Final Fantasy IX Disc 1

Evil Forest

In the Forest, the Mighty Forest

Some time later, you’ll be in control again. Press “Select” when told to do so; this is how you view the Active Time Events. After you watch the scene, go look where Cinna threw someone on the ground. There’s a Phoenix DownItemRevive a KO'd character near there. Since you can’t get inside the ship, save your game at the moogle and head down and to the right.

Take this opportunity to equip Zidane. If this is your first time playing (or first time in a while), check out the Leveling Up section to learn about how your equipment impacts your characters’ stats when they level up. Take some time to familiarize yourself with BOTH the equip AND the ability screens. This is your first real chance to fight.

After heading down and right from the moogle, you’ll go through a log to the next screen. DON’T go too far to the right, or you’ll end up on the next screen and have to fight something nasty. Just spend a few moments fighting here to familiarize yourself with the process.

It doesn’t really take much effort here to level up your accessories and learn the skills. Use the PotionsItemRestore HP (150 if in battle, 100 otherwise) to heal if you get low on HP. If you want to level up, be sure to set the battle speed to fast, and wait to switch from the Leather ShirtEquipmentArmor for: All except Knights to the Silk ShirtEquipmentArmor for: All except Knights until AFTER you’ve learned “Protect Girls.” If you’re going to be stealing a lot, I’d also recommend you move Zidane to the back row, using the “order” menu option. (Just click him a few times.) Don’t feel like you have to learn all the abilities available to you. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to do that later.

When you are ready to advance the story, save at the moogle and head one more screen to the right (that’s two from the moogle). When you pass Vivi, you’ll trigger…

This enemy will absorb HP from whatever character it has trapped. Keep that character alive while trying to defeat the boss. Don’t use area-effect attacks such as Tidal Flame or you’ll hurt Garnet as well. A couple of Free Energy attacks should take him out. Once he’s defeated, you’ll trigger…

This is basically the same battle, except that Vivi will actually try to help defeat the enemy. As before, keep him alive while you work to defeat the boss. After he’s defeated you’ll watch a bunch of cut scenes.

When you have control of Zidane again, you can find a pair of Bronze GlovesEquipmentArm Armor for: Knights Only in the wreckage to the right there. Leave the screen, watch the active time events, then head down the stairs. There’s a WristEquipmentArm Armor for: All except Knights in a chest here, and you can go talk to Vivi in the room to the right. In his room, there is 116 gil in the upper bed and an EtherItemRestore MP (150 if in battle, 100 otherwise) in a chest in the upper left corner. Help Zidane realize he wants to go find Garnet, then leave the room and head left one room. Open the chest there to receive an EtherItemRestore MP (150 if in battle, 100 otherwise). Head down the stairway there and walk up to the room at the top of the next screen. There’s a Rubber HelmEquipmentHead Armor for: Knights Only there.

The next room to the right has BakuEnemyPrima Vista boss. Weak to Fire. Steal: Hi-Potion, Iron Sword. Reward: 0 AP, 0 Gil. Drops: n/a. waiting for you, but before you go visit him, head down and get a Leather HatEquipmentHead Armor for: All except Knights in this room, then go save outside and equip your best gear. When you’re ready, come back to this room and head right. If you didn’t grab it before, there may be a chest kind of hidden in the lower left corner of this room containing a PotionItemRestore HP (150 if in battle, 100 otherwise).

Once you’re done fighting, head left up the stairs and into the room there to talk with Rusty. After you leave the room, turn around and go right back in. Open the chest there for an EtherItemRestore MP (150 if in battle, 100 otherwise). Leave that room and go over where Vivi is. After encouraging him to join you, head out of the ship and save/mognet. Make sure you set the equipment and abilities on your new companions, before heading out. If you’ve got really low HP, you can always head to the room where Vivi was staying in order to rest up a bit. If you’re going to have Zidane steal, he should probably be in the back row. If you’re going to have him attack, he can be front row.

Head to where you fought the evil plant before, and watch the ATE to hear the FF7 soldier march. On the next screen, head left and look at the waterfall (and confuse Zidane). This will lead to a dialogue later. Head further down the way to get to a spring. Watch the ATE, then you’ll be able to replenish HP and MP by drinking the water. You can also give Monty a letter here. Be sure to mognet TWICE to read the letter from Stiltzkin.

Head right two screens. You’ll get into battles here, but you can return to the fountain to heal up. Dendrobium flowerEnemyEvil Forest enemy. Weak to Fire and Wind; Earth has no effect. Steal: Eye Drops, Tent, Ore. Drops: Eye Drops, Potion, Phoenix Down. enemies give a lot of XP, plus, you can steal Eye DropsItemRemove Status Effect: Darkness, a TentItemIf used in battle, inflicts Silence, Darkness and Poison. If used in the field, restores HP/MP at save moogle., and an OreJewelJewel used in battle for healing, as a Friendly Monster handout, and in synthesis. Keep a healthy stockpile. from them! If you do opt to have your characters learn the abilities associated with their gear, don’t forget to swap the Leather WristEquipmentArm Armor for: All Except Knights between Zidane and Vivi. There is a cave you can run into at the end of this screen; it’s a point of no return. Ever. When you do, you’ll have to fight your way out.

Boss Fight Prep

If you haven’t been leveling up, be prepared to spend several PotionsItemRestore HP (150 if in battle, 100 otherwise) fighting this boss. Equip your best armor and weapons. Save Vivi’s MP for the boss fight - don’t spend it on the random encounters around here. When you are ready to move on, save and head into that cave.

After you defeat him, quickly use some Eye DropsItemRemove Status Effect: Darkness, then run away! If you don’t run, you’ll continue to get into battles. If you want to level up, you can just stand there and get sucked into battles. This is actually an OK place to level up. Move everyone but Steiner to the back row, then have Zidane and Blank steal from each enemy, then attack with Steiner. Have Vivi toss PotionsItemRestore HP (150 if in battle, 100 otherwise) as needed. Area effect Fire (use R1 to toggle between targeting one enemy and targeting ALL enemies) will kill off all enemies with a single shot, if you get desperate. You can steal PotionItemRestore HP (150 if in battle, 100 otherwise), Hi-PotionItemRestores HP: 300 outside battle or 450 in battle., and OreJewelJewel used in battle for healing, as a Friendly Monster handout, and in synthesis. Keep a healthy stockpile. from these guys. If you do steal, hang on to a few OreJewelJewel used in battle for healing, as a Friendly Monster handout, and in synthesis. Keep a healthy stockpile.. When you’re finished fighting (or bored with it), unequip everything you can from Blank, have him equip the most basic sword you have (probably a BroadswordEquipmentWeapon for Steiner), then run and watch the cut scenes.