Wither (Final Fantasy XII)

Wither is a Technick in Final Fantasy XII that attempts to lower an enemy's Strength stat, making their physical attacks weak. The player can use it repeatedly on the same enemy. In the original PlayStation 2 version, it did not work against enemies with Safety, severely limiting its usefulness, but in the Zodiac versions, it works on any enemy. Wither is purchased from a late game shop in the original version, and is is found in an endgame treasure in the Zodiac versions. In the original version, all player characters who have the License Board can activate it. In the Zodiac versions, it is used by certain jobs and Vossler.
==Obtain==
The license for Wither costs 50 License Points in the Zodiac versions and 35 LP in the original. In the original PlayStation 2 version, Wither is sold in Balfonheim Port Technicks shop for 3500 gil after the party has the Treaty-Blade.
In the Zodiac versions, the Technick is found in Subterra's Abyssal - North. Subterra is under Pharos, reached in the end of the game after the final dungeon has appeared. Abyssal North is where Vagrant Soul is fought, northwest door from center, through a door that leads to an otherwise empty arena. The treasure has a 10% chance of appearing right in the middle of the area. The player can zone in and out until it appears.
In the Zodiac versions, Wither can be used by Monk, Foebreaker, and Uhlan, though the latter requires the license for Cúchulainn to reach it. Vossler also has it for the brief time he is with the party as a guest.
==Mechanics==
In the original PlayStation 2 version, Wither halves an enemy's Strength stat with 66% base accuracy, but fails on enemies with the Safety augment; this includes all "tough" foes, such as Rare Game, Marks, and bosses.
In the Zodiac versions, Wither reduces the enemy's Strength by 30% plus 1 and works on any enemy with 45% base accuracy.
:Success~Chance \%= Base~Chance + (User's~Level - Target's~Level) 
If the user's level exceeds the target's, the chance becomes:
:Success~Chance \% = 3 \times (User's~Level - Target's~Level) + Base~Chance
The Technick still rarely works in weak mode in the Zodiac versions where the player is permanently on level 1, suggesting the accuracy cannot go all the way to 0%.
The effect stacks when used repeatedly, potentially reducing the enemy to dealing pitiful damage with their physical abilities. The effect does not expire and cannot be removed by any means as it is not a status effect but a stat decrease. Once the enemy's Strength cannot be reduced further, the ability always misses.
The Technick's range is the equipped weapon's range, meaning it can be used on flying targets when the user is equipped with a ranged weapon. Using it on sleeping targets wakes them up.
==Use==
Using Wither in the original version is limited as most enemies that it would be useful against are immune to it, and it is obtained so late that the player cannot make use of it in the early game when coming across enemies that are too tough to take on yet.
Wither is much more useful in the Zodiac versions, though it is available very late. It could be useful against endgame superbosses and Archaeoaevises, as well as in the Trial Mode. The player can set up a gambit to use it repeatedly to neuter strong enemies, and use it alongside the other stat-reducing Technicks Addle, Expose, and Shear. A good gambit setup for boss battles is Foe: HP > 90% = Addle/Wither to lower the enemy's power right at the start.
As Vossler has Wither in the Zodiac versions, the player can take on some hunts with him to make use of it, such as Rocktoise. The player can also use it on Demon Wall and Belias.
==Citations==
Category:Technicks in Final Fantasy XII