Firaga (Final Fantasy XII)

Firaga is a Black Magick spell in both the original PlayStation 2 version of Final Fantasy XII and the Zodiac re-releases. It is a multi-target spell that deals heavy fire-elemental damage to all foes in range. It is the third tier fire spell, above Fire and Fira, and below Ardor. Some enemies use the spell against the player.
As a Black Magicks spell, it is also a random outcome of the Shades of Black Technick.
The enemies that use Firaga against the player are Gnoma Entite, Salamand Entite, Gizamaluk, Etém, Necrofiend, Nightwalker, Reaper Mage, Crystalbug (red), Ash Wyrm, Skulwyrm [b], Mom Bomb, Diakon Entite, Crusader, Dragon Lich, Cataract Aevis, Deidar, Shield Wyrm, Leamonde Entite, Deathgaze, Behemoth King, Ixion, Gijuk [b], Tyrant, Hell Wyrm, Aspidochelon, Vishno, Vishno, Crypt Bunny, Dheed, Ishteen, Evil Spirit, Vorres, Tower, Luxollid, Vagrant Soul, Disma, Skullash, Myath, Helvinek, Pallicant, Helm-Rook, Vayne Novus, and Krjn (Trial Mode).
==Obtained==
Firaga's license costs 90 License Points in the Zodiac versions, where the spell is bought for 6800 gil from shops from Phon Coast onward.
In the original version, Firaga's license costs 45 LP and the spell is bought for 8200 gil from Balfonheim Port after the events in Draklor Laboratory.
In the Zodiac versions, Firaga is used by Black Mage and Red Battlemage, though the latter needs the license for the Esper Cúchulainn to reach it on their board. In the original version, the Esper Chaos uses Firaga on fire-weak foes.
==Mechanics==
Firaga deals heavy fire-elemental damage to all foes in range based on the caster's level and Magick Power, mitigated by the target(s)' Magick Resist. Its range was expanded in the Zodiac versions.
The spell power in the original version is 124, lowered to 120 in the Zodiac versions. The formula for damage calculation:
:[POWER \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, Firaga will damage for 30% more. As an elemental spell, it will do double damage to targets weak to fire, and 150% damage with fire-potency gear: Burning Bow and Flame Staff. Oiled targets take triple damage from fire. The boosts stack multiplicatively.
Enemies who resist fire take half damage. Those who nullify fire take no damage and those who absorb fire are healed by it. Shell halves damage from Fire.
Certain weather conditions affect both the player characters' and the foes' fire damage. In sunny or cloudy weather with strong winds (the player characters' hair and clothes move rapidly), fire attacks deal 120% damage. Counterintuitively, as windy weather inflates fire damage, snow- and sandstorms also boost fire damage to 120%. Regular rain halves fire damage, and heavy rain with wind cuts it by 40%.
Firaga bounces from Reflect unless the caster equips the Opal Ring. Casting Firaga on the player's own party with Reflect will bounce the spell onto enemies numerous times. Damaging enemies with Firaga gains MP to the caster if they have the Warmage license. A target can sometimes avoid Firaga via their Magick Evade stat; for the player, this means wearing shields.
Firaga costs 38 MP to cast without Channeling licenses in the Zodiac versions and 42 MP in the original version.
==Use==
Firaga is a good mid to endgame damaging spell that the player can set up via the gambit system (such as with Foe:fire-vulnerable→Firaga). It can be good against flying enemies for characters who lack ranged weapons. Water enemies are typically weak to fire damage, including the flan marks in the Garamsythe Waterway, Slyt, and Famfrit.
Firaga is best used with the Flame Staff to boost its power, or with the Burning Bow for the Red Battlemage in the Zodiac versions. It may be worth giving the Red Battlemage Cúchulainn to give them third tier magicks, making the job a good caster until the end of the game.
Firaga effectively replaces Fire and Fira as MP is generally plentiful enough for the player to use the stronger versions of spells, especially with the licenses that refund MP costs. However, Ardor is not necessarily better than Firaga even though it is stronger, having a longer cast and recovery times and higher Effect Capacity.
Firaga can be good when reflected off the player's own party to multi-cast it. It is especially strong against oiled enemies, such as Enkidu, Disma, Phoenix, and the final boss's first form.
The fire element performs poorly in rain, but this effect can be canceled out with an Agate Ring. It benefits from windy weather, and so would be good to use in any duststorms or snowstorms or just when the party's clothes and hair are moving rapidly on screen.
Category:Black Magicks in Final Fantasy XII