Evil Forest

FINAL FANTASY IX guide · The party's first journey and petrification

Following the crash of the theater ship Prima Vista, Zidane enters this dangerous wood to rescue Princess Garnet from parasitic monsters. The party navigates deeper into the thicket, rescues Garnet, and flees as the entire forest turns to stone. This dungeon serves as the opening trial where Steiner and Vivi permanently join your active party.

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Phoenix Down: In a chest near the trunk of a tree on the path towards the springPotion: In a chest located in the clearing with the healing springEther: In a chest hidden behind foliage near the entrance clearingRubber Helm: Dropped or awarded along the path deeper into the woods

Secrets

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Drinking from the forest spring fully restores the party's HP and MP, allowing for easy leveling before the boss.A concertina-playing moogle named Monty pops out of a tree trunk near the spring when Zidane approaches.

Enemies

Prison Cage

Weak to FireSteal / drop Leather Hat, Broadsword

Grabs Garnet and Vivi; hitting it damages the trapped captive too.

Plant Spider

Weak to Fire

Appears in large swarms; easily dispatched with Vivi's Fire spell.

Fang

Weak to EarthSteal / drop Potion

Common predator roaming the early paths of the forest.

Plant Brain

Weak to FireSteal / drop Iron Helm, Eye Drops

The main boss of the forest that can blind the entire party with Pollen.

Shops and people

Blank: Sells basic consumable supplies such as Potions and Phoenix Downs before entering the deep forest

Tips

Equip Zidane with the Bandit ability to make stealing the Iron Helm from Plant Brain much easier.
Have Vivi cast Fire on Plant Brain to deal heavy damage and exploit its elemental weakness.
Do not use Zidane's Free Energy while Prison Cage holds an ally, as the shared damage can kill them.
Collect all chests before triggering the escape sequence, as the forest becomes inaccessible after petrification.

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Prima Vista

Ice Cavern

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