Legend of Mana Dragon%: Niccolo’s Business Unusual
This is part of a first-playthrough guide using the Dragon story arc. It covers both the original PSX version and the 2021 HD remaster, though some place and item names differ slightly in the latter. You can find an overview of the Dragon% path here.
The Quick Version
Go back to Domina, head to the market, and talk to Niccolo, the chubby rabbit guy in the colorful poncho. Agree to help him with his bandit problem (“No,” then “Yes” in dialogue). Stop by the house at the southwest of the Center of Town (HD: Central Domina) to visit Teapo, a vaguely anthropomorphic teapot with a Cockney accent. Place the Artifact you receive (the Wheel) and head to the zone it unlocks.
Compared to places like the Underworld, the Luon Highway is a pretty straightforward map. Go there to find and defeat the bandits who are making the highway unsafe. That done, Niccolo will reward you with a few items and two Artifacts: the Flame and the Medallion.
The Details (May Contain Spoilers)
We take on this sidequest to snag a few more Artifacts before we hunker down and focus on the Dragon story arc. One condition to trigger the endgame in Legend of Mana is having placed a certain number of Artifacts, and this sidequest gives three Artifacts pretty quickly.
To get to the boss fight from the entrance of Luon Highway, head:
- East till you reach the fork
- Northeast at the fork
- East again until you encounter the bandits
The Iron Pot Niccolo gives you (actually, sells you) you at the end of this quest is a helmet, so unless you’ve picked up another one already, it’s worth equipping in your remaining armor slot.
FAQ/Troubleshooting
Have I seen this boss before?
Possibly! 🙂 The Mantis Ant also appeared as the first boss in Secret of Mana.
Previous quest: The Monster Corral
Next quest: The Guardian of Winds
