Shell ( status ) Shell , also known as MBarrier , is a positive status effect usually granted through the use of the White Magic spell Shell , the Blue Magic spell Mighty Guard , the item Lunar Curtain , or the auto - ability Auto - Shell . It appears in various games in the " Final Fantasy " series and reduces magic damage dealt to the target . In the earlier series ' games Shell would halve magic spells ' effectiveness affecting both offensive and curative spells . In the more recent installments Shell cuts the effectiveness from offensive spells by a third , and does not affect curative spells . Appearances . " Final Fantasy II " . Shell status can only be achieved through the use of the spell Shell and the item Conch Shell . It increases the Magic Defense of a character . " Final Fantasy III " . Shell can be acquired from Bard ' s Elegy song in the 3D remake version . It boosts the recipient ' s Magic Defense in a following fashion : " Final Fantasy IV " . Shell is granted by the Shell spell cast by Rosa and Fusoya . In the GBA and PSP versions , Edward ' s Sing command changes to Chant while equipped with the Harmony Ring , granting Protect and Shell to the entire party . Shell can be achieved through the spell Shell and by using the as an item . Edward ' s Guardian ' s Ballad song grants Protect and Shell to the whole party . " Final Fantasy V " . Shell is only obtainable through the White Magic spell Shell , the Blue Magic spell Mighty Guard , and the ability . Shell halves all magic damage and the hit rate of blockable magic attacks . " Final Fantasy VI " . Shell status can be achieved by having a party member cast the spell Shell , Strago use Mighty Guard Lore , by equipping relics that bestow the Shell status — Barrier Ring , Princess Ring , Miracle Shoes , or Guard Bracelet — or by summoning the esper Zona Seeker . The Force Shield also grants the Shell status . Due to a bug , if the Force Shield is equipped mid - battle , instead of granting Shell , it will instead give " immunity " to Shell . Shell reduces damage done from magical attacks to 170 / 256 ( 33 % damage reduction ) . " Final Fantasy VII " . The spells MBarrier , Big Guard , and Wall grant MBarrier status to a party member , while the Protect Ring grants MBarrier at the start of the battle . On the barrier gauge to the right , it appears as the lower barrier . Statuses that affect the character ' s speed also affect the rate Shell runs out : i . e . Haste makes it run our faster , and Slow makes it last longer . " Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII - " . Known as MBarrier , the status can be acquired using the MBarrier Materia , Wall , and multiple accessories . It can be also granted through the DMW Courage Boost ! It halves magic damage taken . " Final Fantasy VIII " . Shell can be acquired by casting Shell , using a Shell Stone , Quistis ' s Blue Magic Mighty Guard or Selphie ' s Slots Wall , or through the auto - ability Auto - Shell . It halves all magical damage and curative spells and lasts for 32 seconds . " Final Fantasy IX " . Shell reduces magic damage and can be applied through the White Magic spell Shell , the Blue Magic spell Mighty Guard , or through the Auto - Shell ability . It is also bestowed by Carbuncle when Eiko equips the Moonstone . " Final Fantasy X " . The White Magic spell Shell , Kimahri ' s Ronso Rage Mighty Guard , and the auto - ability Auto Shell can bestow Shell upon a character to halve magical damage . SOS Shell can bestow Shell as long as the character is in HP Critical status . Some of Rikku ' s Mixes can inflict Shell to the entire party as well , including Mighty G , Super Mighty G , Hyper Mighty G , and Mighty Wall . The item Lunar Curtain also gives Shell . " Final Fantasy XI " . The White Magic Shell enhances a single person ' s magic resistance , while Shellra increases magic resistance for all party members within range of effect . " Final Fantasy XII " . Shell is granted by casting the Shell or Shellga spells , or by equipping the Shell Shield . An enemy exclusive ability , Greater Barrier , grants Shell along with Protect . Shell reduces magic damage taken by 33 % . It also halves the success chance of bad status aliments , making it useful around undead enemies due to their common use of magick and status effect spells . In the Japanese version , the icon for the Shell status is a green seashell . This is changed to a green hexagon in the overseas version . Shell reduces magickal damage , and unlike in " Final Fantasy XII " , does not halve the chance of receiving debuffs . Shell will override Protect and vice versa . Basch can grant multiple allies the Shell effect by casting Shellga . The White Mage sky pirates also know the Shellga spell . Rank III Esper Tiamat knows the Mighty Guard spell that bestows both Protect and Shell buff on all allies in range . Mighty Guard is the only ability that lets both Protect and Shell co - exist on a unit . " Final Fantasy XIII " . Shell is achieved via the Synergist spell or shroud s used before battle . Accessories can also grant it automatically . Shell increases resistance to magical damage and healing by 33 % and its base duration is 150 seconds , but the overall duration is affected by caster ' s Synergist level , chain and passive abilities . Shell stats are removed by Dispel , Dispelga and Deshell , and Deshellga . There also exists a stronger variant , called Shellra , that wears off faster but halves magic damage to the user . " Final Fantasy XIII - 2 " . Shell reduces received magical damage by 25 % and can be bestowed by Synergist spells Shell and Shellga and the Feral Link s Bellow , Spirit Infusion , Precious Prayer , and Fanatical Dance . Auric Amulet gives Critical : Shell that activates automatically at low health , and Durable Auric Amulet also gives Auto - Shell that applies Shell since the start of the battle . It can be countered with Dispel , Dispelga , Deshell , and Deshellga . Shell cuts magical damage . It can be bestowed via , , , , and . Lightning can steal the status from enemies with and get automatic Shell when being with . Angel of Valhalla can bestow Shell on Lightning with either the Shell spell or his Inspire ability , which he gains at bond level 2 . " Final Fantasy Tactics " . Shell can be achieved through the accessories Sortilége and Tynar Rouge , the command abilities Shell , Shellja , Wall , Kiyomori and Spirit Nymph , the armor Onion Armor and Lordly Robe , and through the weapons Durandal and Ragnarok . Shell reduces the caster ' s magickal power by 1 / 3 in the formulae , so it not only reduces the power or hit - rate of spells , but also reduces the weapon damage done by a staff or rod because they apply the wearer ' s magickal power rather than physical power to calculate the damage . Shell does not affect damage from spells that subtract a certain percentage of the target ' s HP ( such as Demi and Lich ) , though it does affect the success rate of these spells . Shell lasts for 32 ticks . " Final Fantasy Tactics Advance " . Shell can be granted by the abilities : Shell , Barrier , 100 % Wool , and Yellow Spring . It reduces magical damage taken . Shell can be achieved through the use of the Green Mage spell Shell , the Tinker ability Gold Moogletron , or the Chocobo Knight ability Choco Barrier . " Bravely Default " . Shell is not a status , instead it adds a flat 25 % to the current Magic Defense modifier , to a maximum of 150 % . This modifier will last for four turns before reverting to normal . " Final Fantasy Record Keeper " . Shell doubles the Resistance stat of the target and decreases magic damage taken by half . It can only be cast by the Shell ability . The upgraded version Shellga casts Shell on the whole party .