Hairpin that holds magic powers.
Description
The Golden Hairpin is a light armor headgear in Final Fantasy IX. It is mid-to-top tier hairpin that everyone but Steiner and Freya can equip. It teaches Auto-Regen, which has the character intervally accumulate HP when in battle and is one of the best support abilities, and Loudmouth, which inoculates against Silence, an ailment that prevents the use of magic skills. It strengthens the wearer's Water damage and provides bonuses to Magic and Magic Evasion when the character levels up with the Golden Hairpin equipped. It is used in synthesis.
Obtain[]
Golden Hairpin found in Mount Gulug.
The Golden Hairpin is first found in Mount Gulug. From the entrance, the player should head right past the dilapidated house and on the other side get onto the platform above to find a treasure chest with the hairpin inside. It is soon after stolen from Meltigemini. After the party has a flying transport, they can buy the hairpin from Daguerreo and Ipsen's Castle for 3,700 gil.
Mechanics[]
The Golden Hairpin provides 32 Magic Defense, mitigating damage from magic attacks. The hairpin boosts the wearer's Magic and Magic Evasion when they level up with it equipped. When enough "level up bonuses" from gear have been accrued, the character gains a permanent stat increase, though they would need to level up multiple times with +1 gear for noticeable stat gain. Magic stat is used for damage calculation for magic-based abilities and determines the character's MP growth. Magic Evasion allows the character to avoid damage from enemies' magic attacks (that can miss) more often.
The Golden Hairpin strengthens the wearer's Water attacks by +50%, being compatible with Vivi's Water, Dagger's Leviathan, Quina's Aqua Breath, and Amarant's normal attack with Dragon's Claws.
Use[]
The Golden Hairpin is mid to late game gear that is useful for its abilities and level up bonuses, as well as its Elem-Atk property. Auto-Regen is best to always keep equipped and can supersede any other need for healing. Its level up bonuses are more geared toward mages as it raises Magic, but physical attackers can also make use of it for better MP growth. However, level grinding or min-maxing are unnecessary in a normal playthrough and the player can prioritize gear based on their defensive offerings and abilities, and still be able to do any encounter in the game with the right strategy. The best stat-boosting gear is available in the endgame, and so for best stats one would need to limit their level ups until near the end of the game.
The Water-boost from the hairpin is likely most useful for Dagger's Leviathan (she can also get Aquamarines from Daguerreo to strengthen it further) and Amarant when he equips his Dragon's Claws.
The Golden Hairpin is used in synthesis in the endgame to make the Golden Skullcap.
The guests from Tantalus can also equip the hairpin, but the player cannot see this in a normal playthrough.
Etymology and origin[]
Golden Hairpin is a recurring gear piece in the Final Fantasy series, commonly associated with halving MP costs, though it does not teach this in Final Fantasy IX.
The golden hairpin is an important item in the Chinese tale, A Golden Hairpin Saves Li Shimian's Life.