Subterra

The Subterra is the optional underground area of the Pharos in Final Fantasy XII accessed by finishing the Pharos event. Subterra is divided into four levels: Penumbra, Umbra, Abyssal, and Unknown.

To enter the Subterra, players have to use the Dais of Ascendance located at the center of the Pharos near the Gate Crystal. It will take players down to the first level, Penumbra. From there, players need to obtain Black Orbs to unlock the entrances to the other levels: Umbra and Abyssal. Unlike other areas in the game, the Subterra lacks an obtainable map.

Locations[]

• Penumbra - Interior
• Penumbra - North
• Penumbra - South
• Umbra - Interior
• Umbra - North
• Umbra - South
• Abyssal - Interior
• Abyssal - North
• Abyssal - South
• Hell's Challenge

Treasures[]

Penumbra - North[]

Zodiac

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Gil	Normal Treasure		Diamond Armlet Treasure
86	70%	80%	1 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Diamond Armlet	Hastega Mote	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (B)
87	70%	80%	1 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Orrachea Armlet	Shock Mote	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (C)
88[note 1]	5%	0%	N/A	Indigo Pendant
89	70%	80%	1 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Battle Harness	Reverse Mote	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
90	70%	80%	1 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Firefly	Chaos Bombs	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)

Original

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Normal Treasure			Diamond Armlet Treasure
18[note 1]	30%	0%	Gil	Item		Gil	Item
			N/A	Holy Rod		N/A	Knot of Rust
19	90%	10%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			1 Gil	Knot of Rust	Ether	≤ 2 Gil	Knot of Rust
20	90%	10%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			1 Gil	Knot of Rust	Ether	≤ 2 Gil	Knot of Rust

Penumbra - South[]

Zodiac

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Gil	Normal Treasure		Diamond Armlet Treasure
91	70%	80%	1 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Golden Amulet	Assassin's Arrows	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
92	70%	80%	1 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Embroidered Tippet	X-Potion	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (B)
93[note 1]	20%	0%	N/A	Ring of Renewal

Original

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Normal Treasure			Diamond Armlet Treasure
21	90%	10%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			1 Gil	Knot of Rust	Ether	≤ 2 Gil	Knot of Rust
22	90%	10%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			1 Gil	Knot of Rust	Ether	≤ 2 Gil	Knot of Rust
23[note 1]	40%	0%	Gil	Item		Gil	Item
			N/A	Dragon Whisker		N/A	Knot of Rust

Umbra - North[]

Zodiac

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Gil	Normal Treasure		Diamond Armlet Treasure
94	70%	80%	2 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Amber Armlet	Stink Bombs	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
95[note 1]	5%	0%	N/A	Cameo Belt
96	70%	80%	2 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Thief's Cuffs	Holy Mote	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (B)
97	70%	80%	2 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Turtleshell Choker	Time Bolts	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)

Original

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Normal Treasure		Diamond Armlet Treasure
24[note 1]	30%	0%	Nihopalaoa
25[note 1]	30%	0%	Venetian Shield
26[note 1]	30%	0%	Ultima Blade

Umbra - South[]

Zodiac

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Gil	Normal Treasure		Diamond Armlet Treasure
98	70%	80%	2 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Gillie Boots	Scathe Mote	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (C)
99	70%	80%	2 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Berserker Bracers	Windslicer Shot	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
100	70%	80%	2 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Sage's Ring	Dark Matter	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
101	70%	80%	2 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Jade Collar	Sapping Bolts	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
102	70%	80%	2 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Pheasant Netsuke	Elixir	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (B)
103[note 1]	5%	0%	N/A	Nihopalaoa

Original

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Normal Treasure			Diamond Armlet Treasure
27	55%	50%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			1 Gil	Knot of Rust	Save the Queen	≤ 2 Gil	Knot of Rust
28	55%	40%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Common	Rare
			1 Gil	Knot of Rust	Fomalhaut	≤ 2 Gil	Megalixir	Knot of Rust
29	55%	50%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			1 Gil	Knot of Rust	Ivory Pole	≤ 2 Gil	Knot of Rust
30	55%	40%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			1 Gil	Knot of Rust	Morning Star	≤ 2 Gil	Knot of Rust
31	65%	70%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Common	Rare
			1 Gil	Knot of Rust	Ether	≤ 2 Gil	Megalixir	Knot of Rust
32	55%	50%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			1 Gil	Knot of Rust	Ame-no-Murakumo	≤ 2 Gil	Knot of Rust

Abyssal - North[]

Zodiac

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Gil	Normal Treasure		Diamond Armlet Treasure
104	70%	80%	3 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Quasimodo Boots	Scathe Mote	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (B)
105[note 1]	10%	0%	N/A	Ribbon
106	70%	80%	3 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Opal Ring	Icecloud Arrows	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
107	70%	80%	3 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Hermes Sandals	Elixir	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
108	70%	80%	3 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Bubble Belt	Dark Shot	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
109[note 1]	10%	0%	N/A	Wither
110	70%	80%	3 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Germinas Boots	Scathe Mote	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (B)
111	70%	80%	3 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Sash	Holy Mote	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (B)
112	70%	80%	3 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Ruby Ring	Dark Matter	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)

Original

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Normal Treasure			Diamond Armlet Treasure
33	50%	60%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			1 Gil	Knot of Rust	Crown of Laurels	≤ 2 Gil	Knot of Rust
34	50%	50%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			1 Gil	Knot of Rust	Ether	≤ 2 Gil	Knot of Rust
35[note 1]	50%	0%	Gil	Item		Gil	Common	Rare
			N/A	Ribbon		N/A	Dark Matter	Knot of Rust
36	50%	60%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			1	Knot of Rust	Zwill Crossblade	≤ 2	Knot of Rust
37	50%	60%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			1 Gil	Knot of Rust	Antares	≤ 2 Gil	Knot of Rust
38[note 1]	45%	0%	Gil	Item		Gil	Common	Rare
			N/A	Lordly Robes		N/A	Dark Matter	Knot of Rust

Abyssal - South[]

Zodiac

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Gil	Normal Treasure		Diamond Armlet Treasure
113	40%	97%	3 gil	Knot of Rust		Common	Rare
						Knot of Rust	Baltoro's Seed
114	40%	97%	3 gil	Knot of Rust		Common	Rare
						Knot of Rust	Baltoro's Seed
115	40%	97%	3 gil	Knot of Rust		Common	Rare
						Knot of Rust	Baltoro's Seed
116[note 1]	100%	0%	N/A	Megalixir
117	2%	80%	3 gil	Knot of Rust		Common	Rare
						Knot of Rust	Great Trango
118	40%	97%	3 gil	Knot of Rust		Common	Rare
						Knot of Rust	Baltoro's Seed
119	40%	97%	3 gil	Knot of Rust		Common	Rare
						Knot of Rust	Baltoro's Seed
120	40%	97%	3 gil	Knot of Rust		Common	Rare
						Knot of Rust	Baltoro's Seed
121	40%	97%	3 gil	Knot of Rust		Common	Rare
						Knot of Rust	Baltoro's Seed

Original

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Normal Treasure			Diamond Armlet Treasure
39[note 1]	50%	0%	Gil	Item		Gil	Item
			N/A	Dueling Mask		N/A	Knot of Rust
40	50%	50%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			1 Gil	Knot of Rust	Aegis Shield	≤ 2 Gil	Knot of Rust
41	50%	50%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			1 Gil	Knot of Rust	White Mask	≤ 3,000 Gil	Knot of Rust
42	50%	50%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			1 Gil	Knot of Rust	Black Robes	≤ 2 Gil	Knot of Rust
43	50%	50%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			1 Gil	Knot of Rust	Deathbringer	≤ 2 Gil	Knot of Rust
44	65%	50%	Gil	Item		Gil	Item
			≤ 200 Gil	Knot of Rust		≤ 500 Gil	Knot of Rust
45[note 1]	50%	0%	Gil	Item		Gil	Item
			N/A	Circlet		N/A	Knot of Rust

Quests[]

Completing Subterra[]

It is recommended to have strong weapons, armor, and accessories that guard against Confuse.

It is useful to stock up on items, especially Vaccines (Serum in Zodiac versions), Phoenix Downs, Antidotes, and Eye Drops just in case a Ribbon is not available. Gambits for Arise, Steal, and Curaja are also useful. The Sight Unseeing Technick works against the frogs and mistmares in the middle portion, which can be useful as the enemies are intended to swarm the player.

It is strongly advised not to equip the Diamond Armlet while searching treasures in Penumbra in the original version, as it will turn the treasures into a Knots of Rust. Many treasures can be only one item, however, so it does not matter if the Diamond Armlet is equipped, and there is a treasure in the middle of the southern portion of Umbra that is a Megalixir, but only if the Diamond Armlet is equipped. The treasures that always contain good equipment have low spawn rates of 30% per entry and will never respawn. If the treasure turns out to be gil, it is only 1 gil, or 2 gil with the Diamond Armlet equipped.

In the Zodiac versions, the treasures are completely different, and the player does not need to worry about the Diamond Armlet. There are may good treasures to be found here, notable among them the Ribbon and Nihopalaoa accessories, and the Wither Technick.

The player needs to collect Black Orbs and place them in the pedestals in rooms in every corner to make the next level available (see here for the number of orbs needed per pedestal). The Phoenix can be fought at any time. It is not required to light up all the rooms to fight Phoenix, but it is recommended. The Massive Black Orbs found in certain rooms make obtaining the required number of orbs easier. If a Black Orb is left alone, it will join the Massive Black Orb, but adds to the Massive Black Orb threefold, thus quickly compounding. In addition to this map, there can also be a Massive Black Orb in Umbra in the room with the Magick Pot. The Massive Black Orbs are in pre-designated areas, but only one Massive Black Orb spawns per floor.

After lighting up the pedestals in the Abyssal floor, a new destination appears at the Dais of Ascendance. If the Phoenix has not yet been defeated, the player is prevented from reaching the final area by a "mysterious force", and returned to the First Ascent. If the Phoenix has been defeated, the mysterious force disappears and allows the player to access a new floor, which contains the Hunt mark Shadowseer if the bill has already been accepted from Montblanc.

This floor is only accessible preceding the Shadowseer Elite Mark. After the hunt is completed, the player cannot return to Hell's Challenge.

Hunts[]

Ixion is an Elite Mark found in the Penumbra-Interior area. The hunt becomes available after the events in the Pharos. It is petitioned by Whitecap Wench at Balfonheim Port (Quayside Court - The Whitecap). Ixion can be found on any of the three floors. The lift must be coming down from the first floor and if there are other monsters around, the player should take the lift back up to the first floor and try again until there are no enemies around. After running around the circle for a while Ixion will show up.

The Shadowseer is an Elite Mark found in the Unknown area of Subterra after placing all the black orbs in the Penumbra, Umbra and Abyssal areas. The hunt becomes available after the events in Pharos. After losing a certain amount of HP, Shadowseer will summon Pandaemonium and put up two palings, becoming invincible. Killing Pandaemonium will drop the palings, allowing the party to injure it until it summons the Slyt. The Shadowseer will repeat this with the other Pharos bosses (Fenrir and Phoenix), at which point it will lament that it is out of creatures to summon. The hunt is petitioned by Montblanc in Rabanastre.

Rare Game[]

Vagrant Soul has a 25% chance of appearing in the Subterra, in the room behind the ancient door in the northwest section of the Abyssal, after the Shadowseer has been defeated. It can be found in the large chamber behind the ancient door at the end of the hallway behind the fool's façade in the eastern room of the northwest section.

To spawn Luxollid, the player must kill the Vagrant Soul, and then head to Umbra-South without saving or leaving the Subterra.

Enemies[]

• Magick Pot
• Bune
• Dead Bones
• Zombie Warlock
• Reaver
• High Reaver
• Abaddon
• Bull Abaddon
• Mistmare
• Necrofiend
• Nightwalker
• Dragon Lich
• Vagrant Soul (Rare - appears after Shadowseer is defeated)
• Luxollid (Rare - appears after Vagrant Soul is defeated)
• Phoenix (Optional Boss)
• Ixion (Elite Mark)
• Shadowseer (Elite Mark - appears after Phoenix is defeated)

Musical themes[]

"Ashe's Theme" plays when reaching the Pharos as well as being the location theme for the Subterra.

In The Zodiac Age version, it is "Gloom" (暗影, An'ei?), a new theme composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto. Upon entering Hell's Challenge however, the music played is "Ashe's Theme".

Gallery[]

Etymology[]

Subterra comes from the word "subterranean", "sub" meaning under and "terra" originating from the Latin word for Earth.

Penumbra means a space of partial illumination between the perfect shadow on all sides and the full light.

[view · edit · purge]Umbra means "shadow" in Latin.

Abyssal means "of or like an abyss; immeasurable; unfathomable."

Notes[]