Final Fantasy IX Instruction Manual - Battle
Let's understand the battle system and harness the power to win no matter who
you're fighting against.
A. In order to not lose in battle...
The battles in this game follows the Active Time Battle (ATB) system where time
always passes. Furthermore, command that you can select in battle differs from
character to character. It can be said that the quickest way to succeed in
battle is by establishing a strategy that suits the situation, while considering
the commands available for use by various characters.
1. Cursor: It is displayed on a character that you can choose command for.
2. Command: Fight, Item, and others. All commands shown.
3. HP (Hit Point), MP (Magic Point): Characters with 0 HP because of enemy
attack will be inactive and cannot join the battle. MP is the power necessary to
use Ability.
4. ATB: Increases with time. When it becomes full, action (command selection) is
available.
5. Trance Gauge: If you receive damage from enemy attack, trance power
increases. The character with full trance gauge will trance. The trance gauge is
also shown at some events.
B. Easy control during battle
1. Change the order with TRIANGLE button When there are many characters active
and ready, by pressing the TRIANGLE button, you can change the character who
will choose command, thereby organizing the order of action.
2. Escape with L1/R1 buttons If you continuously press the L1/R1 buttons
simultaneously, you can escape from the enemy. Moreover, time is required until
escape, and you can receive attacks during that time (There are times when you
cannot escape).
3. L2 button opens the target window If you press the L2 button, a target window
for choosing enemy to attack or perform magic appears, and you can choose the
enemy by name.
C. TRANCE changes command
After receiving attacks from the enemy, a character can have a full trance power
and is lit under bright light. During a trance, attack ability is increased, and
it is possible to perform special attacks that appear when the commands change.
It is an effective strategy to control trance power before fighting a powerful
enemy and then trance to use special commands.
CRITERIAS FOR MAKING TRANCE ZERO
For characters in trance, trance power decreases whenever some action is
performed and the trance state is resolved when it becomes zero. Furthermore, if
certain criteria such as 1) zombie or 2) battle ending during trance are
fulfilled, then trance power becomes zero.
D. About abnormal status
We will call changes in a character's condition "abnormal status". As described
below, there are advantageous and disadvantageous abnormal statuses, so you'll
want to use them wisely in battle. Still, in the midst of battle, when you try
to use item or magic to remove abnormal status, you can verify the abnormal
status by its icon.
ADVANTAGEOUS ABNORMAL STATUS
(all cancelled at end of battle)
1. Re-Raise: If hit by "battle inactive" spell, it is removed by recovering HP.
2. Regeneration: HP gradually increases.
3. Haste: ATB gauge has increased speed.
4. Levitate: Body levitate in air. No damage from ground attack.
5. Shell: Damage from magic attack is reduced.
6. Protect: Damage from physical attack is reduced.
7. Banish: No damage from physical attack.
8. Reflect: Reflect magic (there are exceptions).
DISADVANTAGEOUS ABNORMAL STATUS
(cancelled after battle)
1. Confusion: Becomes uncontrollable; repeated attacks without regard for friend
or foe.
2. Berzerk: Attack power increases, but becomes uncontrollable.
3. Stop: Time is stopped; you have no control.
4. Poison: HP gradually decreases by poison.
5. Sleep: No control due to sleep.
6. Slow: ATB gauge speed slowed.
7. Heat: Because of fire damage, you will become battle inactive slowly.
8. Freeze: Becomes uncontrollable due to freezing; if you receive physical
attack, you will become battle inactive.
9. Minimum: Body becomes small; attack and defense abilities drop.
10. Death Sentence: If counter above head becomes zero, you'll be battle
inactive (or dead).
11. Slowly Petrify: If counter above head becomes zero, you turn to stone.
DISADVANTAGEOUS ABNORMAL STATUS
(continues even after battle ends)
1. Petrify: Turn to stone; cannot control.
2. Poison Plus: Uncontrollable due to powerful poison, and both HP and MP slowly
decrease.
3. Wills: Stops growth; even after winning battle, Exp and AP do not increase.
4. Silence: Cannot chant; cannot use magic.
5. Darkness: Vision becomes bad; physical attacks are ineffective.
6. Trouble: Damage received from enemy physical attack is halved, but all party
members receive same damage.
7. Zombie: All recovery effects become opposite effects.
8. Battle Inactive: Cannot control until resurrected.
* If in a trance, all disadvantageous abnormal statuses are cancelled except
petrify, zombie, and wills. |
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