Grand Helm (Final Fantasy IX)

The Grand Helm is a the ultimate helmet in Final Fantasy IX for Steiner and Freya. It teaches High Tide that lets the character enter Trance more often. It provides a bonus to the wearer's Speed when they level up with it equipped.
==Obtain==
The Grand Helm is synthesized in Black Mage Village after the events in Pandemonium for 20,000 gil, Cross Helm, and Power Belt. Cross Helm can be bought from Ipsen's Castle and Power Belt can be synthesized in Alexandria, Treno, and Daguerreo, if the player did not have the ingredients already.
It is also stolen from Tiamat in the final dungeon.
==Mechanics==
The Grand Helm provides 33 Magic Defense, mitigating damage from magic attacks. The helm gives a +1 bonus to the wearer's Speed 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. Speed is a fairly inconsequential statistic for Steiner and Freya, however, as it barely has an effect on ATB fill rate.
==Use==
The Grand Helm is the best helmet for endgame content for its superior Magic Defense stat. The party likely has already mastered High Tide and the Speed level up bonus is not important; if the player wanted to level grind, Steiner and Freya would be better off wearing a Kaiser Helm for Strength growth or Barbut for Spirit growth. However, level grinding and min-maxing are unnecessary in a normal playthrough even when preparing for superbosses.
Beatrix can also equip the Grand Helm though the player cannot see this in a normal playthrough.
Category:Armor in Final Fantasy IX