September 2025 Test Build

Test build time! This one covers the rest of Lindblum, the Underworld, and the Life Shrine. The airship is attained at the end of the test build, but you won't be able to fly it yourself quite yet! Estimated level to reach at the end of the test build with casual play is 21-22, and 23-24 if you are doing all content and fighting everything.

New Characters:
Brindle (optional)
Jasmine

New Locations (Ordered):
Temple of Visions
Magic Library
Surgate
Surgate Woodlands
Rebel Headquarters
Lindblum Armory (optional)
Mount Koltz
Cave to the Underworld
Brindle's Hovel (optional)
Balmag

Lucid Depths

Obsidian Hollow (optional)
Vos
Living Cavern (optional)
Valefor Fortress
Jachol Cave (optional)
Tomra Castle

Crystalline Weald
The Fey Spire
Life Shrine


New Camp NPCs:
Brindle (optional)


New Marks:
Beyonder (Tomra Castle)

Dark Elf (Vos)
Ixion (Vos)

Nidhogg (Tomra Castle)
Scarmiglione (Vos)

New Nethicite:
Asura
Ixion
Titan

New Abilities:

Armor Break (Level 20, Darius)
Catoblepas - Demon Eye (Summon, Vera)
Big Guard (Blue Magic, Ami)
Bio (Level 20, Oalston)
Break (Level 22, Oalston)
Death (Level 24, Laka)
Double Slash (Level 22, Siegfried)
Dusk Requiem (Level 20, Jasmine)
Exit (Level 22, Elina)
Golem - Earthen Wall (Summon, Vera)
Katon (Level 15, Nobumasa)
Lamia's Mirror (3 Artifacts, Bosche)
Mirror Strike (Level 20, Siegfried)
Raijin (Level 24, Nobumasa)
Rasp (Level 20, Laka)
Retort (Level 24, Siegfried)
Shockwave (Level 20, Vahn)
Shokuto (Level 20, Nobumasa)
Spirit Break (Level 20, Darius)

New Activities:
1. Recruiting Brindle: He can either be recruited as a party member with the most straight forward abilities in the game, or as a camp blacksmith who will slowly be able to make stronger axes, blunt weapons, and swords over time. There is no significant advantage to taking him as a party member or camp NPC, so just go with your personal preference!

Fixes and Odds & Ends:
1. Recoloured Ramuh's summon animation to match his field sprite.

2. Red Cap and Red Jacket were both buffed and now grant more magic.

3. Oalston's tier 2 spells (Fira, Blizzara, Thundara) have had their damage increased so that, when cast on multiple targets, the total damage per target after dispersal is higher and more impactful than it was previously.

4. Reworked cost of Ami's current blue magic spells again to be better balanced with her maximum MP in the level 10-20 range.

5. Changed a lot of bosses to be immune to gravity (ie. Demi spell) because they previously were not, which was an oversight on my part. Some bosses are still afftected by it, so don't be afraid to experiment.

6. The camp scene changes when you're in the Underworld. Check it out!
7. Hidden passages in castles are now harder to spot (but definitely not impossible).
8. Kupo Nut renamed to Kumoggo's Jewel.
9. Buffed Atomos, Lucavi, Maduin, Valefor, and Vertumnus nethicite slightly.
10. Updated dialogue for all NPCs across Lindblum who previously mentioned the rebellion to mention how it is now over after the party successfully ends the rebellion.
11. Changed animation for Bosche's Mystery Box artifact because original animation's sound effects were causing speakers to pop and had poor audio quality.
12. Changed "R. Hand" to "Weapon" and "L. Hand" to "Shield" on the equip screen so that dual-wielding characters don't have two right hands.

13. Characters have a new status animation over their head when confused. 

14. Edited Nobumasa's battle sprites. He used to display a weapon attack animation (swinging his arm) when using a ninja ability. He will now correctly raise his hands as if casting a spell.
15. Edited Vera's left/right-facing field sprites slightly in the "chin" area to better match the style of other female sprites.

16. Decreased power of Bio from both Oalston and enemies as it was dealing a lot more damage than I was wanting it to at times.
17. Changed sound effect of using item and magic in menu to be consistent/identical.
18. Added fourteen new window skins (31 to 44 in the settings menu).

Next test build will probably be in October, probably the second half of the month. It should cover the rest of Gaia up to and including the Water Shrine revisit.