Black Mage (job)

The Black Mage (黒魔道士? or 黒魔道師, Kuromadōshi?, lit. Black Sorcerer), also called Black Wizard or Black Witch and sometimes abbreviated as BLK or BLM (黒, Kuro?, lit. Black), is a job in the Final Fantasy series, and is featured in several installments. It serves the role of the RPG genre's magic damage dealing class, utilizing the unique Black Magic command in combat. It is among the first jobs introduced in the series.

Several entries in the series have featured an upgraded version of the Black Mage known as the Magus. In addition, some titles have featured similar magic damage type jobs, such as the Thaumaturge and the ​Ravager.

The Black Mage has become one of the most recognized symbols of the Final Fantasy series, similar to the name "Cid", chocobos, and moogles.

Profile[]

A wielder of powerful magic, the black mage excels in dealing elemental damage and afflicting his enemies with maladies.

Description

Black Mages wear outfits similar to classic wizards, consisting of blue robes and pointy hats, usually yellow or brown. Their faces are not visible in the shade of their hats, except for their eyes which shine brightly.

Their magic is their main focus and in this, Black Mages are one of the simplest but most effective jobs. Black Mages usually equip magical rods and staves, but also sometimes daggers. Their armor is limited to lightweight vests and mage robes. Black Mages, as with most mages, have high magical stats but low HP and defenses.

A Black Mage's primary ability is to cast Black Magic, which usually consists of the attack spells of primary elements - Fire, Blizzard, and Thunder. In addition, they have access to a large library of status ailment spells, such as Poison, Blind, and Sleep. The Black Mage's strongest spell is Flare in most titles, a powerful spell that deals non-elemental damage to enemies.

In earlier installments, Black Magic served as the job's sole command, with later entries providing additional commands such as Focus and Bluff to increase a caster's damage potency. Titles such as Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV have also provided several new abilities that would become recurring for the job; supportive moves such as Manafont and Manawall, while the former introduced the concept of stronger spells that serve as the final evolution of their basic elemental spells, such as Burst serving as the strongest form of Thunder magic.

Appearances[]

Final Fantasy[]

One of the six basic job classes, Black Mages have the lowest HP of any class, but have powerful magic. They upgrade to Black Wizards, which have even greater magical abilities. Once upgraded to Black Wizards, they can cast all black magic spells.

Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin[]

The Black Mage is an advanced job, unlocked within the Mage Job tree. It allows the user to utilize Black Magic spells that use the power of elements to damage their foes, with the most powerful spells in the arsenal being Flare and Meteor.

Final Fantasy II[]

Black Mages appear in Mysidia as non-playable characters, as well as in the magic shops. The shopkeepers are dressed in blue, while the non-playable ones are in orange.

Final Fantasy III[]

The Black Mage is a job class obtained from the Wind Crystal and has powerful magical stats. An upgraded variant, the Magus, is later available from the Earth Crystal, which surpasses the Black Mage in terms of spell casting abilities.

Final Fantasy IV[]

Palom is a Black Mage from Mysidia, joining the party as guest party member in most versions. Palom has additional commands unlike previous iterations of the Black Mage, having access to the Bluff and Twincast abilities. Unlike fellow Black Magic users like Rydia and Tellah, Palom learns his Black Magic at a faster rate, having access to stronger spells at lower levels.

Black Mages also appear as NPCs in various cities, being common citizens in the Mysidia.

Final Fantasy IV -Interlude-[]

Palom returns as the party's Black Mage for the game's entirety, functioning similarly to the previous title. Black Mages also makes an appearance as NPCs in Baron Castle.

Final Fantasy IV: The After Years[]

A Black Mage is a character who, along with White Mage, accompanies Ceodore and the Hooded Man as they pass through the Devil's Road.

Palom also returns as a playable character, now lacking the Twincast command. Like previous titles, he learns Black Magic spells at a faster rate than other users of the command. He also has access to Band abilities that casts powerful group-wide magic attacks.

Final Fantasy V[]

The Black Mage is one of the first job classes received from the Wind Crystal. It focuses on using Black Magics, dealing raw damage with instant casting magic attacks.

Final Fantasy VIII[]

Black Mage makes a cameo in the Triple Triad tutorial, where a pointy-hatted Black Mage can been seen playing the card game.

Final Fantasy IX[]

The Black Mage is not a mere job class, but an entire race. Produced from Mist by Kuja's magic, the majority of Black Mages are soulless dolls who serve Kuja's whim to destroy kingdoms. However, a few have achieved sentience and live peaceful lives in the Black Mage Village. Vivi is the prototype Black Mage and has a significantly longer lifespan, and appears to have always been sentient.

Final Fantasy X[]

Lulu is a Black Mage, though due to the Sphere Grid system, all characters are capable of learning Black Magic. Despite being a black mage, Lulu's physical defense can grow quite strong as she traverses through her section of the sphere grid, which is quite atypical for this job class.

Final Fantasy X-2[]

The Black Mage dressphere focuses on offensive magic and learns several support abilities that enable them to cast magic faster. However, they cannot attack physically unless they are affected by Berserk or using Mug.

Final Fantasy XI[]

The Black Mage (BLM) is one of the six basic job classes available. They can cast strong spells and are the only job with access to higher level spells, including Ancient Magic. Tarutaru make natural Black Mages because of their high MP and Intelligence.

Final Fantasy XII[]

In the Zodiac versions, the Black Mage class is associated with the Capricorn sign. It can cast Black Magick and a few Green Magicks and uses Staves and Hand-bombs as weapons.

Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings[]

The Black Mage is a job for the moogle sky pirate, and learns offensive magick as well as status magic. Kytes serves as the party's Black Mage.

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII[]

Lightning can obtain a garb modeled after the Black Mage job that has the abilities Rapid Fire Lv.2 and Quick Freeze Lv.2. Merchants interested in purchasing soul seeds also wear Black Mage hats. Lightning can obtain the Black Mage's Hood as an adornment.

Final Fantasy XIV[]

The Black Mage (BLM) is the advanced job of the Thaumaturge class. As a Black Mage, one has access to potent spells like Freeze and Flare.

A miniature black mage in the style of the original Final Fantasy is one of three possible outcomes of summoning the "Minion of Light" (the others being a Warrior and a White Mage).

Final Fantasy Tactics[]

The Black Mage, formerly Wizard, has powerful magic that hits several enemies, but the spells cannot differentiate between friendly and hostile units.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance[]

Black Mage (BLK) is a job for humes, moogles, and nu mou who are able to learn Black Magic as a basic job. Nu mou are better suited to be raised as Black Mages because their magic power growth is better than that of moogles and humes.

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift[]

Black Mage is a job usable by humes, nu mou, and moogles. Nu mou, with their higher Magick stat, are the best race for the job, though it also grants the highest Magick growth possible for humes and moogles.

Since Black Mages specialize in Black Magick, which deals elemental damage, they are especially useful in exploiting an enemy's elemental weakness, which can be done easily with the aid of the Geomancy support skill.

Final Fantasy Tactics S[]

Crystal Defenders[]

A Black Mage's spell can inflict magickal damage to multiple targets over a wide area. However, recast time is long.

Online description

Crystal Defenders: Vanguard Storm[]

While not powerful, a Black Mage's spells can reach enemies on land or in the air, even from a distance.

Online description

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King[]

The Black Mage is a job class available to both Clavats and male Yukes. In order for Clavats to become Black Mages, the Black Mage Academy must first be built. Black Mages have low attack strength and hit points, but also have access to powerful elemental spells, enabling them to defeat some monsters resistant to physical attacks.

Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light[]

Black Mage is a crown obtained after defeating the Sand Devil at Quicksand Castle. It is a good addition in battle since they reduce the AP cost for using Black Magic by one, and they have a high Intellect stat. Their downside is having low HP.

Final Fantasy Dimensions[]

Black Mage is one the starting jobs and consequently available to both groups.

Final Fantasy Dimensions II[]

Black Mages are NPC citizens within the ancient era of Mysidia, with their head Black Mage leader being Vivi at the time of the game's narrative. Prior to the game's events, Sorgue was the leader of the Black Mages.

The character Jornee functions as a Black Mage in combat, learning a hefty amount of Black Magic oriented spells and abilities. Jornee also has access to two Black Mage-inspired eidolons; the earth-elemental Earth Mage, and the wind-elemental Black Mage. These signets teach her Quake and Flare abilities respectively.

In addition, Morrow, Wrieg, Parai, and the Deathlord are able to obtain Black Mage themed costumes from Babil Tower.

Dissidia Final Fantasy (2008)[]

In the Duel Colosseum, when selected, the Black Mage job card increases the appearance rate of battle cards.

Shantotto's gameplay is based on her status as a Black Mage in Final Fantasy XI. She uses the main Black Magic spells for damage and can inflict status ailments on enemies. During her EX Mode and in her alternate costumes, she wears typical Black Mage gear.

Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy[]

The Black Mage job card appears in Labyrinth mode, and increases the frequency of secret cards appearing.

The Black Mage is also a job that can be selected for a character in the player's party for Quick Battle, Friend Cards, or wireless matches. It increases magic damage by 50%, and unlocks the advanced jobs Mystic Knight and Sage.

Pictlogica Final Fantasy[]

Black Mage from Final Fantasy Tactics appears as an enemy.

Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade[]

The Black Mage is a job available from the start. Their preferred weapons are rods and they specialize in Intelligence abilities.

Final Fantasy Artniks[]

The Black Mage appears as character cards.

Final Fantasy Artniks Dive[]

Final Fantasy All the Bravest[]

Black magic is destructive power in its purest form. Some mages just want to watch the world burn.

Description

The Black Mage is a character available to the party, he uses the Thundaga ability during battle. He unlocks at level 5.

Final Fantasy Record Keeper[]

Black Mage appears as a recruitable character. He is unlocked along with White Mage in Mako Reactor No. 1 on Classic in Final Fantasy VII storyline as the Mastery Reward.

The Final Fantasy Tactics Black Mage also appears as an enemy.

Final Fantasy Explorers[]

The Black Mage is a job unlocked in the 1★ Tutorial Quest, "Ability Mutations Exam". The Black Mage is categorized as damager and has the highest magic stat. They can equip rods and tomes; after mastery staves and firearms can be equipped.

Final Fantasy Explorers-Force[]

Final Fantasy Brave Exvius[]

Mobius Final Fantasy[]

World of Final Fantasy[]

An NPC can be found in Cornelia dressed as a Black Mage.

Chocobo's Dungeon 2[]

Black Mages appear as enemies in the dungeons. Some of them also reside as researchers in the village, selling Tonics and running a "bestiary" statue hall.

Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon[]

The Black Mage is a starter-level job for Chocobo. Croma is a recurring Black Mage.

Dice de Chocobo[]

Final Fantasy Trading Card Game[]

The Black Mage job appears in Final Fantasy Trading Card Game as multiple Backup cards, but also as a few Forward cards. Most of the cards are either Fire-, Lightning- or Ice-elemental, representing the three principle elements, but Earth-elemental cards are also present. The cards depict Arc, Luneth, Ingus, and Refia from Final Fantasy III, Lenna, Krile, Bartz, and Galuf from Final Fantasy V, the Black Mage job from Final Fantasy Tactics, a Hume, a Moogle, and a Nu Mou from Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, a Hume from Final Fantasy Tactics A2, a Tarutaru and a Hume from Final Fantasy XI, a Yuke from Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King, a Lalafell and a Hyurr from Final Fantasy XIV.

Final Fantasy Portal App[]

Assorted Black Mages from throughout the series appear as Triple Triad cards.

Allusions to the job in the series[]

Final Fantasy VII[]

The Cetra manifestation in the Temple of the Ancients resembles a typical Black Mage, albeit with a long white beard.

Final Fantasy XIII-2[]

Noel Kreiss and Mog were given Black Mage outfits as downloadable content.

Non-Final Fantasy guest appearances[]

Other Square Enix titles[]

The Black Mage has appeared in some fashion outside of the Final Fantasy series in several Square Enix series.

Black Mages, also known as Magicians, make several appearances in the Mana series. First appearing in Adventures of Mana (previously released as Final Fantasy Adventure and Sword of Mana) and Trials of Mana, they are wizard-like enemies that attack the player characters with elemental magic attacks. Their design in Final Fantasy Adventure, along with its future remake Adventures of Mana, resembles the Black Mage of the Famicom Final Fantasy titles. The appearance in Trials of Mana is instead based on the recurring Magus job. Legend of Mana also features two Black Mage statues; one at the entrance of Geo's Academy of Magic's, while the second is found inside Mephianse's office.

The job as also made some appearances in the Kingdom Hearts series. Vivi Ornitier from Final Fantasy IX, appears as a member of Seifer's Twilight Town Disciplinary Committee in Kingdom Hearts II. When Sora goes into the Wisdom or Master Drive forms in Halloween Town in Kingdom Hearts II, his mask changes into an image of a Black Mage (half of a Black Mage for Master). In Kingdom Hearts Union χ[Cross], players can have their female avatar dress like the Black Mage from Final Fantasy Record Keeper, provided if it was obtained during the collaboration event during the defunct free-to-play release.

The Black Mage is also a recurring job in Bravely series. Like its Final Fantasy predecessor, the Black Mage is one of the first jobs obtained in all titles, using elemental and status debuffing spells. In titles associated with the first Bravely Default, the Black Mage is the asterisk used by Ominas Crowe, being obtained in most titles for defeating him. In Bravely Default II, Black Mage is the default asterisk of Elvis Lesley, being inherited from his master Lady Emma.

The Black Mage has appeared in some form in defunct social game titles by Square Enix. The job appeared as a unit in the Heavenstrike Rivals and Samurai Rising mobile games, serving its traditional role as a damage dealer for players to recruit. It also appeared in the Knights of the Crystals and Square Enix Legend World browser titles as a job card.

Non-Square Enix titles[]

The Black Mage has been referenced in video games outside of Square Enix properties.

The job has made various cameo appearances in Nintendo titles, first appearing as a playable character in Mario Hoops 3-on-3 and Mario Sports Mix.

The Black Mage based on the versions from the Final Fantasy Tactics Advance titles appeared in Puzzle & Dragons as part of a collaboration event with the Crystal Defenders.

The Black Mage has also appeared as an alternate costume in games such as Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1, The Knights of Avalon,^[1] Minna to BIOHAZARD Clan Master.

Influences in other media[]

The Kingdom Hearts series features some influences of the Black Mage in several forms. Donald Duck's role as the court magician is likely inspired by the job, having access to most forms of elemental magic available to the player in titles, with his special attacks including powerful Black Mage spells such as Comet, Flare, and Meteor. In addition, certain Heartless that bear a black face and yellow eyes, such as the Blue Rhapsody, are adorned with hats similar in design to a Black Mage's and almost appear to be wearing cloaks.

In League of Legends, there exists a champion called Veigar. While he is never referred to as a Black Mage, his abilities to cast powerful, destructive magic and his physical appearance would certainly point to an influence from the traditional Final Fantasy Black Mage.

Black Mage Evilwizardington is also a popular character in the web comic 8-Bit Theater. His character is a psychotic murderer with a hatred for everything except White Mage (whom he lusts over), pie, and cookies.

Behind the scenes[]

Naming[]

In the first Final Fantasy, the Black Mage is a different job in terms of naming in the original Japanese, being known as the Black Magician (黒魔術士, Kuro Majustushi?). Its upgraded form, known as the Black Wizard in English, is known as the Black Sorcerer (黒魔導士, Kuro Madōshi?) in Japanese. Starting from Final Fantasy III, the Black Wizard/Black Sorcerer would become the recurring job known as Black Mage in all later series entries, often sharing the appearance of the default Black Mage job from the first Final Fantasy. Due to the difference in naming, this has led the name Black Wizard being used in some English localizations, a notable example being the earlier localizations of Final Fantasy IV using it as the name of Palom's job.

To further emphasize its status as a series gaiden title, the Japanese release of Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light does not use the traditional name for the job, instead using (黒魔法使い, Kuro Mahōtsukai?, lit. Black Magician). The term (魔法使い, Mahōtsukai?) can be used to refer to any type of magic user (e.g, magician, wizard, or sorcerer). This change is not acknowledged in the English localization, simply using the recurring Black Mage name from previous titles.

Individual title development[]

There have been several cases of Black Mages going through a changed role in several series installments.

The original Famicom version of Final Fantasy III was planned to include upgraded jobs like the first entry, with the Black Mage set to have multiple upgrades obtained throughout the game, known as the Magus and the Black Magus.^[2] While the Magus remained in the final product, the final Black Magus was dropped entirely.^[3]

Early concept art for Final Fantasy IX also shows a man with his job changed into a Black Mage. Final Fantasy X also features concept art of a traditional Black Mage, but it was ultimately not used.

Gallery[]

Citations[]