Garamsythe Waterway (Final Fantasy XII)

Hey, lock this place up for me, will you? If Migelo finds out we've been down here, he'll tan our hides.

Vaan to Kytes

The Garamsythe Waterway is a location in the land of Ivalice in Final Fantasy XII. It serves as the sewer system for Rabanastre. The Garamsythe Waterway spans the underneath of the city, and is accessed via Lowtown. After the Esper Zalera is defeated deep within the Barheim Passage, a zoning point to the waterway becomes available.

The waterway is a labyrinth of water and passages with monsters roaming the pathways. The water's level can be adjusted to reveal lower pathways through the opening and closing of the sluice gates.

Because parts of the waterway are of water terrain, all water and lightning attacks deal 20% more damage than normal when the target is standing in water, and earth damage is halved.

Sage Knowledge[]

An underground waterway running deep beneath the Royal City of Rabanastre. Built and rebuilt over the centuries, no one alive knows all of its labyrinthine ways. Some are said to lead even to the royal palace. There are stairs leading down to the waterway in Lowtown, but they are normally barred to keep unwelcome visitors down in the sewers where they belong.

Sage Knowledge 42

Story[]

Locations[]

• Overflow Cloaca (to Lowtown)
• Central Waterway Control
• No. 11 Channel
• No. 4 Cloaca Spur
• No. 1 Cloaca
• No. 3 Cloaca Spur
• No. 10 Channel
• West Sluice Control
• Southern Sluiceway
• East Sluice Control (to Barheim Passage)
• East Waterway Control
• East Spur Stairs
• Central Spur Stairs
• Northern Sluiceway
• North Spur Sluiceway (to Royal Palace)

Treasures[]

The waterway contains multiple treasures, but in the original version they are mainly common items and low level equipment, unless they have gil. With the Diamond Armlet equipped, the treasures contain Knots of Rust as a common item, and Elixir or Hi-Ether as a rare item.

When Vaan is on his way to the palace, he passes through the North Spur Sluiceway. In the original version, it is possible to obtain two weapons here. Oak Staff in a treasure right in the middle of the area that spawns 65% of the time, has 70% chance to contain items instead of gil, and when it contains items it can be either the Oak Staff or a Potion. The treasure respawns. Right before the stairs leading up toward the palace there is a treasure that spawns 65% of the time, and when it contains an item, it yields a Mage Masher.

In the Zodiac versions, the treasures are different. No. 4 Cloaca Spur (Drained) has the useful Achilles technick.

Northern Sluiceway[]

Zodiac

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Gil	Normal Treasure		Diamond Armlet Treasure
1	75%	30%	≤ 80 gil	Potion		Common	Rare
						Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
2	75%	30%	≤ 80 gil	Potion		Common	Rare
						Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
3	75%	30%	≤ 80 gil	Eye Drops		Common	Rare
						Knot of Rust	Meteorite (B)
4	75%	25%	≤ 80 gil	Antidote		Common	Rare
						Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
5	75%	35%	≤ 80 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Antidote	Broadsword	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
6	75%	40%	≤ 120 gil	Phoenix Down		Common	Rare
						Knot of Rust	Meteorite (C)

Original

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Normal Treasure			Diamond Armlet Treasure
1	65%	40%	Gil	Item		Gil	Common	Rare
			≤ 50 gil	Potion		≤ 300 gil	Knot of Rust	Hi-Ether
2	65%	40%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Common	Rare
			≤ 50 gil	Hi-Potion	Antidote	≤ 300 gil	Knot of Rust	Float Moat
3	65%	40%	Gil	Item		Gil	Common	Rare
			≤ 50 gil	Potion		≤ 300 gil	Knot of Rust	Hi-Ether
4	65%	40%	Gil	Item		Gil	Common	Rare
			≤ 50 gil	Ether		≤ 300 gil	Knot of Rust	Float Moat
5	65%	40%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Common	Rare
			≤ 50 gil	Remedy	Antidote	≤ 300 gil	Knot of Rust	Hi-Ether
6	65%	40%	Gil	Item	Gil	Common	Rare
			≤ 50 gil	Potion		≤ 300 gil	Knot of Rust	Float Moat

North Spur Sluiceway[]

Zodiac

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Gil	Normal Treasure		Diamond Armlet Treasure
7	75%	30%	≤ 80 gil	Potion		Common	Rare
						Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
8	75%	30%	≤ 70 gil	Antidote		Common	Rare
						Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
9	75%	30%	≤ 80 gil	Potion		Common	Rare
						Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
10	75%	30%	≤ 120 gil	Aero Mote		Common	Rare
						Knot of Rust	Meteorite (B)
11	75%	30%	≤ 120 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Potion	Javelin	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
12[note 1]	100%	0%	N/A	Remedy
13	75%	30%	≤ 80 gil	Potion		Common	Rare
						Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
14	75%	30%	≤ 100 gil	Potion		Common	Rare
						Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)

Original

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Normal Treasure			Diamond Armlet Treasure
7	65%	45%	Gil	Item		Gil	Common	Rare
			≤ 40 gil	Phoenix Down		≤ 300 gil	Knot of Rust	Remedy
8	65%	45%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Common	Rare
			≤ 40 gil	Hi-Potion	Ether	≤ 300 gil	Knot of Rust	Elixir
9	65%	45%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Common	Rare
			≤ 40 gil	Phoenix Down	Potion	≤ 300 gil	Knot of Rust	Hi-Ether
10	65%	45%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Common	Rare
			≤ 75 gil	Oak Staff	Potion	≤ 300 gil	Knot of Rust	Hi-Ether
11	65%	45%	Gil	Item		Gil	Common	Rare
			≤ 80 gil	Mage Masher		≤ 300 gil	Knot of Rust	Gold Needle
12	65%	45%	Gil	Item	Gil	Common	Rare
			≤ 75 gil	Potion		≤ 300 gil	Knot of Rust	Vanishga Mote

East Waterway Control[]

Zodiac

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Gil	Normal Treasure		Diamond Armlet Treasure
15	80%	40%	≤ 80 gil	Potion		Common	Rare
						Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
16	80%	30%	≤ 80 gil	Antidote		Common	Rare
						Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
17	80%	45%	≤ 90 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Potion	Altair	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (B)
18	80%	40%	≤ 100 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Hi-Potion	Leather Breastplate	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)

Original

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Normal Treasure			Diamond Armlet Treasure
13	75%	35%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Common	Rare
			≤ 45 gil	Potion	Eye Drops	≤ 300 gil	Knot of Rust	Elixir
14	75%	35%	Gil	Item		Gil	Common	Rare
			≤ 45 gil	Potion		≤ 300 gil	Knot of Rust	Elixir
15	75%	35%	Gil	Item		Gil	Common	Rare
			≤ 80 gil	Hi-Potion		≤ 500 gil	Knot of Rust	Hi-Ether

No. 11 Channel (Flooded)[]

Zodiac

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Gil	Normal Treasure		Diamond Armlet Treasure
19	75%	30%	≤ 80 gil	Antidote		Common	Rare
						Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
20	75%	40%	≤ 80 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Potion	Light Woven Shirt	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
21	75%	40%	≤ 80 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Potion	Chromed Leathers	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
22	75%	35%	≤ 110 gil	Ether		Common	Rare
						Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
23	75%	35%	≤ 80 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Potion	Oaken Pole	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
24	75%	40%	≤ 90 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Potion	Kotetsu	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)

Original

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Gil	Normal Treasure
16	80%	30%	≤ 45 gil	Item 1	Item 2
				Potion	Ether
17	65%	30%	≤ 50 gil	Item 1	Item 2
				Longsword	Antidote
18	80%	30%	≤ 45 gil	Escutcheon
19	70%	50%	≤ 50 gil	Item 1	Item 2
				Leather Armor	Phoenix Down
20	80%	30%	≤ 100 gil	Item 1	Item 2
				Potion	Eyedrops

No. 11 Channel (Drained)[]

Zodiac

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Gil	Normal Treasure		Diamond Armlet Treasure
33	90%	50%	≤ 300 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Chronos Tear	Serum	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (C)
34	90%	50%	≤ 300 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Ether	Long Bolts	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
35	90%	50%	≤ 300 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Nu Khai Sand	Hi-Potion	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
36[note 1]	100%	0%	N/A	Gilt Measure
37	90%	50%	≤ 300 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Ether	Aqua Mote	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (B)
38	90%	50%	≤ 300 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Potion	Gold Needle	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)

Original

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Normal Treasure			Diamond Armlet Treasure
21	60%	60%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			≤ 100 gil	Knot of Rust	Potion	≤ 2,000 gil	Knot of Rust
22	60%	50%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			≤ 500 gil	Knot of Rust	Ether	≤ 100 gil	Knot of Rust
23	60%	60%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			≤ 100 gil	Knot of Rust	Potion	≤ 1,500 gil	Knot of Rust
24[note 1]	50%	0%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Common	Rare
			N/A	Knot of Rust	Ether	N/A	Mirror Mail	Knot of Rust
25	60%	50%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			500 gil	Knot of Rust	Ether	100 gil	Knot of Rust
26	60%	60%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			100 gil	Knot of Rust	Potion	2,00 gil	Knot of Rust

Southern Sluiceway[]

Zodiac

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Gil	Normal Treasure	Diamond Armlet Treasure
25[note 1]	100%	0%	N/A	Hi-Potion
26[note 1]	100%	0%	N/A	Phoenix Down

Original

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Normal Treasure
27[note 1]	100%	0%	Item 1	Item 2
			Leather Shield	Hi-Potion
28[note 1]	100%	0%	Item 1	Item 2
			Dagger	Phoenix Down

West Sluice Control[]

Zodiac

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Gil	Normal Treasure		Diamond Armlet Treasure
27	80%	35%	≤ 80 gil	Dark Mote		Common	Rare
						Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
28	80%	35%	≤ 90 gil	Soleil Fang		Common	Rare
						Knot of Rust	Meteorite (B)

Original

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Normal Treasure
29[note 1]	100%	0%	Item 1	Item 2
			Phoenix Down	Red Fang

No. 10 Channel (Flooded)[]

Zodiac

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Gil	Normal Treasure		Diamond Armlet Treasure
29	70%	40%	≤ 95 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Antidote	Silken Shirt	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
30	70%	40%	≤ 85 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Potion	Bowgun	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
31	70%	40%	≤ 300 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Hi-Potion	Longsword	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
32	70%	45%	≤ 80 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Phoenix Down	Mace	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (B)

Original

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Gil	Normal Treasure
30	73%	30%	≤ 100 gil	Item 1	Item 2
				Phoenix Down	Potion
31	65%	35%	≤ 200 gil	Item 1	Item 2
				Cotton Shirt	Potion
32	73%	30%	≤ 400 gil	Item 1	Item 2
				G-Foe: targeting self	Potion
33	73%	30%	≤ 300 gil	Hi-Potion

No. 10 Channel (Drained)[]

Zodiac

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Gil	Normal Treasure		Diamond Armlet Treasure
39	90%	50%	≤ 300 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Ether	Potion	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (C)
40	90%	50%	≤ 300 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Phoenix Down	Gold Needle	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (B)
41	90%	50%	≤ 300 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Dispel Mote	Gravity Mote	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
42[note 1]	100%	0%	N/A	Hornito
43	90%	50%	≤ 300 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Nu Khai Sand	Silent Shot	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)

Original

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Normal Treasure			Diamond Armlet Treasure
34	60%	60%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			≤ 100 gil	Knot of Rust	Ether	≤ 2,000 gil	Knot of Rust
35	60%	50%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			≤ 500 gil	Knot of Rust	Potion	≤ 100 gil	Knot of Rust
36	60%	60%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			≤ 100 gil	Knot of Rust	Ether	≤ 2,000 gil	Knot of Rust
37[note 1]	50%	0%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Common	Rare
			N/A	Knot of Rust	Ether	N/A	Iga Blade	Megalixir
38	60%	50%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			≤ 500 gil	Knot of Rust	Ether	≤ 100 gil	Knot of Rust

No. 3 Cloaca Spur (Drained)[]

Zodiac

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Gil	Normal Treasure		Diamond Armlet Treasure
44[note 1]	100%	0%	N/A	Jade Collar
45	90%	50%	≤ 300 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Potion	Aero Mote	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (B)
46	90%	50%	≤ 300 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Echo Herbs	Aquara Mote	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)

Original

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Normal Treasure			Diamond Armlet Treasure
39	60%	60%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			≤ 500 gil	Knot of Rust	Ether	≤ 1,800 gil	Knot of Rust
40	60%	60%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			≤ 500 gil	Knot of Rust	Ether	≤ 1,800 gil	Knot of Rust
41	50%	50%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			≤ 700 gil	Knot of Rust	Potion	≤ 100 gil	Knot of Rust

No. 4 Cloaca Spur (Drained)[]

Zodiac

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Gil	Normal Treasure		Diamond Armlet Treasure
47[1]	100%	0%	N/A	Achilles
48	90%	50%	≤ 300 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Antidote	Ether	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (A)
49	90%	50%	≤ 300 gil	Item 1	Item 2	Common	Rare
				Eye Drops	Chronos Tear	Knot of Rust	Meteorite (B)

• 1 - Chest does not respawn.

Original

Chest	Spawns	Holds Gil%	Normal Treasure			Diamond Armlet Treasure
42	60%	60%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			≤ 100 gil	Knot of Rust	Potion	≤ 1,500 gil	Knot of Rust
43	50%	60%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			≤ 600 gil	Knot of Rust	Ether	≤ 100 gil	Knot of Rust
44	60%	60%	Gil	Item 1	Item 2	Gil	Item
			≤ 100 gil	Knot of Rust	Potion	≤ 2,000 gil	Knot of Rust

Quests[]

Hunts[]

The Wraith hunt can be undertaken after escaping from the Barheim Passage. It is found in the Overflow Cloaca area and will constantly cast Doom on the party. Its petitioner is Milha in Rabanastre's Lowtown. Defeating Wraith allows the player enter a private residence in Lowtown and pick up the Dusty Letter key item, part of a later sidequest (see below) that tells in which order the sluice gates must be operated in the waterway.

The White Mousse hunt can be undertaken after the player attains the clan rank of Vanguard. White Mousse is a breed of Flan that lives in the West Sluice Control area of the Garamsythe Waterway. The Sluice Gate Key is obtained from Sorbet after completion of the hunt.

Orthros is an Elite Mark located in the Southern Sluiceway. The earliest the hunt can be accepted is after obtaining the Dawn Shard, and reaching the clan rank of "Headhunter". Orthros will appear if the party consists of the three females. The player can swap the characters after Orthros appears. Guest characters, Larsa and Reddas, can be in the party as well. It is petitioned by Contrite Thief in Rabanastre's Lowtown (North Sprawl) after learning of the hunt from Montblanc. The player will receive the Stolen Articles after the battle, which the Contrite Thief returns to Samal. He comes by to give the player a Blackened Fragment, which is part of the three medallions sidequest.

Rare Game[]

The Gavial is a Trophy Rare Game that appears in the No. 10 Channel. Since it is a trophy monster, it will only spawn once the trophy quest has started and never spawns again when killed. The player must have spoken to the "Huntmaster" in Phon Coast and defeated Thalassinon, which will trigger the start of the Rare Game quest.

The player must close the no. 10 sluice gate and enter the area drained of water. Gavial is not found on one of the upper walkways, but down in the channel. After waiting 10 to 15 seconds, Gavial will come running towards the party.

Razorfin has a 10% chance of spawning instead of an Ichthon in the North Spur Sluiceway. It can be picked out from the Ichthons around it because it is larger and not docile.

The player must spend at least five minutes in the No. 4 Cloaca Spur after which the chances of the Drowned spawning increases by 8% every 15 seconds. The player should have drained the water in the No. 4 Cloaca Spur. One must enter the lower level of the southeast area, near to the Gespenst. If it has not appeared after eight minutes, it will not appear, so the player must re-zone and try again.

Sluice gates[]

Medallion quest[]

After defeating the White Mousse mark the player gets the Sluice Gate Key that allows them to work the gates in the opening area of the waterway.

The Dusty Letter Key Item contains a clue to obtaining the Dull Fragment - "East Southeast East Southwest Southeast". The waterway controls in Central Waterway Control must be operated in this order.

The player must first turn all the switches off (turning the lights off) and follow the steps below:

1. Turn No.11 Waterway Control on

2. Turn No.4 Waterway Control on

3. Turn No.11 Waterway Control off

4. Turn No.3 Waterway Control on

5. Turn No.4 Waterway Control off

After the last gate is closed a click is heard, and on the south side on the ground, there is a glittering object, the Dull Fragment. This item is part of the three medallions sidequest.

Cúchulainn[]

The Esper Cúchulainn can be fought in the middle of the waterway by working the sluice gates. The player must again work the sluice gates. The player must first switch on No. 3 and No. 10 sluice gates, by lighting up the panels, then move to the South-West (No. 3 area) and find the No.1 South Switch and activate it. Next the player must turn off No. 3 and No. 10 sluice gates, and switch on No. 4 and 11, then head to South-East (No. 4 area), locate and activate the No. 1 North sluice gate switch. After returning to the central, the player must finally turn off the No. 11 switch, and turn on the No. 3 panel.

Now only sluice gates No. 3 and No. 4 should be on and the player can access the area where Cúchulainn is fought, although the player must be quick because he disappears exactly 75 seconds after the player has pulled the switches.

Black bottle[]

The player can find a black bottle from the fishing minigame at Dalmasca Estersand with a hint to the control room of Garamsythe Waterway. The player can find a sparkling spot that shatters the black bottle to yield an Elixir.

Enemies[]

Different enemies appear in different areas determined whether the areas are flooded are drained. Thus, the player can spawn new enemies at the waterway after they get to operate the sluice gates.

• Dire Rat
• Steeling
• Ichthon (Docile)
• Gigantoad
• Lizard
• Malboro Overking
• Gespenst
• Ghost
• Garchimacera
• Water Elemental
• Baritine Croc
• Foobar (assist Cúchulainn)
• Imperial Swordsman (Event Boss)
• Flan (Event Boss)
• Firemane (Boss)
• Cúchulainn (Optional Esper)
• Gavial (Rare)
• Razorfin (Rare)
• Drowned (Rare)
• Wraith (Mark)
• White Mousse (Mark)
• Orthros (Elite Mark)

Other appearances[]

Final Fantasy XIV[]

The Garamsythe Waterway appears as a portion of the Royal City of Rabanastre raid, as part of the Return to Ivalice series. Stretching far below the streets of Rabanastre, this channel was constructed to carry in water from its source in the Skatay Range to the north. The lattice-like architecture of the waterway is confusing to navigate, and those who lose their sense of direction find it all but impossible to find their way out again. Within its depths are the ruins of Lesalia, ancient capital of the legendary kingdom of Ivalice.

It is also known to connect to Nalbina Fortress and the ocean. 30 years ago, Princess Ashe and Ba'Gamnan fled Nalbina after the Garlean Empire conquered it, but Ashe died "a stone's throw from where the waterway drains into the sea."

Pictlogica Final Fantasy[]

Final Fantasy Record Keeper[]

Vaan has snuck into Rabanastre Palace, where he meets a dashing man and his viera partner. The two help Vaan escape on their airbike before careening down to a crash landing in the Garamsythe Waterway.

Musical themes[]

"The Garamsythe Waterway" plays as the location background music. At the game's beginning where Vaan and Kytes are training in the sewers, the theme "Training in the Sewers" plays.

Map[]

The map can be found in the East Waterway Control.

The candle to reveal the full map can be found in the East Sluice Control.

Map from the original Final Fantasy XII that includes all treasure information.

Behind the scenes[]

After Fran and Balthier join Vaan's party and Balthier explains the gambit system, the player can examine the fallen soldiers in the canal. Depending on who is in the lead, the message is different:

Vaan: "I'd take you with us if I could...but there's just no time. Sorry..."

Balthier: "They're equipped well enough, for all the good it did them. Boys with too much hate and too little experience. The insurgence must be desperate."

Fran: "If they had allies who fled into the sewers, their pursuers will not be far."

Gallery[]