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Final Fantasy IX Walkthrough

Written by  Shotgunnova
Contributor

3.3: Defending Alexandria

Treasures: δHi-Potion, δElixir, δAngel Earrings (only one of the three can be obtained)

As Dagger, it will be time to organize the soldiers. Whether or not she assigns them correctly is based on the functions you may have seen on the first disc. Here's how they should all be assigned:

Function:
Send Out:
Gather Information
Blutzen & Kohel
Protect the Townspeople
Weimar & Haagen
Contact Lindblum to Request Reinforcements
Breireicht & Laudo
Begin Preparations to Fire the Cannons
Dojebon & Mullenkedheim

If you get them all correctly, Beatrix gives Dagger the δAngel Earrings; if you start messing up, the item's potential depreciates, giving you either an δElixir, δHi-Potion, or nothing. The view then changes to…

Beatrix and Steiner, fighting Mistodon (B)s out in the town! Put her δCross Helm onto Rusty, if you want, and equip him with something good (preferably not the δRebirth Ring). Equip Undead Killer and Insomniac, too, if you have it.

Kill the first Mistodon (B) in the ticketbooth square, and exit south. Another battle occurs when you try to head towards the bar; when you finally do, the 3rd battle happens (two at once). Both their attacks should do the trick, but the Seiken skills help, too. Heal up after each battle! Destroy the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th waves in the next alley, which come consecutively (Steiner will get an utterance in the last fight).

The view switches back to Dagger! She will be unable to leave and enter some siderooms, so just head up towards her room. Instead of entering it or the queen's chamber, take the left room to find an stairway up. Follow the new path to the altar. After a few Eiko scenes, the view's back to Zidane's crew.

Go up the stairs and save in the guardhouse. There's an optional boss that can be fought now for A great and rare accessory that teaches Auto-Haste, so you won't want to miss it. Put everyone into the back row (as magic potency doesn't change when in back) - you will be glad you did.

Tantarian
Tantarian
Boss Monster
Can't Flee
Type
Level
HP
MP
Gil
Exp
Attack
Magic Atk.
Demon
41
21997
1456
4472
12585
55
17
Evasion
Defense
Mag. Def.
Mag. Evade
Speed
Strength
Spirit
Eaten Magic
5
10
10
6
27
17
30
None
Stolen Items
Dropped Items
Dropped Card
Slot 1: δEther
Slot 2: δElixir
Slot 3: δSilver Fork
Slot 4: δDemon's Mail
♥Ramuh
Elemental Absorb
Elemental Immunities
None
None
Elemental Resistence
Elemental Weakness
Shadow
Holy
Status Immunity
Petrify, Venom, Virus, Silence, Trouble, Zombie, Confuse, Berserk, Stop, Auto-Life, Trance, Defend, Poison, Sleep, Regen, Float, Heat, Freeze, Vanish, Doom, Gradual Petrify
  

If you didn't beat it on Disc 2, this is the last time you will be able to fight it in the castle library. Equip the 'Bandit' skill, make sure that Freya can use Reis's Wind, put the δRebirth Ring on Amarant so he can use Revive, and make sure Vivi's got the Bio spell. Counter works well here too. Tantarian's got about 20,000 HP, and a few tricks up his sleeve:

Attack
Result
Edge
Physical damage to one target
Poison
Inflicts Poison on one target
Paper Storm
Physical damage to everyone
Doom
Inflicts Death Sentence on one target

Tantarian is susceptible to Darkness/Slow, so lead off with the δTent trick! It is actually a monster inside the book, and to damage it, you will have to attack, deal damage, then see if the page it opens to has the foe inside. Keep trying; his real state is between pages 150-200. Another way to do this is by using Steiner's Minus Strike, since Minus Strike deals consistent damage.

When Tantarian's true state is found, use only Bio on it! Physical attacks on his revealed state will only reset the process. When "opened" Tantarian will only use crap Poison magic, giving the party time to heal up to full for the next round with Doom and such. Use Chakra to replenish the MP supply, for both Vivi and Freya. Its δDemon's Mail is the only worthwhile item to steal, but is a bit hard to get… hope it turns out alright for you!

There is also the Auto-Reflect approach. Focusing on Tantarian when it's closed, bouncing a multi-target Fira off all allies (each will need to have the Auto-Reflect) will amount to four consecutive Fira hits on the boss, able to do 9999 if enough Focusing has been done. It makes the battle quite easy!

In any case, use Focus a few times; with the boost, Fira will murder the guy in the closed form!

Once you beat it, go back and save. When ready, head up the same path Dagger took and bring Zidane up the altar steps. It's off to…

Caves of Narshe: Final Fantasy IX
Version 6
©1997–2025 Josh Alvies (Rangers51)

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