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| Z A P P I N G + Z E R O M U S |
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      - Version 2.0, Nov 12, 2001
      (Original Version, Feb 1997)



Zeromus is the product of the hatred and trauma that Zemus experiences
as he is killed by Golbez and FuSoYa's Dual Meteo spell. A variety of
attacks, spells, and a unique AI scheme gel into a serious threat.
Use the following hints to plan your grand assault against this
monstrosity.

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PROFILE
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NAME: Zeromus
SPECIES: The Absolute Dark Substance (hatred incarnate)
ATTACKS: Big Bang, Black Hole, Meteo, Virus, Weak, Nuke
MOST DEADLY: Virus/Weak (Viral Storm) combo series
APPEARANCES: Moon Core

Strategies For Victory

The Caller (Rydia)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


The Dragoon (Kain)
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  • Equip him with the Lance of White before Paladin uses the Crystal. Being
    a creature of darkness, Zeromus is fairly weak against it. (actually, there
    seems to be no noticable bonus for using the white lance aside from its
    higher attack power.)

  • Keep in the air/space/whatever with the Jump skill. Carefully
    timed, the Jump skill will keep you out of harm's way throughout most of
    the fight.

  • If injured by Big Bang, use an elixer before resuming your airial assault.


The Ninja (Edge)
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
  • Equip the Murasame and the Masamune before Paladin uses the
    Crystal.

  • Alternate between the roles of attacker, potion administer,
    and defender as need arises. Example: W.Wizard has exausted her MP on Cure4
    spells. If another Big Bang hits, the party will be in a less than enviable
    position. Ninja to the rescue! Administer an Ether2 to W.Wizard,
    thereby enabling her to cast spells and save the party.

  • Throughout the last third of the game, the command most used by
    Ninja on villians is "Throw". In this battle, you may find that Ninja
    fails to throw certain items, such as the Defense Sword. Keep in mind
    that any item thrown WILL be lost, whether or not it inflicts damage
    on Zeromus.

  • If you don't have items/weapons to throw, use the "Fight" command
    instead..


The W.Wizard (Rosa)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
  • AVOID THEM ARROWS!! The damage caused usually never makes it to four
    digits, and the party probably needs healing anyway.

  • Cast Cure4 immediately following every Big Bang spell. If Big Bang
    does not occur, then cast Fast on a party member or Wall on yourself.
    Avoid White, or Zeromus will respond with the crippling Weak spell.

  • Keep in the fight at all costs. Your spells are vital to the party's
    survival. If down you go-- just once-- then it's probably game over.
    NEVER carry a virus if you can help it!!

  • Your Magic Power must last, so partake of an Ether2 or an Elixer if
    your MP is low.


The Paladin (Cecil)
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
  • Begin your fight with the Crystal given to you by your brother,
    Golbez.

  • Use your most powerful sword against Zeromus.

  • Fight continuously. Cast Cure2 upon weakened party members.


GENERAL STRATEGY
<<<<<<<||>>>>>>>

  • The average level of all party members should be 65. Work hard to keep the
    entire party conscious, because the ATB v.1 battle system will award Zeromus
    extra speed for every character unable to fight. The battle gets out of hand
    very quickly when only three of five characters are standing.


  • The second attack launched by Zeromus will be the Big Bang. You can tell
    that this attack is coming by watching Zeromus for a slight, audible vibration.
    The average damage caused is 2500 per casting to all characters. (depending on
    the quality of your armor, actual injuries may be higher or lower than this
    number)


  • Black Hole removes Wall, Slow, Fast, etc. when they're cast on
    party members.


  • NEVER take on Zeromus with only one party member, even if they
    are at level 99. (see below)


  • The Viral Storm combo can K.O. anyone, no matter how powerful,
    in 2 seconds. At some point in the battle Zeromus may cast VIRUS upon the
    entire party, instituting an HP leak of 10-20 damage per
    second. A trap is set. During the second third of the battle, Zeromus may
    begin casting Weak upon your party members. The afflicted character's Hit Points
    will immediately drop to 9 or less. Before any action can be taken to heal Weak's
    target, the HP leak will K.O. him or her. This is a serious threat to the party.
    Be ready for it.

    Better your chances at evading the Viral Storm by avoiding offensive call
    spells and the White spell. Call magic will prompt a viral attack, and any white
    magic spell will set off an immediate storm spell upon the most viable target...


  • If Zeromus casts Weak on a party member who has been cured of Virus, the chances
    are high that a Nuke spell will follow in an attempt to K.O. the weakened
    character. For this reason, W.Wizard should always cast Wall on herself after
    every Black Hole.


  • As the climatic battle draws to a close, Zeromus will call upon a
    symbolic last resort: the Meteo spell. Meteo is weakened in this
    incarnation; however, Zeromus' speed is now twice what it was. Rosa's
    White spell is especially useful here: its average damage ratio vs.
    Zeromus is 9,500.


In conclusion...
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Using this information you should be able to successfully win Final Fantasy
II/IV- IF you take the right actions at the right time. In this battle, if you
make a mistake, you may be hard pressed to make it twice.
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__Written_By: LordGalbalan

   Advice, critique, and commentary are welcome and appreciated.