Flame Saber (Final Fantasy IX)

The Flame Saber is a weapon for Steiner in Final Fantasy IX, being the eighth sword. It deals Fire-elemental damage and teaches the Magic Break Swd Art that attempts to cripple an enemy's offensive capabilities. The Flame Saber is a missable weapon if not procured in time, and if the player misses it, Steiner cannot learn Magic Break. When used with Attack when the Add Status is active, the Flame Saber has a 1/10 chance of inflicting Heat status onto an opponent that is not immune.
It is the strongest of Steiner's three elemental swords (excluding knight swords), surpassing the ice-elemental Ice Brand and the thunder-elemental Coral Sword. However, as the only weapon whose damage can be boosted with Elem-Atk, the Coral Sword can be considered the best of the three.
The sword's Japanese name is "Flametongue", a recurring fire sword in the series since Final Fantasy V.
==Obtain==
The Flame Saber is bought from Esto Gaza after the events in Desert Palace for 5190 gil. As Esto Gaza becomes inaccessible once the player enters the Shimmering Island portal, the Flame Saber can be missed.
==Mechanics==
The Flame Saber's damage dealt with a normal Attack is determined as follows everywhere but within Ipsen's Castle:
:Base = 46 - Enemy's Defense
:Bonus = Strength + Rnd MOD ([(Level + Strength) / 8] + 1)
:Damage = Base * Bonus
Where Rnd means a random number, while MOD means modulus operation. "Rnd MOD x" can be read as a random number between 0 and x-1. 
The damage is then modified by variables like Steiner's row position and any support abilities that enhance his Attack (killer abilities and MP Attack), and the enemy's Protect. Under Mini, his Bonus would be 1.
When in Ipsen's Castle, the stronger weapons do less damage than weaker weapons, and the Base part of the damage formula is altered to:
:Base = 14 - Enemy's Defense
The Flame Saber deals Fire damage, and so deals 150% damage to enemies weak to Fire, half damage to those resistant to Fire, no damage to enemies that are immune to Fire, and heals enemies that absorb Fire. The weapon only deals Fire damage when used with Attack (or Charge! or Counter), or Stock Break or Shock; i.e. Steiner could override the element with Swd Mag or other Swd Arts.
==Use==
The Flame Saber is Steiner's strongest weapon for Mount Gulug; afterward, the player can reach Daguerreo and purchase the superior Rune Blade. The Flame Saber may still be useful even after better weapons are available for its Fire damage and Heat effect, however, Steiner does not need an elemental weapon to do elemental damage as long as he can be paired with Vivi, and he has no means of enhancing his Fire damage with equipment. Heat is a good status to inflict, as it defeats an enemy nigh-instantly, but the chance for the status to take effect is low. The one boss susceptible to Heat is Taharka in Ipsen's Castle, and so if the player is bringing Steiner, this may be a good place to use the weapon. 
The Flame Saber is the only source of Magic Break. This ability is not especially useful as Steiner is usually better off using his turn for damage than for damage-mitigation, however, it can come to use if the player is "idling" while waiting for Zidane to steal all spoils from a boss.
The guest characters Marcus and Blank can also equip the Flame Saber but they are never in the party when the sword is normally available. If it was possible to use all equipment with them, they would be able to enhance the Flame Saber's power with certain light armor pieces, however, Steiner himself cannot as he can only equip heavy armor.
==Gallery==
FlameSaber.png|Artwork.
Flame Saber FFIX.png|Strategy guide scan.
Category:Weapons in Final Fantasy IX