Can I get some advice from someone who beat the game?

[Omallis]

I've been following this guide https://www.cavesofnarshe.com/ff6/walkthrough.php?chapter=1-2

and it's messing with my head because it says in the caves of narshe to leave the chest with the phoenix down alone because it turns into a guard bracelet later in the game. My friend told me to just grab every chest I see like in any RPG but this guide is implying that items change after a certain point in game and I can't find any other guides to confirm this. It's honestly keeping me from advancing in the game because Idk if I'm missing out or screwing myself over here.

This paragraph in particular:

"There are two chests here. Feel free to grab the left one; it contains a Sleeping Bag. Later it turns into an Elixir, which is much better, but you can steal them in large quantities by then so there's no need to wait. It'd be best to leave the right chest alone; while the Phoenix Down it now contains is nice, the RelicGuard Bracelet Relic it transforms into later will be much nicer."


Can someone clear this up for me please?

[Stick]

The phoenix down in the Narshe mines does indeed become a guard bracelet in the World of Ruin (the final act of the game).

https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Narshe_Mines#Items

Generally speaking, I'd say your friend is right, but obviously not every rpg is the same. Another example, iirc, would be the original version of FFXII. The only way to get the strongest spear in that game was to leave a few certain chests alone, and there was no way of knowing which ones without a guide. Final Fantasy's just cheeky like that sometimes.

[Omallis]

Originally posted by Stick:

The phoenix down in the Narshe mines does indeed become a guard bracelet in the World of Ruin (the final act of the game).

https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Narshe_Mines#Items

Generally speaking, I'd say your friend is right, but obviously not every rpg is the same. Another example, iirc, would be the original version of FFXII. The only way to get the strongest spear in that game was to leave a few certain chests alone, and there was no way of knowing which ones without a guide. Final Fantasy's just cheeky like that sometimes.

Thanks so much for the reply and confirming this. Yeah some of the secrets in FF games are just so ridiculous idk how anyone is supposed to find this stuff without a guide lmao. I totally missed Knights of the Round table my first time playing FF7 and couldn't beat the game because I got stuck on Sephiroth lol.


Btw do you have any tips or advice for me going into FF6? I'm coming from 7 so idk if there's any mechanics unique to 6 I should be keeping an eye out for. I know that apparently summons increase specific stats on the people who equip them and allows them to learn some spells, but I read somewhere that the stat gains are insignificant and the most important thing is gear. Got any wisdom to share?