Final Fantasy XII Zodiac Spear mini-Guide
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                          by FF12GrandMaster
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One of the biggest headaches in the game is the Zodiac Spear if you have opened
one of the 4 forbidden chests. Many people have spent countless hours trying
to get the Zodiac Spear from the chest in the Henne Mines which is a 1/1,000
chance. Some people have been lucky and fluked one early whilst others have
spent more time that they cared the to think about chasing that elusive spear.
But now things are different. Let me explain.During one day I got 6 Zodiac
Spears from the chest in the Henne Mines. Yes, you read that
correctly.....SIX!!! Was I lucky? No. Did I use Armax or some other cheating
device? No. So how did I do it? Well, I used the PS2's pre-programmed list of
random numbers against itself. I am now going to show you how to get a Zodiac
Spear from the Henne Mines but there are some conditions to this which must be
met first. So here goes.....a step by step guide to the Zodiac Spear.

1. First thing I have to say is that this was done on a Phat PS2 (PAL Version)
Series 39003. You will have to test this out and see if your machine will also
do it. It probably will.

2. You MUST have one character who does NOT have the Brawler Licence activated.
If you don't have a character without Brawler then you aren't going to be able
to do it. The idea in this is that you have to hit yourself to move the Random
Number Generator (RNG) and you could be hitting
yourself over 80 times. On my file Vaan is level 99 but has a Grand Armour. He
does over 3000 damage with his bare hands. Three or four hits and he is
history.

3. You need to know how to use the Immobilise Glitch. If you don't then I
suggest you look it up in the FAQs and learn pretty fast if you want a Zodiac
Spear (or 99).

4. Teleport to the Henne Mines making sure you have Chronos Tears and a
Nihopalaoa. I guess you could use magick but it's best not to do too many
things that move the RNG along. Equip two characters with armour but no
weapon. Helm can be equipped, it's up to you. It makes no difference to my
character whether they have a Circlet on or not. Equip one character with the
Nihopalaoa and equip the character WITHOUT Brawler with the Diamond Armlet.
Make sure the character with the Diamond Armlet has 5000+ HP. If not, cast
bubble on them now. Cast float on both characters and turn off all gambits.
Now put Game Speed on SLOWEST.

5. Put character with Nihopalaoa into reserves and just have your main
character in the party. Save your game and then TURN OFF YOUR PS2!! This is
imperative. A soft reset will NOT work and in trying to save time you will
just waste time. Now reboot your game.

6. Head from the Gate Crystal into the Ore Separation and towards the Phase 2
Dig but before you enter the Phase 2 Dig you MUST hit yourself twice. If you
forget to do this then you are just going to have to start again. If you don't
hit yourself twice then it is unlikely you will ever see the Zodiac Spear
Chest. Having done this, enter the Phase 2 Dig.

7. Now bring out the other character and get them to use a Chronos Tear on
themselves which will put them under stop. Now with the flee button held in
head down the passage. You will see 3 Abysteels in front of you and you may
take some damage in this spot only. Run directly at the Abysteels and don't
try to dodge them. I find they use Gnaw (instant attack) more if you try to
dodge them. When you get to the intersection where there are 2 more Abysteels
use the Immobilise Giltch to clear all of them away. Keep going through the
area towards the ZS Chest using the Glitch to clear all enemies in your way.
As you reach the brickwork you are at the point where you may have to renew
the Chronos Tear on the character by the entrance. You will
have to renew it at least once.

8. You arrive at the Zodiac Spear Chest Location. It may not be there but there
is a reasonable chance that it will. Doing it this way I reckon it appears a
lot more than 10% of the time. Shame you're not guaranteed the Spear, eh? Now
put your other character into the reserves. Do NOT forget to do this. Turn the
game speed back to FASTEST and give your character just one gambit. SELF:
ATTACK.

9. Now you have to hope that you have the right pattern for the random numbers.
What you are looking for are Combinations. The one of most interest to you is
a 5 Hit Combo but that will be later. For now what you DON'T want is a 2 hit
combo at all. If you get a 2 Hit Combo you may as well reset without even
opening the chest because you ain't getting a Spear. It depends on whether you
took any damage from the Abysteels as to when you get your first combo but I
am going to assume you took none. There are 3 possibilities and this is what
you need to be looking for:

a) A 3 hit combo after about 21 hits. This will then be followed by a 4 hit
combo after 29 more hits. Finally, after another 28 hits you will get a 5 hit
combo.

b) A 4 hit combo after about 54 hits. This will be followed by a 5 hit combo
after a further 28 hits.

c) A 5 hit combo after 82-84 hits

If you get any other pattern then forget it. You won't get the Spear. One more
thing. During the 5 hit combo MAKE SURE YOU TURN YOUR GAMBITS OFF!!!
If you don't do this and your character hits themself after the 5 hit combo
then your Spear is gone.

10. If you didn't get a), b) or c) then turn your PS2 off and start again.

11. If you got any of a), b) or c) then open the chest and get your ZODIAC
SPEAR. If you have the Diamond Armlet on I will GUARANTEE you it will
be there.

12. Get the hell outta there and save your game.

13. Rinse and repeat as many times as you want for as many Zodiac Spears as you
want.

 :D :D :D


To prove that this works I have made a video of me getting my 16th
Zodiac Spear from the Henne Mines chest. At the time of posting this I have 17
in my inventory.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ttyn6AZxqY

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The copyright to this guide belongs to me, FF12GrandMaster, and is for personal
use only. No part or whole of this guide may be reproduced in written or
electronic form without my permission. To request permission please email me at
the address below. Permission, if granted, is on the condition that the guide
remains in its text format with no alterations at all and I receive full credit
for it.

Copyright FF12GrandMaster May 2009

Email: [email protected]