For my first guide, I?d like to extend my story and experience of the Rank 3 dragon fight. Each nation has its own build up to the fight. Make sure that you have completed each portion leading up to it or you will not be let in and would have wasted a lot of walking time. Another thing to know about this mission, if you have completed this already, you can do this fight at ANY arena to help others. If you have not completed it, you have to fight the dragon that you are working towards. If you are all on the dragon part of the mission, only the people who did the mission line up to that fight can enter. So for instance, you killed the dragon in Giddeus, you can now do the fight in Fort Ghelsba or Palborough Mines. Or, if you are set to fight the dragon in Giddeus but someone who is in line to fight in Fort Ghelsba, that person can not help you until his/her dragon is dead.

Some basic jobs to bring to this fight would be a tank job(NIN, PLD, WAR) and a sleeper(RDM, BLM, BLU, BRD) Then fill in with some healing support and some damage dealers. Foods shouldn?t be needed for this fight as it should go pretty quickly. This is a level 25 capped fight, so make sure you bring the appropriate gear.

Enter the BCNM and then cast your buff spells(Protect, Shell, reraise items)Once rested, head into the doorway where the Eye and Dragon are waiting. Don?t attack yet. There is a little hill peak in the doorway. Have your sleeper stand there and sleep the dragon. Once the dragon is slept, focus on killing the eye. The eye casts black magic so mages should stand back and beware of sleepga. Once the eye is dead, you can take care of the dragon. The dragon has standard dragon type moves; Flame Breath, Poison Breath, Voidsong(dispel), and Chaos blade(Curse, very annoying) Having a Dragoon around to use his ability, Ancient Circle, will cause the dragon to become intimidated and lose an attack. Once he is dead, you get a new title(Dark Dragon Slayer) and are transported out of the arena. To complete this leg of the mission, speak to the respective NPC you talked to before heading out here. Like I mentioned before, your leg of the mission will be different than other people?s.

I?ve gone through this battle at least 8 times. I even did it with only 3 people (DRG, RDM, BLM) I went in as DRG and tanked. Preparing your strategy as a team is the key to these fights. As long as everyone knows and does their job, you will not fail at any mission.