Your opinions on how the Final Boss was handled. *Major spoilers inside*

So I was spoiled that the final boss is Lahbrea instead of Gaius. Though I suppose that makes sense seeing as how Lahbrea feels more like a villain that pulls strings as Gaius is more of a "take action" type. But you do fight Gaius as the 3rd to final boss, followed by Ultima Weapon and then Lahbrea.

So how do you feel about this Final Boss, as well as the bosses leading up to it, as opposed to Nael Van Darnus? Was it exciting or more disappointing to you? Is there anything you wish was different?

My only real complaint is that Gaius and Ultima Weapon look like final bosses. Lahbrea still is just a guy in a black robe and a mask. I was hoping he'd have some form-change that was bigger and more exciting, similar to how Nael Van Darnus appeared in his second form (only for those crystal wings to just disappear and he's his normal self again, save for a pink aura).

Just something more epic-looking than someone who looks like another Cultist enemy with better battle music.

I loved it, i was thinking while fighting the first Ultima form, is that it? Oh well......... Next form, next boss :O it was great. And the ending made me forget that i was actually playing a MMO. It felled like a great single player ending.

Ulitma weapon, phase 2 was the final boss imo.

Lahabrea was basically the "True King Allant" final boss. It was a symbolic fight, not an actual one.

Ultima weapon, both phases took several minutes per fight and were actually somewhat challenging.

Yeah, I definitely consider Ultima Weapon the final boss of this story arc. Lahabrea is more like a prelude of what's to come.

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Originally Posted by Hachiko

Ulitma weapon, phase 2 was the final boss imo.

Lahabrea was basically the "True King Allant" final boss. It was a symbolic fight, not an actual one.

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This, this, this. Once you can clear the Weapon, it's easy. You're just fighting Lahabrea for some storyline resolution in that regard.

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Originally Posted by Kagato

Just something more epic-looking than someone who looks like another Cultist enemy with better battle music.

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This is just the first part of the story. The real fun I think starts with Zodiark.

I won't deny that the final story sequences appear to be handled expertly. Nero -> Gaius -> Ultima Weapon -> Lahbrea is just amazing.

I also thought Ultima Weapon was the final boss and Lahabrea just the closure one.

I didn't even need to tank Lahabrea he was so easy, so I thought it was nice icing on the cake.

The ending was about stopping Gaius using Ultima to take over Eorzea. Lahabrea's fight was more about saving Thancred from his hold and an intro to the next story line of the Ascians and the awakening. Do not look at Lahabrea as a final boss. He is the next chapter to the continuation of the story.

Lahabrea fight was more about slapping the darkness out of Thancred than anything. So in that sense ya, the true final boss of "vanilla" XIV is Ultima Weapon. I'm sure a time will come when we face off against Lahabrea again, or whatever god he resurrects.

The story was amazing though. I never did suspect they'd do that with Thancred. @.@

Just beat it earlier, it was amazing. I'd def consider Ultima Weapon the actual boss though, rather than Lahabrea or w/e his name is.

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Originally Posted by Vilhem

Lahabrea fight was more about slapping the darkness out of Thancred than anything. So in that sense ya, the true final boss of "vanilla" XIV is Ultima Weapon. I'm sure a time will come when we face off against Lahabrea again, or whatever god he resurrects.

The story was amazing though. I never did suspect they'd do that with Thancred. @.@

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My heart shattered into a thousand tiny pieces.... and so did Minfilia's lol. I sense something between them. ^_^

Well the game is not over, Expansions that come with the patches will expand on the story. Still waiting on the story through the Crystal Tower and Great Labyrinth of Bahamut.

You are correct that Ultima Weapon is indeed the final boss. I feel Lahabrea is just a teaser, a continuation of the story leading to the expansion. A necessary component, unless you wish whats-his-name possessed guy never get released. If you watched the final scenes after the credit rolls, it makes sense it was necessary for Lahabrea to fight the players so he can gauge Hydaelyn's influence... perhaps her power is weakening.

I said it a while ago that the garleans weren't the REAL threat, tho they were A threat.. Now what the garleans gonna do without the black wolf and his lackeys. Ultima weapon/Gaius were the final boss of 2.0 (1.3) now we get to wait to see who the final boss of 2.1 (1.4) is :D

Anyone got a vid of Ultima Weapon's Ultima spell? My group decided not to try it out, but I really want to see that spell in action :(

Did anyone else notice one of the Ascian's (to the right of Lahabrea) had Lightning's hair, albeit in a shade of blue, in that scene with the lot of them? I feel like I was the only one to catch it.

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Originally Posted by Adaros

Did anyone else notice one of the Ascian's (to the right of Lahabrea) had Lightning's hair, albeit in a shade of blue, in that scene with the lot of them? I feel like I was the only one to catch it.

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You are not the only one who noticed it, this is definitely Lightning.

I find there's a lot more challenge in 4 mans than 8 mans :/

Imagine an ifrit hardmode 4 man that worked exactly the same way (you wouldn't get to have an extra paladin for stunning though). Can anyone else stun so well?

Anyway, if the healer goes down, that's it pretty much. Time to wipe and start over. Ifrit 8 man just feels like "okay, so we have a backup tank and backup healer. (Obviously it takes more than one healer to heal, but if one goes down, the other can raise them and get them back on their feet).

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Originally Posted by HiirNoivl

My heart shattered into a thousand tiny pieces.... and so did Minfilia's lol. I sense something between them. ^_^

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She has a soft spot for him naturally, since he did take care of her when all the shenanigans with Warburton and the parade went down. Other than that...ehh...maybe he's taken her to bed out of the womanizing part of him? >_>

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Originally Posted by Atamos

You are not the only one who noticed it, this is definitely Lightning.

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Is there a way to watch it again?..

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Originally Posted by Superlol

Is there a way to watch it again?..

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Sure, go to the INN, there's a book where you can watch the cutscenes of the game.

I said it before, and i will say it again, The PRAETORIAN should have been the very first hard mode 8 man instance.

I should be farming that for mythology tokens.

Odin, behemoth, the garleon empire all insulting experiences. They dont have their proper respect because of how square enix decided to design the encounters.

Personally I can't wait to see how things tie together between Zodiark and the Ascians, Bahamut, and Odin. The Empire isn't a resolved threat either; they've just been slowed down a bit again, like what happened after Silvertear Falls.

If Gaius is really dead (which I hope he isn't) I'd be a little disappointed, as I think he kinda went down like some insignificant passerby. He seemed to have these grand plans and could have laid to waste Eorzea with the Ultima Weapon, but it seemed the Ascians had different plans and seemed to easily manipulate him. That's probably the only thing I don't like the story so far.

Ok, so I want to bring up a few things;

First ending was totally epic, and I have no complaints.

2nd; There's so much going on, it's easy to forget about a few things
A) Ailesei (or however you spell it) just up and walks out half way into the story, and never comes back, suspicious and I have a feeling when we get to the Coil more is revealed.
B) Nero just dissapears when the lights go out, he's not dead!!
C) As was brought up, that's definitely lightning's hair/model at the end in blue, and there's a ton of speculation I could make, but just don't have the info yet. It's all quite interesting!!

Are you referring to Alisaile, Alphinaud's sister and Louisoix's granddaughter? Yes, apparently she said at some point during the game that she has "her own way of doing things". What that meant is anyone's guess. Btw, am I the only one here that thought Gaius was just a horrible Darth Vader reference? What I'd like to know is how the Ascians are going to summon Zodiark and what happened to Hydaelyn. So much stuff going on... That wasn't the end. That was hardly the beginning!

Story was great but I hate what they did with van Baelsar, he was a really cool character in 1.0, the kind of guy you loved to fear. In this storyline he's all about "having the strength of a ruler" and at the end of the day he dies a shitty death after having been used by Ascians... quite the fall from grace. Compared to how great the Nael fight was in 1.0, I thought the fight with him on that lame Metal Gear Solid elevator was nothing if not unimpressive.

I was also disappointed that Thancred became nothing more than a vessel, he was supposed to be a badass :/

Spoiler for anyone who didn't sit through the end credits:

Gaius is not dead.

Also, neither is Lahabrea (note spelling).

What you defeated was the shadow of an Ascian, who simply picked up another body afterwards. Gaius is not down, nor is the Empire, so it still stands as a boogeyman. There are more legati to deal with, more challenges to come. Ishgard is not open; Ala Mhigo is not free. We've got the rumblings of Behemoth in his labyrinth, and Zodiark is the horizon. Three more Primals to come. We are far, far, far from the "Final Boss."

Because the final boss is Desco, and I've not seen her yet.

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Originally Posted by Nilheim

I was also disappointed that Thancred became nothing more than a vessel, he was supposed to be a badass :/

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I felt they explained this rather well. He just fell into the trap of driving himself too hard, and trying to do too much on his own. Even Badasses are vulnerable when they have depleted most of their reserves.

On the Lahabrea point, it felt more like one of those plot battles where the big bad either just stomps you, or just decides you are not worth his trouble at the moment. Would he of liked to keep Thancred? You bet. However, Thancred likely has no impact on Lahabrea and the Ascian's true goal so could let go of the perk to keep the true goal on course. Which was teased in the final cutscenes of the story of the current content.

Ok, context!

Who is this Desco that you speak of..?

Nero was an appetizer, Gaius was the salad, Ultima was the main course, and Lahabrea was dessert. nuff said.

The final fight was reminiscent to me of the final confrontation between cloud and sephiroth in ff vii, battle starts omni slash gg story over.

If you have played many JRPGs in the past, from NES times until today you would have noticed that many of these have a final-final boss that is much easier than the actual final boss.
That's just how Japanese story authors like it :)

But remember, this is only the end of one Arc, next one starts basically right after the credits.

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Originally Posted by Ryuni

If you have played many JRPGs in the past, from NES times until today you would have noticed that many of these have a final-final boss that is much easier than the actual final boss.
That's just how Japanese story authors like it :)

But remember, this is only the end of one Arc, next one starts basically right after the credits.

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i am still waiting for the hidden boss who is strongest among all boss. May be it is chimera or titan.