Slow (Final Fantasy IX)

Slow is a Blk Mag spell for Vivi in Final Fantasy IX. The earliest time it can be learned is from the Magus Hat that can found in Gizamaluke's Grotto. Slow attempts to inflict the status of the same name onto one target, halving the rate their ATB gauge fills. In Trance, Vivi can use Slow twice in one turn.
Slow can be used as an enemy ability by Basilisk, Grimlock, and Ochu. It can be reflected as normal and can be countered with the ability Return Magic.
==Obtain==
Slow is learned from the Ice Staff for 20 AP, which can be stolen from Gizamaluke, found in Cleyra's Trunk, and bought in Treno (disc 2), Cleyra, Lindblum (disc 2), Conde Petie, Black Mage Village (discs 2 & 3), and Alexandria. It can also be learned from the Magus Hat, found in Gizamaluke's Grotto and also stolen from the Gizamaluke boss, and bought from Burmecia, Summit Station, Black Mage Village (disc 2/3), Cleyra, and Lindblum (disc 2).
==Mechanics== 
Status-inflicting Black Magic spells' success rate is based on Vivi's Level, Magic stats, and the status spell's base accuracy. Vivi can use the Focus ability to increase his Magic during that battle by 25% per use. The effect stacks up to 99. The effect lasts for the entire battle, even if KO'd.
:Chance = 60 + Vivi's Level + [Magic / 4] - Target Level
Afterward, two randomly generated numbers determine if the spell will hit:
:A random number 0...99 >= Chance, Vivi misses his cast
:A random number 0...99 < Target's Magic Evade, the target evades
Accuracy is halved by Shell and being under Mini.
When used on a target who has Haste, Slow cancels Haste instead.
In Vivi's Trance, Blk Mag turns into Dbl Blk where Vivi can cast two spells on his turn. The spells cost MP and expend the Trance gauge independently.
The support ability that affects Slow is Reflect-Null (Slow pierces target's Reflect).
==Use==
Slow is obtained toward the end of disc 1 and is most useful against bosses; against normal enemies Vivi is often better off spending his turn using Focus or targeting the enemy's elemental weakness instead. Slow is good against the first boss the player can use it, Gizamaluke, and also against Beatrix, whom the player cannot defeat anyway. However, what it comes to status effects, it is often better to inflict them via Add Status and a compatible weapon as not to use up MP or waste a turn if the enemy does not receive the effect. Another way to inflict Slow is with Quina's Bad Breath, though it is obtained much later, but also inflicts various other status ailments.
Slow could be used instead of Dispel for removing an enemy's Haste status, but the only enemy to use Haste is Cactuar.
Category:Black Magic in Final Fantasy IX