Bracer (Final Fantasy IX)

The Bracer is a the ultimate arm guard in Final Fantasy IX that everyone besides Steiner and Freya can wear, but is especially good for Amarant. It teaches Add Status, which allows the character to make use of the innate status of their weapon (does not work with thief swords), and Power Throw, which strengthens Amarant's Throw. The wrist gives a level up bonus to the wearer's Strength, and boosts the wearer's Wind-elemental damage.
==Obtain==
The Bracer is synthesized in Black Mage Village for 24,000 gil, Battle Boots, and a Venetia Shield. It becomes available at the end of the game when the village shops gain new wares. The Battle Boots can be synthesized in Daguerreo (Feather Boots + Wing Edge), and the Venetia Shield can be bought from the moogle in Ipsen's Castle.
==Mechanics== 
The Bracer provides 35 physical Evasion and 18 Magic Evasion, the best overall evasive stats for an armlet. It gives a +1 bonus to the wearer's Strength when they level up with it equipped. When enough "bonuses" upon level up from gear have been accrued, the character gains a permanent stat increase. Strength is used in damage calculations and determines the character's HP growth.
The Bracer strengthens the wearer's Wind damage by +50%, compatible with Quina's Twister, Fenrir's Millennial Decay, Dagger and Eiko's normal attack with rackets, and Amarant's normal attack with the Kaiser Knuckles. The latter property makes it excellent for Amarant as many endgame bosses are weak to Wind.
==Use==
The Bracer is a good arm guard for the endgame for everyone who can equip it, but especially for Amarant even if the player did not equip the expensive Power Throw ability it provides. The Bracer's level up bonus is good if the player decides to level-grind, though grinding and min-maxing are unnecessary in a normal playthrough even when preparing for superbosses. For pure stat-raising reasons, N-Kai Armlet (Spirit +2) and the Power Wrist (Strength +2) are the best options, however.
As the Bracer strengthens the wearer's Wind damage, it couples excellently with Amarant's Wind-elemental Kaiser Knuckles. The effect stacks against an enemy's weakness to Wind, and both the game's superbosses, as well as all three of the final bosses, are weak to Wind. Quina could also make use of the Strength boost and the Wind boost for Twister, but if the player has been doing the frog catching quest, then Quina's best move is Frog Drop, whose damage does not depend on Quina's stats. Though the Wind boost is good for Eiko's Fenrir, she is likely better off with a Holy boost for Holy spell and Madeen. Zidane would be better off with the stat boost from the Power Wrist as he does not have any Wind attacks.
Though the guests from Tantalus can also equip the armlet, the player cannot see this in a normal playthrough.
Category:Armor in Final Fantasy IX