Elder Drake

Elder Drake is an enemy in Final Fantasy X-2. It is one of the few visible enemies found in Via Infinito. The player can detect there is an Elder Drake in the floor by the roaring and jumping noises it makes, but can avoid it by running past it without it charging into them. It is also a random encounter on floors 81–99. It uses Nidhogg's model from Final Fantasy X.
== Stats ==
== Battle ==
Elder Drake has intrinsic Protect buff, high HP and high Magic Defense, but most importantly, it has high Agility. It can repeat its standard attack several times in succession, quickly killing an unprepared party. Its most dangerous attack is Pyroplexy, which is non-elemental and magical and inflicts massive damage to the party. It can be nullified by a Songstress using Magical Masque. Pyroplexy is used in response to any attack whose damage can be reduced with Shell, such as magic. In its Oversouled state, Elder Drake can target Mages with its Mage Hater and Mage Payback abilities and cast Cura, which is a waste, since it only heals approximately 1000 HP. The Elder Drake's vulnerabilities are its meager MP, its zero Evasion and Luck ratings, and extra vulnerability to fire, ice, lightning, and water.
Even if the Oversoul condition is met, the Elder Drakes that jump back and forth will not Oversoul in battle. Only the Elder Drakes in pits and those faced as random encounters and in the Fiend Arena will Oversoul.
=== Strategy ===
Elder Drake can be stopped from using Pyroplexy by siphoning its MP. It has a meager 400 MP pool that can be burned using Magicide, Absorb, Absorb MP, Soul Spring, Mana Spring, or an MP-draining ability from any captured creature (e.g. Garik Ronso's MP Blowout). Once the mana pool is burned, Elder Drake may waste turns trying to perform Pyroplexy and fail. Alternatively, a Songstress can nullify it using Magical Masque, but that ties a party member that can be put to better use; plus, keeping a Songstress alive can be a challenge.
The Evade & Counter ability on the Berserker dressphere allows the wielder to use Elder Drake's high Agility against itself, as the wielder dodges Elder Drake's physical attacks and strikes back. The Unhinge ability from the same dressphere can lower the Elder Drake's accuracy, since its Evasion is already zero. As employing this tactic requires extensive preparations, one can instead invest on augmenting Defense using high-Defense dresspheres and use the Protect buff, or employ powerful captured fiends in combat (e.g. Machina Leader, Tonberry).
To improve the offense, one can equip Tetra Gloves to increase Strength and inflict fire, ice, lightning, and water damage. Elder Drake receives double damage from each of them. For example, a high-level Mega Tonberry or Concherer that would ordinarily inflict ~2,000 damage to an Elder Drake, equipped with the Force of Nature accessory, can exceed 18,000 damage with Break Damage Limit or Total Limit Break also equipped.
In the original release one can easily take down Elder Drakes with a Gunner in HP Critical wearing the Cat Nip accessory and using Trigger Happy. This tactic is unusable in the HD Remaster version since Cat Nip induces the Berserk and Slow statuses, the latter of which can be nullified with a Speed Bracer. However, it can instead be adapted with the Thief dressphere as it hits twice per attack cycle, effectively dealing 19,998 damage per attack.
== Creature Creator ==
The Elder Drake is recruitable in Chapter 5 by setting up a Trap pod M in Bevelle after discovering Via Infinito or a Trap pod SP targeting the Drake species after completing Via Infinito. This version of the Elder Drake differs from the enemy counterpart. It comes with Fire Breath (a Blue Bullet also usable by Balivarha), Fire Eater (absorbs fire elemental attacks), and Health Preserver (Sleepproof+Poisonproof) learned. In battle, it will be able to learn Sense Preserver (Darkproof+Silenceproof) and Life Preserver (Deathproof+Stoneproof), as well as its most powerful ability Pyroplexy. The latter is learned when Elder Drake receives enough damage from various abilities in battle (not necessarily finishing moves) and its Level is 60 or higher. Pyroplexy is useful even at low levels as it always breaks the damage limit even in the absence of the Break Damage Limit auto-ability granted by the Invincible accessory or The End Garment Grid. It is recommended to equip the Elder Drake with the Mascot dressphere to provide it further protection against status ailments, as well as general increases to all of its stats.
Stats-wise, the Elder Drake enjoys large amounts of HP, as well as decent Strength and Magic, high Defense, moderate Magic Defense, and high Accuracy. On the other hand, it also has poor Evasion, much like its enemy counterpart, which leaves it vulnerable to fast, hard-hitting enemies like the Lacerta. Even at Level 99, its Evasion stat is only 3 before taking into account stat increases from dresspheres, Garment Grids, and equipped or consumed accessories.
=== Fiend Tale ===
In the Fiend Tale endings, a notable Elder Drake was created from the spirit of a Bevelle chef who kept his refined taste for the best ingredients. He offers to cook for the Gullwings, but his cooking style puts them in the red for a month.
=== Fiend Arena ===
The Elder Drake appears in the Fiend Arena as part of the Fire Dragon God team, which appears only in the Farplane Cup. Although far from the most dangerous enemy in the tournament, there is a very small chance that it may actually beat Major Numerus.
== Gallery ==
Elder Drake in Via Infinito.jpg|Elder Drake in Via Infinito.
== Etymology ==
Drake is another word for dragon. 
== Related enemies ==
*Bolt Drake
*Greater Drake
*Lesser Drake
*Spine Drake
=== Final Fantasy X ===
*Fafnir
*Kusariqqu
*Lamashtu
*Mushussu
*Nidhogg
*Vouivre
=== Final Fantasy X-2: Last Mission ===
*Bolt Drake
*Lesser Drake
*Spine Drake
Category:Enemies in Final Fantasy X-2