Editing Magic

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'''Magic''', spelled '''Magick''' in ''[[Final Fantasy XII]]'', is one of the two principal forms of attack in the ''[[Final Fantasy (franchise)|Final Fantasy]]'' franchise. Although the specific features of the magic system vary significantly from game to game, many concepts have remained consistent throughout the franchise.

==General information==
Magic spells are divided into offensive, restorative and indirect categories. In games where the player can automatically sort their order of spells (such as ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'', and ''[[Final Fantasy VIII]]'') the three types of magic are labeled as "Attack," "Restore" and "Indirect." Offensive and restorative usually affect the [[Hit point|HP]] and/or [[Magic point|MP]] of the target based on their magic resistance, and possibly their resistance to a given element. Indirect spells (e.g. [[Confuse]], [[Slow]], [[Berserk]]) constitute the vague "other" category and contains spells that cause and cure status effects, affect speed of an opponent, modify a target's statistics, raise or dispel magical barriers and various other results depending on the game.

By default, offensive and negative indirect spells target enemies, while restorative and supportive indirect spells target party members, although in some games, it is possible to cast restorative spells against the enemy, or cast offensive spells against a party member. There are a number of reasons for casting spells at the non-default group.  For example, casting cure (or life) on an undead enemy causes damage.  Also, by casting an offensive spell against an ally with the reflect status, the spell bounces off the ally onto an enemy as a method of circumvent the enemy's own reflect status.

Within the boundaries of the series, offensive spells are generally classified as [[Black Magic]], and restorative spells are generally classified as [[White Magic]]. The offensive / defensive distinctions between ''Black'' and ''White Magic'' are not always clear. For example, the White Magic spell [[Holy]] deals a large amount of Holy elemental damage to a target, and the White spell [[Cure]] (which is normally a restorative spell) inflicts damage on undead monsters. An elemental spell cast against an enemy that absorbs that element will actually cure the target rather than harm it. The indirect spells are divided into different categories depending on the individual game. For example, the indirect spell [[Haste]] would be a part of a Time Mage's spell compendium in one game, and in a different game it would be a White Magic spell.

Spells can also be divided into [[elemental]] spells and non-elemental spells.  Elemental magic is associated with a particular element of nature, such as [[Fire]], [[Ice]], [[Lightning]], [[Water]], [[Wind]], and [[Earth]]. The number and names of the elemental spells vary from game to game. For instance, Lightning is sometimes referred to as ''Thunder''. Sometimes two other elements, ''Holy (aka Light)'' and ''Dark (aka Shadow)'' are added. Non-elemental spells are not associated with an element.  Examples include spells that affect the status of the target, such as [[Sleep]] or [[Haste]].

Some games have [[Summon Magic]], in which the character calls another entity to perform the actual magic, which serves in either offensive or defensive capacity.

Each magic caster possess magic power, which affects the damage of a given spell. Characters with higher magic power cause more damage than the same spell cast by someone with a lower magic power.  Certain characters can have affinities to an element: for example, a Fire magic spell from a fire-based character will cause more damage than a wind-based character casting it. Each target possesses magic resistance, which lessens the effect of magic spells.  

In addition to the magic resistance of the target, certain targets have a different resistance (positive or negative) to certain elementals:
*''Weak'' &mdash; receive much more damage than usual from spells associated with that elemental (usually 200% damage)
*''Strong'' &mdash; receive less damage (usually 50%)
*''Immune'' &mdash; completely nullifies the damage (0%)
*''Absorb'' &mdash; will heal the target. (usually 100% of the damage converted to health)
Non-elemental magic damage depends only on magic resistance.  Certain items and spells can affect the magic power and/or resistance of a character. 

==History==
Starting with ''[[Final Fantasy V]]'', two new categories of magic were introduced, [[Blue Magic]] and Time/Space Magic. Blue Magic is a special class of magic, since its spells are normally learned when receiving certain attacks from enemy monsters.  The ''Time/Space Magic'' category incorporates a number of status-inducing spells that were previously classified as offensive or defensive, such as [[Slow]], [[Haste]], and [[Stop]]. Prior to this, Stop was classified as Black Magic and Haste was classified as White Magic except in the original ''[[Final Fantasy]]'', where it appeared as a Black Magic spell) while ''Slow'' has appeared inconsistently under either category, depending on the game. Some subsequent titles retained the Time/Space Magic category, while others did not.

In many games, only certain job categories can cast certain spells.  For example, a [[White Mage]] can cast white spells, while a [[Black Mage]] can cast black spells.  In some games, there is also a [[Red Mage]] that can cast spells from the Black and White magic.  Usually a Red Mage cannot learn the highest spells, and usually is not especially powerful at casting either.

In ''[[Final Fantasy XI]]'', spells are also divided by [[magic skill]]s. As a character uses spells from a certain magic skill, their skill in that category increases, making magic for that particular skill more accurate.

In ''[[Final Fantasy XII]]'', [[Green Magick]] and [[Arcane Magick]] are introduced. Green Magick focuses on some of the major status effects such as Protect, Shell, Blind, and Silence. Arcane Magick contains obscure yet effective ones such as Gravity, Drain, Berserk, and the Bubble spell, which temporarily doubles the target's HP. ''Final Fantasy XII'' is also the first to have a full arsenal of Dark-elemental magics ([[Dark]], [[Darkra]], [[Darkga]]), but Earth-elemental magics are missing.

In some games the non-elemental spells [[Flare]] and [[Meteor]] are among the strongest spells available.  Another major non-elemental spell is [[Ultima]], a spell that first appeared in ''Final Fantasy II'' and in various capacities throughout the series. In most games in which it appears, Ultima is most powerful non-summon spell that can be learned.

==Spell levels==
In most ''Final Fantasy'' games, certain types of magic are divided into various power levels. As the player progresses through the game, successively more powerful versions of basic spells become available. The series has developed a naming convention to identify second, third, and fourth level magic spells, which appends a specific suffix to the name of the first level spell, with possible minor variations in the root word. The three suffixes are "ra", "ga", and "ja".

For example, the name of the second level version of [[Thunder]] is named [[Thundara]] and the third is [[Thundaga]]. Likewise, the second and third levels of [[Fire]] are [[Fira]] and [[Firaga]] respectively, and [[Blizzard]] becomes [[Blizzara]] and [[Blizzaga]].
 
The fourth level suffix (-''ja'') is infrequently used; few games in the series feature magic spells with four power levels, the ''Cure'' spell being the only example in more recent titles.  Other examples are the ''Dia'' and ''Heal'' spells. In the few times they are used, elemental spells such as ''Thundaja'' are extremely powerful.

Spells can target individuals or groups. In some cases, targeting a group requires a higher level of a spell; in other cases, the target can be for an individual or an entire group. However, when targeting a group, the strength and/or duration of the spell is often less than when targeting an individual.

Fourth level spells (such as Cure IV and Thunder IV) are equivalent to the ''-ja'' suffix found in previous ''Final Fantasy'' games. ([[Curaja]], and [[Thundaja]], respectively)

''[[Final Fantasy II]]'' has a vastly different magic system from other games in the main series. Spell names are in katakana, and rather than appending one of the above suffixes to signify a more powerful version of a spell, a simple numerical modifier was added to the end of the name. Each spell could be raised to level 16. For example, if Thunder were leveled up to level 16, it would be called "Thunder 16". Enemy spells used Latin number suffixes, such as 'XVI' for level 16.

In early English localizations of the ''Final Fantasy'' series, those prior to ''[[Final Fantasy VIII]]'', translators decided not to use the above suffixes, using a simple numerical modifier instead. In other words, ''Firaga'' would become ''Fire 3''.  ''Thunder'' was shortened to ''Lit'' or ''Bolt'', and ''Thundara'' would be denoted as ''Lit2'' or ''Bolt2''. This was changed to ''Bolt'' upon the release of ''[[Final Fantasy VI]]'' and ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]''.

In ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics]]'', the fourth level Black and White Magic spells cover a considerably larger area where massive amounts of damage is dealt or large amounts of healing. Like the lower levels, fourth level magic is indiscriminate of who is in the target radius. Damage or healing can be accidentally or forcefully done to friends or foes respectively. Fourth level Black and White Magic cannot be Calculated.

In ''[[Final Fantasy X]]'', the (-''ja'') spells are only used by the "Dark Aeons", optional bosses that are highly overpowered versions of the common Aeons. During the final boss battle, one of [[Sin]]'s major attacks is [[Gravija]], the fourth level of the gravity element.

In ''[[Final Fantasy XI]]'', spells tiers are distinguished from each other by Roman numerals (e.g., ''Thunder'', ''Thunder II'', ''Cure'', ''Cure II'') and there are three suffixes:
* group/party effect enhancing spells: ''-ra'' (e.g., ''Barstonra'', ''Barsleepra'', ''Protectra'', ''Shellra'')
* ''White Magic'' status ailment cures: ''-na'' (e.g., ''Stona'', ''Poisona'')
* Group effect (AoE, Area of Effect) spells of various types: ''-ga'' or ''-aga'' or "-ega" (e.g., ''Curaga'', ''Thundaga'', ''Poisonga'')

In ''[[Final Fantasy XII]]'', the Espers use the ''-ja'' spells, which are renamed Concurrences.

In ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'', accessories use the fourth level of Fire, Thunder and Blizzard with the suffix "ragun" (Firagun, Thundragun, Blizzagun, respectively).

==Items, armor, and weapons==
In most ''Final Fantasy'' games, a collection of items have effects similar to various magic spells. In some cases, items can have different levels that correspond to the level of the spell. For example, in ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'', [[Bolt Plume]] casts Bolt 2 against all enemies, while [[Swift Bolt]] casts Bolt 3 against all enemies. These items can be useful for those characters who are incapable of casting a given spell, as well as when a character is temporarily unable to cast spells, such as when afflicted with the ''Silence'' status or a lack of [[Magic Point]]s. Most items may only be used once, and some may only be used in battle, while others can only be used from the field menu. Menu-restricted items often cast spells such as ''Warp'', which teleports the player's party out of a dungeon or region. 

Armor can have elemental properties, generally protecting the wearer from certain elemental attacks. Armor also may have three levels, with varying effects: for the first level, the armor will lessen the effect of an elemental attack (strong); for the second, the armor eliminates the effect of the attack (immune); for the third, the armor will absorb the attack, healing the wearer. Also, a character can wear a mixture of elemental armor, such as body armor that absorbs Fire, and a helmet that absorbs Thunder.

Some weapons can deal elemental attacks a certain percentage of the time, and/or inflict status effects. In early games in the series, weapons with elemental attack attributes could be accessed from the item list in battle and used to cast certain magic spells (such as the [[Judgment Staff]] casting [[Flare]] in ''[[Final Fantasy]]''). Certain weapons, such as [[Healing Rod]], can have restorative powers, although these same weapons would inflict damage on undead targets.

==Types of magic==
Generally speaking, magic in the ''Final Fantasy'' series can be divided into distinct types:

*'''White Magic''', used by [[White Mage]]s, which heals or otherwise supports party members
*'''Black Magic''', used by [[Black Mage]]s, which is used to attack enemies
*'''Time/Space magic''', used by [[Time Mage]]s, which affects the flow of time (such as slowing down or speeding up a target's actions) or warps matter (''Gravity'' spells, for example)
*'''Blue Magic''', used by [[Blue Mage]]s, which incorporates a variety of special attacks used by monsters
*'''Summon Magic''', used by [[Summoner]]s, in which spells are cast that call forth magical creatures who attack enemies or offer support to party members.

Not every game necessarily classifies spells in this manner, and the specific classification of a spell can vary from game to game. ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics]]'', for instance, introduced a new subdivision of magic ('''Yin-Yang Magic''') utilized by the Oracle job class, consisting of status-altering spells such as ''Confusion'' or ''Sleep''. This category has not subsequently appeared in any other ''Final Fantasy'' title, but is classified as '''Green Magic''' in ''Final Fantasy XII'', and is classified as '''Arcane Magic''' in ''[[Final Fantasy X-2]]'' and is used primarily by the Dark Knight job class. Furthermore, status- and time-altering spells in ''[[Final Fantasy VI]]'' were called "effect magic" and given a "Gray" alignment to indicate that they were neither Black nor White.

==Other Magic==
===Abilities===
Through the course of the series, there has been a variety of abilities and skills similar to magic but are not necessarily magic. They usually do not require MP to use. These include "special/skill" (final fantasy X) and "technicks" (''Final Fantasy XII''). Some examples are: steal, libra, the command abilities "Devour", "Treatment" and "Recover" (''Final Fantasy VIII'') and certain abilities gained by equipping [[Materia]] (''Final Fantasy VII'').

[[Song]]s are classified as magic in ''[[Final Fantasy V]]''. Bards use magic generally as support, but ''Alluring Air'' and ''Romeo's Ballad'' inflict the status ailment confuse and stop on enemies, respectively, and ''Requiem'' deals damage to undead foes. The Songstress dresssphere of ''[[Final Fantasy X-2]]'' allows attribute-enhancing songs to be sung with the Sing command (such as the magic-boosting ''Esoteric Melody'' or the aid to evasion ''Matador's Song''). Some of the status-inflicting dances can benefit the party as well.

===Ninjutsu===
{{Main|Ninjutsu}}
Shown in both ''[[Final Fantasy IV]]'' and ''[[Final Fantasy XI]]'', Ninjutsu deals with ninja related abilities. It is used by [[Edward Geraldine|Edge]] in ''[[Final Fantasy IV]]'' and by adventurers sporting the [[Ninja]] class in ''[[Final Fantasy XI]]''. It deals with both supportive and offensive magic, to assist the character in battle.  Some of these abilities happen to be special abilities that are in the form of a spell. Ninjutsu has been seen in other games in the series, however in these cases it has usually referred to physical abilities rather than magic. This classification is also found in ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics Advance]]'' under the job class Ninja, although in the game itself, the naming is Ninja Skill.

===Geomancy===
{{Main|Geomancy}}
The Character Class geomancer uses very different spells compared to the other classes. They can control the environment around them. Geomancers were first introduced in ''[[Final Fantasy III]]''. In most of the games they appear in, the magic manifests itself as a single command (in ''Final Fantasy III'' the command was called ''Terrain'') that uses the spell for the terrain the character is currently fighting in. In ''Final Fantasy III'', there was also a chance that a very powerful shadow-based spell would be cast.

''[[Final Fantasy VI]]'' had a slightly different form of Geomancy with Mog's ''Dance'' command. Mog learned a dance for every terrain he fought in, and by performing that dance he could use the spells of that terrain.

===Green Magic===
{{Main|Green Magic}}
Green Magic was introduced in ''Final Fantasy XII'', and was formerly known as [[Yin-Yang]] magic in ''Final Fantasy Tactics''. Green magic consists of spells that affect a character's status, with positive or negative effects. Green magic includes spells such as Protect, Shell, Blind, Silence, and Poison.

===Arcane Magic===
{{main|Arcane Magic}}
The Arcane magic class was first introduced in ''[[Final Fantasy X-2]]'' as the magic used by the ''Dark Knight'' dress sphere.  It is also one of the five magic classes in ''[[Final Fantasy XII]]''.  This class of magic features spells such as Death, Dark, Gravity, Bubble and Berserk.

===Spellblade===
{{Main|Spellblade}}
Mystic Knights in ''Final Fantasy V'' use the ability Spellblade to endow an equipped sword with an offensive magic spell (as such both Flare and Holy can be used, even though they are from different magic classes), or with status-harmful spells (such as Poison or Sleep). When they strike the enemy with the enchanted blade it engulfs the enemy with the selected spell as well as slicing them. Spellblade is classified as a type of magic in ''Final Fantasy V'', however, in another game featuring it, ''Final Fantasy IX'', the spell is actually cast by a magician onto another character's sword (Vivi casts spells onto Steiner's blades). In ''Final Fantasy XI'' Red Mages can cast En-spells (examples: Enfire, Enwater, etc.) onto their own weapons. In ''Final Fantasy Tactics Advance'', the Gladiator class has the Spellblade ability. Spellblade has classically been translated as Magic Sword for the original North American PSX releases of ''Final Fantasy V'' and ''Final Fantasy IX''.

===Dark Arts===
{{Main|Dark Arts}}
Appearing only in ''[[Final Fantasy V Advance]]'', this is magic utilized by the Necromancer job class. To learn this magic, a Necromancer must defeat an enemy that knows the spell. The Dark Arts are often expensive to use, but they are among the strongest spells within the game.

===Miscellaneous===
Other minor para-magics have appeared several times throughout the series.

*''[[Final Fantasy III]]'': Many classes have a spell-like ability unique to that class. For example, Dark Knights can use [[Souleater]] to attack all enemies at once at the cost of their own HP, and Warriors can Advance to increase their attack power while sacrificing defense.
*''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'': Some characters have magic-like limit breaks.
*''[[Final Fantasy VIII]]'': Rinoa's dog can perform tricks that most dogs can't, such as bringing people back from the dead and making them invincible; normal spells are considered para-magic that are only available by junctioning with Guardian Forces.  Also, Seifer can seemingly shoot fireballs in his limit breaks, and Selphie's Limit Break consists of using random amounts of spells.

[[Category:Game mechanics]]