Dark (element)

Dark , also known as Shadow and Darkness, is a recurring element in the Final Fantasy series. It is usually a counterpart of the Holy element and is a strong element against enemies affiliated with said element. It is usually associated with death, evil, and/or celestial objects (like stars and meteors), but this is not always the case. The Dark element being often associated with celestial objects may allude to western traditions that portrayed comets as signs of ill omen and the dissatisfaction of the gods.
==Recurring themes==
===Equipment===
Dark swords used by classes such as Dark Knights are often imbued with the element, such as the Deathbringer from Final Fantasy IV. Dark armor is also commonly worn by this class. Some weapons with this element are imbued with the Death spell, often killing enemies with one hit. Different types of monsters are weak to this element in Final Fantasy IV.
===Spells===
Spells affiliated with the Dark element are not very common, except in Vana'diel, as well as the Ivalice universe, where the arcane magicks Dark, Darkra, Darkga, and Darkja are commonly seen. A notable Dark spell outside of Vana'diel and Ivalice is Shadow Flare. In Final Fantasy IX, Vivi can cast the Shadow-elemental Doomsday. Some skills with the Dark element usually involve a sacrifice of HP, such as Darkness.
===Summons===
*Final Fantasy IX: Ark
*Final Fantasy XI: Dark Spirit, Diabolos, Fenrir
*Final Fantasy XII: Zalera, Zodiark
*Final Fantasy Tactics: Lich
==Appearances==
===Final Fantasy IV===
Dark was known as Darkness in the SNES version. In the SNES version, equipping an armor resistant to the Holy element makes them weak against Dark and vice versa. This only applies to armor, since it doesn't affect monsters. The Advance version removes this behavior.
Dark 	Dark 	Dark
Game Element 	Type 	Effect
Shadowblade 	Weapon 	Dark-elemental damage when attacking physically.
Dark Sword 	Weapon 	Dark-elemental damage when attacking physically.
Deathbringer 	Weapon 	Dark-elemental damage when attacking physically.
Lustrous Shield	Shield 	Halves Dark damage (3D only).
Crystal Shield 	Shield 	Halves Dark damage (3D only).
Darkness 	Ability	Character enters "Darkness" status for three turns, increasing the strength of the attacks, making them dark-elemental, and consumes HP whenever the character attacks (3D remake only).
Crystal 	Item 	The Crystal counts as a Dark-elemental attack, it works by triggering a Dark-elemental counterattack script that triggers Zeromus to shift form and make him vulnerable to attacks.
====Final Fantasy IV: The After Years====
Though the Dark element exists and can be defended against with the appropriate equipment (as well as some monsters having a natural resistance to it), the only such spell used in the final game is the Dark Knight's Darkness ability. The Dark-affiliated equipment from the previous game exists in the coding and can be equipped by Dark Kain, though they cannot be accessed without hacking.
=== Final Fantasy VII Remake ===
The dark element is present in the analysis screen of the demo, seen when the player presses to show help for icons. It does not appear to be actually used in the demo, however, and is removed from the final version of the game. However, the final boss uses what looks like the dark element, performing Shadow Flare.
===Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-===
Dark 	Dark 	Dark
Game Element	Type 	Effect
Shadow Flare	Enemy Attack	Inflicts extreme Dark damage to one target.
Darkness 	Materia 	Inflicts damage to all nearby target at the cost of a certain amount of Zack's current HP.
===Final Fantasy IX===
===Final Fantasy XI===
====Spells====
*Absorb-ACC
*Absorb-AGI
*Absorb-CHR
*Absorb-DEX
*Absorb-INT
*Absorb-MND
*Absorb-TP
*Absorb-VIT
*Animus Augeo
*Aspir
*Aspir II
*Bio
*Bio II
*Bioga
*Blind
*Blind II
*Blindga
*Blood Drain
*Blood Saber
*Death Ray
*Digest
*Dispel
*Dispelga
*Drain
*Drain II
*Dread Spikes
*Endark
*Enervation
*Eyes On Me
*Geist Wall
*Jettatura
*Klimaform
*Kurayami: Ichi
*Kurayami: Ni
*Light Carol
*Light Threnody
*Magic Barrier
*MP Drainkiss
*Noctohelix
*Osmosis
*Sandspray
*Sleep
*Sleep II
*Sleepga
*Sleepga II
*Soporific
*Stun
*Voidstorm
*Yurin: Ichi
====Summons====
*Dark Spirit
*Odin
*Diabolos
*Fenrir
====Blood Pacts====
*Howling Moon
*Lunar Bay
*Nether Blast
*Nightmare
*Night Terror
*Ruinous Omen
*Somnolence
====weapon skills====
*Blade: Ei
*Omniscience
*Sanguine Blade
*Starburst
*Sunburst
===Final Fantasy XII===
In the original version, all ninja swords are Dark-elemental. In the Zodiac versions, they have different elements.
Dark 	Dark 	Dark
Game Element 	Type 	Effect
Dark 	Arcane Magick 	Minor dark-elemental damage to one target.
Darkra 	Arcane Magick 	Moderate dark-elemental damage to all targets in range.
Darkga 	Arcane Magick 	Major dark-elemental damage to all targets in range.
Zodiark 	Esper 	Dark-elemental Esper.
Banish Ray 	Esper Attack 	Dark-based physical damage to one target.
Darkja 	Enemy Attack 	Major dark-elemental damage to all targets in range. 50% chance of KO and Blind.
Darkness 	Enemy Attack 	Physical dark-elemental damage to all targets in range.
Maser Eye 	Enemy Attack 	Physical dark-elemental damage to all targets in range.
Ashura 	Weapon 	Inflicts dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. (Original version)
Iga Blade 	Weapon 	Inflicts dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. (Original version)
Kagenui 	Weapon 	Inflicts dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. (Original version)
Koga Blade 	Weapon 	Inflicts dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. (Original version)
Orochi 	Weapon 	Inflicts dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. (Original version)
Sakura-saezuri 	Weapon 	Inflicts dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. (Original version)
Yagyu Darkblade 	Weapon 	Inflicts dark-elemental damage when attacking physically.
Zeus Mace 	Weapon 	Increases the damage of dark-elemental attacks.
Demon Shield 	Shield 	Absorbs dark-elemental damage.
Black Mask 	Helmet 	Absorbs dark-elemental damage.
Bone Helm 	Helmet 	Halves dark-elemental damage, weak to holy-elemental attacks.
Black Robes 	Armor 	Increases the damage of dark-elemental attacks.
Bone Mail 	Armor 	Halves dark-elemental damage, weak to holy-elemental attacks.
Dark Shot 	Ammo 	Dark-elemental ammunition.
Dark Mote 	Item, Enemy Attack	Minor Dark elemental damage to all targets in range.
Eksir Berries 	Item 	Moderate dark-elemental damage to one target. Dispels buffs and debuffs.
Argyle Armlet 	Accessory 	Immune to Blind. Halves dark-elemental damage. (Zodiac versions)
Manufacted Nethicite	Accessory 	Halves all elemental damage.
Gendarme 	Shield 	Absorbs all elements
===Final Fantasy XIV===
Umbral appeared as an elemental attribute during the initial release of the original Final Fantasy XIV. After the release of patch 1.20, the Umbral element, along with the Astral element, was removed from the game. 
Both Umbral and Astral do not appear as gameplay elements in the relaunch of Final Fantasy XIV, but are referred to as important elements during the game's narrative. During the events of the Shadowbringers expansion, the Darkness element is the parallel to Umbral on the world of the First. 
Dark 	Dark 	Dark
Game Element 	Type 	Effect
Scourge 	Thaumaturgy Spell	Deals umbral damage to and reduces umbral magic defense of enemies within area of effect.
Scourge II 	Thaumaturgy Spell	Deals umbral damage to and reduces umbral magic defense of enemies within area of effect.
Damnation 	Weaponskill 	Haunt an enemy with visions of the hells, dealing umbral damage. Grants the caster MP in proportion to the damage dealt.
Bio 	Thaumaturgy Spell	Deals umbral damage over time and reduces the attack power of enemies within area of effect.
Stygian Spikes 	Thaumaturgy Spell	Grants umbral spikes to party members within area of effect, causing them to steal MP from attacking enemies.
Absorb ACC 	Thaumaturgy Spell	Transfers a portion of the target's accuracy to you.
Absorb ATK 	Thaumaturgy Spell	Transfers a portion of the target's attack to you.
Absorb DEF 	Thaumaturgy Spell	Transfers a portion of the target's defense to you.
Absorb EVA 	Thaumaturgy Spell	Transfers a portion of the target's evasion to you.
Siphon MP 	Thaumaturgy Spell	Transfers a portion of the target's MP to you.
Drain 	Thaumaturgy Spell	Transfers a portion of the target's HP to you.
Siphon TP 	Thaumaturgy Spell	Transfers a portion of the target's TP to you.
Sleep 	Conjury Spell 	Induces slumber among enemies within area of effect.
Bio II 	Thaumaturgy Spell	Deals umbral damage over time and reduces the attack power of enemies within area of effect.
Blind 	Thaumaturgy Spell	Reduces the accuracy of enemies within area of effect.
Shadowsear 	Weaponskill 	Deals Umbral damage and increases your magic potency in proportion to the difference in HP between you and the target.
Stygian Spikes II	Thaumaturgy Spell	Armors party members within area of effect wit umbral spikes, granting the ability to absorb MP from attacking enemies.
Tractor 	Conjury Spell 	Pulls the body of a KO'd target toward the caster.
Syphon MP II 	Thaumaturgy Spell	Transfers a portion of the target's MP to you.
Drain II 	Thaumaturgy Spell	Transfers a portion of HP from enemies within area of effect to you.
=== Final Fantasy XV ===
Dark is an enemy-only element used by daemons. The most notable effect is that a portion of it is dealt directly to character's maximum HP, making it dangerous in dungeons and prolonged encounters. The player can protect against it with certain accessories and the King's Knight Tee attire.
===Final Fantasy Tactics===
Dark 	Dark 	Dark
Game Element 	Type 	Effect
Duskblade 	Fell Sword 	Absorb HP from one target.
Shadowblade 	Fell Sword 	Absorb MP from one target.
Unholy Sacrifice	Darkness 	Sacrifice own HP to deal extensive damage to all units in range.
Lich 	Summon 	Dark-elemental magick damage.
Unholy Darkness 	Magicks 	Dark-elemental magick damage.
Dark Whisper 	Monster Attack	Dark-elemental magick damage. Hits 6 times on random tiles in effect radius.
Chaosbringer 	Weapon 	Dark-elemental damage to one target and inflicts Blind.
Deathbringer 	Weapon 	Dark-elemental damage to one target and inflicts Doom.
Arondight 	Weapon 	Dark-elemental damage to one target and inflicts Stop.
Balmung 	Weapon 	Dark-elemental damage to one target and inflicts Stop.
Valhalla 	Weapon 	Dark-elemental damage to one target and inflicts KO.
===Final Fantasy Tactics Advance===
Dark 	Dark 	Dark
Game Element 	Type 	Effect
Diabolique 	Weapon 	Nullifies Dark elemental damage.
Heretic Rod 	Weapon 	Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Hades Bow 	Weapon 	Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Max's Oathbow	Weapon 	Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Ebon Blade 	Weapon 	Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Death Claws 	Weapon 	Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Apocalypse 	Weapon 	Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Black Quena 	Weapon 	Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Dark Fiddle 	Weapon 	Nullifies Silence.
Eye Soul 	Weapon 	Nullifies Doom.
Bone Plate 	Cloth 	Absorbs Dark elemental damage.
Reaper Cloak 	Robe 	Absorbs Dark elemental damage.
LV? S-Flare 	Blue Magic 	Inflicts Dark elemental damage to all units with the same level.
Evil Gaze 	Spirit Magic	Dark damage and may inflict Confuse
====Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift====
Game Element 	Type 	Effect
Apocalypse 	Knightsword 	Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Black Quena 	Instrument 	Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Bone Plate 	Light Armor 	Absorbs Dark elemental damage.
Darkness 	Ability 	Sacrifice 10% of HP to inflict Dark elemental damage.
Dark 	Dark Magick 	Inflicts Dark elemental damage to the target.
Dark Fist 	Martial Arts 	Dark-elemental physical attack in a two-square line. Reduces caster's HP by 25% of damage dealt.
Darkra 	Dark Magick 	Inflicts Dark elemental damage to the target.
Darkga 	Dark Magick 	Inflicts Dark elemental damage to the target.
Death Claws 	Knuckles 	Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Diabolique 	Rapier 	Dark-elemental weapon that halves Dark damage taken.
Ebon Blade 	Blade 	Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Ensanguined Shield	Shield 	Dark-elemental shield, but causes weakness to fire.
Épée-prisme 	Rapier 	Weapon that halves Dark-elemental damage taken.
Evil Gaze 	Elemental Magick	Inflicts Confusion and deals Dark damage.
Final Eclipse 	Scion 	Zodiark blasts the field with dark magic, dealing fixed 999 damage to everyone.
Hades Bow 	Greatbow 	Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Heretic Rod 	Rod 	Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Lifebreak 	Sacred Blade 	Deals Dark damage in an inverse proportion to the user's HP.
Lifethread Blade 	Flair 	Dark-elemental physical attack that inflicts Doom.
Lv. 3 Dark 	Arcane Magick 	Dark-elemental magick attack that targets all units whose level is a multiple of 3.
Lv. ? Shadowflare 	Arcane Magick 	Inflicts Dark elemental damage to all targets with the same level.
Max's Oathbow 	Greatbow 	Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Minerva Bustier 	Light Armor 	Immune to Dark elemental damage. Female units only.
Mist Storm 	Geomancy 	Dark-elemental magick attack that reduces HP and MP of units in an area.
Reaper's Robe 	Robe 	Absorbs Dark elemental damage.
Ring of Precepts 	Accessory 	Allows the summoning of Zodiark.
Shadow Shade Tome 	Lore 	Dark-elemental damage against all units.
Shadowy Blow 	Maw 	Deals Dark damage in a line and inflicts Blind.
Silence Touch 	Ghostly Touch 	Deals Dark damage and inflicts Silence.
Sleep Touch 	Ghostly Touch 	Deals Dark and inflicts Sleep.
Sword of Darkness 	Astutia 	HP-draining Dark physical attack.
Zanmato 	Katana 	Weapon that halves Dark damage taken.
===Final Fantasy Tactics S===
===Vagrant Story===
Dark and Light are an opposed pair.
===Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates===
===Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time===
right
===Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light===
Dark 	Dark 	Dark
Game Element 	Type 	Effect
Dark 	Black Magic 	Deals minor dark-elemental damage.
Darkra 	Black Magic 	Deals moderate dark-elemental damage.
Darkaga 	Black Magic 	Deals major dark-elemental damage.
Strong Dark 	Joint Attack 	Deals minor dark-elemental damage.
Strong Darkra 	Joint Attack 	Deals moderate dark-elemental damage.
Strong Darkaga 	Joint Attack 	Deals major dark-elemental damage.
Amazing Dark 	Joint Attack 	Deals minor dark-elemental damage.
Amazing Darkra 	Joint Attack 	Deals moderate dark-elemental damage.
Amazing Darkaga 	Joint Attack 	Deals major dark-elemental damage.
Prodigious Dark 	Joint Attack 	Deals minor dark-elemental damage.
Prodigious Darkra 	Joint Attack 	Deals moderate dark-elemental damage.
Prodigious Darkaga	Joint Attack 	Deals major dark-elemental damage.
Elemental 	Job Ability 	Deals minor Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Dark and Light-elemental damage to random enemies.
Sigh of Darkness 	Smelt Result 	Deals dark-elemental damage.
Whirlpool of Chaos	Smelt Result 	Deals dark-elemental damage.
Bladeblitz 	Enemy Ability	Minor dark-elemental damage attack.
Dark Blast 	Enemy Ability	Minor dark-elemental damage attack.
Dark Breath 	Enemy Ability	Minor dark-elemental damage attack.
World of Dark 	Enemy Ability	Moderate dark-elemental damage attack, 50% of inflicting silence or curse.
Darkness Blade 	Weapon 	Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically.
Darkbringer 	Weapon 	Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically.
Blacksword 	Weapon 	Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically and can inflict sudden death.
Darkness Axe 	Weapon 	Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically.
Black Book 	Weapon 	Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically.
Darkness Staff 	Weapon 	Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically.
Evil Lance 	Weapon 	Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically.
Darkening Harp 	Weapon 	Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically.
Cursed Blade 	Weapon 	Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically and can inflict blindness.
Darksteel Shield 	Shield 	Nullifies dark-elemental based attacks.
Dusk Gauntlet 	Accessory 	Adds dark-elemental damage to weapon attacks.
Dark Cape 	Accessory 	Nullifies dark-elemental based attacks.
Dark Sigh 	Item 	Deals minor dark-elemental damage.
===Final Fantasy Dimensions===
Game Element	Type 	Effect
Dark 	Fusion Ability	Moderate dark-elemental damage to targets.
Dark Star 	Fusion Ability	Massive dark-elemental damage to multiple targets.
Diablos 	Summon 	Dark-elemental damage to multiple targets.
Darkness 	Dark Blade 	Consume 1/3 max HP for Major dark-elemental damage to single target.
Onyx Wave 	Dark Blade 	Consume 1/3max HP for dark-elemental damage to multiple targets.
Final Thrust	Dark Blade 	Dark-elemental damage to single target based on Max HP.
Ebony Slash 	Dark Blade 	Physical dark-elemental damage to single target.
Bardark 	Resist Element	Enchant all with dark-elemental resistance.
Endark 	Boost Element 	Enchant all with dark-elemental power.
===Pictlogica Final Fantasy===
===Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade===
===Final Fantasy Record Keeper===
===Final Fantasy Explorers===
===Final Fantasy Brave Exvius===
===World of Final Fantasy===
Game Element	Type 	Effect
 	Magic 	Inflict magical dark damage to a single target.
 	Ability 	Inflict magical dark damage to a single target.
 	Ability 	Inflict physical dark damage to a single target.
 	Ability 	Inflict physical dark damage to a single target.
 	Ability 	Inflict physical dark damage to all targets.
 	Ability 	Inflict physical dark damage to a single target. High critical chance.
 	Ability 	Inflict magical dark damage to a single target. Power increases relative to accrued damage.
 	Ability 	Inflict magical dark damage to all targets. Power increases relative to accrued damage.
 	Ability 	Use dark power to absorb HP from a single target.
 	Ability 	Use dark power to absorb HP from a single target.
 	Ability 	Use dark power to absorb AP from a single target.
 	Ability 	Inflict physical dark damage and absorb HP from a single target.
 	Ability 	Inflict physical dark damage/doom to a single target.
 	Ability 	Inflict magical dark damage/Blindness to a single target.
 	Ability 	Inflict magical dark damage/Poison to all targets.
 	Ability 	Raises dark ability damage.
 	Ability 	Restores AP upon taking dark damage.
 	Ability 	Raises dark resistance by 25.
 	Ability 	Raises dark resistance by 50.
 	Stack Ability	Deals Dark-elemental physical damage to a single target. Usable by Lann or Reynn in Jiant form, and a dark-themed Mirage with highest dark resistance.
 	Stack Ability	Deals Dark-elemental physical damage to a single target. Usable by Lann or Reynn in Jiant form and Gleefrit with any other Mirage.
 	Stack Ability	Deals Dark-elemental magical damage to a single target. Usable by Lann or Reynn in Jiant form and Undead Princess, Undead Princess★ or Lich with any other Mirage.
 	Mirajewel 	While equipped, allows Lann or Reynn to use this ability.
 	Mirajewel 	While equipped, allows Lann or Reynn to use this ability.
 	Mirajewel 	While equipped, allows Lann or Reynn to use this ability.
 	Mirajewel 	While equipped, grants Lann or Reynn the effects of this ability.
 	Mirajewel 	While equipped, grants Lann or Reynn the effects of this ability.
 	Ability Seed 	Allows a Mirage to use this ability when placed in a blank space in their Mirage Board.
 	Ability Seed 	Allows a Mirage to use this ability when placed in a blank space in their Mirage Board.
 	Ability Seed 	Grants a Mirage the effects of this ability when placed in a blank space in their Mirage Board.
===Final Fantasy Trading Card Game===
Dark is one of the eight elemental attributes, and one of two special attributes along with Shine of which the player can only control up to two cards from at any time. Dark cards depict villains of the series and have powerful abilities.
de:Schatten (Element)
pt-br:Escuridão (Elemento)
ru:Тьма (стихия)
Category:Recurring elements