Chakra (Final Fantasy IX)

Chakra is a Flair/Elan in Final Fantasy IX used by Amarant, which restores 20% of the target's maximum HP and MP for a cost of 4 MP. Chakra plays into Amarant's jack of all trades role in battle.
==Obtained==
Chakra is learned for 30 AP from Leather Plate and Cat's Claws. Amarant starts with Cat's Claws, and Leather Plate is available before Amarant even joins, and so Chakra can be the first ability he will master as a party member. Equipping both at the same time, Chakra only takes 15 AP to learn. Leather Plate can be stolen from Black Waltz 2, found in Lindblum's church, and bought from Black Mage Village.
==Mechanics== 
Chakra restores 20% of the target's maximum HP and MP based on the following formulae:
:HPRestored = (TargetMaxHP * 20) / 100
:MPRestored = (TargetMaxMP * 20) / 100
When used via Elan during Amarant's Trance, it restores HP and MP to all party members. With Power Up equipped, Chakra restores 40% of the target's HP and MP. If the target has Zombie, Chakra will damage their HP and MP instead of healing. Unlike White Magic, Chakra cannot be used to heal while outside of battle.
==Use==
Chakra is a good healing skill for its ability to restore both HP and MP. Though the amount restored is minor, it can help in a pinch, especially when supporting others, such as physical attackers with MP Attack, Dagger and Eiko's eidolons and Holy for Dbl Wht, Quina's Mighty Guard and other Blue Magics, and Vivi's Black Magic. With Power Up, the amount restored is more substantial, and so it is worth equipping if the player is using Chakra. However, Power Up is learned very late into the game from a Golden Skullcap synthesized at Black Mage Village in the endgame; by this point, the party will have Auto-Regen on everyone.
For pure healer build, Amarant would be better off equipping Healer and healing others with his physical attack, but then the player cannot use Counter, and would need to use Throw and Spare Change and No Mercy for damage.
With Return Magic, Counter, and Cover, Amarant could use his turn for free healing with Chakra while protecting allies and damaging enemies by responding with a free Attack or spell of his own. Chakra can be used to heal while in Oeilvert where White and Blue Magics are disabled. Chakra can be used to heal when the recipient has Reflect.
Once the party has Auto-Regen, Chakra's value diminishes as they recover health automatically, and so the main boon would be the MP restoration. However, Ethers and Tents are usually more than sufficient to keep the party topped up; Ether is especially good in battle with Chemist. Chakra's boon is that it is "free" as long as Amarant has at least 4 MP to use it, and so the player does not need to spend any items or gil to replenish their health if the amount Chakra provides suffices.
==Etymology and origin==
Chakra is a recurring skill for Monks in the Final Fantasy series; prior to being Amarant's skill, it was used by the Monks in Final Fantasy V, Sabin in Final Fantasy VI, and Monks in Final Fantasy Tactics to heal HP and statuses.
Category:Flair abilities in Final Fantasy IX