Final Fantasy - feeling blue (magic)

Torzelbaum · Dec 23, 2022

Falselogic said:
I have always enjoyed [Blue Mage] when it showed up

FelixSH said:
The Blue Mage is definitely a favourite.

Lokii said:
I'm also a big fan of Blue Mage.

pudik said:
Also echo blue mage love.

gorha said:
I'm also a Blue Mage enjoyer

As you can see - the Blue Mage character class is one of our favorite Final Fantasy classes. I think it's easy to see why since it provides for an interesting approach to a magic-using character - both conceptually and mechanically. So what are some of your favorite Blue Magic spells?

Falselogic · Dec 23, 2022

What's the one you get from Marlboro? No, not lung cancer! Bad Breath! That's a fun one. Inflict all those status effects!

Purple · Dec 23, 2022

I love blue mages on paper, but they are, regrettably, ALWAYS* a vector for that thing they love to do where "oh yeah, there's the one spell one boss has a 5% chance of ever casting and absolutely nowhere else you can get that if you missed it" which rubs me the wrong way.

*FF14, by the nature of MMO design, is the one exception I know of and hooray for that.

Mogri · Dec 23, 2022

Big Guard and White Wind are the top two reasons to keep a Blue Mage around.

Oathbreaker · Dec 23, 2022

I very much loved Quina's version of it, where you don't need to wait to learn it, just eat the thing that knows it. It has its own little trial to get the enemy's health low enough, but that is far more engaging than just waiting forever for the right ability to be used.

Fully forgot to actually say what my favorite is. Final Sting in FFXIV. The shenanigans a party of Blue Mages can get up to, completely shattering the game, is absolutely incredible.

Positronic Brain · Dec 23, 2022

Bad Breath is good, but everybody knows the spell that separates real Blue Mages from cerulean posers is Self Destruct.

pudik · Dec 23, 2022

lots of good ones in ffxi. I never got to max level so i don't know them all, but ive always loved Magic Fruit. Great sound effect:

It's really hard to beat frog drop tho.

You are normally playing blue mage for mighty/big guard and white wind, but why worry about mechanical use

Torzelbaum · Dec 24, 2022

pudik said:
It's really hard to beat frog drop tho.

I also like those meta / unusual power-up method spells like Chocobuckle, Goblin Punch, Stone and Step Mine / Traveler.

Another type of Blue Magic spell I like are the "counter" spells like Hastebreak and Reflect???.

Mogri said:
White Wind

I also like the attack spells that are based on the caster's HP like ???? / Revenge / Revenge Blast and Limit Glove.

Mogri · Dec 25, 2022

Blue Magic paved the way for the Calculator with spells like Level 3 Flare. I don't think those spells have ever been as good as they were in FF5: 6 had a similar set of spells, but Flare was kicked to L4 and the cost was more than doubled.

ozacrot · Dec 25, 2022

My favorite facet of Blue Magic is how many spells are based on parameters you have few other reasons to engage with, like enemy level, step count, or frogs caught. Don't really see a lot of that in other magic classes.

gorha · Dec 25, 2022

Pep Up/Transfusion, which kills the caster to restore all HP and MP to an ally, is a favorite of mine. The first time I played FFV, my preferred strategy late in the game was to make everyone Summoners with Blue Magic, using Bahamut to attack, Transfusion to restore MP and Phoenix to revive people after they cast Transfusion. Not the most efficient way to play, but it worked.

The ones that affect enemies with specific levels are cool, especially Goblin Punch.

I don't think it was in any other games (maybe the MMOs?), but Quistis' Degenerator is great, an instant death skill that works on almost anything, even a few bosses.

ThricebornPhoenix · Dec 25, 2022

1,000 Needles is the spell of choice for fans of round numbers or fixed damage. One thing I love about this one is that it's so distinctive, so unforgettably Final Fantasy. In your twilight years, when your failing brain equates "Frog Song" with Rainbow Connection, you'll still remember 1,000 Needles as the spell you learned from that cute but annoying cactus monster.

I get a lot of mileage out of any spell that gives access to elements or status effects that you otherwise couldn't use regularly. Boss is weak to Water but you can't summon Leviathan? Aqua Breath is here to save the day (in exchange for most of your MP)!

Final Fantasy - feeling blue (magic)

Torzelbaum

????? LV 13 HP 292/ 292

(he, him, his)

Falselogic

Lapsed Threadcromancer

(they/them)

Purple

(She/Her)

Mogri

Round and round I go

(he)

Oathbreaker

Positronic Brain

Out Of Warranty

(He/him)

pudik

Torzelbaum

????? LV 13 HP 292/ 292

(he, him, his)

Mogri

Round and round I go

(he)

ozacrot

Jogurt Joestar

(he/him)

gorha

ThricebornPhoenix

target for faraway laughter

(he/him)