Final Fantasy XVII Wiki: Jobs, Summons, Quests & Secret Bosses

Job System Overview FFXVII uses a flexible job system where you can switch between jobs at any save point. Each job has its own skill tree with 15 nodes. You earn job points (JP) from battles, and each level-up in a job gives you one node. ### Base Jobs (12) | Job | Role | Key Ability | JP to Max | |-----|------|-------------|-----------| | Warrior | Tank | Shield Bash (stun 3 sec) | 1,200 | | Black Mage | DPS | Firaga (250+ fire damage) | 1,500 | | White Mage | Healer | Curaga (full party heal) | 1,400 | | Thief | Speed | Steal (50% item drop chance) | 1,100 | | Archer | Ranged | Rain of Arrows (AoE 180 damage) | 1,300 | | Monk | Melee | Focus Strike (crit +30%) | 1,200 | | Red Mage | Hybrid | Dualcast (cast two spells) | 1,600 | | Summoner | Summoning | Summon I (unlock first summon) | 1,800 | | Dragoon | Jump | High Jump (ignore defense) | 1,300 | | Ninja | Utility | Smoke Bomb (escape battle) | 1,100 | | Paladin | Support | Holy Shield (absorb next hit) | 1,400 | | Bard | Buffer | War Song (atk+20% for 30 sec) | 1,200 | ### Advanced Jobs (4) Unlock by maxing two base jobs:

**Mystic Knight** (Black Mage + Paladin): Use magic with melee attacks.

**Dancer** (Thief + Bard): AoE damage and party heal.

**Spellblade** (Red Mage + Ninja): Elemental weapon buffs.

**Time Mage** (White Mage + Summoner): Slow, Haste, and Gravity spells. My personal favorite is Mystic Knight because it lets you apply elemental weaknesses without wasting turns. You can hit a fire-weak enemy with Firaga Sword and still have MP for a heal. ---

Summon Guide There are 8 summons in FFXVII. Each requires a specific side quest or boss fight. You can only equip one summon per character, and each summon has a unique gauge that fills over time. ### Summon List | Summon | Element | Requirement | Gauge Fill Time | |--------|---------|-------------|-----------------| | Ifrit | Fire | Defeat Ifrit in "Trial by Fire" quest | 120 seconds | | Shiva | Ice | Freeze 50 enemies with Ice spells | 90 seconds | | Ramuh | Lightning | Collect 10 Thunderstones in "Storm Chaser" | 100 seconds | | Titan | Earth | Complete "Mountain's Might" side quest | 150 seconds | | Garuda | Wind | Beat "Gale Force" boss in the Sky Temple | 80 seconds | | Leviathan | Water | Solve the "Ocean's Puzzle" in Coral Cove | 110 seconds | | Bahamut | Non-elemental | Defeat Bahamut in "Dragon's Fury" (level 40+) | 200 seconds | | Odin | Dark | Win 50 battles without switching jobs | 180 seconds | **Tip:** Bahamut is the strongest summon (deals 9999 damage max) but the longest gauge. If you want fast fights, use Garuda or Shiva. ---

Side Quest Walkthrough: "The Lost Archive" This is the most rewarding side quest in FFXVII. It gives you the Ultima Weapon (ATK+180, MP+50) and three rare crafting materials. **Step 1: Start** Talk to Librarian Mireille in the Grand Library (Central City). She asks you to find three missing tomes. **Step 2: Tome 1 – "History of the Crystal"** Location: Abandoned Monastery (west of the city).

Fight through 5 waves of undead (levels 25-30).

Tome is on the altar behind the boss (Skeleton King, 15,000 HP). **Step 3: Tome 2 – "Summoner’s Codex"** Location: Sunken Temple (underwater zone).

You need the Water Breathing accessory (sold in Coral Cove for 5,000 gil).

Navigate three flooded rooms with pressure plates.

Boss: Kraken (20,000 HP, weak to Lightning). **Step 4: Tome 3 – "Warrior’s Oath"** Location: Fortress of Glass (north-east).

Platforming section with moving glass floors.

Puzzle: align three crystal shards to open the vault.

Boss: General Voss (25,000 HP, uses AoE attacks). **Step 5: Return** Bring all three tomes to Mireille. She gives you the Ultima Weapon and a key to the secret boss arena (see below). **Estimated time:** 3-4 hours. ---

Secret Boss Locations There are five secret bosses in FFXVII. Each requires a specific condition to fight. ### 1. Omega (Level 55, 1,200,000 HP)

**Location:** The Rift (accessed after "The Lost Archive" quest).

**Condition:** Have all 8 summons equipped on your party.

**Reward:** Omega Badge (accessory: +50 all stats).

**Strategy:** Use Slow from Time Mage and keep your party healed. Omega uses "Wave Cannon" that hits for 3000 damage. ### 2. Gilgamesh (Level 45, 800,000 HP)

**Location:** Colosseum (after beating the main story).

**Condition:** Win 100 battles in the Colosseum.

**Reward:** Excalibur (ATK+150, Holy element).

**Strategy:** He steals items, so unequip your best gear before the fight. Use physical attacks. ### 3. Proto-Bahamut (Level 50, 950,000 HP)

**Location:** Sky Temple (secret room behind the throne).

**Condition:** Defeat all 8 regular summons first.

**Reward:** Summon Upgrade Stone (doubles gauge fill speed).

**Strategy:** Bring a White Mage for Curaga. Proto-Bahamut uses Mega Flare at 50% HP. ### 4. Dark Ifrit (Level 42, 600,000 HP)

**Location:** Volcano Cave (hidden path after lava puzzle).

**Condition:** Use Ifrit in battle 30 times.

**Reward:** Ifrit’s Claw (weapon: ATK+120, Fire damage).

**Strategy:** Ice spells and Shiva summon. Watch out for Hellfire (AoE). ### 5. The Unseen (Level 60, 1,500,000 HP)

**Location:** Abyss (post-game dungeon).

**Condition:** Complete all 50 side quests.

**Reward:** Celestial Armor (DEF+100, immune to instant death).

**Strategy:** This is the hardest boss. Use Mystic Knight for elemental coverage and Bard for buffs. The Unseen has a move called "Void" that removes all buffs, so reapply often. ---

FAQ **Q: Can I change jobs mid-battle?** A: No. You can only change jobs at save points or inns. Plan your party before major fights. **Q: Which summon is best for farming?** A: Shiva. Her gauge fills in 90 seconds, and her Ice AoE hits all enemies. Pair with a Black Mage for quick clears. **Q: What’s the fastest way to level a job?** A: Farm enemies in the Colosseum. The "Fodder" battle (waves 1-5) gives 200 JP per run. With a Bard’s War Song, you can clear it in 2 minutes.