You finally made it to the moon. The Lunar Whale is parked, the music is eerie, and you’re staring at a giant crater that looks suspiciously like a boss arena. If you grew up playing the SNES version, you might know him as the "God of Dragons" or even just the guy who nukes your party before you can say "Cura." Honestly, Final Fantasy 4 Bahamut is one of those gaming milestones that feels like a rite of passage.
Most players treat this fight as a pure gear check. They grind until Cecil has 4,000 HP and hope for the best. But that's kinda missing the point of how Square designed this encounter. It’s not a brawl; it’s a puzzle. If you go in swinging wild, you’re going to see a "Game Over" screen faster than Edge can throw a Shuriken.
The Gatekeepers: Why You Can’t Just Walk In
You can’t just fly to the moon and knock on Bahamut's door. Well, you can, but he won't talk to you. He’s the King of Eidolons, and he has standards.
Before you even step foot in the Lair of the Father, you have to prove your worth by defeating his "children." Specifically, you need to head to the Feymarch (the Land of Summons) and take down Asura and Leviathan. If Rydia hasn't mastered the serpent of the sea, the dragon on the moon won't give you the time of day.
Getting through the cave itself is a nightmare of its own. It’s a short dungeon, sure, but it’s packed with Behemoths. These aren't your average random encounters. In the Pixel Remaster and the original SNES/PS1 versions, these guys counterattack everything. Hit them with a sword? They claw you. Hit them with magic? They Maelstrom you.
Pro tip: Use Blink on your front-line fighters. It’s basically the only way to survive the triple-Behemoth gauntlet leading up to the throne without burning through all your Elixirs.
How to Beat Bahamut (The "Reflect" Trick)
When you finally meet the big guy, the fight starts with a countdown. 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Megaflare.
📖 Related: Five-Letter Words with the Most Vowels and Why They Win at Wordle
In most versions of the game, Megaflare is an instant party wipe. It ignores traditional defense and hits for massive non-elemental damage. You’ve got maybe thirty seconds to prepare. Most people freak out and try to cast Shell or Haste. Don’t do that.
Instead, do this:
- Cast Reflect on everyone. This is the "secret" that isn't really a secret anymore, but it's still the most satisfying way to win.
- If you have Rosa and FuSoYa (if you’re doing this early), have them both spamming the Reflect spell.
- If you’re short on time, use Lunar Curtains or Light Curtains. These items grant instant Reflect without the casting bar wait time.
When the countdown hits zero and Bahamut breathes that blue fire, something beautiful happens. Five separate instances of Megaflare bounce off your party and slam right back into his face. Since Bahamut has about 45,001 HP in the Pixel Remaster, a few reflected Megaflares will do the heavy lifting for you.
When Should You Actually Fight Him?
There’s a huge debate about the "best" time to challenge Bahamut.
Some players swear by going as soon as you get the Lunar Whale. You’ll have FuSoYa in your party, which means you have two high-level white mages to cast Reflect. It makes the fight safer.
🔗 Read more: Why the Minecraft We'll Never Add Circles Spear Meme Still Haunts the Sandbox
Others wait until they return to Earth, finish the Giant of Babil, and get Kain back. Why? Because Kain’s Jump ability is a godsend here. If you time it right—jumping when the counter is at "2"—Kain will be safely off-screen when Megaflare hits. Even if the rest of your party dies, Kain lands, pokes the dragon, and you can scramble to revive Rosa.
Honestly, I prefer doing it with FuSoYa. Having that extra MP pool for buffs makes the Behemoth fights much less stressful. Plus, having Bahamut for the final dungeon makes the random encounters there significantly less of a headache.
The Stats: What You’re Up Against
| Version | Bahamut HP | Key Ability |
|---|---|---|
| SNES (FF2 US) | 45,000 | MegaNuke |
| DS (3D Remake) | 37,000 | Megaflare (Pierces Reflect!) |
| Pixel Remaster | 45,001 | Megaflare |
Wait, did you see that? If you're playing the DS 3D Remake, the Reflect strategy doesn't work the same way. In that version, Bahamut’s Megaflare actually pierces your Reflect barrier. It’s a total curveball. If you’re on the DS, you have to rely on Slow, Haste, and raw damage to kill him before the countdown ends. It’s a much more brutal fight.
Why Bahamut is Rydia’s Best Friend
Once you win, Rydia learns the Bahamut summon. It costs a whopping 60 MP (depending on the version), but it’s worth every drop.
👉 See also: How to Make Prince in Infinite Craft Without Losing Your Mind
Unlike Titan or Leviathan, Bahamut is non-elemental. Nothing in the game resists it. Not the dragons in the final dungeon, not the weird mechanical bosses inside the Giant—nothing. It’s the "I win" button for almost every encounter leading up to Zeromus.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Playthrough
If you’re sitting in front of your console or PC right now wondering if you're ready, here is the checklist.
- Check your level: Level 45 is the bare minimum, but 50 is the sweet spot.
- Inventory check: Do you have at least 5 Light Curtains? If not, make sure Rosa has enough MP for five casts of Reflect.
- Kill Leviathan first: Seriously, don't waste the trip to the moon if you haven't finished the Feymarch quests.
- Battle Speed: If you're struggling with the countdown, go into the settings and turn the battle speed down. It gives you more "real-world" time to navigate the menus.
Once you have the King of Eidolons on your side, the Lunar Subterrane becomes a lot more manageable. Grab the summon, Teleport out of the cave, and get ready for the endgame. You've earned it.
Expert Insight: If you're hunting for the "Dark Bahamut" in the final dungeon later, remember he's a completely different beast. He opens the fight with an immediate Megaflare before you even get a turn. For that fight, you'll need the Ragnarok sword and a lot of luck.