Slow (Final Fantasy XII)

Slow is a Time Magick spell both in the Zodiac versions of Final Fantasy XII as well as in the original PlayStation 2 version. It is a single-target status ailment spell that slows the afflicted's ability gauge, forcing them to take longer between actions. Its enhancement counterpart is Haste. Its multi-target upgrade is Slowga.
Slow can be cast by Skull Defender, Gargoyle, Nightmare, Skull Knight, Darkmare, Mistmare, Mallicant, Mateus, Elder Wyrm, Vinuskar, Pallicant, Baknamy (Sword), Spinner-Rook, and Judge Ghis (Trial Mode Stage 100).
==Obtained==
Slow's license costs 20 License Points and costs 200 gil. In the Zodiac versions, the spell is available from shops since the beginning of the game, and in the original version, it is initially available in Nalbina Fortress, becoming available in Rabanastre after getting the Sunstone from Giza.
In the Zodiac versions, Slow is used by the Time Battlemage and the Red Battlemage.
==Mechanics==
Slow temporarily inflicts the status of the same name that halves a unit's ATB gauge speed, forcing them to take action less frequently. Slow is removed with Dispel, Remedy, and Haste; Slow and Haste statuses cannot usually co-exist. In the Zodiac versions, Chronos Tears (and Dispel Motes) also remove Slow.
The formula for the duration is:
:Duration = 120 - (Vitality \times 0.6) s
The duration depends on the receiver's Vitality stat, not the caster's. Slow and Haste do not affect the length other status effects will last, but Stop will halt them.
The base success rate of the spell against an enemy that is not immune is 60% in the original version, updated to 65% in the Zodiac versions.
:Success~Rate = Base~Rate + (User's~Magick~Power - Target's~Vitality) \%
The success rate is unaffected by the target's Magick Evade stat, as the spell instead checks against the target's Vitality.
The hit rate is improved by further 50% with the caster having Faith status, or doubled with Serenity license/Magick Gloves when on full health, or Spellbreaker license/Leather Gorget when in critical health. Target's Shell halves the accuracy of the spell. If the caster is wearing the Indigo Pendant, Slow will succeed unless the enemy is immune to the status.
The accuracy underflow bug is a glitch in some versions of Final Fantasy XII where a low level character with extremely low Magick Power stat attempts to use a status move on a target with very high Vitality, and the accuracy of the spell becomes less than zero. In this case the accuracy will underflow to 100%, allowing certain status spells to always succeed.
Slow costs 8 MP to cast without Channeling licenses. The spell will bounce from Reflect unless the caster wears the Opal Ring.
==Use==
Slow is a status ailment spell the player can easily set up via the gambit system (such as with Foe status:Haste→Slow or Foe:Any→Slow). However, it is best used situationally and with the Indigo Pendant equipped whenever possible. Instead of using the spell, the player can also use Long Bolts (25%), Kagenui (10%), Iron Pole (10%), Heavy Lance (10%), or the Orichalcum Dirk (10%), or equip a Nihopalaoa and use a Remedy or a Chronos Tear onto an enemy.
Slow forces the afflicted to act less often, making it generally useful and it is the only ailment that commonly applies to bosses. Since Slow only affects the ATB gauge speed and not animation speed, combos, or the "cooldown time" after using an ability, it mainly makes a difference for physical attackers. As compensation, many physical enemies gain the Attack CT0 augment, which makes them act without Charge Time, effectively making Slow pointless. Ailments that disable enemies altogether (Sleep, Disable, and Stop) are better than Slow, but commonly do not work on tough foes.
The player could use Slow to remove enemies' Haste to both rid the status and to get an ailment to stick on top. The player could use Slow on enemies that they want to keep alive until they manage to steal from them.
Category:Time Magicks in Final Fantasy XII