1/128 CHALLENGE GUIDE

This is a challenge more of luck and patience than of the normal quest using strategy or speed. In that way, It is important that you possess at least one of those traits before setting out on this loafty goal -- patience. Many begin this quest without knowing the full repercussions and time that it will undoubtedly take, and as such, they abandon it partway through. However, for those few who think they've got the stuff to prove they're a crazy enemy-drop whiz, this is the one for you!

THE BASICS

Before you start, you'll need to get a few pointers. No, no, nothing complex, just some things that might save you some time from realizing them on your own. This is a miniature guide, more or less, to the process. The steps required are easy enough to pick up and the rest comes either from experimentation or reading deeper into the guide for specifics -- you'll see what I mean.
The main goal here is to find the best hunting area that these bad guys spawn at. When looking for such a place, you must take a few things into account:

• Are there frequent enemies that spawn with the foe in question?
• Will terrain hinder my speed at finding them?
• Are the escape routes in case non-focal enemies appear around me?

Once you can balance these points well in a single area, you'll find your spot. Most of the rest of this guide is relaying the spots already discovered by a fellow 1/128 quest completionist; while these are then fairly good spots, they are not necessarily the best. Explore on your own, too!

THE SKILLS

To get the best chance to score your item, you need to cut other foes out of the picture. Thus, a skill you'll want to acquire is the Scrolling Nullification and Obliteration Technique (affectionately used in this guide as its acronym of SNOT). It sounds kinda awkward, yes, but this skill is integral to your success. How is it performed? Simply put, you walk far enough from an enemy to make it an inch or so off-screen so that it disappears when you return to the spot. While it's easy to do in theory, the real mastery comes when you can rid one enemy and keep another, essentially singling out specific foes. If you get really good at this, you can up your chances a lot at finding those 1/128 treasures. It may take some practice, but eventually you'll be able to walk just the right amount of distance.

THE PROGRAMMING

A final note before heading deep into the enemy strategies: the basics of the game's dropping algorithm.
When you touch a foe, the game calculates two things:

1. The enemy in the party that has a chance to drop an item, and
2. The chance for the enemy to drop its item.

Note that this is all BEFORE battle even begins. This is why using Jeff's Spy command works to find enemy drops at the get-go. NOTE: The enemy you touch out of battle does NOT influence the drop that you'll get, and Jeff's Spy will find the drop no matter who you use the command on. Also, foes that are called into battle have no chance to share their item at the end. Thus, once the item is locked in, it's there for good.

The game's internal RNG is what ultimately picks the chances of drop occurrances, changed by nearly everything in the game: moving battle cursors, standing still, opening a menu, etc. The only really stable thing that changes no numbers is keeping the battle cursor still in battle. However, these manipulations won't be of real use to you since you can't access the RNG to see what's coming up next. the only real application is to scramble up the RNG when you load your file, as it always starts from the same spot when you do. Even so, within 2-3 mintues of playing, it's already so scrambled that similar results are improbable, so no worries there -- these are just a few fun facts to keep in mind!

THE HITLIST

Here are your targets, ladies and gentlemen. The greyed names are those that are only temporarily available. (More or less, as obviously all but 2 are temporary if you save in the Cave of the Past). Tips and other important info is given along the way as well, so heed the advice you read!

SKATE PUNK - Pizza
LOCATION: Onett (before beating Frank) Suggested Area	The Skate Punk can be a real pain because he looks just like his pals, Yes Man Jr. and Pogo Punk. In that case, you may find yourself frequently getting other items (especially Hamburgers). You can attempt to use SNOT to single out one from a group, but the chances are really just the same of you finding his item if you battled normally. The spawn rate is great, though, so you'll have no trouble finding tons of these guys. Just keep your hopes high that the next fight'll have that coveted Pizza!
ATTACK SLUG - Bomb
LOCATION: Onett (Giant Step Cave); Winters (Rainy Circle Cave with Jeff only) Suggested Area	Known for their travel numbers, these sticky slugs can really overlevel Ness when you're searching for them. As such, it seems much more beneficial for Jeff to pick this item up in his stead. Not only does the experience help Jeff catch up to Paula's and Ness's levels, but the slugs travel in far fewer numbers in Rainy Circle Cave (in 2's here compared to Giant Step's 4-6). You can always return to Giant Step, however, if you'd rather have easy fights with everyone in the party.
TERRITORIAL OAK - PSI caramel
LOCATION: Peaceful Rest Valley Suggested Area	By all means, this is a foe that is easier when returned to. With just Ness and/or Paula, these sappy suckers will explode your HP into drastic levels! The best time to return to these is when you get Poo, as he can definitely benefit from the experience you'll gain. Be careful where you pick your spot: these trees often travel with Mobile Sprouts who can really get in the way. If you go to the suggested area, however, you'll only ever find singular trees.
INSANE CULTIST - PSI caramel
LOCATION: Happy Happy Village Suggested Area	While the caves around Happy Happy hold Cultists as well, I'd suggest staying in town where they roam alone. Both parties of one and two cultists share the same chance of giving you the candy you seek. Minimize the damage you take by suiting up with the town's best items, though in all honesty you're probably pretty beefed up by now from battling so many sharks. In any case, the magical number you want to see is 60. That is the Offense required to OHKO a Cultist on the field with a normal blue swirl. If you don't get the drop by then, you'll have it much easier. Otherwise, it's all a bash-fest! Note: you may want to dispatch the Cultists in the prayer house first. There's no sense running all over town if you're lucky enough to get it on one of the few that you're required to beat!
PLAIN CROCODILE - Meteornium
LOCATION: Grapefruit Falls Suggested Area	These gators can be a real pain when you first meet them. Not only do they frequently team up with themselves, a common battle formation is 2 Plain Crocs and 3 Red Antoids -- hardly a group to take lightly at your level! It's easiest to return to these guys near the end of your journey. Visiting at around L:50 might sound okay, but even then they're only afraid of you half the time, and you want the control here, as the spawing areas are all out in the open. Once you do have the ability to easily green-swirl them, use SNOT to single them out.
VIOLENT ROACH - Secret Herb
LOCATION: Caves near Saturn Valley Suggested Area	This is probably the easiest item to get. These roaches always travel alone and their spawn rate is fairly frequent. It's best to return later, like when you have Poo. There's really not much else to this one, so good luck!
SMILIN' SPHERE - Meteornium
LOCATION: Dusty Dunes Desert Suggested Area	Ugh, another exploding enemy. This one can be a headache at first (like so many of the others!). I usually keep this for when I'm at max level just so you scare everything around you. The spheres mainly spawn in a diagonal line in the Desert, starting around the Monkey Cave entrance and going northeast to right above the Montague's dig site. You'll have to watch out for Skelpions and UFOs, but the main problem can sometimes be the spheres themselves. They have a few movement patterns. They make skinny circles until they see you, when they quiver. At that point, they either rush in towards you or flee. In fleeing, they'll either zig twice away and then zag back once and wait, or they'll rarely make a straight getaway. In the former, you'll have to try and catch them on the return zag, but the easiest way to catch them is to herd them into a wall where a green swirl is guaranteed. At max level, you'll always KO without a fight, regardless of their allies.
MAD TAXI - Xterminator spray
LOCATION: Fourside; Summers Suggested Area	This one is rather easy to get if you're a little overleveled. If you follow the suggested spot, you'll find plenty of taxis. They run in circles until they're facing you, when they'll rev forward. If you can surprise them and do some fancy footwork, you can get green swirls even if they're not afraid of you. Otherwise, just keep pluggin'.
MUSICA - Sudden guts pill
LOCATION: Fourside Dept. Store Suggested Area	These often-found nightmares are really quite easy with some practice. They have a radius where they can sense you. As soon as you are registered in that area, they make a dash for that very spot. Thus, if you can figure out the length, you can fake them out and get green swirls easy. Just take a step forward to trigger them and then touch them pretty much any other place besides the direction they're moving. As for grouping, if you stay near the bottom of the mall, they come alone and with only one comrade more often. Use SNOT to break up groups. This can be an annoying item just because of the coffees that have a 1/2 chance of dropping their items. Make sure the XP matches before getting excited! The Musicas give the largest XP of the three enemies that appear.
ENRAGED FIRE PLUG - Sudden guts pill
LOCATION: Moonside; Dungeon Man Suggested Area	Yes, this is technically not a temporary enemy. However, it is highly recommended to score this in Moonside where it is much easier to find them. They're hard to tell apart from Gas Pumps on the overworld, but just run from any gassy battles and you'll be fine. They move in a circular manner like the Mad Taxis, but in smaller circles. Use this to your advantage to try for green swirls. Keep your HP high in battles, too, as these guys are pretty dangerous.
DALI'S CLOCK - PSI caramel
LOCATION: Moonside; Dungeon Man Suggested Area	These guys spawn all over Moonside, but I found it easiest to keep going in and out of the the Cafe. It reloads the map faster since you don't have to walk all over and also makes it easier for green swirls (assuming your victim is close to the door). Very rarely are the foes waiting right at the door, too, so you shouldn't have many surprise attacks, if any, from going in and out. They always travel alone and are distinguishable from outside of battle, so the clocks are among the easier foes to get. The best time to get them is while they're common in Moonside, but if you skip ahead, you can still find them in Dungeon Man.
MIGHTY BEAR SEVEN - Super plush bear
LOCATION: Winters (Stonehenge) Suggested Area	While it may be a bear, it's not a true bear to get! What you want to do for this animal is to work on it while it still finds you as prey. Thus, it's best to get this when you first return to Winter with just Ness, Paula, and Jeff. That way, you can lull it away from its Cave Boy friends. It's best to find a spot that will let it have a straight path towards you so you can use SNOT to get those boys out of the picture.
MANLY FISH'S BROTHER - Horn of life
LOCATION: Deep Darkness Suggested Area	This is, without a doubt, the toughest foe to garner an item from. These rare foes almost always travel with a plain Manly Fish. Take into account the slowed travel in the swamp (minimizing spawn rates and killing chances of using SNOT to single out the brother) and you've got a headache. This foe only appears in the later parts of Deep Darkness. The Suggested Area is ideal for hunting them because its path is on dry land. However, alongside the Manly Fish there are nearly every other foe in the swamp, so you'll have to be able to manage good SNOT skills to avoid pointless battles. This is a foe worth saving for last, as by that time the Fish (and most everything else in the swamp) will run from you, allowing green swirls or easy avoidance. This is the pinnicle of this challenge, I must say, so if you get frustrated along the way, chill out and take a break -- perseverence is key (unless you're severely lucky!).
WHIRLING ROBO - Meteotite
LOCATION: Winters (with everyone) Suggested Area	Ugh, this guy can be a headache. It likes to travel with 2 friends frequently, the Wooly Shambler and the Lesser Mook. Unfortunately, they also have the same out-of-battle sprites. While you can combat it early and try for its item, it works best to return at a higher level. They'll be mostly afraid of you, giving more control with SNOT to single one diamond enemy out. You'll also green-swirl insta-kill the foe, too, so while the chance may be lowered from confusion out-of-battle, the process is sped up without combat.
STARMAN - Brain food lunch
LOCATION: Winters (Stonehenge Base) Suggested Area	This spaceman travels with a wide variety of foes. As such, you have more opportunities to find his item. However, it is only a temporary foe, disappearing one the Starman Base is beaten. Save this guy for last in case you get his item from your search for the Sword of kings. If you have, however, a very useful tip is to take advantage of its teleportation. If you use the suggested area, Starman from above will teleport down into your area, leaving their allies behind. It's a quick fix to single out the Starmen and works wonders. These guys are also easy to green-swirl, so if youcan get singles, you'll OHKO them.
STARMAN SUPER - Sword of kings
LOCATION: Winters (Stonehenge Base) Suggested Area	Ah, the long sought after Sword of kings. There are entire guides for just this item, but there's really not much to it. While the classic hunting ground is in the suggested area, it might be best to try for this alongside the Military Octobot's Meteotite. Take the heirarchy into consideration: the Octobot spawns with the Super, the Super with the Starman, and the Starman (for the most part) alone. Thus, the order can save you time in your hunt for the Base's 3 items. In any case, treat this guy just like the normal Starman to get green swirls. You'll usually get into a battle with allies -- you can try to use SNOT to single one out, but you may accidentally single out a normal Starman. Either way generates the same chance for the drop. Beware of the annoying Power Robots that can sneak into battle, as they're annoying and a tap on your HP. I suggest using Poo for recovery while you're at the base, as he can use PSI Magnet on groups of Starmen to greatly up your stay in the Base without leaving for recovery.
MILITARY OCTOBOT - Meteotite
LOCATION: Winters (Starman Base) Suggested Area	Another foe that hates going solo, this 'bot is best found using SNOT. In the siggested area, you'll sometime find a group of 2 starmen and one diamond. In that case, the diamond is always an Atomic Power Robot. Otherwise, you'll have to chance running into Power Robots; between that fact and how deep you must travel to start the hunt, this foe can be pretty annoying on your quest. All I wish you is luck, though a better hunting spot might be found somewhere else in that room.
CONDUCTING SPIRIT - Brain food lunch
LOCATION: Lumine Hall Suggested Area	This a common foe in Lumine Hall. After you beat Electro Specter, it will be terrified of you, so use that opportunity to SNOT and green swirl them. It shouldn't give you much trouble if you've got a good sense of SNOT. You may want to try for this alongside the Uncontrollable Sphere.
UNCONTROLLABLE SPHERE - Broken Antenna
LOCATION: Lumine Hall Suggested Area	Again, SNOT saves the day! The explosions are nullified by green swirls, so it's all farming at this point. The suggested area gives a good spawn rate for these orbs.
HYPER SPINNING ROBO - Meteotite
LOCATION: Lumine Hall Suggested Area	A normally annoying enemy becomes simple if you go to the suggested area. It spawns single Spinning Robos frequently, and SNOT can get the Orbs that also appear out of the picture. Green Swirls are freebies, so it's plugging and chugging until your number comes up.
CHOMPOSAUR - Magic fry pan
LOCATION: Lost Underworld Suggested Area	The best places to find this beast are after coming out of a cave, as otherwise you'd be trudging slowly through the massive landscape. This dino can be a real pain to fight due to both its inability to be OHKO'd on the field and its Shield B that it starts combat with. As such, it's easiest to have Paula and Poo use PSI Freeze. Jeff can use the Shield Killer to easen the battle, too. Luckily for you, there's free healing in the area, so be sure to visit the hot springs if your HP and PP get low.
MAJOR PSYCHIC PSYCHO - Star pendant
LOCATION: Fire Springs Suggested Area	While it is possible to fight a single MPP, they almost always travel with a friend. There's really nothing you can do about it, though. Most caves hold them, so you'll do your hunting in the doorways, so to speak. Keep entering and exiting to refresh your foes and hope that you get lucky enough to score this treasure quickly. This is a fantastic spot to get everyone up to L:99, though. Beat Carbon/Diamond Dog to make them afraid of you first for green swirls. You may want to buy Fire Pendants to guard against thier PK Fire in case you miss, though.
MECHANICAL OCTOBOT - Meteotite
LOCATION: Onett (invaded) Suggested Area	Ugh, this guy is harder than you think to get. The reason is that he lives among an enemy that drops the same item as him: the Evil Eye. EE's have a 1/16 chance of dropping a Meteotite. Thus, in order to verify that you get this item, you need to stick to the parties of 1 Octobot or 1 Octobot and a Starman. Everything else cannot prove your victory, so run from anything else. The best place to get these guys is near the library. Nothing spawns south and west of it, so you can use SNOT safely without getting ambushed. Plus, it's rare to have a 3-foe battle there.
GHOST OF STARMAN - Goddess Ribbon
LOCATION: Onett (invaded); Cave of the Past Suggested Area	This seems to be a commonly gotten rare item, especially by those who already have it. It has two locations , so why not try for this alongside the Mechanical Octobot? The manner of finding and fighting them is the same in that case. Otherwise, you may also stumble upon it while fighting Bionic Krakens, where you may find them with SNOT in trying for a Kraken. Just be careful of their Starstorm attacks.
BIONIC KRAKEN - Gutsy bat
LOCATION: Cave of the Past Suggested Area	Ah, the mother of all drops. Many regard this as the hardest just because the drop is so desireable and the foe is rather hard to find. However, using the recommended area, you'll find them easy to spot. By now, fighting them isn't an issue, and you'll almost never get a green swirl on them, so the work is all in finding them. SNOT is the name of the game here: only fight when a single diamond is left in the upper pathway of the recommended spot. Parties of two or more will get stuck as you head back down to scroll them off-screen, so take your time generating the one diamond you need. Occasionally you'll find a single Starman Super (unless you didn't SNOT right), but they don't stand a chance at your high level.