Secret of Mana: The Cave of the White Dragon

The Cave of the White Dragon is a Quest in Secret of Mana (SOM).

Description

King Truffle, the young leader of Matango, tells Randi what he knows abotu the Mana legend and informs the party of a white dragon that lives in the nearby cave.

Recommended levels

Party: 22-24
All Magic: Lv. 3
Weapons: Most 2-3
- Sword Lv. 3

Walkthrough

Entering the Cave

Having talked with King Truffle and upgraded your Javelin to Lv. 3, it is time to head out behind the castle and begin the search for the White Dragon.
Head to the East of Watts and take the Southern exit to leave the Castle.
Going to the North in this section of the Castle leads to the Inn (saving is recommended).
Once outside the Castle via the small hut adjacent to it, head to the North and into the nearby cave.

The entrance of the cave looks more like an outside area.
Here, you will need to fight your way up to the Central Northern doorway.
Immediately nearby you is a Water Bandit and Steamed Crab.
Making your way North, you will encounter a few additional Steamed Crabs nearby the mushrooms blocking the way through the middle of the area.
On the other side of the mushrooms will be another Steamed Crab, and Water Bandit.
As you approach the entrance of the cave proper, you will encounter a trio of Crawlers.
Defeat them and head inside the cave.

Navigating the Cave of the White Dragon

Just inside the cave, head over to the left.
You will almost immediately encounter a Pebbler, and not far past them, a Kimono Bird.
Follow the path to the North to press on through the first section of the cave.
Going along the walkway to the East, you will encounter another Kimono Bird.
Defeat them quickly to avoid lots of Pebblers being summoned.
This can summon in a Nemesis Owl from nearby, so be on guard for it if you defeat the Kimono Bird.
You will reach set of stairs with a pair of Nemesis Owls nearby them.
Go on up the stairs and over to the East, following the path South.
Equip a party member with the Whip.
Use the Whip to cross the gap blocking your way along the path.
Head West, down the stairs, fight on through the Pebbler and Kimono Bird.
Take the nearby stairwell down to the next level of the cave.
Here, you will encounter another Kimono Bird and have another gap to cross using your Backhand Whip.
Across this gap, you can either head down the stairs to the South immediately to continue or go over to the Eastern area and fight a pair of Water Bandits.
Going down the stairs will lead you to a path arching to the North.
Pebblers and a pair of Kimono Birds are found nearby.
Take the stairs to the North of the Stalagmite and the stairs you just came down.
To the West of the stairs you arrive on, you will find 2 Nemesis Owls (spread apart) and a Kimono Bird.
Continue to the West and down the stairs to continue forward.
Down the stairs head West and loop around the Rocks to the North and over to the East.
Expect to encounter at least 3 Nemesis Owls as you head for the next set of stairs in the Northeastern corner of the area.
At the top of the stairs, as you head West, expect to encounter a few Pebblers.
Following the path will lead to an Elemental Crystal.
Bring over both Primm and Popoi if you want to progress forward.
If you use Analyze with Primm you will learn the Elemental Crystal will break if hit with Gnome magic.
BE SURE that both Primm and Popoi nearby the crystal to ensure it will trigger properly.
Strike the crystal with either Gem Missile or Earth Slide to trigger it.
You will be notified you heard rock rumbling nearby.
Go back down the stairs to the previous room.
The rocks blocking across the middle of the room will have vanished, just leaving a few Stalagmites.
Go past where the rocks where and head through the central Southern exit in this room.
At the base of the stairs you will encounter a Kimono Bird.
Defeat it quickly and head over to the West, where another Kimono Bird awaits.
Go through the opening sitting in the Northern wall in the Western portion.
This will lead into a large room with numerous barrier mushrooms inside it.
It is time for the boss fight with Great Viper.

Fighting Great Viper

The Great Viper will slither onto the battlefield from the trees ringing the arena.
This is a very fast foe who will constantly be moving around the arena.
If this Snake hits a party member with its bite attack, they will be Pygmized.
These characters need to be especially careful since the Great Viper can eat them, doing massive damage in the process.
Use Remedy and Medical Herbs on anyone who gets Pygmized during the fight immediately.
Any time the Great Viper is in the middle of the arena, it will be easy to hit with your weapons.
Otherwise, take aim on it with your Sylphid magic to do heavy damage.
Avoid standing in the way of the snake as it moves around the area.

Saving the baby white dragon

Head to the North after the fight and into the final section of the cave.
Go over to the East and then South.
Use your Stout Axe to break through the Stalagmites on the ground blocking your path.
Continue along the path to the South and follow its bend to the North.
Through the next doorway is a large, sunlit chamber.
Approach and interact the small dragon in the middle of the room to complete this part of the story.