Library of the Ancients

FINAL FANTASY V guide · Repository searched to find Mid and locate the fire demon Ifrit ✓ Checked against sources

The party travels to the Library of the Ancients to locate Cid's missing grandson, Mid, who wandered into the monster-infested basement archives. Navigating through sliding bookshelves requires subduing the summon spirit Ifrit to use fire against an impassable animated book. After Byblos is defeated and Mid is rescued, the party can return here across different eras of the story before the library eventually vanishes into the Void.

Don't miss 0/4

Ether: Basement 1st floor, inside the eastern chest of the dark hallwayNinja Suit: Basement 1st floor, on the western balcony walkway reached via the lower raftersPhoenix Down: Basement 1st floor, inside the southwestern chest in the second darkened areaMana's Paean: Spoken to a scholar on the roof terrace during the Merged World

Secrets

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Examining the third book lying open on the rooftop triggers a battle against Page 32, allowing the party to learn the Blue Magic spell Aera outside of the basement.

Key fights

Ifrit

Enemies: Ifrit

Threats: Uses High Kick and casts Fire, Fira, and Blaze

Weaknesses and resistances: Weak to Ice; absorbs Fire

Tactics: Exploit his Ice vulnerability using Blizzard-infused attacks, Shiva, or cast Blizzara to finish the battle quickly

Rewards: Yields the Ifrit summon pact.

Byblos

Enemies: Byblos

Threats: Uses Wind Slash, Protect, Thread, Drain, and casts the Blue Magic spell Magic Hammer

Weaknesses and resistances: Weak to Fire; absorbs Ice, Lightning, Earth, Water, Poison, Holy, and Wind

Tactics: Attack using Fire magic, Fire-imbued Spellblade hits, and cast Ifrit, while keeping at least one character equipped with Learning to obtain Magic Hammer

Rewards: Yields Iron Draft.

Enemies

Page 32

Weak to FireSteal / drop Potion (common steal), Green Beret (rare steal)

Uses and teaches the Blue Magic spell Aera.

Page 64

Weak to FireSteal / drop Potion (common steal), Silver Specs (rare steal)

Uses the lethal Blue Magic spell Level 5 Death.

Page 128

Weak to FireSteal / drop Ether (common steal)

Summons lower page monsters and attacks with Blizzara.

Page 256

Weak to FireSteal / drop Hi-Potion (common steal), Ninja Suit (rare steal)

Can be controlled to teach Off-Guard or cast Moon Flute.

Shops and people

Recovery Urn: Restores complete HP, MP, and revives KO'd or status-afflicted members for free.

Tips

Ensure that character levels are not a multiple of 5 before traversing the basement to prevent instantaneous party wipes from Page 64's Level 5 Death.

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Sources checked: strategywiki.org, youtube.com, ign.com, gamespot.com, arrpeegeez.com