Fixed encounter A fixed encounter , also known as spiked tiles when referring to games comprised of sprites , refers to a method of entering a battle . Fixed encounters differ from the basic random encounter s due to their fixed nature ; a fixed encounter starts when a player steps on a certain tile or interacts with a certain object . Fixed encounters are the normal method for engaging in a boss fight , and will occasionally be accompanied by dialogue , scripted actions or , in later titles , cutscenes . There are two common uses for fixed encounters , the first being to enter a surprise battle against bosses or stronger enemies . The second use is to impede the player , or to protect an area such as a Treasure Chest . Fixed encounters cannot be protected against with No Encounters abilities . Fixed encounters are only of note in earlier games in the series where random encounters were the norm . As the series started moving away from random encounters in " Final Fantasy XI " , it could be said that every encounter in the modern games is a fixed encounter . Appearances . " Final Fantasy " . B1 of the Cavern of Earth is notable for having the entire left side of the entrance covered in spiked tiles against either the Hill Gigas or Lizard encounter , making it a popular place for Level grinding . The player must interact with the spirits for the fiends , Lich , Marilith , Kraken and Tiamat , and the arch fiend , Chaos , in order to trigger these events . " Final Fantasy II " . Fixed encounters are heavily used in " Final Fantasy II " , often in the form of numerous trap rooms found in many of the game ' s dungeon s . Trap rooms are rooms comprised of many spiked tiles that the user cannot avoid . Since the player starts in the center of the room , and the tiles all possess a high chance of an encounter , the player must usually endure two battles to exit . Due to the high encounter rate , however , they are often used as effective level grinding points . " Final Fantasy IV " . In the Lair of the Father , on the path leading to Bahamut , three single Behemoth enemies are fought when the player travels over the single - tile thick bridges , and therefore cannot be avoided . Also , in the Lunar Subterrane , there are various weapons the player can interact with that trigger difficult boss fights , the most notorious amongst these being Dark Bahamut , who guards the mighty Ragnarok sword for Cecil . There are also various chests in the dungeon that will trigger battles as well . " Final Fantasy V " . Many boss fights are fought using fixed encounters . When escaping Karnak Castle , a seemingly normal encounter against a Sergeant and two Cur Nakk enemies ensues , which later reveals itself to be a boss fight against the Iron Claw . In Drakenvale , a special boss fight involves a Zombie Dragon and a Bone Dragon attacking a Golem which the party must save . In the last section of the Gil Cave , the player is also forced to fight a Gil Turtle upon reaching the deepest part of the cave ( the places where tens of thousands of gil lie on the floor ) . In the fourth floor of the Pyramid of Moore , after the Mecha Head zone , the player is forced to fight Sekhmet before proceeding to the next floor . " Final Fantasy VI " . In the Advance version , the Gigantuar can be fought as a fixed encounter in the desert outside of Maranda . The player must first speak with thief wearing blue as you enter the town , then kill ten or more Cactuar before the Gigantuar appears . His tile is in the southwest corner of the desert , one step above the lowest edge , just to the left of the southern point . Deathgaze isn ' t a random encounter , but every time the player takes off in the airship in the World of Ruin , it has a fixed location on the world map that changes once the player lands the airship . Finding him is merely a matter of locating which portion of the world map he is hiding on while flying the airship . " Final Fantasy VII " . The first battle of the game is a fixed encounter between Cloud Strife and two MPs . Should the player decide to charge in the front door of the Shinra HQ , the party must defeat two Grenade Combatants . Also in the Shinra building , the party is attacked by three Mighty Grunts on floor 59 upon approaching the elevator to floor 60 . In the Cave of the Gi , stepping on the giant spider webs that block the path will initiate a battle with a Stinger . The battle against the Materia Keeper in Mt . Nibel is fought by running into the enemy . The Icicle battles fought inside Gaea ' s Cliff are fought by running into the area beneath the icicles . Getting knocked back by the wind in the Whirlwind Maze forces the party to defeat a Wind Wing . When on the train that takes the player to North Corel from Mt . Corel during the Huge Materia mission on Disc 2 , the player faces an encounter on every carriage they jump on . There are several fixed encounters with Underwater MP s and Submarine Crew in the Underwater Reactor at Junon . The various battles with Ultimate Weapon on the World Map are fixed encounters when the " Highwind " moves into it , as with the Ruby Weapon . The same can be said for the Emerald Weapon when hit with the Submarine . " Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII - " . " Crisis Core " has many fixed encounters over the course of the storyline . Some fixed encounters cause enemies to appear and immediately engage Zack , others cause enemies to appear and wander an area , beginning a battle when approached . " Final Fantasy VIII " . The encounters whereupon the player witnesses the UFO ? flying across the screen carrying an object are triggered by stepping on a specific area on the world map , and trigger even with the Enc - None ability equipped , making them fixed encounters . After seeing the UFO four times , the player can find it in another fixed encounter on the plateau above Grandidi Forest , right above the Chocobo Sanctuary . After defeating the UFO ? the player can meet PuPu in a fixed encounter by visiting the site where Balamb Garden used to be . In the Deep Sea Research Center , should the player choose to have Zell open the final door instead of using Steam Pressure , the party will have to fight several fixed encounters against fairly strong enemies on the way to Ultima Weapon . " Final Fantasy IX " . Fixed encounters are used in Memoria . When traveling through the linear dungeon , the player will enter in four different fights in fixed positions against each of the guardians of Terra . This is reminiscent of how the Four Fiends of the original " Final Fantasy " are fought as fixed encounters at the end of the four final floors . Pandemonium is also home to three fixed encounters : the first against an Amdusias , the second against an Abadon , and the last against a Shell Dragon . Several spots in Cleyra are also fixed encounters , when heading down the trunk as well as when saving the civilians , if the player choose the wrong path . Additionally , on the way up to Cleyra , the party can fight Sand Scorpion enemies if they allow the character to sink in quicksand . In Mount Gulug , there are three separate fixed encounters with Red Dragons . In the Evil Forest , while escaping from the forest , there are two specific points where there are fixed encounters with Plant Spider enemies , and in the Ice Cavern , the enemy Wyerd is a fixed encounter if the player were to step into an icy gust . On the world map , if the player chooses a wrong sinkhole when trying to enter the Desert Palace , the player can constantly fight an Antlion . During the Festival of the Hunt , all encounters are fixed encounters . In Alexandria , while entering the castle and escaping during Disc 2 , the party can fight several Alexandrian Soldiers , as well as a Bandersnatch . In Burmecia , there are three fixed encounters with Mimics , and in Gizamaluke ' s Grotto , the player can fight three Black Mages in a fixed encounter . " Final Fantasy X " . In the International , PAL and HD Remaster versions , Dark Anima can be fought at the entrance after the player has control of the airship . Dark Anima will appear after completing the Target minigame again . This is available after viewing the campfire scene at start of Zanarkand Ruins . Each failed attempt triggers a battle composed of all fiends found in the Mountain Cave in a strict order , starting with Bandersnatch ' s group , finishing with Behemoth , and then back to Bandersnatch . " Final Fantasy XIII " . Cocoon was described as " scripted battles " as opposed to Gran Pulse ' s " random encounters " . However both worlds have their enemies present on the field map and making a physical contact with them results in a battle . " Final Fantasy Legend II " . Throughout Ashura ' s Base , the player can encounter fixed encounter or random encounters inside , such as if the player walks into enemies , talks to them , or they walk into them . They ' ll engage into a battle with the enemies found in the area .