Classes and MP
In the NES version, when the Stranger becomes an Avatar, his/her maximum MP promptly becomes 99. This holds true for every profession. In the subsequent episodes of Ultima, the Avatar will always be the character with the highest MP.
Profession | MP |
---|---|
Mage | MP = 200% Int |
Druid | MP = 150% Int |
Bard Ranger Paladin |
MP = 100% Int |
Tinker | MP = 50% Int |
Shepherd | MP = 0 (NES: sheep flute) |
Fighter | MP = 0 |
The Shepherd has no Magic Points, but in the NES port she is the only character who can use the Sheep Flute, an item that casts the Sleep spell on all opponents.
Reagents
Six reagents can be purchased in every apothecary shop, but the remaining two are the subject of side quests.
For a list of the locations of the reagents, check the Britannian Yellow Pages and the side quests page.
In the tables below, the following abbreviations are used for the reagents:
- Ash: sulphurous ash
- Gin: ginseng
- Gar: garlic
- Sil: spider silk
- Mos: blood moss
- Prl: black pearl
- Nig: nightshade fungus (found in side quest)
- Man: mandrake root (NES manroot; found in side quest)
Spell list
In the table below, spells are grouped by type, then sorted by the gold cost of reagents. Indeed, what determines the availability of a spell are not magic points, but the gold to buy reagents. The GP cost of reagents does not consider Fungus and Manroot, that can be obtained for free.
Prompt specifies whether a spell is available since the beginning of the game ("yes") or if the characters should find something during the game (the recipe and/or some rare reagents). Three spell prompts are labeled as "new mix": the manual describes a recipe, but the characters can find a better recipe to cast them in the game. In the SMS port, instead, two of those recipes (plus a third one) are completely omitted from the manual, and the player can learn it from the game only.
Spell Types:
- Healing: spells that can be used both during and after battle (exception: Resurrect);
- Field: spells that can only be used outside battle;
- Support: battle spells that target the allies;
- Disable: battle spells that target the enemies but deal no damage;
- Attack: battle spells that damage the enemies.
Spell name | MP | Gold & Reagents | Type | Target | Prompt | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
~ Healing spells ~ | ||||||
Cure (poison) | 05 | 06: gar, gin | Healing | One ally | Yes | Necessary |
Heal | 10 | 07: gin, sil | Healing | One ally | Yes | |
Resurrect | 45 | 15: mos, gar, gin, man, sil, ash | Healing | One ally | Recipe, man | Sometimes necessary |
~ Field spells ~ | ||||||
View | 15 | 00: man, nig | Field | An object | Nig, man | Not convenient: use Magic Gems |
Light | 05 | 02: ash | Field | An object | Yes | Convenient: don't use torches |
Gate Travel | 40 | 03: prl, man, ash | Field | All allies | Recipe, man | Sometimes useful |
Dispel | 20 | 05: prl, gar, ash | Field | An object | Yes | Necessary |
Open | 05 | 06: mos, ash | Field | An object | Yes | Useless: use Cure instead |
Wind Change | 10 | 06: mos, ash | Field | An object | Yes | Necessary for one quest |
Z (Down) | 05 | 07: mos, sil | Field | All allies | Yes | |
Y (Up) | 10 | 07: mos, sil | Field | All allies | Yes | |
Blink | 15 | 07: mos, sil | Field | All allies | Yes | |
X (exit) | 15 | 09: mos, sil, ash | Field | All allies | Yes | |
~ Support spells ~ | ||||||
Awaken | 05 | 06: gar, gin | Support | One ally | Yes | Useful |
Protection | 15 | 08: gar, gin, ash | Support | All allies | Yes | |
Quickness | 20 | 14: mos (x2), gin, ash | Support | All allies | New mix[1] | |
~ Disabling spells ~ | ||||||
Jinx | 30 | 01: prl, man, nig | Disable | All enemies | Nig, man | Useful |
Undead | 15 | 04: gar, ash | Disable | All enemies | Recipe | |
Negate Magic | 20 | 04: gar, man, ash | Disable | All en. & all. | Man | Useful |
Sleep | 15 | 10: gin, sil (x2) | Disable | All enemies | New mix[2] | Useful |
~ Attack spells ~ | ||||||
Iceball | 20 | 01: prl, man | Attack | One enemy | Man[3] | Useless: use ranged weapons |
Kill | 25 | 01: prl, nig | Attack | One enemy | Nig | Useless: use ranged weapons |
Magic Missile | 05 | 04: prl, ash (x2) | Attack | One enemy | New mix[4] | Useless: use ranged weapons |
Fireball | 15 | 03: prl, ash | Attack | One enemy | Yes | Useless: use ranged weapons |
Energy Field | 10 | 06: prl, sil, ash | Attack | Some enemies | Yes | |
Tremor | 30 | 06: mos, man, ash | Attack | All enemies | Man | Useless: use ranged weapons |
- ↑ SMS port: the Quickness recipe is completely omitted from the manual, the characters will learn the new recipe only.
- ↑ SMS port: the Sleep recipe is completely omitted from the manual, the characters will learn the new recipe only.
- ↑ SMS port: the Iceball recipe is completely omitted from the manual, the characters have to find the recipe.
- ↑ SMS port: the new Missile recipe is the one already described in the manual.
NES spell list
In the NES port, the recipes and the price of reagents are different. Furthermore, four spells were removed: Undead (no enemy sets), Open (no trapped chests), Up and Down (game breakers). On the other hand, three new spells were introduced, bringing the total to 25: Reflect, Squish and Defeat.
Prompt specifies whether a spell is available since the beginning of the game ("yes") or if the characters should find something during the game (the recipe and/or some rare reagents). After one or more characters told you about a new spell, it can be learned by going to "Spells Unlimited" in Moonglow, and telling the shop owner the proper ingredients.
In the original versions each of the 26 spells names start with a different letter. In the NES version some spell names were modified: for this reason, some spell names in the table below are preceded by the initial letter of the original and a slash (e.g. the original "Resurrect" spell is listed in the table below as "R/Life").
Spell | MP | GP & Reagents | Type | Target | Effect | Prompt |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
~ Healing spells ~ | ||||||
Heal | 10 | 09: gar, sil | Healing | one ally | Cures Health Points | Yes |
Cure | 06 | 11: mos, gin | Healing | one ally | Cures poison | Yes |
R/Life | 45 | 12: nig, man, gar, mos | Healing | one ally | Cures death | Recipe, nig, man |
~ Field spells ~ | ||||||
View | 15 | 00: nig, man | Field | All allies | Shows map of surface or dungeon level | Nig, man |
Light | 03 | 02: ash | Field | an obstacle | Lights the dungeon | Yes |
X/Exit | 12 | 11: mos, sil, ash | Field | All allies | Moves back to the dungeon entrance | Yes |
Gate | 32 | 11: man, prl, ash | Field | All allies | Moves to any town | Recipe, man |
Wind | 10 | 12: gar, mos | Field | All allies | Moves the hot-air balloon | Yes |
Dispel | 12 | 17: prl, gar, ash | Field | an obstacle | Removes damage field | Yes |
~ Support spells ~ | ||||||
Blink | 18 | 09: mos, sil | Support | All allies | Escape from battle | Yes |
Awaken | 05 | 11: gar, gin | Support | one ally | Cures sleep | Yes |
Quick | 25 | 13: mos, gin, ash | Support | All allies | Attack twice per turn | Yes |
-/Reflect | 20 | 13: nig, gar, gin, ash | Support | ? ally/s | Take no damage from projectiles | Recipe, nig |
Protect | 15 | 14: gar, gin, ash | Support | ? ally/s | Increases defense | Yes |
~ Disabling spells ~ | ||||||
Sleep | 10 | 08: gin, sil | Debuff | All enemies | Put enemies to sleep | Recipe |
Jinx | 28 | 09: nig, man, prl | Debuff | All enemies | Enemies attack each other | Recipe, nig, man |
Negate | 20 | 17: man, prl, gar, ash | Debuff | All enem. & all. | Spells cannot be cast | Recipe, man |
~ Attack spells ~ | ||||||
Tremor | 40 | 08: man, mos, ash | Attack | All enemies | Mass destruction attack | Recipe, man |
K/Destroy | 23 | 09: nig, prl | Attack | one enemy | Instant kill | Recipe, nig |
Ice | 17 | 09: man, prl | Attack | one enemy | Ranged attack | Man |
Missile | 03 | 11: prl, ash | Attack | one enemy | Ranged attack | Yes |
Fire | 12 | 11: prl, ash | Attack | one enemy | Ranged attack | Yes |
-/Squish | 28 | 11: man, mos, sil, ash | Attack | All enemies | Reduces HP without killing | Recipe, man |
Energy | 22 | 14: prl, sil, ash | Attack | some enemies | Creates 3x3 energy field | Yes |
-/Defeat | 28 | 15: man, prl, mos | Attack | some enemies | Attacks enemies adjacent caster | Man |