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Template:Sideicon Template:FFIX multi Enemies Template:See Also The Garuda is a flying enemy from Final Fantasy IX found in Oeilvert and Esto Gaza, and early in the game in Popos Heights where the player can exit from Gizamaluke's Grotto. Single Garuda attack in the "bridge" area of Oeilvert containing the first unlockable hologram generator. In Esto Gaza they appear in pairs in the front plaza and on the path to Mount Gulug. At Popos Heights, they only appear in the forested areas, but can be found alone or in pairs; this is also where the friendly Garuda can spawn.

Battle

Garuda's Maelstrom, reduces a targeted party member's health to a single digit without fail and ignores Reflect. It uses the Stop spell. Its Firaga can target one or multiple party members. Aerial Slash will target all party members, but occasionally misses. Garuda is weak against Wind and Shadow attacks.

Strategy

The Garuda at Popos Heights can be encountered early in the game, during passage through Gizamaluke's Grotto. Compared to what players have faced thus far, the 3,521 HP of these Level 35 Garuda eclipses any boss yet encountered including the imminent showdown with Lord Gizamaluke in the next chamber of the Grotto. A fight against just one Garuda may be considered an optional boss of sorts and one may want to soft reset until a lone Garuda is encountered.

The real trophy from this fight is the Blue Magic spell White Wind. Garuda is the first enemy in the game Quina can eat to learn the spell until the climb up Cleyra's Trunk on Disc 2. Through recent plot events, the party has lost their primary healer, so the addition of White Wind to the Blue Magic arsenal is a huge payoff, allowing Quina to assume the healer role for Zidane's group well into Disc 2.

Players are advised to equip Freya with the Locomotion ability to negate the Stop, wasting one of Garuda's turns. This early in the game, Freya is the only party member with access to Locomotion, learning it from an Anklet, an extremely rare treasure from the Chocobo Hot and Cold minigame in Chocobo's Forest (a 1 in 1,024 or ~0.1% chance).

Garuda are weak to the Wind and Shadow elements, but the party does not have any weapons, techniques, or spells to exploit this weakness at this stage of the game. The party also does not have weapons, armor, or add-ons to mitigate the Fire elemental damage from its Firaga.

It is advised to equip the Bird Killer support ability to Zidane and Freya, who can learn it from wearing a Yellow Scarf or Bronze Armor, respectively. Yellow Scarves can be synthesized in Lindblum; Bronze Armor may be purchased in the Dali weapon shop or taken from Steiner, who begins the game wearing one.

Maelstrom leaves party members near death so they may be easily picked-off by Aerial Slash or Firaga on Garuda's next turn. Players will have to rely on Potions for healing. Having Vivi cast Slow will reduce Garuda's potential damage over time.

Because Quina will Eat to end the fight, Garuda's HP only needs to be reduced to 880. If Quina Trances, Garuda can be Cooked with 1,760 HP remaining.

Friendly Garuda

Template:See Also A friendly Garuda can be found in Popo's Heights on the Mist Continent as part of a sidequest. It requests a Lapis Lazuli and will reward the party with 40 AP if obliged.

Tetra Master

Template:FFIX Tetra Master

Gallery

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Etymology

Garuda is a large, birdlike creature that appears in both Hinduism and Buddhism. It serves as Lord Vishnu's mount and is the Hindu name for the constellation Aquila. Contemporary representations of Garuda are the brahminy kite and phoenix.

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