GameSpot Presents: Final Fantasy IX Guide

Steiner

Because Steiner is so powerful in a meelee capacity it is not recommended that you use his abilities too often. However, when you have Vivi in your party, Steiner's Sword Magic can prove to be devastating to your foes.

Sword Arts

Art	Description
Armor Break	Reduces target's defense strength.
Charge!	Causes all party members who are near death to attack a random enemy.
Climhazzard	Inflicts non-elemental damage upon all enemies.
Darkside	Inflicts shadow damage on enemy, reduces Steiner's HP.
Iai Strike	KO's target.
Magic Break	Reduces enemy's magic power.
Mental Break	Reduces enemy's magic defense.
Minus Strike	Inflicts damage upon enemy that is equal to Steiner's max HP and current HP.
Power Strike	Reduces target's attack power.
Shock	Inflicts physical damage upon one enemy.
Stock Break	Inflicts non-elemental damage upon all enemies.
Thunder Slash	Inflicts thunder damage upon an enemy.

Sword Magic (When Vivi is in party with Steiner)

Spell	Effect
Bio	Strikes enemy with bio sword.
Blizzaga	Strikes enemy with blizzaga sword.
Blizzara	Strikes enemy with blizzara sword.
Blizzard	Strikes enemy with blizzard sword.
Doomsday	Strikes enemy with doomsday sword.
Fira	Strikes enemy with fira sword.
Firaga	Strikes enemy with firaga sword.
Fire	Strikes enemy with fire sword.
Flare	Strikes enemy with flare sword.
Thundaga	Strikes enemy with thundaga sword.
Thundara	Strikes enemy with thundara sword.
Thunder	Strikes enemy with thunder sword.
Water	Strikes enemy with water sword.

Vivi

Later on in the game when Vivi learns Osmose and can suck MP from enemies, Vivi will probably become your most useful party member. His spells will be able to cause major damage to enemies, and when he is in the party Steiner will be able to use much of Vivi's magic in his attacks. You can even get some good magic and ability combos going with Vivi that can be particularly devastating against enemies.

Black Magic

Spell	Effect
Bio	Inflicts non-elemental damage and poison upon one or more targets.
Blizzaga	Inflicts even more ice damage upon one or more targets.
Blizzara	Inflicts more ice damage upon one or more targets.
Blizzard	Inflicts ice damage upon one or more targets.
Break	Petrifies target.
Comet	Inflicts non-elemental damage upon all enemies.
Death	KO's target.
Demi	Inflicts damage upon a target that is equal to a certain percentage of the target's HP.
Doomsday	Inflicts shadow damage upon all enemies.
Drain	Transfers HP from the target to the caster.
Fira	Inflicts more fire damage upon one or more targets.
Firaga	Inflicts even more fire damage upon one or more targets.
Fire	Inflicts fire damage upon one or more targets.
Flare	Inflicts non-elemental damage upon one enemy.
Meteor	Inflicts non-elemental damage upon all enemies.
Osmose	Transfers MP from the target to the caster.
Poison	Poisons one or more targets.
Sleep	Renders one or more targets asleep.
Slow	Slows target's ATB gauge.
Stop	Renders a target unable to perform any action.
Thundaga	Inflicts even more thunder damage upon one or more targets.
Thundara	Inflicts more thunder damage upon one or more targets.
Thunder	Inflicts thunder damage upon one or more targets.
Water	Inflicts water damage upon one or more targets.

Zidane

For the most part Zidane works better in an offensive capacity, utilizing his skills only when he is in trance due to the power of his Dyne. Despite that, occasionally it will be useful to use Detect so that you know what you can steal from an enemy if you aren't sure.

Thieves' Skills

Ability	Effect
Annoy	Inflicts the target with trouble.
Detect	Allows character to view enemy's items.
Flee	Allows party to escape from battle.
Lucky Seven	Uses luck to deal physical damage.
Sacrifice	Sacrifices character to restore HP and MP to the rest of the party.
Soul Blade	Enables the use of special abilities from thief swords.
Thievery	Inflicts physical damage upon target.
What's That!?	Enables back attack.
Thievery	Inflicts physical damage upon target.

Dyne Skills (Trance Only)

Ability	Effect
Free Energy	Inflicts physical damage upon a single enemy.
Grand Lethal	Inflicts physical damage upon all enemies.
MeoTwister	Inflicts physical damage upon all enemies.
Scoop Art	Inflicts physical damage upon a single enemy.
Shift Break	Inflicts physical damage upon all enemies.
Solution 9	Inflicts physical damage upon a single enemy.
Stellar Circle 5	Inflicts physical damage upon a single enemy.
Tidal Flame	Inflicts physical damage upon all enemies.

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The Abilities (cont.) »