What is an RPG without its weapons, besides than potentially being an all monk-class play through of Final Fantasy Tactics? The genre is nothing without the swords, bows, wands, and many other instruments of destruction. The procurement of arms and how they accelerate character growth is half the genre's appeal.
For the special weapons that significantly enhance a character's attributes, the developers will truly make the player work for their reward. The valuable armaments can be hidden in hard to find locations, as rare drops from enemies, or as rewards for obtuse puzzles, among many other methods.
Being such mammoth-sized franchise, it goes without saying that the Final Fantasy series is packed to the brim with secret weapons. With this list, we scoured through the series to find the most notable rare weapons and divulge just how to get them. Given that the iconic franchise is more than thirty years old and contains well over twenty games, narrowing down the most notable rare finds was no easy task. To be worthy of a mention here, the item not only had to be unique on its own, but getting it had to have something unique about it too.
As reading through the entries will reveal, the methods of obtaining some of these proves to be more rewarding than the weapons themselves. One may occasionally find that some of the weapons' abilities are too specific to be useful, or that retrieving them is not worth all of the effort.
So get ready to boost your reading stats, because here are the 20 Rare Weapons In Final Fantasy Games (And How To Find Them).
Final Fantasy XII - Zodiac Spear
In the original release of Final Fantasy XII, the Zodiac Spear was the strongest weapon that players could get. However, if players make a wrong decision near the start of the game, the spear becomes inaccessible. There are several chests that cannot be opened in order to get the ultimate weapon. There is no possible way to know this without a guide, so most players who go into the game blind unknowingly sabotaged their chances of obtaining the powerful weapon.
Thankfully, the Zodiac version of FFXII removed the ridiculous side quest, making the Zodiac Spear easier to obtain.
There are a few added weapons that surpass its power as well, but it still remains a valuable tool none the less.
Final Fantasy V - Tinklebell
Being the most powerful bell in the game is kind of like being the most powerful toddler in the world - it means nothing when facing off against a fully grown adult. Experts will still want to find Final Fantasy V's Tinklebell, though. The bell, sometimes referred to as "Tinkerbell" can only be dropped by the boss Twintania. Since it is a one time duel, determined players will find themselves resetting their Super Nintendo several times.
Those playing any other release after, and including, the Game Boy Advance version have the good fortune of facing Twintania as many times as they need in the Cloister of the Dead, giving the reset button some much needed rest.
Final Fantasy XV - Legendary Weapons
In the time between Final Fantasy XV's initial announcement and its eventual release, one could have mastered several skills and multiple foreign languages. Considering how much content was packed into the final package, the wait was worth it. The game also shakes up the formula a bit, with there being a sizable amount of post game content to dive into after the game's conclusion.
In fact, the five Legendary Weapons are not accessible until the story is completed.
Once the campaign is wrapped up, Noctis and pals should head to Lucis and receive five different quests from a blacksmith named Randolf. Each quest has the player fetching materials, which the smith uses to craft the exquisite armaments.
Final Fantasy IX - Ultima Weapon
Let it never be said that Chocobo are not versatile creatures. They can traverse deserts, steep mountains, and even effortlessly walk across water. The ninth entry in Final Fantasy even lets the birds quickly scour for treasure underneath the waves with the use of Dead Peppers.
Using the Dead Peppers is the only way to find Zidane's final sword, Ultima Weapon. During the endgame, players have to go to where Shimmering Island once was and use the Pepper. The location has to be spot on, however, otherwise the Chocobo will turn up empty handed. Hitting the mark will take a few tries, but a successful reconnaissance nets the second best weapon in the entire game.
Final Fantasy II - Blood Sword
Final Fantasy II stands as the black sheep of the series, with its unconventional method of character progression. Despite this, it still has a memorable cast of characters and a deliciously dastard villain simply named the Emperor. Defeating the Emperor can prove tough if players did not find the Blood Sword beforehand. All versions of the game before the PSP release had two Blood Swords, one in Paul's house and another in Castle Fynn.
For whatever reason, the handheld twentieth anniversary version did away with the one in Castle Fynn, leaving just one existing Blood Sword.
It is not terribly difficult to find, and is a worthwhile weapon considering how powerful it is against the Emperor.
Final Fantasy X - Caladbolg
Don't let its name fool you, the Calm Lands are anything but tranquil. There are monsters roaming about and a woman who wants to race Chocobo with Tidus. Should the lead character accept the challenge, he is on his first step to getting his ultimate weapon.
All the player needs to do is beat the Chocobo Trainer in the race and the Caladbolg is all theirs. When it is first won, there seems to be nothing ultimate about it since this game requires the final weapons to be infused with two other items before unlocking their true power. Without the accompanying crest and sigil for the Caladbolg, the weapon is nothing more than a metal ornament.
Final Fantasy IV - Rune Staff, or Staff of Silence
This staff, not be confused with Get Smart's Cone of Silence, is particularly helpful because it endows its victims with silence, as its name implies. In Final Fantasy IV, it is one of the best staffs that one could hope to discover, only being outdone by additional staffs in re-releases. Because of its usefulness, players shouldn't except to come across it so easily. The Staff is only dropped by certain summoning enemies, and is rare loot at that.
The easiest way to get it is by fighting summoners in the Passage of the Eidolons, an optional dungeon that is only accessible after obtaining the Falcon.
While it is a potential time sink to find, the reward is well worth the trouble.
Final Fantasy VII - Apocalypse
Though it isn't Cloud Strife's ultimate weapon, Apocalypse is definitely a must-have for those seeking to get the most out of their grinding in Final Fantasy VII. The weapon has only a few Materia slots, but the equipped Materia will level up three times faster than the normal rate.
Apocalypse is located in the ancient forest, which requires a green chocobo to access. Once inside, Cloud and company are presented with a series of small puzzles. Complete these, and Apocalypse lies at the end of the path. There are a few other weapons inside the forest too, but Apocalypse is by far the most useful of the bunch. However, one may as well pick them all up while they are inside.
Final Fantasy Tactics - Save The Queen
Along with Cidolfus Orlandeau, Meliadoul Tengille is an invaluable addition to Ramza's party near the end of Final Fantasy Tactics. The player has to fight her, but once she becomes an ally, all of her powerful moves become an invaluable advantage. She also comes equipped with a powerful weapon called Save The Queen.
It is impossible to buy Save The Queen, and the only other way to find it would be in the dungeon, Midlight's Deep.
The optional area's difficulty is not for the faint of heart, so if all the player wants is this sword, it is better to wait until Meliadoul joins the party. The pivotal character, Delita, also wields the sword in battles.
Final Fantasy IX-Excalibur II
One wouldn't expect a speed run to be a requirement for a weapon in a series known for lengthy entries. However, experts looking to snag every weapon in Final Fantasy IX will have to sprint through the epic journey to get one hundred percent of everything.
Obtaining the Excalibur II, the game's strongest weapon, requires reaching the game's final dungeon in under twelve hours. Such a feat seems impossible on a four disc adventure, but it has been done. There are some time saving tricks, like opening the disc tray during CG cutscenes. Additionally, if the player does reach the dungeon too late, they can always rack up enough play time to reset game's counter. Of course, this means playing a single save file for approximately two and a half years.
Final Fantasy XII - Mythril Sword
Most starting weapons are unique for being one of a kind, meaning that they cannot be acquired again once they are sold. Vaan's Mythril Sword defies this trend, but reobtaning it is not exactly a walk in the park. One of the superbosses, Omega Mark XII, has a chance of dropping the sword upon defeat. Don't expect anything special with it though - this one remains the same dinky sword that Vaan starts out with.
It should be noted though that Vaan's first weapon is different in the Zodiac version, and the Mythril sword is first uncovered in the Henne Mines.
In the re-release, it can also be found in a treasure chest on the Cerobi Steppe.
Final Fantasy Tactics - Masamune
Many iconic characters have wielded the Masamune, such as Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy X's Auron, and Frog from Chrono Trigger. Never has it been so elusive, though, as it is in Final Fantasy Tactics.
In both the original release and The War of the Lions version, the sword is not available in shops. In the first version, it can be stolen from Marquis Messam Elmdore. However, in The War of the Lions, Messam has an ability that prevents thieves from pilfering anything from him. Instead, the weapon can be swiped from a Samurai during a side quest's boss fight. In both versions, Ninja's sometimes throw the Masamune, and it can be caught by those with the Sticky Fingers ability.
Final Fantasy VII - Oritsuru
Yuffie introduces herself in Final Fantasy VII by stealing from the party, but quickly becomes a beloved part of the cast. As such, one would only want her to go into battle with the finest equipment. One of the better weapons for her is the Oritsuru, but it can be easily missed if the player is not careful.
Oritsuru is located in the mountains in Wu-Tai. It is easy to see the treasure box, but flames surround it.
In order to extinguish the flames, Cloud would have to have obtained the Leviathan Scales from the underwater reactor in Junon. Failing to pick up the key item will make grabbing Oritsuru impossible, and it definitely is a weapon worth having.
Final Fantasy - Excalibur
The name Excalibur is befitting of an ultimate weapon. The inspiration for the moniker comes from the legendary sword that King Arthur used. In the debut Final Fantasy title, it is the one of the best weapons for the Knight class.
The weapon will not simply present itself to the player, however. First, one must find the Adamantite in the Flying Fortress. Then, they have to give it to a Dwarven Smith, who is creatively named Smyth. Smyth will then craft the mighty piece of weaponry for the player. The sword is special for having all elements attached to it and dealing bonus damage to every enemy that meets its steel. This makes it even more powerful than its stats would have one believe.
Final Fantasy VII - Behemoth Horn
In Kingdom Hearts II's prologue, Roxas and friends investigate a perceived mysterious staircase that counts different steps ascending than descending. This was discovered to be a counting error on another character's part, and not the work of the supernatural. If they had done this test on the staircases in Shinra Headquarters, then they would have been on to something.
In the raid on the headquarters at the end of disc 2, one will find additional stairs if they climb back down the already numerous flights.
What's more is that the Behemoth Horn, for Red XIII, will be waiting on one of the previously missing floors. Maybe the upcoming Final Fantasy VII remake will shed light on the mysterious disappearing stairs.
Final Fantasy IV - Excalipoor
Most of the weapons found on this list are coveted for their benefits, but even the weak ones deserve love too. Take Excalipoor, for example, which has appeared throughout the series as a gag. The recurring foe, Gilgamesh. can typically be found wielding the junky sword, mistaking it for the Excalibur. In Final Fantasy IV, the player can have the honor of wielding it themselves if they so desire.
This is only possible in editions following the Game Boy Advanced version, as the Lunar Ruins do not exist in the original release. The ruins contain trials for the characters, and the Excalipoor will be rewarded to those who do Cecil's trial with at least two errors.
Final Fantasy III - Dream Harp
All games leave traces of their past within their code. With the right tricks and manipulation, or glitches, these secrets can be brought back into the light. Anyone wishing to obtain every weapon in Final Fantasy III will have to resort to such methods in order to achieve their goal.
The Dream Harp was never meant to be in the game, but it can be materialized in the inventory by having ninety nine of a particular item and then getting one more of that item in a battle.
This will cause a different item to be added, possibly the Dream Harp. The 3D remake adds the harp in legitimately, giving players the ability to purchase it at a shop.
Final Fantasy III - Gungnir
Odin has been a staple of the franchise since the third entry. In his first appearance, he is a both a summon and a boss battle. To challenge the Norse God, one first needs to obtain the Nautilus, which possesses the ability to dive underwater.
In the Saronia Catacombs, Odin lies in wait for anybody brave enough to fight him. During the battle is the only chance to snatch up Gungnir, a valuable spear. A high level thief must be in the party and attempt to steal it during the duel. The Spear is only available in the 3DS remake, so any gamers still rocking their Famicom version are out of luck in this case.
Final Fantasy X - Nirvana
Any fan of the franchise's tenth entry will be familiar with Yuna's foray into pop music. It may come as no surprise, then, that her Ultimate weapon shares a name with one the most popular bands to ever grace the face of planet earth. Nirvana can be found in the Calm Land's monster arena. While most of the quests dished out by the owner are time consuming, this one lets players off a little easier.
One must simply complete the first task that he gives you and Nirvana will be gifted to Tidus.
Of course, like the other Celestial Weapons, Nirvana is nothing but a hunk of junk until its corresponding crest and sigil are collected.
Final Fantasy II - Killer Bow
The Killer Bow has been a recurring weapon in the series for decades, though it is admittedly not as big a hallmark as Chocobo or a Cid. It was properly introduced in Final Fantasy III, but cunning players could have accessed it in the prior title.
The bow was taken out of the game, but is still accessible with cheat devices. Later releases even acknowledge the weapon's origins with a humorous message to players who do get it. It should be noted as well that the weapon lacks an animation, so using it will look like a normal melee strike. The player should not complain about this, however, since it was never meant to exist in the first place.
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What are some of your favorite rare Final Fantasy weapons? Which were the most fun to acquire? Let us know in the comments!