Final Fantasy XII - 43 - Zertinan Caverns

Overview: This is a tough area, even though you can reach it very early in the game. I would hold off on entering the area until you're at least level 35, but 40 or 45 would be more reasonable. I will be talking about the area, starting from the entrance at Ogir-Yensa/ Central Junction, and moving towards the Ozmone Plains entrance.

Zertinan Caverns/ Canopy of Clay

Enemies: Slime, Speartongue

Guide: Entering from the Ogir-Yensa, head south around the bend and through the main area. In the southwestern corner, you can push a rock over to create a path to the Darkened Wharf. You can also reach the detached portion of the Nam-Yensa Sandsea/ Withering Shores from here. For now, head west to the Darkened Wharf.

Zertinan Caverns/ Darkened Whart

Enemies: Buer, Gogimera, Bogey, Slime, Speartongue

Guide: Heading north you can reach the Nam-Yensa Sandsea/ Yellow Sands, but for the moment, head south through this area.

Zertinan Caverns/ Drybeam Cavern

Enemies: Gorgimera, Buer, Skulwyrm, Bogey

Treasure: The northeastern section of this map may contain a chest with a Feathered Cap.

Guide: You can reach a lot of places from here, such as both sections of The Balamka Fruit, or the Athroza Quicksands. Before you enter the Athroza Quicksands though, beware, Adrammelech the Wroth waits there, and his endless supply of Zombies. If you don't feel up to fighting him, don't. But, you can still run through and reach other areas. In fact, Adrammelech is a good source of High Arcana, an item needed for making the Tournesol. So you might want to go in, steal a High Arcana, then leave two maps away and return to steal more. If you are going in for a fight, cast Shell, Protect, Haste, Bubble, Bravery, and Faith on your mage. For a full guide to beating Adrammelech, head over to the Esper post. For now, take the middle of the three eastern exits.

Zertinan Caverns/ The Balamka Fruit

Enemies: Archeoaevis, Gorgimera, Scythe Mantis

Guide: Finally! The location map for this area can be found here, near the eastern end of the area. You might also notice that half of this map is cut off, and can only be reached from other areas. Head back into Drybeam Cavern, and take the northern of the three eastern exits, to reach the northern portion of this area. Up here, you'll find Scythe Mantis, tricky little monsters, and one of the harder normal enemies in the area. Heading further north you can reach the Ogir-Yensa Sandsea, and to the east you can reach two portions of the Sandfalls. Head through the lower exit.

Zertinan Caverns/ Sandfalls

Enemies: Buer, Scythe Mantis, Gorgimera

Treasure: A chest in the northeastern section may contain an Iron Hammer.

Guide: As soon as you come out there will be a boulder to knock over, then keep heading east and you'll find another boulder to knock over to create a path to a small isolated area with a chest. Finally, turn south and knock over a third boulder. Now you've got full run of the place. Head northeast to the next map.

Zertinan Caverns/ Invitation to Heresy

Enemies: Slime, Speartongue

Treasure: A chest along the southwestern wall may contain a Barbut.

Guide: If you head northeast through here you can reach the Dalmasca Westersand/ Shimmering Horizon. For the moment though, after exploring, head back into the Sandfalls, then through the southern exit to the next area.

Zertinan Caverns/ Hourglass Basin

Enemies: Buer, Grenade, Molen (Rare Game)

Treasure: The detached segment may have a chest with a Chanter's Djellaba.

Guide: As soon as you enter, knock over the boulder to get access to the area. This is an interesting area. You can exit south from here, and enter the detached portion of The Undershore, where there's a Save Crystal, and an off-map area to the east that can connect back to the detached portion of the Hourglass Basin. To the north, near the entrance you came in, you can reach a small detached portion of the Sandfalls. For now, run through the Athroza Quicksands and take the southern exit to the next area.

Zertinan Caverns/ Athroza Quicksands

Enemies: Adrammelech, Zombie

Guide: If you're here to fight, do so, if not, there are three northern exits and one southern exit. Head south for now.

Zertinan Caverns/ The Undershore

Enemies: Mallicant, Alteci (Trophy Game)

Guide: Tons of Mallicant here, and their constant teleporting can be annoying.Use Aero or Aeroga to take them out quickly.Head south through this area to reach the next.

Zertinan Caverns/ Halls of Ardent Darkness

Enemies: Mallicant, Silicon Tortoise

Treasure: In the eastern end of this area, a chest may contain a Traveler's Vestment.

Guide: There's a Silicon Tortoise just south of the entrance from the Undershore, and beyond that are a number of twisting tunnels full of more Mallicants. Finally, at the southern end of this area, is the exit to the Ozmone Plain. Congrats.