A Guaranteed Method for Obtaining the Seitengrat in Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age

The Seitengrat is the most powerful weapon in Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, an invisible bow with an attack power of 224 and an evade stat of 75. Acquiring it normally is a matter of extreme luck, but a method was discovered that provides a 100 percent guaranteed chance of obtaining it by manipulating the game’s random number generator (RNG).

This process, originally found by Twitch streamer LetsGetPitted, requires a specific sequence of saves, application resets, and in-game actions to force the desired outcome. While it involves several steps, it is far more reliable than attempting to find the weapon through conventional means.

The Standard Method and Its Low Odds

Under normal circumstances, the Seitengrat can be found inside an invisible treasure chest on the upper Air Deck of the Skyferry that travels between Rabanastre and Nalbina. The odds of this chest even appearing are just 1 in 100. If the chest does spawn, a character equipped with the Diamond Armlet accessory has another 1 in 100 chance of the chest containing the Seitengrat. This results in a total probability of 1 in 10,000 with each visit to the Air Deck, making it one of the rarest items in the game.

Preparing for the RNG Manipulation

Before attempting the core method, several save files must be created in a precise order. This setup is crucial for manipulating the game’s state.

1. Create the Rabanastre / Westgate Manual Save

First, progress through the main story until you gain access to the Skyferry from Rabanastre to Nalbina. This becomes available after clearing the Barheim Passage, defeating the Mimic Queen boss, and returning to Rabanastre. Once this is done, travel to the Westgate area of Rabanastre and save the game at the Blue Crystal. This will create a manual save file labeled “Rabanastre / Westgate.”

2. Obtain and Equip the Diamond Armlet

The Diamond Armlet is a required accessory for this method. It can be found in a chest during the very first stage of Trial Mode. After acquiring it, load your main game save and ensure the Diamond Armlet is equipped on Vaan.

3. Create the Nalbina Fortress / Upper Apartments Manual Save

For this step, start a completely new game. Playing as Reks during the prologue, proceed until you reach the first Blue Crystal. From there, go up the stairs to the next zone, where three enemy soldiers are located. Defeat all three soldiers, then immediately return downstairs to the Blue Crystal. Create a new manual save in a separate, empty slot. This save will be labeled “Nalbina Fortress / Upper Apartments.”

4. Create the Skyferry / Air Deck Auto-Save

Return to the main menu and load your “Rabanastre / Westgate” manual save. Go to the Aerodome and speak to the receptionist for flights to Nalbina. Choose the “By leisure craft” option, which allows you to move freely aboard the airship. Once you arrive on the Observation Parlour, walk up the two flights of stairs to the outdoor Air Deck. The game will create an auto-save file labeled “Skyferry / Air Deck” as soon as you enter this area.

Executing the Seitengrat Method

With the two manual saves and one auto-save prepared, the RNG manipulation can begin.

1. Close the Application

This is a critical step. Press and hold the “PS” button on the DualShock 4 controller to open the Quick Menu. Select “Close Application” to completely shut down Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age. This action resets the game’s RNG seed, which is necessary for the next step to work correctly.

2. Manipulate the RNG with Cure Spells

Restart the game and load the “Nalbina Fortress / Upper Apartments” manual save file where you are controlling Reks. You must now cast the Cure spell on Reks repeatedly until you see the healing numbers 88, 97, and 90 appear in that exact sequence. To make this faster, go into the Config menu and set Battle Speed to its fastest setting, Cursor Position to “Last Selection,” and Speed Mode Multiplier to x4. If Reks runs out of MP, use the Blue Crystal to restore it.

It is extremely important not to leave the current zone while casting Cure, as zoning will overwrite your Skyferry auto-save. After the 88, 97, 90 sequence appears, immediately press the Options button and then the Square button to exit to the game’s main menu. If the sequence does not appear after many casts, close the application again to reset the RNG and retry.

3. Open the Invisible Chest

From the main menu, load the “Skyferry / Air Deck” auto-save file. As Vaan, immediately turn right and run up the stairs. You will pass an NPC called the Boonswaggled Bookkeeper. Continue straight ahead toward the large spinning structure in the center of the deck. You will run into an invisible object; this is the treasure chest.

Do not open it yet. Stand next to the chest and turn the camera to face the Boonswaggled Bookkeeper. He performs a repeating animation loop: he runs up from the stairs, stands by the railing, and then returns to his starting position. You must count three full loops. On his fourth loop, watch him closely. The moment he reaches the top step of the stairs and begins to turn toward the railing, press the X button to open the chest. If all previous steps were followed correctly, you will receive the Seitengrat.

To farm more than one bow, simply go back down to the Observation Parlour and then return to the Air Deck. This creates a new auto-save. From there, repeat the process starting from closing the application.

Ammunition for the Seitengrat

While the Seitengrat does not require a license to equip, it does require arrows. There are eight types of arrows available in the game.

• Onion Arrows: Attack Power 1. Available in various shops.
• Parallel Arrows: Attack Power 2. Sold at a shop in the Nabreus Deadlands and found in chests.
• Fiery Arrows: Attack Power 1, Fire element. Sold by the hidden Baknamy Merchant in the Necrohol of Nabudis and found in chests.
• Bamboo Arrows: Attack Power 2. On-hit effect: 25% chance of Poison. Available from the Bazaar and found in a chest.
• Lightning Arrows: Attack Power 2, Lightning element. Reward for the “A Chase Through The Woods” hunt.
• Assassin’s Arrows: Attack Power 3. On-hit effect: 25% chance of KO. Reward for the “Wyrm Wrath’s Renewal” hunt and found in chests.
• Icecloud Arrows: Attack Power 4, Ice element. Available from the Bazaar and found in chests.
• Artemis Arrows: Attack Power 5, Earth element. Available from the Bazaar, found in a chest, and a potential reward from the Hunt Club in Phon Coast.

The Baknamy Merchant is located in the northernmost part of the Hall of Effulgent Light in the Necrohol of Nabudis. Press the X button on the wall where a ”???” prompt appears to summon him.