Uploaded February 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Final Fantasy IV: Ultima is a hack by 8-bit fan that aims to present a more expansive version of the classic. New weapons, spells, bosses, and a modified overworld are just a few of the changes on tap.
The latest version of the patch can always be found here:
romhacking.net/hacks/4134
Version being played: 21.5
Next up on the optional boss gauntlet is Shinryu who's located at Mt. Heavensward.
Before engaging the dragon, everyone NEEDS thunder resist gear. Plenty of options such as armor pieces from the Dragon set, Protect Rings, Gold Hairpins, armor pieces from the Diamond set, and so on. Beyond that, a way to setup Wall on someone so Rydia or Palom can bounce spells off of them isn't a bad idea either considering how the end of the fight can play out.
That being said, Shinryu opens the fight with one of its two signature nukes, Supernova. This hits everyone and reduces their hp to single digits, similar to what the Gale spell does.
After the opening blast, you need to get everyone healed. A Cure 4 or salve'd X-Potion would be ideal, but don't feel bad if you need to pop an All-Potion for this. Shinryu Vitalizes itself while pondering if you're wasting its time. On its next turn, it'll do two Lightning Flashes back to back, meaning you can easily lose two characters if you don't heal in time.
Once that's all done, it's a pretty standard fight. Strong physicals, Lightning Flash counters, and sometimes using said Lightning Flash or even AoE Thunder three times in a row.
Two things to keep in mind...first, when Shinryu shakes, everyone needs to get fully healed. On its next turn, it'll hit the party with Whirlwind, doing 2000+ damage to them.
Secondly...remember when I said bringing a way to setup Wall on anyone to bounce spells off of? When Shinryu starts to get low on health, it'll sneakily change its counter from Lightning Flash to X's Nova Strike...or at least that's what I envision when Shinryu uses its second signature nuke, Atomic Ray. If you don't stack any defensive buffs? Say hello to a 6k bitchslap to everyone, meaning Yang's probably the only one who can feasibly survive the attack at my levels.
Strategy for this fight is to have two good damage dealers on tap. DK Cecil with the Caladbolg and Kain were my picks. Yang can try to do some ok damage, but he's really just here to dispense items and tank with his absurdly high hp total.
As for Edward & Rydia, they are the ones keeping the team afloat with AoE healing. When it's not required, Edward is using salve'd Elf Cloaks to bolster the team's defenses while Rydia can slip in a cast of Nuke.
Once the dragon falls (and thank christ Kain ended it when he did, heh), you get a ton of rewards.
On the weapon side of things, the Illumina Sword is basically the holy counterpart to the Caladbolg, meaning P.Cecil and Edward are the only two who can use it. Boosts all stats except agility by 15, holy elemental, inflicts blind & stun, and is effective on reptiles, spirits, mages, and zombies.
As for the rest of the rewards? Spells!
Rosa's Pray command now heals the party for close to 200 hp each time the effect activates.
P. Cecil gets Mighty Guard (basically Big Guard, but now the heal attached to it is quite good with lots of willpower equipment).
Kain learns Highwind, a very strong wind AoE nuke.
Rosa & Porom learn Cure 5, letting them keep up with the healing demands the optional bosses require as of late.
Rydia & Palom learn Flare, an upgrade to the Nuke spell.
DK Cecil & Rydia totally megaman Shinryu's own Supernova move for themselves.
The last reward comes from Cecil's King on the Lunar Whale. He still does the whole changing Cecil from his light to dark side and vice versa, but he now hands over a Lunarian Mirror each time you do this, allowing Cecil to change into his light or dark side without returning to the ship to do so. Nice little QoL here I have to say.
Another dragon will get dropped next time.
Final Fantasy IV: Ultima is a hack by 8-bit fan that aims to present a more expansive version of the classic. New weapons, spells, bosses, and a modified overworld are just a few of the changes on tap.
The latest version of the patch can always be found here:
romhacking.net/hacks/4134
Version being played: 21.5
Next up on the optional boss gauntlet is Shinryu who's located at Mt. Heavensward.
Before engaging the dragon, everyone NEEDS thunder resist gear. Plenty of options such as armor pieces from the Dragon set, Protect Rings, Gold Hairpins, armor pieces from the Diamond set, and so on. Beyond that, a way to setup Wall on someone so Rydia or Palom can bounce spells off of them isn't a bad idea either considering how the end of the fight can play out.
That being said, Shinryu opens the fight with one of its two signature nukes, Supernova. This hits everyone and reduces their hp to single digits, similar to what the Gale spell does.
After the opening blast, you need to get everyone healed. A Cure 4 or salve'd X-Potion would be ideal, but don't feel bad if you need to pop an All-Potion for this. Shinryu Vitalizes itself while pondering if you're wasting its time. On its next turn, it'll do two Lightning Flashes back to back, meaning you can easily lose two characters if you don't heal in time.
Once that's all done, it's a pretty standard fight. Strong physicals, Lightning Flash counters, and sometimes using said Lightning Flash or even AoE Thunder three times in a row.
Two things to keep in mind...first, when Shinryu shakes, everyone needs to get fully healed. On its next turn, it'll hit the party with Whirlwind, doing 2000+ damage to them.
Secondly...remember when I said bringing a way to setup Wall on anyone to bounce spells off of? When Shinryu starts to get low on health, it'll sneakily change its counter from Lightning Flash to X's Nova Strike...or at least that's what I envision when Shinryu uses its second signature nuke, Atomic Ray. If you don't stack any defensive buffs? Say hello to a 6k bitchslap to everyone, meaning Yang's probably the only one who can feasibly survive the attack at my levels.
Strategy for this fight is to have two good damage dealers on tap. DK Cecil with the Caladbolg and Kain were my picks. Yang can try to do some ok damage, but he's really just here to dispense items and tank with his absurdly high hp total.
As for Edward & Rydia, they are the ones keeping the team afloat with AoE healing. When it's not required, Edward is using salve'd Elf Cloaks to bolster the team's defenses while Rydia can slip in a cast of Nuke.
Once the dragon falls (and thank christ Kain ended it when he did, heh), you get a ton of rewards.
On the weapon side of things, the Illumina Sword is basically the holy counterpart to the Caladbolg, meaning P.Cecil and Edward are the only two who can use it. Boosts all stats except agility by 15, holy elemental, inflicts blind & stun, and is effective on reptiles, spirits, mages, and zombies.
As for the rest of the rewards? Spells!
Rosa's Pray command now heals the party for close to 200 hp each time the effect activates.
P. Cecil gets Mighty Guard (basically Big Guard, but now the heal attached to it is quite good with lots of willpower equipment).
Kain learns Highwind, a very strong wind AoE nuke.
Rosa & Porom learn Cure 5, letting them keep up with the healing demands the optional bosses require as of late.
Rydia & Palom learn Flare, an upgrade to the Nuke spell.
DK Cecil & Rydia totally megaman Shinryu's own Supernova move for themselves.
The last reward comes from Cecil's King on the Lunar Whale. He still does the whole changing Cecil from his light to dark side and vice versa, but he now hands over a Lunarian Mirror each time you do this, allowing Cecil to change into his light or dark side without returning to the ship to do so. Nice little QoL here I have to say.
Another dragon will get dropped next time.
