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':::::'*. .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. cml :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::Hands Free Ap Maxing Guide:: :: Final Fantasy X-2 U.S. :: :: For Playstation 2 :: :: By: collecting my lesson :: :: 12.1.03 :: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Copyright 2003 by collecting my lesson collectingmylesson@yahoo.com This guide can only be posted on the following sites: http://www.gamefaqs.com http://www.ign.com http://www.neoseeker.com http://wtfcorps.port5.com http://www.gamersunderground.com Please don't randomly post this FAQ on your website unless you e-mail me first. ++++++++++++++++++ ::Update History:: ++++++++++++++++++ :1.2.04: more pics, tried to put those songstress e-mails to an end, more ascii :12.29.03: **change of e-mail**, added alternate strategies :12.23.03: added a bunch of alternate strategies, posted exp/ap tutorial :12.15.03: added FAQ, found better host for pics, added some e-mail contributions :12.11.03: put up my first ascii art attempt, fixed the alchemist section :12.10.03: added content on mug loop description and detailed *intermission* :12.9.03: general clean up, added a mug loop section and an advanced Ap gaining tutorial :12.6.03: included more efficient action loops for special spheres :12.5.03: did more aesthetics work and solved Berserker "counter" problem :12.2.03: weeded out some design flaws +++++++++++++++++++++ ::Table of Contents:: +++++++++++++++++++++ ***THIS IS YOUR ONE AND ONLY SPOILER WARNING*** Press Ctrl + F and the code to skip directly where you want to go. Chapter Code 1. Intro---------------------------Spiral 2. Ap Dynamics---------------------Serendipity 3. Action Looping **don't skip!**--Infinity 4. Mp Considerations---------------Voo Doo 5. Dressphere Ability Leveling-----Evolution -White Mage--------------------Trinity -Warrior-----------------------Heart -Songstress--------------------Complacent -Alchemist---------------------Renewal -Dark Knight-------------------Sardonic -Full Throttle-----------------Immolate -Machina Maw-------------------Ghostshell -Floral Fallal-----------------Redwine *Formula Loop Intermission*----Toucan *Mug Loop Intermission*--------Lifted -Gunner------------------------Projectile -Thief-------------------------Violate -Black Mage--------------------Gothic -Gun Mage----------------------Capitalist -Samurai-----------------------Peacefight -Berserker---------------------Speedball -Lady Luck---------------------Freewill -Trainer-----------------------Overlord -Mascot------------------------Puppet 6. 99 Ap in 2 minutes (advanced)---46and2 7. Gain EXP/AP simultaneously------Dualism 8. Accessories and Garment Grids---Techno 9. Frequently asked Questions------Elastic 10. Credits and Acknowledgements----Siamese +++++++++ ::Intro::------Spiral +++++++++ This Guide will detail information on gaining Ap the easy way, by doing almost nothing at all. It's such a shame to leave our lovable Gullwings stagnant and motionless in a memory card while we go about doing those annoying mandatory tasks life forces upon us. With this guide you'll be able to have that Thanksgiving telephone call with grandma as Rikku learns firaga. This guide is for the impatient or lazy such as myself. So if you need to learn a valuable ability before a boss fight while going to the post office, or just plain wanna master a job quickly by gaining 99 Ap in one battle, read on. +++++++++++++++ ::AP Dynamics::------Serendipity +++++++++++++++ In order to gain Ap effectively, one must first grasp how Ap is gained. There are four ways to gain Ap in Final Fantasy X-2. 1. Perform special actions unique to a job 2. Use ability equipped on a garment grid 3. Defeat enemy 4. Use items Defeating a fiend nets one measly ability point (two if the fiend is in an oversouled state), and using items in battle depletes a finite inventory of items. Thus, this guide will focus on gaining Ap through special abilities and garment grid abilities. It is possible to amass huge amounts of Ap in a short amount of time while not even touching the controller. Using a technique I call "action looping," you'll gain 99 Ap per character every battle (yep, it's capped at 99 Ap -_-). Because of the Ap cap, you'll eventually have to come back to the controller and end the battle. ++++++++++++++++++ ::Action Looping::------Infinity ++++++++++++++++++ The philosophy is simple: create a continuous loop of actions that kill neither the party, nor the enemies. In order to accomplish this, you must first go to the main menu during gameplay and enter the config menu. Change the curser setting to "memory." Now find something in the house heavy, yet small enough to keep the "x" button depressed. Tape works great, but leaves sticky goo all over your controller. Personally, I think this is the best set up: http://pix2.hotornot.com/pics/HL/HY/HY/KL/GUGSEEHTCUJW.jpg That accomplished, let's try an example of an action loop. Go to an area of Spira with random encounters. Generally, 2 star difficulty is optimal AS SOON AS YOU OBTAIN A NEW DRESSPHERE. Stay close to the save sphere and equip a white mage, a warrior, and a songstress. Enter battle and kill all enemies except for a physical attacker (helms, birds, machina, etc.). Cast pray with the white mage, sentinel with the warrior, and samba of silence with the songstress. Now tape down the x button and go make yourself a snack to reward your hard work. Assuming the fiend was susceptible to the silence status, your party will rack up Ap every turn ^_^ +++++++++++++++++++++ ::Mp Considerations::------Voo Doo +++++++++++++++++++++ Some Ap Loops require Mp expenditure for certain jobs. For this reason, it is wise to level jobs like White Mage, Alchemist, Warrior, and Songstress before Mp depleting dresses like Black Mage, Thief, and Gun Mage for example. There are easy ways around the Mp problem involving accessories and garment grids. Using equipment such as the golden hairpin (1/2 Mp cost) and the golden bracer (+ 60% Mp) can easily boost Mp to a point where 99 spell castings can be possible. For example: Characters Mp = 124 Mp with golden bracer = 198 Mp cost for "cure" with the Golden Hairpin = 2 198 Mp divided by 2 Mp cost = 99 castings There are also ways around the Mp problem using abilities. The Songstress can cast Mp Mambo, which makes Mp cost zero. In order to learn this ability, you must conquer all the bosses at the Den of Woe and acquire the Book of Magical Dances Vol 1. The alchemist can also help out with the "ether" ability. It takes a while to learn it (400 Ap for "ether" + 20 Ap for prerequisite "dispel tonic" + 20 Ap for prerequisite "remedy" = 440 Ap total), but using this guide will get you there in no time. ~*Here's a great tip from John L. Moxxxxxx*~ "Setting the config to wait instead of active actually does prevent monsters from ripping you apart if you run out of mana but are slow to get back and check on it too, so thats pretty helpful in any method that has the potential of running into a holdup for some reason like that." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ::DRESSPHERE ABILITY LEVELING::------Evolution +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ This section will give you some pointers about maxing abilities for all 17 jobs in a loose semi-chronological sequence. Each job tutorial will also include example action loops and will be presented in this format: --- Dressphere: (dressphere name) Ap ability: (best ability to use for the action loop.) Ap needed: (amount of Ap needed to learn the Ap ability) Ap master: (total amount of Ap required to master the job) Acquired?: (brief explanation of how to obtain the dressphere) Warnings: (things to watch out for) Tips: (sagely advice) Loop examples: (samples of action loops for said job in the format below) Character 1, turn 1: (ability here) Character 2, turn 1: (ability here) Character 3, turn 1: (ability here) After the third command, tape the x button down and leave. --- For the most part, these loops are set up so that each job in the party can get 99 Ap. The exception is when you heal an enemy, receiving zero Ap for that character. Ok, here we go... ============================================================================== Trinity ============================================================================== Dressphere: White Mage Ap ability: pray Ap needed: 0 Ap master: 750 Acquired?: Ch 1 - It's in the Besaid Cave where you find Wakka. Warnings: - Pray must actually heal at least one party member. Tips: - Fight several fiends at once so the enemy has a chance to damage your party between castings. - Leveling three white mages at once is not efficient. One white mage per battle is generally enough. - Equipping magic enhancing accessories and garment grids is a good idea. Loop examples: 1. White Mage: pray Warrior: sentinel Songstress: darkness dance against magic enemies, samba of silence against physically attacking enemies, jitterbug, or slow dance 2. White mage: pray Alchemist: remedy enemy Lady Luck: tantalize ~*Kurtis Simpson gave this suggestion for a three WM party via e-mail*~ "If they use vigor, they will ALL be healing themselves only, so they will all get AP, and they'll still be healed." ~*Another e-mail from a dude called rollinbus*~ (Tested by Collecting My Lesson) "I have found that the all mighty poison yer self then just cast cure on yerself..while fighting a lowbie mob that does minimal dmg or a caster and you have a null ring to that element on..Poison hits you before each and everycast without fail..Three of anything ( besides the special dresses ) + haste + cure from grid = pretty fast efficent ap's...hands free,,not even 5 minute checking!!! posion + three white mages and there vigor went supa fast." Author note: skibum35 came up with the same idea, but his e-mail wasn't as interesting :P ============================================================================== Heart ============================================================================== Dressphere: Warrior Ap ability: sentinel Ap needed: 20 Ap master: 740 Acquired?: Ch 1 - Paine's default Warnings: - none Tips: - Auto haste will drastically improve the speed of leveling in this case. Loop examples: 1. Warrior: sentinel Warrior: sentinel White Mage: pray 2. Warrior: sentinel Songstress: darkness dance against magic enemies, samba of silence against physically attacking enemies, jitterbug, or slow dance Alchemist: mega-potion ============================================================================== Complacent ============================================================================== Dressphere: Songstress Ap ability: All dances Ap needed: varies, Darkness dance is mastered from the start. Ap master: 740 plus Magical Dances Volumes I & II Acquired?: Ch 1 - LeBlanc gives in Luca Warnings: - Make sure the dance actually inflicts the status. example: do not cast sleepy shuffle on a fiend with immunities to sleep. Tips: - Leveling her up with garment grid abilities like cure is much faster - Mp Mambo rules for action looping so if you obtained it in a prior run through the game (only available in Ch 5) use it liberally. Loop examples: 1. Songstress: Carnival Cancan Dark Knight: Darkness Alchemist: (casts at enemy) potion, hi-potion, mega-potion, x-potion (alchemist's move depends on how leveled up party is) 2. Songstress: darkness dance against magic enemies, samba of silence against physically attacking enemies, jitterbug, or slow dance White Mage: pray Warrior: sentinel ***Author Note 1: The songstress action in loop 2 is not a typo.*** ***Author Note 2: This particular action is not a typo anywhere in this FAQ*** ***Author Note 3: Please don't e-mail me about it anymore...or I'll scream.*** ============================================================================== Renewal ============================================================================== Dressphere: Alchemist Ap ability: potion, mega-potion, etc. (all of them) Ap needed: varies, start with potion at 10 Ap. Ap master: 2249 Acquired?: Ch 2 - Kill fiends in chocobo lair Warnings: - As usual, make sure you are really healing - An alchemist gets no Ap for healing enemies Tips: - Work hard on getting ether because it helps level other jobs - Once you learn "mega-potion," immediately learn "remedy," then "dispel tonic," then "ether." Loop Examples: 1. Alchemist: mega-potion Songstress: darkness dance against magic enemies, samba of silence against physically attacking enemies, jitterbug, or slow dance Warrior: sentinel 2. Alchemist: ether to white mage White Mage: cure/cura/curaga to party Warrior: sentinel ~*NGEVA gives this tip for a newbie alchemist*~ "train each alchemist individually with [mix]-ing two potions until they learn [Potion]. then haste the enemies with {chocobo wing or a bunch of feathers} and set each girl to use [potion] on themself. *loop now* ============================================================================== Sardonic ============================================================================== Dressphere: Dark Knight Ap ability: Darkness Ap needed: 0 Ap master: 490 Acquired?: Ch 2 - In chest before Bohamut in Bevelle Warnings: - none Tips: - If you are leveled up so much that darkness kills all enemies, either cast shell and protect on the enemy, or use the cure garment grids to form an action loop - Best used early in the game with a White Mage and an Alchemist Loop examples: 1. Dark Knight: darkness Alchemist: mega-potion Alchemist: (casts at enemy) potion, hi-potion, mega-potion, x-potion (alchemist's move depends on how leveled up party is) 2. Dark Knight: darkness Songstress: Carnival Cancan Alchemist: (casts at enemy) potion, hi-potion, mega-potion, x-potion (alchemist's move depends on how leveled up party is) ============================================================================== Immolate ============================================================================== Dressphere: Full Throttle Ap ability: Aestus, Winterkill, Whelmen, Levin (Paine); Stamina (Dex/Sin) Ap needed: 0 Ap master: 490 (Paine - 210; Sin - 140; Dex - 140) + Victor Primoris, Corpus Invictus Acquired?: Ch 1 - Talk to Tromell four times at the end of Macalania Forrest. Warnings: - It seems like a good idea to heal an enemy that absorbs an element with the corresponding attack, but you receive no Ap for this. Only do this when Paine is fully leveled from loop # 1. - Start with loop # 1, and then use loop # 2. - Don't go to the post office while leveling this job; check every 5 mins. Tips: - Max this dressphere as soon as you get it - Learn Hp x 2 and Hp x 3 first - Equip "Unerring Path" for quick special sphere change - *For loop # 1* Check bestiary on GameFAQs to find a fiend that halves damage from a certain elemental attack (example: "Drowsy Ochu" Ch 2 Mushroom Rock, visible on road, halves blizzard damage) - *For loop # 2* Check bestiary on GameFAQs to find a fiend that absorbs damage from a certain elemental attack (example: "Blue Elemental" Ch 2 Guadosalam, absorbs blizzard damage) Loop examples: (against the example Drowsy Ochu) 1. Paine: Winterkill Dextral Wing: Stamina to Paine Sinistral Wing: Stamina to enemy (against the example Blue Element) 2. Paine: Winterkill Dextral Wing: Stamina to Paine Sinistral Wing: Stamina to Sinistral Wing ~*Here's a tip from Death Kitty*~ (Tested by collecting my lesson) "For Paine's dressphere, Full Throttle, I recommend having Sinistral Arts use its Diamond Feather ability on Paine and it's White Feather ability on the enemies to minimize, if not negate, any physical damage. Its Cloudy Feather ability is also useful later on for minimizing magical damage, but you don't start with it, so..." ~*This one comes from evilfishtank*~ "Sometimes when Paine would get a critical hit in Full Throttle, she would kill a fiend in one hit. I found that the easiest way around that was to leech off of an oversouled fiend, for the higher HP and defense." ============================================================================== Ghostshell ============================================================================== Dressphere: Machina Maw Ap ability: Revival (Rikku); Hp Repair and Homing Ray (Smasher/Crusher) Ap needed: 10 for Revival Ap master: 570 (Rikku - 200; Smasher - 180; Crusher - 190) Machina Reactor + Machina Booster Acquired?: Ch 2 - Bikanel Oasis. Warnings: - Don't go away while leveling this job; check every 5 mins. Tips: - You need to use both Loops to level Machina Maw fully - Max this dressphere as soon as you get it - Learn Hp x 2 and Hp x 3 first - Equip "Unerring Path" for quick special sphere change Loop example: 1. Rikku: Revival to Crusher Smasher: Homing Ray to Crusher Crusher: Hp Repair to Rikku 2. Rikku: Revival to Smasher Smasher: Hp Repair to Rikku Crusher: Homing Ray to Smasher ~*Here's an alternate strategy by Death Kitty*~ (Tested by collecting my lesson) "For Rikku's Machina Maw, an easy way to level it up is to get into a battle with an easy enemy that's affected by the "sleep" status (or an elemental- -which is even better--that's affected by the "silence" status--The main thing you want to be able to do is keep it from damaging you). Then, put it to sleep or silence it...depending (either before or after transformation), and have Rikku use a missile on herself, Crusher use HP repair on Rikku, and Smasher use MP repair on Rikku. Once Smasher and Crusher have gained 99 AP (If you're mastering HP etc... first, it's easy to tell: Mastering HP*2, HP*3, Break Dmg. Limit, and Break HP Limit take 90 AP), raise the enemy's defense to max and cast protect on it. Then, have Rikku hit it with a missile that will constantly immobilize it (I kept using Stop Missile on a Red Elemental--their high defense makes it REALLY easy) and have Crusher use HP Repair on the Enemy while Smasher again heals Rikku's HP. Using this strategy, I was able to max out Rikku's Machina Maw in practically 2 battles (the third was so brief that it's not worth mentioning...) You can probably do it on any enemy that can be stopped, but I would think that elemental's would be much more efficient as targets." ============================================================================== Redwine ============================================================================== Dressphere: Floral Fallal Ap ability: Heat, Ice, Electric, Aqua Whirl (Yuna); White Pollen (Right Pistol); Left Stigma (Left Pistil) Ap needed: 20 for Left Stigma Ap master: 536 (Yuna - 196; R Pistil - 170; L Pistil - 170) + Aurora Rain, Twilight Rain Acquired?: Ch 2 - Djose Highroad before the syndicate battle Warnings: - This one takes a little preparation. - Don't go away while leveling this job; check every 5 mins. Tips: - Max this dressphere as soon as you get it - Learn Hp x 2 and Hp x 3 first - Equip "Unerring Path" for quick special sphere change - *For loop # 1* Check bestiary on GameFAQs to find a fiend that absorbs damage from a certain elemental attack (example: "Blue Elemental" Ch 2 Guadosalam, absorbs blizzard damage) - *For loop # 2* Check bestiary on GameFAQs to find a fiend that halves damage from a certain elemental attack (example: "Drowsy Ochu" Ch 2 Mushroom Rock, visible on road, halves blizzard damage) - Cast protect, shell, and regen on fiend for loop # 2 Loop example: (against example Blue Element) 1. Yuna: Ice Whirl Right Pistil: White Pollen Left Pistil: Left Stigma (against the example Drowsy Ochu) 2. Yuna: Ice Whirl Right Pistil: White Pollen enemy Left Pistil: Left Stigma at Left Pistil ~*This one comes from evilfishtank*~ "Sometimes when (Yuna) would get a critical hit in (Floral Fallal), she would kill a fiend in one hit. I found that the easiest way around that was to leech off of an oversouled fiend, for the higher HP and defense." ============================================================================== Toucan Lifted ============================================================================== Up to this point, equipping garment grids to gather Ap has not been required. In fact, it is possible to have three fully mastered Dresspheres (white mage, warrior, songstress) before obtaining your 4th completion percent. All of the above jobs can be mastered easily without Mp expenditure, which is wonderful for young game saves. However, you will henceforth be required to either reach chapter 3, or obtain a garment grid equipped with a cure ability coupled with an alchemist that has learned "ether." These prerequisites achieved, you will now be able to level any job much faster, including jobs that have been collecting dust thus far. Just use the Formula Loop or the Mug Loop explained below: **Formula Loop** If you haven't acquired the "ether" ability for at least one of your Alchemists, hurry up and do it! If you do have a leveled alchemist and a garment grid with some sort of a cure ability, equip the grid and follow this easy formula for the rest of the dresspheres: Any Job: Cast the most powerful curative magic available (from garment grid) and heal the whole party by pressing the right directional button before casting. Alchemist: Cast "ether" on the character that did the curing. Any Job: Many things work here. Just make sure it neither damages the enemy, nor devours Mp or items. You could also substitute the alchemist for a songstress dancing the Mp mambo, but the Alchemist is fail-safe and much better IMO. The ragnarok accessory would also work very well equipped to the curer. **Mug Loop** One of the most effective methods for stockpiling Ap involves the Treasure Hunt garment grid. This grid is equipped with the mug ability which both damages and steals from an enemy. Strangely, the mug ability scores Ap even if the character is unable to acquire an item from a monster. It is the duel nature of damage and theft that makes successful Ap acquisition possible. Try casting mug against a fiend that is immune to physical attacks. You will not gain Ap if you fail to steal an item and fail to damage the enemy. In other words don't try this method against one of the rare monsters in the game that will not incur physical damage. This garment grid is only obtained in the Ch 3 sphere break tournament at Luca. During the final match between Yuna and Shinra, you will find a border coin or two that have the "item or "rare" traits. If you make a core break with one of these coins you will probably win it. Don't leave Luca without it. Once the Treasure Hunt garment grid is yours, use this action loop to exploit battles for Ap: Any Job: mug Alchemist: (casts at enemy) potion, hi-potion, mega-potion, x-potion (alchemist's move depends on how leveled up party is) Alchemist: mega-potion You can also use a white mage to cure the party with "pray." ============================================================================== Projectile ============================================================================== Dressphere: Gunner Ap ability: cure/cura/curaga from a garment grid Ap needed: 0 Ap master: 800 Acquired?: Yuna's default Loop example: Formula Loop or Mug Loop ============================================================================== Violate ============================================================================== Dressphere: Thief Ap ability: cure/cura/curaga from a garment grid Ap needed: 0 Ap master: 1060 Acquired?: Rikku's default Loop example: Formula Loop or Mug Loop ~*Here's a loop from The Suave Pirate that can be used early on*~ (Tested by Collecting My Lesson) "I think I found a way to level the (Thief) earlier in the game. The key is to have (pilfer Mp). To do it you must be fighting something with alot of MP and can osmose (the red elemental on Mushroom rock road will do this) Set up your (thief), have a white mage pray and have the third character do something (I had a fighter, doing sentinel). If the fiend gets low on MP it will osmose some of yours. At this point all you need to do is steal it back." Author note: Any elemental will work for this loop. ============================================================================== Gothic ============================================================================== Dressphere: Black Mage Ap ability: cure/cura/curaga from a garment grid Ap needed: 0 Ap master: 680 Acquired?: Ch 1 - Talk to Shinra and watch the sphere from the Floating Mountain mission. Loop example: Formula Loop or Mug Loop ~*Here's a loop from The Suave Pirate that can be used early on*~ (Tested by Collecting My Lesson) "I think I found a way to level the Black Mage earlier in the game. The key is to have MP absorb. To do it you must be fighting something with alot of MP and can osmose (the red elemental on Mushroom rock road will do this) Set up your black mage, have a white mage pray and have the third character do something (I had a fighter, doing sentinel). If the fiend gets low on MP it will osmose some of yours. At this point all you need to do is steal it back." Author note: Any elemental will work for this loop. ============================================================================== Capitalist ============================================================================== Dressphere: Gun Mage Ap ability: cure/cura/curaga from a garment grid Ap needed: 0 Ap master: 370 Acquired?: Ch 2 - Tobli will give it to you at the Moonflow if you defeated all the bandits. Loop example: Formula Loop or Mug Loop ============================================================================== Peacefight ============================================================================== Dressphere: Samurai Ap ability: cure/cura/curaga from a garment grid Ap needed: 0 Ap master: 760 Acquired?: Ch 3 - In Kilika before you fight Ifrit. Loop example: Formula Loop or Mug Loop ============================================================================== Speedball ============================================================================== Dressphere: Berserker Ap ability: cure/cura/curaga from a garment grid Ap needed: 0 Ap master: 1360 Acquired?: Ch 3 - Kill the fiends by the travel agency in Macalania. Loop example: Formula Loop or Mug Loop Eventually you will encounter a problem with the formula loop while leveling a Berserker. When you learn a counter attack, the character will start flying around the screen killing fiends. When you start learning counters, use this loop: Berserker: cure/cura/curaga from a garment grid Alchemist: ether to Berserker Alchemist: mega-potion enemies ============================================================================== Freewill ============================================================================== Dressphere: Lady Luck Ap ability: cure/cura/curaga from a garment grid Ap needed: 0 Ap master: 1090 Acquired?: Ch 3 - Defeat Shinra in Sphere Break. Loop example: Formula Loop or Mug Loop ============================================================================== Overlord ============================================================================== Dressphere: Trainer Ap ability: cure/cura/curaga from a garment grid Ap needed: 0 Ap master: Yuna -> 910; Rikku -> 1030; Paine -> 930 Acquired?: Ch 3 - If you answered Kimhari in chapter 1 and 2 and talk to him at Gagazet, he'll give it to you. Loop example: Formula Loop or Mug Loop ============================================================================== Puppet ============================================================================== Dressphere: Mascot Ap ability: cure/cura/curaga from a garment grid Ap needed: 0 Ap master: Yuna -> 1599; Rikku -> 1599; Paine -> 1399 Acquired?: Ch 5 - Obtain "chapter completes" everywhere in chapter 5. A Bevelle "chapter complete" isn't required, however. Loop example: Formula Loop or Mug Loop ============================================================================== ============================================================================== ++++++++++++++++++++++ ::99 Ap in 2 minutes::------46and2 ++++++++++++++++++++++ Let me begin by showing you this horrifically unattractive JPG picture: http://pix2.hotornot.com/pics/HQ/KS/KR/KS/GREQH8GNHCTA.jpg Yea, I know. It's not the best visual aid, but it does represent what is possible if you obtain a couple very valuable accessories. The easiest to obtain is the "key to success," which doubles Ap among other things. The other item is the "Ap Egg." This accessory may be a little harder to come by, but the triple Ap bonus is a must for light speed Ap gaining. When you equip both the Ap Egg and the Key to success you will receive 6 times the Ap you would have been awarded without them. Using the Treasure Hunt garment grid to cast mug compliments this set up because mug has a very short wait time between castings. Here is an example loop of a black mage equipped with Key to success, an Ap Egg, and the Treasure Hunt Garment Grid: ----------------- Black Mage: mug Alchemist: mega-potion enemy Alchemist: mega-potion party ----------------- Every time the Black Mage has a turn, she will gain 6 Ap. It will take her 17 turns to reach the Ap cap at 99. On average, most jobs take about 5-7 seconds to cast mug which means the Black Mage in question will gain 99 Ap in about 1 minute and 32 seconds. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ::Gain Ap/EXP simultaneously::------Dualism ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ This idea has been bouncing around FFX-2 boards for a while, so for those of you that have been kept in the dark about this, here is the truest hands free approach. It involves killing fiends while you sleep. The idea is to form a loop that transcends the single battle technique. Let's start with this: White Mage: pray Any Job: attack or mug Any Job: attack or mug Just do the loop, tape the left analogue stick in the direction of a wall, and tape the x button down. Yuna will bang her head against the wall all night while encountering fiends. Everyone will gain experience, Gil, and everyone will get Ap. Here are some things to keep in mind: -An alchemist's mega-potion will work if you don't want to use pray -A speed bracer equipped to the white mage works great -Weaker fiend areas work best -watch out for status ailments! -Find corners and dead ends to run into so Yuna doesn't travel all over Spira and ruin everything -equip a lure Bracer +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ::Accessories and Garment Grids::------Techno +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Although not always required, equipping useful garment grids and accessories can greatly improve Ap maxing efficiency. This isn't an equipment FAQ, so I will be brief and only list a few of the many acquisitions that can be used. :GARMENT GRIDS: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Treasure Hunt Abilities: mug Found: Ch 3 - Make a sphere break with a border coin that has the "item" or "rare" traits during the championship match against Shinra. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Highroad winds Abilities: can cast haste with a sphere change Found: Ch 2 - Kill all the baddies in the chocobo lair and Clasko will give it to you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mounted Assault Abilities: hastega with sphere change Found: Ch 5 - Send a chocobo to the central expanse of Bikanel and if he comes back without an item, you may receive it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Unerring Path Abilities: change to special dress in one sphere change Found: Ch 1 - Talk to Tromell four times at the end of Macalania Forrest ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Healing Wind Abilities: use cure Found: Ch 1 - Go to Luca and hand ten balloons out when Yuna is dressed as a moogle. Don't forget the dudes behind the window. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Heart Reborn Abilities: use cure Found: Ch 1 - At the near end of the Zanarkand mission, pick the last option: "Is that you, Issaru?" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Healing Light Abilities: use cure Found: Ch 2 - Complete the Guadosalam mission. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Immortal Soul Abilities: use cure Found: Ch 5 - Kill Anima. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ::ACCESORIES:: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ap Egg Abilities: triple Ap Found: Ch 5 - It's a first place prize for blitz ball tourneys and league play. You can also get it in a chest at the chocobo lair dungeon. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Key to Success Abilities: double Ap Found: Ch 5 - Go to Tobli's house in Guadosalam and if you finished the moonflow missions, but not the chapter 3 Gagazet mission, he'll hook you up. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ragnarock Abilities: Mp cost = 0 Found: Ch 5 - Finger Rikku as the culprit in Rin's mission. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Speed Bracer Abilities: Auto-haste and hastega Found: Ch 5 - Find a bride for the dude in the Calm Lands. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Shinning Bracer Abilities: Auto-Protect Found: Ch 2 - Go to Mushroom Rock and open the chest by the U-shaped lift. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Moon Bracer Abilities: Auto-Shell Found: Ch 3 - Valfore will drop this when you beat him in Besaid. There is also another moon bracer under the falls. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rune Bracer Abilities: + 100% Mp Found: Ch 5 - It is in a chest on the floating trail in Macalania. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gold Hairpin Abilities: 1/2 Mp cost Found: Ch 2 - Do a good job massaging LeBlanc in Guadosalam and it will be in a chest in Ormi's room. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gold Bracer Abilities: + 60% Mp Found: Ch 3 - It is in a chest on the floating trail in Macalania. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it should give you a good idea of what to look for when equipping yourself for an action loop. ******* ::FAQ::------Elastic +++++++ *Q: Where in fact do I acquire the ap egg? All I hear from people is blitzball and chocobo dungeon. Gimme some detail. A: I'll leave it to the blitzball FAQs to cover creation of a team capable of winning the Ap Egg. Here's how you find it in the dungeon. Requirements: 1. You must be in chapter five. 2. You must send out 3 chocobos of each level (1-5) and have them return safely. Hint 1: Do it in order from lvl 1 to 5 (just faster that way). Hint 2: Equip a lure bracer to catch chocobos faster. Hint 3: You get greens from winning battles. Hint 4: Send timid to Kilika, normal to Besaid, and bold to Djose. 3. Once that is done, make sure all your chocobo runners lvl 5. The cave should be open after you leave the Calm Lands and return five minutes later. While in the cave, you will eventually find a long hallway w/ 5 doors. The machina reactor is in the far left door, which can only be entered from the other side. Look at a chocobo dungeon map and make your way there. You will find the AP Egg if you continue out of that door (out of the hall) and climb up on the raised block. *Q: Does equipping two Ap Eggs on one character result in Ap x 9? A: No, not unless you are a powerful magician. *Q: What is the quickest way to max a job? A: See the section in this guide called 99 ap in 1.5 mins. *Q: Why does ap egg + kts work, but 2 ap eggs not work? A: Both accessories create auto-abilities. Having two auto-triple ap auto- abilities is like having double darkproof; it makes no sense. ap x 2 and ap x 3 are totally different from each other, which is why equipping them results in ap x 6. *Q: Should I go for the kts and ap egg to level my characters? A: It depends. If you use this guide as something you come back to every 15 mins while you're doing something else, then not necessarily. But if you want to max every job as fast as possible, yes. *Q: Why is one of your loops not working? A: You either didn't follow the instructions correctly, or you are a victim of rare circumstances that merit extra attention. E-mail me with your current level, chapter, and situation and if the problem is legit, I'll fix your it via e-mail. *Q: Why don't you include more accessories and garment grids? A: This isn't an equipment FAQ, man. There is an incredible amount of gear you can use to form an action loop - just check an equipment FAQ for more detail. *Q: Will healing an enemy gain me ap? A: Nope. *Q: Items don't take much time to cast. Why don't you include an item loop in there somewhere? A: This is a "*hands-free* Ap FAQ." It may cover extra material that can be used to think up new ways to gain ap, but in the end the purpose of this guide is to detail info about how you can max ds abilities by picking your nose or occasionally checking the ps2 under the desk in your cubicle while dodging the boss. You can't make an infinite action loop by using items, but you can by sucking it up and reading this FAQ. *Q: You dumbass, silence against physical and darkness against magic enemies? You've lost your marbles, CML - why on earth would you want to do that? A: Look, do you want your healer to gain Ap or not? Taking away a fiend's ability to damage your party is frivolous if you expect to level a healer. Once again, the healer must replenish hp. How can an element do that if it can't cast magic? If you still don't understand this, DO NOT E-MAIL ME! Just trust the philosophy, slugga or do things on your own. (PS: Yes, I know there are exceptions to this, but not for the loops written by me in this guide.) *Q: You're not e-mailing me back. Wus the problem, dude? A: I'm just as much of a person as you, and sometimes I leave my little internet community for the real world. If I don't respond within 24 hours try the ffx-2 board on this site. There are plenty of able experts available to help you out. *Q: Why don't you try (insert random action loop here): A: I probably have tried it. The fact is, there are incredible numbers of action loops possible. There's no need to list all of them - but if you do find an original and efficient loop (subject to argument), e-mail me and I'll post it as a contribution from: (your name here). **Note** I will not accept obvious, redundant, or "less efficient than previously posted" suggestions! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ::Credits and Acknowledgements::------Siamese ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -I'd like to hereby thank the trees that sacrificed themselves to become scattered jottings that saturated the carpet of my house for this guide. -I'd also like to take this time to thank my roommates Rissa, Korley, and Rhapsody for not giving me the thousand paper-cuts I deserve for saturating their carpet with scattered jottings. -I've gotta thank myself for being lazy enough to use an upside down water bottle to level my characters for me. -I suppose that square-enix should be held accountable for developing the wonderful virtual world of Spira, so I guess I better include them too. -Thank you ign, neoseeker, gamersunderground, wtfcorps.port5.com, and gamefaqs for hosting this guide. -Thanks to Warhawk and kenb215 for helping me clean up some design flaws. -Thanks to those whom contributed alternate strategies. -Thanks to obsidian_ignus for his work in the EXP/Ap section. -Thanks to the cape, hansel, st, and mothra. forever branded by your friendship. Long live CS: http://pix2.hotornot.com/pics/HQ/KS/KL/KR/GRBZNUAMBMBK.jpg -Thanks to hotornot.com, the site owners Jim and James, and the HON admin for hosting pics for this guide. I've never had as much fun on the net as I have moderating pics on hotornot.com and cavorting at the mod forum. Thanks again. -Here's a shout out to the plethora of people on the FFX-2 boards that discovered mug's ability to constantly tally Ap. -Last of all, thanks CjayC for sacrificing your life keeping up the site so us vid-heads can have a fun place to play and work... .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~ .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~ .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._ .:*~*:._@o@o@o@o.:*~*:._ .:*~*:._@o*~*:._.:*~*:._ *:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._@o*~*:._.:*~*:._ .:*~*:._.:*~*:.:*~ *:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._@o@o@:._.:*~*:._ .:*~*:._.:*~*:.:*~ .:*~*:._@o*~*:._.:*~*:._ .:*~*:._@o*~*:._.:*~*:._ .:*~*:._@o@o@o@o.:*~*:._ .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._ .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._ .:*~*:._@o*~*:o@.:*~*:._ .:*~*:._@o@~*:o@.:*~*:._ .:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._@o*0*:o@.:*~*:._ .:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._@o*~@:o@.:*~*:._ .:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._@o*~*0o@.:*~*:._ .:*~*:._@O*~*:o@.:*~*:._ .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._ .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._ .:*~*:._@o@o@o@_.:*~*:._ .:*~*:._@o*~*:@o.:*~*:._ .:*~*:. .:*~*:._@o*~*:@o.:*~*:._ .:*~*:. .:*~*:. .:*~*:._@o*~*:@o.:*~*:._ .:*~*:. .:*~*:._@o*~*:@o.:*~*:._ .:*~*:._@o@o@o@_.:*~*:._ .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._ .:*~*:. .:*~*:.