Popular weapon among thieves.
Description
The Zorlin Shape is Zidane's second-best dagger-type weapon in Final Fantasy IX. It teaches him the Flee skill, though Zidane likely has already mastered it by the time Zorlin Shape becomes available. It is used as an ingredient for crafting some of Zidane's good weapons, and so the player should make sure to buy two of them when the dagger is available.
Obtain[]
The player can buy the Zorlin Shape for 6000 gil from Esto Gaza (after Desert Palace), Daguerreo (before going through Shimmering Island), and Bran Bal's Mogshop. As both Esto Gaza and Bran Bal become inaccessible in the endgame, and Daguerreo stops selling it, Zorlin Shape is a missable weapon.
Mechanics[]
The base damage dealt with normal attack is determined as follows everywhere but within Ipsen's Castle:
- Base = 42 - Enemy's Defense
- Bonus = Strength + 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 is altered to:
- Base = 18 - Enemy's Defense
Use[]
Zorlin Shape is Zidane's second-best dagger, but has no special qualities that make it worth equipping over more powerful weapons, as Zidane may already have the superior Angel Bless. Its main boon is that it is used as an ingredient for synthesizing two good thief swords: Masamune and Sargatanas. As Zorlin Shape is available for a limited time, the player should buy two of them at the soonest as not to miss out. Sargatanas itself can be used as a synthesis ingredient for making the Thief Gloves; if the player wants to do this as well as keeping Sargatanas for battle-use, the player should buy at least three Zorlin Shapes when they have the chance.
Even though Zidane's battle model wields two weapons when he is equipped with a Zorlin Shape, this is merely cosmetic and the player can only equip him with one weapon.
Gallery[]
Etymology and origin[]
The start of its name (ゾーリン, Zōrin?) derives from "Solingen" (ゾーリンゲン, Zōringen?). Solingen, also known as the "City of Blades", is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It has long been renowned for the manufacturing of fine swords, knives, scissors and razors.
Zidane's Zorlin Shape is based on the strongest knife weapon from Final Fantasy Tactics. The weapon has since become a recurring dagger or short sword type weapon in the Final Fantasy series, localized as Zwill Crossblade.