Trails in the Sky SC Ultimate Weapons Crafting Guide: How to Get Every Zemurian Ore
If there’s one thing that separates a normal completion run from a truly optimized endgame build in The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC, it’s the hunt for Zemurian Ore. Veteran Falcom fans already know the feeling: you’ve spent dozens of hours building your dream party, tweaking Orbments, and preparing for the brutal final battles waiting inside Liber Ark. Then you discover that the strongest weapons in the game aren’t hidden in some secret chest—they’re locked behind one of the most missable quest chains in the entire trilogy.
After replaying SC multiple times over the years, I still consider the Zemurian Ore questline one of the most rewarding pieces of optional content Falcom ever designed. It’s frustrating, obscure, and occasionally cruel, but the payoff is enormous. The ultimate weapons completely transform physical damage dealers and make the final boss gauntlet noticeably easier.
This guide covers every important step, including obtaining both pieces of Zemurian Ore, collecting the full Gambler Jack series, unlocking the duplicate ore in Liber Ark, and deciding which ultimate weapons deserve your precious crafting materials.
Why Zemurian Ore Matters
Unlike normal weapon upgrades, Zemurian weapons sit in a league of their own.
These legendary weapons grant massive Strength boosts alongside unique secondary bonuses such as increased attack range, improved survivability, higher evasion, or enhanced area coverage. The stat increases are so significant that they can dramatically alter a character’s effectiveness during endgame encounters.
The catch?
A standard playthrough only provides two pieces of Zemurian Ore, meaning you can forge only two ultimate weapons before the credits roll.
That limitation makes every decision count.
How Ultimate Weapon Crafting Works
The process involves three major stages spread across the late-game chapters.
| Step | Requirement | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Collect all 14 Gambler Jack volumes | First Zemurian Ore |
| 2 | Obtain Data Crystal Z in Liber Ark | Access to second Ore |
| 3 | Bring materials to Professor Russell | Craft ultimate weapons |
Missing any step means losing access to the strongest equipment in the game.
Getting the First Zemurian Ore
The first ore comes from a collector’s quest involving the famous Gambler Jack novels.
Throughout the story, fourteen separate volumes become available through NPC interactions, shops, story events, and hidden locations. Once Chapter 8 begins and Grancel enters crisis mode, head to the third floor of the Grancel Bracer Guild.
There you’ll find Baral.
Hand over the complete collection of fourteen books and he rewards you with your first piece of Zemurian Ore.
Simple in theory.
Painful in practice.
The real challenge is making sure you never miss a volume.
Complete Gambler Jack Collection Guide
Several volumes appear during extremely limited story windows. Some are available only for a few minutes before becoming permanently inaccessible.
Here’s the complete checklist.
Volume 1 – Prologue
Found inside the Bracer Guild Lodge on the second floor after the Jaeger attack. Search the bottom-right room before progressing too far.
Volume 2 – Chapter 1
Purchase it from the prize exchange counter at Lavantar Casino in Ruan.
Volume 3 – Chapter 2
One of the easiest books to miss.
While riding the scheduled airship between Ruan and Zeiss, repeatedly talk to Olivier until he eventually gives you the volume. Once the flight ends, the opportunity disappears forever.
Volume 4 – Chapter 3
Buy it from the Grancel Department Store after meeting the Erebonian ambassador.
Volume 5 – Chapter 4
Speak with Elger at the Rolent Orbal Factory after the mysterious fog event begins.
Volume 6 – Chapter 5
Talk to Private Serra at Krone Pass Checkpoint during the dragon-related storyline.
Volume 7 – Chapter 5
Visit Ravennue Village and speak with Elder Reisen in the orchard area.
Volume 8 – Chapter 6
Located inside Lakeside Laboratory on a second-floor desk.
Volume 9 – Chapter 7
Found during Joshua’s infiltration sequence aboard the Glorious. Search lockers and security sections carefully.
Volume 10 – Chapter 8
Speak with Carlos at Haken Gate.
Volume 11 – Chapter 8
Talk to Father Kevin Graham at Joan Chapter House in Ruan.
Volume 12 – Chapter 8
Visit Dr. Miriam inside Zeiss Central Factory.
Volume 13 – Chapter 8
Obtained from Warrant Officer Dale at Gurune Gate.
Volume 14 – Chapter 8
Awarded automatically by Elissa after resolving the first wave of regional disturbances.
Obtaining the Second Zemurian Ore
Many players think there’s only one ore available.
That’s not true.
The second ore requires a hidden interaction inside Liber Ark during the Final Chapter.
Step One: Find Data Crystal Z
Travel to the Residential Block Cradle.
Inside the western structure you’ll discover a computer terminal. Interacting with the terminal grants Data Crystal Z.
Don’t leave the area yet.
Step Two: Locate the Duplicate Ore Terminal
Return to the residential building where you previously obtained a Resurrect Jelly.
Inside is another terminal.
If your inventory contains:
- Zemurian Ore
- Data Crystal Z
the system recognizes both items and rewards you with a second Zemurian Ore.
It’s one of those classic Falcom secrets that most players would never discover without a guide.
Forging Ultimate Weapons
After securing both ores, return to the Arseille.
Visit Professor Russell inside the factory section and hand over the materials.
He can forge two legendary weapons of your choosing.
Here are all available options.
| Character | Weapon | Major Bonuses |
|---|---|---|
| Estelle | Mystic Stave | STR +1400, RNG +1, DEF +50 |
| Joshua | Twin Plovers | STR +1400, AGL +20, DEX +30 |
| Anelace | Houkiboshi | STR +1380, DEX +40, EVA +10% |
| Agate | Apocalypse | STR +1450, DEF -50, ADF -50 |
| Olivier | Mjolnir | STR +1350, RNG +5, ATS +100 |
| Kloe | Blue Falcon | STR +1350, ATS +150, ADF +100 |
| Zin | Kaiser Knuckles | STR +1420, DEF +100, HP +2000 |
| Scherazard | Ark Whip | STR +1360, RNG +3, ATS +80 |
| Tita | Phantom | STR +1320, RNG +4, Wide Area Attack |
Every weapon is powerful, but not every weapon is equally valuable.
The Best Ultimate Weapon in Trails in the Sky SC
After countless discussions among Falcom veterans, speedrunners, and long-time JRPG enthusiasts, one choice consistently rises above the rest.
Twin Plovers (Joshua)
This should almost always be your first craft.
Joshua remains a mandatory party member throughout the final section of the game, guaranteeing you’ll get value from the investment.
More importantly, his combat design naturally multiplies the weapon’s effectiveness.
Many of Joshua’s strongest abilities strike multiple times or take advantage of his exceptional speed. The massive Strength increase translates into absurd damage output during boss encounters.
Every time I replay SC, Joshua gets the first ore without hesitation.
It’s simply too good.
Best Second Weapon Choices
Your second ore depends on your preferred party setup.
Apocalypse (Agate)
If you enjoy aggressive physical builds, Apocalypse is terrifying.
The weapon offers the highest Strength boost available, turning Agate into a walking nuke capable of shredding bosses with Dragon Dive and other high-damage Crafts.
The defensive penalties look scary on paper, but the offensive gains are worth it.
Kaiser Knuckles (Zin)
Zin players should seriously consider this option.
The combination of Strength, Defense, and a massive HP increase creates an incredibly durable frontliner who can absorb punishment while still dealing respectable damage.
For safer party compositions, Kaiser Knuckles may actually outperform Apocalypse overall.
Weapons I Usually Skip
Not every character benefits equally from Zemurian equipment.
Characters like:
- Olivier
- Kloe
- Support-focused Estelle
typically gain more value from specialized late-game weapons that focus heavily on ATS rather than physical Strength.
During Liber Ark exploration you’ll find excellent caster weapons that provide huge magical bonuses. For dedicated Arts users, those alternatives often outperform Zemurian gear despite being easier to obtain.
Because of that, I strongly recommend spending both ores on physical attackers whenever possible.
Trails in the Sky SC Hard Mode Party Guide: Best Character Setups & Builds
Can You Obtain Every Ultimate Weapon?
Yes—but not in a single run.
New Game Plus allows you to carry over previous progress and continue collecting Zemurian weapons across multiple playthroughs.
By repeating the Gambler Jack collection process and completing the Liber Ark terminal events again, you can slowly build a complete collection of every legendary weapon available.
For completionists, this becomes one of the most satisfying long-term goals in the entire Trails trilogy.
Trails in the Sky SC Max BP Guide: 100% Walkthrough for Second Chapter
Final Thoughts
Trails in the Sky SC is packed with hidden quests, secret rewards, and classic JRPG missables, but few rewards feel as impactful as the ultimate weapons. The Zemurian Ore hunt demands attention throughout nearly the entire adventure, forcing players to engage with NPCs, explore thoroughly, and pay attention to details many RPGs would never expect you to notice.
Is it easy to miss?
Absolutely.
Is it worth the effort?
Without question.
If you’re preparing for the final battles of Liber Ark, securing both pieces of Zemurian Ore and crafting at least Joshua’s Twin Plovers should be at the very top of your checklist. The difference in combat performance is immediately noticeable, and few things feel better than watching endgame bosses melt under the power of weapons forged from one of Zemuria’s rarest materials.
