Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King Walkthrough Chapter 12
This guide is designed to point you in the right direction but not hold your hand throughout the entire game. Dungeons and Towns you'll be exploring mostly on your own, with my maps pointing out any treasures that are hidden in a dungeon as well as how to solve any puzzles you'll encounter that could possibly get you stuck.
Additionally depending on your own personal preference, my maps/pictures are designed to work as a guide of their own. If you'd like to skip reading text entirely while you play, you can just look at the maps for the treasure chest locations and where you need to go to advance the story forward.
Skill Point Tips: Hero Courage (100 Points); Spear (If you plan to Metal Slime Hunt/Level to 65 to do Dragovian Trials) otherwise max Sword; Jessica Staff (Kazing 100 Points); Whip (Attack Power Bonuses/100 Points); Yangus Humanity (100 Points); Axe (If you plan to Metal Slime hunt/level to 65); Angelo Bow (100 Points); Staff (100 Points)
Alchemy Tips: Metal King Shield, Metal King Armour, Liquid Metal Sword, Timbrel of Tension, Phantom Mask, Odin's Bow (If Angelo is Bow), Saintess Shield, Silver Shield,
This is the last part of the game we need to complete before we can fight the end boss, Rhapthorne. You're tasked with collecting 7 orbs from around the world, each orb represents one of the seven sages and can be found in the same location that the sage died. You probably remember the majority of these locations which is why I have broken down my guide into two parts.
Below you'll find a quick list of the 7 different locations you can find the orb. If you're confused or forget exactly where that sage died, scroll down the page and use the picture that corresponds with that orb for more information.
Purple Orb: Farebury
Blue Orb: Top of the Tower of Alexandria
Gold Orb: Maella Abbey
Yellow Orb: Golding's Mansion in Baccarat
Green Orb: Near dog house in Arcadia
Red Orb: Marta's Cottage near Orktusk
Silver Orb: High Priest's Mansion near Savella Cathedral
While you are collecting these orbs you really should spend your time running around also completing Alchemy Recipes. Much of the gear you can make with Alchemy not only offers defense but high resistances to spells or status conditions which are vital for not only the upcoming battle with Rhapthorne but also the after game dungeon.
You'll want to make the Metal King Shield for the Hero as well as Metal King Armour and Liquid Metal Sword. Unless you're using Spear as the primary weapon for the Hero then ignore the sword. Timbrel of Tension is almost a requirement for the last part of the game so if you don't have this item you'll want to make it right now.
Make a Saintess Shield for Jessica, a Silver Shield for Yangus and Angelo and a Phantom Mask for Angelo. Odin's Bow for Angelo if he uses Bows and Golden Tiara for Jessica's headgear. If you didn't already fly around and collect all of the treasures with the Godbird's Soulstone I talked about in Chapter 10 do so now. Conquerer's Axe can be acquired for Yangus (his best Axe) and the Ruinous Shield for the Metal King Shield.
Finally you should go to the Baccarat Casino and build up enough Tokens for Gringham Whip, Jessica's Ultimate Whip. Assuming you don't have it already of course. Then you have the Monster Arena which will reward you with Dragon Robe, the chest armour I used on Jessica until the after game dungeon.
Purple Orb - Farebury Burned House
Blue Orb - Tower of Alexandria
Gold Orb - Maella Abbey
Yellow Orb - Golding's Mansion
The Yellow Orb in Golding's Mansion is on the second floor in one of the three rooms behind the couch.
Green Orb - Arcadia
Red Orb - Marta's Cottage
Silver Orb - High Priest's Residence
After you've collected all 7 of the orbs you will want to fly back to the town of Empycchu and approach the large stone arch again where Empyrea waits for you. Before you speak with her, make sure everyone in your team has a free slot in their inventory. This is required for the boss fight since you have to use an item on each character during the same round. More will be explained during my strategy for the boss.
You won't be able to deal any damage to Rhapthorne until you use the staff given to you by Empyrea on every character in your party 7 times. You have to use it on all 4 characters at once meaning you're completely vulnerable to Rhapthorne's attacks that turn. Just keep yourself buffed and healed rotating every second or third turn using the Staff, it shouldn't be too hard to survive. Once you do this there'll be a cutscene of all 7 sages dispelling Rhapthorne's barrier and restoring your party's HP/MP. Then the fight starts for realsies.
Aside from the first part of the fight, this fight is basically just like any other. He hits really hard, he is the last boss after all and he can dispell your buffs/tension throughout the fight. The most special aspect of this fight is he can attack twice each turn but one of his attacks, where he uses the ball on top of his staff, can hit twice or two different targets. Effectively, if you got stupidly unlucky he could hit you 4 times with this. Don't worry, it's very unlikely to happen. Use your strongest attacks and take him down quick. Things are definitely easier if you took my advice and got Kazing on Jessica.
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Once Rhapthorne is dead watch all the cutscenes until you regain control of your character. You're back in Castle Trodain, you'll be filtered by guards up to the third floor where you'll find Princess Medea, speak to her for another scene. Next thing you know you'll be in Savella Cathedral. Proceed to the church for another scene then head south for the final scene of them all.
Wait until after the credits and save the game to get the saved clear data; this is essential if you plan to do the Dragovian Trials & Heavenly Dias dungeons which are the final part of the game for the Ps2. Those of you playing on the 3DS have even more left to do after those two dungeons.
Continue reading for more information about the Dragovian Trials