Story, Party & Substories

The twelve progression trophies: all eight chapters, every party member and their substory, the first chocobo and the airship. None of them can be missed, and every substory stays available after the credits.

Party members and their substories

Substory chapters are the latest point each one is open by; some appear a chapter earlier.

Every substory, step by step

A New Leaf (Rain)

1. Talk to the king of Grandshelt.
2. Ask about Raegen in the Town of Mitra.
3. Find the flower at Waterfall Way (Olderion).
4. Speak to Raegen on the airship deck.

Reward: Knight's Medallion  ·  Rain's stat bonus: HP +100, MP +30, Stamina +30, Strength +20

The Twin Titleholders (Lasswell)

1. Talk to the witnesses in Gaberada.
2. Defeat the Adamandelion on the island near Olderion.
3. Report to the village elder in Gaberada.
4. Go to the Lost Cave just north of Grandshelt Castle.

Reward: Crest of Criticality  ·  Lasswell's stat bonus: HP +100, MP +30, Strength +30, Speed +20

Shimmering Reflections (Fina)

1. Go to the Earth Crystal chamber in the Earth Shrine (north Grandshelt).
2. Speak to Siren at the top of Siren's Tower.
3. Go to Olderion, the Aquapolis.
4. Finish at Lake Dorr.

Reward: Blessed Pendant  ·  Fina's stat bonus: HP +100, MP +30, Spirit +30, Magic +20

Beyond the Blue (Lid)

1. Find the blueprints at the Mobliz Shipyard.
2. Take them to the shipyard in Dilmagia.
3. Talk to Evan on the airship.
4. Speak to the chairman at the Dilmagia shipyard.

Reward: Chocobo Nitro  ·  Lid's stat bonus: HP +100, MP +30, Strength +25, Magic +25

Nichol's Duty (Nichol)

1. Talk to the fishermen in Olderion.
2. Visit the God of Water at Lake Dorr.
3. Investigate the south-east of the Olderion Federation (a sahagin).
4. Follow the merchant and the sahagin to the Cave of Waters.
5. Return to Lake Dorr: Leviathan's trial, then Leviathan joins as an Esper.

Reward: Enchanted Ring  ·  Nichol's stat bonus: HP +100, MP +30, Magic +30, Speed +20

Token Legacy (Jake)

1. Speak to the Info Dealer in the Zoldaad slums.
2. Ride the Timber Tracks from Capital Station.
3. Investigate Kellis Station.
4. Talk to Shera in Zoldaad Castle. (This unlocks Amelia's Errand's End.)

Reward: Trick Coin  ·  Jake's stat bonus: HP +100, MP +30, Strength +30, Stamina +20

Last Respite (Archwitch Fina)

1. Show her around Grandshelt (two stops).
2. Go to the castle garrison.
3. Talk to the king of Grandshelt.
4. Talk to her on the airship deck.

Reward: Moonlight Ring  ·  Archwitch Fina's stat bonus: HP +100, MP +30, Magic +30, Strength +20

Mysidia, Ever Blooming (Sakura)

1. Go to the forbidden-text wing of the Arcane Library.
2. Climb to the top of the Tower of Mysidia.
3. Head for the desert island north-west of Grandshelt.
4. Visit the grave in Mysidia.

Reward: Amulet of Magic Absorption  ·  Sakura's stat bonus: HP +100, MP +30, Magic +30, Spirit +20

Chapters at a glance

The full route, every story boss and every chapter's collectibles are on our chapter walkthrough.

The trophies

A Journey Begins

BronzeFull guideCollapse

Clear chapter 1.

TypeBronze

MissableNo

How to earn it

Story trophy for Chapter 1, Tailing the Truth. The route runs Grandshelt Castle → Earth Shrine → Mitra (Leah and Tronn) → the attack on Grandshelt → Kol (chocobo) → Felicitas → Kolobos Ruins → Grandport → Siren's Tower. Bosses: Belmodar (Fire), Hell's Rider (bring Antidote Herbs), a scripted loss to Umbra, The Hunger (Light; it revives once and calls adds) and Siren (Lightning: equip Tronn, cure Charm). Board the ship at Grandport to finish.

Tip

Open Oblivion Palace (just south-east of Grandport Harbour) as soon as you can: turning in 3 Tablet Shards there pops Princess's Reward.

Those Who Unite the Skies

BronzeFull guideCollapse

Clear chapter 2.

TypeBronze

MissableNo

How to earn it

Story trophy for Chapter 2, Eternal Blue, in Dirnado. Lid joins at the Dilmagia shipyard, then it's Mt. Thunderclap (pay her 1,000 gil for the short route), the Dwarven Forge, the Mobliz Shipyard (pull lever 16 only in the control room) and the Wind Shrine. Bosses: Liquid Thunder (Earth), Mom Bomb (splits into four Great Bombs at low HP), Adrastea (Water or Lightning) and Aether (Ice).

Tip

After the Mobliz Shipyard events, go back to the Dwarven Forge and talk to Verun: that's the start of Mechabo Mania, and it's easy to forget.

Olderion Blues

BronzeFull guideCollapse

Clear chapter 3.

TypeBronze

MissableNo

How to earn it

Story trophy for Chapter 3, Wardens of the Aquapolis, in Olderion. Nichol joins in the Cave of Waters; rest at the Olderion inn after Lake Dorr to trigger the flood, then Waterfall Way, Amore and the Water Shrine (the hidden R'lyeh Text is behind the switches Left, Right, Left). Bosses: Wave Lopros (Ice), Water Dragon, Leviathan and Alluvion (all Lightning).

Tip

The Rukh and Mindflayer caves are both here at around levels 26–28: good early Cave Masters for Magicite Hunter and the Magicite they drop.

Viva la Revolución

BronzeFull guideCollapse

Clear chapter 4.

TypeBronze

MissableNo

How to earn it

Story trophy for Chapter 4, Banner Oath, in Zoldaad: Mozul Station, the Imperial Capital, the Rebel Hideout (Jake), the lava Weapons Factory and Zoldaad Castle (Dungeon Key from a guard, Throne Room Key from the captain, and you can talk him out of a fight). Bosses: Ignis (a scripted loss, then Water), Emperor Sosa (Water; the Kaiser Sword is left of the throne) and Lazarov with his test subjects aboard the Enterprise (Earth; The Hunger v5 is weak to Light). The Colosseum reopens in Grandshelt this chapter.

Tip

Clear the Fledgling League while you're here: battle 2 gives Adamantite, battle 3 the Ancient Greatsword and battle 5 the Gaia Hammer that frees Titan.

In Search of the Truth

BronzeFull guideCollapse

Clear chapter 5.

TypeBronze

MissableNo

How to earn it

Story trophy for Chapter 5, Scars of Time. Mysidia is hidden by magic: fly over the sea south and slightly east of Pharm and use Radar Pulse, following Lid's hints. Sakura joins (Those Who Defy Fate), then the Village of Sunioo, the Nameless Ruins, the Arcane Library (five Monster Tomes), Fina's Psyche and the Tower of Mysidia. Bosses: Slagworm (Wind), Byblos (Fire or Dark) and Tellus (Wind).

Tip

With the airship most of the map opens: the Chamber of Arms, Whirlpool Hollow (Sephiroth), the Mysidia shrines and Ifrit's volcano are all reachable now.

And the Winner Is...

BronzeFull guideCollapse

Clear chapter 6.

TypeBronze

MissableNo

How to earn it

Story trophy for Chapter 6, Tranquility, in Gronoa. In the Research Centre Ruins collect the level 1, 2 and 3 key cards (teleporters Right, Left, Right for the optional Fortress Gear) and take the White Jade Stone to the Gaberada elder: Fina learns Holy and clears the miasma. Then the Rugged Mountain Path (hidden Kumobashiri), Duggle, the Gronoa Shrine and the Sanctissimus Shrine's boss gauntlet: Archaroaevis (shifting weakness), Dad Bomb (Fire), Test Rider, Yakhanati, two Arch Gargoyles (kill them together), a Dragon (Lightning) and Gelidus (Fire). The Hero's Blade is in a hidden west passage before the last lift.

Tip

Pick up the radar part from the man hidden behind the Gaberada inn: Aileen's crafting, an Adamantite and two Legendary Arms all depend on it.

Past Glory

BronzeFull guideCollapse

Clear chapter 7.

TypeBronze

MissableNo

How to earn it

Story trophy for Chapter 7, Reckoning, in Pharm: fly into the tornado south of Pharm, then the Town of Sian (Ayaka), Mt. Reizan (the High-Power Generator chest for the Ancient Hammer is on the story path), the Forest Path and the Wandering Lands (Silver Key in the first east dead end of the second screen). You refight the Sworn Six: Aether (Ice), Ignis (Water), Alluvion (Lightning), Tellus (Wind) and Umbra (Light). Bahamut can be challenged from the airship any time this chapter.

Tip

Collect your 89th Tablet Shard around Mt. Reizan if you've been thorough: that opens the last Adamantite at Oblivion Palace.

Aspiration's End

BronzeFull guideCollapse

Clear chapter 8.

TypeBronze

MissableNo

How to earn it

Story trophy for Chapter 8, Beyond Hope: the Crystal Tower. Grab Laevateinn and a Megalixir up the left staircase, the Ancient Katana at the save point, then cross the invisible bridges (Book of Eibon, a Tablet Shard, the Hastur Long Barrel, the Dragon Whisker and the Faerie Bow are on the side paths). Dark Bahamut is weak to Light or Wind. The final teleporter is the point of no return: the last bosses are a Dark-weak guardian and The Patronizing Pride (Light in phase 1, then check each part's weakness). Load your clear save afterwards for free roam.

Tip

Make a manual save before the last boss. You have one autosave slot and ten manual ones.

Those Who Defy Fate

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Unlock all party members.

TypeBronze

MissableNo

How to earn it

Unlocked when all eight party members have joined. They're all story recruits, so it can't be missed; the last one joins automatically in Chapter 5.

Tip

Characters you don't use still need Adamantite weapons and substories later, so keep everyone's gear reasonable.

Conscience Renewed

BronzeFull guideCollapse

Clear all party member substories.

TypeBronze

MissableNo

How to earn it

Complete all eight party member substories: A New Leaf (Rain), The Twin Titleholders (Lasswell), Shimmering Reflections (Fina), Beyond the Blue (Lid), Nichol's Duty (Nichol), Token Legacy (Jake), Last Respite (Archwitch Fina) and Mysidia, Ever Blooming (Sakura). They're blue-marker sub quests of four or five steps, mostly travel and conversations, with one Adamandelion fight in Lasswell's. Each gives an accessory and a permanent stat bonus; every step is on our story page.

Tip

Do the substories before the late Cave Masters: each one rewards its character with a permanent stat boost.

Kweh!

BronzeFull guideCollapse

Obtain a chocobo.

TypeBronze

MissableNo

How to earn it

Story trophy: you get your first chocobo in Chapter 1 when you reach the Village of Kol. If you played the demo and load its save, it pops automatically.

Tip

Chocobos skip random encounters on the world map, which is great when you're hunting Tablet Shards.

Airship Enterprise

BronzeFull guideCollapse

Obtain an airship.

TypeBronze

MissableNo

How to earn it

Story trophy at the start of Chapter 5, when you get the airship, the Enterprise. Press Square while flying to go on board: Aileen, Evan and the Moogle of Light all end up on the deck.

Tip

Land everywhere once you have it. Most of the optional content (Chamber of Arms, Whirlpool Hollow, Dragon's Maw, Ardra Crater) needs it.