Reduces Defense of enemies whose LEVELs are multiples of 3.
Description
LV3 Def-less is a Blu Mag spell for Quina in Final Fantasy IX that lowers all enemies' Defense and Magic Def by a random amount every time it is used if their levels are a multiple of three. It costs 12 MP. It cannot be reflected and does not work with Return Magic, though no enemy uses it against the party, either.
Obtain[]
Quina learns LV3 Def-less by eating a Carve Spider, Lamia, Lizard Man, Sand Scorpion, Ochu, or Grand Dragon. The earliest Quina can have it is by recruiting them before going to Gizamaluke's Grotto, backtracking to Lindblum, and heading out to Lindblum Plateau to eat a Carve Spider.
Mechanics[]
LV3 Def-less only works on enemies whose levels are multiples of three, missing all others. On a target with a compatible level, the spell will reduce their Defense and Magic Defense by a random amount; it could reduce them all the way to zero. The effect stacks.
Use[]
LV3 Def-less reduces the susceptible enemy's Defense and Magic Defense by a random amount, making both physical- and magical-based abilities able to deal more damage to them. Dagger's Scan could be used to check if the enemy is on a suitable level, though Scan does not work on bosses, and when Quina is recruited the earliest, Dagger is not with the party.
Potentially useful times to use LV3 Def-less include against the superboss Ozma, and the final boss. As the effect stacks, the player could use it repeatedly, however, they probably do not want to use up Quina's turns for this when they likely have more worthwhile abilities in their arsenal.
In battles where the player is "idling" while waiting for Zidane to steal all goods on offer, Quina's LV3 Def-less could come to use to weaken the enemy, but not to kill it off.
Enemies susceptible to LV3 Def-less in the order they appear in the game.
| Enemy | Lv | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carve Spider | 
|
3 | Nolrich Heights, Lindblum Plateau, Bentini Heights |
| Axe Beak | 
|
6 | Alexandria Plateau, Daines-horse Basin, Lindblum Plateau |
| Ladybug | 
|
6 | Alexandria Plateau, Daines-horse Basin, Lindblum Plateau |
| Mandragora | 
|
9 | Alexandria Plateau, Bentini Coast, Edgecry Coast, forest on King Ed Plains near Chocobo Forest |
| Axolotl | 
|
6 | Qu's Marsh in the Lachenta Wetlands |
| Gigan Toad | 
|
6[note 1] | Qu's Marsh |
| Sahagin | 
|
18 | Qu's Marsh (Outer Continent) |
| Grand Dragon | 
|
60 | Popos Heights, Cazedil Plains, Sacrobless Island, Lanar Island |
| Nymph | 
|
9 | Grassy areas North and West of the Vube Desert |
| Yeti | 
|
9 | Daines-horse Basin |
| Basilisk | 
|
6 | Burmecia |
| Carrion Worm | 
|
9 | Cleyra's Trunk |
| Seeker Bat | 
|
12 | Pinnacle Rocks, Fossil Roo |
| Abomination | 
|
15 | Fossil Roo |
| Goblin Mage | 
|
15 | Donna Plains, Lucid Plains, Pualei Plains |
| Gnoll | 
|
18 | Conde Petie Mountain Path |
| Stroper | 
|
21 | Iifa Tree |
| Dracozombie | 
|
24 | Iifa Tree, Mist Continent, Forgotten Continent, Outer Continent, Lost Continent |
| Armstrong | 
|
33 | Blairsurpass Plains, Seaways Canyon |
| Jabberwock | 
|
30 | Blairsurpass Plains |
| Drakan | 
|
30 | Desert Palace |
| Grimlock | 
|
30 | Desert Palace |
| Torama | 
|
30 | Desert Palace |
| Valia Pira | 
|
30 | Desert Palace |
| Grenade | 
|
36 | Mount Gulg |
| Wraith (Blue) | 
|
36 | Mount Gulg |
| Red Dragon | 
|
36 | Mount Gulg |
| Meltigemini | 
|
42 | Mount Gulg |
| Amdusias | 
|
42 | Treno weapon shop, Pandemonium |
| Gimme Cat | 
|
36 | Outside Daguerreo, Palmnell Island, Lanar Island |
| Yan | 
|
72 | Vile Island |
| Earth Guardian | 
|
54 | Earth Shrine |
| Hecteyes | 
|
51 | Terra; various locations post-Terra |
| Ring Leader | 
|
51 | Terra |
| Abadon | 
|
54 | Pandemonium[note 2] |
| Malboro | 
|
57 | Pandemonium, Mist Continent overworld (endgame) |
| Ozma | 
|
99 | Chocobo's Air Garden |
| Ash | 
|
66 | Memoria |
| Maliris | 
|
72 (boss)/69 (crystal) | Memoria, Crystal World |
| Tiamat | 
|
72 (boss) | Memoria |
| Kraken | 
|
72 (boss & crystal) | Memoria, Crystal World |
| Necron | 
|
69 | Hill of Despair |