Whale Whisker (Final Fantasy IX)

Whale Whisker is a weapon for Dagger in Final Fantasy IX, being her ultimate rod. It teaches her the best curative spell, Curaga, as well as Life, for her to support herself and her allies.
Obtaining it yields The Ultimate Rod achievement/trophy in the versions that support an achievements system.
Dagger's Whale Whisker is based on the ultimate pole for Mystics and Arithmeticians from Final Fantasy Tactics.
==Obtain==
The Whale Whisker is found in the Ocean chocograph with a sea-faring Choco. It can be nabbed the earliest when the party has the Blue Narciss if the player prioritizes the Chocobo Hot and Cold sidequest. The Whale Whisker is the first ultimate weapon the player can get, alongside the Tiger Racket, which Dagger can also wield.
The Whale Whisker can be sold for 5,140 gil, but the player is advised against selling it (or throwing it) because they cannot procure another one.
==Mechanics==
Whale Whisker's damage dealt with a normal Attack is determined as follows everywhere but within Ipsen's Castle:
:Base = 36 - Enemy's Defense
:Bonus = Strength + Rnd MOD ([(Level + Strength) / 8] + 1)
:Damage = Base * Bonus
Where Rnd means a random number, while MOD means modulus operation. "Rnd MOD x" can be read as a random number between 0 and x-1. 
The damage is then modified by variables like Dagger's row position and the enemy's Protect. If Dagger were under Mini, her Bonus would be 1. If Dagger equips Healer, damage is converted to healing.
When in Ipsen's Castle, the stronger weapons do less damage than weaker weapons, and the Base part of the damage formula is altered to:
:Base = 24 - Enemy's Defense
==Use==
The Whale Whisker is Dagger's best rod, but not necessarily her best offensive weapon, as rackets deal full damage from the back row and deal Wind damage, meaning they commonly deal more damage to flying enemies, and the player can boost their damage with Elem-Atk gear. However, Whale Whisker is the earliest source for Dagger to learn Curaga, the best curative spell, and it is worth procuring early if the player is doing the chocobo sidequest. If the player is not doing the chocobo quest, Dagger learns Curaga in the endgame from the Wizard Rod instead.
==Other appearances==
Garnet appears as a non-elemental summon in Final Fantasy Dimensions II. Two Garnet summons are available to players, Garnet and Garnet OR. Each Garnet phantom stone is based on a design of Garnet from Final Fantasy IX. Her final artwork depicts Garnet with short hair and wielding her ultimate weapon, the Whale Whisker.
The Whale Whisker from Final Fantasy IX also appears in Final Fantasy Record Keeper.
FFLTnS Garnet Artwork.png|Garnet holding the Whale Whisker in Dimensions II.
FFRK Whale Whisker FFIX.png|Final Fantasy Record Keeper.
==Gallery==
Whale Whisker FFIX Art.jpg|Artwork.
Whale Whisker FFIX.png|Strategy guide scan.
==Etymology==
The Whale Whisker derives its name from the Japanese name, which is also translated as baleen. 
Category:Weapons in Final Fantasy IX