Introduction
The Piscodemons are your third boss encounter in Final Fantasy 1 Pixel Remaster. Four of them ambush you the moment you pick up the Crown from a chest on Marsh Cave's lowest floor (B3). Level 10-12 is the comfortable range for this fight, and you'll want a full stock of Potions and at least Cura on your White Mage before grabbing that chest.
This is a significant step up from the Pravoka Pirates. Each Piscodemon has 84 HP, 16 Defense, and a massive 98 Magic Defense, so the spells that carried you through the earlier bosses won't help much. They also resist Fire, Ice, and Spirit damage. Physical attacks are the way forward, and the fight can turn dangerous quickly if you don't focus your damage on one target at a time.
Boss Stats
Strategy
To beat the Piscodemons in FF1, focus your physical attacks on one at a time while buffing your Warrior with Haste and Temper. Their 98 Magic Defense makes most spells nearly useless, so stick to melee damage and keep your White Mage casting Cura every turn. Thunder is the only offensive spell worth using since Fire and Ice are both resisted.
Each Piscodemon has 84 HP with 16 Defense and a punishing 30 Attack power. Four of them swinging at your party every round can deal 80-120 total damage per turn, which overwhelms most healers if the fight drags on. The key is eliminating them one at a time; every Piscodemon you kill reduces the incoming damage by roughly a quarter.
Open with Haste on your Warrior or Monk. Haste doubles the number of hits per attack, not just speed, so a Hasted Warrior with a Broadsword or Rune Blade tears through 84 HP in one or two swings. Stack Temper on the same target for even more damage. And if your Black Mage has Thunder charges to spare, use them, but the 98 Magic Defense cuts spell damage significantly. Invis on your squishier party members helps reduce the chance of getting hit, and it's a better use of your White Mage's turns than Protect at this stage. Parties without Haste or Temper will find this fight noticeably harder, so those spells should be purchased in Elfheim before entering the Marsh Cave.
Battle Plan
- Turn 1 - Cast Haste on your Warrior or Monk. Stack Temper on the same target from your Black Mage.
- Warriors/Monks - Focus one Piscodemon at a time. A Hasted Warrior can drop one per round.
- Black Mage - Thunder is the only spell that isn't resisted. Cast it if you have charges, otherwise use physical attacks or keep stacking Temper.
- White Mage - Cast Cura every turn. Use Invis on your weakest member if the party's HP is stable.
Quick Tips
- Physical damage only - With 98 Magic Defense and resistance to Fire, Ice, and Spirit, spells are nearly useless here. Your melee weapons do the heavy lifting.
- Status effects won't land - Piscodemons resist Sleep, Paralysis, Stone, and most other ailments. Don't waste turns trying.
- Haste is the difference - A Hasted attacker deals roughly double damage per turn, which can cut this fight from 5-6 rounds down to 3.
- Heal before the chest - The ambush happens immediately when you grab the Crown. If your party is low on HP from the Marsh Cave encounters, use a Potion on everyone first.
Rewards
After the Battle
After the fight, the Crown is added to your inventory automatically. Exit the Marsh Cave and use a Tent outside to save your progress. The trip back through B3 and B2 still has random encounters, so don't let your guard down. If you're low on resources, sail back to Elfheim and rest at the Inn before continuing.
Take the Crown to the Western Keep northwest of Elfheim. The king sitting on the throne is actually Astos, King of the Dark Elves, and handing over the Crown triggers an immediate boss fight. Astos is a much tougher opponent than the Piscodemons; he has 420 HP, high magic resistance, and can cast the instant-death spell Death. Make sure your party is fully healed and your White Mage has Cura charges left before walking into that throne room.
The quest chain continues from there: defeat Astos, get the Crystal Eye, trade it to Matoya for the Jolt Tonic, wake the Elf Prince, and receive the Mystic Key. That key opens every locked door you've been passing since the start of the game, including three chests back here in the Marsh Cave that are each guarded by another set of Piscodemons. Check the trophy guide for collectible-related achievements tied to this chapter.