
The Gold Match boss fight.
The Gold Match is an arena match fought at the Olympus Coliseum in Kingdom Hearts[a] and its Final Mix version. It becomes available after completing the Hades Cup. It involves a match against the Ice Titan and has to be fought with Sora alone. Originally it gave no reward upon its completion, although this changed in the Final Mix version, wherein Sora gains the Diamond Dust Keyblade.
Defeating the Ice Titan also grants you the bronze trophy and achievement The Frosty Giant in the 1.5 ReMIX version.
Guide[]
Preparation[]
It is recommended you attempt at level 60 at minimum. You will need Guard, and likely will want to equip Leaf Bracer, High Jump, Dodge Roll, abilities that increase your MP gain, a weapon with long reach, equip potions, ethers or elixirs, and set Cure to your quick menu. The best accessories for ice resistance should be equipped as part of your defensive strategy. Shiva Belt is a must due to its 40% ice element damage reduction, in addition to raising your MP. You may claim it outside the lobby by snuffing out the torches with Blizzard and opening the chest that appears at the edge of the room. Avoid using Aero, as it causes the icicles coming at you to be larger and impossible to deflect. Deflecting icicles grants a lot of Tech Points per icicle, so equip Tech Boost abilities, if desired.
The Ice Titan will have 3 phases of attack during this fight, depending on how much damage it has taken. For most of the fight, most of your damage dealing will be by deflecting the icicles launched at you, though you will need to be selective about which ones to deflect, and being mindful about evading all of the titan's other attacks the whole fight. Using Fire will deal double damage, though you are limited by how much MP you have, and may find it's better spent on healing magic.
Phase 1[]
During the first phase, the Ice Titan will be throwing icicles, and slam it's hand into the ground to shoot ice spikes from the ground.
The Ice Titan throws icicles at Sora in a few patterns. They may come at you in a straight vertical line, a horizontal formation, or fanned out starting from one side and sweeping side-to-side. You can deflect the icicles back at the titan by guarding or attacking them. The titan staggers when it has taken enough damage from deflected icicles, allowing you to directly attack the head for some damage or take time to use Cure. The next phase starts after the first stagger.
The ice spikes can be avoided mainly by watching for the patterns of light that appear on the ground as a warning. If the titan slams it's hands in the ground, it is summoning some ice spikes.
Phase 2[]
This phase starts after the titan's first stagger, and adds the titan's breathe attack and ice orbs summoned directly above Sora. The Ice Titan's recovery from stagger will be faster and will also attack with ice orbs in retaliation. The titan will now also send out icicles during it's rotation when Sora maneuvers around it, giving you another opportunity to deal damage.
The ice titan breathes ice on the arena in a sweeping pattern, causing Sora to freeze, unable to move for a few seconds, and covering patches of the arena in ice which Sora can slip and fall on. The breath attack is coupled with icicles continuously shooting at Sora from the titan, and ends in a final batch of horizontal icicles. The titan's breath attack can be avoided by jumping and gliding away.
When the Ice Titan has 2 health bars, the next phase begins.
Phase 3[]
Overall, the fight becomes more hectic as timings get tighter and attacks happen more frequently. Learning when to run, when to jump and glide away and your placement for icicles will be key.
The Ice Titan can now freeze the area in front of it. If you see it's body shaking, it's building up for it's freeze attack, which causes the entire space in front of it to be covered in an icy fog that freezes Sora if he's caught in it, multiple times if he manages to break free. You can avoid this attack by gliding away from where the titan is facing. The attack is then followed up by an ice orb over Sora and more icicles. Additionally, when the titan is rotating, ice orbs will now appear over Sora while it's rotation.
Strategy[]
You will need to stay on your toes and keep moving to avoid most of the titan's attacks. Your main method of dealing damage will be by deflecting incoming icicles launched by the Ice Titan, either by guarding or jump-attacking. You must be careful about when you guard icicles. If a vertical line of icicles are numerous, when you start your guard too early you end up taking some icicles at the end of the guard and deal a little less total damage, and too late results in taking a hit from the first icicle and being unable to block any of them, usually taking more hits in the same attack if you attempt to throw up your guard. The earlier phases gives you more relaxed windows to use guard and get the max number of icicles while avoiding damage yourself, but later phases you will see a longer line of icicles thrown at you, reducing the window you have to get the perfect block. If you are struggling with the timing, guarding earlier, as you'll at least get some damage off on the titan, and the damage from icicles is small enough to be worth it. If the icicles are thrown in a fanned out formation, you may deflect individual icicles, although you must be careful to dodge the spikes that are summoned below you if you're standing still. You may opt to play it safe and simply dodge this attack. Avoid traveling along the edge of the map, as you'll find yourself fighting with the camera to maintain visual.
The Ice Titan stays in the center of the arena, but creates shockwaves on each of it's steps while it rotates towards you. Staying on the bleachers will be the best way to avoid these shockwaves. However, the Ice Titan will still launch indirect attacks at you while you're on the bleachers, throwing icicles at you, and summoning ice spikes from below and around you.
Whenever the Ice Titan is staggered, it lowers its head and opens itself up for aerial combos. After it gets back up it will retaliate with a large flurry of ice spikes in a scattered pattern. Attempting to block any will result in some damage to you, although this may be worth it if you have the defense and MP for Cure.
Notes[]
- ↑ Except in the original Japanese version, as this bossfight was added in the international release.