Fire (Final Fantasy IX)

Causes Fire damage to single/multiple targets.

Description

Fire is a Blk Mag spell in Final Fantasy IX, being the earliest spell that Vivi can acquire as he starts with the Mage Staff. It deals low Fire-elemental damage to one or multiple targets. If the target has Freeze, they will be thawed. If Steiner and Vivi are in the same party (and Vivi is not incapacitated in some manner), the former can also use Vivi's Fire spell in his sword magic, where the ability uses his stats rather than Vivi's. In Trance, Vivi can use the spell twice in one turn.

Fire can be used by the enemies Black Waltz 1, Black Waltz 2, Black Waltz 3 (#059), Bomb, Carve Spider, Dragonfly, Ghost, Ladybug, Trick Sparrow, Type A, and Vice. It can be reflected as normal and can be countered with the ability Return Magic.

Mechanics[]

Black Magic spells are based on Vivi's Level, Magic stats, and the Spell Power of the spell. Vivi can use the Focus ability to increase his Magic during that battle by 25% per use. The effect stacks up to 99 and lasts for the entire battle, even if KO'd.

${\displaystyle Base = 14 - Target's Magic Defense}$

${\displaystyle Bonus = Magic + RndMOD ([(Level + Magic) / 8] + 1)}$

${\displaystyle Damage = Base * Bonus}$

Rnd means a random number, while MOD means modulus operation. "Rnd MOD x" can be read as a random number between 0 and x-1.

Bonus is halved by Shell, being under Mini and if the player multi-targets the spell. Bonus is boosted by 50% if Vivi equips Red Hat. Steiner has no means of boosting Fire damage for his Swd Mag.

In Vivi's Trance, Blk Mag turns into Dbl Blk where Vivi can cast two spells on his turn. The spells cost MP and expend the Trance gauge independently.

The support abilities that affect Fire are Reflect-Null (Fire pierces target's Reflect), Reflectx2 (Fire deals more damage when reflected), and Mag Elem Null (Fire deals non-elemental damage).

For Swd Mag, damage dealt is based on Steiner's Attack and Strength stat, as well as on the power of the spell. Using Fire Sword gives him +5 to his Attack.

The damage formula for Swd Mag spells is as follows:

${\displaystyle Base = Attack + 14 - Enemy Defense}$

${\displaystyle Bonus = Strength + RndMOD ([(Level + Strength) / 8] + 1)}$

${\displaystyle Damage = Base * Bonus}$

Use[]

Fire is Vivi's basic spell that he has since the beginning, and thus is useful in the opening portions of the game, such as against Steiner and the enemies in Evil Forest. He can boost its power with Focus. It is especially good against enemies weak to the Fire element. It should not be used against Soulcage, whose attacks become empowered by Fire. If a party member is frozen, Vivi can rescue them by using Fire on them.

Fire is later outclassed by Fira, though it can still be used to save on MP.

As a Swd Mag, Steiner can use it effectively against enemies weak to Fire-elemental damage. Though it can also be used generally as a straight boost to his damage output, given Steiner's much lower MP pool, he should use it less regularly than Vivi.

Behind the scenes[]

Vivi uses Fire in a cutscene during the I Want to Be Your Canary play when Alexandrian guards chase him onto the stage. It accidentally sets Princess Garnet's robe on fire, revealing her identity to the crowd and Queen Brahne.

Vivi uses the fire spell in Ice Cavern to reveal hidden treasures behind ice walls. This needs to be done on the player's first trek through the dungeon, as it becomes an unrevisitable location.