Final Fantasy VI Walkthrough: Shadow's Throw Guide

Main Walkthrough

Anchor Link Index

• Shurikens
• Scrolls
• Other Weapons

The primary special ability possessed by Shadow, Throw is arguably one of the most powerful commands in Final Fantasy VI. Throw is an item-based attack that uses up inventory to either inflict damage on enemies, or, in two cases, to imbue Shadow with temporary status buffs. All Thrown items have a few things in common:

• Throwing an item uses it up forever
• Thrown items are ranged attacks, allowing you to inflict full damage from the back row
• Like most other special attack abilities, Thrown weapons tend to bypass Evasion, allowing you to strike almost any enemy

As long as you're willing to drop some gil on inventory, the Throw command comes in handy in almost every battle in the game. The only major drawback is that Shadow isn't around much of the time, limiting Throw's usefulness until you reach the World of Ruin.

There are three different types of Thrown items: Shurikens, scrolls, and other weapons. We'll explore each one below.

Shurikens

Shurikens are the most basic type of Thrown weapon. They're used on a single target, inflicting heavy damage that ignores defense. You'll likely use Throw to hurl shurikens at enemies more often than any other item.

Aside from the Pinwheel Shuriken you'll pick up these weapons in shops. By the time you reach the World of Ruin you'll do all of your shuriken shopping in Thamasa.

Shuriken

Price: 30 gil

Acquired:

• Purchase 
• World of Balance - Strange Man's House, Phantom Train vendors, Kohlingen, Albrook
• World of Ruin - Thamasa
• Steal - Covert (Zone Eater's Belly), Magna Roaders (Magitek Factory)

Inflicts heavy damage on a single target, ignoring Defense. Shadow's primary offensive weapon in the World of Balance, and all he really needs in the World of Ruin at high levels. The low cost of Shurikens make them a must-have if you plan to use Shadow on a regular basis.

Fuma Shuriken

Price: 500 gil

Acquired:

• Purchase 
• World of Ruin - Thamasa
• Steal - Ninja (Floating Continent), Vector Lythos (Kefka's Tower)

Inflicts heavy damage on a single target, ignoring Defense. An expensive, but powerful, shuriken, and the strongest you're likely to need. Buy a handful from Thamasa for boss battles in the World of Ruin.

Pinwheel Shuriken

Price: --

Acquired:

• Steal - Covert (Zone Eater's Belly), Demon Knight (Kefka's Tower), Leap Frog (world map, islands, World of Ruin)

Inflicts heavy damage on a single target, ignoring Defense. The most powerful shuriken, and the most difficult to acquire. Pinwheel Shurikens are rare enough that by the time you can start farming them Shadow will likely be powerful enough not to need them. Save the few you get outside Stealing for bosses.

Scrolls

Thrown scrolls are comparable to casting spells or using Esper summons. The effects vary from scroll to scroll. Unlike other Thrown weapons - namely shurikens - scrolls that inflict damage draw on Shadow's Magic stat, rather than his Strength stat.

You'll acquire most scrolls in shops, listed below. By the time you reach the World of Ruin you'll find all scrolls for sale in Maranda.

Invisibility Scroll

Price: 200 gil

Acquired:

• Purchase 
• World of Balance - Strange Man's Home, Kohlingen
• World of Ruin - Maranda

Grants Invisible status to Shadow, negating physical attacks. A decent weapon for the World of Balance, before you learn spells. Once someone knows the Vanish spell these scrolls aren't terribly useful.

Shadow Scroll

Price: 400 gil

Acquired:

• Purchase 
• World of Balance - Strange Man's Home, Jidoor
• World of Ruin - Maranda

Grants Image status to Shadow, negating physical attacks. A more expensive version of the Invisibility Scroll that fulfills more or less the same role, though Image isn't removed when the character is hit by magic. Useful for the World of Balance, not as much in the World of Ruin.

Flame Scroll

Price: 500 gil

Acquired:

• Purchase 
• World of Balance - Kohlingen, Jidoor, Albrook, Narshe
• World of Ruin - Maranda
• Drop: Magna Roader (red, Magitek Factory), Magna Roader (brown, Narshe Mines, World of Ruin)

Inflicts Fire damage on all enemies. A useful item for the trip to Zozo, if you pick up Shadow and manage to keep him around. Flame Scrolls have more limited use later on, once you learn magic, as Fire is a common element.

Water Scroll

Price: 500 gil

Acquired:

• Purchase 
• World of Balance - Kohlingen, Jidoor, Albrook, Narshe
• World of Ruin - Maranda
• Drop: Magna Roader (purple, Magitek Factory), Magna Roader (yellow, Narshe Mines, World of Ruin)
• Steal: Grenade (Burning Home)

Inflicts Water damage on all enemies. One of few methods for inflicting Water damage on enemies, especially if you don't plan on using Strago. Arguably the most useful of the scrolls, as most monsters can't resist Water damage.

Lightning Scroll

Price: 500 gil

Acquired:

• Purchase 
• World of Balance - Kohlingen, Jidoor, Albrook, Narshe
• World of Ruin - Maranda
• Drop: Magna Roaders (all colors, Magitek Factory and Narshe Mines, World of Ruin)

Inflicts Lightning damage on all enemies. Another item that's useful on the trip to Zozo. Once you have magic Lightning Scrolls will probably fall out of favor, except perhaps on the Floating Continent.

Other Weapons

In addition to shurikens and scrolls, Shadow can Throw just about any weapon in your inventory, with only a few exceptions. The damage inflicted by other weapons ignores Defense, similar to shurikens, and counts as ranged attacks, allowing Shadow to inflict full damage from the back row. Items with innate elements inherit that element when thrown, so if Shadow threw a Flametongue its target would take Fire damage.

The weapons Shadow can Throw include the following:

• Most swords
• Most daggers
• Spears
• Katanas
• Non-elemental rods
• Most ranged weapons (boomerangs, chakrams, darts)

Main Walkthrough