Platinum Armor (Final Fantasy XII)

The Platinum Armor is a high ranked heavy armor in Final Fantasy XII that boosts the wearer's Defense by 49 (Zodiac) or 47 (original) and Strength by 7.
==Obtain==
===Original===
In the original PlayStation 2 version, the Platinum Armor is sold for 9,300 gil in Archades and Balfonheim Port. It is also made in the bazaar in the "Platinum Gear" set by selling two Insect Husks (from mantis-type enemies, e.g. Scythe Mantis), five Tanned Giantskins (from many enemies, e.g. Slaven), and six Storm Magicites (from various enemies, e.g. Coeurl in Golmore Jungle).
===Zodiac===
In the updated Zodiac versions, the Platinum Armor is sold for 8,500 gil in Archades and Balfonheim Port. It is found as a treasure in Tchita Uplands' Fields of Eternity (20% chance to appear, 70% chance for gil, 50% chance the item treasure is the Platinum Armor without the Diamond Armlet equipped). It is still made in the "Platinum Gear" set in the bazaar with the same items as before. 
The Platinum Armor now also rarely drops from the Apsara in Trial Mode Stage 31, and is rarely stolen from the Marilith in Stage 34. It is also now available through the Hunt Club sidequest on the Phon Coast by giving Blok one Rare Game trophy, and then buying it from the Shifty-Eyed Merchant's store nearby for 8,370 gil.
==Use==
Platinum Armor is a high level armor giving 49 or 47 Defense depending on version and 7 Strength. The strength bonuses make heavy armor ideal for frontline fighters, and the Platinum Armor is a good armor to equip over any inferior equipment the player may have on anyone who attacks physically, although a gun-wielder does not benefit from the strength-boost.
In the Zodiac versions, Uhlan, Knight, Time Battlemage, and Foebreaker can equip it natively, and the Red Battlemage and Black Mage can learn it if they unlock Exodus on their License Board. This is more worthwhile for the Red Battlemage, as Exodus opens Heavy Armor 8–10, whereas for the Black Mage, it only unlocks Heavy Armor 8. Platinum Armor is only useful to buy if the player has chosen these License Boards for the party. In The Zodiac Age versions, after fighting Belias the player can choose two License Boards per party member and so more characters can benefit from heavy armor, as it is usually a good idea to match jobs that use different types of armor to bolster light armor jobs' strength, and to give more durability to spellcasters.
Platinum Armor can potentially be procured much earlier from the bazaar than it can be purchased from normal shops, as the item requirements are not overly tough to find or late-game. If the player unlocks the set from bazaar early, they can skip purchasing many heavy armor sets available from shops.
==Etymology==
Category:Armor in Final Fantasy XII