If you're looking for information on how to catch, raise, and care for those loveable birds called chocobos, you've come to the right place! Anything you'd want to know about them can be found directly below. What's that, you say...? You don't know what a chocobo is?!?! Well... to put it plainly, a chocobo is a large bird with powerful legs, but wings too short for it to be able to fly. They are used in the Final Fantasy series much like we use horses in real life - they provide a great way to travel, you can race them for prizes or for sport, and they're great companions! They come in a variety of colors, but the most common is yellow. If you need a picture of one to get a better idea of what they look like, refer to the one above.
· Catching Chocobos: This task requires the use of an item called a "Chocobo Lure," a small, purple, marble-like object. These can be bought at either of the Chocobo Ranches. Different places scattered on different planets have "Chocobo Tracks," where you can catch chocobos. All of these locations are specified on the "Chocobo Tracks" page. Each of the places where there are chocobo tracks have different classes of wild chocobos you can catch there. You can only catch three chocobos a week, no more. All chocobos must be taken to either of the ranches to determine their sex, class, and stats. All chocobos caught wild are yellow.
· Chocobos' Stats: Chocobos vary in strength from poor to wonderful, determining its class. There are six classes total. The higher a chocobo's stats are, the higher its class will be. A chocobo has five different stats: Speed, Stamina, Intelligence, Determination and Self-Control. Speed obviously determines how fast a chocobo is. Stamina determines how long it can keep up its pace. Intelligence determines how smart and how easily spooked a chocobo gets. Determination is a chocobo's will to run or stay in battle. Lastly, Self-Control determines how well the chocobo listens to you.
· Raising Chocobos: To raise a chocobo, you must rent a stall for it at either of the ranches. Each person is allowed 6 stalls per ranch maximum, but may have only 10 stalls total. Stalls cost 700 gil each to rent, and can accomidate only one chocobo each. You can also rent some fencing area out in the pasture fields on each of the Chocobo Ranches, with four chocobos allowed per fencing area. This is more of a place to keep your chocobos while you are away; or if you have more chocobos than your alotted stalls, you would keep them out in the fencing area. Chocobos that are out in the fencing areas cannot be raised (i.e. fed greens) while they are there. To raise a chocobo living out in the fenced areas, you must transfer it to a stall. The fencing area costs 1,000 gil to rent. All caught chocobos will automatically go here, until moved into a stall or released. If a chocobo is caught on a planet where there is no ranch, they must be transported to a ranch by the owner; otherwise, the chocobo will travel to the ranch on that planet, unless otherwise directed.
· Feeding Chocobos: There are different greens that you can feed a chocobo that will increase its stats. A chocobo can only eat 5 greens a day, 3 times a week, totaling to 15 greens a week. You may find that feeding a chocobo may yield nothing after a while. This is because it has reached the peak of its strength for its class, and cannot grow any stronger. Most greens can be bought at either chocobo ranches, although it is rumored that there are special types of greens that can be found. Perhaps a Chocobo Sage may know how to obtain these...?
· Breeding Chocobos: To breed two chocobos you must have a male and female chocobo as well as a type of nut. Nuts determine how strong the pair's chicobo (chocobo chick) will be, an with the right combination... strange things have been known to happen. Feed a nut to a pair of chocobos for them to share, and... well, you know. Most nuts are sold at the chocobo ranches, but like with the greens, there is a rumor that a Chocobo Sage may be in possesion of special types of nuts. You are only allowed to have one of each type of nut at a time.
· Fighting in Battle With a Chocobo: One chocobo is allowed to fight per battle with its owner. Although, if its Self-Control is low... it may not listen to your commands. A chocobo's HP is equal to half of its owner's, and when its HP runs out, the chocobo will collapse in exhaustion, unable to fight. Each chocobo is allowed 4 dodges per battle, but no blocks. A chocobo can perform its moves twice each per battle, but can learn only one move at a time.
· Chocobo Racing: Chocobo races will be held from time to time. Most will occur at the Gold Saucer, although not always. There are seven entries allowed per race. NPC's chocobos may also join in the race. Their chocobo's stats will be posted as they enter a race. Notices of upcoming races will be posted in the Chocobo forum on the message board. It costs 1,000 gil to enter a chocobo in a race. Various prizes will be awarded to all competitors, ranging anywhere from money to weapons, depending on how well you do. If you really want to race, but own no chocobos, you may rent one from someone else, or from one of the chocobo ranches themselves. Renting a chocobo from a ranch costs 2,000 gil, although most times the prize for coming in first is worth far more. If a race produces a tie, the prize(s) will be divided between the two entrants. Those that aren't racing may also bet on races.
· Transportation of Chocobos: While riding a chocobo from one city to the next, it takes four days. But if you wanted to move your chocobo from one planet to another, or just from one city to another city faster, a ship would be needed. None of the smaller ships have room for a chocobo, but depending on the size of the cargo hold of the ship, you can transport a specified number of chocobos at a time. Extra Small Cargo Hold - 0 chocobos, Small - 1 chocobo, Medium - 3 chocobos, and Large - 5 chocobos. If you'd like to transport your chocobo by ship to another planet, but do not own a ship yourself, you can buy a chocobo ticket for a space freighter flight, where the chocobo is held in the cargo bay on the ship. The cost for a chocobo ticket is the same as a normal one, 400 gil; travel time is a week as usual.
· Chocobo Colors: There have been reports of sightings of the rare, colored chocobos, other than yellow, but no sightings have yet been confirmed. How does one obtain a colored chocobo...? No one has a clue... though rumor has it, a Chocobo Sage has vast knowledge of such things.
· Releasing Chocobos: If a chocobo is not needed or is taking up space, you can either move it to the fencing area, or release it back into the wild. It will more than likely hang around the area where you release it, so there is a chance of recatching it; although it is doubtful.
· The Chocobo Sage: A mysterious man that lives high up in the mountains on Mars. He is said to be very wise in the ways of the chocobo, but is also very forgetful. He sells special chocobo items that you can get no where else. He can also give you information on the colored chocobos... if he remebers, that is.
