Running Shoes (Final Fantasy IX)

The Running Shoes is a mid-game add-on in Final Fantasy IX that everyone can equip. It teaches Auto-Haste, which enables permanent Haste status while in battle; Auto-Potion, which lets the character use a potion whenever an enemy damages them; and Haste, a White Magic spell that temporarily bestows Haste to a target. The Running Shoes give a bonus to the wearer's Speed when they level up with them equipped.
==Obtain==
The Running Shoes are earliest obtained from defeating Tantarian in Alexandria Castle library. There are two points in the game the player can do it: when the party is there to rescue Garnet from Zorn and Thorn, and when the party is there during the Battle of Alexandria. It is very tough to win during the first chance.
After the party returns from the Outer Continent, the shoes can be won from the challenge available in the Treno weapon shop. After they have acquired the Blue Narciss, the player should make a party that contains Vivi and Quina and head to Quan's Dwelling; after the scenes play out, checking the clock on the ledge outside finds a pair of Running Shoes.
In the end of the game, the shoes are also synthesized in Black Mage Village for 12,000 gil, a pair of Battle Boots, and an Emerald. The boots are synthesized in Daguerreo, but Emerald is a limited item, gifted by the High Priest in Cleyra while controlling Freya, bought from Stiltzkin in Oeilvert, and obtained from the friendly monsters quest but the player also needs to use it in that quest to progress.
Finally, a pair of Running Shoes is stolen from Hades in the final dungeon.
==Mechanics==
The Running Shoes give +4 to both physical Evasion and Magic Evasion. They give a +2 bonus towards the wearer's Speed stat when they level with it equipped. When enough "bonuses" upon level up from gear have been accrued, the character gains a permanent stat increase. Speed is a fairly irrelevant stat, however, barely having an impact on the ATB fill speed and even less effect on turn order while in battle.
==Use==
The Running Shoes are good for the abilities they teach. Though Haste is not much help when cast mid-battle, Auto-Haste would let the party commonly act before the enemy, finishing most random encounters faster. Haste also makes Regen tick faster, but as a downside, buffs also expire faster and Poison ticks faster as well. Auto-Potion is good before the party gets Auto-Regen and while in Oeilvert.
The shoes' level up bonus falls short of other add-ons, but level grinding and min-maxing are unnecessary for a normal playthrough even when preparing for superboss encounters; the player can view any extra stats as simply a nice bonus. The best stat-boosting items are available at the end of the game, and so for the best stats one would need to restrict their EXP intake until near the end of the game.
==Etymology and origin==
The add-on is called "Hermes Shoes" in Japanese. The Hermes Sandals is a recurring accessory in the Final Fantasy series, associated with making the wearer faster.
 
Category:Add-ons in Final Fantasy IX