Elemental Affinity Elemental Affinity is an ability or trait present in some pieces of equipment in the series , which enhances the elemental damage dealt by the user . Appearances . " Final Fantasy V " . Several pieces of equipment increase the power of elemental attacks by + 50 % . The bonus is applied before subtracting the opponent ' s Magic Defense . " Final Fantasy XI " . A variety of staves offer different levels of elemental affinity . In addition to increasing the damage dealt by appropriate spells , affinity also improves casting accuracy and reduces the recurring cost of a summoner ' s elementally - aligned pets . The hidden downside is that spells of the element weak to the affinity become less powerful and more likely to miss . A summoner also spends greater MP sustaining a pet that suffers from the equipped element . These penalties are the inverse of the benefits that the affinity would normally grant . For example , Neptune ' s Staff , with tier 2 water affinity , strengthens Flood by 15 % with 30 bonus accuracy but increases the cost of using Ifrit , whose fire is vulnerable to water , by 3 MP every 3 seconds . This contributes to the popular practice of switching staves for each spell that a mage employs . Customizable staves available at high levels provide an opportunity to improve one aspect of affinity at the cost of another . One augmented item may offer more damage , less accuracy , and no reduction in perpetuation cost while another offers only a large perpetuation benefit . Advanced customizations further improve affinity with a reduction in casting time for aligned spells . " Final Fantasy XII " . When a character equips a weapon or armor that has an elemental affinity , all damage , both physical and magickal , associated with the element , is boosted by 50 % . The affinity bonus is independent of the weapon ' s own element , in that the bonus usually exists on its own and elemental weapons usually don ' t have an elemental affinity . Elemental affinities do not stack , so there is no benefit in equipping two pieces of equipment that give an affinity to the same element simultaneously . For example , none of the staves that have the elemental affinity trait have an element in the weapon . Instead , the user benefits from the affinity by casting magick of the element the weapon gives a bonus for , but there is no bonus for physically attacking with said weapon as the damage with physical attacks is non - elemental . In the original version , all ninja swords have the element of Dark , but none has an elemental affinity on the Dark element . To apply the elemental affinity to ninja swords the character must wear the Black Robes armor , which gives a + 50 % boost to Dark elemental damage , making all attacks dealt with ninja swords + 50 % the normal damage . This is no longer the case in the " International Zodiac Job System " as most of the ninja swords had their element changed or removed , and only the Yagyu Darkblade retains its original dark element . Also , since the cannot equip the Black Robes , they cannot benefit from the damage boost . Holy Rod is the only weapon that is both elemental and has an elemental affinity ; its Holy element is strengthened by its own Holy affinity , so all physical attacks will be 50 % more powerful , compensating for the weapon ' s fairly low attack power . The effect is even greater against enemies that are weak against Holy , as they will take double damage from Holy , plus the + 50 % bonus . Potentially the greatest damage increase is dealt to an oiled enemy through the casting of a fire elemental spell while equipped with the Flame Staff or the Burning Bow , as oiled targets take triple the normal damage from Fire - elemental attacks . The bonus damage also applies , when the same conditions are satisfied , through physically attacking enemies using the Burning Bow with the Fiery Arrow ammunition . Should the oiled enemy be also weak to fire , the total damage can reach 900 % . In the " International Zodiac Job System " , since all jobs have a limited pool of equipment each , the only jobs that can benefit from the elemental affinity damage boosts are the Red Battlemage , White Mage , Black Mage , Archer , Foebreaker , Monk , and Bushi by equipping the necessary equipment . However , the can only benefit by using the items Dark Mote or Holy Mote while the can do so by using Water Mote or getting Water cast through Shades of Black . " Final Fantasy XIII " . Fire Affinity , Frost Affinity , Lightning Affinity , Water Affinity , Wind Affinity and Earth Affinity increase the damage dealt by the user ' s corresponding elemental attacks and exist as passive abilities in equipment . The bonus is between + 20 % - 50 % , depending on the affinity ' s strength . " Final Fantasy Tactics " . There are several types of equipment that increase the power of elemental attacks . " Final Fantasy Tactics Advance " . Some weapons and one armor enhance the effect of certain elements . In some cases , these equipment not only enhance but also absorb the element . " Final Fantasy Legend II " . There are four MAGI that augment the power of elemental abilities . The Elementalist ' s job abilities Augment and Amplify enhance the effects of allies ' elemental attacks and last four turns .