In Final Fantasy XV, weapons play a crucial role in combat effectiveness, and one of the best weapons you can acquire early on is the Ultimate Blade. This guide will show you how to obtain it as early as the start of Chapter 3, giving you a significant edge in battles. With an impressive attack power of 364, this weapon is essentially an endgame sword that can be accessed far ahead of its intended progression, allowing you to dominate enemies with ease.

This process involves upgrading Noctis’ starting weapon, the Engine Blade, through multiple steps. While it may seem like a lengthy process, it is straightforward if you follow the steps carefully. Let’s dive into the detailed step-by-step guide on how to get the Ultimate Blade as soon as possible.

Step 1: Initiate the Weapon Upgrade Quest (Chapter 2)

At the beginning of Chapter 2, head to Hammerhead and talk to Cid Sophiar. Cid will give you a quest to upgrade your Drain Lance, which you must complete before he provides the quest to enhance your Engine Blade. Once the Drain Lance upgrade is done, he will request a Rusted Bit to start the first Engine Blade upgrade.

Step 2: Find the Rusted Bit

The Rusted Bit is a common material scattered throughout the game, but the earliest one you can obtain is in Keycatrich Trench, the first dungeon and Royal Tomb you encounter in the game. Since this is a mandatory story location, you cannot miss it. However, the Rusted Bit can be easy to overlook, so make sure to grab it while progressing through the dungeon.

Once you have the Rusted Bit, return to Cid at Hammerhead and hand it over. This will upgrade your Engine Blade to Engine Blade II, increasing its attack power and stats.

Step 3: Obtain the Glass Gemstone (Chapter 3)

To proceed with the next upgrade, you need a Glass Gemstone, which only becomes available in Chapter 3. This item is found in Lestallum, located behind a food stall on the Main Street, between two parked cars. It appears as a blue sparkling item on the ground.

Optional Step: Boosting Item Drop Rate

Before handing over the Glass Gemstone to Cid, take a detour to the lookout area in Lestallum where people are eating during the day. If you visit at the right time, Ignis will learn a new recipe that grants a 50% boost to item drop rates. This will be useful in the final upgrade step, which involves farming a rare drop.

Once you have the Glass Gemstone, give it to Cid, but he will require some time to complete the upgrade. To advance time quickly, undertake a low-level Hunt at the Diner in Lestallum. This Hunt is straightforward and will help pass the time needed for Cid to finish the upgrade.

After completing the Hunt, return to the diner, hand in the quest, and stay overnight at the nearby caravan to force time progression. Upon waking up, you’ll receive a call from Cid, indicating that the upgrade is complete.

Now, head back to Hammerhead and collect your Engine Blade III, which has further improved stats.

Step 4: Farming the Sturdy Helix Horn for the Ultimate Blade

For the final upgrade, Cid will request a Sturdy Helix Horn, which is a rare drop from the Spiracorns in a Hunt called The Last Spiracorns. This Hunt is available in Lestallum’s Crow’s Nest Diner and takes place southwest of town.

Maximizing Drop Chances

Since the Sturdy Helix Horn is not a guaranteed drop, it’s highly recommended to eat the Ignis recipe that boosts item drop rate before starting the Hunt. If you don’t get the drop on your first attempt, you have two options:

• Save before the battle and reload until you obtain the drop.
• Complete the Hunt for EXP and Gil, then retry until you get it.

When fighting the Spiracorns, target their horns specifically to increase the chance of obtaining the Sturdy Helix Horn.

Step 5: Final Upgrade – The Ultimate Blade

With the Sturdy Helix Horn in hand, return to Cid at Hammerhead and give it to him. As before, he will need time to complete the upgrade.

To speed up time progression, repeat the same low-level Hunt method three times. Unlike before, you do not need to rest between these Hunts—simply complete them back-to-back as quickly as possible.

Once you’ve finished the third Hunt, rest at the Hammerhead Caravan for a night. By morning, you will receive a final call from Cid, confirming that the Ultimate Blade is ready.

Head over to Cid, and he will present you with the Ultimate Blade, an incredibly powerful weapon that will carry you through the majority of the game.

Step 6: Enjoy Your New Power

With the Ultimate Blade in hand, battles become significantly easier. The high attack power allows you to breeze through most enemies effortlessly. However, if you prefer a challenge, you may choose to hold off on acquiring this weapon to maintain difficulty.

As a bonus, talking to Cid again after receiving the Ultimate Blade will trigger a short cutscene where he shares a bit of heartfelt backstory. Additionally, he will give you a special unique item as a token of appreciation.

Final Thoughts

The Ultimate Blade is one of the most powerful weapons you can acquire early in Final Fantasy XV, and the process to get it is relatively simple with the right strategy. If you follow the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll have an endgame weapon at the start of Chapter 3, making combat significantly easier.

However, if you enjoy a more challenging playthrough, you may want to delay upgrading the weapon to keep fights balanced.

Regardless of how you choose to play, this weapon is a fantastic asset and will serve you well throughout your journey. Enjoy slicing through enemies with ease!

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I hope this guide helped you! If you found it useful, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. Happy hunting!