Moonstone (Final Fantasy IX)

The Moonstone is a jewel in Final Fantasy IX that everyone can equip as an add-on, which can also be used during battle as a healing item, though the player should not do this as Moonstone is a limited item. It teaches Beast Killer and Shell and is needed for the friendly monsters quest and for synthesis. Eiko can use a Moonstone as an add-on to change Carbuncle's summon attack to Pearl Light.
Earning all four yields the Over the Moon achievement/trophy in the versions with an achievements system (the player does not need to have all moonstones in the inventory at the same time, they just need to get all four).
==Obtain==
A Moonstone is first obtained from Queen Brahne after impressing all 100 nobles and the queen herself during the sword fight, then talking to her as Steiner.
A Moonstone is also obtained on the Conde Petie Mountain Path for using all four colored stones. There are several statues along the path that hold colored stones: Blue Stone, Red Stone, Yellow Stone, and Green Stone. If all of the stones are collected and placed in another statue, the party will receive a Moonstone.
The player also gets a Moonstone from the friendly monsters quest by giving Friendly Jabberwock an Emerald. The Moonstone is then used to progress the quest next.
The last Moonstone is bought from Stiltzkin in Alexandria at the end of the game.
==Mechanics==
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The Moonstone can be used as an item during battle, to restore HP equivalent to the total stock of Moonstones x52. Jewels are the only healing items that work on Zombiefied/undead targets. It can be a powerful healing item, but is unaffected by Chemist and cannot be used while in the field. However, as the Moonstone is a limited item, it is best not used as a consumable other than for the friendly monster who requests it.
When Eiko equips a Moonstone as an add-on, Carbuncle's summon ability becomes Pearl Light, which bestows Shell to the party in place of Reflect. Carbuncles long animation will bestow both Protect and Shell.
==Use==
The Moonstone is useful for learning Shell and Beast Killer early, for Eiko's Carbuncle, for completing the friendly monsters quest, and for the trophy/achievement. Beast Killer is not too useful, but Garnet having Shell early could be useful in Evil Forest and Ice Cavern.
A Moonstone can also be used in synthesis to make a Pearl Rouge, but there are other ways to get it.
 
As jewels do not grant stats, the player should unequip them after mastering the abilities they hold, or when Eiko no longer needs Shell from Carbuncle.
By combining a Moonstone in the add-on slot and the Boost skill, Eiko can cast both Protect and Shell on the entire party, producing the exact same effect as Quina's Mighty Guard for a much lower MP cost.
==Etymology and origin==
 The jewels are based on real life birthstones. As such, when equipping as an add-on and if the player has all twelve jewels in their inventory (minus Ore), the jewels are listed in the same order as the birthstones where each gemstone represents a month.
Category:Jewels in Final Fantasy IX