Control (あやつる)

Learn how to use the Control ability in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance to command various monsters like Goblins, Bombs, and Dragons. Discover the unique Doppelganger class and its transformation powers.

Hey there! So, you're looking to get a handle on the 'Control' ability in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance? It's a pretty neat trick that lets you take charge of enemy monsters. Think of it like temporarily recruiting them to your side for a battle!

The 'Control' ability, often represented by the 'A' in some lists, allows you to gain control over specific monster types. This means they'll fight for you instead of against you during combat. It's a fantastic way to turn the tide of battle or just have some fun with unexpected allies.

Here's a rundown of some of the creatures you can potentially control:

• Goblin: Basic, but can be useful in numbers.
• Pudding: Surprisingly resilient for their appearance.
• Bomb: Watch out, they can explode!
• Dragon: Powerful allies if you can manage to control them.
• Lamia: Known for their status-inflicting abilities.
• Bug: Small and quick, good for swarming.
• Tonberry: Infamous for their 'Karma' attack.
• Panther: Fast and deadly melee attackers.
• Marlboro: Beware their status-inflicting 'Bad Breath'!
• Float-Eyeball: Can cast powerful magic.
• Darksiders: This covers Zombies and Vampires, bringing undead power.
• Fairy: Agile and often have support abilities.
• Rock Beast: Tough and hit hard.

Beyond these, there are also some special abilities and mechanics related to controlling monsters:

• Critical Haste (瀕死ヘイスト): This isn't about controlling a monster, but rather a status effect where your unit gets 'Haste' when their HP drops critically low.
• Immunity (免疫): This grants immunity to status abnormalities, which is always a great defensive buff.
• Monster Combo (魔獣コンボ): This allows you to use JP to perform a combination attack, likely involving monsters you've controlled or have in your party.

Now, let's talk about a really unique job that plays with this concept: the Doppelganger (めたもる士).

To even unlock the Doppelganger job, you'll need to have your units perform 5 'Monster Tamer' actions. Once you have it, the Doppelganger has this amazing ability to morph into monsters whose souls they possess. How do you get these souls? Well, your Hunters need to 'Capture' certain monsters in battle. The stronger the monster you've captured and stored in your 'Monster Bank', the more potent the Doppelganger's transformed abilities will be.

It takes a lot of effort and Gil to maintain a functional Doppelganger, and honestly, it might not always feel worth the hassle. However, the payoff can be huge. Many of the monster abilities you can use as a Doppelganger are also available to Blue Mages. But some of the truly unique skills are exclusive:

• Lamia's Poison Frog: This can inflict both Poison and Frog status on enemies.
• Facehugger's L5 Death: A scary one! It can instantly KO any unit whose level is a multiple of 5.
• Couerl's Blaster: Similar to the 'Break' spell, this can petrify enemies from a distance with pretty good accuracy.

So, while controlling monsters directly with the 'Control' ability is one thing, the Doppelganger job takes it to a whole new level by letting you *become* those monsters. Experiment with capturing different monsters and see what your Doppelganger can do!