Brigandine (Final Fantasy IX)

The Brigandine is a mid game light armor piece in Final Fantasy IX for Zidane and Amarant. It teaches Ability Up, which has the character master abilities faster, and Return Magic, which has Amarant counter enemies' magic attacks. The Brigandine provides a bonus to the wearer's Strength when they level up with it equipped.
==Obtain==
The Brigandine is found in the bottom of Iifa Tree, obscured from view behind the structure in the middle. The player cannot return here and so they should make sure to pick it up before proceeding. The Brigandine is also stolen from Soulcage, the boss of Iifa Tree. The Brigandine is bought for in Alexandria, Treno, and Lindblum after the party returns from the Outer Continent, as well as from Oeilvert and Desert Palace. If the player got both Brigandines from the Iifa Tree, they will not need to purchase one; its not needed for synthesis and only two party members can equip it.
==Mechanics==
The Brigandine provides 20 Defense, mitigating damage from physical attacks. The vest 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 factors into damage calculations and HP growth. 
==Use==
The Brigandine is the best light armor piece for the Soulcage boss, the events in Madain Sari and the First Battle of the Iifa Tree, the events back in Mist Continent and world map exploration on the Blue Narciss until Chocobo Hot and Cold progression to the point the Gaia Gear is found from a chocograph.
Ability Up and Return Magic are good abilities to master. As Return Magic takes a lot of AP to master for Amarant, Ability Up from the Brigandine is useful for this as well. It is good to equip Amarant with all counterattack abilities he has available when the player has the Magic Stones to spare.
The Brigandine'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 guest characters from Tantalus can also wear the Brigandine though the player cannot equip them with it in a normal playthrough.
Category:Armor in Final Fantasy IX