Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy IX

Tips & Secrets

Learn about missable items and skills in Final Fantasy IX. Consider the challenging Excalibur II, a Knight Sword requiring a fast playthrough.

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Tips & Secrets

Final Fantasy IX is rich with missable items, skills, and key items, making careful attention crucial for completionists. Deciding early whether to pursue the ultimate Knight Sword, Excalibur II, will significantly impact your gameplay approach. General enemy tips are found in the Enemy List, while boss strategies are integrated into the walkthrough.

A significant aspect of Final Fantasy IX is the presence of numerous missable items, skills, and Key Items. Alerts will appear throughout the guide to highlight these opportunities. Pay close attention to these warnings to avoid permanently missing content.

One critical decision early in the game is whether to aim for the game's ultimate Knight Sword, Excalibur II. This weapon is exceptionally difficult to acquire, requiring completion of almost the entire final dungeon in under 12 hours of game time. For first-time players, ignoring it is advised. If you decide to pursue it, remember to save time by:

  • Skipping FMVs
  • Skipping sidequests
  • Fast-scrolling through dialogue
  • Ignoring non-essential battles

For a perfect game run that includes Excalibur II, Atomos199's Excalibur II Perfect Game Guide on GameFAQs is recommended. If you only want the sword and not a perfect game, this walkthrough can still be used, with an emphasis on time-saving measures.

Tips for defeating normal enemies are located in the Enemy List. Strategies for bosses and special fixed encounters are provided as they occur within the main walkthrough.

Additional secrets and side quests can be found in the Secrets & Side Quests Guide by Shinji, updated Nov 16, 2000, and the Secrets FAQ by Inoffensive, updated Oct 2, 2009.