Gradual Petrify ( status ) Gradual Petrify , also known as Slow - numb and Slow Petrify , is a recurring status effect in the " Final Fantasy " series that causes the character to slowly turn into stone . It can be cured in the same way as Petrify . Appearances . " Final Fantasy III " . Called Petr , also known as Partial Petrification , in battle , after a few turns the affected character is turned to stone and is unable to act . In the original NES / Famicom version , instead , a character or a monster becomes petrified if inflicted Partial Petrification twice . The weapons Break Blade , Medusa Arrow and Omnirod inflict this status , as well as the spell Break ; in the NES / Famicom version , the Golem Staff inflicts Partial Petrification too , while the Medusa Arrows inflict instant Petrify . The enemies Helldiver , Stalagmite , Myrmecoleon , Chimera , Cockatrice , Rock Gargoyle , Kum Kum , Medusa , and Cerberus . It can be removed with the Soft item . Gradual Petrify is accumulative and unique , in that it does nothing on its own , but will inflict Full Petrification once it fully stacks . For example , a character is first 1 / 3 petrified , then 2 / 3 petrified , then fully petrified . Full Petrification differs from Petrify in that it requires resistance to Partial Petrification and not Petrify in order to protect against it . " Final Fantasy IV " . Progresses to Petrify status within time , or after any attack that successfully inflicts any Gradual Petrify effect three times . Higher Stamina or high maximum HP ( for monsters only ) slows down the timer ' s progression . Slow also delays worsening , while Haste speeds it . In the Super Nintendo and PlayStation version , Gradual Petrify 1 / 3 has the character ' s legs in stone and Gradual Petrify 2 / 3 goes up to the character ' s head . The Game Boy Advance version change the visual effect to that of greyish silver rings surrounding the character that is similar to the paralysis visual status effect . " Final Fantasy IV - Interlude - " . The Gradual Petrify status returns as a status effect in the sequel of " Final Fantasy IV " , and it functions the same way as its predecessor . " Final Fantasy VII " . Called Slow - numb , characters with this condition are petrified after 30 seconds . In Battle Square battles , Slow - numb carries to the next battle if the character gets inflicted . " Final Fantasy VIII " . Called Petrifying , characters with this condition are petrified when the counter reaches 0 , roughly after 13 . 3 seconds . " Final Fantasy IX " . Gradual Petrify starts a countdown meter of 10 to appear above the unit ' s head . When the meter reaches zero , the unit is petrified . Gradual Petrify can be healed by the Soft and Remedy items , Stona and Esuna spell , or it can be prevented altogether by equipping the Jelly support ability . If Zidane is affected by Gradual Petrify , and the player uses Flee the moment he is going to die from it , he ' ll still use the ability even though he is petrified , sending the other members to safety . " Final Fantasy XI " . Gradual Petrification appears as an effect of the " Calcifying Mist " ability used by Notorious Monster Peistes in the " " expansion . Afflicted players have their movement speed slowed down during the countdown until fully petrified . " Final Fantasy XII " . Petrify slowly turns a character to stone in 10 counts , similar to how Doom slowly kills them . Doom and Petrify can ' t co - exist on the same character ; which ever status the character has first , they are immune to the other . The only exception is using Remedy with Nihopalaoa , which inflicts both Doom and Petrify . As the timer runs down , the afflicted unit ' s resistance to physical attacks gradually increases , rendering them almost immune to such attacks when the countdown reaches 1 . It can be cured with Esuna , but once the timer runs out and the character turns to Stone , they can only be cured by Stona , a Gold Needle , or a Remedy ( once a character has acquired the appropriate Remedy Lore license ) . This trick can be used to survive against foes with powerful physical attacks , though one must be careful with timing the recovery , lest they fully petrify . The player can inflict Petrify by casting the Break spell , requiring the Time Magick 3 license , costing the player 30 LP , or with the Ancient Sword or the Stone Shot . The Petrify status can be exploited to trigger the Dead character glitch . Zalera ' s and Gilgamesh ' s ability , Level 4 Break , can inflict Petrify if the target ' s level is a multiple of 4 .