Phoenix Down (フェニックスの尾, Fenikkusu no o lit. Phoenix Tail), sometimes known as Fenix Down or Life, 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 a Phoenix itself does. The Aletap Rumors of Final Fantasy XII say that Phoenix Down works by being offered to appeal to the mystical Phoenix itself to allow a lost soul to return, with the quality and overall beauty of the current feather being a crucial factor.
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 Reraise on the player.
Appearances[]
Final Fantasy[]
Phoenix Downs do not appear in the NES and PS 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.
| Phoenix Down | |
|---|---|
| Effect | Revives a KOed character. |
| Buy In | All shops |
| Find In | Marsh Cave, Mount Gulg, Hellfire Chasm, Lifespring Grotto (x6), Whisperwind Cove (x15) |
| Won From | Mindflayer, Soldier |
| Cost | 500 gil |
Final Fantasy II[]
The Phoenix Down first appeared in this game, with a price of 5,000 gil (500 in later versions) in item shops. It may also be found as a dropped item from enemies or inside chests.
| Phoenix Down | |
|---|---|
| Effect | Revives KOed allies. |
| Buy In | All shops |
| Find In | Castle Deist, Tropical Island, Cave of Mysidia |
| Won From | Emperor, Tiamat, Mantis King, Chimera Brain, Yamatano Orochi |
| Cost | 5,000 gil |
| 500 gil | |
Final Fantasy III[]
Fan-translated as the Fenix Down, these are not bought in shops but are found in the field and can be sold for 1,500 gil. This property is retained in the DS version, where it is found randomly, and sold for a mere one gil.
| Phoenix Down | |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Fenix Down |
| Effect | Revives KOed ally. |
| Buy In | N/A |
| Find In | Ur (x2), Castle Sasune, Canaan, Dragon's Peak, Tozus (x2), Molten Cave (x2), Hein's Castle (x4), Replito, Southeastern Saronia (x2), Saronia (x2), Saronia Catacombs (x4), Sunken Cave, Lake Dohr, Bahamut's Lair (x2), Doga's Grotto (x2), Ancients' Maze (x3), The Forbidden Land, Eureka (x3), Crystal Tower (x5) |
| Steal From | Rust Bird |
| Won From | Medusa, Gutsco, Salamander, Hein, Kraken, Goldor, Garuda, Leviathan, Bahamut, Doga, Unei, Titan, Amon, General, Scylla, Guardian, Xande |
| Cost | N/A |
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.
| Phoenix Down | |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Life |
| Effect | Revives KO'ed character with 1/10 of max HP. |
| Buy In | All shops |
| Find In | Water Cave, Antlion's Cave, Tower of Babil - Lower, Cave of Eblan (x2), Sealed Cavern (x2), Land of Summons (x3), Baron Castle (x2) |
| Steal From | Cocatris, Eagle, Roc Baby |
| Won From | Cocatris, Eagle, Float Eye, Red Eye, Roc Baby, Rock Moth, Sand Moth |
| Cost | 100 gil |
Final Fantasy IV: The After Years[]
Phoenix Downs are bought for 100 gil at all stores, and can also be won and found throughout the entire game.
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.
| Phoenix Down | |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Fenix Down |
| Effect | Revives KOed ally with 1/10 of Max HP. |
| Buy In | Kerwin onwards |
| Find In | Tycoon Meteor, Tule, Ship Graveyard (x2), North Mountain, Tycoon Castle (x2), Walz Castle, Fire Ship, Library of Ancients, Ronka Ruins, Grove of Moogles, Moogle Forest, Valley of the Dragons, Moore Forest, Istory Falls, Great Sea Trench, Phoenix Tower (x4) |
| Steal From | A Rage, Aquaus, Death Dealer, Druid, Gobbldigoo, Harpy, Hypnot, Kuzer, Oculus, Page 64, QuadrHarpy, Wingraptor, KimaBrain, Dragon Bulb |
| Won From | Archeosaur, Behemoth King, Hypnot, Pantera, Subterran, Ifrit, Gargoyle, Twin Tania - Form 1, Ex-Death |
| Cost | 1,000 gil |
Phoenix Down is also a result from the Mix command, and is amusingly enough only achieved by mixing two Phoenix Downs.
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 Coliseum to obtain the Magicite/Rename Card. It revives a KO'ed ally with 1/8th of their Max HP.
| Phoenix Down | |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Fenix Down |
| Effect | Revive KOed ally. Instantly kills undead enemies. |
| Buy In | All shops |
| Find In | [WoB] Mines in Narshe, [WoB] South Figaro, [WoB] Returners' Hideout (x2), [WoB] Phantom Train (x2), [WoR] South Figaro - Barrel (if you did not get the Warp Stone in the WoB), [WoR] Mobliz, [WoR] Doma Castle |
| Steal From | Fidor, Vulture, Harpy, Zombone, Harpiai, Uroburos, Phase, Parasoul, Garm, Balloon, Chaos Drgn, Gabbledegak, Sea Flower, Aquila, Necromancr, Trixter |
| Won From | Vulture, Anguiform, Zombone, Uroburos, Phase, Parasoul, Chaos Drgn, Sea Flower, Abolisher,
Aquila, Trixter, RightBlade, Left Blade, Leader |
| Morph From | Templar, Orog, Suriander, Vulture, Gilomantis, Anguiform, Brain Pan, Buffalax, Sand Horse, General, Ogor, Wart Puck, Gobbler, Toe Cutter, Misfit, Latimeria, Hemophyte, Sp Forces, Opinicus, Mantodea, Osprey |
| Cost | 500 gil |
Final Fantasy VII[]
| Phoenix Down | |
|---|---|
| Effect | Revives a KOed ally with 1/10 of max HP. |
| Buy In | All shops |
| Find In | No.1 Reactor, Train to Sector 4, Corneo's Mansion, Aerith's House, Mt.Corel (x10) |
| Steal From | Heavy Tank, King Behemoth, 2-Faced, Griffin, Ark Dragon, Ghost Ship, Lessaloploth, Magnade, Malldancer |
| Won From | Adamantaimai, Ark Dragon, Behemoth, Christopher, Crazy Saw, Dorky Face, Ghirofelgo, Ghost Ship, Griffin, Iron Man, Lessaloploth, Tail Vault, Vargrid Police, Wind Wing, Aps |
| Morph From | Deenglow, Griffin, Wind Wing |
| Cost | 300 gil |
Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII-[]
Phoenix Downs helps to revive the player automatically if they are KOed in combat, provided they have the item in stock.
Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII-[]
Phoenix Downs fully restore all of the player's HP after the player is incapacitated.
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. 99 of them can be stolen from the secret superboss Minerva, and can be repeated in subsequent rematches. Even if Zack fails, he keeps the Phoenix Downs he has stolen, making Minerva a farm for Phoenix Downs. (Note that this does not work on the Japanese version, since losing in a Mission means a Game Over.)
Final Fantasy VIII[]
Refinement on a Life Ring produces 2 Phoenix Downs, and on a Regen Ring produces 8.
| Phoenix Down | |
|---|---|
| Effect | Revives a KOed ally with 1/10 of max HP. |
| Buy In | All item shops |
| Find In | Dollet (Complete dog sidequest before Disc 3) |
| Steal From | Esthar Soldier (Cyborg), Galbadia Soldier, Gerogero, Guard |
| Won From | Command Leader, Command Soldier, Guard, Paratrooper, Esthar Soldier, Esthar Soldier (Cyborg), Elite Soldier |
| Cost | 500 gil |
Final Fantasy IX[]
Synthesizing it with a Gysahl Green produces a Phoenix Pinion.
| Phoenix Down | |
|---|---|
| Effect | Revives a KOed ally with minimal HP. |
| Buy In | All item shops |
| Find In | Alexandria Castle, Evil Forest, Ice Cavern, Dali, Burmecia, Summit Station, Gargan Roo, Cleyra's Trunk, Cleyra, Madain Sari, Iifa Tree |
| Steal From | Adamantoise, Cactuar, Cave Imp, Crawler, Epitaph, Fang, Gigan Octopus, Iron Man, Lamia, Maliris (Crystal World), Soldier (A), Soldier (B), Stroper, Tonberry, Type A, Wyerd, Beatrix 1st, Beatrix 2nd, Beatrix 3rd, Ralvuimahgo, Hilgigars, Shell Dragon (A) |
| Won From | Abomination, Agares, Amarant (Mirror), Armstrong, Axolotl, Bandersnatch, Behemoth (B), Blazer Beetle, Bomb, Cactuar, Carrion Worm, Carve Spider, Cave Imp, Chimera, Dagger (Mirror), Dendrobium, Dracozombie, Drakan, Eiko (Mirror), Epitaph, Fang, Feather Circle, Flan, Freya (Mirror), Gargoyle, Garuda, Gigan Octopus, Goblin, Grand Dragon, Grenade, Grimock Red, Hecteyes, Hedgehog Pie, Ironite, Iron Man, Jabberwock, Land Worm, Lamia, Lizard Man, Maliris (Crystal World), Mimic, Mover (A), Mu, Ochu, Ogre (A), Ogre (B), Python, Quina (Mirror), Sahagin, Sand Golem, Skeleton, Steiner (Mirror), Stroper, Tiamat (Crystal World), Type A, Type B, Vepal (Red), Veteran, Vice, Vivi (Mirror), Yan, Zidane (Mirror), Zuu, Prison Cage, Plant Brain, Sealion, Antlion (B), Earth Guardian, Maliris, Tiamat, Kraken, Lich, Deathguise |
| Cost | 150 gil |
Final Fantasy X[]
| Phoenix Down | |
|---|---|
| Effect | Revives KOed ally with 50% of max HP. |
| Buy In | All item shops |
| Find In | Besaid Village (infront of shop), Luca - Dock No. 2 (x2), Moonflow: South Wharf (x2), Thunder Plains: South (x2), Macalania Woods: Central (x3), Macalania: Hall (x3) |
| Steal From | Condor, Ghost |
| Won From | YAT-99, Mech Hunter, Mech Defender, YAT-97 |
| Bribe | N/A |
| Other | Gift - 3 = Besaid: Dock Gift - 3 = Kilika - Encounter Lord Ochu from the left and escape Prize - 2 = Blitzball - League Prize - 2nd Place Prize - 2 = Blitzball - Tournament Prize - 3rd Place Gift - 2 = Mushroom Rock - Entrance Gift - 2 = Djose Highroad Prize - 1 = Cavern of the Stolen Fayth - Magic Urn |
| Cost | 100 gil |
Final Fantasy X-2[]
While again very common, Phoenix Downs will become free from the Alchemist Dressphere via the Stash skillset.
| Phoenix Down | |
|---|---|
| Effect | Revives a KOed ally with 1/10 of max HP. |
| Buy In | All item shops |
| Find In | (Chapter 1) Celsius, Calm Land, Kilika/Village, Mi´Hen-Highroad, Mushroom-Rock, Djose/Front area, Thunder Plains, Zanarkand (Chapter 2) Celsius, Mi´Hen-Highroad, Mushroom-Rock, Thunder Plains, Calm Land, Zanarkand, Djose/Front area, Mt. Gagazet, Bevelle (Chapter 3) Celsius, Mi´Hen-Highroad, Thunder Plains, Bevelle, Zanarkand, Kilika/Village, Djose/Front area (Chapter 4) Celsius, Thunder Plains, Fiend Haunt (Chapter 5) Celsius, Kilika/Village, Mi´Hen-Highroad (only with Chocobo), Djose/Front area, Bevelle, Zanarkand |
| Steal From | Ahriman, Coyote , Death Dauber , Killer Hound, Goon, League Scout, Nashorn, Quadricorn, Recoil, She-Goon, Wild Fang, Wild Wolf, Coeurl, Hrimthurs, Behemoth, Fly Eye, Haizhe, Stalwart, Takouba, Battlesnake, Blackguard, League Ranger, League Soldier, Queen Coeurl, Viper Sniper, Elma, League Fighter, Peregrine, Barong, Tentacles, Rukh, Leucophylla, Sand Worm, Zu, Crimson Shadow, Grim Gaze, League Master, Right Bulwark, Left Bulwark, Right Redoubt, Left Redoubt, Viper Sniper, Monolith, Sahagin Prince, Creeper, Hug Bug, Recoil |
| Won From | ???, Fly Eye, Hrimthurs, Shantak, Takouba, Stalwart, Bomb, Flak Python, Haizhe, Goon,Le Blanc (Luca), Le Blanc (Gagazet Ruins), Logos (Luca), Logos (Gagazet Ruins), Nashorn, Ormi (Luca), Ormi (Gagazet Ruins), Proto Chimera, Quadricorn, Recoil, She-Goon, Yellow Elemental, Yevon Defender, Yevon Guard, Hrimthurs, Shantak, Detah Dauber, Ahriman, Fly Eye, Hrimthurs, Takouba, Queen Coeurl, League Trooper, League Ranger, Daeva, Grim Gaze, Rukh, Tentacles, Zarvan, Yevon Finest, Yevon Striker, League Mage, Phantom |
| Bribe | Fly Eye, Wild Wolf, Coyote, Hrimthurs, League Fighter, League Scout, She-Goon, Yevon Defender, Yevon Guard, League Soldier, Peregrine |
| Other | N/A |
| Cost | 100 gil |
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 XIII[]
Phoenix Down revives a character with a large amount of their health. Bought for 1,000 gil from Unicorn Mart. Dropped by most Corps enemies. Items do not use the ATB Bar, making them useful when the party need to revive someone as quickly as possible.
Final Fantasy Tactics[]
Phoenix Down must be learned by Chemists before they can be used. They will revive any KOed 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.
The Phoenix Tail 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. They can also be used to permanently kill any undead creatures after their HP has been reduced to zero and they have entered their "tombstone" form.
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!"
- —Material Description
Phoenix Downs only appear on screen in dungeons to players who are knocked out. Yukes can also view them with their Tribe ability. Phoenix Downs also appear as a crafting material.
Dissidia Final Fantasy[]
The Phoenix Down is not an item in this game, but an accessory that allows the player to survive a killing blow with only 1 HP remaining, and breaks immediately after activating.
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. This is why characters who have died during Final Fantasy stories were not simply revived with a Phoenix Down, as it can apparently save only people near death.
Gallery[]
| v · e · dĐồ Vật |
|---|
| Recovery |
| Alarm Clock - Antidote - Cottage - Dry Ether - Echo Herbs - Elixir - Ether - Eyedrops - Gold Needle - Handkerchief - Hi-Potion - Holy Water - Maiden's Kiss - Mallet - Megalixir - Mega Phoenix - Mega-Potion - Phoenix Down - Phoenix Pinion - Potion - Remedy - Sleeping Bag - Tent - Turbo Ether - Vaccine - X-Potion |
| Offensive |
| Antarctic Wind - Arctic Wind - Blue Fang - Bomb Core - Bomb Crank - Bomb Fragment - Bomb Spirit - Dark Matter - Dragon Scale - Fish Scale - Gaia Drum - Grenade - Heavenly Wrath - Hourglass - Lilith's Kiss - Malboro Tentacle - Mute Mask - Red Fang - Scroll - Smoke Bomb - Spider's Silk - Stardust - Vampire Fang - White Fang - Zeus's Wrath |
| Supportive |
| Bacchus's Wine - Chocobo Feather - Giant's Drink - Hero Drink - Light Curtain - Lunar Curtain - Speed Drink - Star Curtain - Three Stars - Twin Stars - Wizard's Drink |
| Miscellaneous |
| Ammo - Black Hole - Black Orb - Dead Pepper - Dragon Fang - Fuel - Greens - Grimoire - Gysahl Greens - Kilobyte of Memory - Limit Breaker - Loot - Magazine - Magic Lamp - Mako Stones - Occult Fan - Omega Badge - Rename Card - Solomon Ring - Teleport Stone - Thunder Rock - Tonberry's Knife - Turtle Shell - Wayfarer's Map - Weapons Monthly |
| Key Items |
| Adamantite - Black Mask - Black Materia - Canoe - Carnelian Signet - Cellphone - Chime - Chocograph - Crown - Crystal Eye - Crystal Rod - Dragon Grass - Earth Rod - Egil's Torch - Goddess's Bell - Gulug Stone - Huge Materia - Key of Magma - Keystone - Kupo Nut - Lente's Tear - Leviathan Scales - Levigrass Shoes - Levistone - Lunar Harp - Lute - Mark of Conquest - Mystic Key - Mythril - Nitro Powder - Orichalcum - Oxyale - Proof of Omega - Rat Tail - Recipe Book - Rosetta Stone - Ruby - Sand Pearl - Snowcraft - Sunfire - Tablets - The Girl Next Door - Wakewater - Warp Cube - Whisperweed - White Mask |
| Stat-Upgrading |
| HP Up - Soma Drop - Power Plus - Vit Up - Mind Plus - Spr Up - Speed Plus - Luck Plus |
| Item Lists |
| Final Fantasy - Final Fantasy II - Final Fantasy III - Final Fantasy IV - The After Years - Final Fantasy V - Final Fantasy VI - Final Fantasy VII - Dirge of Cerberus - Before Crisis - Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VIII - Final Fantasy IX - Final Fantasy X - Final Fantasy X-2 - Final Fantasy XI - Final Fantasy XII - Final Fantasy XIII - Tactics - Tactics Advance - Tactics A2 - Vagrant Story - Crystal Chronicles Items/Artifact/Materials - Ring of Fates Items/Materials - My Life as a King - Mystic Quest - Adventure |