Gobi

Gobi マニーロ Maniiro (Manillo)
Portrait
Home												Prima
Occupation												Merchant
Height												173 cm (5'8")
Weight												110 kg (242.5 lbs)
I				II				III				IV				V				VI

Gobi (known as Manillo in the original Japanese version) is a playable character that appears in Breath of Fire. He is an incredibly greedy merchant, and a member of the Manillo Clan. Underwater, Gobi can use his Sphere to transform into a Big Fish, allowing him to ferry the party across the sea.

Role in Breath of Fire

Prior to the events of Breath of Fire

Though the Manillo Clan are notorious for being greedy (to the point that they hope to control the word's commerce), Gobi's greed stood out among them. This drive eventually drove him to sell fake Happiness Jars to people in order to turn a profit. However, once word got to the Guild Owner, Gobi's shop license was revoked. Not only that, but his Sphere, which allowed him to transform into a Big Fish, was taken away as well. Gobi was then expelled and shunned by his own clansmen. In spite of these setbacks, Gobi hasn't learned his lesson, and continues to do business to the best of his ability in Auria.

During Breath of Fire

Gobi is first encountered when Ryu and his comrades arrive in Auria, where they can optionally purchase a few items from his shop. Some time later after they obtain the Dark and Light Keys, the heroes need to borrow Gobi's ship in order to cross the sea to get to Scande, home of the Dark Dragon Clan. Gobi's allows this, but on the condition they pay him with a Gold Bar. Once Ryu gives him one, Gobi allows them to set sail, only for them to get attacked by the Dark Dragon Clan a bit later. Though they successfully fight them off, one of the Dark Dragon soldiers manages to succeed in lighting some of the Gun Powder, forcing Gobi, Ryu, and his friends to abandon ship.

The group eventually wash up on a deserted island. With no way off, Gobi offers to assist them by acquiring Gills for them if they pay him an outrageous sum of money. (1,000,000 Zenny) With no other options, Ryu is forced to accept Gobi's offer, and the greedy merchant heads off to his former home, Prima. There, he's informed by the Guild Owner to head to Gant, home of the Iron Ogre Clan, to get some Goods if he wants the Gills, so he makes it his new destination.

Entering the eerily silent town, Gobi acquires the Goods and learns from the village's leader that the Dark Dragon Clan has kidnapped all of young men in town. Gobi heads back to Prima and gives the Guilder Owner the Goods, but before he can acquire the gills, another Manillo arrives and informs the Guild Owner that a member of the Iron Ogre Clan, Ox, has been fatally wounded by some Dark Dragon soldiers, and is now resting at their Inn. A ghost named Morteo arrives to take Ox away with him to the afterlife, but the Guild Owner wants to prevent this, as Ox knew some important info before he passed out. Gobi informs him that he knows some heroes who can defeat the ghost, and he'll fetch them only if the Guild Owner pays him 10,000 Zenny. After a bit of haggling, Gobi heads back to the deserted island with both the money and the Gills in hand, then journeys back to Prima with Ryu's group to deal with Morteo. Upon defeating him, Ox informs them that the Dark Dragons are using the men of his clan to build a secret weapon, and kidnapped their women to force them to do so. Thus, Gobi decides to tag along with the heroes to stop them.

Eventually, Gobi and the group learns that the secret weapon is a torpedo that the Dark Dragons plan to launch on Prima. Rushing the Guild Owner, they are instructed to find the Sorceress of Wisdon, Bleu. Once they arrive, she gives the group an Old Egg and instructs them to toss it in a volcano, then joins them afterwards to assist in defending Prima. Before they engage in the battle, Gobi is informed by the Guild Owner that he'll get his license back if he helps out, which motivates the merchant into assisting as well.

After defeating the General, Gobi is awarded his shop license back, as well as his Sphere. With this, Gobi decides to stick with Ryu and his friends on their quest to defeat the Dark Dragon Emperor Zog and prevent the Goddess Tyr from awakening, though Gobi claims he's only doing it because they still owe him money.

At the end of the game, after the heroes triumph over the Dark Dragon Clan and Goddess Tyr, they are flown back to Wyndia by the members of the Wing Clan. After the spirit of Ryu's sister, Sara, congratulates them for their efforts and Nina notes that they'll be legends for future generations, Gobi reminds Ryu that he still owes him money, resulting in Karn wondering if Gobi is worthy of hero status. Afterwards, the heroes revisit some of the previous locations they visited. Gobi is the fourth member to leave, once again setting up his shop in Auria.

Field Abilities

Being a member of the Manillo Clan, Gobi has the natural ability to breathe underwater, With the power of the Sphere, he is able to become a Big Fish and ferry the party under the ocean. In battles, Gobi can summon various fish to assist him in battle.

Gobi also has the ability to set up shop in the Market Shops in Prima and Tunlan, where he can either haggle with other merchants to sell off items in the party's inventory, or obtain rare items and equipment, including some of the characters best weapons and armor.

Combat

Gobi is an average fighter with little to offer in combat, he has average stats and levels slowly. He gains a bit more usefulness underwater as his unique spells become available, which are unusable out of water. Possibly due to a glitch, the game will never notify the player when Gobi learns any of his spells. He is also one of the allies Karn can fuse with.

Strangely, Gobi learns spells at level 10 and 14, despite starting at level 15 when he first becomes playable.

Gallery

SNES artwork

Gobi as a Big Fish

Game Boy Advance artwork