Quote Originally Posted by mobiletype
i tried this out just because I wanted to scan Sphinxaur and Sphinxara but I had to go and battle Catoblepas first. I didn't even think of going for Tiamat, I'm really impressed that you managed to beat him first without all you abilities (well most of them)
Junction Fire, Ice, and Lightning to Elem-Def, enough to absorb all 3. All of Tiamat's attacks will heal you, and from there it's simple.

It's technically possible to skip Quezacoatl and Shiva, though it'd be hard going until you got Ifrit.

But, if you went in with only the GFs you had to acquire in the game, would you find one on Sphinxaur? Damnit, I'm really going to have to test this sometime. I just hate skipping things. >.<