Sephiroth

Preparations: You really want your level to at least be around the sixties for a good chance of winning. Equip as many Gaia Bangles as you can since they'll give you a much needed HP and defense boost. If you don't have any, I'd suggest you go synthesize some. For your weapon choose either the Oathkeeper, Metal Chocobo, Lionheart, Oblivion, or Ultima Weapon. Fill your items slots with either Elixers or Mega Ethers. For your abilities be sure to have MP Haste, MP Rage, Critical Plus, Dodge Roll, Second Chance (do NOT go into battle without this equipped), and Strike Raid (you really want this). For your magic, Aero and cure are your friends. Keep in mind, even with this strategy, there's a nice chance that you'll die until you get use to his attacks and timing.

Sephiroth:
Hp: 1,800
Exp: 18,000
Strategy: Sephiroth has one helluva reach with his blade, the infamous Masamune, but don't let that bother you. He'll use attacks such as a basic slash, a teleport slash, and Flame Pillar. Best way to evade his basic slash is to use dodge roll. Start off by casting Aero if at all possible and dodging his attacks. When he does his Flame Pillar, dodge roll away from him and attack with Strike Raid. After doing this a few times, his HP bar should begin to move. Try to get in some normal combos if you can. Once his HP bar gets down to where the yellow bar is visible, he'll teleport and say "Come on!". He'll start teleporting like mad and will eventually teleport away from you and into a corner and shout "SIN HARVEST!" which means he's going to use Sin Harvest (duh).

You'll see a rainbow-like glow around him, and then you'll notice it above your head. Its too late when this happens. You're gonna be hit by it and your HP will be reduced to one and your MP to zero. Directly following this, he'll teleport and kill you. To avoid this, quickly use Strike Raid when you hear him say "Sin Harvest!" to interrupt it. Doing so will cause him to use Flame Pillar. Dodge this and when he tries to use Sin Harvest again, attack with Strike Raid. Dodge his basic and teleport slashes, wait for him to use Sin Harvest again, and repeat. At some point he'll attack you with Omnislash. The best way to thwart this is (surprisingly) Strike Raid. When the green of his health bar becomes visible, he'll get a wee pissed and be surrounded in a in a black and green "vortex" with a white glow. Here he'll attack you with Meteors and "Darkness Balls". While he's attacking with the Darkness Balls, feel free to attack him, but you'll have to heal up frequently. Eventually he'll go back to trying to use Sin Harvest. Just use the Strike Raid strategy and keep your health up and he'll eventually fall.

Ice Titan

Preparations: You'll want to be around level 50 or 60 to take this guy down with ease. Be sure to have the Guard, Scan, Second Chance, MP Rage, and MP Haste abilities equipped, but not dodge roll. It just might mess you up when you go to block some of his attacks. You also want to equip as many Blizagga Rings and Ribbons as you can to help protect you from his ice attacks. And whatever you do don't cast Aero at all in this battle. This will only result in the Ice Titan throwing larger Icicles.

After you complete the Hades Cup you'll find that a "???" has appeared on Phil's list of tournaments, this is the Gold Match.


Ice Titan:
Hp: 1,500
Exp: 5,000
Strategy: When the battle starts have Sora run to the very top top of the stadium seats. Doing so will help in avoiding some of his attacks. Do not leave the top of the seats for any reason other than to attack the Ice Titan when he's temporarily stunned (more on this in just a bit). After arriving at the top of the stadium you'll be ready to take on this overgrown popcicle. The key to defeating him is to use the guard ability to deflect his icicles back at him. In order to successfully pull this off-which isn't too hard-is to wait for oncoming icicles or "ice arrows" to come close to Sora and hit the square button. Doing so causes them to fly right back at the Ice Titan, damaging him. When he launches a barrage of icicles don't bother trying to deflect them, just dodge them.

If you need to heal at any point, do so with your cure spell since its considerably faster than using items and the Ice Titan will constantly be launching attacks at you. After you've deflected enough icicles back at him, he'll become stunned and kneel, lowering his head to the floor of the arena. At this point, glide or superglide your way from the top of the stadium to the floor and attack his head as much as possible. When he begins to show signs of waking up get back to the top of the stadium on the double. Just continue deflecting his icicles and repeat this process until he's beaten.

Kurt Zisa

Preparations:: Be sure that your levels are at least in the mid-fifties, if not sixties. In your item window have some Hi-Potions and Megalixers. Don't bother with ethers since there's a chance of them getting in your way when healing. Make sure that you have magic shortcuts to Aero, Cure, and thunder (which you more than likely should). You'll also want to equip the Dodge Roll and any other ability to strengthen your attacks.

Kurt Zisa:
Hp: 1,500
Exp: 20,000
Strategy: Kurt is a simple battle. Cast Aero or summon Tinkerbell right away because Kurt will quickly block all magic. Anyway, target the energy balls in his grip to undo this anti-magic shield. Once you destroy them Kurt will collapse into a heap allowing you a chance to attack. Take full advantage of it. Keep the head targeted though 'cause it moves around a lot. Once Kurt revives he will create an attack proof shield around himself. Use magic attacks on the wall to thwart its effect. Every hit that the shield takes will release a shower of MP balls, so pick them up to restock your supply of MP. Once the shield is gone he will collapse back into a heap and after that start the cycle all over again. Beware though of the spinning attacks that Kurt unleashes because it's not exactly safe to stand around while he's flying through the air right at you. Dodge roll comes in hand during this attack, so use it to evade. Keep your HPs up and have lots of healing items and you'll do fine.

The Phantom

Preparations: You'll want to have lots of MP for this battle, so equip yourself with some Rune Armlets and Rays of Lights. For your abilities equip MP Gift, MP Haste, and MP Rage. Feel your item slots with Ethers and make sure you have Firaga, Blizzaga, and Thundaga in Sora's shortcut menu. You may also want to replace one of those three spells with Stopra. Lady Luck, Oathkeeper, and Ultima Weapon are you best choice of weapons.

Best I mention this beforehand as well. When it comes to selecting the appropriate spell to cast on the ball, the color gives a nice hint as to which spell to cast. Red is Fire, Blue is Blizzard, Yellow is Thunder, and White is a physical attack.

The Phantom:
Hp: 1,200
Exp: 9,999
Strategy: The Phantom will probably start off using his sudden death attack, which I'll refer to as Doom. You'll notice this attack right away when numbers appear over your head or any other of your party members. When the timer runs out, that character is gone from the battle for the good. The only way to avoid death is to cast Stopra on the hands of the clock on one of the clock faces when they are spinning rapidly. If you can't cast it when you're locked on to it get closer to the clock face. Stopping the clock should be your first priority seeing as how you'll need to cast the spell frequently. Now, when he's circling around you don't try to follow, but rather just sit and wait for him. While you're waiting, look at his ball and see what color it is. If there isn't a ball, then release the lock on and fall back. If you don't release it you'll have a wee bit of trouble "running" from him.