In the NTSC version, there is actually a way to obtain the Mana Sword before the final battle without the use of a cheat device. First, once the Flammie Drum is obtained and the sword is level 8, go to a small isle of the coast north of Ice Country due west of the Ice Palace. Neko will be there. The player should save at Neko, soft reset and start a new adventure. When the player enters the Mantis Ant fight, perform a soft reset once Elliot finishes his lines and reload the save file in Ice Country. Instead of Ice Country, the entire party will be in the Mantis Ant fight. Defeat him and Jema will give the party a Sword Orb. Give this orb to Watts to forge and the player should have the Mana Sword.