Melmond & the Earth Crystal

Sail through the canal Nerrick opened and head west across the Aldean Sea. Keep going past a small island until you reach a port on the far continent. Melmond is right beside it.

Sailing to Melmond

Dock your ship and walk east into town. The place is falling apart; buildings crumble and the townsfolk mention a vampire that attacked from the cavern to the west.

Melmond Town

Melmond sells Level 5 spells at 4,000 Gil each. The overworld enemies here are noticeably tougher (Hyenadons and Lesser Tigers hit hard), so upgrades matter.

• Curaga and Life are the priorities for your White Mage. Curaga heals significantly more than Cura; Life revives fallen party members.
• Firaga is your Black Mage's new damage spell.
• The armor shop has a Silver Armlet (4,000 Gil) if your mages need protection. Worth picking up a second one if you have both a White Mage and a Black Mage.

You'll notice the Red Mage is starting to fall behind on magic access (only 3 of the 8 Level 5 spells are available to them). If you picked up equipment from all the previous chests, the weapon and armor shops won't have much for you.

Cavern of Earth

Head west from Melmond, then south through a narrow strip of land between mountains. The entrance sits at the base of the northern mountain range.

The Cavern of Earth spans 5 floors, but this first visit only covers B1 through B3. You'll return later with the Earth Rod to access the lower floors. Many chests down here are guarded by monsters, and the dungeon introduces several dangerous new enemies. Watch out for Cockatrices (they petrify your party members; only Gold Needles cure it) and Earth Elementals (weak to Fire).

Cavern of Earth Directions

B1. Head to the top right of the map; there's a room with a lone chest containing 1,975 Gil (guarded by monsters). Southwest of the map, another room holds two chests with 880 Gil and a Potion (the Potion chest has monsters). To the right of that room, two more chests sit in a second room with 795 Gil and an Antidote (both guarded). Return to the starting point and go right to find stairs leading down to B2.

B2. Mid-south on this floor you'll find a room with 3 chests; an Earth Elemental guards the entrance. Inside are a Leather Shield, 575 Gil, and 5,000 Gil (no monsters in the chests themselves). The room in the top right corner has a Coral Sword, a Tent, and 330 Gil. Take the stairs on the mid-right side to reach B3.

B3. Follow the path until you reach a small room on the right with a Sleeping Bag inside. Continue north, take the first right heading south until you find a room with a Gold Needle (monsters guard it). Head back north and go left to grab 3,400 Gil from the next room. Skip the top-left corner; instead go south and take a right to collect 1,020 Gil from a guarded chest. Follow the southern path and you'll reach a room with a bat that transforms into the Vampire.

Vampire

After the fight, grab the Star Ruby from the chest behind the Vampire. Exit the dungeon.

Getting the Earth Rod

With the Star Ruby in your possession, head north from the cavern and immediately west until you find a cave entrance.

Inside the Giant's Cave, a titan blocks the passage. Hand over the Star Ruby and he eats it; he'll let you through after that.

Walk south to find four treasure chests:

• Great Axe
• 620 Gil
• 450 Gil
• Mythril Helm

Head north to the top of the cave and exit out the back. Follow the path south around the mountains to another cave entrance. This is the Sage's Cave.

There are no chests here, so skip the doors until the last one. Speak with Sarda; he'll reward you with the Earth Rod for defeating the Vampire and task you with destroying the fiend lurking deeper in the cavern.

Return to the Cavern

Make your way back the way you came. Before re-entering the Cavern of Earth, rest at the Melmond Inn (or use a Tent outside). There's a major boss at the bottom; you'll want full HP and MP.

Once inside, fight your way back to the room where you defeated the Vampire. On the right side there's a sealed door; interact with it and the Earth Rod opens the way to stairs leading down.

Cavern of Earth (Return) Directions

B4. Head north and east to a room with 5 chests (4 of them are guarded by monsters). The room in the southeast corner holds 3 more chests, all with monsters inside. Exit that room and go north to find the stairs down to B5.

B5. Go north, take the first left and follow the path south until you reach a yellow crystal. Save your game here.

Lich

Lich is the first Fiend in the game. Heal up and restore as much MP as you can before stepping in.

Defeat Lich and the Earth Crystal is restored. Step into the portal behind the altar to exit the cavern instantly. Walk back to Melmond and rest at the Inn.