Dead Pepper

The Dead Pepper is a type of vegetable related to chocobos in Final Fantasy IX. When used in battle, it deals damage. When used on the world map when riding Choco, he can peck furiously at whatever is in front of him, or dive if seaborne, or fly high into the air when airborne, allowing the player to uncover new areas and find hidden treasures without a chocograph.
Dead Peppers are supposedly named as such because the fruit that bears them has died out due to Mist. The pepper also briefly appears in the anime Final Fantasy: Unlimited.
==Obtain==
The Dead Pepper is an item obtained from the minigame Chocobo Hot and Cold, although it is not available until Choco becomes a red chocobo. If the player digs up what was supposed to be a Dead Pepper before Choco changes color to red, the treasure changes into a Gysahl Green, effectively doubling the chance for the player to obtain Gysahl Greens before Choco becomes red.
Additionally, once the player has either found all 24 chocograph treasures, or used Dead Peppers on all mountain cracks, ocean bubbles, and visited Chocobo's Air Garden once, the gold chocobo to the left of the Fat Chocobo in Chocobo's Paradise will max out the player's stock of Dead Peppers every time he is talked to.
==Mechanics==
When used in battle, a Dead Pepper deals 30 damage for every pepper in the inventory. This could at best deal 2970 fixed damage to a target. Damage is calculated as follows:
Damage = \text{Number of Dead Peppers} \times 30
The effects of feeding Choco a Dead Pepper on the overworld depend on the terrain. They can be used to drill cracks on mountainsides, dive beneath bubbling waters in the sea, or fly up into the air, uncovering hidden treasures or giving access to certain areas, namely Chocobo's Air Garden, Mognet Central, and Chocobo's Paradise.
==Use==
Dead Peppers are best used when riding Choco on the overworld, rather than as a battle item; to deal damage with consumables, the player can use Amarant's Throw.
At some areas of the world map, the player may find foaming water or a mountainside with a crack. Using a Dead Pepper at these locations causes Choco with a Mountain upgrade to dig into a mountainside, or a Choco with a Sea upgrade to dive into the water, possibly finding treasures separate from the chocograph treasures.
====Mognet Central====
The player can use a Dead Pepper to expose the entrance of Mognet Central, on an island north of Outer Continent called Likanmack Island. The spot to dig is the crack on the mountainside. 
====Chocobo's Air Garden====
The way to reach the Air Garden is by searching the world map for a slow-moving, circular shadow. The player must then float above the shadow on a flying Choco, and feed him a Dead Pepper.
====Ocean bubbles====
;Beneath Quan's Dwelling
*Ore x9
*Topaz x15
*Tiger Racket
*Red Rose Card
The player must enter Quan's Dwelling and use a Dead Pepper on the ledge overlooking the water in the back of the dwelling.
;Directly North of Iifa Tree
*Potion x50
*Hi-Potion x25
*Ether x9
*Elixir x7
;Between Mist Continent and Outer Continent
*Straw Hat x8
*Pearl Armlet x8
*Aloha T-shirt x7
*Sandals x8
;South Tip of Forgotten Continent
*Remedy x10
*Black Robe
*Genji Gloves
*Blue Narciss Card
====Mountain cracks====
;Eastern Part of Lost Continent
*Lapis Lazuli x41
*Rosetta Ring
*Protect Ring
*Airship Card
;Northeastern Part of Forgotten Continent
*Eye Drops x19
*Madain's Ring
*Genji Helmet
*Hilda Garde I Card
;Near Oeilvert
*Maiden Prayer
*Dragon's Hair
*Gauntlets
*Odin Card
;Hidden Island in the Northwest corner of the Map
*Entrance to Chocobo's Paradise
;Island North of Outer Continent
*Entrance to Mognet Central
====Other====
There is a treasure for which there is no indication as to where it lies in the sea. It is found in the exact former location of Shimmering Island after it has disappeared. The player can check the larger version of the world map where Shimmering Island is still marked to position themself.
*Aquamarine x10
*Ultima Weapon
*Maximillian
*Invincible Card
==Other appearances==
===Final Fantasy: Unlimited===
Dead Peppers show up in Episode 10 and 20. They are Chobi's favorite food, and they look like giant red chili peppers. When Chobi takes a bite, the chocobo goes berserk.
==Gallery==
Dead Pepper menu from FFIX Remastered.png|Dead Pepper menu.
Dead-Pepper-While-Flying.png|Using a Dead Pepper to access the Air Garden.
Category:Items in Final Fantasy IX
Category:Final Fantasy: Unlimited