Monster - in - a - box Monsters - in - a - box are enemies that appear in treasure chests . After the character opens the Chest , the phrase " Monster - in - a - box ! " , " Monsters ! " , or similar is displayed , and a battle begins with an enemy . Usually these enemies are stronger than average foes , and can even match a boss ' s strength . Monsters - in - a - box were series staples up to " Final Fantasy VIII " where they do not appear , and only return to the series in " Final Fantasy X " . Previous to the use of monster - in - a - box treasure chest starting in " Final Fantasy II " , the original " Final Fantasy " surrounded treasure chests with fixed encounter s to protect boxes . As a precursor to the monster - in - a - box , enemies fought through this method still had the tendency to be stronger than average . In the later games of the " Final Fantasy " series , Mimic enemies act as a replacement which appear as boxes and morph into an enemy . Appearances . " Final Fantasy II " . In " Final Fantasy II " , Monsters - in - a - box are very common , appearing in almost every dungeon . Unlike later installments , the item is gained before the monster is fought . All types of dragons appear as Monsters - in - a - box in some later dungeons and in the last dungeon , Pandaemonium , several of the game ' s most powerful armor pieces can be found in boss fights with Monsters - in - a - box . " Final Fantasy III " . Early in the game in Castle Sasune , the party must defeat a monster - in - a - box , a Griffon , to obtain the Wightslayer . In Eureka , a Ribbon is obtained after opening a treasure chest and defeating the Ninja within . During the final dungeon of the game , there is a crossroad of four paths . Each path has a chest along the way , with a Xande ' s Clone guarding a Ribbon . " Final Fantasy IV " . Many monsters - in - boxes can be fought in " Final Fantasy IV " . After opening a box , a message saying " Monsters ! " will appear and the fight will initiate . After winning the battle , the item contained in the chest will be received . In the DS version , the word " Monsters ! " has been replaced by " Enemy Ambush . " If there is an item , the item will be received , followed by the term " Enemy Ambush ! " . For example , in the Giant of Babil , the message box will say : " Final Fantasy V " . Monster - in - a - box appears when the player opens certain Treasure Chests , and is commonly extremely strong for the location . Once the enemy is defeated , a message is displayed and the item is received . The superboss Shinryu appears as a monster - in - a - box in the Interdimensional Rift , which guards the strongest weapon in the game , Ragnarok . In the GBA Remake , Neo Shinryu is encountered the same way , guarding the Ultima Weapon . " Final Fantasy VI " . Several monsters - in - a - box appear in " Final Fantasy VI " . A notable example is Angler Whelk in Darill ' s Tomb , which drops a strong Holy - elemental weapon for Sabin . " Final Fantasy VII " . Monsters - in - a - box only appear once in the clock puzzle room of the Temple of the Ancients . They do not give items . " Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII - " . In Gongaga , Zack can find treasure chests that contain enemies . During a mission he will also encounter a treasure chest that will transport him into a battle against Bahamut Fury . " Final Fantasy X " . In the Omega Ruins , there are areas where three to five treasure chests are grouped together . Some contain treasure , while others initiate a battle . After the battle , the other nearby treasure chests will disappear . It is random which treasures contain battles . The treasures contain the following items : " Final Fantasy X - 2 " . There are several monster - in - a - box chests in the Fiend Colony . The battles that initiate are against Vermin - type enemies . " Final Fantasy XIV " . Patch 2 . 1 added the Treasure Hunt system , which uses a monster - in - a - box mechanic . The buried treasure coffers have a trap that will release a " powerful musk " when opened that summon monsters . These creatures must be defeated in order to claim the goods contained within . " Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy " . In Confessions of the Creator , red treasure chests initiate battles with powerful enemies when opened , and one in the Southern Lufenia gateway triggers a battle with Feral Chaos . " Final Fantasy Legend II " . The sewer has two trapped treasure chests which contains monsters . The player can farm them for high level meat if they want , but the player doesn ' t get any items from these treasure chest . The player can repeatedly open them infinitely if they wish to fight the monsters again . Etymology . " Monster - in - a - Box " is a play on the kid ' s toy , a " Jack - In - A - Box " .