Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar/Magic

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

Fungus location NES

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
~ 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	Useful
~ Attack spells ~
Iceball	20	01: prl, man	Attack	One enemy	Man	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	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

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