Item

Item (アイテム) is a recurring command option in the Final Fantasy series that appears in every battle event. When selected, a menu will appear, listing all usable battle items, including recovery items such as Potions and Phoenix Downs.

Certain titles in the series allow players to customize the command menu, enabling them to replace the Item command. Some battles are noted to have disabled the Item command at times, forcing the player to rely on Magic for recovery.

Final Fantasy
The original NES version had the Item command, but strangely enough, the only way to use Potions was with the Drink command. Several pieces of equipment, such as the Gauntlets and Mage's Staff, would use spells upon being used in the Item menu, but only if they were equipped on the character to begin with. However, the player is able to switch equipment during battle in the Origins and later versions, allowing them to use any special equipment for magic purposes.

Final Fantasy II
In the original NES version, there are only 32 inventory spaces, including Key Items, making storing items difficult. In the WonderSwan Color and Origins releases, the inventory space grew to 63 and in the Dawn of Souls and continuing in future releases, the inventory space increased substantially to over 200 slots, allowing every item in the game to be stored in the inventory.

In the NES, WonderSwan Color, and Origins versions, each character is allowed to hold two items during battle. This includes weapons and shields, thus characters are able to change their equipment during battle. On the other hand, in the Dawn of Souls, 20th Anniversary and iOS versions, equipping items was no longer necessary and the player could use and equip items directly out of their inventory.

Final Fantasy III
In the NES version, the player has only 32 inventory spaces, you can always delete any item you feel it's not needed so you can empty your inventory space for other items. However, due to the newly introduced Fat Chocobo system, the player is able to store away unneeded items to free space in the inventory. As with the previous games, equipment also have special abilities when used directly from the player's inventory during battle. All jobs have access to the Item command during battle.

There was also a system where you can give items to other NPCs to get certain items or cure an important character. this was remodeled in the DS version, you can't freely give away items anymore, the item command will automatically pop up when it's needed to use an item to advance the plot.

In the DS version, there is no limitation to the inventory space and you can store any amount of items you want.

Final Fantasy IV
In all versions of Final Fantasy IV, the player is able to switch their equipment during battle, and several pieces of equipment can be used to cast spells as with the previous titles, although they are now one-time uses instead of infinite uses. In all versions but the DS version, which has unlimited space, the player has only 46 spaces in their inventory, although the fat chocobo system is again used in this game (except in the DS version, due to the unlimited inventory space). Every character has access to the Item command during battle.

Final Fantasy V
While most jobs have the Item command by default, the Mime doesn't, and must have it equipped if it wants to use items. Equipment can no longer be used in battle to cast spells.

Final Fantasy VI
Everybody but Gogo has the Item command by default. Gogo, being a Mime, needs to equip all commands besides the Attack command to be able to use them in battle.

Final Fantasy VII
Item command can be turned into W-Item with the appropriate Command Materia found in Midgar on disk 3. The command is famous for the glitch that lets the player duplicate items.

Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-
Zack can use items during battle by shuffling through the menu. There are only a few items, all of them recovery items, to heal HP, MP and AP, or all at once. However, the HP recovery items become useless near the game's end when the player can break the HP limit to 99,999, as items can never restore more than 9,999 at once. Items are used instantly.

Final Fantasy VIII
Item is a junction ability that every Guardian Force has already mastered. It may be removed using the item Amnesia Greens, and later re-added using the Item Scroll bought from Pet Shops in Timber and Esthar. The game features various stones that, when used as an item, act similarly to the character actually casting the spell, using their magic stat in the damage calculation. Unlike most other games in the series, Item must be specifically equipped as a command and is not a part of the command menu by default.

Final Fantasy IX
Every character has the Item command available, although very few items are actually usable inside of battle unlike prior Final Fantasy titles. The jewel items, such as Aquamarine and Ruby, as well as Dark Matter can only be used during battle, while the items Gysahl Greens and Dead Pepper have different effects than when used in the menu in battle.

Final Fantasy X
Items can be used by any character in any battle save for the aeons. There is also the Quick Pockets ability in Rikku's section of the Sphere Grid which lets one use items faster with greatly reduced recovery time. Quick Pockets ability costs 70 MP to use and is only available in the International and PAL versions of the game.

Final Fantasy X-2
Items can be used by any character in battle, provided that they are not currently using a Special Dressphere. A number of support abilities found on certain dresspheres provide support abilities, such as the ability to access items faster or double the effect of recovery items.

Final Fantasy XI
The item command line allows players to use an item in inventory (e.g. in macros), instead of manually selecting them through menus.

Final Fantasy XII
The Item command is sealed in the Esper battle against Exodus. It can also be chosen as the sealed command in Pharos at Ridorana Second Ascent. Items can be used instantly and have no Charge Time, which often makes Phoenix Downs superior to the Raise spell, although, to combat the lack of Charge Time, the character will be inactive for a few seconds after having used the item, before they can perform another action.

The player can reverse the recovery and status healing items' effect by equipping the Nihopalaoa accessory. They may also double the items' efficiency when equipping the Pheasant Netsuke.

Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
Although the item command does not exist due to the fighting style. Several enemies such as Seeq and Archer use items like Potion and Remedy as abilities.

Final Fantasy XIII
The Item command is always available (although it wasn't available in the demo) and doesn't use up any ATB segments, meaning using an item is basically a free turn. There are rather few items to be used, however, none of them offensive.

Final Fantasy Tactics
The Chemist's job skill is Items. Unlike other games, each individual consumable item must be learned as a skill. A Chemist must spend JP in order to master these skills.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
The Items command set must be placed in the secondary action command slot in order for a unit to use items. The Alchemist is always able to access the use of items regardless of their secondary action command.

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
The Items skillset in Tactics A2 follows the same structure as Tactics Advance.

Vagrant Story
Item isn't a command in Vagrant Story instead it is a menu option where several items can be used. Items can be used at any time and this includes spell grimoires.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
Items in Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles are things such as recipes, food and minerals are dropped from enemies, and Items that are kept forever, or Key Items, are obtained in towns or after a dungeon is completed. All items can be thrown in the dungeons, except for Key Items, and freely picked up again.

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
The Item command is available to all characters, and both inside and outside of battles. It does not have any special functions compared to other games in the series, and simply allows the player to use consumable items. There are only 4 items usable during battle. The player can, however, give Key Items to certain characters on the field, which is needed to progress in the story.

Final Fantasy Legend III
The Item command is one of four default commands that appears during the battle. Healing items are usable during battles, including the ability to use Item Magic from certain equipment. The player is also able to switch their equipment, but only the weapon and shield, during battle.

Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light
The item command is one the characters' default commands, and using it expends one Action Point. The character can only use items from their personal item menu, which is restricted 15 slots. The player can't choose the recipient of the item, instead the game AI chooses for the player: if the player chooses to use a Phoenix Down, it will be automatically used on the Knocked Out ally.

If there are more than one knocked out allies, the game will use the Phoenix Down on the most recently knocked character. Status healing items work the same way, and healing items heal the ally who has the least HP.

The Salve-Maker can use items without AP cost.

Gallery
Item