Metaphor: ReFantazio - Should You Confront the Fire Dragon Mauna?

In Metaphor: ReFantazio, players will venture into the Nord Mines as part of the main story. This dungeon is filled with various monsters and soldiers, many of whom will be at a higher level than the protagonist. As you progress, you'll eventually encounter the boss, Homo Fulquilo, who guards a Magla crystal.

After defeating this boss, you'll face a crucial decision—whether or not to engage the Fire Dragon Mauna. This guide offers insights into the Fire Dragon and provides strategies for overcoming this challenging foe and reaping the rewards.

Additionally, players can experience a substantial portion of the Metaphor: ReFantazio demo, with progress carrying over to the full game once it releases.

Should You Fight the Fire Dragon Mauna?

The Fire Dragon Mauna awaits you in a large chamber with two exits. Upon entering, your allies will caution you against battling the dragon, as it's known to be a tough opponent. Moreover, there are several smaller monsters roaming nearby, adding to the chaos if they spot you. The safest route is to slip past the dragon and leave the mine through one of the exits.

However, the battle against Mauna may not be as daunting as your companions suggest. To stand a fighting chance, ensure your party members have full health and at least 50 MP, as Mauna can dish out 75 damage per turn, even on normal difficulty. This fight marks the final encounter in the mines, and the rewards for defeating the dragon make the challenge worth considering. Players lacking healing items or with low health may have no choice but to avoid the fight.

The starting skills you select during character enlistment won’t significantly impact this battle, so don't worry too much about those choices.

How to Defeat the Fire Dragon Mauna in Metaphor: ReFantazio

To defeat the Fire Dragon Mauna, it’s essential to have at least one Mage Archetype in your party, as the dragon is vulnerable to Ice Attacks. If you’ve purchased Ice Chunks—items that deal 100 Ice damage—from the Peddler, now is the time to use them. Exploiting Mauna’s ice weakness will grant you additional turns, which is crucial for gaining the upper hand.

For those with a Warrior Archetype, positioning them on the front line is a smart move, while the rest of your party should stay back to minimize damage. On Hard difficulty, the dragon gains an extra attack that can make recovery more challenging.

Players with a high Agility stat have a better chance of landing both Ice and regular attacks, increasing your effectiveness in battle.

Mauna’s first attack, Scratch, involves a claw swipe targeting one party member, inflicting 75-100 damage on those in the front row. The second move is Fireball, which also targets a single party member. If you're using the Seeker Archetype, be cautious—Seekers are weak to Fire, making them especially vulnerable in this fight.

On Hard difficulty, Mauna introduces an additional move: Tail Swipe. This attack strikes all party members in a row, hitting both the front and back lines in two consecutive swipes. For this reason, an ideal team for Hard mode consists of one Mage and two Warriors.

If you’re set on using the Seeker Archetype, you can still turn the tide by casting Tarukaja on your Mage to boost their Ice damage against Mauna.

Fire Dragon Mauna Rewards

Once you defeat the Fire Dragon, you’ll be rewarded with several valuable items scattered around the arena, as well as a chest containing the following:

- Dragon's Indignation (Greatsword for the Warrior Archetype)

- 1,000 Money

- 1,000 MAG

- Amethyst

- Onyx

- Glossy Fur

- Grand Iron

After the fight, head down the right path to collect the Cushy Clay item and continue forward. You'll encounter a brief running sequence as you cross the bridge to exit the mine. Once you’re out, you’ll have the opportunity to save your progress before continuing the story.