Phoenix Down

Phoenix Down, sometimes known as Fenix Down, is a recurring common item in the Final Fantasy series. The "Down" refers to the down feathers of a bird, the undercoat of feathers beneath the visible layer on top. The down feathers of a Phoenix, would return people from the dead as the Phoenix itself does.

Phoenix Downs are used to revive characters who have been Knocked Out in battle. Like most curative items and spells, characters can also throw a Phoenix Down at an Undead enemy in most games, resulting in damage or Instant Death. Alternatives to Phoenix Down are the White Magic spells Life and Raise. There is also a Mega Phoenix item in some games that revives all characters.

In games where only one character is controlled, such as Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, instead of reviving a fallen character, the Phoenix Down casts Auto-Life on the player.

Final Fantasy
Phoenix Downs do not appear in the NES and PSX versions, and players had to rely on the magic spell Lif2 or Clinics to revive fallen characters. They were then introduced in the GBA version; Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls, priced at 500 gil a piece.

Final Fantasy II
The same case as the original Final Fantasy. Phoenix Down first appeared in the Advance version, sold in shops at 500 gil a piece. It can also be found in treasure chests and enemy drops.

Final Fantasy III
This marks the first appearance of the Phoenix Down in the series, then fan-translated as the Fenix Down. Fenix Downs are not bought in shops, found in the field, but can be sold for 1500 gil. This property is retained in the DS version, where it is found randomly, but heals for so little.

Final Fantasy IV
First translated as Life, it became known as Phoenix Down in the Advance version. Bought for 100 gil in shops, and can be found in treasure chests and enemy drops.

Final Fantasy V
Known as Fenix Down in the SNES version, it is a common shop item bought for 1,000 gil, dropped by numerous enemies, and found in many chests.

Final Fantasy VI
Translated as Fenix Down in the SNES version, and bought from shops for 500 gil or from enemy drops, morphs and steals. It can be used at the Coloseum to obtain the Magicite/Rename Card.

Final Fantasy VII
Phoenix Downs can be bought around the world for 300 gil. It revives a fallen character and restores a bit of their HP.

Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII-
Phoenix Downs helps to revive the player automatically if they are KOd in combat, provided they have the item in stock.

Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-
Phoenix Downs restore all of Zack's health. When a Phoenix Down is used, a small feather appears over Zack's head. When he is knocked out, the feather will automatically bring Zack back. Phoenix Downs cannot be purchased and only found during missions.

Final Fantasy VIII
Phoenix Downs removes KO status from characters. It can be bought from any item shop for 375 gil; or less with the Haggle ability. Refinement on a Life Ring produces 2 Phoenix Downs, and on a Regen Ring produces 8.

Final Fantasy IX
Phoenix Down cures KO. Sold in item shops for 150 gil, it can also be stolen from Wyerd or Beatrix. Synthesizing it with a Gysahl Green produces a Phoenix Pinion.

Final Fantasy X
Phoenix Downs are a common item, available to purchase from most shops and received from several chests, it revives one character with approximately 1/2 of their total HP.

Final Fantasy X-2
While again very common, Phoenix Downs will become free from the Alchemist Dressphere via the Stash skillset.

Final Fantasy XII
Phoenix Down revives a character with 20% of their max HP. Using the Phoenix Lores 1, 2 and 3 raises that percentage to 30%, 40% and 50% respectively. Wearing the Pheasant Netsuke doubles the potency of the Phoenix Down. Bought for 250 gil.

Final Fantasy Tactics
Phoenix Down must be learned by Chemists before they can be used. The will revive any KO'd unit it is used on, even enemies. It can KO most undead enemies and units with Zombie status, but skeleton and ghost type enemies will be reborn after a countdown when defeated this way.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

 * Magical tail feather revives fallen allies.

Phoenix Down cures KO, and is bought for 300 gil. Can be obtained by reaching Collection Skill 5.

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
Using Phoenix Down on undead-type enemies do not KO them immediately, instead doing damage. They can be purchased at all shops or can be occasionally obtained from Judges after winning a battle while abiding the law.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
Phoenix Downs are found through dungeons. In Single Player Mode, Phoenix Downs are automatically used when the player is knocked out but only if they have it equipped to an empty slot.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates

 * "Plumage of the legendary bird engulfed by fire. Full of vitality but hot to the touch. Yeouch!"

Phoenix Downs only appear on screen in dungeons to players who are knocked out. Yukes can also view then with their tribe ability. Phoenix Downs also appear as a crafting material. The description reads

Origin
The idea of a Phoenix being cleansed and reborn from fire originates from ancient Egyptian culture. Because it is perceived in many cultures around the world as a symbol of death and rebirth, it is only natural that an item that would recover a character in a fantasy world (one where many cultures and myths collide) would be feathers from this mystic bird. The Phoenix is also particularly special to the Japanese, an animal symbol second only to the dragon in importance.

In theory, a Phoenix down is just a tiny sampling of feathers from the legendary Phoenix, famous for its ability to die and resurrect itself. This is why it is impossible to use a Phoenix Down (or life spell, which really only recovers a character from an unconscious state) to revive characters who have permanently died due to plot circumstances. Even the Phoenix Pinion item is just a sampling of feathers, one that is able to recover all allies in some Final Fantasy games, but not feathers with resurrection capabilities. Due to the nature of the Phoenix, it is unlikely that even it could arrive and return a character from actual death, since it only is really able to revive itself.

Phönixfeder