by Walter F. Williams III (wildman1981@hotmail.com)
-------------------------------------------------------------- Disclaimer -------------------------------------------------------------- Before I begin, I have to do this on each and every one of my guides, so pay attention....
This strategy guide is an original work of mine. You are allowed to publish this at any Web site that you want, and give it to anyone you want. Just make sure that you give credit where credit is due. Also, if you want to make any changes to it, please e-mail me first. Oh, and one last thing...do not (I repeat, do NOT) try to make money off of this for any reason or purpose whatsoever.
Okay, with that out of the way, let's get to the good stuff! -------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents -------------------------------------------------------------- I. Combat Tips A. Chapter 1 1. Defending Cypress Castle 2. Chasing the Thief 3. Thames Valley 4. Scaling the Mountain 5. Dark Mage B. Chapter 2 1. The Defense Officer 2. A Castle in Ruins 3. Gordon 4. Portobello 5. The Shipyard C. Chapter 3 1. Lost at Sea 2. Demis Fault 3. On the Other Side... 4. Assault on Algam 5. The Haunted Fortress 6. The Underground Caves 7. Reunion 8. Solo D. Chapter 4 1. Getting Closer... 2. The Ancient Valley 3. The Iom General 4. Ghosts of the Past 5. The Inner Sanctum 6. Resurrection (not yet ready) II. Characters III. Equipment A. Weapons 1. Swords 2. Rods 3. Axes 4. Spears 5. Gloves 6. Arrows B. Items 1. Normal Items 2. Ability-Enhancing Items 3. Rings IV. Enemies V. Spells A. Attack Magic B. Heal Magic C. Assist Magic VI. Playing the Game A. Controls B. Fighting 1. Display a. Combat b. Status 2. Moving 3. Commands a. After making a move b. Selecting ITM c. Anytime during battle C. Between Battle 1. Command Menus a. Main menu b. In camp VII. Secrets VIII. Revision Information IX. Coming Soon X. Special Thanks -------------------------------------------------------------- I. Combat Tips --------------------------------------------------------------
************ Introduction ************
Prince Nick of Cypress is about to leave on a journey with an army of soldiers in an attempt to win back his kingdom from the evil Iom empire. Unfortunately, in his previous fight, his right hand was turned to stone, so he cannot bring his trademark sword, the Sword of Hajya, into battle with him. On the advice of his partner, Gyan, he leaves it behind at the castle. He puts Princess Mayfair in charge of things while he is away. Before he can lower the drawbridge and send his army out to combat, possibly for the last time, Dawn, one of Cypress' young knights, comes back with an injured young boy named Deanna. He tells her to take the boy inside and tend to his wounds. Natasha, another of Cypress' warriors, tries to talk the Prince out of battle, but he tells her that it is unavoidable, and he and his army are off to save the kingdom.
A. Chapter 1
A few days later, Deanna's wounds have healed. Mayfair puts everyone on guard duty. Their top priority is to protect the Sword of Hajya at all times. Deanna is named the leader of the group. Everyone is working hard, except for Eric, Jaha and Luke. They wish that they could have been at the front lines with Prince Nick. They see the error of their thoughts when monsters invade the castle. Everyone lines up in their defensive post in front of the castle.
1. Defending Cypress Castle
Enemies - 5 Goblins, 2 Scabens, and a Drago Newt
Battle Tips:
* Natasha's Blaze spell is more effective than her regular attack, because it is more than twice as powerful, and she can use it from a distance. * Luke's attack and defense power are very weak at the beginning, but when his levels go up, he gets more powerful in a hurry. * Try to keep everyone's levels relatively equal. When one character's level goes up, have that character concentrate on defense until everyone else's level goes up. The scoring system is balanced so that the weaker characters gain more experience for fighting enemies than the strong ones do. * Jaha has the lowest HP of the group, but he has the highest defense power. Most attacks against him will only do 1 HP of damage. * Try to make the enemies come to you in this battle, since you're on the defensive. * The Scabens carry Medical Herbs. They can restore your HP. You can pick up items from a monster by killing it. * Monks and healers get more experience points for using healing items than any other class. * Protect Deanna at all times. If he dies, then you've lost the battle, and you also lose half of your gold. --------------------------------------------------------------
You've driven the enemies out of the area, but you soon realize that the attack was a distraction, when someone sneaks into the castle and snatches Prince Nick's sword. The party catches a glimpse of the thief, but he escapes by ramming a hole into the castle wall.
You follow him to an open field. The thief, known as Graham, tells a dwarf to hold you off while he makes a break for it.
2. Chasing the Thief
Enemies - 3 Goblins, 2 Scabens, 2 Drago Newts, 2 Big Bats, and a Dwarf
Battle Tips:
* In some scenarios, you may only have to kill a certain enemy to win the battle. In this one, you need to kill the Dwarf. * Don't stay too close to the river when the Big Bats approach. They could surround you and hammer you with attacks if one of them puts you to sleep. * The Drago Newts use the Blaze spell starting with this battle. Try to keep a safe distance when approaching them, and keep your HP at 6 or above. * Move slowly and stick together so that you don't get surprised by the enemy. * The Big Bats carry some much-needed Antidotes. They cure you of poison. --------------------------------------------------------------
After defeating the Dwarf's army, Mayfair tells you that there is a village called Thames near the field. Perhaps you could get some clues as to where Graham went.
You and Mayfair look around town, but there is nobody in any of the houses, save for the weapons dealer and a healer named Slade. He tries to run away to avoid interrogation. You manage to stop him, but he won't answer any of your questions, because he fears that he'll put the lives of the villagers in danger. But Mayfair convinces him to join the Shining Force. Reluctantly, he joins, and he tells that he last saw Graham running toward Albert Cliffs to the north. But first, everybody decides to stop for rest and supplies.
Make sure everyone has the following equipment before proceeding: Deanna - Middle Sword Natasha and Slade - Bronze Rod Jaha - Hand Axe Eric and Dawn - Bronze Lance Luke - Leather Glove Everyone should have one Medical Herb, except for Luke and Slade, who should have two each.
To the north of the small vilage of Thames is the Albert Cliffs. Graham was last seen moving toward here. The Iom forces have already fortified the mountain, and have spotted Slade with the Cypress army, and they begin their assault.
3. Thames Valley
Enemies - 3 Scabens, 3 Drago Newts, 2 Big Bats, 3 Dwarves, and an Iom Knight
Battle Tips:
* Eric and Dawn's lances do not have the same range as Spears, but they are more powerful. * Natasha learns the Freeze spell at level 4. It is an attack spell, like Blaze, but it is more powerful, and it costs her 3 MP to use. * Luke learns Heal level 2 when he reaches level 3. It restores the same amount of HP as Heal level 1, but it has a wider range. * The Iom Knight is more resistant against magic than other enemies. Stick to physical attacks in order to avoid wasting magic. --------------------------------------------------------------
The team follows Mayfair to Albert Cliffs. They've spotted Graham, but he is already halfway up the mountain when they arrive, and he is on his way to a cabin to the top of the mountain to meet Dark Mage.
4. Scaling the Mountain
Enemies - Graham (does not fight), 2 Drago Newts, 4 Big Bats, 4 Dwarves, 2 Iom Knights, 2 Incubuses, and a Death Archer
Battle Tips:
* It will be hard to move around here because of the narrow path. Be careful or you might have your path blocked by the enemy. * The Death Archer attacks with arrows. While they pack a punch, he can only use them to attack from a distance. If you can get in close and surround him, he won't be able to use his arrows. * Use the Egress spell to return to town and restock your supplies. In certain scenarios, you won't be allowed to return to town, so make sure you have everything that you need for the next battle. * One of the Incubuses holds Protect Milk. It increases your defense a few points. Let Natasha drink the Protect Milk. * The Death Archer has Power Water. Drinking it will increase your attack power. Slade should use the Power Water. --------------------------------------------------------------
The Death Archer is dead, so they still have a chance to catch up with Graham. But it looks like he is having a little trouble of his own. The Dark Mage is holding back on his promise to release the villagers of Thames in exchange for the Sword of Hajya. He beats up Graham, then snatches the sword from his hands. Mayfair and the Cypress Army arrive just in time. She commands Graham to hurry and save the villagers.
5. Dark Mage
Enemies - 5 Iom Knights, 2 Incubuses, 3 Death Archers, a Ratman, and Dark Mage
Battle Tips:
* You need to kill the Dark Mage to win the battle and complete this chapter. * Dark Mage's Blaze level 2 spell can take away 8-10 HP from its target, and anyone directly next to him/her. Stay spread out to keep damage and casualties to a minimum. * Luke learns the Detox spell at level 6. It cures you of poison. You shouldn't need to use this spell until later. * Ratman holds Cheerful Bread, which increases your maximum HP. You should give this to Jaha, since his HP are very low to begin with. * The treasure chest contains Quick Chicken, which increases your agility. Jaha is the best choice for this, but if you already gave him the Cheerful Bread, give the Chicken to Dawn. --------------------------------------------------------------
Dark Mage has been defeated, but he is not going to give up yet. He hands the Sword of Hajya to a gargoyle, then he collapses. The gargoyle flies off in the distance near King Emild's castle. Graham bursts out of the cabin, takes aim with his crossbow, and fires. The arrow hits its mark, and the gargoyle is shot own over the horizon. Graham thanks Deanna and crew for helping him save the villagers of Thames, and he offers his assistance in finding the Sword of Hajya.
B. Chapter 2
Graham and company search the area near Emild Castle for any signs of the gargoyle and sword, but nothing turns up. Graham thinks that somebody beat them to the punch. At the other side, there is a quarrel going on between the Emild defense officer, and an elf named Chester. The officer places Chester under arrest, and then raises the drawbridge, leaving the elf trapped. Chester finds out that the defense officer was really an Iom dark soldier. Disguised as Emild guards, they would wait for the Shining Force to arrive, then they would attack. Unfortunately, they messed up. But if they were to destroy the entire Cypress army here, then Sir Gordon would forgive them.
1. The Defense Officer
Enemies - 2 Incubuses, 2 Death Archers, 4 Ratmen, 2 Dark Mages, 2 Ratwings, and a Dark Soldier
Battle Tips:
* Defeat the Dark Soldier to win the battle. * Graham is a good ally to have around. He can attack from a distance with his Iron Arrows, and he can move around fairly quickly. * Slade learns the Muddle spell at level 7. It confuses a group of enemies, causing them to attack each other, or not to attack at all. Its use is very limited, because it consumes a good bit of Slade's MP, and it doesn't work all the time. * Natasha's Blaze spell powers up at level 8. She can now do as much damage with it as the Dark Mages. --------------------------------------------------------------
Chester is thankful for your help in defeating the Dark Soldier. He takes you into the castle to meet King Emild. You look around the castle and find a shop.
Pick up the following equipment at Emild Castle: Deanna - Long Sword Natasha and Slade - Iron Rod Jaha - Middle Axe Eric and Dawn - Steel Lance Luke - Power Glove Graham - Steel Arrow Everyone should have one Medical Herb, while Luke and Slade should each carry two.
Chester takes everyone to see King Emild. When he asks the King for the Sword of Hajya, the King shows it to them, and asks Deanna to step forward and reclaim it. But suddenly, the King has a change of heart, and he decides to keep the Sword for itself, and reveals himself as Sir Gordon of Iom. Gordon tells Chester that the real King Emild was sacrificed to Iom. Then, using the powers given to him by Warderer, he devastates the csatle, leaving it in ruins. He disappears down a secret tunnel hidden underneath the throne. Chester, outraged by the blatant destruction of his castle and the murder of his leader, decides to help Deanna defeat Gordon.
2. A Castle in Ruins
Enemies - 3 Death Archers, a Dark Mage, 2 Ratwings, 5 Dark Soldiers, and a Dark Sniper
Battle Tips:
* Graham and Chester's arrows are best used against flying creatures, like the Ratwing. The Ratwings suffer close to 20 HP damage when hurt by arrows. * There's some more Protect Milk in the treasure chest on the lower right side. Save this and give it to May when she joins you. * The Dark Mages are strong against fire magic, and the Iom Knights are strong against ice magic. --------------------------------------------------------------
May, the royal sorceress, comes in and tells you that the tunnel Gordon used leads to Portobello. She came to rescue the King once the castle started crumbling. She knew about King Emild's strange behavior, but she didn't know why, until Mayfair told her that Iom had killed the real King and Gordon was posing as him. May leads the team into the tunnel. It is like a maze, so they have to move very carefully. She spots Gordon up ahead, who is about to escape to Portobello with the Sword of Hajya.
3. Gordon
Enemies - a Dark Mage, 2 Ratwings, 2 Dark Soldiers, 2 Dark Snipers, a Dark Monk, and Sir Gordon
Battle Tips:
* To win the scenario and recover the Sword of Hajya, Sir Gordon has to be killed. * Once you've made it past most of the enemies, and are getting close to Sir Gordon, he will summon Zombies. They are quite strong, and their touch is poisonous. (Now would be a good time to start using those Antidotes and Luke's Detox spell.) They are undead creatures, and their one weakness is fire. * Kill the Dark Monk to get a Power Stick, a weapon that can be used by mages and healers. Let Natasha hold this one. You can pick up more later in the game. * Stay spread out when you get near Gordon. While his Freeze level 2 spell isn't much stronger than Blaze level 2, it can still be dangerous if your party is clustered. * May's Slow spell decreases enemies' defense and agility by 2-4 points. At level 1 it can slow down a group of enemies, but when she reaches level 9, it powers up to level 2, and it works more effectively, but only against a single enemy. * On the flip side, Slade learns Quick at level 10. It increases your allies' defense and agility. * Luke learns the Sleep spell at level 10. It puts enemies to sleep. All three spells (Slow, Quick, and Sleep) take a good amount of MP to cast. --------------------------------------------------------------
Gordon has been defeated, and you have finally recovered the Sword of Hajya. You can't use it, so you put it away in your sheath. With this mission accomplished, Mayfair prepares to return to Cypress. Suddenly, the torches go out in the cave, and you can hear a dark voice tell you that you haven't won anything. Prince Nick's expedition failed, and he is being held hostage. Prince Nick of Cypress captive? That can't be right. To find out the truth, the voice tells you to go to Portobello. You have no idea who this person is, but if all of what you're hearing is accurate, then you could have a very long battle ahead of you.
* You get a chance to promote your characters. To promote someone to a higher class, that person needs to be at least level 10. Before proceeding into the next battle, it is recommended that all of your characters be promoted. Here are the characters' class changes: Deanna becomes a Hero Natasha and May become Wizards Jaha becomes a Gladiator Eric and Dawn become Paladins Luke becomes a Master Monk Slade becomes a Sabbatarian Graham becomes a Bow Knight Chester becomes a Sniper
Iom's armies have fortified the port town of Portobello. You need to bust through their defenses to reach the Shipyard.
4. Portobello
Enemies - 2 Ratwings, 2 Dark Snipers, 2 Dark Monks, 2 Zombies, 2 Skeletons, 2 Pegasus Knights, 2 Brass Rorders, and a Master Mage
Battle Tips:
* From now on, instead of Medical Herbs, everyone should carry Healing Seeds. They're more expensive than Medical Herbs, but they're more effective in healing the wounds you will receive from the enemies in the upcoming battles. * If Deanna has an Antidote, pass it to someone else. Since he is carrying his weapon, a healing item, and the Prince's Sword of Hajya, he needs to have one slot open for collecting items from enemies. * The Zombies and Skeletons are very resistant against ice magic. * The Master Mage's Blaze level 3 spell has a very wide area of destruction, and it is powerful enough to kill your characters. Be careful how your characters are lined up. * Get the Robin Arrow from the first Dark Sniper and give it to Graham. It has excellent range, and it is more powerful than the Steel Arrow. * When fighting an enemy that has powerful magic, such as the Master Mage, it is sometimes necessary to sacrifice a few of your characters to get him to use up his magic. * There's a Quick Ring in the treasure box. It increases your agility by 5 points when you wear it. You might want to let Jaha have this. --------------------------------------------------------------
The Master Mage tells you that the Prince has been captured and is being held at Fort Algam. (So that mysterious voice was telling the truth...) The only way to reach Algam is by sea, so you need to get on a boat. Of course, Iom controls all seafaring craft going to and from Portobello, so once again you'll have to get rid of them in order to get to the ship.
5. The Shipyard
Enemies - 2 Dark Snipers, 2 Dark Monks, 2 Zombies, 3 Skeletons, 3 Pegasus Knights, 2 Brass Rorders, a Master Mage, and an Arch Knight
Battle Tips:
* Always take care of any casualties that you might have suffered from prevoius battles before going on. It costs 20 gold multiplied by the character's current level (plus an extra 200 gold if he/she has been promoted). * You can find two special weapons on this level. One of the treasure chests holds a Battle Axe. Give this weapon to Jaha. The Arch Knight has a Power Spear. This should go to Eric. * The Running Pimento increases your range of movement by 2 squares. Have May eat it. * Promoted characters have access to the more powerful weapons and magic spells. For example, May's Freeze spell powers up to level 3 when she becomes a level 2 Wizard. It has a very wide area of destruction, and anyone who gets caught in it will suffer 30-40 HP damage. That's enough to wipe out several enemies. * Slade learns Blast at level 2 of his promoted class. It attacks an enemy with a gust of wind. It doesn't do much more damage than his normal attack, but it's handy to have around. * Luke learns Dispel as a level 3 Master Monk. He casts a spell which prevents enemies from using their magic against him. --------------------------------------------------------------
Mayfair, Deanna, Jaha, Eric, Slade, Chester, and May get aboard the ship. They are about to sail out to sea when Sir Randolf and Lady Sarah arrive. They were with the Prince's army at Algam, but they had lost. Randolf and Sarah managed to avoid being captured, along with a birdman named Claude. Randolf suspects something wrong, so he tells Mayfair to get off the ship. But it's too late. The anchor has already been lifted, and the ship sails out to sea on its own, separating the two parties. Deanna's team has no idea where they are going, or what caused the ship to sail away by itself. What will become of them now?...
C. Chapter 3
Deanna and company begin to panic as their attempts to take control of the ship fail....It appears that they are running out of options. Jaha and Eric begin to worry about the others. Chester tells them to concentrate on the task at hand. May suspects that this could be a trap, to separate them from their friends at Portobello. A bishop appears out of a cloud of smoke, surprising the team. Yep, May guessed right. It was a trap. Now they're drifting aimlessly at sea with no idea when or if they're going to reach land. The bishop retreats to the rear of the ship, and battle commences once again.
1. Lost at Sea
Enemies - 2 Ratwings, 4 Pegasus Knights, a Master Mage, an Evil Pixie, and a Dark Bishop
Battle Tips: * At the beginning of each of the four chapters, people who died during combat are automatically resurrected. * A lot of flying enemies will appear on this level. They won't approach the ship until you move ahead. Be patient, move slowly, and wait for them to come to you. --------------------------------------------------------------
Claude shows up and tells you that Randolf's group is headed toward Algam. Luckily, the ship is headed in thre right direction. You should land on the port of Demis any time soon. From there, you'll head to Algam Fort.
Demis has some good equipment available. You'll need the following weapons before going on: Deanna and Claude - Broad Sword Jaha - Battle Axe (you should have this already) Eric - Chrome Lance Slade - Flail Chester - Assault Shell May - Power Stick
The area near Demis is actively volcanic with many fault lines. You need to move carefully. The Iom forces won't make it any easier on you.
2. Demis Fault
Enemies - 2 Arch Knights, 2 Evil Pixies, a Dark Bishop, 2 Lizard Men, 2 Dark Rangers, a Worm, and a Sorcerer
Battle Tips:
* The Sorcerer is the leader here. Kill him to win the battle. * Claude is the only charcter that can fly. He can move anywhere he wants to, and terrain does not affect him. * The Worm on this level has a poisonous touch. Sometimes it doesn't poison you, but you might want to keep a few Antidotes handy just in case. --------------------------------------------------------------
Deanna's group has succeeded in defeating the enemy, but their victory is short-lived, when the earth opens up and causes them to fall into the underground.
Meanwhile, Natasha's group is headed toward Iom. Up ahead is a town called Algam, which was built near the fortress of the same name. They have to climb a steep hill to get to it safely.
3. On the Other Side...
Enemies - 2 Skeletons, 2 Pegasus Knights, a Master Mage, 2 Arch Knights, 1 Dark Bishop, a Dark Sniper, and a Lizard Man
Battle Tips:
* Natasha's the leader of this group. Don't let her get killed. * It is hard for centaurs to climb up the vines on these cliffs. Dawn, Graham, and Randolf will have a tough time moving around here. * If you need extra cash, there's a treasure chest worth 500 gold at the bottom of the cliffs. * You can clear the scenario by defeating the Lizard Man. --------------------------------------------------------------
Rohde, an inhabitant of the village, thanks you for saving him. He and the people of Algam were instructed to build the fortress for Iom. They had to keep its weaknesses a secret. He joins your party because he has a score to settle with them. He takes you into the village for rest.
Algam sells the same supplies as Demis. Make sure everybody has the newest equipment. Natasha - Power Stick (you should have this already) Dawn and Randolf - Chrome Lance Luke - Thorn Glove Graham - Assault Shell Rohde - Battle Axe (enters party equipped)
At the fortress, Rohde tells you its secret: the fort is nearly impenetrable from the front, but it's weakest if you attack it from above. You overhear a conversation between some of the soldiers. They don't seem too happy with King Warderer's method of conquering countries just to get blood sacrifices. They say it helps him get closer to Iom. They mention theat Prince Nick will become the next victim.
4. Assault on Algam
Enemies - 2 Arch Knights, 2 Dark Rangers, 3 Lizard Men, an Evil Pixie, a Dark Bishop, and a Sorcerer
Battle Tips:
* Kill the Sorcerer to get inside the fortress. * If you kill the Evil Pixies, more will appear. Don't worry about them. --------------------------------------------------------------
The Sorcerer mentions that Lord Solo is the keeper of this fortress. Natasha's team heads inside.
It's pitch black. There isn't a light in the room, and Lord Solo is nowhere to be found. His monsters are somewhere within the darkness, but you can't see them, either.
5. The Haunted Fortress
Enemies - 5 Zombies, 4 Dark Rangers, 2 Sorcerers, 2 Lizard Men, 2 Dark Bishops, and a Wight
Battle Tips:
* Look for the Wight in this dark and scary place, then kill it. * Most of the enemies do not immediately appear. You have to search the fortress to open up new areas. * There's a Demon Rod in the treasure chests on the left. Give it to Natasha, but don't equip it. It's cursed, and if you try to attack with it, you'll either lose HP, or not move at all. * The Protect Ring is to the right, but you have to get past a Lizard Man and a Dark Bishop. Natasha should take this, too. It increases her defense by 5 points. When used as an item during battle, it casts the Quick spell. * Luke's Heal spell powers up to level 3 when he becomes a level 7 Master Monk. It has excellent range, and it restores 30 HP. --------------------------------------------------------------
After the monsters in the fortress are killed, Sarah tells everybody that they have to get to the Algam Plains to meet Deanna's group.
Coincidentally, his team is also moving north towards the Algam plains. He has to get through the underground caves and past a fierce Hawkman.
6. Underground Caves
Enemies - 4 Worms, 3 Pegasus Knights, 2 Evil Pixies, a Sorcerer, a Dark Bishop, and a Hawkman
Battle Tips:
* You need to defeat the Hawkman to find your way out of these caves. * The Dark Bishop has a Guardian Staff. Give it to Slade. * The volcanic eruptions near Demis will cause some of the ground to give out. This prevents you from taking shortcuts. --------------------------------------------------------------
The tunnel is a dead end, and the Iom army is still pursuing them. The voice that Deanna heard at Portobello can be heard again here. A light can be seen from the ceiling, and a rope is mysteriously lowered. You still don't know who this mystery person is, or why you're receiving all this help, but all will be revealed when the time is right. For now, you climb out of the caves to meet the other group. With everyone reunited, Sarah suggests that you set up camp here at Algam Plains to decide your next move.
You now have a total of 14 people in your party. You can't go into battle with more than 12, so let those who have the most experience points sit out for now. Sarah should be in the party, since she's the new character. You should also have at least one magic user, like Natasha or May.
The Algam Plains is where Prince Nick's army was ambushed. With Sarah's help, you won't suffer the same fate. You will, however, have to face another Iom battalion. Just north of the plains is Iom Castle. Perhaps King Warderer is there....
7. Reunion
Enemies - 2 Wights, 7 Worms, 2 Hawkmen, a Sorcerer, an Evil Cleric, and a Ghoul
Battle Tips:
* The Ghoul leads the pack. Destroy it to move on. * The Evil Cleric's Holy Staff will allow it to recover 3 hit points after every turn. If you kill it ahead of time, you can deny it the chance to recover. * There is a lot of forest here on the plains. Your characters will have trouble moving quickly, especially the centaurs. * Deanna learns his first real magic here - the Bolt spell. It strikes a group of enemies with lightning. He first learns it at level 6. May learns this spell when she hits level 5. * Sarah learns Aura at level 6. It heals several characters. --------------------------------------------------------------
At Iom Castle, Barbara is mocking Solo because his forces have been decimated by Deanna and the Shining Force. Solo and Barbara start fighting, but Warderer steps in to break up the melee. Lately Warderer has been doing resurrection experiments with the King of Emild, whom he had sacrificed to Iom. The tests had proven successful. Warderer also suspects that there is a traitor among the Iom ranks. Just as he is about to finger the traitor, Barbara spots the Cypress army at the gates of the castle. She, Warderer and Sir Hindel retreat to the Shrine, while Solo stays to "entertain" the guests.
8. Solo
Enemies - 2 Ghouls, a Cerberos, 2 Wights, 2 Sorcerers, 2 Bow Riders, 2 Hawkmen, a Death Balloon, an Evil Cleric, and Lord Solo
Battle Tips:
* Solo is a very powerful enemy. He knows Bolt level 2, which can do lots of damage to your characters. Fortunately for you, it takes a lot of magic power for him to use. He is also very resistant against your magic, so use regular attacks on him. * There are treasure chests littered around this place. The Healing Rain is one of the most essential items you will need in this game. It completely restores everybody's HP, no matter where you are on the battlefield. You'll want to save this for the end of the game. * If you look near the bottom wall, you'll find Higins, one of the secret charcters. He is a very useful ally, because he wields the Critical Sword, which increases his chances of getting a critical hit on the enemy. * If you find the Critical Sword, give it to Deanna. It increases his chances of scoring a critical hit. * The Heat Axe is a powerful weapon that casts Blaze level 2 on enemies if you use it as an item. You have to be careful not to use it too much, or it'll break. Give this weapon to Rohde. * Wearing the Running Ring increases your range of movement by 2 spaces. Higins should equip it. * The Halberd is a special weapon for knights and paladins. Give it to Dawn. It casts Bolt level 1 when you use it. * The Evil Cleric has a Black Ring. It increases a wizard's attack power by 10 points. Give it to May, or to Natasha if she is in your party. * Watch your step, because the Death Ballons will appear here. They won't attack you unless you provoke them. If you foolishly try to destroy them yourself, they explode and cause damage to your party. They also explode if you are standing within two spaces of them at the end of your turn. --------------------------------------------------------------
Solo has been defeated. Before he dies, he accuses Deanna of betraying the Iom forces. You? A traitor? But you've served the Cypress army all this time. You couldn't possibly have anything to do with Iom. Or maybe Solo might have been hinting at something else....Mayfair tells everybody to go east after King Warderer, who has headed toward the Shrine of Iom. We are getting close to the final battle between Cypress and Iom....
D. Chapter 4
Hindel and Barbara are taking the Prince to be sacrificed at the Shrine of Iom. Barbara has been told by Warderer himself not to take any orders from Hindel, and has been instructed to kill him if he tries anything funny. Hindel decides not to argue with Barbara, because it could mean the end for him. They go to the Shrine together with the Prince, and leave more monsters behind to stall you to give them time to reach the Shrine safely.
1. Getting Closer...
Enemies - 4 Ghouls, 2 Cerberos, 2 Gargoyles, 2 Belials, 2 Evil Clerics, a Sorcerer, 4 Golems, and a Minotaur
Battle Tips:
* Just like on the Algam Plains, you will have trouble moving around near Iom because of the thick forestation. * You have to fight Golems when you've almost defeated all of the enemies. They move slowly, but their punches are devastating. They also have a high resistance to magic. --------------------------------------------------------------
Gyan comes running to you from the small town nearby. Everyone is glad to see that he is still alive. He invites them in for some rest, but there is little time. They have to get to the Shrine of Iom before Barbara and Hindel do.
This is your last chance to stock up on weapons. You should have the following before you go: Deanna and Higins - Critical Sword Natasha and May - Guardian Staff Jaha and Rohde - Great Axe Eric and Randolf - Chrome Lance Dawn - Halberd Luke - Iron Claw Slade and Sarah - Holy Staff Graham and Chester - Great Shot Claude - Great Sword Gyan doesn't need to use any weapons, so get him a Healing Seed and Healing Rain.
Gyan knows of a shortcut in the valley, that will get them to the Shrine before Iom. There is an even bigger problem than just merely getting there ahead of Iom, because they also have to make it past a giant statue.
2. The Ancient Valley
Enemies - a Gargoyle, a Belial, 2 Brass Gunners, 3 Golems, 2 Minotaurs, 2 Cerberos, a Demon Master, an Evil Cleric, and the Statue of Iom
Battle Tips:
* While it may appear that you have to defeat the Statue of Iom, it is really the Demon Master that you're after. * Watch the Statue closely. It will start out blue, then turn yellow for two turns. After it turns yellow for the second time, take cover and stick to the sides. When the Statue's eye turns red, it will shoot a blast of light across the valley. Everything within its range will get hurt, including enemy characters. They cannot get away from the beam as early as you can. This can be used to your advantage by luring them into the path of the beam. * The Valkyrie spear is the best weapon for paladins. This is best used with Dawn when you find it. * The Buster shot fires an explosive shot at enemies. Give this to Graham when you find it. * Don't let the Minotaur get killed by the Iom beam. Instead, weaken it enough so that you can kill it, because you can pick up the Evil Axe. It's very strong, but cursed. Cursed items go for a lot of money in shops. * Demon Master's Freeze level 3 is powerful enough to kill one of your characters. He can only use it three times, so use the trick that you did for the Master Mages. * Higins can resist magic better than most characters. --------------------------------------------------------------
Looks like the shortcut wasn't so short after all. The last fight with the Statue actually ended up delaying you, and Barbara and Hindel have already reached the Shrine, and are about to send Prince Nick to his imminent death. And just in time, too, because their evil deity is restless, and wants a blood sacrifice --- yesterday. Warderer and Hindel take the doomed Prince Nick into the King's inner sanctum, while Barbara stays behind to take care of the Cypress army. Barbara is a trained general. She will not be defeated as easily as Gordon or Solo were.
3. The Iom General
Enemies - 2 Minotaurs, 2 Taros, 2 Chimeras, 2 Dullahans, 2 Brass Gunners, a Belial, an Evil Cleric, and Barbara
Battle Tips: * Barbara leads the troops guarding the way into the Shrine of Evil. Defeat her...if she lets you. Your reward is the Atlas Axe, a weapon that casts Blaze level 3. Best used with Rohde. * As soon as you start, look in the first pillar to find Rush, a friendly samurai. His attack and defense power are very strong, and he can resist magic very well. * Be very careful when you approach the Taros that's holding the Dark Sword. He can use it to cast Desoul on you, and you might instantly die. If you pick it up, you can use its powers to help you. Don't equip it, though. It's cursed. * The Evil Claw is a cursed weapon for Luke. * Deanna's Bolt spell powers up to level 2 when he reaches level 10, allowing him to hit more targets. * Sarah's Aura spell powers up to level 2 when she hits level 10, allowing her to heal more people. * The Chimeras can breathe fire, like the Cerberos at Iom Castle, but Chimera Breath takes away about 20 HP. --------------------------------------------------------------
You have to hurry to rescue Prince Nick, because the Iom forces are still chasing you (don't they ever give up?) Luckily, Ruth, one of the Guardiana soldiers, comes to your aid. She takes care of the lone sentinel while you and the gang hurry inside.
The inside of the shrine is very large, but for some reason, Warderer doesn't have any monsters guarding it. Soon, Mayfair hears a familiar voice. It's the ghost of Cypress' former ambassador, Walldol. He is not too happy about being left for dead a long time ago, and Warderer has brought him back to life to take revenge on his former allies.
4. Ghosts of the Past
4 Dullahans, 4 Assassins, 2 Taros, a Chimera, a Demon Master, a Wyvern, an Evil Bishop, and Death Walldol
Battle Tips: * Death Walldol had much power when he was living, and now he has even more power as a ghost. He can use the Freeze level 3 spell. He also carries the Shining Sword. While not as strong as Freeze, the Shining Sword's spell can still inflict pain. This legendary sword can be yours if you send him back to his place. * Watch out for the Wyvern. Its ice breath can knock out up to 27 HP from a character. * Evil Bishop knows Aura 3 and Blast 2. Aura 3 can restore 30 HP to a lot of its allies. But this consumes a lot of his MP, so he can only use it a certain number of times. * Send people one by one to inflict a small amount of damage on Walldol. They'll probably end up getting finished off by Freeze 3, but you get a chance to revive them later. On the next turn, the Evil Bishop will probably use Aura 3 on itself and Walldol, restoring 30 HP to each of them. Continue sending people in until both of them use up their MP, then go in for the kill. You'll end up losing a lot of characters this way, but it's easier than sending them in all at once. --------------------------------------------------------------
Warderer has discovered that Hindel is the traitor in the Iom ranks. Because of him, Barbara, Solo, Gordon, and even Walldol were defeated, and the Prince almost escaped. Before punishing Hindel for his sin, they still have to worry about sacrificing Prince Nick. Time for some more "friendly intervention."
5. The Inner Sanctum
Enemies - 3 Skull Knghts, a Sentinel, 2 Executioners, a Demon Master, 2 Assassins, a Wyvern, an Evil Bishop, and King Warderer
Battle Tips:
not available yet
6. Resurrection
Enemies - Iom (hands and body), Iom Doll (other enemies unknown)
Battle Tips:
not available yet
-------------------------------------------------------------- II. Characters --------------------------------------------------------------
Deanna (you, the leader) Initial Class - SDMN Promoted Class - HERO Best Equipment - Shining Sword, Quick Ring Deanna starts out slow, but when promoted to a HERO, he becomes the most powerful defensive character.
Natasha Initial Class - MAGE Promoted Class - WIZD Best Equipment - Guardian Staff, White Ring Natasha has good magic abilities, including the Blaze and Freeze spells. Her strength is very weak, however.
Jaha Initial Class - WARR Promoted Class - GLDR Best Equipment - Great Axe Jaha's defensive abilities are as good as Deanna's, but he is also pretty slow.
Eric Initial Class - KNTE Promoted Class - PLDN Best Equipment - Chrome Lance Eric can use weapons that attack close or at a distance. He can move very far, except in forests and on mountains.
Dawn Initial Class - KNTE Promoted Class - PLDN Best Equipment - Valkyrie Dawn has the same advantages and limitiations as Eric, but she is better defensively.
Luke Initial Class - MONK Promoted Class - MSMK Best Equipment - Iron Claw Luke starts out weak, but he gains attack and defense power faster than any character.
Slade meet in Thames Village Initial Class - HEAL Promoted Class - SBRN Best Equipment - Holy Staff, Protect Ring Slade is good with healing magic, and his power and speed are good, but that's about it.
Graham joins after fight with Dark Mage Initial Class - RANG Promoted Class - BWKN Best Equipment - Buster Shot Graham has the combined abilities of a centaur and an archer. He can travel long distances and attack from long range.
Chester joins before battle at Emild Initial Class - ACHR Promoted Class - SNIP Best Equipment - Great Shot Chester is a good all-around character to have.
May joins before the battle with Gordon Initial Class - MAGE Promoted Class - WIZD Best Equipment - Guardian Staff, Black Ring May has better magic abilities than Natasha. She learns the Desoul spell, which is useful for eliminating an enemy.
Sarah joins at the battle on Algam Plains Class - SBRN Best Equipment - Holy Staff Sarah is the best of the healers. She can use the Aura spell, which heals several characters at once.
Randolf joins Natasha's party Class - PLDN Best Equipment - Halberd Randolf is very powerful, but he is as limited as Eric and Dawn.
Claude joins Deanna's party before Demis Class - SKYW Best Equipment - Critical Sword Claude is the only character that knows how to fly. Terrain does not have any effect on his movement range. He is very vulnerable to projectile attacks, though.
Rohde joins Natasha's party before the raid on Algam Class - GLDR Best Equipment - Atlas Axe Rohde is slightly quicker than Jaha, but his attacks are a little bit weaker.
Rush secret character - look in the pillar at the Shrine of Iom Class - SMRI Best Equipment - Katana Rush is an extremely powerful character, and he can resist magic very well.
Higins secret character - look in the walls of Iom Castle. Class - NINJ Best Equipment - Critical Sword, Running Ring Higins is lightning-quick, and wields the deadly Critical Sword, which increases the chance of him getting a criticat hit.
Gyan joins your party before the battle at the Ancient Valley Class - BSKR Gyan has excellent fighting abilities. He uses his punches and kicks rather than weapons.
Nick joins your party before the final battle Class - PRNC Best Equipment - Sword of Hajya Prince Nick is the must-have character when fighting Iom. His legendary Sword of Hajya is the only thing that can hurt Iom.
-------------------------------------------------------------- III. Equipment -------------------------------------------------------------- A. Weapons
1. Swords
Sword Attack Power Effect Which Class Can Use? Short Sword 5 SDMN, HERO Middle Sword 8 SDMN, HERO Long Sword 12 SDMN, HERO Broad Sword 21 HERO, SKYW Critical Sword 26 Critical hit HERO, SKYW, SMRI, NINJ % up Katana ? SMRI Shining Sword 33 Bolt 2 HERO Sword of Hajya ? Freeze 2 PRNC Dark Sword* 35 Desoul 1 HERO
2. Rods
Rod or Staff Attack Power Effect Which Class Can Use? Wooden Rod 3 MAGE, WIZD, HEAL, SBRN Bronze Rod 6 MAGE, WIZD, HEAL, SBRN Iron Rod 9 MAGE, WIZD, HEAL, SBRN Power Stick 12 MAGE, WIZD, HEAL, SBRN Flail 16 SBRN Guardian Staff 20 WIZD, SBRN Holy Staff 24 Recover 3 HP SBRN per turn Demon Rod* 30 Steals 5 MP WIZD
3. Axes
Axe Attack Power Effect Which Class Can Use? Short Axe 6 WARR, GLDR Hand Axe 9 WARR, GLDR Middle Axe 14 WARR, GLDR Battle Axe 20 GLDR Heat Axe 22 Blaze 2 GLDR Great Axe 28 GLDR Atlas Axe 30 Blaze 3 GLDR Evil Axe* 34 GLDR
4. Spears
Spear Attack Power Effect Which Class Can Use? Spear 6 long range KNTE, PLDN Bronze Lance 9 KNTE, PLDN Steel Lance 13 KNTE, PLDN Power Spear 18 long range PLDN Chrome Lance 22 PLDN Halberd 24 PLDN Valkyrie 28 long range; PLDN Bolt 1 Evil Lance* 35 PLDN
5. Gloves
Glove Attack Power Effect Which Class Can Use? Leather Glove 5 MONK, MSMK Power Glove 10 MONK, MSMK Thorn Glove 14 MONK, MSMK Iron Claw 18 MSMK Evil Claw* 30 MSMK
6. Arrows
Arrow Attack Power Effect Which Class Can Use? Iron Arrow 8 long range RANG, BWKN, ACHR, SNIP Steel Arrow 11 long range RANG, BWKN, ACHR, SNIP Robin Arrow 15 great range BWKN, SNIP Assault Shell 19 great range BWKN, SNIP Great Shot 23 great range BWKN, SNIP Buster Shot 26 great range BWKN, SNIP
* - cursed
B. Items
1. Normal Items
Item Effect Medical Herb Restores 10 HP. Healing Seed Restores 20 HP. Healing Rain Restores everybody's HP completely. Antidote Cures poison. Angel Wing Escapes battle.
2. Ability-Enhancing Items
Item Effect Power Water Increases Attack 2-4 points. Protect Milk Increases Defense 2-4 points. Quick Chicken Increases Agility 2-4 points. Running Pimento Increases Movement 2 points. Cheerful Bread Increases Maximum HP 2-4 points.
3. Rings
Ring Effect Special Which Class Can Use? Protect Ring Increases Defense 5 points. Quick 1 all Quick Ring Increases Agility 5 points. all Running Ring Increases Movement 2 points. all Black Ring Increases Attack 10 points. Blaze 2 WIZD White Ring Increases Attack 15 points. WIZD, SBRN
-------------------------------------------------------------- IV. Enemies --------------------------------------------------------------
Spell Effect MP Range Field Who can use? Blaze 1 Small flame 2 2 1 Natasha Blaze 2 Fire rain 5 2 2 Natasha 8 Blaze 3 Large fire rain 8 3 3 Natasha 7! Blaze 4 Freeze 1 Small ice crystals 3 2 1 Natasha 4 Freeze 2 Deep freeze 7 2 2 Natasha 3!, May Freeze 3 Blizzard 10 3 3 May 2! Freeze 4 Bolt 1 Lightning bolt 8 2 2 Deanna 6!, May 5! Bolt 2 Powerful lightning 15 3 3 Deanna 10!, May 10! Bolt 3 Electric storm 20 3 3 Bolt 4 Blast 1 Gust of wind 2 2 1 Slade 2! Blast 2 Wind blast 5 2 2 Sarah Blast 3 Blast 4 Sarah Effect like Blaze 3 8 2 2 Higins 8! Randolf Effect like Bolt 2 15 3 3 Higins 10!
B. Heal Magic
Spell Effect MP Range Field Who can use? Heal 1 Restores 15 HP 3 1 1 Luke Heal 2 Restores 15 HP 5 2 1 Luke 3, Slade Heal 3 Restores 30 HP 10 3 1 Luke 7!, Slade 7!, Sarah Heal 4 Aura 1 Restores 15 HP 7 2 2 Sarah 6! Aura 2 Restores 15 HP 11 3 3 Sarah 10! Aura 3 Restores 30 HP Aura 4 Restores all HP all all Detox Cures poison 3 1 1 Luke 6
C. Assist Magic
Spell Effect MP Range Field Who can use? Quick 1 Raises Agi and Def 16 3 3 Slade 10 Quick 2 Slow 1 Lowers enemy's Agi 15 3 3 May and Def Slow 2 Lowers enemy's Agi 15 3 1 May 9 and Def Sleep 1 Puts enemy to sleep 16 3 3 Luke 10 Sleep 2 Muddle 1 Confuses enemy 10 3 3 Slade 7 Muddle 2 Confuses enemy 10 3 1 Slade 4! Dispel 1 Silences enemy 6 3 2 Luke 3! Dispel 2 Desoul 1 Instantly kills 12 3 2 May 8! enemy Desoul 2
No number next to a character's name means that he/she starts out with that spell. ! means that you need to be promoted to use that spell. ------------------------------------------------------------- VI. Playing the Game ------------------------------------------------------------- A. Controls
Direction Pad - moves the selected character. Button 1 - selects a command. Button 2 - cancels a command. Start - removes the status bar.
B. Fighting
Most of Shining Force: The Sword of Hajya is combat-oriented. You can see all of your characters on the screen, as well as the enemies that you are up against.
1. Displays a. Combat
L.E. (Land Effect) - This shows how much the terrain will hinder your mobility. You will have more trouble walking through thick grass than on a soft dirt road. Name - The selected character's name. HP - The left number shows your current life force, and the right number shows your maximum life force. If you or a monster has 100 HP or more, this number will be replaced by a ??. You lose HP as you take damage from enemies. If your character reaches zero HP, then he/she is exhausted and cannot fight anymore. MP - This shows how much magic power you have. Certain classes cannot use magic. If your MP run low, then you can't cast any magic spells.
b. Status
Name - The character's name. Class - The character's class (see section on Characters for details). Level - Current experience level. EXP - Your character's skill points. You gain points by fighting enemies and using healing items. When your EXP reaches 100, your Level increases by one. HP - Life force. MP - Magic power. ATT - Attack strength. DEF - Defensive ability. AGI - Agility. MOV - Range of movement. ITEM - Shows what items your character has. You can hold up to four. Equipped weapons are designated by a bracket. MAGIC - Shows what spells your character knows. The number next to the spell shows the maximum level of that spell.
You can also check the status of your enemy by pressing button 2 when your turn comes next, and then moving the cursor onto an enemy.
2. Moving
This is a turn-based strategy RPG. Players move in order of the highest agility rating. The cursor will move around to the character whose turn comes next. The flashing squares around him/her shows where that character can move. When you have moved to where you want to go, press button 1 to bring up the command menu.
3. Command Menu a. After making a move
BAT - Attacks an enemy within range of your weapon. ITM - Brings up the Item Command Menu. MGC - Casts a magic spell. STY - Ends that character's turn without doing anything. CHK - Opens up a treasure chest (when facing one).
b. Selecting ITM
USE - Uses an item. EQP - Equips a weapon or ring. GIV - Gives an item to a character next to you. This will cost you one turn. DRP - Discards an item. Dropped items can never be recovered, so you must be absolutely sure you want to get rid of it.
c. Anytime during battle
To bring up the Game Menu, press button 2 when your character is highlighted, then move the cursor to a blank spot on the map.
STT - Checks the status of any character in battle MSG - Turns on or off the message bars during fights. SPD - Sets the speed of the scrolling text. QIT - Stops the game at that point. Everything will be saved exactly as-is.
C. Between Battles
After fighting a certain amount of battles, you get an opportunity to save your game, shop at towns, and promote characters.
1. Command Menus a. Main Menu
CAMP - Goes to the Shining Force base. SHOP - Goes to the town's shop. EXIT - Leaves town and enters the next battle.
b. In Camp
RAS - Resurrects a defeated character. It costs 20 gold x the character's level to revive him/her (plus an extra 200 gold if said character has been promoted). CUR - Cures a character of poison, or lifts a curse placed on him/her. PRM - Once a character has gained a level of 10, then he/she can be promoted to the next class. The promoted characters gain access to the more powerful weapons and spells. SAV - Saves your game.
c. Shopping
BUY - Purchases an item at the shop. SEL - Sells back items at 75% of the purchasing price. DLS - Lets you buy back weapons that you might not have wanted to sell. FIX - Fixes a broken weapon. Weapons break if they are used too many times in battle. ------------------------------------------------------------- VII. Secrets ------------------------------------------------------------- If you skipped ahead to this section without reading the rest of it or actually playing the game, then shame on you! Otherwise, take a look at a few of the secrets that this Game Gear cart has to offer.
* Name Change - Start a new game, and after naming your character, hold the Start button while moving the cursor to END. This will allow you to change the names of everybody on the Shining Force team, including Prince Nick and Gyan.
* Enhanced Mode - At the Sega screen, press Down on the Direction pad five times. The word "EXCELENT" will appear on the Shining Force title screen. I don't know what this means yet, or what it does...
* Mime Show Ticket - In the battle with the Dark Mage, look in the well to find a ticket to the mime show. -------------------------------------------------------------- VIII. Revision Information -------------------------------------------------------------- Version 1.0 - October 14, 1998 = first edition of the strategy guide, which shows you how to beat most of the areas (except for the last two; I'm still working on these). -------------------------------------------------------------- IX. Coming Soon -------------------------------------------------------------- - I am still trying to figure out how to beat the last two areas of the game. If you can give me some pointers, please send me e-mail, and you will be credited for it. - Does anybody know the significance of the "EXCELENT" mode or the ticket to the mime show?
-------------------------------------------------------------- X. Special Thanks -------------------------------------------------------------- Special thanks to:
Bruce Clemens (bclemens@vbimail.champlain.edu) on how to find the two secret characters, Rush and Higins.
