Final Fantasy IV: Ultima #17 - Tower of Zot I

Final Fantasy IV: Ultima is a hack by 8-bit fan that aims to present a more expansive version of the classic. New weapons, spells, bosses, and a modified overworld are just a few of the changes on tap. The latest version of the patch can always be found here: https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/4134/ Gonna go save Rosa, but first...off screen grinding to get those drops from the enemies in Magnes Cave. Cecil & Yang are going to be the only two characters I need to fly through the Tower of Zot. Before that though, there's that exploration of Mist I skipped over last time. There's a few random Bomb Parts lying around the grass and a couple new weapons to potentially buy at the weapon shop, but the real loot is in Rydia's house (allegedly). There's a hidden passage behind the fireplace leading to a couple junky pieces of equipment, but one good piece in the Gold Hairpin. A second hidden passage to the east of those chests lead to a Change Rod. With that detour out of the way, it's time to go save Rosa. Evidently Kain took a warp to where Golbez is because Cecil gets dumped at the lowest part of the tower and has to run up it. Enemies are starting to pick up a bit in power. Nothing that my duo has an issue with killing though. Even the Slimes with their insane defense get melted because Cecil can equip the Gaea Hammer and use it to kill them all in one fell swoop. For the first floor, stick to the western wall and go north to claim a Flame Mail from the chest. Despite the name, it actually gives ice resistance, but a weakness to fire. It also makes the Cursed Ring an interesting idea. Yeah, -15 to all stats is rather nasty, but its hidden property converts all resistances into absorptions. Could be useful down the line. From that chest, just go directly east to the elevator up to the next level. Go southwest all the way, then west & north to find an elevator up to the next level and a monster trapped chest. Killing the FlameDog within will grant an aptly named Flame Sword, an improvement in damage over Cecil's Gungnir. 3F has no chests so just find your way to the northwest corner (either path to the east will work to get there) to reach the next floor. 4F has four elevators going up to the fifth floor. The eastern most elevator is the one you need to take, but the other three all lead to treasure. Among the loot is a Wizard Hat & Robe, Flame Shield, and Yang's other best claw in the game, the Cat Claw. Adds +5 to his strength & agility and can inflict sleep, paralysis, and curse. Basically, Yang's now a walking Malboro factory of ailment inflicting...assuming he doesn't outright kill his target first. Upon taking the far eastern 4F elevator to 5F, you'll run into a save point at the first door. Heal up because when you try to go to the next elevator, you find out Golbez KINDA decided to leave some guards at the elevator, none other than the Magus Sisters. The Magus Sisters are comprised, from left to right, Sandy, Cindy, and Mindy. They have a one track mind for their big strategy. Sandy casts Wall on Cindy, then Cindy attacks someone, then Mindy bounces a spell off of Cindy, supposedly claiming to be a "Delta Attack". Not the worst damage you'll take unless it's a reflected Virus spell which can do 500+ damage. Strategy is simple...Cindy needs to die first because she can revive the others. Once you can do that (after chewing through Cindy's pretty bulky hp pool), the others will fall quickly, though watch out for Sandy's Charm & Bserk spells (though the latter is clearly a death sentence for them here as Yang demonstrates). More next time!