Coral Sword (Final Fantasy IX)

The Coral Sword is a weapon for Steiner in Final Fantasy IX, being the sixth sword. It deals Thunder-elemental damage with the Attack command and teaches the Charge! Swd Art that commands all Near Death party members, including Steiner himself, to Attack.
The sword alludes to the Coral Swords from the original Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy V, and Final Fantasy Tactics. The Coral Sword is the "middle" sword of the three elemental short swords, between the Ice Brand and the Flame Saber. As the only one whose damage can be boosted with Elem-Atk, the Coral Sword can be considered the best of the three.
==Obtain==
The Coral Sword is stolen from Lani in Fossil Roo when Steiner is not in the player's party. After the party returns to the Mist Continent, the Coral Sword can be bought for 4000 gil from the weapon shops in Treno and Lindblum.
==Mechanics==
The Coral Sword's damage dealt with a normal Attack is determined as follows everywhere but within Ipsen's Castle:
:Base = 38 - 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 = 22 - Enemy's Defense
The Coral Sword deals Thunder damage, and so deals 150% damage to enemies weak to Thunder, half damage to those resistant to Thunder, no damage to enemies that are immune to Thunder, and heals enemies that absorb Thunder. The weapon only deals Thunder 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.
Steiner can enhance his Thunder damage with the Thunder Gloves; with both the Coral Sword and the Thunder Gloves equipped to him at the same time, he will do 50% greater damage with his Attack (and Charge! and Counter), stacking with his Attack-enhancing support abilities and the enemy's elemental weakness. If Steiner uses Stock Break or Shock with the Coral Sword, they will be Thunder-elemental, but their damage cannot be enhanced with the Thunder Gloves.
==Use==
The Coral Sword is Steiner's strongest weapon when everyone meets up after Zidane Tribal's excursion to the Outer Continent. It is his strongest weapon for world map exploration with the Blue Narciss, as well as the world map exploration on the Forgotten Continent if Steiner was sent to Oeilvert. The stronger Diamond Sword can be found within Oeilvert once the party gets there. However, as the Coral Sword does elemental damage, it will do more damage than its Attack value would suggest if Steiner also equips the Thunder Gloves alongside the sword as long as the enemy does not resist Thunder damage. On the other hand, Steiner can also do Thunder damage with Swd Mag and does not need an elemental weapon. His Thunder Slash, meanwhile, is glitched and only wastes his turn and MP if used.
The Coral Sword teaches Charge!, the only multi-hit attack in the game outside of Vivi and Eiko's Trances, meaning it could be the strongest single turn in the game if everyone in the party attacked when Steiner used it. However, setting it up is risky.
The guest characters Marcus and Blank can also equip the Coral Sword but they are never in the party when the sword is normally available.
==Gallery==
Coral Sword FFIX Art.jpg|Artwork.
Coral Sword FFIX.png|Strategy guide scan.
Category:Weapons in Final Fantasy IX