Protectga (Final Fantasy XII)

Protectga is a White Magicks spell in the Zodiac versions of Final Fantasy XII, and a Green Magicks spell in the original PlayStation 2 version. It is a multi-target status enhancement spell that reduces physical damage received. It is an upgrade to the single-target Protect, and its magic damage counterpart is Shellga.
It is also used by Avenger and Judge Drace.
==Obtained==
Protectga's license costs 110 License Points in the Zodiac versions, where the spell is found in Necrohol of Nabudis's Cloister of Distant Song area, right outside the locked door leading to a boss room called Cloister of Solace (Map). The player can enter Necrohol of Nabudis as soon as the party can cross the Nebra river in Dalmasca Estersand (via a side quest at the Estersand village or the Earth Tyrant quest), after the party has the Dawn Shard, but the area is littered with high level enemies the player would struggle to win against this early on; the player could go in and only grab the treasures and then head back out again.
In the original version, Protectga's license costs 105 LP and is a Green Magicks spell bought for 9400 gil from Balfonheim Port after the party has the Treaty-Blade.
In the Zodiac versions, Protectga can be used by the White Mage, Monk, and Shikari jobs although Monk must acquire the Esper Chaos and Shikari the Esper Cúchulainn.
==Mechanics==
Protectga temporarily bestows the Protect status to all allies in range that reduces physical damage taken by a quarter, unless the damage uses the guns' and measures' formula. The effect is removed with Dispel.
The formula for the duration is:
:Duration = 60 + (Vitality x 0.6) s
The duration is the same as with the single-target Protect spell and depends on the receiver's Vitality stat, not the caster's. Haste and Slow do not affect the length other status effects will last, but Stop will halt them.
Protectga costs 36 MP to cast without Channeling licenses. The spell will bounce from Reflect unless the caster wears the Opal Ring.
==Use==
Protectga is a status enhancement spell the player can easily set up via the gambit system (such as with Ally:Any→Protectga). However, as the status duration depends on the recipient's Vitality, the party will lose the protection at different times and the player may waste castings of Protectga when only one party member needs buffing; it may be better to use it manually only when everyone needs buffing. Any gambits for Protect or Protectga are best placed below attack and heal gambits so it does not activate mid battle, but rather when there are no enemies in vicinity, unless the player wants to keep refreshing it in harder engagements, such as against Rare Game, hunt marks, and bosses.
After getting Protectga, the player can use it instead of the single-target Protect most of the time. The player can also get a permanent Protect status from wearing the Shielded Armor.
==Etymology and origin==
The spell's name derives from the magic tier system, using the -ga suffix. The Japanese name, Protega , originates from Final Fantasy IX, with the Gizamaluke Bell key item originally being known as the Protega Bell in Japanese. Final Fantasy XII was the first game in the Final Fantasy series to feature Protectga.
Category:White Magicks in Final Fantasy XII
Category:Green Magicks in Final Fantasy XII