Blood Sword (Final Fantasy IX)

The Blood Sword is a weapon for Steiner in Final Fantasy IX, being the fourth sword. Uniquely, it replenishes the wielder's health when used with Attack. It teaches Steiner the Darkside Swd Art, which damages an enemy with Shadow but depletes Steiner's own health. The Blood Sword can be a detriment to equip during Steiner's Trance.
The sword alludes to the Blood Swords from the Nintendo era of Final Fantasy games.
==Obtain==
The Blood Sword is earned from Queen Stella in Treno after giving her four Stellazzio coins. The player can get it on their first storyline visit to Treno if they have been finding enough coins. The ones the player can have already found are:
*Aries from the windmill in Dali.
*Cancer from behind the overturned cart in the suburbs of Burmecia.
*Scorpio from the Cave area of Quan's Dwelling, at the bottom near the hot spring.
*Gemini from throwing ten gil into the fountain at the entrance of Treno thirteen consecutive times.
*Taurus from behind the item shop in the slums of Treno.
Much later on, the Blood Sword can also be stolen from Tiamat in the final dungeon, but at this point it is fairly pointless.
==Mechanics==
When using the Blood Sword with Attack (it only works with Attack, not with Swd Art or Swd Mag), the wielder gains as much HP as the weapon dealt damage to the enemy, unless the target is undead; this will damage the wielder and heal the enemy. The Blood Sword's damage dealt with a normal Attack is determined as follows everywhere but within Ipsen's Castle:
:Base = 24 - Enemy's Defense
:Bonus = Strength + Rnd MOD ([(Level + Strength) / 8] + 1)
:Damage = Base * Bonus
Where Rnd means a random number, while MOD means modulus operation. "Rnd MOD x" can be read as a random number between 0 and x-1. 
The damage is then modified by variables like Steiner's row position and any support abilities that enhance his Attack (killer abilities and MP Attack), and the enemy's Protect. Under Mini, his Bonus would be 1.
When in Ipsen's Castle, the stronger weapons do less damage than weaker weapons, and the Base part of the damage formula is altered to:
:Base = 36 - Enemy's Defense
The Blood Sword can be a detriment for Steiner's Trance, as his Attack is meant to gain a triple damage bonus. However, with the Blood Sword, Steiner only gets the normal 50% increase that every character gets while in Trance.
==Use==
Blood Sword is good for replenishing Steiner's health while he attacks, but falls off in damage potential as even if obtained at the earliest, Steiner will soon get access to the Ice Brand and then exit the player party until later when yet better gear is available.
The Blood Sword is the only equipment piece to teach the Darkside Sword Art, which is the player's earliest access to dealing Shadow damage, and can also be useful for predictably whittling Steiner's HP down for his Minus Strike or Charge!. It is worth equipping the sword to master the ability, even if the player did not keep using it after.
The guest characters Blank and Marcus can also equip it, but Blank is not in the party when the Blood Sword is normally available. If the player wanted to level grind Marcus to benefit from the Marcus/Eiko stat bug, they could use the segment in Alexandria Castle with infinitely spawning soldiers, and equip Marcus with the Blood Sword so he can keep defeating them without needing any replenishment. The player should be sure to unequip it from him after, as Marcus will never be in the party again.
==Gallery==
Blood Sword FFIX Art.jpg|Artwork.
Blood Sword FFIX.png|Strategy guide scan.
Category:Weapons in Final Fantasy IX