Adds the Reequip command, which allows the unit to use its turn to change equipment during battle.
The Ivalice Chronicles' description
Reequip, also known as Equip Change, is a support ability in Final Fantasy Tactics, learned by the chemist job. It adds the Reequip command to the unit's ability list, which allows them to change their equipment even mid-battle, at the cost of a turn. The support ability must be learned by expending JP earned for the unit's chemist job, at which point it and other jobs can also use the ability.
Obtained[]
Reequip costs 0 JP in the original PlayStation and The War of the Lions versions and 250 JP in The Ivalice Chronicles version, to be spent on the chemist job. Once the unit has learned it, they can equip it in their support ability slot to use it.
If a unit that knows Reequip becomes a crystal, a human unit picking up the crystal may learn Reequip without spending JP.
Mechanics[]
Reequip is a command that allows the unit to change their equipment mid-battle. Using the command is a free and instant, but it only affects the user and grants no EXP nor JP.
Reequip does not allow the unit to change job abilities; only equipment, namely weapons, armor and accessories.
Use[]
Reequip is best used in/out with the Excalibur to have a faster next turn. This Haste is even better on a versatile, fast job like Balthier's sky pirate, who can equip various weapons.
Reequip is the only way for a character to use the stoneshooter, which always petrifies the equipped unit at the start of the battle even if they have immunity to the effect through equipment (e.g. jade armlet or even the ribbon). By using Reequip and changing the weapon to the Stoneshooter, the wielder will not be petrified.
On the other hand, using Reequip will not work with equipment that grants invisibility at the start of the battle, such as the ninja gear or the invisibility cloak, if the unit swaps to them after fight has begun.
This ability may help with summoners due to their speed penalty (even moreso than immunity or resistance to time mages and absorbing black mages) and casting their spells requires more charge time, which will buy the player enough time to change equipment.
Another strategy is to self-inflict Doom, which will make less likely for the enemies to target the affected unit (as well as use if they inflict Doom on that character). Before the Doom counter reaches zero, the player just needs to reequip anything that prevents instant death to nullify the ailment.
The archer is one of the few jobs that greatly benefits from the Reequip ability to swap weapons mid battle to best fit the situation (such as elemental bows for monster weaknesses or using a crossbow to shoot uphill with shield protection whereas a bow can shoot around obstacles.
Against enemy knights or thieves, if the party's equipment is destroyed/stolen mid-battle, they can recover with Reequip. However, it is better to not lose equipment in the first place and use Safeguard instead.