Penance is Final Fantasy X’s strongest boss and you surely have your work cut out for you if you want to beat it. It is an optional super boss fight that you can complete as a way of challenging yourself or to 100% the game.
In this article, we will show you how to encounter and, eventually, how to beat Penance in Final Fantasy X.
Unlocking Penance
Much like other optional boss fights in most Final Fantasy games, players must first undergo a series of trials or, at the very least, do something first before they can actually head into battle. As for Final Fantasy X’s Penance, you must first defeat all eight of the Dark Aeons that spawn across Spira. Take note that these Dark Aeon fights are challenging in their own right.
After beating all eight Dark Aeons, Penance should spawn in the Calm Lands. All you have to do now is to confront it to start the arduous battle.
How to Beat Penance
Preparation
Again, Penance is perhaps the toughest fight in all of Final Fantasy X. This guy is so tough that even the game’s final boss feels like a common enemy compared to it. That said, you better prepare as if your life depended on it before you actually start the fight. First, ensure that your characters are well-equipped. If possible, unlock first the ultimate weapons for each character.
Secondly, try filling out the grid sphere as much as you can. You should focus on increasing their Strength, Defense, and Magic Defense stats. You should also make sure that they have a high Luck stat, as this will help them to avoid being hit by Penance’s attacks. You’d want to head into this fight the strongest you can. Believe us, you need it.
Lastly, make sure that you are filled to the brim with helpful restorative items, such as Potions, Hi-Potions, Ethers, and Mega-Potions. The battle against Penance is long and extremely hard, so make sure that you are prepared both in-game and personally.
The Battle
After doing all that and once you feel like you are prepared to take the ultimate challenge on, proceed with the fight against Penance. As mentioned above, Penance will be waiting for you in the Calm Lands. Penance has a lot of health and tricks up its sleeves.
Moreover, it hits very hard. It has a variety of powerful attacks that can easily overwhelm your whole party, such as Judgement Day, so you need to be extra careful.
In our experience, we found out that the best approach to defeating Penance is to utilize a combination of physical and magical attacks. Always go for your strongest attacks, while also constantly topping up your characters with restorative spells and items.
It is also worth mentioning that Penance love to cast buffs on itself every now and then, so make sure that you have something to dispel it. Penance hits like a truck already without it, to begin with.
Be patient and remain tactical with your commands. Penance is a very challenging boss, but it is not impossible to beat. With the right strategy and preparation, you can defeat Penance and claim your victory. Just do your best to stay atop of your game for as long as possible and eventually, this powerful creature should go down.
When Things Feel Dire…Go to Yojimbo
If you have a lot of Gil to spare, you can try using Yojimbo if you want. This summon hits hard relative to the amount of Gil you are willing to give him. As a matter of fact, if you are feeling particularly lucky, you can also try using his Zanmato ability. It is a powerful attack that can instantly kill any enemy albeit in a low probability, including Penance itself.
That being said, do not rely on him too much. We advise only using Yojimbo on desperate occasions or when you feel confident about how the fight is going.
