Scan enemy to determine HP, MP, and weaknesses.
Description
Scan is a Wht Mag spell in Final Fantasy IX for Dagger, used to check the target's Level, HP, MP, and elemental weaknesses. It can be used for both enemies and allies. Scan is vulnerable to Reflect and works with Return Magic, though the only enemy to use it is Lani.
Obtained[]
Dagger learns Scan from Air Racket and Desert Boots. Air Racket is the weakest racket, bought for 400 gil at Summit Station and Treno when visited for the first time. Desert Boots can be synthesized for 300 gil, a Leather Hat, and a Leather Shirt at Lindblum, Alexandria, and the Black Mage Village, and found at Cleyra's Trunk.
The earliest Desert Boots can be procured is by synthesizing them in Lindblum during the party's stay there, however, Dagger will not be playable until the Summit Station sequence where Air Racket is available in the shop.
Mechanics[]
Scan shows the targeted enemy or ally's Level, HP (current and maximum), MP (current and maximum), and weaknesses. Some equipment pieces make the wearer weak to an element, and the only way to see this is by using Dagger's Scan, e.g. robes make the wearers weak to Fire. However, Scan fails on "Heavy" targets, which include most bosses.
The support ability that affects Scan is Reflect-Null, which allows Scan to pierce target's Reflect.
Use[]
Scan lets the player see the enemy's Level, HP, MP, weaknesses, and strengths, useful for getting it to the health range needed for Quina's Eat to succeed, and for knowing what abilities to use or avoid. Scan is hindered by not working on bosses, however, where more elaborate battle plans usually come into effect. Using Scan on the player's own party is the only way to see if they are weak to anything.
The spell is not overly useful, but if the party does not need any healing on Dagger's turn, she could use her turn to learn more about an enemy or an ally, as Scan only costs 4 MP.
Etymology[]
The spell's Japanese name is "Libra". Libra originates from the Latin for "book". This word root is present in multiple Romance languages, and is also found in English "library".