Gamer Corner Guides

Limited encounters never appear as random encounters; bosses are involved in important plot fights; special bosses and the final bosses are specifically called out as well; super bosses represent the greatest challenge in the game; Battle Square encounters only appear in the Battle Square; chocobo encounters only appear in certain areas when using a Chocobo Lure and can be caught

The type of terrain where this encounter may be found

There are several encounter tables in a given area, each with its own encounters; you have a chance to fight an encounter of any given type, and this chance can be modified by certain materia; if no special encounter type is chosen, a Normal Battle will be fought; note that while this usually matches the encounter type, there are exceptions to this rule (e.g., a Back Attack in a Normal Battle slot or vice-versa); Chocobo Lure battles are only fought while on chocobo tracks with a Chocobo Lure materia equipped; only one Mystery Ninja encounter is available at any given time, based on the party's level, and only if Yuffie has not joined the party

In a pincer attack, your party is surrounded; in a side attack, your party surrounds the enemies; in a back attack, the enemy attacks from behind

Whether pre-emptive strikes are possible in this encounter; pre-emptive strikes are only possible during normal battles, and are disabled during any set encounter on a map with no random encounters, even if the encounter would normally allow them; there are no pre-emptive strikes in the battle square

The specific monsters that appear in this encounter; a dagger (†) indicates that one or more of the marked monsters have cover, meaning that they cannot be attacked until certain monsters in closer rows have been defeated