Deflects magical attacks with a barrier for all allies. Triggers "Ruby Light."
Description
Carbuncle, also known as Carbuncl, is an optional level 4 summon in Final Fantasy V. It grants reflect to all party members.
Carbuncle can be used via Summon and Call once obtained, and also via Magic Lamp. With the latter two, the summoner uses no MP.
Obtained[]
Carbuncle is an optional boss fought in Castle Exdeath. At the 10th floor where skull-tiles cover the room, if the party steps onto the northernmost one, they will teleport to a normally inaccessible spot where Carbuncle is. If the player doesn't get Carbuncle before fighting the boss at the top of the castle, it will be permanently missed.
Stats[]
| Ability | MP cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Ruby Light | 45 | Grants reflect to the party. |
The effect's duration is calculated as follows:
Reflect and Ruby Light use a slower timer for determining status duration than the other expirable statuses in the game (which are all debuffs; reflect is the only status buff that lapses).
Use[]
Ruby Light.
Carbuncle grants reflect on the entire party, causing the vast majority of spells cast upon the party to bounce back to the enemy. This can be extremely beneficial in battles against enemies and bosses who rely on magic damage or status ailments, preventing them from targeting spells on the player. It also allows the player to group-cast Black Magic spells on their own party, which will reflect back four-fold and deal great damage against the enemy.
The main downside of Ruby Light is that reflect will also reflect healing White Magic spells, meaning the player cannot easily heal themselves. The best way to heal during this time is either using healing items, spells such as Drain that heal the player by dealing damage, or simply casting Reflect on the enemy and targeting healing spells against them, which will bounce back and heal the player. The player can also use the healing summon Sylph.
Carbuncle becomes useful right away when it is acquired in Castle Exdeath. When Exdeath is fought as a boss, he mostly targets powerful spells against party members, which Ruby Light will protect from. Carbuncle is also useful in the Fork Tower against Omniscient, and in the final dungeon against Halicarnassus and Catastrophe.
The White Magic spell Reflect has the same effect, but is only cast on one target at a time and is only available after Carbuncle. This makes summoning Carbuncle much more turn-efficient. Other ways to bestow reflect are the Dragon Defense mix and the Reflect Ring accessory.
Late game, if a character equips both Dualcast and Summon, they can summon Carbuncle alongside another summon, such as with Golem to provide the party with both magical and physical protection in one move, or with a damaging summon to both protect the party and attack the enemies. This takes a lot of MP, making Gold Hairpin a good piece of gear to wear.
Gallery[]
Etymology[]
Carbuncle was a mythical creature reportedly sighted in the Americas by Spanish conquistadors. It is described as a small creature, either a bird or a mammal, that has a gem in its forehead crystallized from the brain of a dead dragon. According to myth, it is good luck to catch a carbuncle. A carbuncle is also an archaic name given to any red cabochon cut gemstone. The name applied particularly to red garnet.