Characters learn abilities faster.
Description
Ability Up is a support ability in Final Fantasy IX that every permanent party member can learn. It has the wearer gain double the normal Ability Points from battles (rounded down) for the cost of 3 Magic Stones, allowing the character to master abilities faster.
Obtained[]
Ability Up is learned from numerous equipment pieces for variable amounts of AP; Vivi and Eiko learn it the fastest at 55 AP, while Zidane learns it the slowest at 95 AP. Equipping multiple equipment pieces that all teach Ability Up, masters the ability faster. The player can equip Ability Up to learn the ability itself at double the pace.
An easy early source of Ability Up for mages is from the Silk Robe, rewarded for catching 9 frogs and found in Cleyra's Trunk: the player must first recruit Quina and reach the settlement up top and watch the ATEs "No Yummy-Yummies!" and "There A Mushroom!", head to the antlion's pit located to the right of the town entrance, and Zidane will jump in after Quina, landing by the two chests farther down the trunk where the robe and Magician Shoes can be picked up.
The Brigandine for Zidane and Amarant can be found in the bottom of the Iifa Tree and stolen from the Soulcage.
Everyone can learn Ability Up from the Lapis Lazuli first found behind the fountain in Alexandria Castle after the party returns from the Outer Continent, and the Ribbon obtained at the end of Mount Gulug as part of the story. Stardust Rod, Green Beret, Diamond Gloves and Armor, and Cachusha are found in shops and synthesis shops in various parts of the game.
Use[]
With Ability Up, the wearer gains twice as much AP from battle. It is worth prioritizing over the similar Level Up, and is especially useful in battles that will reward a lot of AP: bosses and the friendly monsters. If the player runs into friendly monsters without a good ability-learning set-up, they can flee, set their party with gear that has abilities they have yet to master, equip Ability Up to everyone who has it, and then roam around the same area until they meet the friendly creature again. Ability Up is good to equip whenever the character has abilities they want to master, as it only takes three Magic Stones to equip.