Armor made of mythril.
Description
The Mythril Armor is a mid game heavy body armor in Final Fantasy IX for Steiner and Freya. It teaches Cover, which allows the character to protect allies from enemies, and Jelly, which inoculates against Petrify. The armor piece halves Water damage to the wearer and it is used for synthesis.
Obtain[]
The Mythril Armor is stolen from Thorn. It is bought for 1830 gil in Lindblum (after the events in Pinnacle Rocks), Dragon's Gate Merchant, Alexandria, Treno (after the party returns from the Outer Continent), and Esto Gaza (before Desert Palace).
Mechanics[]
The Mythril Armor provides 15 Defense, mitigating damage from physical attacks. It halves Water damage to the wearer. If the character also wears the Desert Boots weakening them to Water, they will take ~75% damage from Water-elemental attacks.
Use[]
The Mythril Armor becomes available right as the heavy armor users leave the player's party after the events in Alexandria Castle. They will rejoin when Zidane Tribal returns from the Outer Continent, but by this time, the superior Plate Mail will already be available.
Cover from the Mythril Armor is good for Steiner especially as he has the best HP and Freya cannot protect allies when she is jumping. Jelly is useful to have mastered by the end of the game as the final boss may use a petrifying attack.
The Water-halving effect may be of use against enemies at Qu's Marsh.
The Mythril Armor is used in synthesis in the end of the game to make the Grand Armor, the best heavy armor outside the rare Tin Armor.
Beatrix can also wear the Mythril Armor for the brief moment she is playable during the Battle of Alexandria; the player can remove her superior body armor and give her something weak in return as her equipment does not matter for the sequence.
Etymology[]
The word "mythril" or "mithril" is a metal found in many fantasy worlds. It was originally introduced by the fantasy writings of J. R. R. Tolkien, being present in his Middle-earth. It resembles silver but is stronger than steel, and much lighter in weight than either. The author first wrote of it in The Lord of the Rings, and it is retrospectively mentioned in the third, revised edition of The Hobbit in 1966. In the first 1937 edition, the mail shirt given to Bilbo is described as being made of "silvered steel". The name mithril comes from two words in Sindarin—mith, meaning "grey" or "mist", and ril meaning "glitter".