Hairpin imbued with the power of wind. Increases the frequency of preemptive strikes.
Description
Gale Hairpin is a relic in Final Fantasy VI. It increases the chance of the party entering a pre-emptive attack in battle.
Obtained[]
Gale Hairpin can be bought for 8,000 gil at Nikeah or found at Imperial Palace.
Use[]
Because pre-emptive battles are much easier for the player to beat, Gale Hairpin can be a useful relic as it allows the player to beat many battles early. As such, when available, it is worthwhile to equip on any party member with a spare relic slot, as only one needs to be equipped for the party. Some players may instead prefer to use Alarm Earring which removes the chance of back or side attacks; this is a more defensive option as said attacks can be more dangerous, but increasing the chance of pre-emptive attacks can lead to greater payoff. It is rare that the player will want to equip both at once given that a party only has eight relic slots available.
Later in the game, when stronger relics compete for the limited relic slots, Gale Hairpin may be less valuable than other possible relics. If the player anticipates they are to battle a boss soon, they should swap the Gale Hairpin for something more suitable for boss encounters, like relics that boost attack power, or ones that offer protection.