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Thundara from Final Fantasy XIII.
Area of effect (often abbreviated AoE) refers to the relative range and power of a given ability within the context of a given game. Though the concept has existed since the original Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy XI was the first title to fully explore its importance in overall gameplay, as fighters during battle move around far more frequently; instead of abilities striking one or all targets, they target all enemies or allies in range. In general, area of effect abilities now fulfill the role group-casting had in earlier installments, particularly in entries that are not turn based.
Appearances[]
Final Fantasy XI[]
Area of Effect (AoE) describes magic, abilities, or effects which affect multiple targets within a certain area instead of a single target. AoE spells and abilities cover many types of effects, including restorative, defensive, damaging, debilitating and transporting.
Magic uses the signature "-ra", "-ga" and "-ja" suffixes to indicate the spell is AoE. For example, Fire II and Cure will affect a single target, while Firaga II and Curaga will affect an area and anything in it. This allows for players to easily distinguish between AoE and non-AoE spells. "-ra" refers to spells with an AoE centered around the caster, whereas "-ga" spells are centered around a selected target. "-ja" merely means the spell is target-based AoE, but becomes stronger with consecutive usage. For example, if Firaja is used three times in a row on an enemy, the damage will increase each time.
Types of AoE[]
A common radius-based AoE attack.
There three radius types, which ever AoE adhering to one of the types. These types each carry their own peculiarities and necessary precautions:
- Radius
Radius AoE is the most commonly occurring of the AoE types. With radius AoE, a center point is specified and all targets within a certain radius of that point are affected by the spell. Radius AoEs can be more difficult to avoid as generally the only way to avoid the AoE is to run a large distance away. All "-ra", "-ga" and "-ja" spells are radius type AoEs.
- Cone
Cone area of effect spells and abilities affect targets within a "cone" of space, originating from a certain point on the user and expanding outward to a specific distance away from the origin. Generally this type of AoE can be avoided by standing to the side of the point of origin, though since the area of effect is conic in shape, the amount to the side can be more substantial than expected. An example of a Cone AoE would be a dragons fire breath attack, which fans out further away from the dragon's mouth.
- Linear
Linear area of effect spells and abilities could be considered a special case of the cone variety, wherein the cone is consistently very narrow. In the case of linear AoE, the ability affects only those in a line directly in front of some originating point, out to a certain distance. Again, this can be avoided by standing to the side of the origin of the attack.
Final Fantasy XII[]
Area of effect abilities target an individual and subsequently target nearby allies one-by-one within a radius. Spells that end in -ra or -ga have an area of effect, with the only exception being Curaga, which only heals one target.
Many enemy abilities have an area of effect, some of which can strike all nearby targets at once.
Final Fantasy XIII[]
Various abilities used by party members, Eidolons, and enemies have equally various areas of effect.[1]
| Type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Single | Affects a single target. | Attack |
| Area-S | Affects a single target and all targets around the user. | Blitz (Lightning, Snow, Fang) |
| Area-B | Affects a single target and all targets in range of the explosion. | Ruinga, Fira, Firaga |
| Area-F | Affects all targets within a given range in front of the user. | Wrecking Ball |
| Area-T | Affects a single target and all surrounding targets. | Provoke, Deprotega, Cura |
| Area-L | Affects all targets within a line. | Thanatosian Laughter |
| Shuffle | Affects all targets with evenly-split attacks. | Last Resort |
| All | Affects all targets. | Zantetsuken, Seraphic Ray |
Final Fantasy XIII-2[]
The Ravager, Medic, Saboteur and Commando roles retain their traditional area of effect type abilities. In addition, almost all Synergist abilities have -ga variants which apply buffs to the entire party, rather than just on an individual basis.
While both Serah and Noel have access to area of effect abilities within the Commando and Ravager roles, Serah has access to the area of effect Saboteur abilities, and Noel has access to the Synergist area of effect abilities.
Final Fantasy XIV[]
Various character and enemy abilities have an area of effect. Enemy abilities will be indicated by them charging up, with a visible radius appearing. Once the radius disappears, any characters within will be affected, whereas the animation itself is safe to pass through. Some abilities are centered around the user instead of being at a set location.
Final Fantasy XV[]
Most attacks are capable of striking multiple enemies at once, and different types of weapons have varying degrees of range. Elemancy can be used to severely damage enemies over a large area, with stronger spells increasing the radius.
This section in Final Fantasy XV is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.Final Fantasy Tactics[]
Several skills in have an area of effect. An attack can have an area of effect centered on the caster or any point in the caster's range, or even entire parties, regardless of the fighters' positions, like in the case of a Bard's songs or a Dancer's dances. Arithmeticians can select groups of fighters through several conditions and inflict them with a wide selection of previously learned magicks from other mage jobs.
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance[]
The targeting varies through the various skills. An attack can have an area of effect centered on the caster or any point in the caster's range, or even entire parties, regardless of the fighters' positions.
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift[]
Targeting varies through the various skills. An attack can have an area of effect centered on the caster or any point in the caster's range, or even entire parties, regardless of the fighters' positions.
