Optional Dungeons & Areas

While the main quest of Tales of Phantasia offers a rich and engaging narrative, a true adventurer knows that some of the most rewarding experiences (and powerful equipment!) lie off the beaten path. This section details the various optional dungeons and areas you can explore to strengthen your party, uncover hidden lore, and truly master the world of Phantasia.

The Moria Gallery

The Moria Gallery is arguably the most significant optional dungeon in the game, offering a multi-layered challenge with incredible rewards. It's recommended to attempt this dungeon once you have access to the Rheairds (airship) and your party is around Level 40-50, though some areas can be tackled earlier.

Accessing the Moria Gallery

After obtaining the Rheairds, fly to the small island located east of Miguel and south of Freyland.
Look for a cave entrance on this island. This is the entrance to the Moria Gallery.

Gallery Layout and Key Items

The Moria Gallery is comprised of 21 floors, each with unique enemies and puzzles. Be prepared for a long haul, as there are no save points within the dungeon itself. Stock up on Apple Gels, Orange Gels, Life Bottles, and Miracle Gels.

Floors 1-5: Relatively straightforward. Focus on conserving TP and HP. You'll find Elixirs and various elemental rings here.
Floors 6-10: Introduce more challenging enemies. Keep an eye out for hidden passages.
- Floor 7: Contains the Mystic Rune accessory, which boosts all stats.
- Floor 9: A chest here holds the Force Ring, increasing attack power.
Floors 11-15: Puzzles involving pressure plates and moving blocks become more prevalent.
- Floor 12: Solve the block puzzle to access a chest containing the Reflect Ring, which reduces magic damage.
- Floor 14: Defeat the optional mini-boss, the Greater Demon, to earn the Demon's Horn (a powerful axe for Cless).
Floors 16-20: These floors are guarded by tougher enemies and require strategic combat.
- Floor 17: Locate the hidden switch to open a path to the Mental Ring, which boosts TP recovery.
- Floor 19: The Star Shield (for Cless) can be found after navigating a tricky maze-like section.
Floor 21 (Final Floor): This floor houses the ultimate treasures.
- The Eternal Sword: The most powerful sword for Cless. It's located in a chest at the very end of the dungeon.
- Various Rare Accessories: Including the Mighty Ring and Faerie Ring, which significantly boost stats and reduce TP consumption, respectively.

Strategies for the Moria Gallery

Party Composition: A balanced party with Cless, Mint, Chester/Arche, and Klarth/Suzu is ideal. Mint's healing is crucial, and Arche's area-of-effect spells are invaluable against groups.
Equipment: Ensure your best equipment is equipped. The Jet Boots (found in the main story) are excellent for Cless. Consider equipping accessories that boost defense or elemental resistance.
Spell Usage: Don't be afraid to use powerful spells, but manage your TP carefully. Orange Gels and Miracle Gels are your best friends.
Run Away: If a battle is going poorly or you're low on resources, don't hesitate to use the "Run" command. It's better to escape and heal than to get wiped out.
Save State (Emulator Users): If playing on an emulator, judicious use of save states can make the Moria Gallery less frustrating, though it diminishes the challenge.

The Cave of Spirits

The Cave of Spirits is a smaller, yet still challenging, optional area that becomes accessible later in the game. It's known for its unique enemy encounters and a powerful summon for Klarth.

Accessing the Cave of Spirits

Once you have the Rheairds, fly to the large icy continent in the far north.
Locate a small cave entrance on the western side of this continent. This is the Cave of Spirits.

Dungeon Details and Rewards

The Cave of Spirits is a relatively short dungeon, but the enemies within are formidable, often employing ice-based attacks. It's recommended to have your party around Level 50+ before attempting this.

Enemy Types: Expect to encounter various ice elementals, spectral beings, and powerful beasts. Equipping accessories that boost ice resistance can be beneficial.
Puzzles: There are no complex puzzles, but some paths might be hidden or require careful navigation.
Summon: The primary reward for completing the Cave of Spirits is the ability to obtain the Shadow summon for Klarth.
1. Navigate through the cave until you reach a large open chamber.
2. Here, you will face the optional boss, Shadow. This boss is fast and hits hard with dark-elemental attacks. Focus on strong physical attacks from Cless and healing from Mint. Arche's light-based spells can also be effective.
3. After defeating Shadow, Klarth will learn the Shadow summon spell, a powerful dark-elemental attack.
Other Items: You can also find a Dark Seal (increases dark elemental damage) and a Spirit Ring (boosts TP) within chests in the cave.

The Gnome's Cave (Optional Visit)

While the Gnome's Cave is visited as part of the main story to obtain the Gnome summon, there's an optional return trip that can yield a valuable item.

Accessing the Optional Visit

After you have completed the main story segment involving the Gnome's Cave and obtained the Gnome summon for Klarth.
Return to the Gnome's Cave, located south of Euclid.

Optional Item

Upon re-entering the cave, navigate to the area where you fought the Gnome boss. In a previously inaccessible corner or behind a newly opened path (depending on the version of the game), you can find a chest containing the Gnome's Pickaxe. This item is a powerful weapon for Cless, often boasting a higher attack power than many other weapons available at this point in the game. It also has a chance to inflict the 'Stone' status effect on enemies, making it a valuable asset.

Exploring these optional areas will not only provide a greater challenge but also significantly enhance your party's capabilities, making the final battles of Tales of Phantasia much more manageable and enjoyable. Happy adventuring!