This is a list of status effects in Final Fantasy IX. Some statuses are beneficial while others are detrimental. Guardian Mog is a support ability for Eiko that removes status ailments before the Battle Results screen appears. Weapons with an innate status inflict it onto their targets with the Add Status support ability, and Zidane also has a skill for this to use for his dual-blades.
Having a party member afflicted with all status ailments at once earns the A Clean Bill of Health achievement/trophy in the versions that support an achievements system.
Mechanics[]
Many statuses are affected by the Spirit stat, positive status effects last longer the higher the character's Spirit, while negative status effects wear off faster the higher the character's Spirit. Spirit stat also affects status effects that have a ticking, like Regen and Poison; the higher the character's Spirit, the more often does Regen heal the character, and the less frequently does Poison sap their HP.
The effect duration for status spells and attacks is decided by the target's Spirit, the status given, and the target's current status (Haste, Slow, or none). First, a time limit is established by multiplying the target's Spirit by the base limit of the status.
- Protect: Spirit * 360
- Shell: Spirit * 360
- Regen: Spirit * 360
- Reflect: Spirit * 320
- Haste: Spirit * 320
- Float: Spirit * 240
- Vanish: Spirit * 240
- Slow: (60 - Spirit) * 320
- Poison: (60 - Spirit) * 240
- Sleep: (60 - Spirit) * 200
- Doom: (60 - Spirit) * 200
- Gradual Petrify: (60 - Spirit) * 200
- Freeze: (60 - Spirit) * 160
- Heat: (60 - Spirit) * 160
Doom and Gradual Petrify are worsened by high Spirit.
The time limit will decrease by a rate of deduction dictated by the target's current status. When the time limit expires, the status is removed, or, in the case of Doom and Gradual Petrify, the afflicted are incapacitated. Rates of deduction are dictated by the Battle Speed setting chosen in the Config menu.
Max Battle Speed:
- 9 per 4/60th second in Slow status
- 14 per 4/60th second normally
- 21 per 4/60th second in Haste status
Medium Battle Speed:
- 6 per 4/60th second in Slow status
- 10 per 4/60th second normally
- 15 per 4/60th second in Haste status
Slow Battle Speed:
- 5 per 4/60th second in Slow status
- 8 per 4/60th second normally
- 12 per 4/60th second in Haste status
The duration in seconds of a status's effect can be determined by Time limit / Deduction per second.
For ticking statuses a secondary "hit" timer is established that acts as spacer between the addition or subtraction of Hit Points. The hit timer follows the same rate of deduction as the status's time limit. Venom is not a timed status and therefore is not removed until cured.
To derive a hits-to-Spirit formula from this information, each hit timer reset has the effect of an extra deduction from the duration timer. When less remains of the hit timer than can be wholly deducted from, that, too, must be accounted for. It is possible that neither will make a difference to how many hits the target will receive in most cases, but for the sake of technical accuracy, it means that two formulas are required.
If the hit timer is evenly divisible by the rate of deduction, this formula can be used to calculate how many hits will be given:
- [Time limit / (Hit timer + Rate of deduction)]
If the hit timer is not evenly divisible by the rate of deduction, the formula requires some extra steps:
- [Time limit / (Hit timer + (R.o.d. * 2) - (Hit timer MOD R.o.d.))]
List of statuses[]
KO[]
Target's HP is either brought to 0 or instantly depleted by an attack. It can be cured with Phoenix Down, Phoenix Pinion, Life spells, or Revive. If the whole party is afflicted, Eiko's automatic Phoenix may activate, or it is a Game Over. Various attacks also inflict Instant Death, such as the Death spell, Iai Strike, Zantetsuken, and LV5 Death.
Near Death[]
When the unit's HP falls below 1/6 of Max HP, they are in Near Death. Party members in Near Death appear hunched over and their HP is displayed in yellow. A character with Cover equipped will take the damage of an enemy physical attack that targets a character with critical HP. Zidane's Protect Girls acts similarly, but the female party members do not need to be in Near Death, only below half health. If a character with Restore HP survives an enemy attack while in critical, they recover 50% of their max HP. Steiner's Charge compels party members in Near Death to use Attack.
Quina's Eat command only works when the target is at critical health.
Heat[]
If the afflicted executes any direct command, including counterattacks or reactions (like Auto-Potion), it is instantly defeated. Cured by Esuna or ice-elemental attacks, and will expire a per the mechanics above. Prevented by Body Temp support ability. It is an effect in Flame Saber and is inflicted by the Mustard Bomb spell.
Mini[]
Target shrinks, greatly reducing its strength, magic, attack, and defense stats. Can be reversed with 100% accuracy if hit by the same effect again. It is caused by the spells Mini and Bad Breath. Removed by Mini, Esuna, and Remedy. It is an effect in The Tower and Mace of Zeus.
Slow[]
ATB gauge fills at slightly slower than half speed, and other statuses also expire at half speed. Characters become immune if equipped with the support ability Auto-Haste. It is caused by the spells Slow and Bad Breath. Removed by Dispel and Haste, and will expire on its own as per mechanics above. It is an effect in Silver Fork, Gladius, Ragnarok, and Oak Staff.
Stop[]
Target's ATB is frozen, preventing any action. Can be cured with a Remedy and Dispel. Stopped characters count as incapacitated for Game Over purposes. It is caused by the Stop spell and prevented by Locomotion. It is an effect in Gastro Fork and Heavy Lance. Enemies defeated via Stop do not yield EXP.
Sleep[]
Target ATB resets and they become unable to act or evade until woken up. Removed if hit by physical attacks or with Esuna, and will run out as per the mechanics explained above. Physical attacks deal x1.5 damage to the sleeping target. Prevented by Insomniac support ability, and applied via Sleep and Night spells. It is an effect in Ultima Weapon, Ultima Sword, and Bistro Fork.
Virus[]
Character's EXP and AP growth are disabled. Persists even in KO status until cured with a Vaccine. When Eiko has Guardian Mog active, she is unaffected by Virus even if she contracts it mid-battle.
Venom[]
Character becomes unable to act or evade and loses 1/16th of their HP and MP simultaneously at certain intervals. Cured by Antidote and Remedy, or the spells Panacea and Esuna. Counts towards KO counter for Game Over. The only way for the player to inflict this status is via Amarant's Scissor Fangs and Add Status.
Freeze[]
Target becomes unable to attack and is instantly defeated by the next physical-type attack. Freeze is cured by Esuna or a Fire-elemental spell, and will expire as per mechanics explained above. It is prevented by Body Temp support ability. It is an effect in Ice Lance and Ice Brand and is inflicted by the Frost spell. If the player tries to escape, the frozen party member still assumes the run pose, but fails to leave the battle with others .
Auto-Regen still ticks when the character is frozen.
Poison[]
Target loses 1/16th of their maximum HP at certain intervals. Tick interval and status duration depend on the afflicted's Spirit stat as per mechanics explained above. Cured by the items Antidote and Remedy, or the spells Panacea, Esuna, and Angel's Snack. Prevented by Antibody support ability and applied by Poison, Bio, and Bad Breath spells. Poison is an effect in Poison Knuckles and Rune Tooth.
Zombie[]
Healing spells, potions, and Regen effects are reversed, causing damage. It persists on KO'd targets and disables the effects of Phoenix Downs and Life spells and Revive and Phoenix; the only way to revive a Zombified party member is to use Auto-Life. Zombie members' Trance gauges become depleted and cannot fill, and if the status persists at the end of battle, the afflicted will not gain any EXP or AP. Zombie is cured with Magic Tags.
Zombified targets can still be healed with jewels mid-battle, such as Ore, and Death and Doom restore them to full health. Outside of battle, their HP can be replenished with Tents, but this does not cure their Zombie status.
Berserk[]
The affected's attack is boosted by 50% and they are forced to use its default Attack on a random member of the opposing party. Removed by Gysahl Greens. It is caused by the Berserk spell, Freya's Luna, and is an effect in Duel Claws. There are no support abilities that protect against it.
Confuse[]
The victim uses Attack on a random target, either friend or enemy, with halved accuracy. Confused units cannot evade. Prevented by Clear Headed support ability, and inflicted by Confuse and Bad Breath spells. Removed by Esuna and Remedy/Angel's Snack or being struck by a physical attack. It is an effect in Cypress Pile, Angel Bless, and Kain's Lance.
Petrify[]
Target is sealed in stone and unable to act. Most effects will miss. Cured with Stona or Soft. Petrification counts towards KO counter, and enemies defeated via Petrify do not yield EXP or count toward the kill count for Dragon's Crest. It is inflicted by the Break spell and prevented by Jelly. It is an effect in Obelisk, Sargatanas, and Needle Fork.
Silence[]
Disables use of spells. Cured with Esuna or Echo Screen. Prevented by Loudmouth and inflicted by the Silence spell. It is an effect in Mage Masher, Butterfly Sword, and High Mage Staff. Silence persists after battle.
Trouble[]
Half of the suffered damage is spread to the afflicted's party members. If the struck target is weak to the attacker's killer ability or weapon element, the increased damage they take is reflected in the distributed damage. Trouble is cured by Annoyntment. It is an effect in Exploda, Octagon Rod, and Kaiser Knuckles. Zidane can also inflict it with Annoy.
Darkness[]
Physical attack accuracy is greatly reduced and the affect cannot evade. Removed by Esuna, Remedy/Angel's Snack, or Eye Drops. Prevented by Bright Eyes support ability, and inflicted by Blind and Bad Breath spells. It is an effect in Rune Blade, Trident, and Rune Claws. Darkness (or any other status abnormality) does not affect Zidane's Steal success. Darkness persists after battle.
Doom[]
Starts a countdown and casts piercing Death on target as the counter reaches 0. It works on the undead. It is an effect in Masamune and is caused by the Doom spell and the Countdown Flair ability.
Gradual Petrify[]
Starts a countdown and petrifies target as the counter reaches 0. Can be cured with Esuna, Stona, Remedy/Angel's Snack, and Soft while the countdown is active. Prevented by Jelly support ability.
Haste[]
ATB gauge speed fills 50% faster and other statuses also expire faster or tick faster, as per the mechanics above. Gained from the Haste and Emerald Light spells and the Auto-Haste support ability. Haste and Slow cannot coexist on the same target; one overrides the other.
Regen[]
Target recovers 1/16th of their maximum HP every few seconds. Interval decreases with Spirit stat, and the interval is affected by the Battle Speed set in the Config and if the target has Slow or Haste, as detailed in the mechanics section. Gained from the Regen spell, from the Auto-Regen support ability, Reis's Wind, and Aura.
Float[]
Ground-based attacks miss the target. Gained from the Float spell and Auto-Float support ability. The abilities that miss floating targets are Earthquake and Earth Shake. Float does not make one weak to Wind. The status expires as explained in the mechanics unless applied from Auto-Float.
Shell[]
Shell halves received magic attack damage, hit chance of statuses from magical effects, and accuracy of spells that can miss. It is removed by Dispel and inflicted by the Shell, Pearl Light, and Mighty Guard spells. Shell does not hinder curative spells. The status expires as explained in the mechanics.
Vanish[]
Physical attacks miss 100% on vanished targets while the vanished party member's attacks cannot be evaded. It is removed by magic attacks and Dispel. It is inflicted by Diamond Light and Vanish spells. The status expires as explained in the mechanics.
Protect[]
Protect halves physical attack damage. It is removed by Dispel and inflicted by the Protect and Mighty Guard spells, and Carbuncle's full summon animation. The status expires as explained in the mechanics.
Reflect[]
Reflect bounces most Black and White Magic spells to hit the opposing party, and also affects many enemy-only abilities. It is removed by Dispel. The Reflect Null support ability lets the caster bypass targets' Reflect status.
Most Black Magic spells can be reflected, bar Osmose, Drain, Comet, Meteor, and Doomsday. Most White Magic spells can be reflected, bar Dispel and Jewel.
The White Magic spell Reflect, the eidolon Carbuncle's Ruby Light, and support ability Auto-Reflect apply Reflect status on the party.
Vivi has access to the Reflectx2 support ability, which doubles the damage dealt by a spell he casts when it is reflected. This coupled with Auto-Reflect makes it easy for Vivi to reach the damage limit. If the entire party has Reflect and Vivi reflects a spell off all party members, the spell will hit four times (though it will converge into one spell that cannot exceed 9999 damage); if the battle has only one opponent, it will take quadruple damage, but against multiple targets, the spell damage is halved due to multi-targeting and the damage is randomly split between the opponents.
The status expires as explained in the mechanics unless applied from Auto-Reflect.
Reflected magic used by the player was made significantly stronger for the overseas versions compared to the original Japanese version.
Auto-Life[]
If the target becomes KO'd, it is automatically revived with 1 HP, even if they have Zombie. Gained from the Auto-Life spell, Aura, and the Auto-Life support ability. Auto-Life wears off after initiating. Equipping a character with Auto-Life support ability and entering a battle with them KO'd, revives them before any action is taken in battle by enemies or allies. All enemies are immune to Auto-Life.