KO is a status in Final Fantasy XII. When a character's HP reaches 0 by receiving damage or from an instant KO ability triggering on them, they are considered defeated, unable to take any action, and will disappear from the field and appear with a red portrait in the menu. If the party leader is KO'd, the game pauses and the player is asked to choose a new party leader. If all player characters are KO'd, it is Game Over.
Most other status effects are removed when a character is KO'd, except Blind, Silence, Oil, and Disease, as well as any auto-effects. KO'd party members do not receive EXP or LP. A Phoenix Down can revive a KO'd ally, but without the right augment licenses, will only be revived right before the HP Critical threshold.
Abilities[]
The following methods inflict instant KO to susceptible targets.
| Spell | Death (Arcane Magicks), Warp (Time Magicks), Kill (Zalera) |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Assassin's Arrows 25%, Assassin's Dagger 5%, Deathbringer 10%, Mina 70% |
| Item | Warp Mote |
Death and Warp can be made to always banish susceptible enemies with Indigo Pendant, otherwise their success varies. Weapons with the instant KO effect have a fixed chance of working on susceptible targets. Warp and Kill defeat enemies without giving item spoils, and Kill defeats enemies without giving EXP or LP.
Phoenix Downs will instantly defeat targets when the user has Nihopalaoa equipped.
Undead enemies and enemies with the Safety augment are immune to instant KO ; the enemies with Safety include bosses, marks, and Rare Game, among other tough enemies, like entites.
The gambit specifically for this status is called "Ally: status = KO". In the original version, the gambit can be bought for 50 gil at gambit shops after the events at Draklor Laboratory. In the Zodiac versions, the gambit can be purchased for 70 gil after leaving Nalbina Dungeons.
Enemy abilities[]
| Ability | Description | Enemy |
|---|---|---|
| Crushing Fangs | Baritine Croc [a], Gizamaluk, Giruveganus [b], Skulwyrm [b], Aeronite, Dragon Lich, Cataract Aevis, Archaeoaevis (Zodiac), Deathgaze, Pylraster, Enkidu [b], Hydro, Gavial, Dheed, Terror Tyrant, Abelisk | |
| Darkja | Zodiark | |
| Death Strike | Yiazmat | |
| Dimensional Rift | Gespenst, Gazer, Etém, Nightwalker, Reaper, Oversoul | |
| Prime Level Death | Zalera | |
| Sonic Fangs | Wild Saurian [b], Hyena [b], Wooly Gator, Baritine Croc, Bellwyvern, Hybrid Gator, Hellhound, Diresaur, Tyranorox, Sprinter, Antares, Archeosaur, Feral Croc, Gorgimera, Cerberus, Tartarus, Giruveganus [a], Skulwyrm [a], Archaeoaevis, Vyraal, Enkidu [a], Tyrant, Hydro, Earth Tyrant, Bull Croc, Wary Wolf, Kaiser Wolf, Aeros, Skullash, Mastiff [b, c] | |
| "Dragon's Fang" | Hell Wyrm, Yiazmat |
Protection[]
The player cannot protect against KO or instant KO , but chance of the latter may be lowered with magick evasion and Shell, depending on ability.
Healing[]
| Item | Phoenix Down |
|---|---|
| Spell | Arise & Raise (White Magicks) |
| Technicks | Revive |
| Mechanics | Save Crystals |