Dollet
Upon reaching the shore, Quistis reminds you to junction your GFs before proceeding - divide them among the 3 and transfer magic from Quistis if you have to. While on this mission, don’t converse with Squad A or C members (except for Selphie), follow orders, and finish off all enemies quickly. Instructors in this field exam are assessing you. For the moment, follow Seifer to the top of the stairs.
Near the Save Point, the group comes upon 2 Galbadian guards. Attack normally and stock up on Cure spells. Have Squall practice using the Gunblade’s [R1] trigger feature to cause extra damage. Note that Seifer’s Hyperion also has this feature but the timing is a bit faster. Continue following Seifer to the central square.
Once there, Seifer orders the party to eliminate any remaining guards. Follow the upper right alley and take out all guards there. Ultimately, Seifer loses his patience and decides to check things out ahead. Follow him. After the party crosses a bridge, they chance upon some injured Dollet troops. One is dragged away by a monster before Squall can reach him. The Anacondaur is weak against Ice, so use Shiva on it.
Afterwards, follow the path to the communcations tower, defeating more enemies along the way. When Seifer runs off, Selphie arrives to conveniently replace him. Transfer Seifer’s GF and magic over to her then head right around the cliff (you can jump off if you want, but instructors will give you lower marks). Meet Selphie at the tower entrance and name her. When ready, enter the communication tower. Once inside, use the Blind DP then save your game. Ride the elevator to the top.
The group stumbles upon Wedge (blue) and Biggs (red), who are trying to repair the satellite. Once it’s fixed, the party engages them in battle.
BOSS x 2 >> BIGGS & WEDGE
HP: 610 / 608 Weakness: Poison Strength: ?
AP: 8 Draw: Fire, Thunder, Blizzard, Esuna / Fire, Thunder, Blizzard, Cure
Strategy: Spend some time drawing magic out (especially Esuna) before eliminating them with GFs. Keep everyone’s health up, but save some potions and Cure spells for the fight that will take place immediately after defeating them.
BOSS >> ELVORET
HP: 2,872 Weakness: Wind Strength: Poison
AP: 10 Draw: Thunder, Cure, Double, Siren GF
Strategy: Draw GF Siren from Elvoret then unleash everything you’ve got (save a few Thunder spells and items). Watch out for Storm Breath, which does 100+ damage to everyone. Use healing spells and items as necessary, and take advantage of limit breaks when they become available.
Afterwards, you’ll receive the March issue of Weapons Monthly and have 30-minutes to get back to the beach. When you regain control of your characters, quickly board the lift and descend. Biggs activates a defense mechanism that is set to chase you all the way back. Save your game then exit to fight the X-ATM092 for the first time.
BOSS >> X-ATM092
HP: 5,492 Weakness: Thunder Strength: Poison
AP: 0 or 50 Draw: Fire, Blizzard, Cure, Protect
Strategy: Hit it with Thunder spells then attack normally (Quezacotl works well but eats up the timer, so use the GF at your own risk). If you do about 1,100 worth of damage quickly, the machine will not get a chance to use Ray-Bomb. When it collapses, escape by pressing the R2 and L2 buttons simultaneously. While it’s possible to defeat this boss, it isn’t likely, so run when you get the chance.
Run through the city, while trying to avoid the X-ATM092 another 3 times. If it catches you, you’ll have to fight it again. Use the exact same strategy each time. When you reach the central square, dash towards the dog and tap [X] repeatedly to make it run away. As you head down the last alleyway, the game switches to an FMV showing Squall’s escape.
Exploring Balamb City
Explore Balamb City after Quistis dismisses you. Head south and enter the Hotel. In the 2nd floor guestroom, find an edition of Timber Maniacs and save your game. [From Disk 2 onwards, you can view any issues of Timber Maniacs you’ve collected via Squall’s study panel.] Leave the Hotel and continue heading west. Use the Thunder DP in front of the Junk Shop. Further west, visit the Item Shop and the Train Station. Return to the draw point and enter the first house on your right. Say hello to Zell’s mom then leave. Pay a visit to the folks in the next house if you like then head back to Balamb Garden.
Party In The Garden
Speak with Cid in the lobby then head right to find Seifer complaining about the mission. After Xu scolds him, the intercom announces that all SeeD candidates are to gather on the 2nd floor. Take the elevator up and talk to everyone there. When Squall tries to leave, the results are announced.
Squall, Zell, Selphie and another student (Nida) are inducted into SeeD. Talk to Cid before you leave to get the Battle Meter, which keeps track of your party’s battle stats. Access it from the Tutorial sub-menu, under Information. You should get a decent score even without defeating X-ATMO92. SeeD Tests are also available now in the menu screen. Attaining full marks in each test increases Squall’s SeeD Rank and salary.
SeeD Ranking System:
Conduct: Reach the shore at Dollet with 25:00 left on the clock to score 100.
Judgment: Defeat Ifrit in the Fire Cavern with :07 left on the clock to score 100.
Attack: Defeat 75 enemies in total (not counting enemies downed by GFs).
Spirit: Never escape from battles (except for the first X-ATM092 encounter) to score 100.
Attitude: Don’t converse with anyone in Balamb City before the Dollet mission, ignore all Squad A and C members while in Dollet, leave the defeated Biggs alone, follow all of Seifer’s orders, don’t take the shortcut at the cliff, save the dog from the X-ATM092 and refrain from hiding in the cafe.
Go to the Dorm and change into your formal attire. Selphie arrives to take you to the inauguration party. Once there, Squall bumps into Rinoa. Selphie will ask Squall to join the School Festival Committee unless you already agreed to join when you spoke to her earlier. After the dance scene, Quistis asks Squall to meet her at the training center. Change into your normal attire then head over to the Training Center.
Training Center
When you arrive, Quistis gives you a tutorial on status effects. When she’s finished, move forward into the Training Center and take the right path over to a Blizzard DP. Move ahead until you reach a Save Point and enter the lit door to the north.
After chatting in the ‘secret place,’ exit and head west, back towards the entrance. On the way, the duo chances upon a mysterious girl being attacked by some creatures.
BOSS >> RALDO x 3
HP: 223 Weakness: ? Strength: ?
AP: 3 Draw: Fire, Thunder, Protect
BOSS >> GRANALDO
HP: 1,538 Weakness: Wind Strength: ?
AP: 5 Draw: Sleep, Shell, Blind
Strategy: This critter is accompanied by 3 flunkies, so just use a GF to take them out first right at the start of the fight. After that, draw Shell magic from Granaldo before offing it at your own leisure. It’s pathetically weak once you get rid of its flunkies. Try putting the Granaldo to sleep with its Sleep spell.
After the battle, leave the Training Center and return to the Dorm.
Upon reaching the shore, Quistis reminds you to junction your GFs before proceeding - divide them among the 3 and transfer magic from Quistis if you have to. While on this mission, don’t converse with Squad A or C members (except for Selphie), follow orders, and finish off all enemies quickly. Instructors in this field exam are assessing you. For the moment, follow Seifer to the top of the stairs.
Near the Save Point, the group comes upon 2 Galbadian guards. Attack normally and stock up on Cure spells. Have Squall practice using the Gunblade’s [R1] trigger feature to cause extra damage. Note that Seifer’s Hyperion also has this feature but the timing is a bit faster. Continue following Seifer to the central square.
Once there, Seifer orders the party to eliminate any remaining guards. Follow the upper right alley and take out all guards there. Ultimately, Seifer loses his patience and decides to check things out ahead. Follow him. After the party crosses a bridge, they chance upon some injured Dollet troops. One is dragged away by a monster before Squall can reach him. The Anacondaur is weak against Ice, so use Shiva on it.
Afterwards, follow the path to the communcations tower, defeating more enemies along the way. When Seifer runs off, Selphie arrives to conveniently replace him. Transfer Seifer’s GF and magic over to her then head right around the cliff (you can jump off if you want, but instructors will give you lower marks). Meet Selphie at the tower entrance and name her. When ready, enter the communication tower. Once inside, use the Blind DP then save your game. Ride the elevator to the top.
The group stumbles upon Wedge (blue) and Biggs (red), who are trying to repair the satellite. Once it’s fixed, the party engages them in battle.
BOSS x 2 >> BIGGS & WEDGE
HP: 610 / 608 Weakness: Poison Strength: ?
AP: 8 Draw: Fire, Thunder, Blizzard, Esuna / Fire, Thunder, Blizzard, Cure
Strategy: Spend some time drawing magic out (especially Esuna) before eliminating them with GFs. Keep everyone’s health up, but save some potions and Cure spells for the fight that will take place immediately after defeating them.
BOSS >> ELVORET
HP: 2,872 Weakness: Wind Strength: Poison
AP: 10 Draw: Thunder, Cure, Double, Siren GF
Strategy: Draw GF Siren from Elvoret then unleash everything you’ve got (save a few Thunder spells and items). Watch out for Storm Breath, which does 100+ damage to everyone. Use healing spells and items as necessary, and take advantage of limit breaks when they become available.
Afterwards, you’ll receive the March issue of Weapons Monthly and have 30-minutes to get back to the beach. When you regain control of your characters, quickly board the lift and descend. Biggs activates a defense mechanism that is set to chase you all the way back. Save your game then exit to fight the X-ATM092 for the first time.
BOSS >> X-ATM092
HP: 5,492 Weakness: Thunder Strength: Poison
AP: 0 or 50 Draw: Fire, Blizzard, Cure, Protect
Strategy: Hit it with Thunder spells then attack normally (Quezacotl works well but eats up the timer, so use the GF at your own risk). If you do about 1,100 worth of damage quickly, the machine will not get a chance to use Ray-Bomb. When it collapses, escape by pressing the R2 and L2 buttons simultaneously. While it’s possible to defeat this boss, it isn’t likely, so run when you get the chance.
Run through the city, while trying to avoid the X-ATM092 another 3 times. If it catches you, you’ll have to fight it again. Use the exact same strategy each time. When you reach the central square, dash towards the dog and tap [X] repeatedly to make it run away. As you head down the last alleyway, the game switches to an FMV showing Squall’s escape.
Exploring Balamb City
Explore Balamb City after Quistis dismisses you. Head south and enter the Hotel. In the 2nd floor guestroom, find an edition of Timber Maniacs and save your game. [From Disk 2 onwards, you can view any issues of Timber Maniacs you’ve collected via Squall’s study panel.] Leave the Hotel and continue heading west. Use the Thunder DP in front of the Junk Shop. Further west, visit the Item Shop and the Train Station. Return to the draw point and enter the first house on your right. Say hello to Zell’s mom then leave. Pay a visit to the folks in the next house if you like then head back to Balamb Garden.
Party In The Garden
Speak with Cid in the lobby then head right to find Seifer complaining about the mission. After Xu scolds him, the intercom announces that all SeeD candidates are to gather on the 2nd floor. Take the elevator up and talk to everyone there. When Squall tries to leave, the results are announced.
Squall, Zell, Selphie and another student (Nida) are inducted into SeeD. Talk to Cid before you leave to get the Battle Meter, which keeps track of your party’s battle stats. Access it from the Tutorial sub-menu, under Information. You should get a decent score even without defeating X-ATMO92. SeeD Tests are also available now in the menu screen. Attaining full marks in each test increases Squall’s SeeD Rank and salary.
SeeD Ranking System:
Conduct: Reach the shore at Dollet with 25:00 left on the clock to score 100.
Judgment: Defeat Ifrit in the Fire Cavern with :07 left on the clock to score 100.
Attack: Defeat 75 enemies in total (not counting enemies downed by GFs).
Spirit: Never escape from battles (except for the first X-ATM092 encounter) to score 100.
Attitude: Don’t converse with anyone in Balamb City before the Dollet mission, ignore all Squad A and C members while in Dollet, leave the defeated Biggs alone, follow all of Seifer’s orders, don’t take the shortcut at the cliff, save the dog from the X-ATM092 and refrain from hiding in the cafe.
Go to the Dorm and change into your formal attire. Selphie arrives to take you to the inauguration party. Once there, Squall bumps into Rinoa. Selphie will ask Squall to join the School Festival Committee unless you already agreed to join when you spoke to her earlier. After the dance scene, Quistis asks Squall to meet her at the training center. Change into your normal attire then head over to the Training Center.
Training Center
When you arrive, Quistis gives you a tutorial on status effects. When she’s finished, move forward into the Training Center and take the right path over to a Blizzard DP. Move ahead until you reach a Save Point and enter the lit door to the north.
After chatting in the ‘secret place,’ exit and head west, back towards the entrance. On the way, the duo chances upon a mysterious girl being attacked by some creatures.
BOSS >> RALDO x 3
HP: 223 Weakness: ? Strength: ?
AP: 3 Draw: Fire, Thunder, Protect
BOSS >> GRANALDO
HP: 1,538 Weakness: Wind Strength: ?
AP: 5 Draw: Sleep, Shell, Blind
Strategy: This critter is accompanied by 3 flunkies, so just use a GF to take them out first right at the start of the fight. After that, draw Shell magic from Granaldo before offing it at your own leisure. It’s pathetically weak once you get rid of its flunkies. Try putting the Granaldo to sleep with its Sleep spell.
After the battle, leave the Training Center and return to the Dorm.
