FINAL FANTASY XII: Early Combat Preparations and Initial Gambits, from the Palace Approach to the Waterway Bosses

During Vaan's opening, visit the Sandsea on Migelo's errand and accept Tomaj's Rogue Tomato hunt. After defeating it in the Dalmasca Estersand, report back to Tomaj too. The Wild Saurian you may see in the desert is not a suitable early practice opponent. If combat wears you down, you can return to the save crystal at the Eastgate.

Listen to Dalan, then head to the Giza Plains. Speak to Masyua in the settlement to have Penelo join. Gather light in Jinn's Shadestone to make a Sunstone, then deliver it to Dalan. Once you have the Crescent Stone, enter the waterway through Storehouse 5.

Prepare Potions, Eye Drops, and Antidotes before entering the palace. You will also need protection against Blind and Poison in the waterway, so do not spend your entire budget on weapons.

If you want Vaan to handle healing before the palace, obtain both Cure and the White Magick 1 license. Buying the spell alone does not let you cast it. Purchasing these in advance is optional, but gives you a healing option during the infiltration.

Prioritize licenses for the weapons, armor, and magicks you can use now. Make your current possessions usable before rushing toward equipment you do not own. HP increases are another option if you have LP to spare.

Gambit Plus expands your available slots. While slots are limited, start with healing and attacks, handling revival and status cures manually.

If you want to obtain the Zodiac Spear from the Necrohol of Nabudis later, leave unopened the treasure in front of Dalan's house and the eastern of the two adjacent treasures at the southeastern end of the palace's Cellar Stores. In the original version, opening certain chests removes that opportunity in Nabudis. Opening them does not make the Zodiac Spear completely unobtainable.

After leaving the palace and gaining Balthier and Fran, you learn to edit gambits in the waterway. With their initial equipment, one example is to have Vaan select enemies, Balthier attack, and Fran heal.

Do not send Vaan too far ahead; fight where the others can join in. Against several enemies, focus on the same target and reduce their numbers one at a time.

For Fran, put “Ally: HP < 70% → Cure” above “Foe: nearest visible → Attack.” This is a basic healing-first example.

For Balthier, place “Foe: nearest visible → Attack” below “Foe: party leader's target → Attack.” He can then attack even when the leader has not selected a target. If the upper line alone does nothing, check Vaan's target selection.

A healing line below an attack line may not run while enemies are present. Put combat healing higher up, and distinguish it from a setup meant for after combat.

When MP runs out or an emergency occurs, order a Potion manually. Do not rely solely on magick; supplement it while watching HP, MP, and remaining items.

Use Fire on the Flans and defeat them one at a time. While Fran attacks, use Vaan to supplement healing, and cure Blind with Eye Drops.

Against Firemane, prioritize HP recovery and curing Poison. If you have no Antidote line, use one manually, and watch your healer's MP too.

Before moving on, check the items and licenses you own, healing-line priority, the leader's target selection, and items for MP shortages. Add settings gradually, watching how the party acts in the waterway.