When you get close to finishing the game and decide you're really up for a challenge then it's time to take on Ozma - the insanely difficult optional boss found in the Chocobo Air Garden. To get to the Air Garden you need to work your way through the Chocobo Hot & Cold mini-game. The third and final location to play this game is the Chocobo Air Garden. Here, if you hop to the top of the area, you'll find a small mound that pops up an "!" when you get close to it.

But wait! Before you take that final leap into battle with Ozma you really need to prepare. Before you even consider party members and equipment (both very important things discussed below) you need to complete a fairly simple sidequest. You need to locate and play a little game with all the Friendly Monsters. This includes the Friendly Yan located on Vile Island (accessible only with a Sky Chocobo - lucky thing you have one, eh?). You may have some trouble with the not-so-friendly Yans but if you do then you might want to rethink the whole Ozma thing . . .

Now why did we have you complete that little sidequest, you ask? Well, if you didn't then when you try to fight Ozma you'll find it is out of range for physical attacks. This means no Shock from Steiner and no Grand Lethal from Zidane. It's definitely worth your time and gives you much better options in this fight. Now on to battle strategy:

When preparing your party it is best to understand that the battle with Ozma is 1/3rd strategy and 2/3rds pure luck. It doesn't matter what level you are or who is in your party if Ozma uses multiple Curses in a row you're dead regardless. With that in mind you may end up fighting Ozma multiple times before succeeding.

One effective strategy is to use Zidane, Eiko, Freya, and Amarant. Since Ozma uses L4 Holy (assuming you've done enough to earn the two possible pumice pieces) two of your characters should be a level 4 multiple and wearing the pieces. One of those two should be Eiko. This will give her as your healer the ability to be restored by both Holy and Doomsday. If you use the other pumice piece on Amarant then you can equip Freya with Demon's mail and Zidane with demons vest and a protect ring. All of your party should have status ailment prevents for every ailment equiped. Now that you're prepared for the battle the strategy is simple. Eiko is to summon phoenix every attack. It doesn't do much damage but Ozma has so many attacks per one round of your characters that the chances are somebody will be dead by the time Eiko moves. If Eiko goes into trance and you feel you can get a legitimate attack in without suffering too much then use double Holy. When it comes to healing and HP just ignore all the characters except for Eiko. You'll waste too much time and resources if you try to keep everyone up. Amarant's job is to make sure that Eiko is aura'd. This will keep her in play even if something catastrophic happens. While not replacing the aura on Eiko, Amarant should attack with his no mercy. Ozma heals itself a lot so don't waste time trying to aura more than just Eiko or you'll lose ground. Freya's Dragon Crest does max damage so use it every time. Even if she's mini'd she can do max damage. With Zidane use whatever your strongest ability is and remedy the party as needed.

There are a few funny tidbits you'll get if you beat Ozma before completing certain sidequests. If you beat him before encountering the Friendly Yan instead of saying "You can attack the Round Guy now" he'll start to say that and then break in, "What?! You already beat him?" Also, if you beat Ozma before taking on Hades he too will acknowledge your amazing feat.

All that said, you're as prepared as we can get you. Now, Go, Fight, Win! And good luck, you're going to need it.