Survival Vest (Final Fantasy IX)

The Survival Vest is a mid game light armor piece in Final Fantasy IX that everyone but Steiner and Freya can wear. It teaches Antibody, which inoculates against Poison and Venom; Mug, which lets Zidane deal minor damage with successful steals; and Locomotion, which immunizes against Stop. The Survival Vest provides a bonus to the wearer's Spirit when they level up with it equipped and it is used for synthesis.
==Obtain==
The Survival Vest is stolen from Beatrix in Alexandria Castle, though it can be tough to get it before she ends the battle. It is also found in Fossil Roo by taking the gargant down the route of the third switch that goes past the exit, then checking to the left corner of the area; continuing on from the top of the area leads to the mining site. Another is found in Madain Sari after the party returns from the Iifa Tree, in the store room.
It is bought for 2,900 gil in Black Mage Village (before entering the Shimmering Island), Madain Sari, Alexandria, Treno (after returning from the Outer Continent), and Lindblum (after returning from the Outer Continent).
==Mechanics==
The Survival Vest provides 17 Defense, mitigating damage from physical attacks. The vest gives a +2 bonus to the wearer's Spirit 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. Spirit is a generally good stat to raise that determines the HP a character is revived at, the duration of expirable status effects, how often Regen and Poison tick, how frequently the character can enter Trance and how many turns they get while in Trance, among other things.
==Use==
The Survival Vest is the best light armor for Pinnacle Rocks, Qu's Marsh, Fossil Roo, and for the events on the Outer Continent until the player finds the Brigandine in the Iifa Tree for Zidane and Amarant; the mages will have to wait until the Gaia Gear is found from a chocograph for a light armor upgrade, but they have numerous robes to wear in the interval.
Antibody and Locomotion are good immunity abilities to master for everyone, but Mug is pointless as it does paltry damage and only works when the steal succeeds.
The vest's level up bonus is good but it is not advised to level-grind early on unless the player is stuck in a boss or a dungeon; level grinding and min-maxing are unnecessary in a normal playthrough even when preparing for superbosses. The best stat boost gear will be available in the end of the game, so for best results one would need to limit their EXP intake.
The Survival Vest is used to synthesize the Black Belt after the party returns from the Outer Continent.
The guest characters from Tantalus can also wear the Survival Vest though the player cannot equip them with it in a normal playthrough.
Category:Armor in Final Fantasy IX