There are two abilities than you can't learn through ordinary means. One is a Guts ability for Ramza, another is a Summon spell for any Summoner you have. To learn these, you must have the spell cast on you, and if it is Ultima, Ramza must be in the Squire job class. If it is Zodiac, your Summoner must be in the Summoner job class.

Ultima You can learn Ultima through two different types of enemies: Assassins and Ultima Demons. Learning these spells is very difficult; you really have to force them to use it. Ramza must be in the Squire job class, have this spell cast on him, and survive it.

The Assassins Celia and Lede, whom you fight three times, are the easiest way to learn Ultima. If you equip your characters with Black Costumes to prevent their Shadow Stitch attack and Angel Rings to prevent Stop Bracelet, they will more likely cast Ultima. This is probably best done on the roof of Riovanes castle or at the gate of Limberry Castle.

Ultima Demons You fight Ultima Demons twice, once during the battle with Elmdor, and once at Murond. Ultima Demons will very rarely cast Ultima, for they have much better spells. Typically, the Demons won't cast Ultima until you have a character that can be taken out by it. You will also likely have to have Ramza walk in on the effect range to learn it. Check the CT list when you see an Ultima Demon charging a spell.

Zodiac There is only one battle in which you can learn Zodiac, and that is the last battle in the Deep Dungeon, at "End." Elidibs casts this spell, and it usually does about 800 damage, so you need to take special steps to have your Summoner survive the casting. An effective way of keeping your Summoner alive is to reduce his/her faith level using the Mediator's Solution ability. I'd suggest reducing it to 30 or lower. It depends on your levels of experience. Of course, it's a lot more difficult to raise Faith (with the Mediator's Preach ability). You can also try using the Mind Break Battle Skill, but that may be more difficult. Spells such as Shell and Wall can also help.

Secret Characters

There are four "secret characters." Probably the best time to get them is near the end of Chapter Four. I have found that the best time to get them is just before you go to Orbonne Monastery.

Beowulf, Reis and Worker 8 These characters are all part of one sub-quest in this game. This sub-quest starts at Goug Machine City. You must have Mustadio to do this. Go to Goug, and you will find that Mustadio's father has found a metal sphere. He sees a symbol on it, and that is your cue to find another Zodiac Stone. Now go to Goland. Go to the bar at Goland and listen to all the rumors. Now go to Lesalia. Here you will enter a bar and hear about a monster uprising in the mines at Goland. Ramza overhears that Goland is recruiting people to stop this uprising. Ramza volunteers for the job, and is approached by Beowulf. If you choose to go with him, he will join your party as a guest. Head back to Goland. You will now fight a string of four battles, all with enemies at or above your level.

Colliery Underground: Third Floor Here you will fight against five Chemists, who all have Mythril Guns. Try to stick close to them so they can't snipe you to death with their guns. Also, watch out, they can use Hi-Potions, X-Potions and Phoenix Downs, so this could turn out to be a long battle.

Colliery Underground: Second Floor The Chemist here is equipped with the aptly-named Blaze Gun, and there are two Behemoths here. However, the two thieves should be the least of your worries. If you are at high levels, the Behemoths will be too. At high level, they can take out a weak character in one hit, so stay far from them. A King Behemoth is hiding behind the Thief in the front, who is close, so be careful.

Colliery Underground: First Floor The two Chemists have the regular Mythril Guns now, so they aren't much of a threat. The Blue Dragons are your biggest worry. Use Orlandu at long range to defeat them. The Uribo doesn't seem to do anything at all in this battle, so ignore it until the very end, or use a Mediator to Invite it, to breed and poach later.

Underground Passage in Goland Your objective here is to save the Holy Dragon Reis, who seems quite capable of handling herself. With Orlandu and Ramza, you should not have any trouble with the Archaic Demon and the Ochus. The Plagues have the ability to petrify your characters, so you may want to equip Jade Armlets beforehand. You receive a Zodiac Stone from Beowulf and Reis after this battle, and they will now join as members. Now go back to Goug.

When you return, the Zodiac Stone will activate the sphere, and Worker 8 will activate. It will join your party now. Mustadio's father will discover another machine that requires another Zodiac Stone, so head to Zeltennia. As in Goland, go to the bar and listen to new rumors. Nelveska Temple will appear on the map when you leave the bar. Here you will fight against Worker 7, a Steel Giant just like Worker 8. However, the Hyudras and the Cocatoris make this battle rather difficult, so focus just on Worker 7. Rememeber, since Worker 7 has Innocent on him at all times (just like Worker 8), he is not affected by magic. After defeating Worker 7, you will receive his Zodiac Stone. NOTE: As has been rumored, there is some incredibly good equipment on top of the pillars in the front of the level. I have confirmed this twice. To get on top of the pillars, you must put a monster directly adjacent to one of them. I don't know if you've noticed, but you can walk over and jump off of monsters. Put your Steel Giant (or another monster) in your party, park it next to the pillar, and have Rafa (with Move-Find Item equipped) get the items on top of the pillars. There is a catch, however. The lower the Brave level of the searching character, the more likely you are to get a good item. You will either find a normal Javelin, or a silver Javelin, on one of the pillars, and a normal Escutcheon or a golden Escutcheon on the other. Make sure you get the unique items before you finish the level. If you get one of the normal items, reset the game, as you won't be able to return.

Cloud This portion of the sub-quest will now allow you to get Cloud. I believe that you can only get him after you have gotten all the other secret characters, and after you have fought the battle with Dycedarg at Igros. First go to Goug, then to Zarghidas Trade City. If you haven't already, go here. A girl will approach you in the town and sell you a flower. Buy it, then go to Goug. The machine that was found will now activate and deposit Cloud Strife into your reality. But, you don't have him yet, as he runs off. He went to Zarghidas, go follow him.

Zarghidas Trade City You will be attacked here, but it is not a problem at all. Beware, though, Cloud is not equipped with a weapon. Cloud will join your party as a member after this battle, and, to get his Materia Blade, go to Bervenia Volcano.

Bervenia Volcano Equip a character with the Move-Find Item ability, and go to the top of the spire in this level. You will find the Materia Blade there, and with this Materia Blade, Cloud can use his Limit abilities.