"All who enter this dungeon, abandon what little hope ye may yet have."
The Palace of the Dead (or Hell Gate in the PSX version), sometimes known as Ashmedai's Palace, is an ancient dungeon on the island of Exeter, in the northwest regions of the Valerian isles. The Palace is known as a prime location for the study of necromancy and dragon magic. It is custom among warriors bound for the Palace to distribute their worldly possessions among already-grieving family and friends.
The Palace of the Dead becomes available in Chapter 4, after viewing the news topic Mysterious Blast on Exeter. Originally 100 levels deep, a further 14 levels are unlocked in Episode 2 of CODA.
Purpose[]
"Many are the mage who, bent on studying the evil ways of the ancients, delved into these dungeons in search of dusty spellbooks and the knowledge they contain."
The Dragon Lords are thought to be the source of magic as practiced during the era covered in Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together. During the Bolsenian era, they built a civilization that covered Xytegenia and the surrounding isles. It is believed that they built the Palace of the Dead, and indeed, among the rare items found in the Palace are gears and machinery made by Daedalus, forge master of the Dragon Lords. The Palace houses a gate to the Abyss in its depths, which is the primary draw for Denam during the Coda, when he is looking for Warren Omon in the Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together DLC. The Necromancer Nybeth escapes here hoping to further his research, and when confronted in the Altar on the 100th level, claims that it was built "for people like you."
Some of the lower levels have prominent grave markers, which may indicate some kind of crypt. Other levels have features that hint at sluiceworks or other means of controlling and storing water.
Layout[]
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together (SNES/PSX)[]
Hell Gate is a linear sequence of battles over 100 levels, with no returning to the world map or healing in between.
Story Battles[]
- 1 (Falfaday)
- 2 (Rudlum)
- 3 (Xadoba)
- 4 (Nybeth, with undead Leonar and Xaebos)
- 25 (Vepahl)
- 50 (Beelzebuth)
- 100 (Nybeth or Blackmoor)
Rodrick Skills[]
The ghost of Rodrick can appear several times during the descent, each time teaching one unique skill to a nominated character. He first appears at Level 6, but is random afterwards. There is no battle on levels where he appears.
The skills each require a specific weapon type equipped. All of them will cause some damage to the user as well.
| Skill Name | Description | Weapon |
|---|---|---|
| Fudo | Damage based on user's DEX. Ignores enemy's DEF. | Sword |
| Rage | Damage based on user's STR. Ignores enemy's DEF. | Bow |
| FireWave | Damage based on user's MEN. | Spear, Axe, Hammer, Claw |
| MegaBolt | Damage based on user's MEN. | Spear, Axe, Hammer, Claw |
| Dracul | Damage based on weapon STR x2. | Sword |
| Relic | Damages and petrifies target. | Spear, Axe, Hammer, Claw |
| RamPower | Damage and guaranteed knockback. | Spear, Axe, Hammer, Claw |
| DevilCry | Damage according to user's current HP. | Spear, Axe, Hammer, Claw |
| SoulWave | Damages and permanently lowers a target's max HP. | Spear, Axe, Hammer, Claw |
| Agony | Damage according to the user's (max HP - current HP). | Sword |
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together (PSP)[]
A flowchart map of the Palace of the Dead (PSP).
The dungeon is broken into a series of levels, which are accessed in a mostly, although not entirely, linear fashion. Each level of the dungeon may contain either a shop or a battle; floors with shops on them (24 and 65) do not have encounters. The levels are made available in groups of 25; when the next set of 25 is made available for exploration, the player loses access to all previous levels. Battles can be retreated from so long as they are not story battles, and winning the battle on floor 100 does not automatically expel the player from the dungeon.
The first three floors are freely accessible. In order to proceed deeper, a secret door on the third floor needs to be located during battle.
Floor 100 is the Altar of the Beyond--"The 100th level of the Palace of the Dead, this place has the feel of an ancient ceremonial space to it."
Previously thought to be 100 levels deep, levels 101 through 114 were first made available in the CODA DLC for the Japanese PSP release, which came included with international versions. Floor 98 leads to the extra floors below the 100th during Denam's search for Warren.
Story Battles (Chapter 4)[]
- 1 (Falfaday)
- 2 (Rudlum)
- 3 (Xadoba)
- 5 (Nybeth)
- 22 (Georges)
- 41 (Beelzebuth)
- 74 (Beelzebuth)
- 100 (Nybeth or Blackmoor)
Story Battles (Coda)[]
A hidden level within the Palace of the Dead, it seems to lead on to the very Abyss...
All story battles after Xadoba are replaced with generic encounters.
- 88 (The mysterious boy)
- 98 (Kandyce)
- 105 (The mysterious boy returns)
- 114 (King Rodrick)
Palace of the Dead Shops[]
See Palace of the Dead Shops
- 24
- 65
- 103
Crafting Recipes[]
- 10 (Thrown Weapons I), dropped by a Beast Tamer.
- 20 (Armguard Enchiridion), dropped by a Lizardman Hoplite.
- 22 (Crossbow Enchiridion), dropped by a Skeleton Archer. Non-story battle only.
- 23 (Transcriptions), dropped by a Lamia Witch.
- 100 (Secrets of the Master), upon defeating Nybeth.
Heavenly Generals[]
Several of the Twelve Heavenly Generals can be fought in the Palace of the Dead, if these levels are entered with a Heaven's Fork in the player's inventory.
- 77 (Ahurama)
- 86 (Vija)
- 89 (Asurama)
- 93 (Chandra)
- 96 (Ijana)
Notable Visitors and Inhabitants[]
SNES/PSX Version[]
- Vepahl Dabran
- Leonar Reci Rimon (undead)
- Xaebos Ronsenbach (undead)
PSP Version[]
Related Items[]
- Palace Guides
- Cursed Weapons
- Daedalus Machinery
- Ring of the Dead
- Book of the Dead