Water (Final Fantasy IX)

Water is a Blk Mag spell, obtained halfway through Final Fantasy IX. It is one of the few sources of Water-elemental damage, and the only Water-elemental attack available to Vivi. Water deals Water-elemental damage to one or multiple targets. After Vivi has it, Steiner can also use Water Sword as part of his Swd Mag skillset when both Vivi and him are in the same party and neither is incapacitated.
Water can be used as an enemy ability by Anemone, Axolotl, Clipper, Gigan Toad, Gizamaluke, Kraken, Lani, and Sahagin. It costs 24 MP when used as an enemy ability, and works with the ability Return Magic and is vulnerable to Reflect.
==Obtained==
Water is learned from N-Kai Armlet, found the earliest in Abandoned Lagoon chocograph treasure, reachable after the player has the Blue Narciss and they progress in the Chocobo Hot and Cold quest. The armlet is also found in Desert Palace library and bought for 3,000 gil in Esto Gaza (after Desert Palace), Daguerreo (before going through the Shimmering Island portal), and Ipsen's Castle Mogshop.
==Mechanics== 
Black Magic spells' damage is determined by Vivi's Level, Magic stats, and the Spell Power of the spell. Vivi can use the Focus ability to increase his Magic during that battle by 25% per use. The effect stacks up to 99 and lasts for the entire battle, even if KO'd.
:Base = 64 - Target's Magic Defense
:Bonus = Magic + RndMOD ([(Level + Magic) / 8] + 1)
:Damage = Base * Bonus
Where Rnd means a random number, while MOD means modulus operation. "Rnd MOD x" can be read as a random number between 0 and x-1.
Bonus is halved by target's Shell, Vivi being under Mini, and by multi-targeting the spell. Bonus is boosted by 50% if Vivi equips Octagon Rod, Golden Hairpin, or Golden Skullcap. Steiner has no means of boosting Water damage for his Swd Mag. Bonus is doubled with Reflectx2.
In Vivi's Trance, Blk Mag turns into Dbl Blk where Vivi can cast two spells on his turn. The spells cost MP and expend the Trance gauge independently.
The support abilities that affect Water are Reflect-Null (Water pierces target's Reflect) and Reflectx2 (Water deals more damage when reflected). With Mag Elem Null, every Black Magic spell is rendered non-elemental, but the bonus from Octagon Rod/Golden Hairpin/Golden Skullcap still takes effect.
For Swd Mag, damage dealt is based on Steiner's Attack and Strength stat, as well as on the power of the spell.
The damage formula for Swd Mag spells is as follows:
:Base = Attack + 64 - Enemy Defense
:Bonus = Strength + RndMOD ([(Level + Strength) / 8] + 1)
:Damage = Base * Bonus
==Use==
Water is good against enemies weak to Water-elemental damage, but it is weaker than the third tier Fire, Ice, and Lightning spells, which can be obtained fairly soon after Water. Therefore, if the enemy is not weak to Water, which few enemies are, Vivi is likely better off using Firaga, Blizzaga, or Thundaga.
Category:Black Magic in Final Fantasy IX