The Ninja Gear is a mid to high-ranked light armor in Final Fantasy XII that boosts the wearer's defense by 44 (Zodiac) or 36 (original), HP by 470, and Speed by 4 or 3. It can thus be a good headgear for those who use weapons that take the wielder's Speed stat into account: bows and daggers and ninja swords. However, an armor that boosts Strength has a greater impact on the damage dealt.
Obtain[]
Original[]
In the original PlayStation 2 versions, the Ninja Gear is sold for 9,300 gil in Balfonheim Port. It is also rarely stolen from Gespenst.
Zodiac[]
In the updated Zodiac versions, the Ninja Gear is not available in shops, but sells for 4,650 gil. It is found in a treasure in Cerobi Steppe's South Liavell Hills (20% chance to appear, 20% chance for gil, 5% the item treasure is the Ninja Gear with the Diamond Armlet equipped), and in Great Crystal's Trahk Jilaam Praa'dii (always appears). It is still rarely stolen from the Gespenst.
Use[]
The Ninja Gear is a mid to high-ranked light armor, giving 44 or 36 defense depending on version, 470 HP, and 4 or 3 to Speed. In the original version where everyone can wear any equipment piece, the more expensive heavy armor, Carabineer Mail, or the mystic armor Gaia Gear, may be preferable purchases if the player can stretch their funds to them, as the HP boost from light armor is not usually worth prioritizing over heavy armor that boosts Strength for physical attackers, or mystic armor that boosts Magick Power for spellcasters. Though the Ninja Gear boosts Speed, its effect is minimal, and even those whose weapons take the wielder's Speed stat into account benefit more from the Strength-boosting heavy armor helms.
In the Zodiac versions, Machinist, Monk, Archer, and Shikari can equip the Ninja Gear, and so it is only useful to look for if the player has chosen these License Boards for their party. In The Zodiac Age, after fighting Belias, the player can choose two License Boards per party member, and so more party members can choose from the potentially more useful heavy and mystic armor sets.
The gear is much rarer in the Zodiac versions, not available to purchase from Balfonheim, and only available from treasures and as a rare steal from an enemy that can be tough to find or fight in numbers; the superior Gigas Chestplate can be bought after the party has the Treaty-Blade, and so the Ninja Gear can be skipped unless the player finds the treasure for it in the Great Crystal, or they manage to steal one from the Gespenst, which can be done as soon as the player finishes the White Mousse hunt.
Etymology[]
ninja was a covert agent or mercenary in feudal Japan who specialized in unorthodox warfare. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, and open combat in certain situations.
A