Dark Matter (Final Fantasy IX)

The Dark Matter is an offensive item and an add-on in Final Fantasy IX that everyone can equip. It teaches Odin to Dagger. When equipped as an add-on, the Dark Matter gives a bonus to the wearer's Strength and Magic when they level up with it equipped, and contains one of the highest level up bonuses in the game. When used as an item in battle, the Dark Matter inflicts 9999 fixed damage to one target. The Dark Matter is very rare, there only being three in the entire game, and so the player should not use it up carelessly. It is one of the few items to have a Tetra Master card. It is used for synthesis.
==Obtain==
The Dark Matter is earliest obtained from the Treno Auction House for ~19,300 gil after the party returns from the Outer Continent. It is sold only once, and so the player should take care not to use it up in battle, or Dagger will not be able to learn Odin, one of her most useful summons. The only other way to get a Dark Matter is from the superboss Ozma; a Dark Matter is stolen from Ozma, and may drop from it upon defeat as well alongside a Pumice.
==Mechanics==
The Dark Matter gives a +3 bonus to the wearer's Strength and a +2 bonus to their Magic stat when they level up with it equipped. When enough "bonuses" upon level up from gear have been accrued, the character gains a permanent stat increase. Strength is used for damage calculations and for determining HP growth, while Magic is used for calculating spells' outcomes and for MP growth.
The Dark Matter is among the best Strength-boosting equipment pieces in he game alongside the Barette and the Power Belt.
Using the Dark Matter in battle, consumes it to deal 9999 fixed damage to a target.
==Use==
It is worth getting the Dark Matter the earliest from the auction house and then equipping it to Dagger to master Odin. Afterward, the player can keep equipping it for its level up bonuses, or use it in a battle to deal 9999 damage, or keep it for synthesis-use for later on. The level up bonuses to Strength and Magic are good, but level grinding and min-maxing are unnecessary even when preparing for superbosses. As the best stat-boosting equipment become available at the end of the game, the best result would be to restrict EXP intake until then.
The Dark Matter can be a useful item to use in a tough endgame battle, such as against Ozma or the final boss. It can also be used in synthesis in the legendary synthesis shop to make a Protect Ring, however, there are other ways to get a Protect Ring.
==Tetra Master==
The Dark Matter has a Tetra Master card, found in a chocograph. The Dark Phantom in Memoria also uses it in their hands.
==Behind the scenes==
Queen Brahne uses a Dark Matter to summon Odin upon Cleyra in a cutscene. It is presumed she got the item when Zorn and Thorn extracted Princess Garnet's eidolons to gemstones.
==Etymology and origin==
 Dark Matter is a recurring rare and powerful item in the Final Fantasy series.
Category:Add-ons in Final Fantasy IX
Category:Items in Final Fantasy IX