Dark Matter (item)

Dark Matter is a recurring item in the Final Fantasy series. It is usually a very rare item, with special effects.
==Appearances==
===Final Fantasy IV===
The Dark Matter can be stolen from Zeromus in the final battle, using Edge's Steal command. In the original version of the game, it serves no real purpose. Early theories speculated it lowered the power of Big Bang, but this has been proven false. Final Fantasy Ultimania Archive, Volume 1, states that there is a very low chance of stealing it and thus doing so successfully is a "cause for celebration despite its questionable utility." The Dark Matter is dummied out of the North American SNES version and the Easy Type version.
In the 3D versions, the Dark Matter actually serves a purpose: after stealing it from Zeromus and completing the game, the player can land the Lunar Whale near the face on the Red Moon and walk up to it. The party will be prompted to use an item. Using the Dark Matter initiates a boss battle with a new superboss, Proto-Babil. In the mobile/Steam versions, the Dark Matter is only stolen from Zeromus's true form after using the Crystal.
====Final Fantasy IV: The After Years====
Dark Matter is a dummied out item, only accessible via hacking.
===Final Fantasy V===
The Dark Matter is a Chemist's mixing ingredient. It is the opposite of Holy Water, and if the two are mixed, it will create a dud. However, if combined with a Phoenix Down, it will create the incredibly powerful Death Potion item.
Dark Matter	Dark Matter
Effect 	Mix ingredient.
Find 	Pyramid of Moore (x7; they are in monster-in-a-box chests), Island Shrine, Top of Istory Falls (Boko access), Interdimensional Rift - Ruins
Steal 	Zombie Dragon, Orukat, Stingray, Byblos, Wendigo, Soul Cannon
Drop 	Ghidra, Desertpede, Prototype, Red Dragon, Bone Dragon, Exdeath's Soul, Atomos
===Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-===
Dark Matter is a Materia Fusion component that adds +1 MAG to the resulting materia. Dark Matters are easily farmed end-game; by killing Lesser Worms the player can get plenty of Dark Matter drops by equipping the Mog's Amulet. The drops can be doubled by also equipping a Jeweled Ring.
===Final Fantasy VIII===
The Dark Matter is one the best items in the game. It teaches Quistis the ultimate Blue Magic spell, Shockwave Pulsar. It is a tool that Siren can refine from 100 Curse Spikes with Tool-RF (the best method to farming them is from Tri-Faces) as long as she is level 100 (original PS version; any level is fine for PC and Remastered). It also refines into 100 Ultima spells with Bahamut's Forbid Mag-RF, and into Luck-J Scrolls with Eden's GFAbl Med-RF and into Shaman Stones, again with Tool-RF (the Shaman Stones can then be made into the excellent Rosetta Stones with GFAbl Med-RF).
===Final Fantasy IX===
The Dark Matter is a winnable item from the Treno Auction House and allows Dagger to learn Odin as a summon. It gives a level up bonus toward the wearer's Strength (+3) and Magic (+2) when equipped as an add-on.
Only one can be obtained from the auction, being the easiest way. If used in battle, it will inflict 9,999 damage to a single target. Two more Dark Matters can be obtained from the superboss, Ozma. One can be stolen, while the other is a random drop, for a total of three possible Dark Matters. The Dark Matter also has a Tetra Master card and can be used in synthesis to make the Protect Ring.
===Final Fantasy X===
The Dark Matter is an item used with the Use command, which deals non-elemental Magic damage in the same manner as the spell Ultima and Flare. It can be used to customize equipment to add Break Damage Limit and Ribbon (Ribbon is only in the International, PAL and HD Remaster versions). Dark Matter is a rare drop from a large number of powerful enemies, and unlocking Ultima Buster in the Monster Arena (after catching five of every enemy across Spira) earns x99 Dark Matters.
====Final Fantasy X-2====
Dark Matter is an exceptionally rare item obtained in the Via Infinito by bribing Paragon or receiving as a drop from Trema. An Alchemist can mix it with any other item, creating the Miracle Drink effect. One of Lady Luck's Random Reels results is named Dark Matter; it does 9,999 damage.
Meteor can be taught to a creature by consuming a Dark Matter on it.
===Final Fantasy XI===
Dark Matter is used to Augment certain equipment obtained in Reisenjima. It can produce greater and more random results than the usual augmentation stones. Dark Matter is also used to upgrade body-slot Empyrean Armor to Item Level 119. It is obtained in Vagary.
===Final Fantasy XII===
Dark Matter is a rare item available from chests, the bazaar, and the clan shop after achieving the highest clan ranking. It can also be stolen from The Undying during the final battle.
Dark Matter adds up the damage from every Knots of Rust used since the last time a Dark Matter was used, and deals that damage in one hit. The two abilities used by the Esper Shemhazai when summoned, Devour Soul and Soul Purge, have the same effect as using a Knot of Rust and Dark Matter, respectively.
The damage formula for Knot of Rust and Devour Soul is:
:DMG = Max HP / Random(1~10)
The damage formula for Dark Matter and Soul Purge is:
:DMG = SUM (Knot of Rust DMG) / 3 + SUM (Devour Soul DMG) / 3
Knot of Rust damage caps at 9,999 in the original version, while Dark Matter and Soul Purge cap at 60,000. The damage counter resets after each use of Dark Matter or Soul Purge. Both are unaffected by Reverse and have the maximum effect capacity, meaning no other spell or Technick can be performed simultaneously. The Zodiac Age no longer has this limitation.
In the original version, Dark Matter can be made in the bazaar by selling Bat Wing x1, Grimoire Aidhed x3, and Grimoire Togail x3. It is also possible to obtain Dark Matters from the sixteen corresponding chests on the Phon Coast and the Necrohol of Nabudis with the Diamond Armlet equipped.
In the Zodiac versions, the aforementioned chests are removed, and selling the ingredients needed to make Dark Matter in the bazaar will instead result in making the Dark Energy item. Dark Energy does not need to be charged up, instead always dealing 50,000 damage to each enemy over a large radius.
===Final Fantasy XIII===
Dark Matter is a catalyst used in upgrading equipment, costing 840,000 gil to purchase in R&D Depot. It is also drops from the Shaolong Gui that spawn on Gran Pulse after completing Missions 56–62.
====Final Fantasy XIII-2====
Dark Matter is a component used to obtain medium- to high-leveled equipment. It can be won at the chocobo races (Havoc Stakes) and sold for 5000 gil.
===Final Fantasy XIV===
Dark Matter is a special catalyst used for equipment repairs. It comes in eight grades, which can be used to repair equipment whose level falls within a certain range (Grade 1: level 1–10; Grade 2: level 1–20; Grade 3: level 1–30; Grade 4: level 1–40; Grade 5: 1–50; Grade 6: 1–60, Grade 7: 1-80, Grade 8: 1-90).
It can be obtained fairly commonly as levequest rewards, gathering or treasure chests, and is also sold by certain NPCs. Dark Matter Clusters can be obtained from certain gathering nodes, which are used to make repair kits for airships.
During the quest "A Relic Reborn (Stardust Rod)", Gerolt implies that dark matter is of meteoric origin.
===Final Fantasy Type-0===
Malboro can drop Dark Matter, which is needed to complete Mutsuki's quest, Hazardous Material. Completing it yields a Diamond Ring, and the task is available in Chapter 7, Free Time 1.
===Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift===
Similar to Final Fantasy XII, the Dark Matter deals damage to all enemies on the map and its power increases the more Knots of Rust the player has used. The Ranger can also use it with his Mirror Items ability to invert its effect and restore health to all allies.
===Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles===
Dark Matter is a Magic Artifact that adds Magic +5 to a character's skill, and a crafting material used for making the ultima weapon from the greatest weapon scroll obtained from an alchemist's parents after enough years. 
====Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates====
Dark Matter is Magicite created through the Lilties' Alchemy ability when the player fails to create the Magicite. Dark Matter can be mixed again to create Materials through Alchemy. While Dark Matter cannot be carried around like other Magicite, it can be picked up and thrown at enemies to cast a random magic spell or inflict the Zap status with no damage dealt. The spells are either the non-damaging Zap effect (50% chance), Fire (15% chance), Blizzard (15% chance), Thunder (15% chance), Quake (2% chance), Meteor (2% chance), or Ultima (1% chance).
===Final Fantasy Dimensions===
When the world is merged into the World of Dusk, several pieces of Dark Matter are created, both in the world and in mysterious Rifts scattered across the planet. The Warriors of Light and Darkness race to collect the pieces before the Avalonian Empire can reach them. Upon collecting every piece, the barrier surrounding Castle Avalon vanishes, allowing the Warriors to confront the empire directly.
===Final Fantasy Record Keeper===
===Final Fantasy Brave Exvius===
Dark matter is an enhancement material obtained by reaching the certain score milestones in the event Dark Visions - The Advent of Chaos. It can be used to exchange them with the Moogle Guard Captain in order to obtain the recipes for the Dark Ragnarok and the Dark Gambanteinn, and also to craft the upgraded versions of these weapons.
Dark Matter (FFIX) is a crafting material obtained during the Final Fantasy IX event, Silver Dragon. It is required to upgrade the Protect Ring to Protect Ring+.
==Non-Final Fantasy guest appearances==
===Bravely series===
In Bravely Default, Dark Matter is a material imbued with the power of dark and can be used for compounding.
==Gallery==
FFIX Dark Matter.png|Final Fantasy IX.
FFIX Dark Matter Icon.png|Dark Matter icon in Final Fantasy IX.
FFX Dark Matter.png|Final Fantasy X.
FFX-2 Dark Matter.png|Final Fantasy X-2.
FFTA2 Dark Matter Item.PNG|Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift.
FFTA2 Dark Matter.png|Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift.
RoF Dark Matter.png|Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates.
FFRK Dark Matter 1.png|★1 version in Final Fantasy Record Keeper.
FFRK Dark Matter 2.png|★2 version in Final Fantasy Record Keeper.
FFRK Dark Matter 3.png|★3 version in Final Fantasy Record Keeper.
FFRK Dark Matter 4.png|★4 version in Final Fantasy Record Keeper.
FFRK Dark Matter 5.png|★5 version in Final Fantasy Record Keeper.
FFRK Dark Matter 6.png|★6 version in Final Fantasy Record Keeper.
==Etymology==
It seems probable that, like many fictional uses of dark matter, its mysterious nature is the only reason for the name being used in the games. The item in the games bears no other apparent similarities to the predicted properties of the real-world equivalent.
==Citations==
Category:Offensive items
Category:Key items
Category:Field items