How to Get Ultima Blade as Early as Chapter 3

See also: Guides and Ultima Blade

1. Get to the start of Chapter 2 and talk to Cid to begin upgrading your Engine Blade.
2. He will ask for a Rusted Bit. There are a few of these in set locations but the earliest one can be found just by progressing the story and knowing where to look.
3. The Rusted Bit can be gotten as soon as you have the car. Go to Galdin Quay and go to the end of the dock (through the restaurant/hotel area) and check the blue and white pole at the end there. That shiny item in front of it is a Rusted Bit.
4. Play the story ti;l you get to the first Dungeon, Keycatrich Trench. The Rusted Bit is just a short way inside the dungeon.
5. Either Head back to Cid and upgrade weapon right away or keep pushing on with the story till Chapter 3.
6. Once you have handed Cid the Rusted Bit he will upgrade your Engine Blade and offer to upgrade it again if you give him a Glass Gemstone.
7. The earliest Glass Gemstone is found in Chapter 3 in Lestallum. It is located just off the main street behind what looks like a hotdog vendor guy as a blue sparkle.
8. While you are here if you head down to the lookout eating area during the day there will be a woman eating a curry rice meal, Mother and child rice, Ignis will learn this recipe. It gives a 50% boost to item drop which will help you LOADS for the last item you need.
9. Head back to Cid and give him the Gemstone. He will say he needs time. Simply head to the diner here in Hammerhead and complete the Level 2 hunt, Howling Wind of Hunger.
10. After completing the hunt ONCE sleep in the caravan outside (or a fancy 3x hotel if you have lots of EXP stored) and Cid will call you in the morning.
11. Collect your new Blade and Cid will ask you for one last item to upgrade your Engine Blade, the Sturdy Helixhorn.
12. Head to Old Lestallum and the Crow's Nest Diner and undertake the hunt, The Last Spiracorns.
13. Before you are ready to hunt make camp and eat the food you learnt earlier.
14. Head towards the hunt zone but when you arrive on the edge of the yellow zone, Save your game. If you don't get your item just reload your game till you do.
15. Head into the zone. Kill or ignore the Spiracorns
16. Focus now on hitting the Duplicorns in the head/horns till they break. This part can be very time consuming if you are unlucky. For me it took about 15 mins of reload and breaks.
17. You will know if you got a Sturdy Helixhorn as soon as you break those horns.
18. Once you have the horn complete or run from the hunt and back to Cid
19. Cid will take the Helixhorn and say he needs some time.
20. Complete the same level 2 hunt THREE times back to back then stay at the caravan.
21. Cid will call saying your blade is ready!