Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon: Every Buddy! Trophy Guide and Checklist

Everybody’s favorite cheery yellow bird has the stage all to himself in yet another adorable mystery dungeon adventure. That’s right: It’s Chocobo! The Chocobo series dates back to 1997 and has experimented in many different types of video games ever since. The most prominent titles in the franchise are Chocobo’s outings in the racing and mystery dungeon genres.

Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon: Every Buddy! is an updated version of Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo’s Dungeon. With the original having been released in 2008 on the Nintendo Wii and the remaster in 2019 on the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, you’d expect there to be plenty of resources for the game. However, that simply isn’t the case.

When I set out to earn the platinum trophy in Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon: Every Buddy!, I was quickly frustrated by the lack of information regarding key game mechanics and inventory items. With no official documentation from the developers to work from, it makes sense that much of what is known about the game has simply been passed on from word-of-mouth via several years-old forum posts and educated guesses. Sadly, this can leave a lot of room for error.

That’s why I took it upon myself to create the resources I wish I’d had when I started trophy hunting in Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon: Every Buddy! If you use the spreadsheet I’ve created to track your collection efforts as you play through the game, you will save yourself a lot of time and grief. Plus, we even labeled the in-game map to ensure you don’t get lost.

But that’s enough waxing lyrical over my work. Do you have what it takes to get the platinum trophy, Kupo?!

Basic Guide

Please see below for a basic rundown of what your trophy hunting experience with Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon: Every Buddy! will look like. We also added labels to the in-game map to help you get oriented with the Town of Foundtime. Make sure to enter ALL items you collect at any point in our spreadsheet tool!

1. Complete the story.
2. Reach level 99 and obtain end-game gear.
3. Complete all of the Dungeons of Remembrance.
4. Reach level 8 for all jobs while completing dungeons with every type of monster.
5. Complete all remaining dungeons and befriend every monster and character.
6. Reach floor 500 in the Insatiable Hunger dungeon.
7. Find all remaining talons, saddles, collars, and items.
8. Clean up anything that was missed.

Spreadsheet Tool

To begin, download our spreadsheet tool “Chocobo Mystery Dungeon Every Buddy.” This workbook’s primary purpose is to aid you in keeping track of your item collection and farming efforts. Please note that the workbook’s macros may not work properly in online spreadsheet software. For the best experience, open the file in Microsoft Excel. I will explain all the tabs in the workbook, but you will only need to use one in practice.

The file is hosted on Microsoft OneDrive:

• Chocobo Mystery Dungeon Every Buddy

Directions Tab

This page outlines the steps for using the workbook. You can reference this page until you are comfortable using the tool. Of note, the “Reset” button allows you to return the workbook to its original state. This can be helpful if you have made a mistake and need to start over.

User Entry Tab

The “User Entry” tab is where you will spend most of your time. You only need to answer one question to use the spreadsheet: What item have you discovered? This includes talons, saddles, collars, and any non-key items that can be held in your inventory.

You can either type out the name of the item you’ve found manually or select the appropriate item from the pre-populated dropdown list, sorted in alphabetical order. This cell is protected from invalid entries.

Once you are sure you have selected the correct item, click the “Enter” button. Take care not to strike an item from your list prematurely; items with ??? in their name MUST be appraised or held onto until you leave a dungeon to be counted. If you drop the item before appraising it, you will not get credit for the item in-game. Once you click the “Enter” button, the item in question will be removed from the list.

You may notice cells highlighted in gray. These show your overall progression toward the “Treasure Hunter” trophy and can inform you on how far along you are. If you have completed the game and would like to see what you still have to find, you can do so in the “User’s List” tab.

Work >> Tab

This tab serves only as a header. Anything to the right of this sheet is used for calculation purposes.

Original Tab

This sheet has information for all 200+ items in the game. It is unaltered and can be used as a reference. It is also used as a basis for the “Reset” function. Information in this sheet was compiled from various guides and forums to be as complete a resource as possible in the absence of any official source from the developers.

User’s List Tab

This sheet is a copy of the “Original” tab that is updated as the user collects items. When new items are obtained, they are removed from this list. To put it simply, it is a living record of your progress toward the “Treasure Hunter” trophy.

If you have completed the game and would like to know what items you are still missing, you can do so here. A brief description of which dungeon or store an item can be found in is also included. Items with “N/A” locations can usually be found in many dungeons.

Tips & Tricks

In addition to the spreadsheet and accompanying map, there are also a few pointers I’ve learned throughout my time with Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon: Every Buddy! These tips may come in clutch for you as they did for me.

• Get comfortable with the controls. Many of these moves will be obvious for seasoned mystery dungeon players, but they are important enough that they should be reviewed by everyone.
  • Hold Square (▢) to aim at a specific tile or enemy without moving your character.
  • Press Start (►) to show the dungeon layout. You can press it again to change the display size. X’s indicate traps; Blue circles indicate items; Red circles indicate enemies; Squares indicate the floor exit.
  • Hold Circle (◯) to move at a brisk pace. You can go through corridors very quickly doing this, but keep in mind that this can be dangerous if you run into an enemy when you’re not prepared.
  • Hold R1 to move diagonally across tiles. Being efficient with your steps saves you both time and resources.
  • Hold X and Circle (✖ + ◯) to pass time and recover your HP and SP. This can be vital if you are in a more difficult dungeon. However, make sure to balance this with your food needs in mind.
  • Use the Bookmark tool in the menu to pause the game if you need a break in the middle of a dungeon.
• Upgrade your bag as soon as possible. The benefits of being able to carry more items into and out of dungeons are twofold: dungeon crawling will be easier, and end-game grinding will be faster. You can purchase bag upgrades at Harry’s Hardware. You begin the game with 18 inventory slots, but they can be increased up to a maximum of 48 slots as seen in the top right corner of the image below.

• Play with a friend or use a second controller. Chocobo Mystery Dungeon: Every Buddy! is unique in that it has a local multiplayer option. The second player takes on your companion’s role, whether they are a citizen of the town or a monster turned ally. There are a couple of major advantages to having another player on board.
  • A human can play much more optimally than the AI can.
  • More than that, though, the second player can move freely during their turn. While the first player can only move one space at a time, the other can zip across the grid at will, only pausing once they’ve committed to an action. That means they can maintain distance from dangerous enemies much more seamlessly than the other player.
• Prioritize the Scholar job. This type of Chocobo has many innate abilities that make a trophy hunter’s work easier. The three most important skills the Scholar has are Search, Appraise, and Secret Elixir.
  • Search allows you to see the entire floor’s layout, including items, traps, and the exit. You can efficiently path to any items you may be interested in or make a beeline for the exit depending on your needs.
  • Appraise allows you to clear any ??? items in your inventory. This is important for the “Treasure Hunter” trophy.
  • Secret Elixir allows you to recover HP and food. This can prolong your dungeon expeditions nearly indefinitely, even without the aid of Greens in your inventory.
• Make use of the Mage jobs for tough bosses. Both the Black Mage and the White Mage have Manaward, an incredibly powerful ability that can nullify magical attacks. This move can sometimes spell the difference between a victory and a defeat. On the other hand, if you have acquired any Angel’s Robe items, you can use them in a pinch too.
• Experiment with different buddies. Many guides suggest that Camilla is the best partner, as her abilities can be boosted based on Chocobo’s Freelancer job. Personally, I was partial to Dungeon Hero X once I’d finally unlocked him. You have to befriend every possible buddy, so you may as well see what suits your playstyle the best.
• Kick items to deal damage safely. If you find your inventory overflowing with damaging drinks or similar items, you can use them to attack enemies without putting yourself at risk. This can be a great way to damage bosses right out of spawn. Potions also deal damage to undead enemies! You can launch items up to 6 tiles away, or up to 12 tiles away with the Long Kick Collar.
  • You can also kick items to your companion. Be warned, however, that undead allies will also be injured if you launch a potion their way.
• Increase your Chocobo’s level and your job levels in the Pain and Gain dungeon. To give yourself the best possible chance for the most difficult post-game content, you will want to be at the maximum level with all the job skills unlocked. The Pain and Gain dungeon inside the book in Mog’s House provides a large amount of experience, making it a great option for this stage of the trophy hunt.
• Combine level grinding with buddy grinding. The trophy “Through Thick and Thin” requires you to play through a dungeon with every type of monster. If you enter Pain and Gain with a different buddy every time, you will be much more efficient with your time. Keep in mind that you do not have to use EVERY monster, but rather every TYPE. For example, you only need to complete a dungeon with one turtle companion, not all four. The screenshot below shows the first page of these categories to give you a better idea of this trophy.

• Get better gear. Getting through the never-ending Insatiable Hunger dungeon might prove to be a challenge for even the most dedicated mystery dungeon players. However, there are ways you can make it easier for yourself.
  • My end-game loadout consisted of a fully upgraded set of Shinryu’s talons, an Omega Saddle, and a Ribbon Collar. These have great stats and have the potential to have incredibly powerful skills attached. The Ribbon Collar also prevents the vast majority of negative status ailments from affecting you. Irma’s Talons, Volg’s Saddle, and the Map Collar can all be effective options, too.
  • Gear can be upgraded at Freja’s Forge. You can also attach different brand abilities so long as there are slots on your equipment piece. The images below show what worked best for me.

• Don’t give up. Inevitably, at some point, this game will humble you. It is NOT an easy game by any means, never mind the fact that you need Lady Luck on your side.
  • For me, it happened during the first proper boss fight in the Fuego Mines. I hit a wall where I could not manage to win no matter what I tried. However, with each additional run through the dungeon, I gained more levels and better gear. Eventually, I managed to win thanks to sheer force of will. Keep improving, and you will overcome whatever seemingly insurmountable hurdle the game poses for you.

Conclusion

Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon: Every Buddy! is liable to put any trophy hunter through their paces. Despite its cute appearance, it is a fairly difficult platinum trophy to earn. Its positive qualities go well beyond its statistical rarity, though. I’ll never forget the outrageous cutscenes that had me in absolute stitches from how hilarious they were. Chocobo will always have a special place on my trophy list.

Haven’t had your fill of mystery dungeons? I’d recommend checking out the Void Terrarium series next. They’re beautiful games with a unique sci-fi twist on the genre. Like Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon: Every Buddy!, the trophy sets are challenging, but fair. You can read about our experience earning both platinum trophies here.