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About: How Leveling Works
Like FF8, FF9 actually rewards you for keeping your levels low - at least for certain party members. Normally your characters will only have their stats increase
when they level up. However, having certain gear equiped when your character levels up will add boosts to your stats. For example, if your character has a Robe
of Lords equipped, the character will get an extra .3 increase to several stats. To maximize your power late in the game, you'll want to prevent your most
powerful characters from leveling up until you have all the equipment needed to maximize this effect.
To be clear, the actual in-game consequences aren't nearly as different as they were in FF8. But if you want to maximize the effectiveness of certain
characters, you can try not to have Zidane, Quina, Eiko, or Freya level up until Disc 4. The easiest way to do this is to get a Robe of Lords by playing Chocobo
Hot/Cold on Disc 1 and giving that to Vivi, esentially making him invulnerable early on. If you get more than one, give it to Dagger. When the characters below
have access to the equipment listed, you can start allowing them to level up:
Zidane:
- Weapon: Orichalcon
- Head: Bandana
- Arm: Thieves Gloves
- Chest: Dark Gear
- Rebirth Ring
This will allow Zidane to focus on maximizing his speed (more attacks and higher thievery skill damage) and spirit (auto-regen).
Freya:
- Dragon's Hair (Or whatever; no weapons increase stats for Freya)
- Barbut
- Guantlets
Blue Magic Notes
- In Qu's Marsh: Gigan Toad = Frog Drop, Axolotl = Water Breath
- Near Lindblum Dragon Gate: Serpion = Mighty Guard
- Near Lindblum Business District: Carve Spider = LV3 Def-Less, Axe Beak = Limit Glove
- Near Chocobo's Forest: Ironite = Angel's Snack, Vice = Vanish
Carabini Mail
- Running Shoes
This will allow Freya to focus on maximizing her speed and spirit. Since Dragon's Crest does fixed damage, we don't care about strength.
Eiko:
- Magic Racket
- Holy Miter
- N-Kai Armlet
- Robe of Lords
- Pearl Rouge
We want to focus on Magic and Spirit for Eiko.
Quina:
- Gastro Fork (Or whatever. Like Freya, Quina has no stat-boosting weapon.)
- Bandana
- N-Kai Armlet
- Robe of Lords
- Running Shoes
Like Freya, Quina's most powerful attacks are fixed damage, so we're focused on Speed and Spirit for s/he as well.
Optional: Eiko/Marcus Bug
If you're playing the game on a PS1 emulator (this bug is fixed in later remastered versions), there's a place on Disc 2 where you play as Marcus and Steiner. If
you let Steiner get killed off, you can have Marcus level grind the enemies here with a Blood Sword . As you level him up, all stat increases he gets will be
transferred to Eiko when she joins your party.
Equipment to Use
While the above is a theoretical optimal distribution of stats, since the end result isn't massively overpowered, my personal feeling is to just have fun playing
the game and make sure your characters are wearing certain armor as they get close to gaining a level. Here are the stat bonus of all equipment for each
character, in the order I think they should be equiped for maximizing each character's strengths.
Zidane
- Weapon: Orichalcon (Speed +1), Masasume (Magic +2)
- Head:
Thief Hat (Speed +2)
Bandana (Speed +1, Spirit +1)
Green Beret (Speed +1, Strength +1)
Mantra Headand (Spirit +1, Magic +1)
Steepled Hat (Strenght +1)
Ritual Hat / Twist Headband (Strength +1)
- Arm:
N-Kai Armlet (Spirit +2)
Thieves Gloves (Speed +1)
Power Wrist (Strength +2)
Leather Wrist / Mythril Armlet / Dragon Wrist (Spirit +1)
Bone Wrist / Bracer (Strength +1)
- Chest:
Dark Gear (Spirit +3)
Survival Vest (Spirit +2)
Judo Uniform (Strength +1, Spirit +1)
Power Vest (Strength +2)
Ninja Gear (Speed +1)
Bronze Vest / Brave Suit (Spirit +1)
Demon's Vest (Magic +1)
- Accessory:
Rebirth Ring (Spirit +4)
Ribbon (Strength +1, Magic +3, Speed +1)
Running Shoes (Speed +2)
Glass Buckle (Strength +1, Magic +1, Spirit +2)
Black Belt (Strength +2, Spirit +2)
Power Belt (Strength +3)
Madain's Ring / Coral Ring (Spirit +2)
Pumice (Speed +1, Magic +1)
Dark Matter (Strength +3, Magic +2)
Reflect Ring (Strength +1, Spirit +1)
Promist Ring (Strength +2)
Desert Boots (Spirit +1, Magic +1)
Germinas Boots (Strength +1)
Magician Shoes (Magic +2)
Protect Ring (Spirit +1)
Pumice Piece (Strength +2, Magic +2)
Rosetta Ring (Magic +1)
Vivi
- Weapon: Doesn't matter - no stat bonuses for Vivi's Weapons
- Head:
Holy Miter (Magic +1, Spirit +2)
Mantra Headband (Spirit +1, Magic +1)
Golden Hairpin / Mage's Hat (Magic +1)
Bandana (Speed +1, Spirit +1)
Green Beret (Speed +1, Strength +1)
Feather Hat (Spirit +1)
Ritual Hat / Twist Headband / Steepled Hat (Strength +1)
- Arm:
Magic Armlet (Magic +2)
N-Kai Armlet (Spirit +2)
Leather Wrist / Mythril Armlet / Dragon Wrist (Spirit +1)
Power Wrist (Strength +2)
Bone Wrist / Bracer (Strength +1)
- Chest:
Robe of Lords (Magic +1, Spirit +1, Speed +1, Strength +1)
Light Robe (Magic +1, Spirit +1, Strength +1)
Magician Robe / Black Robe (Magic +2)
Dark Gear (Spirit +3)
Survival Vest (Spirit +2)
Magician Cloak / Demon's Vest (Magic +1)
Judo Uniform (Strength +1, Spirit +1)
Bronze Vest (Spirit +1)
Demon's Vest (Magic +1)
Power Vest (Strength +2)
- Accessory:
Ribbon (Strength +1, Magic +3, Speed +1)
Dark Matter (Strength +3, Magic +2)
Pumice Piece (Strength +2, Magic +2)
Magician Shoes (Magic +2)
Glass Buckle (Strength +1, Magic +1, Spirit +2)
Rebirth Ring (Spirit +4)
Dark Gear (Spirit +3)
Desert Boots (Spirit +1, Magic +1)
Pumice (Speed +1, Magic +1)
Rosetta Ring (Magic +1)
Black Belt (Strength +2, Spirit +2)
Madain's Ring / Coral Ring (Spirit +2)
Running Shoes (Speed +2)
Reflect Ring (Strength +1, Spirit +1)
Protect Ring (Spirit +1)
Power Belt (Strength +3)
Promist Ring (Strength +2)
Germinas Boots (Strength +1)
Dagger
- Weapon:
Magic Racket (Magic +2)
Stardust Rod (Spirit +2)
- Head:
Holy Miter (Magic +1, Spirit +2)
Mantra Headband (Magic +1, Spirit +1)
Golden Hairpin / Mage's Hat (Magic +1)
Green Beret (Speed +1, Strength +1)
Bandana (Speed +1, Spirit +1)
Feather Hat (Spirit +1)
Flash Hat (Speed +1)
Ritual Hat / Twist Headband / Steepled Hat (Strength +1)
- Arm:
Magic Armlet (Magic +2)
N-Kai Armlet (Spirit +2)
Leather Wrist / Mythril Armlet / Dragon Wrist (Spirit +1)
Power Wrist (Strength +2)
Bone Wrist / Bracer (Strength +1)
- Chest:
Robe of Lords (Magic +1, Spirit +1, Speed +1, Strength +1)
Light Robe (Magic +1, Spirit +1, Strength +1)
Minerva's Plate (Magic +2, Strength +1)
Magician Robe / White Robe (Magic +2)
Dark Gear (Spirit +3)
Cotton Robe / Silk Robe (Magic +1, Spirit +1)
Magician Cloak / Demon's Vest (Magic +1)
Survival Vest (Spirit +2)
Judo Uniform (Strength +1, Spirit +1)
Power Vest (Strength +2)
Bronze Vest (Spirit +1)
- Accessory:
Ribbon (Strength +1, Magic +3, Speed +1)
Pearl Rouge (Magic +2, Spirit +4)
Anklet (Magic +3, Spirit +1)
Dark Matter (Magic +2, Strength +3)
Pumice Piece (Magic +2, Strength +2)
Magician Shoes (Magic +2)
Glass Buckle (Strength +1, Magic +1, Spirit +2)
Rebirth Ring (Spirit +4)
Dark Gear (Spirit +3)
Cachusha (Magic +2, Speed +1, Spirit +1)
Extension (Magic +2, Spirit +1, Strength +1)
Barette (Magic +1, Spirit +1, Strength +3)
Desert Boots (Spirit +1, Magic +1)
Pumice (Speed +1, Magic +1)
Maiden Prayer / Rosetta Ring (Magic +1)
Running Shoes (Speed +2)
Black Belt (Strength +2, Spirit +2)
Madain's Ring / Coral Ring (Spirit +2)
Reflect Ring (Strength +1, Spirit +1)
Protect Ring (Spirit +1)
Power Belt (Strength +3)
Angel Earrings / Ancient Aroma / Promist Ring (Strength +2)
Germinas Boots (Strength +1)
Quina
- Weapon: N/A (No Stat-Boost weapons for Quina)
- Head:
Bandana (Speed +1, Spirit +1)
Green Beret (Speed +1, Strength +1)
Holy Miter (Magic +1, Spirit +2)
Mantra Headband / Lamia's Tiara (Magic +1, Spirit +1)
Feather Hat (Spirit +1)
Flash Hat (Speed +1)
Golden Hairpin / Mage's Hat (Magic +1)
Ritual Hat / Twist Headband / Steepled Hat (Strength +1)
- Arm:
N-Kai Armlet (Spirit +2)
Leather Wrist / Mythril Armlet / Dragon Wrist (Spirit +1)
Power Wrist (Strength +2)
Magic Armlet (Magic +2)
Bone Wrist / Bracer (Strength +1)
- Chest:
Robe of Lords (Magic +1, Spirit +1, Speed +1, Strength +1)
Light Robe (Magic +1, Spirit +1, Strength +1)
Minerva's Plate (Magic +2, Strength +1)
Magician Robe / Black Robe (Magic +2)
Dark Gear (Spirit +3)
Survival Vest (Spirit +2)
Judo Uniform (Strength +1, Spirit +1)
Cotton Robe / Silk Robe (Magic +1, Spirit +1)
Bronze Vest (Spirit +1)
Glutton's Robe (Magic +1, Strength +1)
Power Vest (Strength +2)
Magician Cloak / Demon's Vest (Magic +1)
- Accessory:
Cachusha (Magic +2, Speed +1, Spirit +1)
Ribbon (Strength +1, Magic +3, Speed +1)
Pearl Rouge (Magic +2, Spirit +4)
Anklet (Magic +3, Spirit +1)
Glass Buckle (Strength +1, Magic +1, Spirit +2)
Rebirth Ring (Spirit +4)
Dark Gear (Spirit +3)
Extension (Magic +2, Spirit +1, Strength +1)
Barette (Magic +1, Spirit +1, Strength +3)
Desert Boots (Spirit +1, Magic +1)
Pumice (Speed +1, Magic +1)
Running Shoes (Speed +2)
Black Belt (Strength +2, Spirit +2)
Madain's Ring / Coral Ring (Spirit +2)
Reflect Ring (Strength +1, Spirit +1)
Protect Ring (Spirit +1)
Dark Matter (Magic +2, Strength +3)
Pumice Piece (Magic +2, Strength +2)
Power Belt (Strength +3)
Angel Earrings / Ancient Aroma / Promist Ring (Strength +2)
Germinas Boots (Strength +1)
Magician Shoes (Magic +2)
Maiden Prayer / Rosetta Ring (Magic +1)
Eiko
- Weapon:
Magic Racket (Magic +2)
Stardust Rod (Spirit +2)
- Head:
Holy Miter (Magic +1, Spirit +2)
Mantra Headband (Magic +1, Spirit +1)
Golden Hairpin / Mage's Hat (Magic +1)
Green Beret (Speed +1, Strength +1)
Bandana (Speed +1, Spirit +1)
Feather Hat (Spirit +1)
Flash Hat (Speed +1)
Ritual Hat / Twist Headband / Steepled Hat (Strength +1)
- Arm:
Magic Armlet (Magic +2)
N-Kai Armlet (Spirit +2)
Leather Wrist / Mythril Armlet / Dragon Wrist (Spirit +1)
Power Wrist (Strength +2)
Bone Wrist / Bracer (Strength +1)
- Chest:
Robe of Lords (Magic +1, Spirit +1, Speed +1, Strength +1)
Light Robe (Magic +1, Spirit +1, Strength +1)
Minerva's Plate (Magic +2, Strength +1)
Magician's Robe/ White Robe (Magic +2)
Dark Gear (Spirit +3)
Cotton Robe / Silk Robe (Magic +1, Spirit +1)
Magician Cloak / Demon's Vest (Magic +1)
Survival Vest (Spirit +2)
Judo Uniform (Strength +1, Spirit +1)
Power Vest (Strength +2)
Bronze Vest (Spirit +1)
- Accessory:
Ribbon (Strength +1, Magic +3, Speed +1)
Pearl Rouge (Magic +2, Spirit +4)
Anklet (Magic +3, Spirit +1)
Dark Matter (Magic +2, Strength +3)
Pumice Piece (Magic +2, Strength +2)
Magician Shoes (Magic +2)
Glass Buckle (Strength +1, Magic +1, Spirit +2)
Rebirth Ring (Spirit +4)
Dark Gear (Spirit +3)
Cachusha (Magic +2, Speed +1, Spirit +1)
Extension (Magic +2, Spirit +1, Strength +1)
Barette (Magic +1, Spirit +1, Strength +3)
Desert Boots (Spirit +1, Magic +1)
Pumice (Speed +1, Magic +1)
Maiden Prayer / Rosetta Ring (Magic +1)
Running Shoes (Speed +2)
Black Belt (Strength +2, Spirit +2)
Madain's Ring / Coral Ring (Spirit +2)
Reflect Ring (Strength +1, Spirit +1)
Protect Ring (Spirit +1)
Power Belt (Strength +3)
Angel Earrings / Ancient Aroma / Promist Ring (Strength +2)
Germinas Boots (Strength +1)
Steiner (AKA Rusty)
- Weapon: Defender (Spirit +3)
- Head:
Kaiser Helm (Strength +1, Magic +1)
Cross Helm (Strength +1)
Genji Helmet (Magic +2)
Barbut (Spirit +2)
Grand Helm (Speed +1)
Iron Helm (Spirit +1)
Gold Helm (Magic +1)
- Arm:
Venetia Shield (Strength +1, Magic +1)
Gauntlets (Speed +1)
Bronze Gloves / Mythril Gloves (Spirit +1)
Genji Gloves (Magic +2)
- Chest:
Diamond Armor (Strength +1, Magic +1)
Grand Armor (Strength +1)
Carabini Mail (Speed +1, Spirit +1)
Maximillian (Spirit +3)
Plate Mail (Spirit +1)
Genji Armor (Magic +2)
Linen Curiass / Gold Armor (Magic +1)
- Accessory:
Power Belt (Strength +3)
Dark Matter (Strength +3, Magic +2)
Rebirth Ring (Spirit +4)
Ribbon (Strength +1, Magic +3, Speed +1)
Glass Buckle (Strength +1, Magic +1, Spirit +2)
Pumice Piece (Strength +2, Magic +2)
Black Belt (Strength +2, Spirit +2)
Promist Ring (Strength +2)
Running Shoes (Speed +2)
Reflect Ring (Strength +1, Spirit +1)
Germinas Boots (Strength +1)
Madain's Ring / Coral Ring (Spirit +2)
Pumice (Speed +1, Magic +1)
Desert Boots (Spirit +1, Magic +1)
Protect Ring (Spirit +1)
Magician Shoes (Magic +2)
Rosetta Ring (Magic +1)
Freya
- Weapon: None
- Head:
Kaiser Helm (Strength +1, Magic +1)
Cross Helm (Strength +1)
Lamia's Tiara (Magic +1, Spirit +1)
Genji Helmet (Magic +2)
Barbut (Spirit +2)
Grand Helm (Speed +1)
Iron Helm (Spirit +1)
Gold Helm (Magic +1)
- Arm:
Venetia Shield (Strength +1, Magic +1)
Gauntlets (Speed +1)
Bronze Gloves / Mythril Gloves (Spirit +1)
Genji Gloves (Magic +2)
Dragon Wrist (Spirit +1)
- Chest:
Maximillian (Spirit +3)
Carabini Mail (Speed +1, Spirit +1)
Plate Mail (Spirit +1)
Minerva's Plate (Strength +1, Magic +2)
Dragon Mail / Diamond Armor (Strength +1, Magic +1)
Grand Armor (Strength +1)
Gengji Armor (Magic +2)
Linen Curiass / Gold Armor (Magic +1)
- Accessory:
Pearl Rouge (Magic +2, Spirit +4)
Rebirth Ring (Spirit +4)
Dark Matter (Strength +3, Magic +2)
Power Belt (Strength +3)
Ribbon (Strength +1, Magic +3, Speed +1)
Glass Buckle (Strength +1, Magic +1, Spirit +2)
Black Belt (Strength +2, Spirit +2)
Madain's Ring / Coral Ring (Spirit +2)
Running Shoes (Speed +2)
Reflect Ring (Strength +1, Spirit +1)
Pumice (Speed +1, Magic +1)
Desert Boots (Spirit +1, Magic +1)
Protect Ring (Spirit +1)
Barette (Strength +3, Magic +1, Spirit +1)
Pumice Piece (Strength +2, Magic +2)
Extension (Magic +2, Strength +1, Spirit +1)
Cachusha (Magic +2, Speed +1, Spirit +1)
Anklet (Magic +3, Spirit +1)
Angel Earrings / Ancient Aroma / Promist Ring (Strength +2)
Magician Shoes (Magic +2)
Germinas Boots (Strength +1)
Rosetta Ring (Magic +1)
Maiden Prayer (Magic +1)
Amarant
- Weapon: None (No stat-up weapons for Amarant)
- Head:
Thief Hat (Speed +2)
Bandana (Speed +1, Spirit +1)
Green Beret (Speed +1, Strength +1)
Flash Hat (Speed +1)
Ritual Hat / Twist Headband (Strength +1)
Mantra Headband (Spirit +1, Magic +1)
Feather Hat (Spirit +1)
Golden Hairpin (Magic +1)
- Arm:
Power Wrist (Strength +2)
N-Kai Armlet (Spirit +2)
Thieves Gloves (Speed +1)
Leather Wrist / Mythril Armlet / Dragon Wrist (Spirit +1)
Bone Wrist / Bracer (Strength +1)
- Chest:
Dark Gear (Spirit +3)
Power Vest (Strength +2)
Survival Vest (Spirit +2)
Judo Uniform (Strength +1, Spirit +1)
Ninja Gear (Speed +1)
Chain Plate /Brigadine (Strength +1)
Bronze Vest / Brave Suit (Spirit +1)
Demon's Vest (Magic +1)
- Accessory:
Rebirth Ring (Spirit +4)
Black Belt (Strength +2, Spirit +2)
Dark Matter (Strength +3, Magic +2)
Power Belt (Strength +3)
Pumice Piece (Strength +2, Magic +2)
Running Shoes (Speed +2)
Ribbon (Strength +1, Magic +3, Speed +1)
Glass Buckle (Strength +1, Magic +1, Spirit +2)
Madain's Ring / Coral Ring (Spirit +2)
Reflect Ring (Strength +1, Spirit +1)
Promist Ring (Strength +2)
Pumice (Speed +1, Magic +1)
Desert Boots (Spirit +1, Magic +1)
Germinas Boots (Strength +1)
Protect Ring (Spirit +1)
Magician Shoes (Magic +2)
Rosetta Ring (Magic +1)
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