Drain (Final Fantasy V)

Drain is a Black Magic spell in Final Fantasy V. It deals moderate non-elemental damage to a single target and then heals the user for that amount, though it will work the opposite on undead enemies, healing them and harming the user. Drain is usable by the Black Magic skillset (and can be used twice with Dualcast with Black Magic equipped), and can also be used as a Spellblade. Drain is also one of the spells that can be cast for free from the Wonder Wand. Drain is similar to the Blue Magic spell Vampire, which is based more on the caster's missing HP.
Drain is also an enemy ability that can be used by Apanda, Byblos, Calofisteri, Carbuncle, Black Warlock, Farfarello, Fury, Magissa, Omniscient, Ricard Mage, Catoblepas, and Soul Eater.
Drain can also be used by catching and releasing a Poltergeist.
==Obtained==
Drain can be purchased for 3000 gil at Regole, Castle of Bal, Quelb, Surgate Castle. Regole is the earliest place Drain can be obtained. Once it is purchased, it can be used by any of the skillsets with the spell.
==Mechanics==
As a spell, Drain's damage is calculated as follows:
:Attack = 45 + (0..(45/8))
:M = (Level*Magic Power)/256 + 4
:Defense = Magic Defense
:Damage = (Attack - Defense) * M
Drain is not affected by elemental affinity, and can be resisted only by the target's Magic Defense. Against undead enemies, it will instead heal them and harm the user.
==Use==
Drain can be used by Black Mages as an effective way to heal the user if needed. As an offensive spell, it is less MP-efficient than similar spells, such as Fira, Blizzara, and Thundara (which can also be group-cast), as they deal more damage for less MP.
Drain is very effective when used as a Spellblade especially when combined Rapid Fire, unless the target is undead. As a Spellblade, it allows any sword to be used as a reliable Blood Sword in terms of accuracy and raw physical damage.
Drain is comparable to the Blue Magic spell Vampire, though Vampire's damage is instead based on this caster's missing HP. This means Drain can be a more powerful spell based on a user's Magic stat, while Vampire is stronger among those who are not mages.
The Sylph summon is similar to Drain; though weaker, it distributes the HP stolen from the enemies onto the whole party.
==Gallery==
Drain-FFVA.png|Black Magic (GBA).
FFV iOS Drain.png|Black Magic (2013).
Drain Blade from FFV Advance.png|Spellblade (GBA).
Category:Black Magic in Final Fantasy V