FFXII Help Thread: CAUTION - spoilers abound

[Naota]

Availability: Gain all Espers and finish "The Mind Flayer" hunt.

Make sure to have a Black Mask (must have) for each member of your party along
with a Rubber Suit (optional) for each one. It's good to have some Bubble
Belts and Bowline Sashes for each party member as well. Talk to Geomancer
Yugelu in Jahara once your party has beaten all Espers. He mentions that he
will send a Garif Warrior to unlock a secret part of the Henne Mines. Teleport
to the Henne Mines via the orange save crystal in Jahara.

~~ Stage Shaft ~~

This is the final save point your party will get before fighting the Esper,
Zodiark. I know, I know. Walk down the path in the Henne Mines that leads to
the Ore Seperation where the party fought Tiamat.

~~ Ore Seperation ~~

The gate off to the right (east) side of this area is now unlocked. Enter the
new path.

~~ Phase 2 Dig ~~

If the party is below level 65, you better equip some Bubble Belts because up
ahead there are plenty of level 65+ Abysteels that will gang up very quickly.
If you have any light elemental weapons (Excalibur, Holy Lance) then equip them
to have a much easier time against the Abysteels. Excalibur will really tear
these bats a new one, so I recommend that you have it with you or go back to
The Great Crystal and get it (See location at the end of Ultima section).
Continue down the path and use Float to get over the trap. Go all the way to
the east. Beware the Gizamaluk mixed with Abysteels. Use Blizzaga on the
Giazamaluk. Grab the ++HENNE CANDLE++ from the urn to the right in order to
show the secret areas on the Henne Mines map. Go ahead and press Select.
Yeah, when Yugelu said "deep in the Henne Mines" he wasn't kidding.

Venture further south. When you reach the corridors, let the Abysteels come to
your party and DO NOT let them gang up too much. Look for chests off to the
sides while moving down the tunnels. The chest blend in well with the walls.
If you keep heading west down the long western path and your party will run
into another Gizamaluk in the far southwest - there will be a dead end to the
left. There is a water pail on the right wall as you walk down the dead end
with a Discarded Paper inside, hinting at the many treasures inside the Henne
Mines. Come back out of the southwest portion and run down the other path to
the south further to the east. This will lead the party into some tunnels that
are not on the map. Keep moving along these tunnels (either way) to reach the
entrance to the next area.

~~ Crossover C ~~

This area is fairly straightforward if you look at the map. Hecteyes will drop
from the ceiling near the middle of this railway tunnel. Equip Bowline Sashes
to avoid confuse (Phantasmal Gaze) and be ready to cure Disease (Pox). These
things are very dangerous when fighting more than one at a level below 70, so
be very careful about standing in between them because they have an attack
similar to the Jellies where they hit from all sides. Equip Rubber Suits when
they start to cast Thundaga. Use Blizzaga on them since they are weak to ice.
They will actually run from the party when they reach HP critical. They will
lead the party further into the mines so don't always follow since more enemies
may be lurking ahead. The first gate to the southwest is closed so go through
the gate to the west.

~~ Pithead Junction C ~~

Ah, a switch. I do have a very fond memory of triggering all those Jellies
from our first venture into the Henne Mines don't you? Don't press that
switch. If you press it, 9 Abysteel bats will fall from the ceiling and attack
the party! Pressing the switch will also seal off the way that the party needs
to go in the next area.

~~ Phase 2 Shaft ~~

Head to the east. There will be many Hecteyes and Abysteels so try to fight
them in small numbers if possible. There is a group further to the east (3
Abysteels and 3 Hecteyes) that you should either run by or lead a few of them
out at a time to deal with them.

~~ Special Charter Shaft ~~

An occasional Necrofiend will spawn from
enemies are highly dangerous in numbers
and they will ambush you easily in this area. Sometimes they will remain
transparent and only attack while others are attacking, so you could be
fighting two Etéms then have two more suddenly appear.

Keep Bowline Sashes and Black Mask equipped since they have a high probability
of spawning a Necrofiend. They will Stop the party, cast Disease, cast Darkga,
and drain the party's MP with Annul. They also like to cast Death frequently
(coutdown version and instant) as well as use Dimensional Rift which is instant
death. Watch them like a hawk when they attack and equip a Power Armlet to
ward off their Stop. I would recommend that you equip each of your main party
members with a powerful weapon while heading through here, no matter the
character. Equip the Holy Lance, Excalibur, and the Zodiac Spear or Ragnarok
if you have them. The Etéms drop Soul Powders which you will need two of for
Empyreal Souls at the Bazaar. Do not try to run through this area, or the
Etéms will finish your party fast. All the other areas on the way to Zodiark
can be run through, but not this one - unless you're lucky.

In the middle of the long path in the east take a left (go north) and move down
the hidden path. When you reach the area on the map once again, you'll have a
choice of going left, right, or straight ahead (north). Keep going north until
you reach the far north end and then turn to the left (west) to find a "Glowing
Object" on the ground. This is actually the treasure that the Discarded Paper
from ealier was hinting at. Examine it more closely to find ++3 BACCHUS'S
WINES and 2 MEGALIXIRS++ buried under the dirt floor. Keep in mind that you
can return to this area and find a chest with the most powerful gun weapon
inside. You MUST open the chest while the Diamond Armlet is equipped as an
accessory to receive the ++FOMALHAUT++. I would recommend that you come back
to this area after you defeat Zodiark to get the chest. It will appear
randomly like all chest but it has a 100% chance of having that weapon unless
your party opens it without the Diamond Armlet equipped - it will only contain
Dark Matter if that is the case.

Go back to the intersection and move down the right tunnel (heading west).
Take the next right (heading north). You will wind up along a small strip
visible on the map when your party turns left again. The path to the west in
this upper north portion will lead directly to Zodiark.