Also known as "The Viper."
Description
The Rune Tooth is Zidane's fourth thief sword available for synthesis in Final Fantasy IX. It has innate Poison status, usable via Zidane's Soul Blade skill, and teaches Lucky Seven, where Zidane can deal severe fixed damage to an enemy when his HP ends in a seven.
Obtain[]
The player can craft the Rune Tooth in the synthesis shops in Black Mage Village, Alexandria, Treno (after returning from the Outer Continent), and Lindblum (after returning from the Outer Continent). The player will need two Mythril Daggers and 2,000 gil to make it.
Mechanics[]
The base damage dealt with normal attack is determined as follows everywhere but within Ipsen's Castle:
- Base = 37 - Enemy's Defense
- Bonus = [(Strength + Spirit) / 2] + Rnd MOD ([(Level + Strength) / 8] +1)
- Damage = Base * Bonus
Where Rnd means a random number, while MOD means modulus operation. "Rnd MOD x" can be read as a random number between 0 and x-1.
The damage is then modified by variables like Zidane's equipped killer abilities or MP Attack, his row position, and the enemy's Protect. If Zidane is under Mini, his Bonus will be 1.
When in Ipsen's Castle, the stronger weapons do less damage than weaker weapons, and the Base part of the damage formula with the Rune Tooth is altered to:
- Base = 23 - Enemy's Defense
Rune Tooth has innate Poison trait. When Zidane uses Soul Blade with the Rune Tooth equipped, the enemy is inflicted unless they are immune. Thief swords' status abnormalities do not work with Add Status, and so it is pointless to equip the latter when Zidane wields a thief sword.
Use[]
The Rune Tooth is the strongest thief sword available for crafting when the party first reaches Black Mage Village; the Mythril Daggers needed for its crafting are also sold here. It is Zidane's strongest weapon for Conde Petie Mountain Path, Madain Sari, and the events at the Iifa Tree, until the party returns to the Mist Continent where the superior Angel Bless will be available for synthesis.
The Poison effect is not overly useful, as it only adds some passive damage, but Zidane could likely outdamage the effect from Poison by simply using his turn for Attack rather than Soul Blade.
Gallery[]
