Final Fantasy IX - Battle System Basics

VII

VIII

X-2

XII

XIII

DOC

Spiras Destiny

Yunalesca

Final Fantasy World

Final Fantasy Synthesis

Enix Squared

Forgotten Memories

Final Fantasy Republic

FFVII Before Crisis FFVII Crisis Core FFVII Last Order Final Fantasy VII FFVII Advent Children FFVII Dirge Of Cerberus FFVII DOC Lost Episode On The Way to A Smile Final Fantasy VIII

Final Fantasy IX Final Fantasy X Final Fantasy X-2 Final Fantasy XII FFXII Revenant Wings Final Fantasy XIII FFXIII Agito FFXIII Versus FFXIII Haeresis

About Affiliation Disclaimer Site FAQ Staff Site Home Forums

Final Fantasy IX - Battle System Basics

Filed Under: Final Fantasy IX

When facing fearsome monsters, the outcome is rarely decided by brute force or a well-honed blade. Instead, Final Fantasy IX is structured to allow even a clearly weaker party to emerge victorious from battle - as long as you familiarise yourself with the finer points of the battle system. Study the details well and outwit your opponents, putting their weaknesses to your advantage.

final fantasy ix atb gauge

Final Fantasy IX uses the Active Time Battle System, or ATB. Each character (and each monster) has an ATB Gauge that fills up during battle. Once the ATB Gauge is full, the character or monster can perform an action. This prevents participants in battle from attacking incessantly, reflecting the fact that they must recoup their strength after executing an action. The actions that can be executed depend on the character or monster in question, while the effectiveness of an attack depends on the opponent in question. It may sound complicated, but in fact it's all very simple.

Know The System

Change of character: There is little you can do other than plan your next actions while the ATB Gauges of your party members fill up. Use the time to compare your characters' ATB Gauges. You should wait if a final fantasy ix battle

weak character - let's call him or her A - is next to perform an action, and the ATB Gauge of a stronger character - called B here - will be filled soon after A's. Press the O button when B's ATB Gauge is filled to change from A to B. This prevents you from wasting time on the comparatively ineffective action of a weak party member - time which the monster may use to launch an attack of its own. Having selected an action from B, you can skip back to A.

Flight over fight: If your opponent seems overpowering, or if you simply do not feel like spending time doing battle, you can end the encounter by fleeing. Press the L1 and R1, buttons simultaneously until you make your escape. Your party might not be able to flee immediately, and your characters may suffer some damage before making their escape. When hit, your party members take 50% more damage than usual as they are attacked from behind. Such is the price of flight! Note that there are some opponents you cannot "flee" from.

Choose a target faster: If you have problems choosing a friendly or hostile target using the directional buttons of your controller (for example, if you want to heal a party member during battle), simply press the L2 button. This opens the Target Window, allowing you to easily select your target.

Ambush

You'll sometimes have an opportunity to surprise your opponent and attack it from behind when battle begins. Unfortunately, the same can happen to you. Whoever is attacked from behind receives 50% more damage than from a frontal hit. This character only turns around, ending this unfortunate situation, once his or her ATB Gauge is full, allowing your character to execute his or her first command in battle. In this situation, your characters who were originally fighting in the back row, now find themselves on the front lines.