Jason Hidalgo

jhidalgo@rgj.com

Technobubble covers games, gadgets, technology and all things geek. Follow Technobubble poobah Jason Hidalgo’s shenanigans on Twitter @jasonhidalgo

Having skills is great and all. Just ask Liam Neeson in “Taken.”

But having EX Skills? Now you’re talking, my friend.

Take yours truly, for example. The first time I played 7th Dragon III Code VFD, I battled all the endgame bosses without my EX Skills. In fact, it took me four failed tries with my main team and a grudging party change to Banisher, Rune Knight and Samurai before I finally triumphed against the last boss.

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Naturally, it wasn’t until I finished the campaign when I learned that I could’ve gotten my EX skills earlier to make those last few bosses easier. Doh! For those who don’t know, EX Skills represent the ultimate art for each class and can only be triggered when in Exhaust state. Let’s just say those last few boss fights would have gone much more smoothly if I had them.

Then again, it was nice to get a challenge at the end of the game, especially given how easy battles can get against regular mobs and dragons once you’ve got a solid team formed. For folks who want to burn through the final bosses while laughing like maniacs, however, here’s my guide on how to get those EX Skills or “ougis” ASAP. By the way, make sure you save up enough SP points to enable them. Each skill requires 9,900 SP to “buy.” For a list of all skills by class, you can also check out our 7th Dragon III: Code VFD Class Skill Guide.

The secret sauce meister

Yoshida isn’t just the name of a purveyor of delicious sauces and president of Sony Worldwide Studios. It is also the name of the NPC who unlocks the path to EX Skills in 7th Dragon III Code VFD. Once you get to Chapter 5.1, you will find Director Yoshida in the R&D Floor. Talk to him and he’ll spill the delicious beans on how to get the EX Skills for each character based on their class. Just make sure that the character you want to acquire EX Skills for is Level 50 and also the leader of your party, ‘mkay? I've written down the exact instructions for each class below so just scroll down if you need more guidance. For those that involve fighting, the battle strategies are for folks who take the challenges at a lower level. I was 70+ and already beat the story by the time I did mine and my attacks were pretty much overkill at that point.

Agent

Indra’s Flames: Massive dmg: all. Mana: 40

After talking to Yoshida, go to the Development Floor and you will notice a glowing PC. Access it and you will be presented with several choices. Pick the following:

Turn the computer on

Insert a virus

Enter using a security backdoor

Crack the executable

Access the database

After making those choices, you will get a message saying “You hacked the computer!” Hooray. You will then get instructions to go to the Lounge. Talk to the old man near the piano. The “Man in Black” (I kid you not) will say “Tera, dika, megithule.” Repeat his words. You will then acquire a media storage device with a suspicious code and a satellite access key. You will then get a message that you have mastered “Indra’s Flames.” Go to your skill menu and unlock it by paying 9,900 SP.

Banisher

Ultimate Lance | Massive dmg/Burn: one. Restore bombs. Mana: 30

If you engage in small chat with Brijilt at the Eden Evacuation Ward while you have a Level 50 or higher Banisher as your team leader, she will tell you about a powerful weapon for the class that can be crafted by defeating a Noble Rosier. Equip your team with accessories that protect against confusion then go to the Portal Room. Teleport to the Kazan Republic and head to the 191m High Arrival Point. From there, head to top where you will find the Noble Rosier waiting. Defeat it with your team to get Rosier Claw and show it to Brijilt back at the Eden Evacuation Ward. She will give the claw to Sailas who crafts an item that allows you to learn the Ultimate Lance EX skill, a useful attack that not only inflicts massive damage but refills your bombs (think Earthquake → Ultimate Lance → Earthquake combo. Yikes!).

Duelist

Summon: Titan | Massive non-elemental magic dmg: all. Mana: 45

Forget about the “Heart of the Cards.” All you need to get the ultimate skill for the card-wielding Duelist is … a vending machine. Seriously. Once you’re ready, go to the Conference Floor and head to the very left, then all the way up. You should see a glimmer on the vending machine. Insert 1,000 AZ to get an item. This part might take a while as I initially received the “Vol. 2” and “Vol. 3” items before finally nabbing the “Titan Gygas EX.” You will then get a prompt saying that you’ve mastered the EX skill “Summon Titan.” The skill does massive non-elemental damage to all targets.

Fortuner

Yggdrasil’s Wind | Revive/restore LF/cure: all allies. Mana: 30

The class might sound like a Toyota SUV, but this one’s pretty easy to get provided that you have been paying attention throughout the game and rescuing cats in dungeons. Fortunately — pun so totally intended — I’m an obsessive-compulsive softy who made it my mission in life to scour all dungeons for felines as I played the game. Anyway, once you’ve rescued 30 cats, go to the Cat Cafe near the medical bay. You’ll eventually trigger a staring contest with the cats. Shortly thereafter, you will learn “Yggdrasil’s Wind,” an EX skill that revives, restores health and cures all allies. Purrfect.

God Hand

Earth Breaker | Massive dmg/Null Action: one. Mana: 30

With a Level 50 or higher God Hand leading your party, go to the Main Plaza and talk to Blaster Raven. He will agree to a battle with you at the top floor of 7th Encount. If you’re not overleveled, equip accessories that prevent Blind status. To beat him in less than 4 turns, use your maxed Jab skill to reach. Use your Jab — preferably Maxed — to build up your God Depth to G3 then use a Level 4 or higher Drill Claw or Quartetto. Defeat him and you will acquire the EX skill Earth Breaker.

Mage

End of the World | Massive dmg/Paralyze/Bleed: all. Mana: 40

This has to be the easiest EX skill to acquire. Go to the Reference Room library with a Level 50 mage as your leader. This will automatically trigger an event involving a book called the “666 Sights of the World.” You’ll soon notice a marker on your map for its location. Head to the top right area shelves and you’ll see one of those familiar sparkling points once again on one of the bookcases. Check it to obtain the book. Read it and you will obtain the EX skill “End of the World.” This skill not only inflicts good damage but a couple of status effects as well.

Rune Knight

Odin’s Rage | Massive dmg/Freeze?LF absorb: one. Mana: 45

Talk to Eigur at the Atlantis Evacuation Ward with a Level 50 or higher Rune Knight leading your active party. Eigur will then talk to you about a secret book that can only be read by the strongest existing Rune Knight. That used to be King Utrello of Atlantis, who has since perished, but Eigur knows the location of the book. Go to Berg Sea Palace, then meet Eigur at the Palace Gate and he will lead you to a secret room where you battle each other one-on-one to determine who the strongest Rune Knight in the world is. Use a Max level Brave Sword and you should be able to beat him. If Brave Sword is not maxed and you’re not at a super high level, use Drain Sword twice then Brave Sword. Beat Eigur and you will acquire the Jormungand Manuscript, which unlocks the EX skill Odin’s Rage.

Samurai: Dual Blade

Fallen Blossoms | Massive dmg: one. Mana: 25

To double your Dual Blade pleasure as a samurai, head to the Medical Floor and talk to Yoritomo. Pick “Dual Blade” then go to “Rest Floor.” Take the elevator to the Terrace and answer Yoritomo’s questions about what you would do if there was a large sinking ship with 1,000 passengers. Pick the following choices:

“Continue on to the ship.”

“We have to take it down!”

“Focus on saving my family!”

You will then receive the EX skill “Fallen Blossoms,” which does heavy damage on one target.

Samurai: Sword

Earth Splitter | Massive dmg/Bleed: all. Mana: 30

Talk to Yoritomo at the Medical Room with a Level 50 or higher Samurai leading your party. Pick the sword mission and you’ll be told to defeat a Dark Rabi one on one. Log in to 7th Encount and pick the first option, “Make your Samurai train alone.” A wild Dark Rabi appears! (Sorry, I just could not resist.) Just use a Level 3 or higher Solid Stance to power up followed by Serpent Thrust or Garuda Whirlwind Level 2 or higher (I used Serpent Thrust). You’ll acquire the ability to learn Earth Splitter after the battle. If you’re not overleveled and need an extra boost, use either a speed or power boosting accessory and you should be golden.