Chaos Shrine

The final dungeon is ten floors deep with five boss rematches and Chaos at the bottom. The Fiends won't respawn after you beat them, so leave to rest between fights if your MP runs low. Level 45 is comfortable for the full clear.

Getting to Chaos Shrine

Continuing from the previous chapter, rest at an Inn and stock up before flying to the shrine. Cornelia's shop is limited, so hit Gaia or Onrac for Hi-Potions, Ethers, and Phoenix Downs. If you're still missing rare bestiary entries (Warmech, Sabertooth, Allosaurus), farm them now. You can do it after the final boss, but it's less stressful to get it done beforehand.

Chaos Shrine

The dungeon has two halves: three upper floors before you use the Lute, then five basement floors with upgraded Fiend rematches. Each basement mirrors an element from a previous dungeon. B1 is Earth-themed (Fire-weak). B2 is Fire-themed (Blizzard-weak). B3 is Water-themed (Thunder-weak). B4 and B5 are mixed with Mindflayers, Death Knights, and Iron Golems; no consistent weakness, so lean on physical damage. Seven chests remain for the Legendary Treasure Hunter trophy.

Head into the room where you defeated Garland. Interact with the blue orb to travel back 2000 years.

1F. Exit the room and take an immediate right. Go north through the pillars heading east, then south to the southeast corner for the stairs to 2F.

2F-3F. On 2F, take a right and climb up to 3F. Rhyos is a new bestiary entry on these floors; fight one when it shows up. Go south, take the final right, and follow the pillars north into the guarded room. A Death Eye blocks the entrance. Kill it, grab both chests (Dry Ether and Elixir), and interact with the stone tablet in the center. The Lute from Princess Sarah activates automatically, and a ladder appears leading back to 2F. Exit the room, take the first left, follow the columns north to find stairs in the top-left corner.

1F (Return). Head west and take the stairs in the top-left corner down to B1.

B1: Lich

Lich (Past) has 2,800 HP and is still weak to Dia spells. Use your Light Axes as items for extra Dia damage while your Knight attacks with Haste and Giant's Gloves (Saber). He casts Flare now, but he's the easiest of the five rematches. Save your stronger spells for the later fights.

Wind around the outer edge, ignore the pathway with the pillars and continue east. Basilisks roam this floor and can petrify, so keep Gold Needles handy. Take the path south and you'll come across a yellow orb. Heal up before approaching it.

Head down the stairs to B2.

B2: Marilith

Marilith (Past) has 3,200 HP and now uses Firaga and Death, with no elemental weakness. Cast NulBlaze to cut the fire damage and make sure everyone has Ribbons equipped for Death protection. Layer Protera and Invisira for her 6-hit physical combo, then Haste and Temper your fighters.

Random encounters on B2 are all Fire-themed: Fire Elementals, Fire Gigas, Fire Lizards, and Lava Worms die to Blizzard. Red Dragon is the exception with no weakness and the hardest hits on this floor.

Exit the room, take a left and from the pillars take a path north into a room. Take the first immediate right and then the third path south (if you see the statues, you're going the right way). Continue south and take a left into the pillars. You'll see a red orb but skip it for now to collect the chests on this floor.

Take the left door heading south. Grab the Protect Ring in the first room, then follow the hall south for a second Sasuke's Blade. Return and take the right door this time: Protect Cloak in the first room, Elixir down the hall. Head back to the red orb, heal up, and fight Marilith.

Continue down to B3.

B3: Kraken

Kraken (Past) has 3,600 HP and is no longer weak to Thunder, so forget Thundaga. He still uses the same 8-hit physical attack from the Sunken Shrine fight. Layer Protera and Invisira, buff your Knight and Master with Haste and Giant's Gloves, and keep the White Wizard on Curaja duty.

The same aquatic enemies from the Sunken Shrine fill this floor. Thundaga still wipes them in one cast, making B3 the quickest basement to clear.

Go through the door and exit the other. Stay south and take the first door on your left. Follow the path around until you reach three inscribed stones and go south. Take the first right and you'll come across a blue orb: Kraken.

The stairs to B4 are just past the orb.

B4: Tiamat & Masamune

Tiamat (Past) has 5,500 HP with the same elemental resistances but double the health. Stack Nul spells for her breath attacks, Haste your fighters, and use Flare and Holy for non-elemental damage. Don't hold back on spells; this is the last Fiend before Chaos.

B4 and B5 are the toughest random encounters in the game. Death Knights are new and have no elemental weakness. Mindflayers can still instant-kill through anything except Ribbons. And Iron Golem is a rare spawn on this floor; farm one for the bestiary if it doesn't show up naturally.

Head south, and south again. Take a right and then the first right. Go south, take a right and follow the zigzag path. You'll reach a room containing the Masamune, the strongest weapon in the game. Any class can wield it; put it on your Ninja. Return the way you came to the top left corner, but this time take a right and follow the path to Tiamat.

Descend to the lowest floor.

B5: Chaos

Chaos has 20,000 HP, resists every element, and uses the strongest spells in the game. He can randomly cast Curaja on himself, though it's rare. If he Hastes himself, his physical damage gets brutal. Spend the first few turns on defense (NulAll, Protera, Invisira), then buff your fighters with Haste and Temper and go all-out with Flare and Holy.

Circle around the room and enter from the south. Garland is back, but he's Chaos now. Restore everyone to full health. Use every Ether and Elixir you have. Make sure Ribbons, Excalibur, and Masamune are all equipped. Save when you're ready.

Chaos hits hard enough to drop anyone without Protera and Invisira active. Keep at least 2 Full-Life charges in reserve. If he casts Haste on himself, reapply your defensive buffs immediately. The fight can drag if he uses Curaja, but your damage output with Haste, Temper, Flare, and Holy should outpace his self-healing.

When Chaos falls, the time loop is finally shattered. The paradox that trapped the world for 2000 years comes to an end. Watch the ending and credits. Congratulations, you've beaten Final Fantasy 1.

If you're chasing the Platinum, load your completed save. The basement floors of Chaos Shrine are the best grinding spot for Seasoned Hero (all 4 party members at level 50); turn on 4x EXP and auto-battle. Check your bestiary for Field Research - Professional too. Warmech on the Flying Fortress 5F bridge is usually the last entry people need.