FF2 Opening Battle Walkthrough
The opening battle against four Black Knights is unwinnable - you’re supposed to lose. After the defeat, you’ll wake up in Altair’s rebel hideout, rescued by Princess Hilda and Minwu. Leon gets separated during the battle, leaving you with Firion, Maria, and Guy.
FF2 is notoriously difficult, so understanding the core mechanics early is crucial for survival. This opening sequence introduces the password system and sets up the rebellion storyline that drives the entire game.
Understanding FF2’s Skill-Based Leveling System
FF2 doesn’t use traditional levels. Instead, your stats improve based on what you do in battle:
- Use weapons → weapon skills increase
- Cast spells → magic levels improve
- Take damage → HP goes up
- Use magic → MP increases
You can exploit this system by having party members attack each other during battles, then healing with Cure. Keep one enemy alive so the battle doesn’t end. This builds HP, weapon skills, and magic simultaneously.
This training method is not a glitch - it’s an intended part of the design that many players overlook. Early grinding using this technique can make the notoriously difficult mid-game much more manageable.
Once you get Cure, spend time in early battles having characters hit each other while someone heals. It’s the fastest way to build multiple skills.
Learn the Wild Rose Password - FF2 Guide
Talk to Princess Hilda in the throne room. Ask her about the password “Wild Rose” - this unlocks information about the rebellion throughout the game. Passwords are FF2’s key story mechanic, replacing traditional NPCs who automatically give you information.
Also talk to Minwu (standing next to Hilda) and ask him about “Wild Rose” too. You need this conversation before you can buy magic - the shops won’t sell to you until you’ve proven you’re with the rebels.
Collect Altair’s Missable Treasure Chest
From the throne room, go left through the passageway and follow it around. There’s a chest with a Potion inside. This becomes permanently missable after the Mysidian Tower, so grab it now.
Equipment Shopping Guide
You start with 400 Gil. Head to the armor shop and buy essential defensive gear:
- Leather Cap for each party member (15 Gil each) - Head protection is crucial
- Leather Gloves for all three characters (15 Gil each) - Improves accuracy and defense
- Buckler shields for Firion and Guy (25 Gil each) - Maria should focus on magic instead
This uses most of your starting money but provides vital early protection. Equip everything through the main menu - unequipped items provide no benefit.
Purchase Essential Magic Spells
After buying equipment, you need more Gil for magic. Battle enemies on the world map until you have at least 300 Gil total for Cure spells (100 Gil per character).
Essential spell priority:
- Cure (100 Gil each) - Mandatory for survival and skill training
- Fire (100 Gil each) - Reliable damage against most enemies
- Thunder (100 Gil each) - Effective against water-based foes
You purchase spell tomes, then assign them to characters through your inventory. Unlike other FF games, multiple characters can learn the same spell. Higher magic levels reduce MP costs and increase effectiveness - Cure at level 1 costs 3 MP, but only 1 MP at higher levels.
Your First Battles and Combat Tips
Exit Altair and stay close to town for healing. You’ll fight:
- Goblins - Weak, good for training
- Hornets - Slightly tougher
- Leg Eaters - Basic enemies
Combat tips:
- Attack with your chosen weapon type to build proficiency
- Cast Cure regularly to improve magic skills
- Return to Altair’s inn when health gets low
- Try the leveling exploit with party members attacking each other
Focus each character on one weapon type: Firion with swords, Guy with axes, Maria with staffs/bows.
Completionist Progress
Treasure Chests
Bestiary
Locations
Passwords
Treasure Chests
- - Altair hideout chest - Potion ⚠️ Missable (after Mysidian Tower)
New Enemies
- - Goblin - Common enemy near Altair
- - Hornet - Flying insect enemy
- - Leg Eater - Basic world map enemy
Locations Visited
- - Altair - Rebel hideout and starting town
Passwords Learned
- - Wild Rose - Rebellion identification password
Completionist Tips
- - Items marked with ⚠️ are missable - collect them before progressing too far
- - Keep multiple save files to avoid losing progress on missable content
- - Some enemies only appear in specific locations or time periods
- - Ask every NPC about every password you know to unlock all story content
What’s Next
Once you’ve learned “Wild Rose,” collected the chest, bought equipment and Cure spells, and fought some battles, you’re ready for the next chapter. Head to Gatrea to learn about Fynn and the Empire’s oppression.
Before leaving Altair, make sure you’ve:
- Learned “Wild Rose” from Princess Hilda
- Collected the Potion chest
- Bought Leather Caps, Gloves, and Bucklers
- Earned Gil for Cure spells
- Fought battles to understand the skill system
- Leveled up Cure magic through practice