Black Mage (job)



The Black Mage ( or ), also called Black Wizard, is a job class in the Final Fantasy series, and is featured in several installments.

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. A Black Mage's primary ability is to cast Black Magic, which usually consists of attack spells, but also contains some effect spells.

In later installments, Black Mages are given the Focus ability, which allows them to store power for the next turn. 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. The Magus job is a more powerful version of the Black Mage.

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

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.

Final Fantasy II
Black Mages appear in the town of 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.

Final Fantasy IV
In the older translations, Black Mage was called Black Wizard. Rydia and Palom are both Black Mages. However, because Rydia is also a Summoner, she learns her Black Magic at a slower rate than Palom. Black Mages also appear as NPCs.

Final Fantasy IV -Interlude-
Rydia?, Rydia, and Palom are all Black Mages. The imposter Rydia and Rydia are also Summoners. Black Mages also makes an appearance as NPCs in Baron Castle.

Final Fantasy IV: The After Years
Black Mage is a character who, along with White Mage, accompanies Ceodore and the Hooded Man as they pass through the Devil's Road. Rydia and Palom also return as playable characters. More focus is put on Rydia's Black Magic for the first part of the game as she is unable to summon.

Final Fantasy V
The Black Mage is one of the first job classes received from the Wind Crystal. It focuses on using Black Magic, but the addition of the Mystic Knight hampers its effectiveness slightly, as Mystic Knights can enchant their swords with Black Magic and have much better equipment and offensive abilities than Black Mages.

Final Fantasy VII
Although not referred as such, the Cetra race looks like bearded Black Mages.

Final Fantasy VIII
Black Mage makes a cameo in the Triple Triad tutorial, where a pointy-hatted Black Mage can been seen playing the famous 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.

Early concept art also shows a man job changed into a Black Mage.

Final Fantasy X
Concept art of the Black Mage was created, but it was ultimately not used (see gallery below). In the finished product, 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 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 International Zodiac Job System version, the Black Mage class is associated with the Capricorn sign. It can cast Black Magick and a few Green Magick 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 magic as well as status magic. Kytes serves as the party's Black Mage.

Final Fantasy XIII-2
Both Noel Kreiss and Mog were given a Black Mage outfit as downloadable content. Noel's is similar to Palom's The After Years outfit, and Mog's has a purple headpiece and vest.

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
Thaumaturges who meet certain conditions can obtain a Soul of the Black Mage, allowing them to switch between the two aspects at will. As a Black Mage, one has access to potent spells like Burst and Flare while losing access to abilities from certain other classes, like the healing spells learned through Conjury.

Also, 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 has powerful magic that hits several enemies, but the spells cannot differentiate between friendly and hostile units.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
The Black Mage is a powerful magical job class. nu mou are best suited to being Black Mages as they have better magic power growth. Montblanc starts out with this job.

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
The Black Mage uses offensive magic and as in Tactics Advance, nu mou are best suited to being Black Mages as they have better magic power growth. However, learning Black Mage skills is necessary for a hume character to gain the Blue Mage and Illusionist jobs.

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


The Black Mage makes an appearance, using traditional Black Magic. However, their appearance differs from the traditional Black Mage looks, donning top hats instead of traditional wizard hats.

Bravely Default
The Black Mage is one of the jobs that appear. It is obtained very early by defeating Ominas Crowe in the Ruins of Centro Keep. In this title, the more classic looks have a return, with wizard hats being present. In battle, Black Mages can target multiple enemies at once and require scrolls to use their elemental magic.

Bravely Second: End Layer
Black Mage returns as a job.

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

Dissidia Final Fantasy
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 reappears in the new 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 All the Bravest
The Black Mage is a character available to the party, he uses the Thundaga ability during battle. 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.


 * Stats

Black Mage can use Black Magic up to rarity rank 4.
 * Abilities

His initial Soul Break is Darkbolt which at the expense of one Soul Gauge segment deals dark magic damage to one target. The rod Light Rod (III) can grant Black Mage access to Magic Signet which at the expense of one Soul Gauge segment temporarily increases the user's Magic.

Black Mage can equip the following weapon types: daggers and rods. The rod Light Rod (III) allows Black Mage to access Magic Signet.
 * Equipment

He can equip the following armor types: bracers, hats, and robes.

He can equip accessories.

Final Fantasy Explorers
Black Mages use offensive magic and attack enemies from a range.

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, while Croma is a recurring Black Mage in the entire Chocobo series of games.

Final Fantasy Trading Card Game
The Black Mage job is represented by numerous cards. One Fire-elemental card, featuring Arc from Final Fantasy III; two Ice-elemental cards featuring Luneth from Final Fantasy III and Lenna from Final Fantasy V; one Earth-elemental card features Ingus from Final Fantasy III; and three Lightning-elemental cards feature the female Black Mage from Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy Explorers and Krile from Final Fantasy V.

The Magus job is represented by three cards: one Fire-elemental card and two Lightning-elemental cards. The Fire card features Arc as a Magus, while the Lightning-elemental cards feature Ingus and Refia as Magi.

Triple Triad
Black Mages from the series appear on Triple Triad cards in the version playable via Final Fantasy Portal App.

Samurai Rising
Black Mage is one of the jobs in the upcoming mobile action RPG.

Kingdom Hearts series
In the Kingdom Hearts series, several Heartless have faces identical to those of a Black Mage. Shadows, the weakest and most common form of Heartless, bear the iconic black face and body with yellow, glowing eyes. Certain Heartless that bear a black face and yellow eyes, such as the Blue Rhapsody, take this a step further because they are adorned with hats similar in design to a Black Mage's and almost appear to be wearing cloaks.

When Sora goes into Wisdom or Master Drive form in Halloween Town, his mask changes into an image of a Black Mage (half of a Black Mage for Master). Sora's Anti Form consists of a pitch black body with glowing yellow eyes that resemble classic Black Mages.

Though not related to the Heartless in any way, Vivi Ornitier from Final Fantasy IX, known in the game only by his first name, appears as a member of Seifer's Twilight Town Disciplinary Committee in Kingdom Hearts II. Vivi's unwillingly heavy involvement in the many oddities present in the early parts of the game may be a reference to his Final Fantasy IX counterpart as a Black Mage, as well as the large mysteries surrounding him in said game.

Donald Duck's starting staff is adorned by a stylized Black Mage figure.

Several spells classified as Black Magic, which Black Mages are masters of, can be utilized throughout the series by multiple characters. Some Black Magic present within the Kingdom Hearts series includes Fire, Quake, and Meteor.

League of Legends
In the PvP game League of Legends 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.

Legend of Mana
There are two statues of a Final Fantasy-style Black Mage: the first one is a Black Mage holding a staff found outside the Academy of Magic's entrance in Geo, while the second is found inside Mephianse's office on the lower area of his office in the middle reading a book.

Mario Hoops 3-on-3
The Black Mage appeared as a secret character in the sports game, Mario Hoops 3-on-3. Black Mage's special shot is Meteor Shot. Rather than being wrapped around him, his cape is behind him and is only attached at the neck.

Mario Sports Mix
Black Mage reappeared in Mario Sports Mix for the Nintendo Wii alongside the same four unlockable Final Fantasy characters with which he debuted. He is also included in 3-3 Star Ship Battle.

The Knights of Avalon
The Knights of Avalon collaboration project with Final Fantasy Brigade Break the Seal, the social game has to offer a limited summoning magic stone "SR Chocobo" and a limited collaboration armor of the White Mage and Black Mage.

Square Enix Legend World
The Black Mage version from Final Fantasy XI appears as a card.

Heavenstrike Rivals
Black Mage and Black Wizard are units and their ability is Discombobulate. Black Mage can be promoted to Black Wizard.

Puzzle & Dragons
The Black Mage appears in Puzzle & Dragons as part of the Crystal Defenders collaboration.

Knights of the Crystals
The Black Mage appears on a gold card.

Samurai Rising
The Black Mage appears as a job. This job specializes in long-range magic attacks, but the drawback is that it has low HP.

In popular culture
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.

The Black Mage has a small cameo in the popular fan parody "Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Abridged Series". When the other characters show off their favorite cards, Yugi holds up a card showing a Black Mage sprite from the original Final Fantasy and says "mine's the Dark Magician".