===============================================================================
Final Fantasy XIII Walkthrough and Guide
Copyright Brian Perry (PowercalledIam) 2010
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
Introduction:                                                             {Int}
===============================================================================
Hello, my name is Brian and this is a walkthrough of the US Xbox 360 release of
Final Fantasy XIII.  This is my first walkthrough, although with your support
more will be on the way!
A NOTE ABOUT SPOILERS:
While this guide does not explicitly state the content of cutscenes (i.e.
"AERIS DIES!"), it does include names, new mechanics, and other things that
could lead to the ability to infer information about the story.  If you wish to
avoid learning more about the game than you want to, then it's up to you not to
read ahead.
Let's get started!
===============================================================================
Updates                                                                   {Udt}
===============================================================================
4/1/2010 -  v.1.00: First edition of the guide.  Includes full walkthrough and
most mission marks.
4/7/2010 -  v.1.10: Sidequests section complete.  Added first portion of items
and enemies sections.  New achievements.
4/12/2010 - v.1.11: Achievements sections complete.  Added Paradigms section.
5/11/2010 - v.1.20: Updated enemy list.  Added THANK YOUS!!!!!!!!!!
5/16/2010 - v.1.21: Updated items list.
5/24/2010 - v.1.22: More items.
6/2/2010 -  v.1.23: Weapons section complete.
6/29/2010 - v.1.24: Accessories section complete.
7/11/2010 - v.1.25: Items and components sections complete.  Weapons and
accessories sections updated.
7/21/2010 - v.1.26: Weapons section final.  Upgrade system guide added.
===============================================================================
Table of Contents:                                                        {ToC}
===============================================================================
-Introduction                                                             {Int}
-Updates                                                                  {Udt}
-Table of Contents                                                        {ToC}
-Walkthrough                                                              {Wal}
-Disc 1
-Chapter 1                                                            {Ch1}
-Chapter 2                                                            {Ch2}
-Chapter 3                                                            {Ch3}
-Chapter 4                                                            {Ch4}
-Disc 2
-Chapter 5                                                            {Ch5}
-Chapter 6                                                            {Ch6}
-Chapter 7                                                            {Ch7}
-Chapter 8                                                            {Ch8}
-Chapter 9                                                            {Ch9}
-Disc 3
-Chapter 10                                                          {Ch10}
-Chapter 11                                                          {Ch11}
-Chapter 12                                                          {Ch12}
-Chapter 13                                                          {Ch13}
-The Archylte Steppe                                                    {TAS}
-The Yaschas Massif                                                     {TYM}
-Sidequests                                                               {Sq0}
-Paradigms                                                                {Pdm}
-Items                                                                    {Itm}
-Achievements                                                             {Amt}
-Enemy List                                                               {Emy}
-Thanks                                                                   {tnx}
-Contact Info                                                             {CoI}
-Copyright                                                                {Cop}
===============================================================================
Walkthrough                                                               {Wal}
===============================================================================
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 1: Hanging Edge                                                   {Ch1}
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The game doesn't waste any time, starting you off in battle after the initial
cutscene.  There is a tutorial about the Active Time Battle system, which is
covered in the Controls section of the walkthrough. In any case, once the
battle proper starts, select auto-battle until the Warmech dies. Phase 2 uses
the Wave Cannon move, which damages both party members for about 50 damage, but
just keep auto-battling it until it's dead.  You shouldn't need to (as the item
usage tutorial hasn't even come up yet), but drop a potion if your health gets
low.
You are now in control of Lightning.  Navigating the environment and minimap
should be fairly self-explanatory, but check the Controls section if you need
help.  For now (and most of the game), head toward the yellow arrow on the
minimap.
Straight ahead is first save/shop point.  A note about shops: everything in the
game is expensive, and gil is relatively hard to come by for a much of the
game.  However, most--if not all--of what you need is provided by enemy drops
and treasures.  The only things that are really worth buying are components,
which don't become truly useful until partway through Chapter 11.  This also
means that there's no real point to selling things you're not using, as you're
likely not going to be using the gil you get.  Just keep them around.  Anyway,
save and continue forward.  You will run into a couple soldiers and an enemy
encounter tutorial.  Just auto-battle them to death.  Continue forward until
you see a small blue ring in front of a pile of rubble.  These rings are jump
points.  Just continue forward through the ring to jump over the rubble.
Fight some more wardens, jump some more rubble, and then you will see a small
floating ball on the left side of the road.  This is a treasure chest, which
contains a potion.
Continue forward.  You'll fight a new enemy: Pantherons, but just auto-battle
to death.  On the stairs to the right is a chest containing two potions.
Continue down the road, save, jump over the rubble and into another new enemy
to auto-battle: Arial Recon.
There's a chest on stairs to the left with an Iron Bangle.  Equip it on
Lightning to boost her HP.  Back on the road, continue ahead.  Continue on, and
when you jump off the next set of stairs back onto the road, check right for a
treasure chest and 50 gil.  Continue forward until you reach a battle with an
item usage tutorial.  After the battle, backtrack to the stairs on the left,
then save and jump onto the platform.
The red ring on the platform signals something to be interacted with.  Stand in
the ring and press A to activate the platform.  Move on to activate a battle
with the Attack Chain tutorial.
Location: The Resistance Front
After the cutscene, you'll be playing as Snow.  Check behind you for a chest
with 50 gil.  Move forward, save, then jump into the next screen.  In battle,
Snow begs a fundamental question regarding fighting in a Final Fantasy
universe: why use weapons when you can beat people to death?
Anyway, keep moving forward, beating and blowing people up until you see a
cutscene where Snow asks for volunteers.  After the scene, check the chest to
the left for an Iron Bangle and give it to Snow.  Save at the save point ahead,
keep moving and beating, then punch out the Behemoth, and save after the
cutscene.
Back with Lightning, you'll fight a Myrmidon.  Actually pay attention with this
battle, you'll need to drop a couple potions when Lightning's health gets low.
After several cutscenes, you're back with Snow, who survived a multi-story fall
due to the protective properties of his bandanna.  Grab the chest with a Power
Circle, and equip it on Snow, then save on the left.  After the first set of
stairs, check right for a chest with 100 gil.  At the end of the road, examine
the machine to fly off.
After the cutscene, you control Hope.  Save at the save point, and then examine
the airship.
Chapter 1 complete!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 2: The Pulse Vestige                                              {Ch2}
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Start off with an easy scripted fight, and then backtrack to where the airship
crashed to find a chest with 30 gil.  Save at the save point, and then go up
the stairs to the right.  Head left toward the treasure sphere and defeat all
the enemies to unlock the chest with 4 Potions.  Back down the other side of
the stairs, you'll see a tutorial on pre-emptive strikes.  Defeat the
Scandroids and grab the Iron Bangle in the chest.  Give it to Vanille.  Jump
over the rubble via the blue ring by a second crashed ship and head to the
upper-right area to trigger a cutscene.
You've switched back to Snow.  Backtrack behind you for a chest with 2 Potions.
Save at the save point and activate the green pillar dead ahead.
You're back with Lightning again.  After the cutscene, you'll see a Shroud
tutorial.  Save, and head straight ahead until you reach a large round
platform, where you should defeat the Scandroids for a Phoenix Down.  Before
you fight the Myrmidon, you can make life easier by using a Shroud, or you can
pop potions like last time.  In either case, head up the stairs, grab the chest
with the Gladius, equip it to Lightning, and keep going up.  There's another
Myrmidon with a Pantheron, so prepare with a Shroud or have some potions ready.
Head forward to trigger a cutscene, then you're back with Snow.
Backtrack again to find 2 potions, then head forward and activate another green
pillar and hop on the elevator platform.
Hope you had fun with Snow, because now you're back to Vanille! Head up the
stairs and to the right for a Fortisol, then head through the hall behind you.
You've already been through everything else.  Save in the new screen, and keep
going, taking the chest with 100 gil on the way.  After the cutscene, Snow
joins your battle as party leader against the Cie'th.
However, after the battle you're back with Lightning!  Head to the platform to
nowhere with the Power Wristband, which increases Strength by 20.  Give this to
Sazh.  Keep the Iron Bangle on Lightning to keep her HP up.  Head up the stairs
until you see a big Cie'th in an archway.  It's not as scary as it looks, but
Fortisol can help if you have trouble.  Save, then head into the next area.
Hack through the Ghouls until you reach two more Ghasts.  Pop a Fortisol, but
still keep an eye on HP.
During the cutscene, everybody meets up, and your party is left with Lightning,
Snow, and Sazh.  Switch Snow's Iron Bangle with Sazh's Power Wristband to make
Snow a juggernaut, and then head up.  On the horizontal platform there's a
chest with 5 potions and a save point, then head forward until a cutscene
triggers.  After a series of very bad decisions, you're fighting a Fal'Cie!
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------\
| Boss Battle: Anima                                                          |
|                                                                             |
| Strategy: Take out both the manipulators, and then hit Anima while it's     |
| regenerating them.  Do not attack Anima with the manipulators alive, as they|
| will rock your socks for it!  It will take a few rounds of regeneration to  |
| bring down Anima, and a couple potions, even with the manipulators down.    |
|                                                                             |
| Reward: Doctor's Code                                                       |
\-----------------------------------------------------------------------------/
Chapter 2 complete!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 3: Lake Bresha                                                    {Ch3}
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After several cutscenes, you'll be forced into a battle with the paradigm
system tutorial.  Then, after another cutscene, you get yet another tutorial,
this time about the Crystarium (aka Sphere Grid, for you FFX players out
there).  Jump over the gap, and head off to the left to grab a chest with a
Pearlwing Staff.  It's a new weapon for Vanille, and it may not seem as good,
but keep in mind that Vanille has no physical attacks since becoming a l'Cie.
Backtrack, save, and head up the other branch.  Make sure to jump up on the
platform with the chest with 7 chipped fangs.  After the series of impressive
jumps, go right for a chest with 200 gil, then approach Snow for a cutscene
that lands you in a battle with...another tutorial!
Continue on, getting the 5 Cie'th Tears on the right on the way.  Once you
first encounter Breshan Bass, head to the left for a Silver Bangle.  Give it to
Lightning.  Careful, the bass are a little tougher than enemies you've fought
so far.  If you see character dipping in to the yellow, switch paradigms to
Solidarity to heal.
Backtrack, head up the other branch, and save at the save point ahead.
Continuing on, past the cutscene and the Pantherons (which you should
absolutely wreck with your new Crystarium powers), there's a chest with a
Phoenix Down.  Before going through the archway, there's another chest with 50
gil on the right.  A little further up is a chest with 8 vials of strange
fluid, then a Magician's Mark past the PSICOM guys on the left.  Equip it on
Vanille.  Continue up, make some more impressive jumps, and save.
After the cutscene, you'll be in a battle with...another tutorial!  Slash boss
battle.
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------\
| Boss Battle: Manasyin Warmech                                               |
|                                                                             |
| Like the tutorial says, the warmech can mess you up if you let it.  As soon |
| as your party is in the yellow, switch to Solidarity to heal.  What this    |
| really means is, when it uses its laser sweep move, switch to Solidarity,   |
| because soon it will follow up with Crystal Rain, which does a whole lot of |
| damage.  Once you're healed, you can continue ruining its day with          |
| Relentless Assault.  Remember: better safe than dead.                       |
|                                                                             |
| Reward: Digital circuit                                                     |
\-----------------------------------------------------------------------------/
Your party changes up after the fight, and Solidarity turns into Diversity, but
operates much the same way, if not better.  Remember to use your CP, then
continue on.  When the path branches again, go right for 6 more vials of
strange fluid.  Jump down to the tube on the left for Deneb Duelers and 240
gil.  Equip the duelers on Sazh, then go back and take the right tube.  Once
across, take the tube on the right to get 6 vials of enigmatic fluid.  Turn
around and press forward.  When you see the bridge, go right for 7 wicked
fangs.  Cross the bridge, then go back after the dialogue and activate the
machine to open the way.
Save once across the bridge again, and then get into battle with...another
tutorial!  Wail on the behemoth, switch to Diversity if necessary, then
backtrack and grab the chest on the ledge after the battle for a Librascope.
Move forward into another cutscene, then onward until the path splits again.
On the right are two digital circuits.  After the bridge, make a series of
impressive jumps, then take the upper path for 2 flasks of paraffin oil.
Continue down through a semi-hidden ice cave for 50 gil, which reconnects with
the main path.  Once you get up to a larger platform, head right for 3 lengths
on insulated cable.
Save at the save point before you run into the cutscene and continue on.  On
the path there's a chest with 30 gil, then another chest in a slightly larger
room with 6 begrimed claws.
Location: Gates of Antiquity
Once you reach the gates there is a save point on the right, then at the top of
the stairs is a chest with 600 gil on the right.  In the back of the room on
the right is a chest with 2 digital circuits.  Afterwards, jump on the bridge
on the left side of the room.  Once across the bridge, if you take the stairs
down instead of jumping, there's a chest with 7 begrimed claws.
In the back of this room on the left is a chest with a Spark Ring, then
continue up the stairs and straight ahead of you on the path is a chest with 3
potions.  Save at the save point ahead, then travel on through a few long
hallways until you find a chest with a nugget of millerite.  Once you get to
the large room with pillars, you can jump over the doorway rubble to get back
to the save point.  If you take the path on the right of the large room, you
reach a chest with a strip of ferroelectric film.
Up the stairs is another save point, as well as a couple chests with a phoenix
down and two Librascopes, then head up for a scene and a boss battle.
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------\
| Boss Battle: Garuda Interceptor                                             |
|                                                                             |
| Use Libra on the Garuda Interceptor first thing, and then after that        |
| standard tactics apply.  Relentless Assault until you're hurt, then switch  |
| to Diversity to heal.  After the cutscene, Libra again, and continue        |
| pounding on it.  Your priority is to stagger it so you can actually do      |
| damage.                                                                     |
|                                                                             |
| Reward: Silver Bangle
\-----------------------------------------------------------------------------/
After the battle, Sazh will be able to use the Synergist role, and Vanille can
be a Saboteur.
But none of that matters, because you're back with Snow!  Pop some potions
during the battle to keep your health up, but otherwise it's not too hard.
Then you are immediately plunged into battle with...another tutorial!  Slash
Eidolon battle.
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------\
| Eidolon Battle: Shiva                                                       |
|                                                                             |
| The important thing to remember here is the last part of the tutorial,      |
| saying that the Shiva sisters appreciate defensive roles.  Just switch to   |
| Sentinel, and time your steelguards for when you see Shiva move.  When you  |
| see her go into "ATB Charge," wait for it to end, and then activate your    |
| guard.  She'll start doing them consistently toward the end of the doom     |
| counter.  Guard against a few of those, and you'll see a prompt to push the |
| X button on the right side of the screen.  Do so to end the battle.  The    |
| other important thing to note is that only one of the sisters actually      |
| attacks you.  The other one heals you, so just concentrate on guarding.     |
\-----------------------------------------------------------------------------/
Chapter 3 complete!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 4: The Vile Peaks                                                 {Ch4}
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After the cutscene you'll fight some Pantherons.  When's the last time you
remember playing a game that had the same enemies at a several hours through as
on the first level?  Anyway, go down the path until you trigger another scene.
Now you're using the other half of the team, Lightning and Hope.  For this
team, set the Supersoldier Paradigm as your default, then switch to Slash &
Burn once Hope has fully buffed the party (Protect/Shell on both characters).
Use War & Peace if you need a heal.  Save at the save point, then hop up to the
right to grab a chest with a Librascope.  After several series of impressive
jumps, a cutscene triggers.
Back with Sazh and Vanille, similar tactics apply.  Buff/debuff with Syn/Sab,
Dualcasting for damage, Rav/Med to heal.  Save at the save point, then continue
on.  Up ahead, a bunch of robots are fighting.  Stagger the Pulsework Soldier
first, as it is difficult to stagger enemies without a commando, and it has
lots of HP.  Then buff, then switch back to damage.  After dealing with the
robots, activate the machine to open the way.  Up ahead you will find a chest
with a Black Belt.
Activate the panel to continue, then just keep going until you find Hope.
Now tactics can change up a bit.  You can basically have any Paradigms you
want, as long as you have damage, heal, and buff/debuff.  I had three combos:
Rav/Rav/Rav, Syn/Sab/Rav, and Rav/Med/Syn.  Start with casting Faith on
everyone and debuffing enemies, then follow with full attack.  Heal when
necessary (which also has hope casting Protect/Shell).  Of course, you can
always use a Fortisol to skip straight to hurting things, too...  Also, Now
that you have three party members, you can force staggers just by throwing
enough spells at enemies, and maybe throwing one spell at a time with Y to keep
the chain gauge up.
Once you get to the top of the cliff, there is a chest with a Ninurta, which I
did not equip.  Save up ahead and continue on until you reach a cutscene.  Keep
going until you find a save point on the left with treasure spheres containing
phoenix down and a Metal Armband.  Then it's just forward march until you reach
another save point.  Lightning joins up ahead.
Keep Lightning as a Commando no matter what.  Other than that keep Bully as the
default Paradigm, followed by Relentless Assault.  Diversity heals.  Full steam
ahead until you reach a machine at the end of the path.  Activate it to open
the way.  Save and continue.  Inside an open crate to the right is a chest with
a Librascope.  Up ahead on the right is another chest with an Ember Ring.
Keep going to another save point, then a cutscene triggers ahead for a boss
battle.
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------\
| Boss Battle: Dreadnought                                                    |
|                                                                             |
| Buff yourself, Deprotect the Dreadnought, and then go for the stagger.      |
| Pretty standard battle.  Just remember to recast Deprotect when it finishes |
| Steam Cleaning itself.  The second phase is the exact same thing, except you|
| need to keep an even closer eye on HP.                                      |
|                                                                             |
| Reward: Omni-kit                                                            |
\-----------------------------------------------------------------------------/
After the battle Sazh can become a Commando, and Lightning can become a Medic.
Also, you will FINALLY be able to upgrade weapons and accessories with all
those until-now useless components you've been collecting.  Upgrades are
completely inefficient at this point, but the basics are as follows: organic
components give experience bonus multipliers, digital components are worth more
Exp, but reduce the multiplier.  The maximum multiplier is x3.
There's a save point up ahead where you can experiment with upgrades if you
want.  After that is a scene, which ends in Lightning and Hope fighting some
PSICOM guys.  After more cutscenes, it's Lightning and Hope off again.  Tactics
are easy.  Lightning Commandos, Hope does whatever else you need.  Another save
point ahead.  Keep moving, then off to the left is a treasure sphere with 3
fiber-optic cables.  The next time the path splits, there's a chest with a
Librascope to the right.
Another save point, then another cutscene, leading to a battle, then another
cutscene.
Now you're riding a battlemech, which kind of operates like a super-chocobo.  A
button attacks, running through fences regains power.  You can always just run
enemies over, too.
After your mini-rampage, check the spheres for a Spark Ring and 300 gil.  In
the tunnel is a chest with 2 electrolytic capacitors, then a save point up
ahead.  At the split in the road, go right for a chest with a Spark Ring.  The
next split has a chest with a phoenix down on the right.  Keep going to another
save point, and the inevitable cutscene ahead of it.  Time for another Eidolon
battle!
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------\
| Eidolon Battle: Odin                                                        |
|                                                                             |
| This battle is a bit different than the Shiva battle.  Set up a paradigm for|
| two Medics, medic and Synergist, Medic and Ravager, and two Ravagers.  Start|
| with the Medic/Synergist combo to buff Shell and Protect.  Then switch to   |
| Medic and Ravager until Odin starts wrecking one of your party members even |
| harder than usual, and switch to double Medic. When he uses his shield move,|
| make sure you're totally healed, then switch to double Ravager.  It takes a |
| lot of switching paradigms, and a lot of healing, but it can be done.       |
\-----------------------------------------------------------------------------/
Don't forget to change your paradigms back to normal.  Continue on to the
cutscene and battle with...another tutorial!  Beat on enemies until the gauge
under Lightning's health is mostly full and/or Odin's gauge is mostly empty,
then press X.  Use the left joystick and the A button to attack.  Finish off
with Y before Odin disappears.
After the battle, you're in control of Sazh and Vanille.  Backtrack all the way
to a chest with a phoenix down, then head back up to the save point.  Slash and
Burn should be fine as a default paradigm.  You shouldn't need to buff too
much.  However, you may want to debuff the Pulsework Soldiers so you can
actually do damage to them.
Press forward until you find a machine to activate.  Do so to open the way.
When the path splits, go right for an Auric Amulet.  Save at the save point and
keep on trucking.  Up ahead on the path is a chest with an Ember Ring.  When
the path opens up, there is a save point in the center, and the lower right
path has a tuft of phoenix down.  After that, work your way around and start
activating the four machines on the catwalk around the central machine.
Once the machine is fully active, you can backtrack to the previous section.
There are some new walkways you can get some swag: 8 iron shells and 6 vials of
vibrant ooze.
On the new inner catwalk you opened up, on the right there is a Fortisol.  Grab
it and move on up.  The battle with two bombs and two clockwork soldiers can be
tough, so you might want to drop a shroud before the battle.  Up ahead on the
trail is a chest with 300 gil, then a cutscene and the option to save after
that.
When you gain control of Snow, head into the shop in the center of the beach
and talk to Snow's friends, then find Serah on the dock.
Chapter 4 complete!
Disc 1 complete!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 5: The Gapra Whitewood                                            {Ch5}
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After changing discs, saving, and watching a cutscene, you're in control of
Hope and Lightning.  Since Hope is the leader, give him Lightning's Silver
Bangle, and give her the Black Belt.  You should also have enough CP to get
Hope an additional accessory slot, if you leveled up his Synergist enough.
When you're ready, follow the path until you find another cutscene, then
activate the elevator.  Another save point, then keep moving.  When the path
finally splits, wreck the behemoth on the left and grab the chest for 3
antidotes.  Go on ahead for another cutscene, then take the elevator down and
save.  At the second light pillar, there is a chest with a Hawkeye on the
right.  Keep on keeping on until you get to another cutscene, then save, get on
another elevator, watch another cutscene.
Now you're in a large pit area.  The message that pops up basically means "kill
everything you see to proceed."  If the Silver Lobos poison you, don't worry
too much, just heal if your health gets low.  In the third pen area, there is a
chest with 6 antidotes immediately on the right.
After the fourth pen, there is a short cutscene and you're forced into battle
with a Feral Behemoth.  Use Libra to find its weakness (water), then cast
Protect on both party members and keep your health up, but otherwise just
Commando/Ravager to stagger it, and then stomp it into the ground.  Or air,
should Lightning have the Launch ability.
After the battle, proceed forward, and then climb up the giant crystal leaf
thing.  At the top there will be another cutscene.  After the scene, Lightning
will be in charge, so give her back the Silver Bangle.  Otherwise everything
stays the same.  Head forward and climb down the giant crystal leaf thing.
Save at the bottom.  The top path has a chest with a Star Pendant.  I equipped
it on Hope.  Take the middle path afterwards.  Climb another giant crystal leaf
thing, and follow the path to another cutscene.  A couple light pillars later,
there is a chest on the left with an Edged Carbine.  After you fight another
Feral Behemoth, climb down the giant crystal leaf thing and save.
If you go behind the electric fence on the left, there is a treasure sphere
with 1500 gil.  When the path splits, go right for a chest with 8 vials of
fragrant oil.  Before jumping up the next giant crystal leaf thing, head to the
next pen area for a chest with a Watchman's Amulet.
Once on the upper path, take the elevator up to the next area and save.  Up
ahead is a cutscene, then keep moving.  Right on the path is a chest with an
Ethersol, and a save point.  Activate the panel at the other end of the
platform to trigger a boss battle.
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------\
| Boss Battle: Aster Protoflorian                                             |
|                                                                             |
| This boss battle is pretty standard.  Libra, buff, stagger, own.  It changes|
| its vulnerabilities, but Libra keeps up with it, so auto-battle will still  |
| be effective.                                                               |
|                                                                             |
| Reward: Tungsten Bangle                                                     |
\-----------------------------------------------------------------------------/
After the battle, march on to a save point, then onward to a cutscene.
Chapter 5 Complete!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 6: Sunleth Waterscape                                             {Ch6}
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Location: Sunleth Waterscape
Man, they keep teasing you with letting you use Snow again, don't they?
Anyway, Sazh and Vanille off again.  Make sure to level them up; it's
impressive.  Save and move on.  When the path branches, go left for a chest
with 8 vials of mysterious fluid.  Going on ahead, there's a chest next to a
save point with a Belladonna Wand.  When the path opens up, there's a chest on
the right side with a set of Procyons.  When the path splits again, go left for
a chest with a Doctor's Code.  After that, there's a cutscene ahead.
The Scalebeast the message warns you about isn't a death sentence.  Just
stagger it like anyone else.  It takes time and a couple staggers, but it gives
a good amount of CP, so it may be worth it.  Pre-emptive strikes help, as does
Faith.
Jump down to the left and defeat the Scalebeast for a chest with 15 iron
shells.  On the main path there's another chest with a Librascope.  Down a bit
further there's another chest with 10 scaled wings.  At the waterfall you'll
run smack into a cutscene.
After the scene, Sazh is gone, so set off to the left to find him.  After the
next scene, hop across the rocks to the save point and move on to another
cutscene!  On the right path, there's a chest with a Metal Armband.
Basically, the idea of the next section is to change the weather to suit the
enemies you want to fight.  If you turn off the rain, there are Wyverns around.
If you choose to take one on, pop a shroud, debuff and stagger.  There is a
Metal Armband after the second weather orb, and an Aqua Ring on the left after
the fourth orb.  Also note that enemies will respawn when you change the
weather, so this is a good place to level for a bit, especially since the
upcoming boss battle is relatively difficult.  When you reach the save point,
there is a cutscene and boss battle afterwards.
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------\
| Boss Battle: Enki and Enlil                                                 |
|                                                                             |
| Toss a Librascope at the bosses, and then the fun begins.  You'll have to   |
| switch constantly between all your paradigms.  Try and buff yourselves while|
| debuffing them.  I also highly recommended that you level up Vanille until  |
| she has Esuna, because they can cast Deprotect/Deshell on you.  Watch out   |
| for "Enrage," because it means they're going to do a lightning- or water-   |
| based attack very soon.  Keep your HP up and try and take one out.  The     |
| second one will be much easier.                                             |
|                                                                             |
| Reward: Fulmen Ring and Riptide Ring                                        |
\-----------------------------------------------------------------------------/
Head up the ramp until you reach the electric fence.  Head through the fence
for a cutscene and save option.
End of Chapter 6!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 7: Palumpolum                                                     {Ch7}
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Make sure to level your characters, but otherwise you should be good to go.  At
the end of the areas you're in, hook around to the left to find 3 lengths of
fiber-optic cable, and then drop down into the sewer on the top-left side of
the map.  There's a semi-hidden left turn a short walk up with a chest
containing 3 holy waters.  Hop out of the sewer, and then head up the hill.
You should really do everything in your power to avoid the flying motorcycle
enemy.  Its Gatling Gun attack WILL kill Lightning, even with protect and both
character spamming Cure.  Just wait until it flies by and run to the next sewer
entrance.  If you're dead set on killing it, Libra, Protect, and summon Odin.
Don't worry about your bestiary, plenty more of these show up later.
Once you're in the sewer and jump down to the main duct, there's a chest on the
right with a Librascope.  Jump down, save, and continue to a cutscene.
Activate the machine to summon the elevator platform, and head across the gap.
Once across, activate another machine and get back on the same elevator to get
to a platform with a phoenix down and 4 holy waters.
Down the path a bit, approach Hope to examine the Fal'Cie.  At the elevator
platform, activate the left machine to get to a platform with 2 Mobius coils
and an Aqua Ring.  Then head back, and just get back on the elevator to
continue.
A bit down the path, there is another cutscene, after which just keep going.
On the path there is a chest with a Warding Talisman.  Down the path, after
another cutscene, get on the elevator and cross the gap, and then save and
continue to another cutscene leading to a battle.
Snow is finally back, riding his lesbian twin motorcycle straight into
someone's day!  Shiva works the same way as Odin.  Press various combinations
of a direction and the A button (or just press A to auto-battle) until you're
almost out of time, then ruin everyone's day by pressing Y.
As the ensuing tutorial says, Snow's best suit is tanking.  Set him as Sentinel
until Hope can whittle down the enemies, and then finish them off with Slash &
Burn.  Obviously you should focus on weak enemies first, so you can bring the
full wrath of your party down on stronger enemies.  An important thing to note
is that Provoked enemies are easier to stagger, though another party member
would be necessary to take full advantage of that.
LEVEL UP SNOW OR YOU WILL REGRET IT.
When you're done setting up your party's CP, Paradigms, and equipment, save and
continue.  After hopping up the ice cave, before jumping on the next ice track,
go all the way to the end of the path you're on for a chest with a Fortisol.
After the ice track, go up the ramp to a platform with a Paladin.  I kept Snow
with the Power Circle because he's already blocking bazooka shots; he doesn't
need another defense boost.
When you hop down into the outer rim, head left for a chest with 4 lengths of
insulated cabling.  Save and continue until you reach a cutscene.  When you
regain control, Fang is leading your party.  Lightning is a better Commando,
but you need her as a Ravager for chain bonuses.  You don't need Fang as a
Sentinel unless you're healing.  So I had Fang as Commando and Lightning as
Ravager, then Sab/Com and Sen/Med.  Fang casts Slow as a Saboteur.  When you've
set up your party (CP, equip, Paradigm), save and continue until you reach a
cutscene.
Upon regaining control, you're playing as Snow and Hope again.  Turn around for
a chest with 4 holy waters, then save and go kick some butt.  At the first
intersection, you can jump up to an upper path at the left corner, and then
continue to the end for 2 incentive chips.  Farther up, you'll find a treasure
sphere with a Guardian Armlet and a save point.  There's a cutscene after the
path takes a turn into an alley.  The following battle will take forever if you
wait for Hope to kill a couple of them, so Protect yourself, then switch
between Slash and Burn and Lifeguard for healing.
After a couple of the air soldier battles, there's another cutscene.  Save up
ahead, and forward march into yet another cutscene.  Once you drop down to the
lower road, backtrack for a Shaman's Mark, which is amazing for Hope.  And with
Snow's Sentinel, you can actually beat the Falco Velocycle that shows up
without summoning Shiva!
When you get to the end of the section you're on, take the narrower upper path
for 3 thrust bearings, then to the right for a Vidofnir.  Upon getting across
the bridge and up the ramp, there's a chest to the right with a Deceptisol.
After hopping up the scaffolding, hook around to the right for 2000 gil.  A few
battles and some jumps later, you're at a save point, past which is a cutscene
and boss battle.
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------\
| Boss Battle: Ushumgal Subjugator                                            |
|                                                                             |
| Let Hope buff the party, and apply Libra.  Slash & Burn for damage,         |
| Lifeguard for healing.  As long as Barfire stays active, neither of your    |
| characters should have much to worry about.  Just watch out for his launch  |
| move.                                                                       |
|                                                                             |
| Reward: Abominable Wing                                                     |
\-----------------------------------------------------------------------------/
Scene, save, scene, back with Fang and Lightning.
Backtrack for 10 bestial claws. Save point on top of the scaffolding.  There's
a Gae Bolg on the lower path a bit ahead.  It has Improved Counter for Fang.
Which would be great...if she had any counter moves.  Since she doesn't, stick
with the Bladed Lance.
When you come up against the Lodestar Behemoth, the phrase "Exceptionally high
HP" appears in the notes.  It also has an exceptionally high stagger point.  In
addition, when its health gets lower, it stands up and starts using a giant
sword.  Still, slow it, beat on it, and heal yourself, and you'll be fine.  If
you want to use a Deceptisol to get the drop on it, that works fine too.
Up ahead on the path is another cutscene, then continue on.  In the upper right
corner before the path narrows on the left, there's a chest with an Axis Blade.
Go on for another cutscene.  Save at the save point afterwards.  In the upper-
left corner of the first large room, there's a Tungsten Bangle.  Follow the
hallway to the right.  Take the staircase on the left down for a treasure
sphere with a Black Belt.  Down the next set of stairs is a save point, then
down the next hallway for a scene leading into a battle.  Using Hope.  By
himself.
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------\
| Boss Battle: Ushumgal Subjugator                                            |
|                                                                             |
| It's actually not that bad.  Buff yourself, Libra, and Ravage it to death.  |
| Medic to heal, obviously.  Eventually Fang and Lightning will join, and Fang|
| will lead.  Get everyone Protected and the boss slowed, then beat on it with|
| Relentless Assault.  Diversity to heal.  When it gets staggered, Fang will  |
| launch it, making it useless and doing phenomenal amounts of damage (I maxed|
| out at 999.99% chain gauge).  Rinse and repeat.                             |
|                                                                             |
| Reward: Shield Talisman                                                     |
\-----------------------------------------------------------------------------/
When you regain control of Fang, there's a treasure on the left with a phoenix
down, then approach Hope for a scene.  Afterwards, save at the save point, and
activate the television by the red ring.  At the end of the scene, you're in a
battle with Lightning leading.  Same tactics.  Evened Odds, Relentless Assault,
Diversity.  When the battle's over, adjust your party.  The Shield Talisman you
won from the Subjugator is great for your party leader (Lightning).  Then level
everyone, and set up your Paradigms to include a Com/Com/Rav, so you can
finally use Lightning as the Commando she was born to be.
Near where you start is a chest with an Ethersol, and in the very back of the
house is a Brawler's Wristband.  You need to defeat all the enemies to be able
to open them.  Head into room by the red ring when you're ready.  The end
result is a boss battle.
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------\
| Boss Battle: Havoc Skytank                                                  |
|                                                                             |
| This thing is a monster.  It has 3.8 metric asstons of HP, is immune to all |
| status ailments, cannot be staggered, and hits like a nuclear rhinoceros.   |
| First goal is to Protect yourself.  After that, keep a Medic on hand and use|
| the other two to attack.  Ruin works just as well as any Ravager spell; the |
| only downside to two Commandos is that the second Commando will attack a    |
| different target.  Fang's Sentinel is useless because the Skytank cannot be |
| Provoked.  Attack the turrets and hulls first to reduce its firepower.  Then|
| it will open up its main cannon, but if you keep up Protect and your HP,    |
| this isn't anywhere near as bad as having two turrets, two missile bays, and|
| a pulse cannon raining bad day on your heads.                               |
|                                                                             |
| Reward: Uraninite                                                           |
\-----------------------------------------------------------------------------/
Chapter 7 Complete!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 8: Nautilus                                                       {Ch8}
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now you're in control of Sazh and Vanille, who have a lot of CP to spend.  Make
sure Sazh gets Haste!  It is (in my opinion) the most effective buff in the
game.  Save at the save point nearby, then head toward the map marker.  After
the scene, go to the next map marker for another scene.  And after THAT scene,
head to the map marker for ANOTHER scene.  Despite all the people and the
visual activity, there's not a lot to do here.
Guess what you do next?  That's right, elevator at the map marker, scene a few
steps in.  There's a save point near the lift, too.  There's a treasure sphere
at the end of the uppermost branch of this area.  That's third to the left when
facing the elevator.  The chest contains a phoenix down.
Down the main path is a scene.  Surprised?  Me too.
Examine the gaggle of overly-adorable midget sheep at the far end of the path,
followed by the souvenir cart, followed by the fountain, followed by the group
of chocobos on the right side of the area.  This drops a treasure sphere with a
Star Pendant.  There's a save point down the path, then another scene, which
puts you next to a save point with lots of angry soldiers ahead of you.
A bit down the path there's a pair of Spica Defenders.  When the path splits,
go right.  When it splits again, go straight for a Guardian Armlet.  When it
splits yet again, save at the save point, then go straight to receive a
Healer's Staff, which boosts Vanille's Cure spell.  There's a boss battle past
the save point in the other direction.
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------\
| Boss Battle: Midlight Reaper                                                |
|                                                                             |
| You'll want to make sure Sazh has learned Haste, because it makes a hundred |
| thousand HP go by a lot faster.  It's a pretty long battle anyway.  Make    |
| sure Sazh keeps the party Hasted and Faithed, and have Vanille Imperil it.  |
| After that, Libra, Slash and Burn, stagger, repeat.  When it readies its    |
| main cannon, make sure the person it's targeting is fully healed.  If you're|
| unsure, just heal both characters.  As long as you stay faster than it,     |
| you'll come out on top in the end.                                          |
|                                                                             |
| Reward: The Motherload                                                      |
\-----------------------------------------------------------------------------/
After the scene, walk forward into a scene, which ends in an Eidolon battle.
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------\
| Eidolon Battle: Brynhilder                                                  |
|                                                                             |
| Vanille is back in the party, so you won't die immediately.  Brynhilder     |
| likes people who buff party members, so just spam buffs until you're just   |
| repeating yourself, and then switch to a damage Paradigm.  Heal when        |