Blizzard (Final Fantasy XII)

Blizzard is a Black Magick spell in both the original PlayStation 2 version of Final Fantasy XII and the Zodiac re-releases. It is a single-target spell in most versions that deals ice-elemental damage. It is the lowest tier ice spell, below Blizzara and Blizzaga. In the Zodiac versions, it is slightly more powerful than its contemporaries, Fire and Thunder. Instead of opposing fire, like in most Final Fantasy games, in Final Fantasy XII, ice opposes lightning.
As a Black Magicks spell, it is also a random outcome of the Shades of Black Technick.
The enemies that use Blizzard against the player are Ghost, Skeleton, Specter [b], Zombie Mage, Ragoh, Ice Azer, Urutan Eater, Wraith, Rocktoise, Gijuk [a], and Imperial Magus [b, c, d].
==Obtained==
Blizzard's license costs 20 License Points in the Zodiac versions, where the spell is bought for 240 gil from Dalmasca Estersand after obtaining the Shadestone in Giza, as well as from other shops later on. It is also found in Trial Mode Stage 23 in a treasure with the Diamond Armlet equipped.
In the original version, Blizzard's license costs 15 LP and the spell is bought for 200 gil from shops since the beginning of the game.
In the Zodiac versions, Blizzard is used by the Black Mage.
==Mechanics==
Blizzard deals small ice-elemental damage to a target based on the caster's level and Magick Power, mitigated by the target's Magick Resist. It was made a multi-target spell in the Japan-exclusive International Zodiac Job System version on the PlayStation 2, but was reverted to being a single-target spell in The Zodiac Age versions.
The formula for damage calculation:
:[25 \times RANDOM(1 \sim 1.125) - Magick Resist] \times [2 + {Magick Power \times (Level+Magick Power) \over 256}]
With the Serenity license or the Magick Gloves accessory, the damage is inflated to 120% (original) or 150% (Zodiac) when the caster is in full health. With the Spellbreaker license or the Leather Gorget accessory, the damage is doubled when the caster is in HP Critical. If the caster has Faith, Blizzard will damage for 30% more. As an elemental spell, it will do double damage to targets weak to ice, and 150% damage with Ice-potency gear: Glacial Staff and Staff of the Magi (Zodiac only). The boosts stack multiplicatively.
Enemies who resist ice take half damage. Those who nullify ice take no damage and those who absorb ice are healed by it. Shell halves damage from Blizzard.
Certain weather and terrain conditions affect both the player characters' and the foes' ice damage. When it snows, and on snowfield terrain, the damage is inflated to 120%. No weather or terrain diminishes ice damage.
Blizzard bounces from Reflect unless the caster equips the Opal Ring. Damaging enemies with Blizzard gains MP to the caster if they have the Warmage license. A target can sometimes avoid Blizzard via their Magick Evade stat; for the player, this means wearing shields.
Blizzard costs 10 MP to cast without Channeling licenses in the Zodiac versions, and 8 MP in the original.
==Use==
Blizzard is a good early game damaging spell that the player can set up via the gambit system (such as with Foe:Ice-vulnerable→Blizzard). It can be good against flying enemies for characters who lack ranged weapons. Lightning enemies are typically weak to ice, such as Battery Mimics and the Mimic Queen boss in the Barheim Passage, as well as Adrammelech.
Blizzard is best used with the Glacial Staff to boost its power, or with the Staff of the Magi in the Zodiac versions. It is most powerful in Paramina Rift and Feywood due to the snow terrain boosting its power, however, these are mid to late game areas and Blizzard will have been outclassed by the time the player can visit these places. The enemies in Paramina are also typically ice-elemental themselves. Blizzard is outclassed as soon as Blizzara becomes available from Mt Bur-Omisace onward, as MP is generally plentiful enough for the player to use the stronger versions of spells, especially with the licenses that refund MP costs.
Category:Black Magicks in Final Fantasy XII