Shell (ability)

Shell is a recurring spell generally classified as White Magic. It appears in various games in the Final Fantasy series and bestows the status effect of the same name, which halves all magic damage dealt to the target, often including both offensive and curative spells.
==Overview==
225px|right|thumb|Shell in Final Fantasy XII.
Shell serves as one of the primary recurring buff spells in the series, being the magic defense parallel to Protect. Due to the lack of importance in magic defense in earlier titles, Shell did not have a recurring presence in the first three series entries, but would start to appear in almost every title starting from Final Fantasy IV. Titles with magic types often categorize Shell as a White Magic spell, but there have been several entries that include it as a Green Magic spell.
Shell is noticeably absent in Final Fantasy VII and its related titles, being substituted with the Manaward spell instead. In addition, a debuffing version of the spell known as Deshell as appears, which lowers a target's magic defense.
Newer entries would begin to feature group-wide variants, with Shell often being relegated to the base single target version. Upgraded versions have names deriving from the series recurring Magic tier system. The following are some of the recurring upgraded tiers:
*Shellra - The less recurring group variant of Shell, originally appearing in Final Fantasy XI. Shellra raises the magic defense of multiple allies, sharing the same magic defense stat increase as the default Shell spell.
*Shellga - Serves as the more recurring group variant of Shell, originally appearing in Final Fantasy XII as a Green Magic spell. It grants Shell to all allies within an area of effect, with some titles having the spell's effects have a shorter duration than its single target counterpart.
In addition, several titles have featured unique or alternate upgraded forms for Cure. These spells include unique properties, or are used by specific jobs:
*Shellra - An upgraded version of Shell that exclusively appears in Final Fantasy XIII. Unlike the recurring group variant of the same name, the Shellra of Final Fantasy XIII is a single target buffing spell that raises the magic resistances of a target by 50%, but at the cost of a shorter duration. Despite sharing the same name in English, the spell is known as Shellda in Japanese.
*Shellja - An upgraded version of Shell that exclusively appears in Final Fantasy Tactics. It has a similar area of effect range to its predecessor, but has a greater height range.
*Shell I - XVI - Due to the unique progression system of Final Fantasy II, Shell levels up like all other magics. There are sixteen versions of Shell, having increased resistance amounts and success rates with each level.
*Shell II - Shell V - Upgraded forms of Shell that exclusively appear in Final Fantasy XI. Due to the -ra and -ga tiers in the title being used exclusively for area-of-effect versions, Shell magics serve as the single target versions used by most jobs with access to White Magic, with its upgraded versions using Roman numerals to signify their enhanced rank. 
== Appearances ==
=== Final Fantasy II ===
Shell is a White Magic spell that increases the Magic Defense of one or all allies, which reduces the success rate of spells and enemy attacks. As the spell's level grows, the spell's effectiveness and success rate increases. The effect can stack, but repeated use on the same unit(s) increases the chance the spell will miss. Any character can learn Shell by having them use the Shell Tome (Shell Scroll in Origins).
Shell Tome	Shell Tome
Effect 	Allows the target to learn Shell when used outside of battle. Casts Shell VIII on all allies when used in battle.
Buy 	Paloom, Poft, Mysidia, Machanon
Cost 	400 gil (Origins)
Cost 	300 gil (Dawn of Souls, 20th Anniversary Edition)
=== Final Fantasy IV ===
Shell is a White Magic spell. It has a casting time of 0, costs 10 MP with a 66% Accuracy. It is learned by Rosa (level 20), Porom (level 29), Tellah (after completing Mount Ordeals), Fusoya (default), and Paladin Cecil (level 33 in 3D version). Shell can be cast on either a single target or an entire party; this has no impact on its effectiveness. This spell can fail frequently when cast by a character with a low Spirit stat.
The spell is not learnable on on the SNES North American and Easy Type version. This spell is used by Zemus's Mind, but the white magic icon has been removed from its name.
In the 2D releases, Shell boosts its target's Magic Defense stat by 3 points, to a maximum of 255, for the duration of the battle. The spell will automatically fail if its target's Magic Defense is at 255, and during the final battle with Zeromus it is programmed not to work at all. In the 3D release, Shell bestows the Shell status, halving Magic Damage that the party receives, and works properly in the final battle. It can also only be cast once. Its MP cost has been boosted to 15.
==== Final Fantasy IV -Interlude- ====
Shell is a White Magic spell known initially by Rosa and Porom. It increase the Magic Defense of all targets at the cost of 10 MP.
==== Final Fantasy IV: The After Years ====
Shell is a spell for all White Magic users, it is also an enemy ability used by Boss Gobby, Lord Dragon, and Ultima Weapon. It can be used to target all allies at once.
It decreases any magic damage based on the amount of layers of shell the target has.
Number of stacks	Damage reduction
1 	1/9
2 	1/5
3 	3/11
4 	1/3
=== Final Fantasy V ===
Shell is a spell for the White Mage job. It is a White Magic Level 4 spell and it can be bought for 3,000 gil at Regole, Castle of Bal, Quelb, and Surgate Castle. It costs 5 MP to cast. It is one of the spells that can be cast from the Wonder Wand for free.
Shell can be cast by Calofisteri, Carbuncle, Gilgamesh at the Big Bridge, Halicarnassus, Harvester, Hades, Necromancer, Zephyrus, and Tiny Mage.
=== Final Fantasy VI ===
Shell is an effect spell the espers Alexander, Zona Seeker, Carbuncle, and Unicorn can teach to characters. It costs 15 MP to cast and is vulnerable to Runic. Shell can be cast by Level 70 Magic, Cherry, Moebius, Gilgamesh, and Kaiser Dragon.
===Final Fantasy VII Rebirth===
Shell is a spell that raises resistance to magic damage by bestowing . It is a spell in that costs 9 MP and 1 ATB segment to cast.
It is also used by Moss-Grown Adamantoise and Two Face.
=== Final Fantasy VIII ===
Shell is a Support Magic spell that can be refined from items using GF Diablos's Support Magic Refinement ability, as well as drawn from enemies and draw points. The player can also get one Shell spell from Zell's "love quest" if they give Hot dogs & Red as the answers to a "survey" held by girls at the library, and later return for the results.
Casting Shell in battle boosts compatibility with Carbuncle by 1, and with Cerberus by 0.2, but lowers compatibility with Diablos and Eden by 0.2 as well.
=== Final Fantasy IX ===
Dagger and Eiko can use the White Magic spell Shell for 6 MP to bestow the status of the same name to mitigate magical damage. It can be reflected and works with Return Magic. Shell can be cast by Serpion and Necron.
=== Final Fantasy X ===
Shell is a White Magic spell located on Yuna's section of the Sphere Grid although it can be learned by all characters. This spell halves magical damage, and costs 10 MP to cast. Shell can be cast by Cindy, Guado Guardian (B), Seymour, and Th'uban.
==== Final Fantasy X-2 ====
Shell is a White Magic spell that reduces damage done by magical attacks for 10 MP. It learned by the White Mage dressphere for 30 AP. It can also be used by any dressphere when equipped with Selene Guard Garment Grid.
It is also an enemy ability used by Garik Ronso, Node A, Node B, Node C, Right Bulwark, Seymour (Fiend Arena), and Unum.
=== Final Fantasy XI ===
Shell is a spell that can be learned by Red Mages, White Mages, Scholars, Paladins, and Rune Fencers, though because it is such a low-level spell it can be used by many characters with any of these jobs as a Support Job. It is the earliest in a line of spells that go up to Shell V. Shell applies approximately 10% reduction of magical damage.
=== Final Fantasy XII ===
Shell reduces magic damage by 25% and halves the chance of being struck by status ailments.
In the original version, Shell is a Green Magick spell. It can be used when its license, Green Magick 2, is learned for 30 LP, and can be bought for 300 gil in Rabanastre (after Barheim Passage), Bhujerba, Dreadnought Leviathan, Dalmasca Westersand (after Leviathan), and from Dyce in Ogir-Yensa Sandsea and Nam-Yensa Sandsea.
In the Zodiac versions, Shell is listed as White Magick 3 license, along with Protect. It can be bought for 250 gil in Rabanastre (after Ba'Gamnan in Lhusu Mines), Bhujerba, Dreadnought Leviathan, Dalmasca Westersand (after Ondore's Estate), Dyce, and Archades, or found in Trial Mode Stage 27 (with Diamond Armlet). It can be used by the White Mage and Red Battlemage jobs.
=== Final Fantasy XIII ===
Shell is a Synergist ability that increases the magic resistance of any ally by 33%. It is learned by Hope (stage 2), Snow (stage 7), Lightning (stage 8), and Sazh (stage 9).
It is also an enemy ability used by Cid Raines.
==== Final Fantasy XIII-2 ====
Shell is a Synergist ability that raise target's magic resistance. It is learned by Serah (role level 8), Noel (role level 1), Gahongas (44), Gigantuar (14), Imp (1), Leyak (17), Luminous Puma (1), Mewmao (1), Oannes (4), Sahagin Prince (6), Sazh (23), Thexteron (8), Triffid (1), and Ultros (5). It has an ATB cost of 2 and a duration of 180 seconds.
It is also an enemy ability used by Leyak, Lightning, Purple Chocobo, and Ultros.
==== Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII ====
Shell can be used in battle by Ereshkigal.
=== Final Fantasy XIV ===
Shell L and Lost Shell are instanced abilities that lower magic damage inflicted to a target. Shell L is usable in the Forbidden Land, Eureka Pyros instance and raises the magic defense stat of a single party member by 1000 points; Lost Shell is an action in the Bozjan Southern Front, it decreases magic damage by 10%.
Shell appeared at the initial launch of the 1.0 version as a Conjurer ability available at rank 16. It raised the magic defense of all party members within an area-of-effect. However with class changes introduced in Patch 1.31, it was removed as an ability and its effect was fused into the Protect spell with the Proshell trait.
While the Conjurer and White Mage's Proshell trait was kept during the entirety of the A Realm Reborn reboot, it was eventually removed at the launch of Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward for balancing reasons. Instead, Protect was changed to increase both the physical and magic defense of all party members by default.
=== Final Fantasy Tactics ===
Shell can be used through the White Mage job it cost 70 JP to learn it. It costs 6 MP to use and has a speed of 25. It casts Shell in a standard cross-shaped area.
=== Final Fantasy Tactics Advance ===
Shell can be used through the White Mage. It costs 100 AP to master it, 6 MP to cast, and has a range of 4 with a vertical reach of 2. It casts Shell in standard cross-shaped area. It can be stolen through the ability Steal: Ability.
==== Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift ====
Shell can be taught to a Green Mage by the War Hammer for 150 AP, and costs 8 MP to cast. Red Mages can also learn Shell through the Mage Masher.
=== Final Fantasy Tactics S ===
=== Final Fantasy Type-0 ===
==== Final Fantasy Agito ====
=== Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King ===
Shell is a level 10 Protection spell, exclusive to the White Mage class, and caps at level 100. It increases allies' Magic Defense and can be used once per battle up to three times a day.
=== Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light ===
Shell is a White Magic spell and costs 2 AP to cast. When the spell is used it increases a characters magic defense by 50%. Shell can be given to any character by having a Shell Tome in the character's inventory. The spell can be purchased for 1,000 gil in Guera and Urbeth at night, and in Horne after the player defeats Satan.
=== Final Fantasy Dimensions ===
Shell requires White Magic Level 5 and 10 MP to use. It can be bought for 6,000 gil in Magic Shops in Chapters 3-5, and it can be cast on either one or all party members.
=== Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia ===
Shell is a Bravery ability from Hope. It raises the party's Magic Damage Resist for 5 turns and the party gains BRV based on the caster's ATK.
=== Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call ===
Shell (Lv1) is a proactive ability that costs 8 CP to equip. It is active for the entire length of the Battle Music Sequences (BMS). It reduces damage taken from magic-type enemies and has low strength. It is learned by Minwu (default), Cecil (level 5), Faris (level 10), Aerith (default), Garnet (default), Eiko (default), Yuna #2 (level 10), Ace (level 20), Rem (level 10), and Serah (level 5).
Shell (Lv2) is a proactive ability that costs 13 CP to equip. It is active for the entire length of the BMS. It reduces damage taken from magic-type enemies and has medium strength. It is learned by Minwu (level 35), Cecil (level 50), Rosa (level 40), Faris (level 45), Aerith (level 25), Garnet (level 45), Eiko (level 30), Hope (level 90), Y'shtola (level 15), Ramza (level 60), Yuna #2 (level 35), Ace (level 65), Rem (level 50), and Serah (level 50).
Shell (Lv3) is a proactive ability that costs 23 CP to equip. It is active for the entire length of the BMS. It reduces damage taken from magic-type enemies and has full strength. It is learned by Minwu (level 70), Rosa (level 80), Faris (level 85), Aerith (level 85), Eiko (level 65), Y'shtola (level 85), Orlandeau (level 95), Yuna #2 (level 85), Rem (level 85), and Serah (level 85).
=== Theatrhythm Final Fantasy All-Star Carnival ===
=== Pictlogica Final Fantasy ===
==== Pictlogica Final Fantasy ≒ ====
=== Final Fantasy Record Keeper ===
Shell is a White Magic ability with a Rarity of 1☆. It can be cast on one target, doubling Resistance, it can initially be used four times and it can be honed to Rank 5. It can be created by using Minor White Orb x3, Minor Earth Orb x3, Minor Holy Orb x3, and 1000 gil.
=== Final Fantasy Explorers ===
=== Final Fantasy World Wide Words ===
=== Final Fantasy Brave Exvius ===
====War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius====
=== World of Final Fantasy ===
Shell is an active ability that lessens magical damage taken on a single target for 2 AP. It can be used by Asterius, Carbuncle, Chocochick, Gilgamesh, Goblin, Joult, Kupicaroon, Largebuncle, Minimantoise, Mythril Giant, Ramewl★, Ramuh★, Water Golem, and Zapt.
It is also an enemy ability used by Gilgamesh and Valefor.
===Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin===
=== Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon ===
MBarrier is a Lv. 4 spell that costs 3 SP to cast and protects Chocobo temporarily from magic damage.
=== Final Fantasy Trading Card Game ===
Ovelia's card can use M. Barrier. For the discard of another Ovelia card and Dulling Ovelia, M. Barrier grants the Haste and Brave effects to all the player's other Forwards, and allows them to attack an additional time that turn.
==Non-Final Fantasy guest appearances==
===Other Square Enix titles===
Shell has appeared outside of the Final Fantasy series as a magic ability in several other Square Enix titles.
Shell appears as a recurring auto-ability in the Kingdom Hearts series, appearing in both Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep. When active, it temporarily reduces the damage the user receives from magical attacks.
 is featured as a recurring White Magic spell in the Bravely series, being the common means of temporarily increasing magic defense in combat. The spell is naturally usable by White Mages in all titles, but titles associated with the first Bravely Default have allowed the Red Mage and Spiritmaster jobs to have natural access to the spell.
Bravely Default - Shell.jpg|Shell in Bravely Default.
=== Influences in other titles ===
Shell appears in , an RPG title created by the Mistwalker company founded by Hironobu Sakaguchi. It is a Barrier Magic spell that increases the magic defense of a target. In addition, the spell uses a similar tier system to Final Fantasy's for its upgraded forms, using the names Shell, Shella , and Shellus .
== Gallery ==
FFII NES Shell.png|Final Fantasy II (NES).
FFII Shell PS.png|Final Fantasy II (PS, single).
FFII Shell All PS.png|Final Fantasy II (PS, party).
FFII Shell1 GBA.png|Final Fantasy (GBA, single).
FFII Shell All GBA.png|Final Fantasy (GBA, party).
FFII PSP Shell.png|Final Fantasy II (PSP, single).
FFII PSP Shell All.png|Final Fantasy II (PSP, party).
FFIV SNES Shell.png|Final Fantasy IV (SNES).
FFIVShell.png|Final Fantasy IV (GBA).
FFIV Shell DS.png|Final Fantasy IV (3D, DS).
Shell ffiv ios.PNG|Final Fantasy IV (3D, mobile/Steam).
Rosa using Shell from FFIV Pixel Remaster.jpg|Final Fantasy IV (Pixel Remaster).
FFIV TAY Shell.png|Final Fantasy IV: The After Years (Wii).
FFIV TAY iOS Shell.png|Final Fantasy IV: The After Years (3D, mobile/Steam).
FF4PSP Shell.png|Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection.
Shell-FFVA.png|Final Fantasy V (GBA).
FFV iOS Shell.png|Final Fantasy V (defunct mobile/Steam).
ShellFF6.png|Final Fantasy VI (GBA).
FFVI Android Shell.png|Final Fantasy VI (defunct mobile/Steam).
Shell from FFVI Pixel Remaster.jpg|Final Fantasy VI (Pixel Remaster).
FFVIII Shell.png|Final Fantasy VIII.
FFIX Shell.png|Final Fantasy IX.
FFX Shell.PNG|Final Fantasy X.
Shell in ffx-2.jpg|Final Fantasy X-2.
Shell from FFXI.jpg|Final Fantasy XI
FFXII Shell.PNG|Final Fantasy XII.
Shell from FFXIII.jpg|Final Fantasy XIII.
FFXIV 1.0 Shell.png|Final Fantasy XIV (version 1.0).
FFT Shell.png|Final Fantasy Tactics.
FFTA Shell.png|Final Fantasy Tactics Advance.
FFTA2 Shell.png|Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift.
FF4HoL Shell.png|Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light.
FFD-Shell-Status.PNG|Final Fantasy Dimensions.
DFFOO Shell.jpg|Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia.
PFF Shell.png|Pictlogica Final Fantasy.
PFF Shell XVI.png|Shell XVI in Pictlogica Final Fantasy.
FFRK Shell Icon.png|Icon in Final Fantasy Record Keeper.
FFRK Shell.png|Final Fantasy Record Keeper.
FFBE Shell.png|Final Fantasy Brave Exvius.
WoFF Shell.png|World of Final Fantasy.
SOP WHM Shell.jpg|Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin.
FFFCD MBarrier.PNG|Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon.
de:Shell
ja:シェル
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Category:Recurring White Magic
Category:Recurring Green Magick