Gold Dragon (Final Fantasy VI)

The Gold Dragon, formerly called Gold Drgn and GoldDrgn, is a boss in Final Fantasy VI. It is one of the eight legendary dragons, and is the dragon of the element. The Gold Dragon is found in the final dungeon along the path taken by the second party. 
The Gold Dragon is re-fought in the Dragon Temple area of the Dragons' Den bonus dungeon in the Advance and 2014 releases. Both versions of Gold Dragon can be further re-fought in the Soul Shrine, as with most bosses in the game.
== Stats ==
== Battle ==
=== First battle ===
The Gold Dragon is arguably the easiest to defeat after the Holy Dragon. It only attacks using lightning-elemental attacks, Thundaga being its strongest, but it has to charge up to use it. Other attacks it uses are Thunder, Thundara, and Gigavolt. The Gold Dragon is weak to .
==== Strategy ====
If the party members are immune to or absorb lightning, the battle is already won. The Thunder Shield, Minerva Bustier, and Paladin's Shield all provide the desired effect. Even without lightning-protection, the battle is not hard.
Strago's Aqua Breath and Tsunami Lores exploit the dragon's weakness. In the Advance and 2014 releases, the Flood spell is also effective. If Shadow is in the party, throwing Tridents or Water Scrolls is useful. Edgar and Mog should use Jump attacks while equipped with the Trident. Otherwise, the strong Flare and Ultima spells work well.
The Gold Dragon is vulnerable to berserk where it only uses physical attacks. Casting Vanish or summoning Phantom will make the party invincible.
=== Second battle ===
The Gold Dragon is encountered again in the Dragons' Den where it renders most magic useless as it absorbs them due to its inherent Runic. It will only have an effect on spells normally absorbed by Runic. It is still weak to water attacks.
The Gold Dragon no longer uses its lightning-based magic attacks, but instead uses powerful physical attacks, some of which are of the lightning element. It often uses its special attack, Mighty Claw, to inflict confuse, and when weak, gains protect status.
By slaying the Gold Dragon, the party receives Locke's ultimate weapon, the Zwill Crossblade, and gains access to the room Kaiser Dragon is in.
==== Strategy ====
The Flood spell works well against the upgraded Gold Dragon. The player is advised to bring a party of strong physical fighters like Locke, Cyan, and Shadow. Characters like Mog and Strago are also useful, as they have healing and protective abilities that are not absorbed by Runic.
An alternative strategy is to fight a normal group of monsters before engaging the Gold Dragon, have somebody in the party summon the Phantom esper, and quickly escape. With this, the party will have the status, and become immune to the dragon's physical attack and Mighty Claw, but Plasma will remove the invisibility after hitting.
== Formations ==
Number	Enemies 	Encounter flags	Encounter flags	Encounter flags	Encounter flags	Introduction flag	Musical theme 	Magic AP
Number	Enemies 	Normal 	Back 	Surrounded 	Side 	Introduction flag	Musical theme 	Magic AP
 	Gold Dragon	 	 	 	 	Sides, individual	The Decisive Battle	10
 	Gold Dragon	 	 	 	 	Sides, individual	Battle 	—
 	Gold Dragon	 	 	 	 	Sides, individual	Battle 	—
 	Gold Dragon	 	 	 	 	Sides, individual	The Decisive Battle	—
== AI script ==
=== First battle ===
Attack Turns:
1st Turn: Gigavolt (33%) or Thunder (33%) or Thundara (33%)
2nd Turn: Gigavolt (33%) or Thunder (66%)
3rd Turn: Thundara (33%) or Thunder (66%)
If Gold Dragon has Reflect status:
:1st Turn: Attack (100%)
:2nd Turn: Target: Self
::Thundara (66%) or Thunder (33%)
:3rd Turn: Attack (100%)
:4th Turn: Target: Self
::Thundara (33%) or Thunder (33%) or Nothing (33%)
If attacked by "Attack":
:If Var0 is not set:
::Increase Var36 by 1
::If Var36 >= 4:
:::If Var0 is not set:
::::Set Var0
::::Display message: Gold Dragon begins storing energy...
If attacked by "Magic":
:If Var0 is not set: Thunder (33%) or Thundara (33%)
If Var0 is set:
:Increase Var3 by 1
If Var0 is set:
:If Var3 >= 2:
::Unset Var0
::Set Var36 = 0
::Set Var3 = 0
::Target: All Characters
::Thundaga (100%)
If Character #1 has Reflect status and is not KO:
:If Gold Dragon does NOT have Reflect status:
::Target: Self
::Reflect (100%)
If Character #2 has Reflect status and is not KO:
:If Gold Dragon does NOT have Reflect status:
::Target: Self
::Reflect (100%)
If Character #3 has Reflect status and is not KO:
:If Gold Dragon does NOT have Reflect status:
::Target: Self
::Reflect (100%)
If Character #4 has Reflect status and is not KO:
:If Gold Dragon does NOT have Reflect status:
::Target: Self
::Reflect (100%)
=== Second battle ===
Attack Turns:
1st Turn: Attack (66%) or Mighty Claw (33%)
:Attack (66%) or Mighty Claw (33%)
2nd Turn: Attack (66%) or Mighty Claw (33%)
:Attack (66%) or Plasma (33%)
3rd Turn: Attack (66%) or Plasma (33%)
:Attack (33%) or Mighty Claw (33%) or Plasma (33%)
If HP <= 25600:
:Gains Protect status
:Mighty Claw (100%)
If Gold Dragon has Protect status:
:1st Turn: Attack (100%)
::Mighty Claw (100%)
:2nd Turn: Mighty Claw (33%) or Plasma (66%)
::Wave Cannon (100%)
If attacked by anything:
:Attack (66%) or Nothing (33%)
:Mighty Claw (33%) or Nothing (66%)
== Other appearances ==
=== Pictlogica Final Fantasy ===
=== Final Fantasy Record Keeper ===
== Etymology ==
 Gold dragons are the most powerful of the metallic dragons and the most dedicated to defeating evil. The early Final Fantasy series derived a lot of influence of Dungeons & Dragons.
== Related enemies ==
* Brachiosaur
* Primeval Dragon
* Shield Dragon
* Red Dragon
* Blue Dragon
* Ice Dragon
* Storm Dragon
* Earth Dragon
* Skull Dragon
* Holy Dragon
de:Gelber Drache (FFVI)
ru:Золотой дракон (Final Fantasy VI)
Category:Bosses in Final Fantasy VI