Aqua (Final Fantasy XII)

Aqua is a Black Magick spell in both the original PlayStation 2 version of Final Fantasy XII and the Zodiac re-releases. In the original version, it is known as Water . It is a single-target spell that deals water-elemental damage. It is the first tier Water spell, below the enemy-exclusive Aquara/Watera and Aquaga/Waterga. It is more powerful than Fire, Blizzard, and Thunder, but weaker than Aero. Aqua/Water is the only water-elemental spell the player can use. Though in most Final Fantasy games the water element opposes lightning, in Final Fantasy XII water opposes fire.
As a Black Magick spell, it is also a random outcome of the Shades of Black Technick.
The enemies that use Aqua/Water against the player are Great Tortoise, Barmuu, and Jelly.
Water Mote exists in the original version to cast the spell from an item. It is replaced with the Aquara Mote in the Zodiac versions, the upgrade to the Aqua spell which is otherwise only used by enemies.
==Obtained==
Aqua/Water's license costs 25 License Points and the spell is bought for 700 gil (Zodiac) or 800 gil (original) from shops after meeting Ba'Gamnan in the Lhusu Mines. In the Zodiac versions, it is also a Diamond Armlet treasure in Trial Mode Stage 34.
In the Zodiac versions, Aqua is used by the Black Mage and the Red Battlemage, as well as by Larsa (Lamont) when he joins as a guest; Larsa is the earliest access to the Aqua spell.
==Mechanics==
Aqua/Water deals water-elemental damage to a target based on the caster's level and Magick Power, mitigated by the target's Magick Resist.
The formula for damage calculation:
:[37 \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, Aqua/Water will damage for 30% more. As an elemental spell, it will do double damage to targets weak to Water, and 150% damage with water-potency gear: Six-fluted Pole, Cloud Staff, and Fumarole. The boosts stack multiplicatively.
Enemies who resist water take half damage. Those who nullify water take no damage and those who absorb water are healed by it. Shell halves damage from Aqua/Water.
Certain weather conditions and terrains affect both the player characters' and the foes' water damage. In strong winds, water deals half damage, rainstorm weather included. In foggy weather, and on water terrain, water damage is inflated to 120% of normal damage.
Aqua/Water bounces from Reflect unless the caster equips the Opal Ring. Casting Aqua/Water on the player's own reflected party bounces the spell multiple times onto the enemy or enemies. Damaging enemies with Aqua/Water gains MP to the caster if they have the Warmage license. A target can sometimes avoid Aqua/Water via their Magick Evade stat; for the player, this means wearing shields.
Aqua/Water costs 12 MP to cast without Channeling licenses.
==Use==
Aqua/Water is a good early mid game damaging spell that the player can set up via the gambit system (such as with Foe:water-vulnerable→Aqua). It can be good against flying enemies for characters who lack ranged weapons. Fire enemies are typically weak to water.
Aqua/Water is best used with the Cloud Staff to boost its power. It is most powerful in foggy weather, which is common in the Nabreus Deadlands, however, by this point in the game the spell will have been outclassed by stronger spells, as the spell group's biggest downside is that the upgrades are not available as spells to the player unlike with the other elemental spell groups. Aqua/Water is also more powerful in water terrain, which includes the Garamsythe Waterway. Its power is halved when the weather is windy; this can be canceled out with an Agate Ring.
In the Zodiac versions, Aqua is outclassed by Aquara Motes, bought from the Baknamy Merchant in the Necrohol of Nabudis.
In the endgame, the player gets the water-elemental Esper Famfrit that they can use instead of Aqua/Water.
==Behind the scenes==
In early concept art, Vaan is called "Aqua" (アクア) .
== Etymology ==
Category:Black Magicks in Final Fantasy XII