Poison (Final Fantasy IX)

Poison is a Blk Mag spell in Final Fantasy IX for Vivi that attempts to inflict the status of the same name onto one or multiple target(s), making them take damage over time, the speed of HP deterioration depending on their Spirit stat.
In Trance, Vivi can use Poison twice in one turn. Poison can be also cast by Mimic, Quale, Tantarian, and Torama. It can be reflected as normal and can be countered with the ability Return Magic.
==Obtain==
Poison is learned from the Lightning Staff for 35 AP. It can be bought for 1,200 gil at Treno and Lindblum (disc 2), Black Mage Village (disc 2/3), Conde Petie, and Alexandria, stolen from Black Waltz 3, and found in Burmecia and Cleyra's Trunk. Vivi may already have the superior Oak Staff from the Chocobo Hot and Cold minigame by the time the party first gets to Burmecia, which is the earliest place to get the Lightning Staff for him.
==Mechanics== 
Status-inflicting Black Magic spells' success rate is based on Vivi's Level, Magic stats, and the status spell's base accuracy. Vivi can use the Focus ability to increase his Magic during that battle by 25% per use. The effect stacks up to 99 and lasts for the entire battle, even if KO'd.
:Chance = 60 + Vivi's Level + [Magic / 4] - Target Level
Afterward, two randomly generated numbers determine if the spell will hit:
:A random number 0...99 >= Chance, Vivi misses his cast
:A random number 0...99 < Target's Magic Evade, the target evades
Accuracy is halved by the target's Shell, Vivi being under Mini, and multi-targeting the spell.
In Vivi's Trance, Blk Mag turns into Dbl Blk where Vivi can cast two spells on his turn. The spells cost MP and expend the Trance gauge independently.
The support ability that affects Poison is Reflect-Null (Poison pierces target's Reflect).
==Use==
Poison is obtained toward the end of disc 1. The spell is fairly pointless, however, as Vivi can do more damage by targeting an enemy's elemental weakness or by using Focus rather than using up his turn for casting Poison, especially since it may be a wasted turn if the status does not stick or the enemy is immune, as bosses usually are. Poison does work against Taharka, however. The Bio spell does both damage and has a chance of inflicting Poison; though its ailment-infliction rate is lower, using Bio means Vivi will not waste a turn if the Poison does not stick, as it is more of a bonus on top of dealing damage. Vivi can even get Bio before Poison if the player prioritizes doing the Chocobo Hot and Cold game at the earliest. Another way to inflict Poison is via the Add Status support ability from Amarant's Poison Knuckles.
Category:Black Magic in Final Fantasy IX