Curaga (Final Fantasy IX)

Curaga is a Wht Mag spell in Final Fantasy IX for Dagger and Eiko. It is the third tier curative spell used to restore one or all allies' HP, or for damaging undead enemies, above Cure and Cura. Curaga is vulnerable to Reflect and would work with Return Magic were enemies to use it on the player party.
It is also an enemy ability used by Hilgigars, Trance Kuja, Necron, and Ozma.
==Obtained==
Curaga is learned from Wizard Rod, Whale Whisker, Hamelin, and Angel Flute. The earliest the player can get it is from the Ocean chocograph treasure by playing Chocobo Hot and Cold to find a Whale Whisker for Dagger, once the party has access to the Blue Narciss. The earliest Eiko can learn it is after the events at Desert Palace, by purchasing the Hamelin from Esto Gaza or Daguerreo.
==Mechanics==
The amount Curaga heals is affected by the user's Magic stat and Level. It ignores the target's Magic Defense, useful when using the spell to attack undead enemies.
:Base = 107
:Bonus = Magic + Rnd MOD ([(Lvl + Mag) / 8] + 1)
:HP Restored = Base * Bonus
Where Rnd means a random number, while MOD means modulus operation. "Rnd MOD x" can be read as a random number between 0 and x-1.
The variable part of the formula gains a 50% increase when Concentrate is equipped, and is halved by the target's Shell, the user being under Mini, and multi-targeting the spell.
The support abilities that affect Curaga are Concentrate for increasing the amount Curaga heals, and Reflect-Null, which allows Curaga to pierce target's Reflect.
In Eiko's Trance, Wht Mag turns into Dbl Wht where Eiko can cast two spells on her turn. The spells cost MP and expend the Trance gauge independently.
==Use==
Curaga is great for healing the party to full health during battle. However, by the time the player gets to learn it, the party is likely well in their way into learning Auto-Regen, which can render all other kinds of mid-battle heals obsolete, and using Cure and Potions picked up as battle spoils when outside of combat is more MP-efficient than using Curaga. The spell is still the best way to bring the party back from a brink of death, as it remains powerful even when multi-targeted; however, for party-wide enemy attacks, the healer characters are the ones in danger of being KO'd first for their lower HP and defensive stats and lack of protective armor.
Curaga is excellent for attacking undead enemies, dealing severe damage to them.
Category:White Magic in Final Fantasy IX