Final Fantasy IX support abilities

Vivi's support ability menu.

Support abilities (サポートアビリティ, Sapōto Abiriti?) in Final Fantasy IX work automatically in the background when equipped via Magic Stones. Each playable character has a unique pool of support abilities that enhance their abilities in combat; for example, a physical fighter like Steiner learns abilities that augment his HP and Killer abilities to deal more damage to certain types of enemies, while a mage-type character like Dagger learns abilities that augment her MP and make her summon attacks stronger.

Support abilities can be equipped from the Abilities section from the menu and not all abilities can be equipped at once for the number of Magic Stones is limited. Party members learn new abilities from certain equipment pieces, and more Magic Stones by leveling up. Eiko can boost the number of Magic Stones she gets via the Marcus-Eiko stat bug.

Support abilities are usually available from multiple equipment pieces, and not everyone can equip every piece; e.g. only mage-types can equip magical equipment, and only knight-type characters can equip heavy armor. Equipping multiple equipment pieces that teach the same ability boosts the rate at which the ability is learned. All support abilities take the same number of Magic Stones to equip regardless of party member, but the Ability Points required vary, e.g. Quina requires far more AP to learn High Tide than anyone else, every fork teaching it. Guest characters cannot be assigned support abilities.

In the mobile and Steam versions, learning all support abilities yields the A Pillar of Support achievement.

See also: Support ability

List of support abilities

Name	Effect	Source	User (AP)	Magic Stones
Auto-Reflect	Permanent Reflect status throughout battle.	Reflect Ring	Zidane (95) Vivi (70) Steiner (95) Dagger (75) Freya (95) Quina (75) Eiko (70) Amarant (85)	15
	Automatically casts Reflect in battle.
Auto-Float	Permanent Float status throughout battle.	Venetia Shield Feather Boots	Zidane (20) Vivi (20) Steiner (20) Dagger (20) Freya (20) Quina (40) Eiko (25) Amarant (35)	6
	Automatically casts Float in battle.
Auto-Haste	Permanent Haste status throughout battle.	Running Shoes	Zidane (55) Vivi (55) Steiner (65) Dagger (55) Freya (75) Quina (70) Eiko (65) Amarant (70)	9
	Automatically casts Haste in battle.
Auto-Regen	Permanent Regen status throughout battle. Regen runs even during battle animations.	Golem's Flute Golden Hairpin Glutton's Robe Light Robe Carabini Mail Brave Suit Maiden Prayer Angel Earrings	Zidane (25) Vivi (30) Steiner (75) Dagger (35) Freya (25) Quina (30) Eiko (35) Amarant (35)	10
	Automatically casts Regen in battle.
Auto-Life	Start battle with Auto-Life status.	Rebirth Ring	Zidane (130) Vivi (70) Steiner (155) Dagger (105) Freya (125) Quina (165) Eiko (100) Amarant (140)	12
	Automatically casts Life in battle.
HP+10%	Increases max HP by 10%.	Chain Mail Judo Uniform Aquamarine Germinas Boots	Steiner (20) Freya (30) Amarant (10)	4
	Increases HP by 10%.
HP+20%	Increases max HP by 20%.	Mantra Band Genji Helmet Adaman Hat Defense Gloves Maximillian Black Belt Battle Boots	Zidane (40) Steiner (60) Freya (75) Amarant (40)	8
	Increases HP by 20%.
MP+10%	Increases max MP by 10%.	Magician Cloak Magician Robe Emerald Magician Shoes Extension	Freya (35) Quina (50) Eiko (15)	4
	Increases MP by 10%.
MP+20%	Increases max MP by 20%.	Black Robe Angel Earrings	Vivi (30) Dagger (45) Eiko (50)	8
	Increases MP by 20%.
Accuracy+	Physical attacks always hit, even on Vanish targets.	Diamond Helm Black Hood Power Wrist Genji Armor Lapis Lazuli	Zidane (30) Steiner (40) Freya (30) Amarant (30)	2
	Raises physical attack accuracy.
Distract	Halves attacker's physical attack accuracy.	Judo Uniform Shield Armor Diamond Reflect Ring	Zidane (30) Steiner (30) Freya (25)	5
	Lowers enemy’s physical attack accuracy.
Long Reach	Attacks from back row deal same damage as front row attacks.	Thief Hat Protect Ring	Zidane (170) Steiner (200) Freya (210) Amarant (210)	16
	Back row attacks like front row.
MP Attack	Each attack will use 1/8 of a character's max MP to deal 1.5 times the normal damage.	Red Hat Cross Helm Battle Boots Power Belt	Zidane (45) Steiner (50) Freya (20) Amarant (60)	5
	Uses own MP to raise Attack Pwr.
Bird Killer	Physical attacks deal 1.5x damage to aerial enemies. Killer abilities do not stack in case an opponent belongs to more than one category.	Bronze Armor Chain Mail Adaman Vest Yellow Scarf	Zidane (20) Steiner (25) Freya (30) Amarant (10)	3
	Deals lethal damage to flying enemies.
Bug Killer	Physical attacks deal 1.5x damage to insect enemies. Killer abilities do not stack in case an opponent belongs to more than one category.	Bronze Helm Mythril Gloves Mythril Armlet	Zidane (35) Steiner (50) Freya (25) Amarant (10)	2
	Deals lethal damage to insects.
Stone Killer	Physical attacks deal 1.5x damage to stone enemies. Killer abilities do not stack in case an opponent belongs to more than one category.	Platinum Helm Adaman Vest Gold Armor Power Vest	Zidane (30) Steiner (20) Freya (20) Amarant (10)	4
	Deals lethal damage to stone enemies.
Undead Killer	Physical attacks deal 1.5x damage to undead enemies. Killer abilities do not stack in case an opponent belongs to more than one category.	Headgear Ritual Hat Silver Gloves N-Kai Armlet Plate Mail	Zidane (45) Steiner (30) Freya (20) Amarant (10)	2
	Deals lethal damage to undead enemies.
Dragon Killer	Physical attacks deal 1.5x damage to dragon enemies. Killer abilities do not stack in case an opponent belongs to more than one category.	Javelin Barbut	Freya (70)	3
	Deals lethal damage to dragons.
Devil Killer	Physical attacks deal 1.5x damage to demon enemies. Killer abilities do not stack in case an opponent belongs to more than one category.	Cross Helm Thunder Gloves Chain Plate Demon's Vest	Zidane (25) Steiner (30) Freya (30) Amarant (10)	2
	Deals lethal damage to demons.
Beast Killer	Physical attacks deal 1.5x damage to beast enemies. Killer abilities do not stack in case an opponent belongs to more than one category.	Broadsword Flash Hat Leather Wrist Egoist's Armlet Platina Armor Moonstone Black Belt	Zidane (30) Steiner (55) Freya (25) Amarant (10)	4
	Deals lethal damage to beasts.
Man Eater	Physical attacks deal 1.5x damage to human enemies (the player's own party members are "typeless" and Man Eater does nothing toward them). Killer abilities do not stack in case an opponent belongs to more than one category.	Bandana Coronet Mythril Gloves Coral Ring	Zidane (25) Steiner (20) Freya (20) Amarant (10)	2
	Deals lethal damage to humans.
High Jump	Increases damage from Freya's Jump command.	Dragon Mail	Freya (75)	4
	Jump higher to raise jump attack power.
Master Thief	Chance of obtaining rare items x32, giving 1/8 chance of stealing an item; 2x the chance of obtaining semi-rare items, also giving 1/8 chance of stealing an item.	Thief Gloves	Zidane (50)	5
	Steal better items.
Steal Gil	Gain a minor amount of gil alongside stolen items.	Glass Armlet Yellow Scarf	Zidane (40)	5
	Steal Gil along with items.
Healer	Physical attacks heal targets. If the target is weak to the user's killer ability or weapon element, they get healed more.	Healing Rod Anklet Garnet	Vivi (20) Dagger (30) Quina (60) Eiko (20) Amarant (40)	2
	Restores target's HP.
Add Status	Chance of inflicting weapon's status to target. For Zidane, only works with daggers. Hit chance depends on weapon.	Bone Wrist Chimera Armlet Bracer Feather Hat Twist Headband Glass Buckle Thunder Gloves	Zidane (35) Vivi (25) Steiner (50) Freya (25) Quina (35) Amarant (20)	3
	Adds weapon's status effect (Add ST) when you Attack.
Gamble Defense	The character's Defense stat changes randomly when attacked between 0 and Defense x2.	Twist Headband Adaman Hat Power Vest Barette	Zidane (20) Freya (20) Quina (40) Amarant (35)	1
	Raises Defense occasionally.
Chemist	Doubles the effect of Potion, Hi-Potion and Ether.	Cotton Robe Grand Armor Barette Madain's Ring	Dagger (15) Steiner (20) Freya (35)	4
	Doubles the potency of medicinal items.
Power Throw	Augments Amarant's Throw command.	Bracer	Amarant (125)	19
	Raises the strength of Throw.
Power Up	Doubles the potency of Amarant's Chakra Flair.	Golden Skullcap	Amarant (30)	3
	Raises the strength of Chakra.
Reflect-Null	Spells bypass targets' Reflect status.	Robe of Lords Pearl Rouge	Vivi (30) Dagger (45) Eiko (55)	7
	Nullifies Reflect and attacks.
Reflectx2	Boosts the power of spells that are reflected.	Black Robe Rosetta Ring	Vivi (110)	17
	Doubles the strength of spells by using Reflect.
Mag Elem Null	Renders all used magic spells non-elemental. Elem-Atk gear still take effect on compatible spells.	Promist Ring Protect Ring	Vivi (115)	13
	Nullifies magic element.
Concentrate	Augments Cure, Cura, Curaga, Life and Full-Life, as well as the summon Phoenix's reviving power.	Robe of Lords Rosetta Ring	Dagger (80) Eiko (90)	10
	Raises the strength of spells.
Half MP	Halves MP cost of abilities in battle.	Light Robe Protect Ring	Vivi (140) Dagger (125) Quina (90) Eiko (120)	11
	Cuts MP use by half in battle.
High Tide	The Trance gauge fills faster.	Quina's Forks Partisan Dark Hat Grand Helm Jade Armlet Genji Gloves Gaia Gear Demon's Mail Minerva's Plate Sapphire	Zidane (35) Vivi (25) Steiner (35) Dagger (30) Freya (20) Quina (250) Eiko (30) Amarant (60)	8
	Allows you to Trance faster.
Counter	When hit by a physical attack, the user attacks back with their own physical attack. Counter can be initiated even by missed hits.	All of Amarant's claws (apart from Rune Claws) Ritual Hat Power Vest Power Belt Venetia Shield Anklet	Zidane (70) Steiner (100) Freya (85) Quina (55) Amarant (240)	8
	Counter-attacks when physically attacked.
Cover	User intercepts enemy's physical attack on a party member to take damage instead of them. Cover activates when a party member is in Near Death status. Oddly enough, Cover activates even if the covering party member is sleeping.	Red Hat Gauntlets Linen Cuirass Mythril Armor	Steiner (20) Freya (30) Amarant (90)	6
	You take damage in place of an ally.
Protect Girls	Zidane intercepts enemy's physical attack on Dagger, Eiko, and Freya (and Beatrix if it was possible to have Zidane and Beatrix in a party). Activates when a female party member is at 50% HP or below. Oddly enough, Protect Girls activates even if the covering party member is sleeping.	Butterfly Sword Leather Shirt	Zidane (35)	4
	You take damage in place of a girl.
Eye 4 Eye	Raises Counter rate.	Kaiser Helm Flash Hat Ninja Gear Rubber Suit	Zidane (60) Steiner (35) Freya (35) Amarant (50)	5
	Raises Counter activation rate.
Body Temp	Immunizes against Freeze and Heat.	Holy Miter Jade Armlet Glutton's Robe Genji Armor Diamond Fairy Earrings Madain's Ring	Zidane (25) Vivi (15) Steiner (35) Dagger (25) Freya (20) Quina (20) Eiko (20) Amarant (30)	4
	Prevents Freeze and Heat.
Alert	Reduces chance of Back Attacks from 24/256 to 0%.	Barbut Ninja Gear Germinas Boots	Zidane (40) Steiner (60) Amarant (30)	4
	Prevents back attacks.
Initiative	Improves party's chance to get a preemptive strike from from 16/256 to 85/256.	Obelisk Battle Boots	Freya (95)	5
	Raises the chance of first strike.
Level Up	User earns x1.5 EXP from battles.	Iron Helm Egoist's Armlet Pearl Rouge Fairy Earrings Extension Rosetta Ring	Zidane (75) Vivi (30) Steiner (50) Dagger (50) Freya (40) Quina (60) Eiko (65) Amarant (50)	7
	Characters level up faster.
Ability Up	Doubles the amount of Ability Points earned from battles.	Stardust Rod Green Beret Diamond Gloves Silk Robe Brigandine Diamond Armor Cachusha Ribbon Lapis Lazuli	Zidane (95) Vivi (55) Steiner (70) Dagger (60) Freya (65) Quina (40) Eiko (55) Amarant (90)	3
	Characters learn abilities faster.
Millionaire	Receive x1.5 gil after battle.	Yellow Scarf	Quina (100)	5
	Receive more Gil after battle.
Flee-Gil	Party earns gil from battle even when they escape by holding down and . Has no effect on Flee. If Quina is in the party, with the Millionaire ability the party will gain extra gil from fleeing in this manner.	Wrist Desert Boots Gold Choker	Zidane (45) Amarant (30)	3
	Receive Gil even when running from battle.
Guardian Mog	Removes Eiko's status ailments before EXP and AP are given at the end of battle. Even though Eiko can learn the ability early, it does not function until the party receives the first Ribbon item.	Ribbon Madain's Ring	Eiko (30)	3
	Mog protects with unseen forces.
Insomniac	Immunizes against Sleep.	Mythril Helm Bandana Diamond Helm Holy Miter Magician Cloak Gaia Gear Coral Ring	Zidane (30) Vivi (25) Steiner (25) Dagger (25) Freya (30) Quina (40) Eiko (25) Amarant (20)	5
	Prevents Sleep.
Antibody	Immunizes against Poison and Venom. Equipping it after the status effect has been afflicted does not remove said status effects.	Mythril Helm Mantra Band Bronze Gloves Glass Armlet Survival Vest Glutton's Robe Glass Buckle	Zidane (20) Vivi (30) Steiner (35) Dagger (15) Freya (15) Quina (20) Eiko (20) Amarant (25)	4
	Prevents Poison and Venom.
Bright Eyes	Immunizes against Darkness. Equipping it after the status effect has been afflicted does not remove said status effect.	Feather Hat Iron Helm Ritual Hat Cachusha	Zidane (35) Steiner (25) Freya (20) Amarant (25)	4
	Prevents Darkness.
Loudmouth	Immunizes against Silence. Equipping it after the status effect has been afflicted does not remove said status effect.	Mage's Hat Golden Hairpin Silk Robe White Robe Pearl Rouge	Vivi (40) Dagger (20) Quina (30) Eiko (15)	4
	Prevents Silence.
Restore HP	If the user has 1/6 of their max HP or less remaining and they take damage from an enemy attack and survive, they recover 50% of their max HP.	Platinum Helm Minerva's Plate Brave Suit Grand Armor Promist Ring	Zidane (85) Steiner (100) Freya (85) Amarant (75)	8
	Restores HP automatically when Near Death.
Jelly	Immunizes against Petrify and Gradual Petrify. Equipping it after the status effect has been afflicted does not remove said status effect.	Dark Hat Circlet Diamond Gloves Dragon Wrist Bronze Vest Mythril Armor Dark Gear	Zidane (35) Vivi (25) Steiner (30) Dagger (40) Freya (30) Quina (35) Eiko (35) Amarant (15)	4
	Prevents Petrify and Gradual Petrify.
Return Magic	If hit by an enemy spell, the user counterattacks with the same spell. Uses no MP and the caster does not need to know the spell.	Coronet Brigandine	Vivi (90) Amarant (170)	9
	Returns magic used by enemy.
Absorb MP	When struck by an enemy's spell, Quina gain some MP. The amount of MP restored is equal to the MP needed to cast that spell.	Promist Ring	Quina (80)	6
	Absorbs MP used by enemy.
Auto-Potion	Uses a Potion when hit by an enemy. If there are no Potions, uses Hi-Potion instead.	Mythril Vest Magician Robe Demon's Vest White Robe Running Shoes Gold Choker Extension	Zidane (30) Vivi (10) Steiner (20) Dagger (20) Freya (30) Quina (20) Eiko (30) Amarant (30)	3
	Automatically uses Potion when damaged.
Locomotion	Immunizes against Stop.	Black Hood Golden Skullcap Survival Vest Plate Mail Demon's Vest Ninja Gear Anklet	Zidane (30) Vivi (35) Steiner (35) Dagger (30) Freya (25) Quina (20) Eiko (15) Amarant (20)	4
	Prevents Stop.
Clear Headed	Immunizes against Confusion.	Gold Helm Lamia's Tiara Green Beret Circlet Magic Armlet Dark Gear Magician Shoes	Zidane (25) Vivi (15) Steiner (30) Dagger (25) Freya (35) Quina (25) Eiko (15) Amarant (30)	5
	Prevents Confusion.
Boost	Shows eidolons' full length summon animation every time (unless used as a counter attack from Dagger's Trance).	Pumice Piece	Dagger (190) Eiko (150)	12
	Raises strength of eidolons.
Odin's Sword	If Odin's Zantetsuken fails to kill the target, it receives non-elemental damage.	Ancient Aroma	Dagger (50)	5
	Attacks with eidolon Odin.
Mug	Makes steals deal minor damage.	Chimera Armlet Thief Hat Survival Vest	Zidane (65)	3
	Damages enemy when you Steal.
Bandit	Steal never misses. Does not improve the chance of actually getting an item.	Mythril Dagger N-Kai Armlet	Zidane (40)	5
	Raises success rate of Steal.