Golden Skullcap (Final Fantasy XII)

The Golden Skullcap is a top tier mystic headgear in Final Fantasy XII that boosts the wearer's Magick Resist by 58, Magick Power by 10, and—unusually for a mystic armor piece—Speed by 3. In the Zodiac versions, it also gives 107 MP. The Golden Skullcap is a good contender for endgame gear, and can be procured unusually early for such a good equipment piece if the player ventures to the Nabreus Deadlands to steal from the Dead Bones there.
==Obtain==
===Original===
In the original PlayStation 2 version, the Golden Skullcap is sold for 16,000 gil in the Barheim Passage after the party has the Treaty-Blade. It is also found as a treasure in Cerobi Steppe's Old Elanise Road (50% chance to appear, 50% chance for gil, 10% chance the item treasure is the Golden Skullcap with the Diamond Armlet equipped ), and Great Crystal's Sirhru Phullam Pratii'vaa (always appears, 70% chance for gil, 10% chance the item treasure is the Golden Skullcap with the Diamond Armlet equipped ).
It very rarely drops from the Dead Bones in Pharos - Third Ascent and in Subterra, and is rarely stolen from the Dead Bones in the Nabreus Deadlands. This is where the player can get it early, as access is available ever since the events at the Tomb of Raithwall, though at this point the area's enemies may be too strong for the party to handle. Dead Bones appear in great numbers in Overlooking Eternity, accessed via a hidden passage. Equipping Thief's Cuffs makes stealing easier; this area is also a good grinding spot for levels and gil.
===Zodiac===
In the updated Zodiac versions, the Golden Skullcap is not sold in shops, but sells for 8,000 gil. It is a treasure in Lhusu Mines' Site 11 (always appears), and in Cerobi Steppe's The Northsward (20% chance to appear, 80% chance for gil, 5% chance the item treasure is the Golden Skullcap with the Diamond Armlet equipped). It is still a very rare drop from the Dead Bones in Pharos and Subterra, and the rare steal from them in the Nabreus Deadlands. It is now additionally the rare steal from Exodus in Trial Mode Stage 68 and the Crystal Knight in Trial Mode Stage 82.
The Nabreus Deadlands' Dead Bones is still the earliest way to get it, but from Phon Coast onwards, the player could also access the deeper reaches of the Lhusu Mines where many great treasures await, including the Golden Skullcap.
==Use==
Golden Skullcap is a top tier mystic hat, second only to the Circlet, giving 58 Magick Resist, 10 Magick Power, and 3 Speed, as well as 107 MP in the Zodiac versions. Mystic armor offer magick-related bonuses that affect all types of magickal actions, from casting black magick to damage an enemy, to casting white magick to heal the party. Magick Power is also a factor when determining damage dealt by katana, staves, and maces. The Speed bonus has a minimal effect on Charge Time, but also affects damage from bows, ninja swords, and daggers. However, in the Zodiac versions, the Archer and Foebreaker boards that use these weapons do not unlock mystic armor.
In the Zodiac versions, White Mage, Red Battlemage, Black Mage, and Bushi can equip it, and so the Golden Skullcap is only useful to look for if the player has chosen any of these License Boards for their party. In The Zodiac Age versions, after fighting Belias the player can choose two License Boards per party member; it is usually a good idea to pair jobs that use two different types of armor for versatility.
The Golden Skullcap is a good contender for endgame gear for a spellcaster, made even better in how it is possible to get it early from the Dead Bones in the Nabreus Deadlands. If the player does go for it early, they can skip many mystic hats from the shops in favor of it.
Category:Armor in Final Fantasy XII