Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age Trial Mode Stage 100 Guide

The Trial Mode in Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age presents a gauntlet of 100 consecutive battles, culminating in a fight against all five Judges at once. This encounter is one of the most difficult in the game, and it is recommended to attempt it only after defeating all optional bosses in the main story. This ensures characters are at a high level with access to endgame equipment, Magicks, and Technicks.

Preparations and Recommended Loadout

A successful run through Trial Mode, especially its final stage, depends heavily on preparation. While specific job combinations vary between players, a core set of equipment and abilities is highly effective. Before starting, it is best to have maxed out both License Boards for the primary party members.

The following items and abilities were instrumental for a clear:

• Weapons: Seitengrat. This powerful, invisible bow has the highest attack power in the game, long range, and high evasion, making it invaluable for most stages.
• Accessories: Bubble Belts, Ribbon, and Nihopalaoa. Ribbons are critical for negating the many status ailments inflicted by enemies in later stages. The Nihopalaoa is essential for the Stage 100 strategy outlined below.
• Magicks: Bubble, Cleanse, Curaja/Renew, Dispel/Dispelga, Esunaga, Float, Hastega, Protectga, Arise, Reverse, Shellga, Sleepga, and Silencega.
• Technicks: Addle, Expose, Shear, and Wither. These debuffs are crucial for weakening powerful bosses.
• Summons: Zodiark. The Esper’s ultimate attack is a key part of the opening strategy for Stage 100.
• Items: Elixir, Hi-Ether, Megalixir, Remedy, Serum, and Phoenix Down.

For this strategy to work effectively, the essential components are three Seitengrat bows, three Ribbons, one Nihopalaoa, the Zodiark Esper, the Reverse and Sleepga Magicks, debuffing Technicks like Addle and Wither, and a stock of Remedies, Serums, and Elixirs or Megalixirs.

Navigating the Final Stages (98 and 99)

The party’s condition upon entering Stage 100 is a major factor in success, as the Judges can quickly overwhelm an unprepared team. Stages 98 and 99 feature two of the game’s toughest superbosses: Yiazmat and Omega Mark XII, respectively. The goal is to defeat them while preserving as many resources and as much health as possible.

A highly effective tactic for these fights is to use the Reverse spell on all three active party members. This magickal effect inverts damage and healing, causing any damage taken to restore HP. While the spell has a chance to fail on casting, it is reliable enough to be maintained throughout the fights. With Reverse active, all healing Gambits must be turned off to prevent them from damaging the party.

These bosses should also be weakened with stacking debuffs. The Technicks Addle, Expose, Shear, and Wither can be used multiple times to progressively reduce the enemy’s Attack, Defense, Magick Defense, and Magick Attack. After three or four applications, the returns diminish, but the initial debuffs significantly cripple the bosses.

One critical step is to remove the Reverse status from the party just before defeating Omega Mark XII in Stage 99. If the party enters Stage 100 with Reverse still active, the Judges will use Potions and Elixirs on the characters, which will inflict heavy damage. A quick Esunaga can remove the effect from everyone.

Stage 100: The Five Judges

Stage 100 pits the party against Judge Bergan, Judge Drace, Judge Gabranth, Judge Ghis, and Judge Zargabaath simultaneously. The primary challenge is their ability to heal each other with Elixirs, which fully restores HP. Knowing the kill order and how to disable their support capabilities is the key to victory.

The Judges’ HP totals are as follows:

• Judge Bergan: 382,348 HP
• Judge Drace: 194,543 HP
• Judge Gabranth: 343,243 HP
• Judge Ghis: 123,244 HP
• Judge Zargabaath: 224,843 HP

At the start of the battle, equip all three party members with Ribbons to prevent status effects. Cast Bubble to double everyone’s max HP and use Dispel or Dispelga to remove any buffs the Judges cast on themselves.

Step 1: Defeat Judge Ghis

As the stage begins, the Judges will slowly advance. This provides a brief window to act. Target Judge Ghis first. He has the lowest HP and is the most disruptive, capable of dispelling the party’s buffs, inflicting status ailments, and using Elixirs. Immediately summon Zodiark and use its Final Eclipse attack, which inflicts 60,000 HP of damage on all enemies. After Zodiark departs, use a Megalixir on the summoner to restore their MP and Mist Charges, then summon Zodiark for a second Final Eclipse. This should leave Ghis near death. Finish him off with focused attacks before he can be healed.

Step 2: Inflict Status Effects and Debuffs

With Ghis defeated, switch one character’s accessory to the Nihopalaoa. Have this character use a Serum item on Judge Drace and Judge Bergan to inflict them with Disease, which prevents them from being healed. Next, use a Remedy on the remaining Judges to inflict Blind and Silence. Continue to use Dispel on any Judge that has buffs. Weaken the remaining threats with Wither, Addle, and Expose.

Step 3: Defeat Judge Drace

Judge Drace is the next target. She is the primary support, casting Hastega, Protectga, and Shellga on her allies, and she will also use Elixirs. Because she is now afflicted with Disease, she cannot heal herself, making her much easier to take down.

Step 4: Defeat Judge Bergan

Bergan is a pure physical attacker with the highest HP. However, with his buffs dispelled and his attack power lowered by Addle, he becomes much less of a threat. Since he is also afflicted with Disease, he cannot be healed by his allies, allowing the party to defeat him without interruption.

Step 5: Defeat Judge Gabranth

The final two, Gabranth and Zargabaath, will attempt to heal each other. To counter this, dedicate one party member to repeatedly casting Sleepga to keep Zargabaath asleep. Lure Gabranth to the opposite side of the arena, creating distance. With Zargabaath neutralized, focus all attacks on Gabranth. Use Expose to lower his defense and defeat him before Zargabaath has a chance to wake up and intervene.

Step 6: Defeat Judge Zargabaath

Alone and with no one to heal, Zargabaath is a simple final opponent. Defeat him to complete the Trial Mode.

Clearing all 100 stages for the first time unlocks the Imperator trophy. It also grants access to New Game–, a challenge mode where characters start at level 1 and never level up.