Ys IX: Monstrum Nox Trophy Guide & Roadmap


Author: Foggy

Final boss at FoggyProductions

Published: February 04, 2021


Death metal lover and a gamer. Plays guitar - occasionally. In real life a QA, assuring quality of products and automating stuff (need to find a way to automate video editing).

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  • Estimated trophy difficulty: 3/10
  • Approximate amount of time to platinum: 60-70 hours
  • Offline Trophies: 54 (44 , 7 , 2 , 1 )
  • Online Trophies: 0 (0 , 0 , 0 )
  • Number of missable trophies: Few of them, check bellow
  • Glitched trophies: None
  • Does difficulty affect trophies?: Yes, you need to finish the game on Nightmare difficulty
  • Minimum Playthroughs: 1 (I suggest you play on "Normal", carry your stats and then beat the game on "Nightmare")
  • New Ys? Gimme gimme! 9th entry in the series takes us to Balduq City/Prison and introduces to use Monstrums and 2 Adols. Although I can't say I love this one more than Lacrimosa of Dana, I can say that they improved in almost all areas, except maybe OST and story. Platinum trophy is not a problem, although still requires some grinding/replaying. Let's start

    Step 1 - Finish the game on "Normal" difficulty while completing all Quests, Journal entries/notes, Monster Entries, Max Affinity, Collectibles (Petals, Graffity, Landmarks, Chests, Shops, Recipes), Grimwald Nox Challenges

    Too much? Don't worry, this is the easiest Ys to get what you need. If you just collect all chests on the way and do all of the quests, you will more or less have everything collected. Many areas in Balduq city are unreachable until you get all 6 characters and until you beat all Grimwald Nox challenges. In order not to miss anything, I suggest you follow my guide topics:

    Ys IX: Monstrum Nox - Character Notes Guide
    Ys IX: Monstrum Nox - Quests Guide
    More topics will be added (Chests, Shops, Recipes, Materials, Monsters, Skills)

    To find and complete all Grimwald challenges, you can simply finish the first one in every chapter (you need to collect 100 NOX - upper left corner). First one is always mandatory and story-related, and then you can collect additional 100 NOX to trigger the optional one. The optional ones starts appearing in Chapter 3, so always aim to collect 200 NOX and dispel those barriers. You can collect NOX by inspecting the red dots in the city (on the map) or by doing quests.

    All progress can be checked under your Menu -> Journal, so make sure to check there to see what you may still miss. Map is really helpful and it's really hard to miss when you combine jour Journal + Map. Note that chests in Prison (when you play as other Adol) does NOT count, so you can even miss them. Your point of no return is in Final Chapter, before the final boss in Balduq Fortress (when you unlock elevator in the middle and go there).

    Quests and Character entries/notes are highly missable!

    Step 2 - Start your new adventure on "Nightmare" difficutly

    As you transfer almost everything including your levels, your next run on Nightmare shouldn't be a problem. With ultimate weapons and Armors you will not face a challenge. Simply run through the game and unlock the Nightmare difficulty trophy.

    Step 3 - Finish Boss Rush mode and Time Trials

    Both are unlocked when you finish the game for the first time. To make this easy start a new game on the lowest difficulty and from that save play those challenges. It's the same as in Celceta, where I had no problems with beating the Boss Rush mode without retrying. By this point you should be a master when it comes to boss fights.

    Step to have in mind while playing

    Some grind trophies are worth noting, so I will make a list to make it easier for you while you play:

    Have 1,000,000 Gold in possession - At the end I was around 200K (last dungeon had good money drops). Save, sell everything, when trophy pops, load your game.
    Reach max level with all skills - Often change your characters and spam skills. Equip Warrior Seal +4 (buy in Dandelion) to speed up the process.
    Reach level 99 with any character - DO NOT user Tempest Elixirs. Those are rewards in many quest and can be exchanged for NOX in Dandelion (Lantern shop in basement). When you reach level 80+, use all of those elixirs to reach level 99. Since levels transfer, it's also easy to get here in NG+.
    Use Flash Guard 100 times - If you press L1 when an enemy is about to hit you, you trigger this one. Do this often
    Use Flash Move 100 times - If you press L1 when an enemy is about to hit you, you trigger this one. Do this often
    Use Boost Mode 100 times - When your level bar reached half, press L1+R1 to enter boost mode
    Use Extra Skills 100 times - While in boost mode press L1+R1 to use extra skill attack
    Exploring Balduq trophies - You need to spend 5 hours controlling all 6 characters, so change them often or simply use the strategy explained under the trophy bellow.

    New Game + transfers

    Character Levels: Transfer character levels and elixir effect.
    Skills and Skill Levels: Transfer character skills and skill progression.
    Equipment: Transfer Equipment (Weapons + weapon upgrades, Armor, Gear)
    Consumables: Transfer most consumable items.
    Materials and Ingredients: Transfer materials and ingredients.
    Gold: Transfer gold.
    Ritual Relic Enhancements: Transfer ritual relic enhancements
    Map Exploration and Treasure Locations: Transfer map exploration progress and treasure chests recorded on the map.
    Playthrough Bonus (1): Start with Empty Bottles x3
    Playthrough Bonus (2): Start with All Materials x10 (excluding ingredients and twilight shards)
    Journal play-stats (Minus the Character Notes/entries)
    NOX will be converted to twilight shards and carried over.

    You can select any number of above listed transfers.

    King of the Monstrums     Finish "Balduq Prison" by Adol Christin in its entirety by earning all Trophies.

    Get all other trophies to get your platinum one.

    Cartographer  
    MISSABLE
     
    Complete the map of Balduq.

    Coming Soon…

    Seeker of Fortune  
    MISSABLE
     
    Attain 100% of all treasure chests.

    Coming Soon…

    Good Samaritan  
    MISSABLE
     
    Attain 100% of all quests.

    Coming Soon…

    Debonair Socialite  
    MISSABLE
     
    Attain 100% of all "People" entries in your Journal.

    You need all entries (Character entries and Character Notes) under Journal -> People. This will require some focus, so make sure to follow my chronological guide in order not to miss anything (like I did on my 1st playthrough).

    Ys IX: Monstrum Nox - Character Notes Guide

    Monster Zoologist  
    MISSABLE
     
    Attain 100% of all "Monsters" entries in your Journal.

    Coming Soon…

    Material Girl     Attain 100% of all "Materials" entries in your Journal.

    Coming Soon…

    I Would Walk 300 Krimelye     Travel a total distance of 300 krimelye.

    Coming Soon…

    Ambassador of the Dandelion  
    MISSABLE
     
    Attain 100% of Affinity with all characters.

    Coming Soon…

    Hermetic Bastion     Attain 100% of Ritual Relics enhanced.

    Coming Soon…

    Fields of Blue     Attain 100% of Azure Petals found.

    Coming Soon…

    Art Critic     Attain 100% of graffiti discovered.

    Coming Soon…

    Intrepid Tourist     Attain 100% of landmarks discovered.

    Coming Soon…

    Shopaholic     Attain 100% of shops discovered.

    Coming Soon…

    Twilight Guardian     Have obtained a total of 2,000 NOX points.

    Coming Soon…

    Errant Millionaire     Have 1,000,000 Gold in possession.

    Before entering the last game dungeon I had 180,000 Gold in possession. Making a save at this point, and selling ALL you can should get you above 1 million easily. After you sell everything and the trophy pops, make sure to load your game to keep up the items while having the trophy unlocked. If you did all other trophies during your playthrough, it's really easy to reach 1 million Gold as you will have so many items to sell, especially materials.

    Haute Cuisine  
    MISSABLE
     
    Unlock all 13 recipes at the Dandelion.

    Coming Soon…

    Virtuoso     Reach max level with all skills.

    Coming Soon…

    Dressed to Kill     Forge an Ultimate Armor.

    Coming Soon…

    Golden Anvil     Forge Ultimate Weapons for all Monstrums (6 in total).

    Coming Soon…

    Apex Predator     Reach level 99 with any character.

    After doing all sidequest, all NOX challegnes and the Vakh Medios NOX boss - I was level 83. This happened before even entering the last game dungeon. Now, make a save point and if you never used any Tempest Elixirs you should have like 18 of them. I had 18, so I just used them on character with highest level to reach 99. Afterwards, load the game to keep up the elixiris if you want. If you don't have enough you can just play the game on Nightmare difficulty (you need it for the trophy anyway) and you will transfer your levels, so to reach level 99 you just need to replay the game.

    Culling the Herd     Defeat 2,000 monsters.

    Coming Soon…

    Lemures Exterminator     Defeat 1,000 Lemures.

    Coming Soon…

    Heartbreaker     Inflict Break 1,000 times.

    Coming Soon…

    Impervious     Use Flash Guard 100 times.

    Coming Soon…

    Untouchable     Use Flash Move 100 times.

    Coming Soon…

    Overdrive     Use Boost Mode 100 times.

    Coming Soon…

    Showstopper     Use Extra Skills 100 times.

    Coming Soon…

    Zenith of the Grimwald     Achieve an S in a Grimwald Nox.

    Coming Soon…

    Conqueror of the Nox     Clear all Grimwald Nox.

    Coming Soon…

    Vanquisher of the Nox     Achieve an S on all Grimwald Nox.

    Coming Soon…

    Crimson King, the Radiant     Explore Balduq with the Crimson King as leader.

    These series of trophies require you to control mentioned character for 5 hours. All of these trophies are easy - you can simply play regulary as all character and change when you unlock with some character, or you can leave your controller on idle mode when in town for 5 hours. After that just move with controled character to unlock the trophy.

    White Cat, the Nimble     Explore Balduq with the White Cat as leader.

    These series of trophies require you to control mentioned character for 5 hours. All of these trophies are easy - you can simply play regulary as all character and change when you unlock with some character, or you can leave your controller on idle mode when in town for 5 hours. After that just move with controled character to unlock the trophy.

    Hawk, the Peerless     Explore Balduq with the Hawk as leader.

    These series of trophies require you to control mentioned character for 5 hours. All of these trophies are easy - you can simply play regulary as all character and change when you unlock with some character, or you can leave your controller on idle mode when in town for 5 hours. After that just move with controled character to unlock the trophy.

    Doll, the Resplendent     Explore Balduq with the Doll as leader.

    These series of trophies require you to control mentioned character for 5 hours. All of these trophies are easy - you can simply play regulary as all character and change when you unlock with some character, or you can leave your controller on idle mode when in town for 5 hours. After that just move with controled character to unlock the trophy.

    Raging Bull, the Unyielding     Explore Balduq with the Raging Bull as leader.

    These series of trophies require you to control mentioned character for 5 hours. All of these trophies are easy - you can simply play regulary as all character and change when you unlock with some character, or you can leave your controller on idle mode when in town for 5 hours. After that just move with controled character to unlock the trophy.

    Renegade, the Cunning     Explore Balduq with the Renegade as leader.

    These series of trophies require you to control mentioned character for 5 hours. All of these trophies are easy - you can simply play regulary as all character and change when you unlock with some character, or you can leave your controller on idle mode when in town for 5 hours. After that just move with controled character to unlock the trophy.

    Greased Lightning     In Time Attack, defeat the boss in 30 seconds or less.

    Coming Soon…

    Fleeting Mirage     In Time Attack, defeat the boss without taking damage.

    Coming Soon…

    Paragon     Complete Boss Rush.

    Coming Soon…

    Indomitable Champion     Complete Boss Rush without retrying.

    Coming Soon…

    Nightmare Survivor  
    MISSABLE
     
    Clear the game on Nightmare difficulty or above.

    Coming Soon…

    Banisher of Dawn     Defeat the ultimate Lemures, Vakh Medios (excludes Time Attack).

    Coming Soon…

    To Freedom  
    STORY
     
    Begin your escape from the prison.

    Automatic story unlock.

    Adol, the Fugitive  
    STORY
     
    Clear the prologue.

    Automatic story unlock.

    The White Cat's Melancholy  
    STORY
     
    Clear Chapter 2.

    Automatic story unlock.

    The Feral Hawk's Fury  
    STORY
     
    Clear Chapter 3.

    Automatic story unlock.

    The Raging Bull's Treasure  
    STORY
     
    Clear Chapter 5.

    Automatic story unlock.

    The Renegade's Secret  
    STORY
     
    Clear Chapter 6.

    Automatic story unlock.

    Capriccio of the Prison  
    STORY
     
    Clear Chapter 7.

    Automatic story unlock.

    Thus Spoke the Alchemist  
    STORY
     
    Clear Chapter 8.

    Automatic story unlock.

    Monstrum Nox  
    STORY
     
    Clear the Final Chapter.

    Automatic story unlock.

    Monstrum Nox  
    STORY
     
    Clear the Final Chapter.

    Automatic story unlock.

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