Silence (Final Fantasy IX)

Silence is a Wht Mag spell in Final Fantasy IX for Dagger, Eiko, and Beatrix used to inflict the status of the same name that makes one or multiple targets unable to perform magic. Silence is vulnerable to Reflect and works with Return Magic. Silence can be cast by Grimlock, Quale, Ring Leader, and Stroper.
==Obtained==
Silence is learned from numerous equipment pieces: Priest's Racket, Mythril Rod, Asura's Rod, Lamia's Flute, and Magic Armlet.
The earliest the player can use it is from the Mythril Rod bought from the Summit Station during the time Dagger is the party leader. Eiko can learn it the earliest from the Magic Armlet, available to buy from the Black Mage Village before she joins the party.
Beatrix knows the spell natively.
==Mechanics==
Silence inflicts the Silence status to one or multiple targets at the cost of 8 MP, which makes the affected unable to use magic abilities. Silence lasts until cured. The chance to inflict the status to a target with the spell is as follows:
:Chance = 50 + Level + [Magic / 4] - Target's Level
Afterward, two randomly generated values determine if the spell will hit:
:A random number 0...99 >= Chance, the spell misses its mark
:A random number 0...99 < Target Magic Evade, the target evades
Accuracy is halved by the target's Shell, the spellcaster being under Mini, and multi-targeting the spell.
The support ability that affects Silence is Reflect-Null, which allows Silence to pierce the target's Reflect.
In Eiko's Trance, Wht Mag turns into Dbl Wht where Eiko can cast two spells on her turn. The spells cost MP and expend the Trance gauge independently.
==Use==
Silence can disable the enemy's magic, useful against foes who focus on spellcasting. However, bosses tend to be immune to ailments. While Vivi can boost his Magic stat with Focus to improve the chance of his status-infliction spells will hit, Dagger and Eiko must rely on their natural stats. If an enemy is immune to a status effect, casting it upon them will display "Guard". If it says "Miss", it can work.
Silence can work on the following bosses where Dagger or Eiko can be present: Hilgigars, Red Dragon, Taharka, Silver Dragon, Garland, Nova Dragon, and Tiamat.
Against magic-using enemies, the player could also use Reflect to bounce the spells back, as Reflect will always work whether via the spell or Carbuncle, whereas Silence can miss.
Other sources of Silence are from Zidane's Mage Masher (20%) and Vivi's High Mage Staff (15%) with Add Status, from Zidane's Butterfly Sword with Soul Blade (99%), and from using a Tent mid-battle for a chance to inflict Darkness, Poison, and Silence statuses.
Category:White Magic in Final Fantasy IX