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After the events at the start of Chapter Four, you must complete a few quests to continue with the story inXenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed. One such requirement is the Ether Lift Research quest, which have you access a new area, explore it, and collect enough Photonium.
Related:Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed - Georgie’s Ask Quest Guide
However, going through the Sealed Cave can be challenging, and you may not have enough materials to build the Ether Slide to reach it. While it can be a difficult quest, you can get through this quest as you use the tips offered to continue with the story.
How To Start The Quest And Reach The Sealed Cave
Once you progress through the game, the quest will appear on your map. You mustvisit Riku by going to Riku’s Workshopin Colony 9.
A cutscene will play, informing you that you must collect some items by traveling to the Sealed Cave. However, you mustcreate an Ether Slide to reach it, meaning you must have the correct items before you go.
Fast-travel to the Pioneer’s Campin the Aurora Shelf to reach the Ether Slide. You’ll then go south and find the Ether Slide before you. To create the Ether Slide, you must collecttwo Noise Bites, a Black Shard, and an Ether Cylinder.
For the Noise Bite, you’ll find them as an ore pickup around the Aurora Shelf. Fast-travel to theElevator, Upper Landing Landmarkin the Aurora Shelf. Look around this area for ore pickups, and you’ll find some.
For a Black Shard, they appear worldwide, though you’ll usually find them tucked away in various corners. If you need help finding some,run along the edge of various areas, and look for any containers on the ground, go up to them, and you’ll collect a Black Shard.
If you want an easy one, go to theUlcar Monument in the Ragmos Desolation. Travel west and see the Black Shard on a rock.
The same applies to an Ether Cylinder: simply go up to one of the Ether Channels worldwide, interact with it, and get enough Ether for the Ether Slide. You can find oneeast of the Battlefield Camp Rest Spotin the Vermilion Woods.
Once you get everything, you can activate the Ether Slide to reach the Sealed Cave. You’ll watch a cutscene, enter the cave, and must collect Photonium. Even though you need nine of them, you’ll get three at each point, so you mustreach three locations to complete this quest.
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Preparing For the Sealed Cave
Before you enter this cave, you shouldlevel up your party to at least level 35, so you’re able to comfortably fight the enemies. You’ll encounter multiple groups of enemies you must defeat to collect the Photonium, so having that range will allow you to take care of the enemies if you remain strategic.
You should also prepare using a few recommended accessories and Unity Skills to help you through the area. Since you’ll deal with mobs of enemies, you’ll want touse a different setup than if you were fighting a boss.
Vibrant Armring and Sapphire
Bunnit Choker and Devotional Necklace
Shell Protector and Colorful Feather
Shell Cameo and Affection Necklace
Lazure Vambraces and Misanga
Gold Necklace and Headgear
Disperse Bloodlust
This setup helps your team tomaximize their damage while considering the multiple enemies.
For example, Matthew’s Sapphire helps himdeal more damage the more enemies you fight. On the other hand, A’s accessories help her avoid damage while reviving teammates in a pinch.
Nikol will maintain the Aggro, while Glimmer will boost her total healing.Shulk can also maintain Aggro while increasing his Agility, and Rex will have less Aggro, thanks to his Necklace and Gem.
As for your Unity Pairings, you should tryMatthew and Shulk, A and Nikol, and Glimmer and Rex. The setup will give you access to quick Unity Combos, thanks to Shulk and Matthew.
Also,the increased Evasion will help you take less damage, while the Critical Rate and Critical Damage increase will help your team deal more damage. On top of that, you have single-target Unity Combos with an AoE Unity Combo when you need it.
The First Photonium Point
When you enter the Sealed Cave, you’lltravel southwest. In the first room with a split, go through the west side and continue through, over a wooden bridge.
Then, head left along the east wall and go up the nearby climbing point. Continue eastuntil you reach a ladder, then go down it, and you’ll find the Photonium to the west.
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The Second Photonium Point
Climb back up the ladder and travel south. Following this path, you’ll eventuallyreach the Declessa Altar Landmark. You’ll have an enemy territory you may fight, though it’s not required.
Either take down the enemies or run past them toward the west. Go across the bridge. Once you enter the next room, go north, and you’llenter a room with a Fog Riftand the Photonium in the corner.
As you fight the Fog Rift, it’ll summon Fog creatures to attack you. Even though you may think you should focus on the Fog Rift,it’ll take minimal damage if you have enemies around it.
On top of that,the Fog Rift and the creatures resist Status Effects, so feel free to use your Unity Combos whenever they come off cooldown since you can’t save them for a Launch.
You shouldsave your Chain Attack and use it on the Fog Riftonce you wipe out a wave of enemies. If you use the Chain Attack before the Fog Rift can summon more creatures, you’ll maximize the damage.
If you don’t have a Chain Attack ready, attack the Fog Rift until it summons creatures again.
Once you finish the fight, you cangrab the nearby Photonium.
The Third Photonium Point
Leave the room by going south from the previous Photonium andcontinue south until you reach the next climbing point.
Go up it and continue down the path to the southeast.
There’s a hole in the ground here, sowatch out for it, and continue southeast.
You’ll travel to the east side of the next room, thenclimb the wall to the north. Continue north, and you’ll enter the room with the Photonium.
You’ll haveIgloons and the Forgraptor D’nariin your way. Start the fight, andimmediately go for the Igloonsto your right since you can quickly take them out.
Once you turn your attention to the Fograptor, you’ll notice that itresists Status Effects. While you can inflict Break on it, you can’t guarantee it, like you can against standard monsters.
Because of that, you must pay close attention to the unique monster andhold onto your Topple and Launch skillsto use them at the right moment.
Aside from that, you should follow the standard strategies: using your Unity Combos near the end of the enemy’s Launch,holding off on your Chain Attack until the enemy’s at half health, and swapping characters as needed. If you keep at it, you’ll eventually take down this unique monster.
You need to run over to the Photonium and collect it.You’ll automatically complete the quest, so you may either finish the Ouroboros Power quest or continue with the story.
Next:Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed - The Derelict Ether Furnace Quest Guide
