The Lamia's Tiara is a mid-ranked mystic headgear in Final Fantasy XII that boosts the wearer's Magick Resist by 25, Magick Power by 4, Vitality by 7, and—exclusive to the Zodiac versions—MP by 48 and grants Half:Ice. Its MP and Magick Power stats are lower than those of preceding mystic hats, but it does add to Vitality, a stat that affects status ailment infliction rate and buff duration, and damage from axes, hammers, and hand-bombs. However, in the Zodiac versions, the Foebreaker board that uses these weapons cannot use mystic equipment. Likely to make the headgear a little more useful in light of this, the Zodiac versions grant it Ice-halving properties, useful for exploring the Paramina Rift and fighting the end boss in Stilshrine of Miriam.
Wearing multiple equipment pieces that all give the same elemental resistance does not stack, but certain different types do:
- Weakness + Halve = Normal damage
- Halve + Absorb = Absorbs half
Thus, equipping the Lamia's Tiara with the Gendarme (absorbs all elements) would have the wearer absorb half damage from Ice attacks, and equipping it with Adamant Vest would cancel out the weakness to Ice.
Obtain[]
Original[]
In the original PlayStation 2 version, the Lamia's Tiara is sold for 3,200 gil Mt Bur-Omisace, and in Rabanastre after defeating Judge Bergan. It is found as a treasure in Stilshrine of Miriam's Walk of Reason (60% chance to appear, 45% chance for gil, 50% chance the item treasure is the Lamia's Tiara without the Diamond Armlet equipped ), and is rarely stolen from the Barmuu.
Lamia's Tiara is made in the bazaar set "Alluring Finery" by selling three Fine Wools (from some gator-type enemies, e.g. Baritine Croc in Paramina Rift), one Tyrant Hide (from tyrant-type enemies, e.g. Diresaur), and four Ice Magicites (from various enemies, e.g. White Wolf).
Zodiac[]
In the updated Zodiac versions, the Lamia's Tiara is sold for 3,200 gil in Mt Bur-Omisace. It is found as a treasure in Barheim Passage's The Zeviah Span (90% chance to appear, 50% chance for gil, 50% chance the item treasure is the Lamia's Tiara without the Diamond Armlet equipped), Paramina Rift's Icebound Flow (75% chance to appear, 50% chance for gil, 50% chance the item treasure is the Lamia's Tiara without the Diamond Armlet equipped), and Phon Coast's The Mauleia Strand (70% chance to appear, 50% chance for gil, 50% chance the item treasure is the Lamia's Tiara without the Diamond Armlet equipped), as well as in the Trial Mode Stage 73 with the Diamond Armlet equipped.
It is still rarely stolen from the Barmuu, and now also from the Cultsworn Lich in Trial Mode Stage 9. It is still made in the bazaar set "Alluring Finery" with the same item requirements as before.
Use[]
Lamia's Tiara is a mid-ranked mystic hat, giving 25 Magick Resist and 4 Magick Power (less than the preceding Feathered Cap and Mage's Hat), as well as 7 Vitality. In the Zodiac versions, it also gives 48 MP and halves Ice damage to the wearer. Mystic armor offer magick-related bonuses that affect all types of magickal actions, from casting black magick to damage an enemy, to casting white magick to heal the party. Magick Power is also a factor when determining damage dealt by katana, staves, and maces. The Vitality bonus affects status duration and success and is counted in the damage calculations for axes, hammers, and hand-bombs.
In the Zodiac versions, White Mage, Red Battlemage, Black Mage, and Bushi can equip it, and so the Lamia's Tiara is only useful to buy if the player has chosen any of these License Boards for their party. The Vitality bonus is not so useful for these jobs, though it makes buffs last a bit longer, however, it is not worth prioritizing over superior magickal stats from other gear. In The Zodiac Age versions, after fighting Belias the player can choose two License Boards per party member; it is usually a good idea to pair jobs that use two different types of armor for versatility.
The Ice-protection in the Zodiac versions can be useful on the Paramina Rift and against any enemy that uses ice attacks.
Etymology[]
Lamia was a beautiful Libyan queen who turned into a child-eating demon. She is often referred to as having the lower half of a snake and sometimes a large mouth (lamia in Greek means "large shark", while laimos means gullet).
In Greek mythology,Later characteristics attributed to her are similar to that of succubi, in that the lamia seduces men, enticing them to feed on their blood. It is said they reside in towers or secluded areas and have magical abilities.
tiara is a jeweled, ornamental crown traditionally worn by women.
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