Blizzard (Final Fantasy VI)

Blizzard, also known as Ice, is an Attack spell in Final Fantasy VI. It is the basic ice-elemental spell that can be used to hit one target or an entire party. It is learned naturally by Celes at level 1, and can later be earned by other party members through magicite.
Blizzard is also an enemy ability used by Kefka (first battle), Level 10 Magic, Magna Roader (Red), Magna Roader (Final Fantasy VI), Number 024, Number 128, Rhizopas, Shiva, Apparition, and Specter.
Blizzard is an added ability to the Icebrand weapon.
==Obtained==
Celes knows Blizzard naturally at level 1, while other party members must learn it through magicite. It is taught by Shiva at a x10 rate and Bismarck at a x20 rate.
==Mechanics==
As a spell with a power of 22, it deals damage with the following formula:
:22 \times 4 + (Level \times Magic \times 22 / 32)
where "Level" refers to the user's level, and Magic refers to the user's Magic stat. As a standard spell, when Blizzard is group-cast, its damage is halved, the target's Magic Defense and shell play a role in mitigating damage, and the spell can potentially be blocked by Magic Evasion.
Several relics augment Blizzard and other spells. If the caster is equipped with an Earring or a Hero Ring, the damage is multiplied by 5/4 (or a 25% increase). If the caster is equipped with two Earrings, two Hero Rings, or one of each, the damage is multiplied by 3/2 (a 50% increase). If the caster equips Gold Hairpin or Celestriad, its MP cost is cut by half or reduced to 1, respectively.
Because the spell deals ice-elemental damage, the enemy's elemental affinity affects its damage output. If ice is nullified, or the target is immune to ice, the spell will deal 0 damage. If the target absorbs the element, it will heal HP instead of dealing damage. If the target resists the element, it will deal half damage; conversely, if the target is weak to the element, its damage will be doubled.
==Use==
Blizzard is an early basic offensive spell. It is the strongest of the first three basic spells, but is less MP-efficient than Fire (where the MP difference is more significant than the near-negligible power difference). Blizzard is strongest against enemies weak to the ice element, as it will deal double damage to them and likely defeat most early enemies weak to ice in one hit. The spell's small MP cost means it can be used frequently without too great a concern for the user's MP, though against groups of enemies, it is more MP- and turn-efficient to split its damage.
Celes learns Blizzard naturally, making it effectively her main source of damage for her (with Runic as a viable way to recover MP). For other party members, as an Attack spell, the player should prioritize teaching Blizzard to party members with a high natural Magic stat and access to mage equipment. This includes Terra, Relm, and Strago; Mog and Shadow have high Magic stats, while Gogo has access to mage equipment. Though Sabin is best built toward magic damage, his access to Aura Cannon makes him less of a priority than others. As an easy spell to learn, all party members should eventually be taught it.
Blizzard is outclassed by Blizzara in terms of damage output and turn-efficiency. Blizzara's higher MP cost means it should be saved for bosses and tougher enemies when first acquired, unless the caster is using the Gold Hairpin. Later in the game, Blizzara can be used more frequently, and by the time Blizzaga is learned, Blizzard is effectively obsolete.
Umaro can equip Blizzard Orb to deal great ice-elemental damage, but due to his nature, its use is random.
==Gallery==
BlizzardFF6.png|GBA.
FFVI iOS Blizzard.png|2014.
==Citations==
Category:Magic in Final Fantasy VI