The 4-Leaf Mandy Bud. The urban legend growsFollow

An earlier thread mentioned the 4-Leaf Mandy bud and it's supposed effects on /random rolls. I think this is one of the most mysterious and fascinating items around in FFXI since the rumors and beliefs as to what "hidden effects" it actually has are many and persistent.

For all I know, all of them are true. Or none of them. Or some of them. Or some to some degree. Who knows? I just thought it would be interesting to share what I have heard and maybe if you have heard something about what it does you can share it here.

Here's a short list of the theories I know about:

1. It is a Windurstian Quest item: This is a verifiable fact. If you trade it to Yoran-Oran in Windurst Walls, he will award you with gil. This is also true if anyone has ever found a 3-Leaf Mandy Bud.

2. It has an effect on a hidden character trait, Luck: The logic behind this theory is that other FF games have had an actual character trait score for luck, and that this may be one of those hidden traits which basically give you a slightly better chance at, well for lack of a better term, "getting lucky". Whatever that means in game.

3. If you carry it with you while you farm, it is the same as having Treasure Hunter: Many of the people in my playgroup absolutely swear by this.

4. If you leave it in your MH, you lose less EXP upon death. Here is the one I am guilty of. I do not have a bed in my MH since after having completed the MH expansion quests I needed the gil more than the bed. I have one of these in my safe, and I have noticed when I die I do not have a full 10% EXP penalty anymore upon HP. I seem to have something slightly less than that. While I have no idea if it IS the bud, I haven't removed it either <.<

5. If you leave it in your MH, your gardening results will be better: All I can say is that if this is true, I have the WORST luck with gardening.

6. If you carry it with you, you have a higher chance of getting items that are left unlotted. You also cast higher lots: This common theory has now recently led to the related theory that if you have it you do better in casinos. The funny thing about this theory as relates to casinos is if true, all they have to do is make the low numbers winners and the high numbers losers when they set the rules....

That's all I can think of atm. If you've heard other theories or have some of your own please share them here!


Edited, Mon Feb 7 21:26:55 2005 by widenorg

A common misconception is that exp lost on death is always 10% - this is not true, it varies with your level. Check this table to see how much you should be losing.

Btw eating a 4-leaf bud made my greataxe 3 inches longer.

During the New Year's event quest, where we chased after spots of overturned soil looking for the Seven Lucky God cards, I participated in the event on my new mule, who still had a question mark over her head.

I was befriended by some other Tarus who teamed up with me in Saruta to increase the number of cards we'd dig up.

I distinctly recall that someone killed a mandra and said that the bud was going to give our party TH and increase our chances of getting good cards.
The other Taru then said that he was under the impression that you must east it in order to gain the effects.
They discussed the matter futher, though I don't remember what was decided.

Anyway, I just thought I'd add this other quirky rumor, about eating it.

Hehe I remember someone saying this idea of TH or TH2 being applied to the Lucky Egg item as well. I used one and someone else had one in inventory sometime around my 5th time of taking down Mysticmaker Profblix...

...unfortunately it wasn't until 11 tries later that I actually got the moldavite earring.

Moral of the Story: Any amount of luck doesn't help an unlucky player. XD

I can't say for certain that this or the lucky egg actually have any effect on my gameplay. I am a thf so its hard to tell if it makes drops easier. I do however keep the bud and egg on my char at all times just for superstition sake. Only time i can think off that i had huge luck was when obtaining my hornetneedle. We were able to get two larvae in just under four hours only killing the wespes off one at a time.

As i said though being thf it is hard for me to tell if it actually has any drop rate effect. Though i am 0/20 on stray mary for some reason so im highly doubtful. I will continue to carry them both however for the placebo effect it seems to give me overall within the game.

I've kept one with me for about a month or so, while I was levelling THF in Kazham and found one in my inventory after the exp session.

I haven't really noticed any awesome drops... But maybe, once when I was just farming with 2 of my friends for fun, we did seem to get a crazy drop rate. I had TH on though. o.O;

I don't know though, I quite like the idea of imagining my character holding on to a 4-leaf mandragora bud and squeezing it tight in her Igqira-clad hands, with her eyes shut, hoping for something lucky to happen to her. ^^; (( Yeah, yeah, I'm weird. ))

i have something to add about this item.

now the thing i have heard is that if you eat this you're synthesis skill improves (more skillups or something) in fact i heard that a someone doesnt synth (high lvl stuff) without this.

now the funny thing is if you trade this to yoran in windy he tells you its not that special but it must have some sort of use (cant remember a 100% what he said) and what he said actualy made sence if you linked it to the synthesis support.

so yeah this game has a lot of hidden crap.
i mean who thought that goblin diggers actualy dig items away (THEY DO DAMMIT) i dug up a nasty goblin cup and a mythril bst coin with my chocobo and yes i could not find it once but when i dug it said "you feel(or sence) something is nearby"

also there appear to be many items with hidden crap on them and for as far as i know (yeah i'm monk) the kung fu shoe's increase your kick damage. so whey dont they say as a stat on them "enhances kick attacks"?

anyway reading made me decide not to throw it or npc it anymore. even if its not true wouldnt it be nice to think it could be so to improve your "fun" factor cuz the game is tough on us already.

all i can say is. trade one to yoran see for yourself what he say's and make your own links. what i'd like to know is ... does the 2 leaf have anything special XD cuz they drom like mad(get it ? mandragora mad XD /lolololsnortsnortsnortdorkdorkdork

hmmm maybe i should really read what that taru is researching when i trade it and not just take the fame for granted.

The game rolls to determine if it's a good or bad trip, I think.