"Final Fantasy X": Al Bhed Primer Locations

Traveling Across Spira

This Final Fantasy X guide will help you in your scavenger hunt to find all the Al Bhed Primers scattered across Spira.

Also, contrary to what you may have read elsewhere, there is a way to get the Al Bhed Primers you missed in Home and Bevelle—I've tested it, and it works! See the Al Bhed Compilation Spheres Tip below!

Al Bhed Ranks

1. Salvage Ship

I'm sorry, I don't speak "Tattooed Buffoon."

Save Sphere is on the left; primer is on the right. If you miss this primer, don't worry! It's in the East Sanubia Desert near the Al Bhed Home. Just watch for pit traps.

Sandragora Tip: Have your low-damage characters bop Auron if he gets Confused. You haven't properly enjoyed Final Fantasy until Lulu's whacked him in the face with a plush mog.)

2. Besaid Crusaders Lodge

Luzzu and Gatta, we missed you in X-2!

The primer is on the floor in front of the reception desk. Be sure to head to the back and admire the lizard cat, which is Yuna's pet in that great fan-made graphic novel, Guardian! As well as places frequented by the Al Bhed, the primers usually appear near travelers, sailors, and tourist areas—NOT devout Yevonites.

3. S.S. Liki: Power Room

This is the first ferry—between Besaid and Kilika.

The primer is on the floor in the lower right-hand corner of the screen. The Power Room of the ferry is belowdecks, near O'aka. You can only enter the Power Room on your first trip to Kilika. If you miss it, this primer reappears by Wakka's lean-to near the Oasis on Bikanel Island.

4. Kilika: Kulukan's Pub

The primer is on the counter behind the barfly. The pub is the hut at the north end of the dock. It's closed when you first arrive but opens the next morning.

The barkeep is Kulukan, a Blitzer. Rescue her sister in a broken hut in the NW corner of the village, just before the path heads towards the shore, then come back here for a reward.

Note: Don't forget to talk to the barkeep after you rescue that girl.

5. S.S. Winno Wheelhouse

This is the second ferry between Kilka and Luca.

Scroll to Continue

10 Punjabi Songs Dedicated to Father

The Untold Truth Behind Los Angeles Wildfire Disasters

Eleven Most Important Vitamins of Intrinsic Synthesis

The primer is on the floor behind the helmsman. If you miss it, it appears near Kimahri in Sanubian Desert (East).

When you first board, the Luca Goer women are spying on Keepa in the hold. After their teammates taunt Tidus, go back downstairs, and you'll find that they've kidnapped Keepa! His buddy Botta isn't much help.

6. Luca Stadium, Hallway

Looks like Isken got his memory back!

Go to the locker room hallway opposite the Aurochs' locker room, which is on the left side of the stadium entrance. It's on the floor behind Isken, a Kilika Beast player (addled by Sin's toxin when he first shows up in Kilka).

Note: Look out the windows at the fishies swimming by!

7. Luca Sphere Theater

Yes, I'll pay 5000 Gil to watch Lulu bawl out poor Wakka again!

This one is in Luca Sphere Theater near the reception counter.

Trivia: If you revisit Luca after Operation Mi'ihen, it's under martial law. People blame the Crusaders for abandoning Luca during the tournament and praise the warrior monks who replace them in protecting the city. Very clever, Kinoc.

Also, the signs outside this area say "GIL VENTURE" and "AUCTION HOUSE," which makes me think that in the early planning stages of the game, FFX was going to have an ongoing auction like those in Final Fantasy VI and IX.

8. Highroad Travel Agency

This one's automatic; Rin gives it to you after introducing himself. He gives you Primer VIII while chatting with you in the Mi'ihen Highroad inn.

Trivia: There are several maps on display here, including one at the upper left, helpfully labeled "Map" in Spiran. The map above Tidus' head is a close-up of the peninsula from Luca (southern tip) to Djose (NE corner of the map).

9. Mi'ihen Highroad: Newroad (N)

This one's in front of a stone marker (click screencap for a better view) on the northern stretch of the Highroad. There's a feather on the ground (examine it while riding) off to the left.

Trivia: Maechen / O'aka / Mika are voiced by Dwight Schultz: Lt. Broccoli on Star Trek, old Dalan in FFXII, and dozens of other roles.

10. Mushroom Rock Road

Notice the lift pad on the upper right. This lift goes to where Luzzu and Gatta are arguing. After taking the lift up from the long winding road, proceed to the next lift, but don't take it yet. Head left to a path circling a stone column. Al Bhed Primer #10 is lying near the end of it.

Hint: Look at the minimap with the hook-shaped path off to the left.

11. Djose Highroad

Well, that was depressing.

The primer is behind the fourth rocky pillar north of the Save Sphere. There's a chest on the left just before you reach it. Also, the surviving Chocobo knights run past you near here. Listen for the sound of their feet.

12. Moonflow Wharf: North Bank

Ride Ze Shoopuf!

Finally, an easy one. This primer is on the Shoopuf loading platform after you cross the Moonflow.

Tip: There's an easy-to-miss chest in the woods on the left just after meeting Rikku.

Trivia: One of the few errors in the English subtitles: Maechen's Shoopuf speech misspells "schnoz."

13. Guadosalam: House

There's an especially snooty Guado in here. #13 is in the house to the left of Seymour's mansion.

Trivia: After entering Thunder Plains, turn back and go to Farplane to see secret cutscenes with Lulu, O'aka's brother Wantz, and a Crusader family. Return again after Zanarkand and Cavern of Stolen Fayth for two more short secret cutscenes with Tromell and Jyscal, Lulu and Ginnem.

14. Thunder Plains Agency

Rin, stop trying to blow everybody's cover!

Talk to Rikku, then Rin when he enters. He will give Tidus Primer #14 if you say your studies are going "Okay." Some guides say you must talk to other guardians before Rikku. I'm not sure about that but talk to Rikku before following Yuna.

If you miss this primer, it'll be in East Sanubia Desert, on the left, just after you meet Rikku.

15. Macalania Woods: Lake Road

This one is just not fair.

On the north side of Macalania Forest, north of the Save Sphere, south of the clearing with Jecht's sphere, there's a path heading right that goes up into the sky. At first, the aerial part is blocked. The Al Bhed primer is just before the block. I'm not 100% I've identified the correct blob, but this is about the right spot.

Yep, this one you'll never find without a walkthrough. But who needs Bradygames Guides when you've got me?

16. Lake Macalania Travel Agency

These last two seem to be foreshadowing that Al Bhed is close by.

Primer #16 is easier to see in the game than in this screenshot. It's on the ground in front of the left-hand corner of the Lake Macalania Travel Agency when facing the front door.

Tip: Clasko and his bird eventually move; come back after Bevelle to reach the chest he's blocking.

17. Sanubia Desert (Central)

Give me a home where the big Sand Worms roam ...

Remember that sign beside a Save Sphere telling you that on the left, there are strong fiends and weaker ones on the right? Dang, is that tiny! Al Bhed Primer XVII is hidden among the "strong" fiends. It's under a ruined dome in the NW part of the Central Sanubia Desert. Don't forget one of the great joys of Final Fantasy X: using Auron's Shooting Star overdrive to punt a sand wyrm over the horizon.

18. Sanubia Desert (Central Exit)

It's just before you exit this area, on the north side. Al Bhed Primer #18 is to the left of the sign right before you leave the Sanubia Desert (Central). The sign says, "This way to Home."

Trivia: The logo on the airship and on both Al Bhed vessels reads "Cid" and "Salvage Dream."

19. Outside Home Entrance

Remember, you "can't go Home again"!

Here's the first "missable" primer you can't return for later. Al Bhed Primer #19 is next to some burning rubble on the left side of the paved area outside the entrance to Home. Do not enter without it. Each time you go through a door to a new section of Home, it seals behind you.

20. Al Bhed Home: Living Quarters

Almost no one finds this one without a walkthrough. After Rikku says, "The Summoners' Sanctum—follow me!" there's a battle. Then she says, "Over here!" Go down some steps, then backtrack to a door on the left ( green square on the minimap).

Note: I've brightened the room so you can see the primer sitting on a bunk under the right-hand corner of some laundry on the ceiling.

21. Al Bhed Home: Corridor

Before entering the door next to the Save Sphere, go to the right-hand side of Y.

Head north down steps again. Save at Save Sphere on left, but do not enter door beside it. Go back to Y intersection and go RIGHT. Primer is on the floor outside a room with nasty chimeras. There are TWO puzzle-chests in there, both requiring you to translate Al Bhed. One poses simple math problems; the other asks questions designed to test whether you're Al Bhed.

22. Bevelle: Priests' Passage

This is the final "missable" primer that you can't go back for later.

After Yuna's wedding, enter the temple. Go down. Note the Save Sphere up ahead. Don't pass it without grabbing primer; you can't return here. Food for thought: why is an Al Bhed primer in the temple? Usually, they only show up near Al Bhed or people who travel a lot (sailors, blitzers).

23. Calm Lands (NW)

Watch out for Marlboros around here.

Yay! It's easy to see, just way the heck on the northwest corner of the Calm Lands. When you first get to the Calm Lands, the Chocobo just to the right of this area lets you train one of your own for riding. (Belgemine is parked SE of here.)

Trivia: Lady Yocun trained as a Crusader down in the gorge before becoming High Summoner.

24. Remiem Temple

You'll need a Chocobo to find this one.

The primer's on the ground on the left side of Remiem Temple. A Chocobo will be able to reach Remiem. The trainer is on the north rim, western side when you first enter Calm Lands; later she's near Calm Lands Agency or the south rim, east side. Examine yellow feather in SE Calm Lands while on Chocobo to reach Remiem.

25. Cavern of the Stolen Fayth

It is at the dead-end to left, near the Save Sphere inside the cavern.

Go waaay back into the Cavern of the Stolen Fayth. Save at the Save Sphere. Then, backtrack to T intersection and go left to a short dead end.

Trivia: When Lulu couldn't stop Yuna from starting summoner training, the novice black mage started going on pilgrimages with other summoners, hoping to defeat Sin and keep Yuna safe.

26. Omega Ruins

FINALLY! Now, return to the airship for your Underdog's Secret x99.

Beam down to Omega Ruins, prepared for Greater Marlboros. Enter, go left. Passage slopes down and then curves to the right. Pass small room on left. When you reach glyph at T intersection, go right. Corridor curls around to the north to reveal 4 chests.

Behind the chests, to the right of the lefthand torch, is Primer 26.

What You Get For Collecting All Primers

If you talk to Rin on the airship after collecting all Al Bhed Primers, you'll receive Underdog's Secret x99. Use 30 to customize a weapon with Double Overdrive. Use the leftovers for some powerful Mixes.

© 2010 auronlu

Guestbook

Emile Willday on June 21, 2020:

You're a star. I missed all four and for a while believed the other sites that said I'd had it.

Struggled to find them in the Al Bhed home despite your instructions so would never have found them through ordinary game play whilst being attacked.

Thank you!

Ringo on July 09, 2018:

Some wrong information here. You can go back at ANY time to get the primer from the ship, as you can walk into the engine room at any time, too.

Final Fantasy Hero Wannabe on January 15, 2018:

Awesome! I got hurt knowing that I missed some primers. I looked at other guides and made my head hurt even more. Having these screenshots are heaven-sent!

Guy on October 04, 2016:

Thanks again for this, It's been extremely helpful

nobody important on October 10, 2014:

Thanks i already got it and now i'm close to the last primer and that monster areana thing i'm getting started on the only other thing is grinding for levels for everyone else not named wakka tidus or auron who at last checked was around 27 and i still need the other celestial weapons for the charachtera not named tidus and yuna thanks for the help

auronlu (author) from Spira on October 02, 2014:

nobody: sorry I didn't see this until now. You can go back and get Primer XV after events in Bevelle, if you missed it on your first pass through Macalania forest.

If you've got the airship, the closest landing site is (I think?) the Macalania Travel Agency; it's n0t too far to the south of that in the woods.

If you don't have the airship...

Go to the South Rim of the Calm Lands, south again, then west a room or two and south past a disagreeable sentry until you wind up in Macalania Forest. If the shimmery path into the sky is there, take that -- it's a handy shortcut, and the primer is hidden right before it rejoins the main path on the ground. If the shimmery path is NOT there, then grind your way through Macalania Forest on the ground (passing butterflies and such) until you hit another save sphere, and it's just past that in a hidden niche to the right.

Tip: before going looking for Primer XV, get your Monster Catcher gear from the arena in the Calm Lands so you can be working on that sidequest at the same time. ;)

nobody important on September 21, 2014:

I don't know if you'll reply but can you go get primer 15 from the airship because I might have missed it entirely

tylerabernethy22 on April 06, 2012:

Dude, this is going to really come in handy. LOVE it.

auronlu (author) from Spira on February 24, 2011:

@anonymous: Ack! Yes, let me edit that in. Thanks for the reminder!

I talk to everybody so much I forget what can be missed by not doing so. :)

anonymous on February 24, 2011:

It's Critically important to mention that, at number 16. Al Bhed Primer XIV - Thunder Plains Agency, that you must talk to Rikku before you go and burst in on Yuna, otherwise, you will miss it, Like I just did accidentally!

anonymous on December 09, 2010:

Wow, this is gonna be really useful now that I'm replaying FFX again. (the primers are only one of a few things I didn't do my first time playing, along with blitzball, all the findable areas, and defeating Sin. ...I borrowed it from a friend for about two weeks, got to the end of the game but couldn't beat Sin's fins)

auronlu (author) from Spira on September 14, 2010:

@anonymous: Oh, I did NOT know that!

According to my traffic stats, we're not the only FFX addicts out there. Believe it or not I'm getting 80 people a week checking out this page. Maybe that tip will help one of them. Thanks!

And I just realized, you're probably the Alex who makes all the amazing walkthrough guides on GameFAQs etc! Thank you thank you thank you!

anonymous on September 14, 2010:

Just a little addition, although it's oviously *really* late..

If you do miss one of the Primers, you can always load an earlier save (I was lucky, I had one just before Home) and play through till you get the primer you missed, save in a new slot and use the Al Bhed dictionary compiler thingys to load the Primer from your other slot into your main game :)