or you’ll be stuck with the default party members (Lightning, Snow and Vanille) and the default paradigms. You can always hit the StartButton and select “Retry” if you venture too far by accident.

These Pulsework Knights function very similarly to the ones that you’ve previously faced but, because they are new, you should use Libra on one of them to kick things off. The enemies in this area, including the Pulsework Knights, will inflict quite a bit of damage on your team members.

This will become easier and easier to deal with as you work your way through the Fifth Ark and press your way through each character’s Crystariums, but for now, be prepared to play rather defensively. Be ready to swap to the Diversity paradigm at a moment’s notice to have Hope start tossing out heals before your party member’s HP drops too low.

Battle against two Pulsework Soldiers involving Snow, Lightning and Vanille

At the end of this first battle, a notification window will pop up indicating that your party members can now take on any role (Commando, Ravager, Medic, Sentinel, Synergist or Saboteur).

It’s been mentioned before, but not all party members are created equal; some are much better at certain roles than others due to the stats and the abilities they have access to in their Crystariums as these are not the same between different characters.

Role Development Unlocked all combat roles

For example, Sazh will gain access to the Bravery status buff as a Synergist very early on in the game. He probably already has this ability. Lightning, Snow and Hope will gain this ability much later (in the highest levels of their Synergist Crystarium) whereas Vanille and Fang will never gain access to this ability as a Synergist.

All this information can be summarized as “some characters that are just plain better in certain roles than others”. Check out the “Best Party” page for more information.

Additionally, you can now swap out your party’s leader and make anyone the party leader. Just move the party member that you want to lead the party to the furthest left position when you are in the “Battle Team” menu. This is also the character that you will control when you close out of the menu screen.

There are a few enemies that spawn behind your team after the first battle. There are no rewards to pick up behind them and you can simply keep moving forward and ignore them, but as you’re probably noticing, the fights have become quite a bit tougher. There is some value in going back and defeating these groups of enemies for the sole purpose of earning additional Crystogen Points (CP).

The group of enemies up ahead includes one Pulsework Knight and one Circuitron. These Circuitron enemies come from the same family of enemies as the Bombs that they look like from earlier in the game. Just like those Bombs, they will cast “Self Destruct” if their health gets low or they start to take damage, so take them out first every time you fight them.

Lightning entering the split path area of the Fifth Ark facing a Pulsework Soldier and a Circuitron

To the right of this group is a group of two Pulsework Knights guarding a Treasure Sphere. Note that most of the other Pulsework Knights you face are easy to sneak up on given how slow they are and their predictable patrols, but these two will face you no matter what. Defeat them and open the Treasure Sphere which contains a Hero’s Amulet.

This accessory increases physical defense and will cast Bravery on the wearer if their HP drops low making it a somewhat useful accessory to equip to one of your characters.

Fang opening a Treasure Sphere that contains a Hero’s Amulet

Defeat the group of enemies on the next platform, which includes two Circuitrons and a Pulsework Knight, and then take the stairs down to the lower platform. Down here you will find a group of three Circuitrons guarding a Treasure Sphere that contains eight Bomb Shells. Keep following the pathway towards the map marker until you reach the Save Station up ahead.

Heading down the stairs towards the Treasure Sphere with the Bomb Shells

Lower Traverse

Map of the Lower Traverse on the Fifth Ark for Chapter 10

At the bottom of the stairs is a new group of enemies for you to face. These Noctilucale enemies are very similar to the Crawlers that you’ve fought with previously and they die just as easily.

Fang walking down the stairs into the Lower Traverse

They are also very slow-moving so it’s easy to sneak up on them, although, because you typically fight them in large groups, it’s hard to find a time when they’re all looking away long enough for you to sneak up and initiate a preemptive strike, but it’s worth giving it a try!

Just up ahead and to the left, guarding a Treasure Sphere, is your first group of enemies which include two Phosphoric Oozes (as well as three Noctilucale). This first group of Oozes is unlikely to transform into an Alchemic Ooze so defeat them quickly.

Open the Treasure Sphere to pick up a Saint’s Amulet which applies the Faith status effect when a character’s HP gets too critical. It's not very useful so don’t equip it to your party members right now.

There are two pathways up ahead, as shown on the map, one on the left and one on the right. The right pathway is a dead end so take the pathway on the left towards the group of 10 Noctilucales and defeat them.

Approaching a group of Noctilucale along the left pathway of the Fifth Ark

There’s another group of four Noctilucales with three Phosphoric Oozes to defeat. There is a high likelihood that if you damage one of the Oozes HP enough, without killing it, it will merge with another Ooze to create an Alchemic Ooze. Because of this, start by defeating the Noctilucales first. If an Alchemic Ooze spawns it will make the battle much more difficult as it has very high attack strength. Don’t forget to use Libra on it if it spawns to complete your Enemy Intel entry!

Battle against a group of Phosphoric Oozes that transform into a Alchemic Ooze

When you reach the end of the hallway take the pathway leading off to the right. You’ll see an illuminated blue circle indicating where you can jump up onto the platforms leading to the other tunnel area. Defeat the group of Noctilucale there and open the Treasure Sphere which contains ten vials of Medicinal Oil.

Fang climbing the stacks of metal using the blue illuminated circle to get to the Treasure Sphere with the Medicinal Oil

Head back down to the lower platform, continue forward, and this time take the walkway leading to the left. As you approach the next tunnel a group of four Phosphoric Oozes will spawn. Try to focus your attacks so that your characters all hit the target at the same time to prevent the oozes from merging and creating an Alchemic Ooze (unless you still need the Enemy Intel entry).

Ambushed by a group of four Phosporic Ooze

The end of the tunnel will have a broken open area that your party can jump up and climb through. It leads to another open area with a Save Station and a Treasure Sphere in the corner that contains a Rainbow Anklet. This accessory provides resistance to the Daze effect.

Approaching the Save Station at the end of the Lower Traverse

Proceed into the next area when you are ready.

High Conflux

Map of the High Conflux / Hibernatorium on the Fifth Ark for Chapter 10

The High Conflux map looks a lot more confusing than it is. There is a section of the ledge that you can use to drop down to the level below which is identified on the mini-map as the destination marker. There are also some pathways leading off to the side that extend around the outer ridge area that are primarily used if you need to climb back up.

Looking downward from the top level of the High Conflux

Charge forward and you will wind up battling two new enemies, a Skata’ne and a Stikini. These enemies are very similar to the Succubus and Incubus enemies you’ve faced before.

Focus your attacks on the Stikini first because it will use a move called “Forbidden Dance” which can inflict Daze, which is like the “Stop” status effect in previous Final Fantasy titles and prevents your characters from moving for a brief time. If you take them out quickly enough you won’t have to deal with the Daze status effect and you shouldn’t need to equip the Rainbow Anklet you just picked up, but it can help if you are having trouble.

Battle against a Stikini and a Ska’tane

Drop down to the ledge below, defeat the next set of Skata’ne and Stikini, and open the nearby Treasure Sphere to pick up 600 Gil.

Drop down one more level and defeat the last group of enemies which includes one Skata’ne, one Stikini and a Circuitron. Focus on the Circuitron first, then the Stikini, then the Skata’ne. Proceed through the doorway at the bottom and down the hallway.

Halfway down the hallway is a Save Station where you can save your game. There is nothing else in this hallway so keep following it down into the next area.

Fang exiting the High Conflux area running past the Save Station

Hibernatorium

A short cinematic will start as you enter this next room before two gigantic mechanical enemies called Berserkers will jump off their ledges and run toward your party.

It’s important to have one Berserker summon a Centaurion Blade to complete your Enemy Intel section, but aside from that necessity, the summoned blades are a real pain and will greatly slow down your fight against the Berserker (and probably cause a low Battle Results Rating at the end of the fight).

Berserkers are slow, lumbering enemies. It’s easy to predict their movement, to see when they’re turning around, and to bait them into chasing you if you get close enough before engaging in battle (at which point they will turn around to go back to their original spot). Try to engage all the Berserkers you see into a preemptive strike by sneaking up on them whenever you can.

They can be hit with Launch when they have been Staggered, which will stop their cast of “Forge Blade” and prevent you from having to fight a Centaurion Blade. Additionally, the fight automatically comes to an end even if the summoned blade is still alive, but the Berserker has been defeated, so focus your attacks on the Berserker unless the Centaurion Blade has been summoned at the start of the battle.

Opening cinematic of the Berserkers in the Hibernatorium of the Fifth Ark

There is a Treasure Sphere at the back of the room that you can grab after you’ve defeated both Berserkers. It contains a pair of Rigels, which are a new weapon for Sazh. Sazh likely isn’t in your party anyway, but these weapons will help him in his Ravager role if you have chosen to include him in your party.

Obtaining a pair of Rigels from the Treasure Sphere

At the end of the hallway is a device you can activate with the XButton to lower the elevator down to the next level.

Inner Conduit

Map of the Inner Conduit / Mezzanine on the Fifth Ark for Chapter 10

Save your game at the Save Station and proceed to the next area. Off to the right side of the entrance to this large room is a group of four Imps. You can ambush these Imps by jumping off the other level for a quick preemptive strike.

Fang entering the Inner Conduit area entrance

Open the Treasure Sphere in behind where they were dancing to receive an Auric Amulet. This amulet applies Shell automatically if the wearer’s HP drops to a critical level (i.e. when the screen flashes red). Its utility is limited so there’s no need to replace what your characters are already wearing with this accessory.

Travel over to the next group of enemies and defeat them. This rather large group includes two Phosphoric Oozes and three Imps. Focus attacks on the Oozes first to ideally prevent them from merging into an Alchemic Ooze.

Battle against an Alchemic Ooze which spawned from a Phosphoric Ooze

Continue down the hallway and a group of four more Phosphoric Oozes will spawn. The last group of enemies at the end of this hall includes two Phosphoric Oozes and four Imps.

Just up around the corner is a new enemy for you to face, a Greater Behemoth. This enemy is similar to the Feral Behemoths you’ve previously faced. Try to sneak up on it by baiting it from its current location and running towards it when it turns around to get a free preemptive strike.

Sneaking up on a Greater Behemoth in the hallways of the Fifth Ark

These enemies can be quite difficult to deal with, especially once they transform from their four-legged form to their secondary form where they stand up on two feet and attack you with a rotating buzzsaw. Be prepared to swap to defense paradigms like Diversity and even Protection if the damage gets to be too much.

Keep following the hallway until you reach the next group of enemies (three Phosphoric Oozes and an Imp). The pathway leading off to the right has a Treasure Sphere with an Alicanto inside of it. This is a new weapon for Hope; it is somewhat powerful but, in its current un-upgraded form, it comes with the “Stagger Lock” effect, which prevents Hope from initiating a Stagger with his attacks. This makes it a very poor weapon choice for now.

Opening a Treasure Sphere to obtain an Alicanto weapon for Hope

Just up ahead is an illuminated blue circle on the ground which you can use to jump up to the next level. A large group of 10 Noctilucale are waiting on the platform. You may get lucky and jump right on one, allowing you to initiate a preemptive strike, but either way, be prepared to do some healing as the amount of damage this amount of enemies can deal out can quickly become debilitating.

Use the next illuminated blue circle to continue jumping along the platforms up to the next level to fight another group of enemies that includes four Noctilucale and a Greater Behemoth. Take out the Noctilucale first and then focus on the Behemoth.

The Treasure Sphere behind this group of enemies contains seven Gargantuan Claws. Use the blue circles to jump back to the earlier staircase and this time continue following the pathway along and then down the hallway.

Fang wandering down the hallway after grabbing the Gargantuan Claws

Your next battle is against a lone Greater Behemoth. Just a little further down is a group of three Imps and a Greater Behemoth (these are relatively easy to get a preemptive strike against).

Finally, in the back corner of this larger room, is a group of four Imps guarding a Treasure Sphere that contains a Metal Armband.

There is another Treasure Sphere up near the Save Station that contains an Ethersol. Save your game and then it's time to prepare for the next boss fight.

The best way to prepare for this fight is to anticipate the heavy amounts of damage that your party members will take. Jump into the “Equipment” menu and select the Optimize option aiming for “Defense” which should help them to survive the onslaught.

Set up the following paradigms:

Fang approaching the Mezzanine area of the Fifth Ark

Mezzanine

Walk through the hallway when you’re ready for the next fight.

Boss Battle: Cid Raines
The start of the battle against Cid Raines after he has transformed

This is one of the more complex and challenging boss battles you’ve dealt with so far but it's also a ton of fun. Firstly, a quick overview of the boss and what to expect.

Cid essentially has his own paradigms that he will use throughout the battle called “Shifts”. These shifts are:

  • Offensive Shift: Heavy attacks against your party.
  • Defensive Shift: He will use “Guard” which will reduce the amount of damage dealt from your attacks.
  • Recovery Shift: He will either heal himself or remove debuffs from himself.

You can use your knowledge of his various paradigms/shifts to plan your attacks and anticipate incoming damage. Most importantly though, once his HP reaches ~60%, he will use a move called Metamorphose followed by a move called Seraphic Ray.

  • Metamorphose: Grows a set of wings, removes all your party’s buffs, removes any negative status effects from himself and primes him to use Seraphic Ray.
  • Seraphic Ray: Deals heavy damage to the entire party.

After Metamorphose has been used you will no longer be able to see which “Shift” Cid is in, but he also gains access to additional roles similar to the Synergist and Saboteur role which will see him blanket your party with debuffs or cast several negative status effects on your party.

Cid Raines transformation cinematic

Strategy
Start with your party in the Evened Odds paradigm which will allow Hope to get some helpful spells cast including Protect and Shell. During the early phase of the fight, have Fang use Libra and then try to get a Slow cast on Cid Raines but don’t spend more than two or three turns trying. This spell fails often, and you may get unlucky; it's not worth spending too much time in this paradigm.

Switch over to Relentless Assault or Diversity, depending on whether your party members need heals. Remember that you should have two Relentless Assault paradigms to swap between the two to utilize the ATB Refresh tactic.

Keep an eye on Cid Raines HP meter for when it gets close to 60% and make sure your party members are fully healed. Once you reach this stage of the fight you will need to be very strategic and reactionary to what Cid Raines does.

Cid Raines using his Seraphic Ray attack

Swap to the Protection paradigm as soon as you see Cid use Metamorphose (and reduce the game speed if you’re having trouble swapping in time). This will allow your party to quickly recover after he uses Seraphic Ray. Then your paradigm use should be as follows:

  • Relentless Assault / Diversity when Cid is guarding, healing, or otherwise not dealing damage to your party
  • Decimation if Cid wipes out Hope’s Synergist buffs and if they need to be reapplied
  • Evened Odds for the same reason as Decimation but if you need to heal as well, also if Cid buffs himself, you should use Fang’s Dispel ability to remove his status buffs
  • Protection if the damage gets to be too much

This is a tough fight so if you’re having trouble with it consider venturing back into the Fifth Ark hallway areas and battling more enemies to build up Crystogen Points (CP) to spend in your character’s Crystariums.

Congratulations! This is one of the more challenging fights up to this point in the game. Don’t forget to change out your default paradigm before you move forward.

Ending cinematic after defeating Cid Raines

Ride the elevator at the end of the hall down to the next level. Your party will be ambushed by a group of Circuitrons that drop down from above. The next section of the Fifth Ark is continued on the next page of the walkthrough.