Eidolon (Final Fantasy IX)

Eiko, You are a treasure born to a dying village. We are dying, and there is little we can do for you. We shall return to the stars with one wish in mind. If legends are not born of eidolons, and eidolons but born out of legends, let us leave this place with one wish: If we can give birth to a legend, it shall create an eidolon that is friend and protector of humans.

Eidolon Wall in Madain Sari

Eidolons (/eɪˈðoʊ lən/ or /eɪˈdoʊ lən/) are the summoned monsters in Final Fantasy IX whom the members of the summoner tribe of Madain Sari can call forth. Princess Garnet and Eiko Carol can summon eidolons, though Queen Brahne and Kuja also attain the power through artificial methods. According to the Final Fantasy IX Ultimania, eidolons are born from Gaia's crystal, converted from the accumulation of memories within, to serve as powerful guardians for the crystal.

There are at least fourteen eidolons. Alexander cannot be controlled by the player, and is summoned during a cutscene, and Titan is not summoned directly, but appears as part of one of Fenrir's attacks. In addition, the optional superboss Ozma may be an ancient eidolon that has lost its form, as it is found in an "eidolon cave". Of the remaining twelve, eight can be summoned by Dagger and the other four by Eiko. The eidolons are summoned to battle via the Summon command in exchange for MP.

Profile[]

Eidolons are powerful creatures born of the planet's crystal to be its protectors.^[1] The flow of souls in Final Fantasy IX is similar to the concept of lifestream in Final Fantasy VII, and when the souls of the deceased return to the Crystal in the planet's core, they bring with them the memories and experiences of the life that was lived allowing the Crystal to grow and the planet will develop.^[2]

The secret inscriptions on the Eidolon Wall in Madain Sari imply that eidolons are born out of the legends and mythologies numerous peoples have told since the beginning of time.^[3] The conjoined memories of said legends enter the Crystal as part of the peoples' heritage, and manifest into magical creatures, whom the Crystal creates as its protectors. As shown on the Eidolon Wall, an eidolon's appearance depends on the time period it appears in: the legends on the eidolon Shiva tell of it as a tiny pixie, whereas the Shiva Garnet can summon is a grown woman.^[4] Ozma, meanwhile, is found in an "eidolon cave", manifesting only as a swirling ball of pure energy when freed, but whether Ozma was ever an eidolon is unknown as Mene describes its presence as something "not of this world". After the summoners realize the eidolons' true nature as manifestations of legends, the final summoners wish for an eidolon to manifest to protect the last of their kin.^[5]

The eidolons' nature as the Crystal's protectors is backed up by Terra's lack of eidolons, due to its weak Crystal.^[1]

Eidolons that summoners fail to harness are locked away in eidolon caves, as seen in the case of Leviathan.

Eidolon and its summoner[]

Summonable eidolons[]

The first time a summon is called in battle the full animation plays. Afterward, there is a 33% or 10% chance to get the full animation again based on the following:

If MP < (Summon MP Cost * 2), the chance of full animation is:^[6]

Rnd MOD 256 >= 170, use full animation

Otherwise, the chance of full animation is:

Rnd MOD 256 >= 230, use full animation

If the support ability Boost is equipped there is a 100% chance of getting the full animation. MP in these calculations refers to the MP before the cost is subtracted. The value used for Summon MP Cost is unaffected by Half MP.

Dagger's summons[]

The attacks and spell power for Dagger's summons are straight-forward: they are based on item stock and length of animation, the short version being weaker than the full length animation (FLA). When Dagger enters Trance her Summon command will change into Eidolon (幻獣, Genjū?, lit. Phantom Beast), causing the most recent summon used to have a random chance of reappearing during the battle for zero MP cost, but the animation will always be the short version, and item stock "bonuses" will be disregarded. The summon will reappear in intervals to repeatedly damage the enemy until a new eidolon is summoned or until Dagger exits Trance. If Dagger dies or is ejected from battle (like with the attack Snort), the attack will stop as well.

The formula used to determine the amount of damage an eidolon does during its full animation is as follows:

${\displaystyle Base = Summon Power - Target's Magic Defense}$^[6]

${\displaystyle Bonus = Magic ... [(Level + Magic) / 8] + 1}$

${\displaystyle Damage = Base * Bonus}$

If the eidolon is summoned and does its half animation, the formula changes to as follows:

${\displaystyle Damage = [((Base * Bonus) * 2) / 3]}$^[6]

The ability Boost makes the summon always the full animation one, but it costs many Magic Stones and takes a long time to learn from the Pumice Piece.

At the start of the game, the MP cost for summons is multiplied by 4. For example, Shiva will cost 96 MP instead of the later 24. This applies for all her eidolons, even the ones Dagger does not initially have available (Ramuh, Leviathan, Ark). The player can grind to reach enough MP to summon her eidolons, the last opportunity to do so being Gargan Roo.

Shiva[]

Shiva is learned from an Opal for 20 AP. Her attack, Diamond Dust, deals ice-elemental damage to all opponents. She originally costs 96 MP to summon, but later costs 24 MP.

• Spell power (FLA) equals 36+# of Opals in stock
• Spell power (TM) equals 34

Ifrit[]

Ifrit can be learned from a Topaz for 20 AP. His attack, Flames of Hell, deals fire-elemental damage to opponents. He originally costs 104 MP to summon, but later costs 26 MP.

• Spell power (FLA) equals 42+# of Topaz in stock
• Spell power (TM) equals 37

Ramuh[]

Ramuh is learned from a Peridot. His attack, Judgement Bolt, deals lightning-elemental damage to opponents. He originally costs 88 MP to summon, but later costs 22 MP. This can only be seen via a cheating device before Dagger loses her eidolons.

• Spell power (FLA) equals 32+# of Peridot in stock
• Spell power (TM) equals 31

Atomos[]

Atomos is learned from an Amethyst. Its attack, G-Force 199, damages an enemy equal to a certain percentage of their Max HP (capped at 9,999). It originally costs 128 MP to summon, but after being re-acquired from equipping an Amethyst costs 32 MP.

Atomos will not work on bosses.

Full animation:

Damage = [((30 + Amethyst) * Target Max HP) / 100]^[6]

Half animation:

Damage = [[(((30 + Amethyst) * Target Max HP) / 100] * 2) / 3]^[6]

Odin[]

Odin can be learned from a Dark Matter. His attack, Zantetsuken, deals instant death that either kills an enemy or misses. If Dagger equips the Odin's Sword ability, Odin will deal non-elemental damage to all surviving enemies as well. When randomly summoned in Trance, he does non-elemental damage, whether or not Odin's Sword is equipped. It originally costs 112 MP to summon, but later costs 28 MP. If the support ability Odin's Sword is equipped, Odin will now do non-elemental damage if he fails to kill. Zantetsuken's success rate increases the more Ore the party has in the inventory, but this decreases the damage done by Gungnir if the instant kill fails.

Dagger learns Odin's Sword from Ancient Aroma, found in Ipsen's Castle.

Leviathan[]

Leviathan can be learned from an Aquamarine for 40 AP. Its attack, Tsunami, deals water-elemental damage to opponents. It originally costs 168 MP to summon, but after being learned from an Aquamarine, costs 42 MP. This can only be seen by adding all summons to Dagger via a cheating device before she loses her eidolons.

• Spell power (FLA) equals 59+# of Aquamarine in stock
• Spell power (TM) equals 63

Bahamut[]

Bahamut can be learned from a Garnet. Its attack, Mega Flare, deals non-elemental damage to opponents. It originally costs 224 MP to summon, but later costs 56 MP.

• Spell power (FLA) equals 88+# of Garnet in stock
• Spell power (TM) equals 77

Ark[]

Ark can be learned from a Pumice. Its attack, Eternal Darkness, deals shadow-elemental damage to opponents. It originally costs 320 MP to summon, but later costs 80 MP. This can only be seen via a cheating device before Dagger loses her eidolons.

• Spell power (FLA) equals 106+# of Lapis Lazuli in stock
• Spell power (TM) equals 87

Eiko's summons[]

Eiko's summons, while fewer in number than Dagger's, are a little more complex, as their attacks/effects change according to variables, such as the equipped Add-on.

Fenrir[]

Fenrir can be learned from a Sapphire. Its attack is add-on dependent. Its base attack is Terrestrial Rage and does earth-elemental damage by summoning Titan. If Eiko equips the Maiden Prayer, Fenrir attacks with Millennial Decay, dealing wind-elemental damage. It costs 30 MP to summon.

• Spell power for Terrestrial Rage equals 42+# of Sapphires in stock
• Spell power for Millennial Decay equals 44+# of Sapphires in stock

Phoenix[]

Phoenix is learned from a Phoenix Pinion for 40 AP. Its attack, Rebirth Flame, is animation length and chance dependent, and deals light to moderate Fire damage to enemies while reviving KO'd allies. If the entire party is KO'd, there's a slight chance of auto-summoning that revives the party, but does no damage to enemies. Phoenix costs 32 MP to summon, apart from when it is automatically summoned to prevent Game Over, when it costs no MP. Phoenix revives the party with double the HP if the Concentrate ability is equipped.

Phoenix revives KO'd party members and restores their HP equal to:

[((Target Spr + 30) * Target Max HP) / 100]

HP restored is doubled if Concentrate is equipped.

If Eiko is in the party there is a chance Phoenix will automatically revive the party if they are all KO'd. The chance of this happening is equal to:

[(# of Phoenix Pinions / 256) * 100]

Phoenix's Spell Power is 40.

Carbuncle[]

Carbuncle can be learned from a Ruby for 35 AP. Its attack depends on Eiko's add-on and animation length. It casts helpful status effects on the party. The difference between short animation and full length animation is that the latter casts Protect in addition to the normal status effect. It costs 24 MP to summon.

• Normal summon "attack" is called Ruby Light and casts Reflect on the party.
• If Eiko equips a Diamond, the "attack" is called Diamond Light and casts Vanish on the party.
• If Eiko equips an Emerald, the "attack" is called Emerald Light and casts Haste on the party.
• If Eiko equips a Moonstone, the "attack" is called Pearl Light and casts Shell on the party.

Madeen[]

Madeen is learned from the Ribbon. A Ribbon is obtained as part of the story, and additional others are available through the Treno Auction House and from Stiltzkin. Madeen's attack, Terra Homing, does holy-elemental damage to all enemies. It costs 54 MP to summon.

• Spell power equals 71 + Eiko's level

Other appearances[]

Dissidia Final Fantasy NT[]

Alexander from Final Fantasy IX appears in the arcade version of Dissidia. Its appearance mimics the scene where it is summoned in Final Fantasy IX, complete with the glowing moon, which was the twin moons overlapping one another for Final Fantasy IX.

Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia[]

Final Fantasy Dimensions II[]

The eidolons Alexander and Ark from Final Fantasy IX appear as summons.

Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade[]

Some of the eidolons appear.

Ability Cards

Legend Cards

Pictlogica Final Fantasy[]

Some of the eidolons from Final Fantasy IX appear.

Final Fantasy Record Keeper[]

Some eidolons appear in Final Fantasy Record Keeper.

Mobius Final Fantasy[]

Final Fantasy Trading Card Game[]

The eidolons appear on cards with their artworks. Their elements correspond with those from the original game. Odin and Carbuncle are non-elemental in the game but Lightning and Earth-elemental in the trading card game.

Final Fantasy Portal App[]

Leviathan, Odin, Fenrir, Carbuncle, and Ark appear as Triple Triad cards.

Behind the scenes[]

The use of eidolons in Final Fantasy IX relates to an older Final Fantasy tradition in vein of the theme of the game, with the use of summoning being linked to a character class.

Leviathan is mentioned in an old memo written by Hironobu Sakaguchi for the development of Final Fantasy IX. Upon their first meeting, Princess Garnet would have rushed past Zidane and "a thief" (Marcus in the final game), and while the thief would have focused on Garnet's chest being slightly revealed in her formal dress, Zidane would take notice of the pendant she was wearing: "No, no, she was wearing the pendant of the summons permitted by only royalty. Deep blue stone... 'The Legend of Leviathan', was it Princess Garnet?"^[7] This could refer to Garnet's royal pendant being the summoning jewel for Leviathan in the early story drafts. In the final game, Garnet is unaware the pendant is a fragment of Alexander's summoning jewel, although wearing the pendant is still a sign of royalty.

Etymology and symbolism[]

[view · edit · purge]Eidolon means "unsubstantial image", "reflection", or "phantom" in Greek. It can also mean "idol" and is the source of the Latin word "Idolum".

The word "idol" being related to "eidolon" may have relevance in Final Fantasy IX, as eidolons are summoned by the summoners of Madain Sari. [view · edit · purge]Mada'in Saleh is an ancient city located in the north of Saudi Arabia said to have been cursed and destroyed by a cataclysmic earthquake as a punishment by Allah for the Thamudis' idol worship.

Their association with jewels as accessories used to summon them into battle is likely a reference to how a planet's Crystal is within the core of the planet, and the gemstones created from the earth are likely the residual manifestations of the Crystal's memories and powers in turn. Many of the eidolons featured in Final Fantasy IX have some basis to this phenomena:

• Opals are associated with Shiva. Though they come in different colors, their consistent variety are usually that of white or blue. Shimmering with iridescent colors, the gemstone represents Shiva and her diamond dusts, as crystallized ice is known to produce rainbows and prismatic effects not unlike her representative jewel.
• Topazes are associated with Ifrit. Topaz's name originates from Sanskrit, meaning "fiery". It is found in vivid colors of orange, ochre, and yellow.
• Peridots are associated with Ramuh. They are commonly light green and are the only known gemstones found from intact meteorites.
• Amethysts are associated with Atomos. It is a gemstone known for supposed protection from hangovers and drunkenness, and Atomos's element is gravity. It has an appetite unable to be satiated, and amethysts are considered associated with focus and concentration.
• Aquamarines are associated with Leviathan. Leviathan is an ocean deity, and aquamarines, as their name implies, are associated with the ocean and water in general due to their blue-green color.
• Sapphires are associated with Fenrir. The deep blue of the sapphire may allude to that of the world in its physical entirety, Fenrir being associated with the cataclysm of the earth and the skies within the original mythologies of Ragnarok, and as an eidolon who has command over the skies and earth.
• Rubies are associated with Carbuncle. While the mythical beast is renowned for its red jewel, biblical interpretation and discourse from which its name originates finds it to describe many sparkling gems beyond red gemstones and rubies, including diamonds and emeralds.
• Garnets are associated with Bahamut. Garnets are the color of blood, and Bahamut is the most powerful eidolon extracted from Princess Garnet.
• Pumice is associated with Ark. Though pumice is not a jewel, and Ark's respective stone is the Levistone in original source material, being associated with this form of rock is appropriate for an eidolon of darkness and mass destruction. Pumice is created when magma is immediately thrown above surface and is forced to rapidly cool down.
• Although not given a name in canon or any material otherwise, Alexander's gemstone may be Alexandrite. Alexandrites are relatively new gemstones that have color changing properties, and gain their namesake from being found in honor to royalty, being that of Tsar Alexander the II.

Citations[]