The Aqua Shot is ammunition for guns in Final Fantasy XII. Guns cannot be equipped without owning some kind of shot. Owning the Aqua Shot means the player can use an unlimited amount, and shots do not need a license to be equipped alongside a gun. Aqua Shot makes the gun-wielder's physical damage water-elemental, making the gunslinger able to exploit enemy weaknesses and certain weather and terrain conditions.
Obtain
Original
The Aqua Shot is not bought from shops, but sells for 350 gil. if the player sells it, they can never re-procure it.
The shot is made in the bazaar set "Rain of Tears" alongside the Vega gun. It costs 2,980 gil and is made by selling a Yensa Scale, three Green Liquids, as well as four Water Stones. Yensa Scales are obtained from Yensa and Bull Yensa on the sandseas. Green Liquid is obtained from flan, such as Slimes (Zertinan Caverns) and Tallows (Tomb of Raithwall). Water Stones are obtained from various enemies, such as Danbania (sandseas) or the Giza Rabbit (the dry), as well as from the fishing minigame.
Zodiac
The Aqua Shot is sold by the Baknamy merchant in the Necrohol of Nabudis for 800 gil. The player can come to the Necrohol of Nabudis early, after they have the Dawn Shard, but the enemies in this dungeon would be very tough to take on then; the player could beeline to the merchant and then make their way back out.
The shot is found as a treasure in Tchita Uplands' Garden of Life's Circle (45% chance to appear, 30% chance for an item, 50% chance the item treasure is the Aqua Shot without the Diamond Armlet equipped) and Nabreus Deadlands' Lifeless Strand (75% chance to appear, 60% chance for an item, 50% chance the item treasure is the Aqua Shot without the Diamond Armlet equipped), as well as in Trial Mode Stage 24 with the Diamond Armlet equipped.
The Aqua Shot is also rarely stolen from the Croakadile in Trial Mode Stage 11.
The shot is still made alongside the Vega in the "Rain of Tears" bazaar set for the same items but for a cheaper price: 800 gil.
Use
The Aqua Shot adds 3 points to the gun's power, which is good as even the strongest of shots only add 4. It also holds the water element, powerful against fire enemies and in foggy weather, as well as in water terrain. This means that the Aqua Shot is especially good in the Nabreus Deadlands as well as in the Garamsythe Waterway. As a downside, the Aqua Shot will do half damage in strong winds, including all storms, though this effect can be canceled out with an Agate Ring.
The Aqua Shot deals double damage to enemies weak to water. It is good against Belias in the Tomb of Raithwall, the King Bomb in the Salikawood, the mark Roblon in the Nabreus Deadlands, and Cerberus in the Feywood, among other foes. Guns do not work well against elementals and entites, or any enemies with the "Resist Guns and Measures" passive ability.
Aqua Shot is an excellent way to deal water damage for the majority of the game, as the player can only gain access to the weakest Aqua spell, and the water-elemental Esper, Famfrit, is obtained near the end of the game. Some enemies also resist water damage, meaning the player could be better off with the preceding Silent Shot against these foes. However, against water-weak enemies, Aqua Shot remains a good choice of ammunition for a gun-user.
The shot is only useful to procure in the Zodiac versions if the player is using a Machinist or a Shikari with the Shemhazai license.
Etymology
Aqua is Latin for "water".