Editing Final Fantasy/Black magic

{{Header Nav|game=Final Fantasy}}

Black magic is simply great to have, even if you have strong attackers capable of killing most things in one hit. You will often be facing large groups of enemies, and a physical attack (no matter how strong) can only kill on enemy at a time. A mid or high level spells can hit every thing at once, and once you start finding items capable of casting spells, you don't even need physical attacks for many fights. Black magic can also be used to augment your attackers, letting them deal hundreds of points in damage to even the strongest bosses.

== Spell types ==
{{sidebar|width=250px|title=Spell suffixes|contents=Suffixes that tell you more about a spell's power.  As spells get more powerful, suffixes distinguish them from similar spells in the same family.
* '''-ra''': More powerful than the original.
* '''-ga''': Even more powerful than "-ra".
}}

Many mid and high levels spells are not unique, but are improved versions of low levels spells. Each "family" of spells usually contains three versions, though some have two or four.

* '''Elemental families''': Casts Ice, Fire, or Lightning spells, 2nd and 3rd levels can hit all enemies.
* '''Death family''': Kills enemies instantly. Low chance of success, some target all enemies.
* '''Sleep family''': Put enemies to sleep until they are hit or wake up
* '''Slow family''': Reduces the number of hits per attack

There are several other spells that do not belong in a specific family, but cause [[Final Fantasy/Gameplay#Status ailments|status ailments]], such as darkness, stone, or stop. Black magic also includes the spells [[#Temper|Temper]] and [[#Saber|Saber]], which raises the targets strength and the spell [[#Haste|Haste]], which increases the number of hits per attack.

== Users ==
:''See also: [[#Recommendations|spell recommendations]]''

* '''[[Final Fantasy/Classes#Black Mage/Black Wizard|Black mages]]:''' Uses any level 1 - 6 spell (except Teleport) and Blizzaga
* '''[[Final Fantasy/Classes#Black Mage/Black Wizard|Black wizards]]:''' Uses any spell
* '''[[Final Fantasy/Classes#Red Mage/Red Wizard|Red mages]]:''' Uses level 1 - 4 spells, Firaga and Slowara
* '''[[Final Fantasy/Classes#Red Mage/Red Wizard|Red wizards]]:''' Uses most level 1 - 5 spells, Thundaga and Blizzaga
* '''[[Final Fantasy/Classes#Thief/Ninja|Ninjas]]:''' Uses level 1 - 4 spells

== Spell listings ==
Spells are listed under the ''Dawn of Souls'' and ''Anniversary'' names. These may differ from the original names given to the spells in the NES version, and from the updated names in ''Origins''. Spell MP cost refers to the amount of MP required to cast a spell in the ''Dawn of Souls'' and ''Anniversary'' editions.  All versions prior to that simply require one allocation of spell casting for their respective levels.

=== Level 1 ===
All Level 1 spells are sold in [[Final Fantasy/Locations#Cornelia|Cornelia]] and cost 100 Gil to purchase (or 50 Gil in the Easy Mode and GBA versions).
{| {{prettytable}}
! Spell || Fire || Thunder || Focus || Sleep
|-
! Alternate Names
| NES: FIRE<br/>PSX: Fire1 || NES: LIT<br/>PSX: Bolt1 || NES: LOCK<br/>PSX:Focus1 || NES: SLEP<br/>PSX: Sleep1
|-
! MP Cost
| 5 || 5 || 3 || 3
|-
! Range
| One enemy || One enemy || One ally || All enemies
|-
! Effect 
| Causes light fire damage to one enemy || Causes light electric damage to one enemy || Increases one ally's hit rate || Puts enemies to sleep, disabling attacks
|-
! Cast by
| [[File:FFI black mage.gif]][[File:FFI black wizard.gif]][[File:FFI red mage.gif]][[File:FFI red wizard.gif]][[File:FFI ninja.gif]]
| [[File:FFI black mage.gif]][[File:FFI black wizard.gif]][[File:FFI red mage.gif]][[File:FFI red wizard.gif]][[File:FFI ninja.gif]]
| [[File:FFI black mage.gif]][[File:FFI black wizard.gif]][[File:FFI red mage.gif]][[File:FFI red wizard.gif]][[File:FFI ninja.gif]]
| [[File:FFI black mage.gif]][[File:FFI black wizard.gif]][[File:FFI red mage.gif]][[File:FFI red wizard.gif]][[File:FFI ninja.gif]]
|}

=== Level 2 ===
All Level 2 spells are sold in [[Final Fantasy/Locations#Pravoka|Pravoka]] and cost 400 Gil to purchase (or 250 Gil in the Easy Mode and GBA versions).
{| {{prettytable}}
! Spell || Blizzard || Slow || Dark || Temper
|-
! Alternate Names
| NES: ICE<br/>PSX: Ice1 || NES: SLOW<br/>PSX: Slow|| NES: DARK<br/>PSX: Dark || NES: TMPR<br/>PSX: Steel
|-
! MP Cost
| 8 || 5 || 5 || 10
|-
! Range
| One enemy || All enemies || All enemies || One ally
|-
! Effect 
| Causes light ice damage to one enemy || Decreases all enemies' hit rate || Causes blind status to enemies || Increases one ally's attack power
|-
! Cast by
| [[File:FFI black mage.gif]][[File:FFI black wizard.gif]][[File:FFI red mage.gif]][[File:FFI red wizard.gif]][[File:FFI ninja.gif]]
| [[File:FFI black mage.gif]][[File:FFI black wizard.gif]][[File:FFI red mage.gif]][[File:FFI red wizard.gif]][[File:FFI ninja.gif]]
| [[File:FFI black mage.gif]][[File:FFI black wizard.gif]][[File:FFI red mage.gif]][[File:FFI red wizard.gif]][[File:FFI ninja.gif]]
| [[File:FFI black mage.gif]][[File:FFI black wizard.gif]][[File:FFI red mage.gif]][[File:FFI red wizard.gif]][[File:FFI ninja.gif]]
|}

=== Level 3 ===
All Level 3 spells are sold in [[Final Fantasy/Locations#Elfheim|Elfheim]] and cost 1500 Gil to purchase (or 1000 Gil in the Easy Mode and GBA versions).

Fira can be cast for free by using the '''Mage staff''' as an item; it can be equipped by the Ninja, the Black Mage and the Black Wizard.

Thundara can be cast for free by using the '''Gauntlets''' or '''Thor's hammer''' as an item; the gauntlets can be equipped by the Ninja, the Knight and the Red Wizard, the hammer by the Ninja, the Knight and the White Wizard.

{| {{prettytable}}
! Spell || Fira || Thundara || Hold || Focara
|-
! Alternate Names
| NES: FIR2<br/>PSX: Fire2 || NES: LIT2<br/>PSX: Bolt2 || NES: HOLD<br/>PSX: Bind || NES: LOK2<br/>PSX: Focus2
|-
! MP Cost
| 15 || 15 || 10 || 10
|-
! Range
| All enemies || All enemies || One enemy || All enemies 
|-
! Effect 
| Causes medium fire damage to all enemies || Causes medium electric damage to all enemies || Binds one enemy, disabling attacks || Decreases all enemies' evade
|-
! Cast by
| [[File:FFI black mage.gif]][[File:FFI black wizard.gif]][[File:FFI red mage.gif]][[File:FFI red wizard.gif]][[File:FFI ninja.gif]]
| [[File:FFI black mage.gif]][[File:FFI black wizard.gif]][[File:FFI red mage.gif]][[File:FFI red wizard.gif]][[File:FFI ninja.gif]]
| [[File:FFI black mage.gif]][[File:FFI black wizard.gif]][[File:FFI red mage.gif]][[File:FFI red wizard.gif]][[File:FFI ninja.gif]]
| [[File:FFI black mage.gif]][[File:FFI black wizard.gif]][[File:FFI red mage.gif]][[File:FFI red wizard.gif]][[File:FFI ninja.gif]]
|-
! Using<br>equipment<br>as item
| [[File:FFI red wizard.gif]][[File:FFI ninja.gif]][[File:FFI knight.gif]]
| [[File:FFI red wizard.gif]][[File:FFI ninja.gif]][[File:FFI white wizard.gif]]
| 
| 
|}

=== Level 4 ===
All Level 4 spells are sold in [[Final Fantasy/Locations#Elfheim|Elfheim]] and cost 4000 Gil to purchase (or 2500 Gil in the Easy Mode and GBA versions).

Blizzara can be cast for free by using the '''Black robe''' as an item; it can be equipped by the Black Wizard.

Confuse can be cast for free by using the '''Wizard staff''' as an item; it can be equipped by the Black Wizard.


{| {{prettytable}}
! Spell || Blizzara || Haste || Sleepara || Confuse 
|-
! Alternate Names
| NES: ICE2<br/>PSX: Ice2 || NES: FAST<br/>PSX: Haste || NES: SLP2<br/>PSX: Sleep2 || NES: CONF<br/>PSX: Muddle
|-
! MP Cost
| 18 || 15 || 15 || 15
|-
! Range
| All enemies || One ally || One enemy || All enemies 
|-
! Effect 
| Causes medium ice damage to all enemies || Increases one character's hit rate || 1 enemy put to sleep || Causes enemies to attack other enemies
|-
! Cast by
| [[File:FFI black mage.gif]][[File:FFI black wizard.gif]][[File:FFI red mage.gif]][[File:FFI red wizard.gif]][[File:FFI ninja.gif]]
| [[File:FFI black mage.gif]][[File:FFI black wizard.gif]][[File:FFI red mage.gif]][[File:FFI red wizard.gif]][[File:FFI ninja.gif]]
| [[File:FFI black mage.gif]][[File:FFI black wizard.gif]][[File:FFI red mage.gif]][[File:FFI red wizard.gif]][[File:FFI ninja.gif]]
| [[File:FFI black mage.gif]][[File:FFI black wizard.gif]][[File:FFI red mage.gif]][[File:FFI red wizard.gif]][[File:FFI ninja.gif]]
|-
! Using<br>equipment<br>as item
| [[File:FFI black wizard.gif]]
| 
| 
| [[File:FFI black wizard.gif]]
|}

=== Level 5 ===
All Level 5 spells are sold in [[Final Fantasy/Locations#Melmond|Melmond]] and cost 8000 Gil to purchase (or 4000 Gil in the Easy Mode and GBA versions).

Scourge can be cast for free by using the '''Bane sword''' as an item; it can be equipped by the Ninja, the Knight and the Red Wizard.

{| {{prettytable}}
! Spell || Firaga || Teleport || Scourge || Slowara
|-
! Alternate Names
| NES: FIR3<br/>PSX: Fire3 || NES: WARP<br/>PSX: Warp1 || NES: BANE<br/>PSX: Poison || NES: SLO2<br/>PSX: Slow2
|-
! MP Cost
| 30 || 5 || 28 || 18
|-
! Range
| All enemies || Entire party || All enemies || One enemy 
|-
! Effect 
| Causes heavy fire damage to all enemies || Teleports party back one floor in dungeons || Potentially kills each enemy || Decreases one enemies' hit rate
|-
! Cast by
| [[File:FFI black mage.gif]][[File:FFI black wizard.gif]][[File:FFI red mage.gif]][[File:FFI red wizard.gif]]
| [[File:FFI black wizard.gif]][[File:FFI red wizard.gif]]
| [[File:FFI black mage.gif]][[File:FFI black wizard.gif]][[File:FFI red wizard.gif]]
| [[File:FFI black mage.gif]][[File:FFI black wizard.gif]][[File:FFI red mage.gif]][[File:FFI red wizard.gif]]
|-
! Using<br>equipment<br>as item
| 
| 
| [[File:FFI red wizard.gif]][[File:FFI ninja.gif]][[File:FFI knight.gif]]
| 
|}

=== Level 6 ===
All Level 6 spells are sold in [[Final Fantasy/Locations#Crescent Lake|Crescent Lake]] and cost 20,000 Gil to purchase (or 13,000 Gil in the Easy Mode and GBA versions).
{| {{prettytable}}
! Spell || Thundaga || Death || Quake || Stun
|-
! Alternate Names
| NES: LIT3<br/>PSX: Bolt3 || NES: RUB<br/>PSX: Reaper || NES: QAKE<br/>PSX: Quake || NES: STUN<br/>PSX: Stun
|-
! MP Cost
| 35 || 30 || 32 || 20
|-
! Range
| All enemies || One enemy || All enemies || One enemy
|-
! Effect 
| Causes heavy electric damage to<br/>all enemies || Kills one enemy || Potentially kills each enemy || Stuns one enemy, disabling attacks
|-
! Cast by
| [[File:FFI black mage.gif]][[File:FFI black wizard.gif]][[File:FFI red wizard.gif]]
| [[File:FFI black mage.gif]][[File:FFI black wizard.gif]]
| [[File:FFI black mage.gif]][[File:FFI black wizard.gif]]
| [[File:FFI black mage.gif]][[File:FFI black wizard.gif]]
|}

=== Level 7 ===
Blizzaga and Break are sold in [[Final Fantasy/Locations#Gaia|Gaia]]. Saber and Blind are sold in [[Final Fantasy/Locations#Onrac|Onrac]].  These spells cost 45,000 Gil to purchase (or 30,000 Gil in the Easy Mode and GBA versions).

Saber can be cast for free by using the '''Giant's gloves''' as an item; it can be equipped by the Ninja, the Warrior, the Knight and the Red Wizard.

{| {{prettytable}}
! Spell || Blizzaga || Break || Saber || Blind 
|-
! Alternate Names
| NES: ICE3<br/>PSX: Ice3 || NES: BRAK<br/>PSX: Break || NES: SABR<br/>PSX: Saber || NES: BLND<br/>PSX: Blind
|-
! MP Cost
| 40 || 30 || 25 || 25
|-
! Range
| All enemies || One enemy || Self || One enemy
|-
! Effect 
| Causes heavy ice damage to all enemies || Turns enemy into stone || Increases caster's attack power || Causes blind status to enemy
|-
! Cast by
| [[File:FFI black mage.gif]][[File:FFI black wizard.gif]][[File:FFI red wizard.gif]]
| [[File:FFI black wizard.gif]]
| [[File:FFI black wizard.gif]]
| [[File:FFI black mage.gif]][[File:FFI black wizard.gif]]
|-
! Using<br>equipment<br>as item
| 
| 
| [[File:FFI red wizard.gif]][[File:FFI ninja.gif]][[File:FFI warrior.gif]][[File:FFI knight.gif]]
| 
|}

=== Level 8 ===
All Level 8 spells are sold in [[Final Fantasy/Locations#Gaia|Gaia]], except for Flare, which is sold in [[Final Fantasy/Locations#Lufenia|Lufenia]].  These spells cost 60,000 Gil to purchase (or 40,000 Gil in the Easy Mode and GBA versions).

{| {{prettytable}}
! Spell || Flare || Kill || Stop || Warp
|-
! Alternate Names
| NES: NUKE<br/>PSX: Flare || NES: XXXX<br/>PSX: Doom || NES: Stop<br/>PSX: Stop || NES: ZAP!<br/>PSX: Warp
|-
! MP Cost
| 50 || 40 || 30 || 38
|-
! Range
| All enemies || One enemy || All enemies || All enemies 
|-
! Effect 
| Causes massive damage to all enemies || Kills one enemy || Stuns all enemies, disabling attacks || Kills all enemies
|-
! Cast by
| [[File:FFI black wizard.gif]]
| [[File:FFI black wizard.gif]]
| [[File:FFI black wizard.gif]]
| [[File:FFI black wizard.gif]]
|}

=== Summary table ===

The following tables are for quick reference, once you got familiar with the contents above. The class abbreviations are as follows: '''bB''' = Black Mage and Black Wizard; '''rR''' = Red Mage and Red Wizard; '''N''' = Ninja.

{|{{prettytable|sortable=1||text center=1|notwide=1}}
! Lv !! Spell names<br> (NES/PSX/GBA) !! MP !! Type & Target !! Effect !! bB !! rR !! N !! Item
|-
| 1 || Fire/Fire1/Fire   ||  5 || Attacks one  || Element: fire           ||{{yes|bB}}||{{yes|rR}}||{{yes|N}} || {{n/a|-}}
|-
| 1 || Lit/Bolt1/Thunder ||  5 || Attacks one  || Element: lightning      ||{{yes|bB}}||{{yes|rR}}||{{yes|N}} || {{n/a|-}}
|-
| 1 || Lock/Focus1/Focus ||  3 || Debuffs one  || Lowers evasion          ||{{yes|bB}}||{{yes|rR}}||{{yes|N}} || {{n/a|-}}
|-
| 1 || Slep/Sleep1/Sleep ||  3 || Debuffs all  || Inflicts "sleep" status ||{{yes|bB}}||{{yes|rR}}||{{yes|N}} || {{n/a|-}}
|-
| 2 || Ice/Ice1/Blizzard ||  8 || Attacks one  || Element: ice            ||{{yes|bB}}||{{yes|rR}}||{{yes|N}} || {{n/a|-}}
|-
| 2 || Slow/Slow/Slow    ||  5 || Debuffs all  || Lowers hit rate         ||{{yes|bB}}||{{yes|rR}}||{{yes|N}} || {{n/a|-}}
|-
| 2 || Dark/Dark/Dark    ||  5 || Debuffs all  || Inflicts "blind" status ||{{yes|bB}}||{{yes|rR}}||{{yes|N}} || {{n/a|-}}
|-
| 2 || Tmpr/Steel/Temper || 10 || Supports one || Increases strength      ||{{yes|bB}}||{{yes|rR}}||{{yes|N}} || {{n/a|-}}
|-
| 3 || Fir2/Fire2/Fira     || 15 || Attacks all  || Element: fire          ||{{yes|bB}}||{{yes|rR}}||{{yes|N}} || Mage staff
|-
| 3 || Lit2/Bolt2/Thundara || 15 || Attacks all  || Element: lightning     ||{{yes|bB}}||{{yes|rR}}||{{yes|N}} || Thor hammer, Gauntlets
|-
| 3 || Hold/Bind/Hold      || 10 || Debuffs one  || Inflicts "paralysis" status ||{{yes|bB}}||{{yes|rR}}||{{yes|N}} || {{n/a|-}}
|-
| 3 || Lok2/Focus2/Focara  || 10 || Debuffs all  || Lowers evasion         ||{{yes|bB}}||{{yes|rR}}||{{yes|N}} || {{n/a|-}}
|-
| 4 || Ice2/Ice2/Blizzara  || 18 || Attacks all  || Element: ice             ||{{yes|bB}}||{{yes|rR}}||{{yes|N}} || Black robe
|-
| 4 || Conf/Muddle/Confuse || 15 || Debuffs all  || Enemies attack each other||{{yes|bB}}||{{yes|rR}}||{{yes|N}} || Wizard staff
|-
| 4 || Slp2/Sleep2/Sleepara|| 15 || Debuffs one  || Inflicts "sleep" status  ||{{yes|bB}}||{{yes|rR}}||{{yes|N}} || {{n/a|-}}
|-
| 4 || Fast/Haste/Haste    || 15 || Supports one || Increases hit rate       ||{{yes|bB}}||{{yes|rR}}||{{yes|N}} || {{n/a|-}}
|-
| 5 || Fir3/Fire3/Firaga   || 30 || Attacks all  || Element: fire                     ||{{yes|bB}}||{{yes|rR}}||{{no|-}} || {{n/a|-}}
|-
| 5 || Slo2/Slow2/Slowara  || 18 || Debuffs one  || Lowers hit rate                   ||{{yes|bB}}||{{yes|rR}}||{{no|-}} || {{n/a|-}}
|-
| 5 || Bane/Poison/Scourge || 28 || Attacks all  || Instant-kill attack               ||{{yes|bB}}||{{yes|R}} ||{{no|-}} || Venom sword
|-
| 5 || Warp/Warp1/Teleport ||  5 || Field        || Teleports one floor up in dungeons||{{yes|B}} ||{{yes|R}} ||{{no|-}} || {{n/a|-}}
|-
| 6 || Lit3/Bolt3/Thundaga || 35 || Attacks all  || Element: lightning          ||{{yes|bB}}||{{yes|R}}||{{no|-}} || {{n/a|-}}
|-
| 6 || Rub/Reaper/Death    || 30 || Attacks one  || Instant-kill attack         ||{{yes|bB}}||{{no|-}} ||{{no|-}} || {{n/a|-}}
|-
| 6 || Qake/Quake/Quake    || 32 || Attacks all  || Instant-kill attack         ||{{yes|bB}}||{{no|-}} ||{{no|-}} || {{n/a|-}}
|-
| 6 || Stun/Stun/Stun      || 20 || Debuffs one  || Inflicts "paralysis" status ||{{yes|bB}}||{{no|-}} ||{{no|-}} || {{n/a|-}}
|-
| 7 || Ice3/Ice3/Blizzaga  || 40 || Attacks all  || Element: ice                ||{{yes|bB}}||{{yes|R}}||{{no|-}} || {{n/a|-}}
|-
| 7 || Blnd/Blind/Blind    || 25 || Debuffs one  || Inflicts "blind" status     ||{{yes|bB}}||{{no|-}} ||{{no|-}} || {{n/a|-}}
|-
| 7 || Sabr/Saber/Saber    || 25 || Supports self|| Increases strength          ||{{yes|B}} ||{{no|-}} ||{{no|-}} || Giant's gloves
|-
| 7 || Brak/Break/Break    || 30 || Debuffs one  || Inflicts "petrify" status   ||{{yes|B}} ||{{no|-}} ||{{no|-}} || {{n/a|-}}
|-
| 8 || XXXX/Doom/Kill      || 40 || Attacks one  || Instant-kill attack         ||{{yes|B}}||{{no|-}}||{{no|-}} || {{n/a|-}}
|-
| 8 || Nuke/Flare/Flare    || 50 || Attacks all  || Non-elemental attack        ||{{yes|B}}||{{no|-}}||{{no|-}} || {{n/a|-}}
|-
| 8 || Zap!/Warp/Warp      || 38 || Attacks all  || Instant-kill attack         ||{{yes|B}}||{{no|-}}||{{no|-}} || {{n/a|-}}
|-
| 8 || Stop/Stop/Stop      || 30 || Debuffs all  || Inflicts "paralysis" status ||{{yes|B}}||{{no|-}}||{{no|-}} || {{n/a|-}}
|}

The following table shows spell prices and magic shop locations for each level of Black Magic:

{|{{prettytable|notwide=1|text center=1|sortable=1}}
! Lv. !! Cost (NES) !! Cost (remakes) !! Shop
|-
| 1 ||   100 ||    50 || Cornelia
|-
| 2 ||   400 ||   250 || Pravoka
|-
| 3 ||  1500 ||  1000 || Elfheim
|-
| 4 ||  4000 ||  2500 || Elfheim
|-
| 5 ||  8000 ||  4000 || Melmond
|-
| 6 || 20000 || 13000 || Crescent Lake
|-
| 7 || 45000 || 30000 || Gaia, Onrac
|-
| 8 || 60000 || 40000 || Gaia, Lufenia
|}

== Recommendations ==
:'' '''*''' denotes the bare minimum spells to get''

=== [[Final Fantasy/Classes#Black Mage/Black Wizard|Black Mages/Wizards]] ===
Black Wizards can be incredibly powerful, especially later in the game. They can cast spells that do elemental damage (great against the Fiends), cause status aliments, and enhance your characters' physical power. They can also learn a number of instant-death spells (these are not particularly useful since they only work a small percentage of the time). The elemental spells, Haste, Temper, and Flare are very useful throughout the game. 

* '''[[#Level 1|Level 1]]:''' Fire*, Thunder*, Sleep
: ''Fire'' and ''Thunder'' are very powerful in the beginning of the game, though they only work against one enemy at a time. Both ''Focus'' and ''Sleep'' are very useful, however Focus works more often than Sleep, but Sleep can ease the Pirate fight in Pravoka.
* '''[[#Level 2|Level 2]]:''' Blizzard*, Slow, Temper*
: ''Blizzard'' will do more damage against non-elemental enemies than ''Fire'' or ''Thunder'', and every little bit helps. ''Temper'' raises the attack power of a character in your party, which makes it a spell that you should use against every boss you encounter. It is also stackable, so the character's attack can go higher and higher.  Note: TMPR is bugged in the NES version, and does nothing. ''Dark'' reduces the likelihood of an enemy attack, however it has little effect when when it works. ''Slow'' can reduce the hit rate of powerful enemies which attack with multiple hits such as powerful Piscodemons (NES: Wizards) and trolls or the irritating undead which stun you.
* '''[[#Level 3|Level 3]]:''' Fira*, Thundara*, Hold
: ''Fira'' and ''Thundara'' are fantastic spells since they hit every enemy on the screen at once. These spells (and ''Blizzara'') are useful throughout the game since you will often be facing large groups of enemies at once. ''Hold'' works against Marilith, but ''Focara'' only decreases an enemy's evade by 20%. While neither spell is essential, stopping an enemy in their tracks for a few rounds may give you an edge.  Your stronger fighters will likely connect with their targets anyway.
* '''[[#Level 4|Level 4]]:''' Blizzara*, Haste*, Sleepara
: ''Blizzara'' works well against almost anything, and is especially helpful in the Volcano, which is a relatively hard dungeon. ''Haste'' doubles the number of hits your character can do per attack, so it is a spell that is useful for every boss fight. ''Confuse'' works a surprising amount of the time, but there is an item that can cast the spell for free, so get ''Sleepara'' instead. Oddly, Level 1 Sleep works on all enemies while Sleepara works only on one. Sleepara has a higher success rate and works on stronger enemies.
* '''[[#Level 5|Level 5]]:''' Firaga*, Teleport*, Scourge
: For obvious reasons you want ''Firaga'' before going into the Ice Cavern, and you should also have it going into the Terra Cave, in which you will fight wave after wave of the undead. ''Teleport'' is nice as it can pull you out of a dungeon, but you cannot get it until after the class change. Like all instant-death spells, ''Scourge'' rarely works, but the chance to kill multiple enemies beats the chance to slow down one enemy that ''Slowara'' provides.
* '''[[#Level 6|Level 6]]:''' Thundaga*, Quake, Death
: You'll have noticed by now that the elemental spells are the most useful offensive black magic there is, so get ''Thundaga''.  The other spells on this level are relatively weak, with ''Quake'' and ''Death'' (rub) probably being the strongest.
* '''[[#Level 7|Level 7]]:''' Blizzaga*, Break, Saber
: As with every other elemental spell, get ''Blizzaga''. ''Break'' works often, and technically isn't an instant-death spell, so more enemies are vulnerable to it. ''Blind'' works against almost nothing by the time you get it. ''Saber'' is potentially useful, except you can only use it on the caster.
* '''[[#Level 8|Level 8]]:''' Flare*, Kill, Warp
: ''Flare'' is the strongest spell in the game, and especially useful against Chaos and WarMech. ''Kill'' and ''Warp'' are both instant-death spells; ''Warp'' works against all enemies, while ''Kill'' only works on one at a time but has a higher success rate.

=== [[Final Fantasy/Classes#White Mage/Red Wizard|Red Mages/Wizards]] ===
:''main article: [[Final Fantasy/Red magic|Red magic]]''

Since a Red Mage can only equip three spells of each level you have to pick three of eight (well, of six or seven in many cases) spells. This is why it is not recommended that you replace both a Black and White Wizard with a single Red Wizard. Additionally, there are a lot of white spells that are very useful that the Red Wizard cannot cast (Dias, Heals, Curaja, Full-life specifically). Fortunately there aren't too many instances where there are more than three "must have" spells that the Red Wizard can learn.

Generally the magic that the Red Wizard should learn is the same as the other Wizards, however a lot of it depends on if there is another Black, Red, or White Wizard in the party.

Please see the Red Magicians' [[Final Fantasy/Red magic|magic page]] for recommendations based on party configuration.

=== [[Final Fantasy/Classes#Thief/Ninja|Ninjas]] ===

The Ninja can learn any level 1 - 4 spell, however by the time you get the class change, most of them will be useless. They will either be too weak to bother with or it would be better to use your Ninja, who can do reasonable damage, as a physical fighter instead of casting a spell. The exceptions are the Level 2 spell, ''Temper'', which can be used to raise a character's attack and the level 4 spell, ''Haste'', which doubles the number of hits per attack a character gets.
* '''[[#Level 1|Level 1]]:''' Fire, Thunder, Focus
: None of them are really worth getting as the Ninja will almost always do more damage than the elemental spells, and enemies are not vulnerable to ''Focus'' or ''Sleep'' later in the game.
* '''[[#Level 2|Level 2]]:''' Blizzard, Dark, Temper*
: Get ''Temper'', especially if nobody else knows it. If it is cast on a reasonably powerful Knight, you can double or triple their attack with a few rounds of ''Temper''. Combined with ''Haste'' you can take out a boss in two hits.
* '''[[#Level 3|Level 3]]:''' Fira*, Thundara*, Hold
: ''Fira'' and ''Thundara'' might be useful since you can clear out multiple weak enemies at once. However, by the time you get a Ninja you will have the [[Final Fantasy/Armor#Gauntlets|Gauntlets]], which can cast ''Thundara'' for free.
* '''[[#Level 4|Level 4]]:''' Haste*, Blizzara*, Confuse
: As mentioned above, ''Haste'' is a must have. ''Haste'' and ''Temper'' will soon be the two black magic spells you use the most. ''Blizzara'' is also good to have for minor enemies, since the Ninja is usually faster than the Black and Red Wizards.

== Tips ==
*'''Status aliment''' inducing spells are generally considered useless by beginners. In fact, debuff spells should be used to reduce damage from small enemies, because although small, the damage they inflicts stacks up. Therefore, black debuff spells give great relief to the White Mage's healing duties.
*'''Instant-death''' spells work almost always on weaker enemies, thus speeding up less challenging (and less interesting) fights.
*'''Quake''' and '''Break''', while they instantly kill an enemy, are not members of the death family of spells. As a result many common enemies that cannot be killed by instant-death spells can be killed by one of these. Most bosses are immune to these two spells, unfortunately.
*'''Haste''' and '''Temper''' are probably the two most useful Black Magic spells. They increase the number of hits and the strength of each blow on a character. They can also be stacked in some versions of the game, which means that in a few rounds you can make a Knight ridiculously powerful, and able to kill bosses in one or two hits. Always open a boss fight by casting these two spells on your physical attackers. '''Saber''' fits into the same category but only affects the caster so it is better used from the spellcasting Power/Giant's gloves.


{{Footer Nav|game=Final Fantasy|prevpage=White magic|nextpage=Red magic}}