Dark Depths

The Dark Depths is just beyond the Great Maw in Hollow Bastion. Several cutscenes are shown at the Dark Depths such as Axel confronting Sora and tells him of the Organization's plans with Kingdom Hearts when Saix warps in to try and capture Axel. Once the MCP has been defeated, Sora can find and battle Sephiroth here.

Sephiroth's Attacks

 * Flash

Description: the screen darkens, and Sephiroth says "that's enough" before dashing past you. Sora then is hit multiple times. It can be avoided quite easily by using the Reaction Command; otherwise it is virtually impossible to avoid except with deft jumping.


 * Ground Omnislash

Description: Sephiroth charges forward, unleashing several quick slash attacks. These can be avoided simply by keeping your distance or leaping over them.


 * Aerial Omnislash

Description: Sephiroth only uses this move when Sora is in the air and attacks him multiple times, after which he teleports. Sephiroth often uses this attack three or more times in a row. They can be avoided by using Aerial Dodge and counter-attacking when Sephiroth re-appears.


 * Teleport Slash

Description: Sephiroth teleports behind Sora and attacks, knocking him into the air. This is usually followed up with Aerial Omnislash. This move is virtually impossible to detect and avoid, but the follow-up Omnislash, as told above, can be countered easily.


 * Shadow Flare

Description: Sephiroth summons several dark orbs around Sora that follow him around. They can be deflected back at Sephiroth using the Keyblade or Reflega.


 * Heartless Angel

Description: Sephiroth flies into the air, glows and calls out "Descend Heartless Angel". Sora's HP then becomes 0 and his MP depletes. This can be stopped by attacking Sephiroth before he finishes announcing the attack.


 * Firaga Wall

Description: Sephiroth draws Sora towards him and summons many flame pillars around him. These can be avoided by running away from Sephiroth, or using Reflega if Sora is caught in them.


 * Meteo

Description: Sephiroth floats into the air in front of the chasm and summons many meteors to hit Sora. These can be avoided with a combination of Aerial Dodge, Reflega and deft moving.

Preparations
Equip Sora with as much equipment to increase his defense as possible. Ribbons work well for this. The Ultima Weapon Keychain is the best to use. Also equip Sora with the following abilities; High Jump, Aerial Dodge, Slide Dash, Upper Slash, Combo Boost, Air Combo Boost, Finishing Plus, Leaf Bracer, Defender, Once More and Berserk Charge. Also equip any other abilities to power up Sora's combos, and give him as many Elixirs or Megalixirs as possible. Equip Reflega, Curaga, the Elixirs and Megalixirs to Sora's shortcut menu. Level-wise, you should be at Level 60.

Phase One
Sephiroth always begins the battle with Flash, so hit the Triangle button as soon as the fight begins, then target Sephiroth. Hit him with Slide Dash and use Upper Slash to knock him into the air, then unleash a combo until he teleports. This should be your opening move every time you face Sephiroth. After this, Sephiroth will usually walk after you, unleashing a ground Omnislash when he gets close. Jump over the attack and repeat the above technique of knocking him into the air and hitting him with a combo.

If Sephiroth knocks you into the air, he will attack you with Aerial Omnislash multiple times. Quickly use Aerial Dodge when he teleports and attack him when he reappears to minimize the damage. If Sephiroth uses Flash again, simply use the Reaction Command to avoid it. Heal when needed using Curaga. The ability Berserk Charge will effectively disable Sora's finishing move during MP charge, allowing you to attack Sephiroth more than you would with the finish move allowed, and this will give you more time to allow your MP to charge while he is being attacked.

Sephiroth's moves in this phase can all be easily countered if you can recognize the signs of which attack he is using. With four of his health bars gone, Sephiroth will say "no regrets", signalling he is entering his second attack phase.

Phase Two
Sephiroth will now begin using Shadow Flare. You can bat the attacks back at Sephiroth with the Keyblade or Reflega - since the Shadow Flares appear surrounding you, the latter option is advised. Sephiroth will still use his various attacks from his first phase, so react accordingly. Also, at this time Sephiroth will use Firaga Wall and summon multiple flame pillars around him while drawing you towards him. Run and jump away to avoid them, or if you're caught in them, use Reflega to protect yourself.

Sephiroth also begins using his trademark Heartless Angel attack. Watch and listen for the signs he's casting it, and use High Jump and Aerial Dodge to attack him before he completes the casting. If he casts it successfully, quickly use an Elixir. Sephiroth floats into the air while using this attack, so these two abilities are a must to reach him quickly and attack him, otherwise it is virtually impossible to stop unless you're lucky enough to be right near him when he teleports and can hit him before he rises too high.

Sephiroth in general becomes much more aggressive in this stage, so you will need to heal more often. This makes keeping Sephiroth stunned with Berserk Charge vital to survival by giving you more time to recover your MP. Eventually, Sephiroth will summon a dark aura, and begin his final attack phase.

Phase Three
Sephiroth retains all his previous attacks, but performs them much more quickly and is much faster in general. Healing will be difficult this phase as Sephiroth's attacks come so fast that finding an opening can take some time. Typically, attacking after Sephiroth performs one of his moves from his first phase works, as when he is casting Heartless Angel.

Sephiroth's new attack this phase is to teleport in front of the castle in the background, rise into the air and use Meteo. Meteo hits many, many times, but the damage is negligible. Through High Jump, Aerial Dodge, Reflega and deft running, you should be able to avoid the worst of it. Just be careful not to use up all your MP on Reflega at this time.

At this point, it is largely the same as Sephiroth's second phase, except he's faster and counter-attacking is harder. Again, all his moves have a specific counter to avoid or minimize the damage, so you merely need to wait them out until he is vulnerable and hit him with Upper Slash and an aerial combo.

Battle with Cloud
After the battle, Sephiroth is apparently unharmed and instructs Sora to find Cloud. Once Sora finds Cloud in the town square and tells him where Sephiroth is, he can return to the Dark Depths for a cutscene. Sephiroth and Cloud battle, and Sephiroth tells Cloud that beating him is pointless. Tifa arrives and Sephiroth attacks her, but Tifa gives Cloud "her light". This surprises Sephiroth, and the two leap into the air and vanish. Tifa decides to keep searching for Cloud and gives Sora the Fenrir Keyblade.