Shell (ability)

Shell (シェル, Sheru), also known as MBarrier, is both a positive status effect and the name of the White Magic spell that causes it. It appears in various games in the Final Fantasy series and halves all magic damage dealt to the target, offensive spells as well as curative spells. Some games include the more effective Shellga spell.

Final Fantasy II
Shell is a White Magic spell which increases the Magic Defense of one of all allies, which reduces magic damage from enemy attacks. As the spell's level grows, the spell's effectiveness and success rate increases. The effect can stack, however repeated use on the same unit(s) increases the chance that the spell will miss. Any character can learn Shell by having them use the Shell Tome (called the Shell Scroll in the Origins release).

Final Fantasy IV
Shell is a white magic spell. It costs 10 MP, has 66% accuracy, and takes one turn to cast. It boosts its target(s) Magic Defense stat by 3 points, to a maximum of 255, for the duration of the battle. The spell can be manually targeted to either a single target or an entire party; this has no impact on its effectiveness. This spell can fail frequently when cast by a character with a low Spirit stat. The spell will automatically fail if its target's Magic Defense is at 255.

Shell is learned by Rosa and Porom at level 29. Tellah learns it after completing Mt. Ordeals; Fusoya joins the party with it. Cecil learns it as a Paladin in the Nintendo DS version.

This spell cannot be learned in the North American and Easy Type versions of the game, although the Zemus's Malice enemy still casts it as a part of its attack script, along with Protect. The white magic icon has been replaced with a blank space, making it appear as if it is an enemy skill.

Dispel has no effect on this spell's Magic Defense increase.

Final Battle
Shell is hardcoded to have no effect during the final battle against Zeromus. The spell's animation is displayed, but the Magic Defense stat is not modified.

Nintendo DS Behavior
The behavior of this spell has changed for the NDS version. It sets Shell status on its targets, and can only be applied once. Its MP cost has been boosted to 15.

Final Fantasy IV: The After Years
Shell appears as a spell that all the White Magic casters can use, it is also an enemy ability used by Boss Gobby, Lord Dragon and Ultima Weapon.

Final Fantasy V
Shell is a spell that can be used only by the White Mage job. It is a White Magic Level 4 spell and it can be bought for 3,000 gil at Regole, Castle of Bal, Quelb, and Castle Surgate. It costs 5 MP to cast.

Final Fantasy VI
Shell is a spell that the Espers Alexander, Zona Seeker, Carbuncle, and Unicorn can teach to characters. It costs 15 MP to cast.

Final Fantasy VII
Shell is called Mbarrier in this game it can be learned through the Barrier Materia. It costs 24 MP to cast.

Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-
MBarrier can be cast through the use of a materia bearing the same name. It lowers the damage taken on from magical attacks for only a minute.

Final Fantasy VIII
Shell is a Support Magic spell that can be refined from Shell Stones using GF Diablos' Support Magic Refinement ability.

Final Fantasy IX
Garnet and Eiko are the only characters that can use this spell in the game, and can cast it for 6 MP. There are several different weapons, armor, or accessories that will teach the ability for 35 AP.

Final Fantasy X
Shell is located on Yuna's side of the Sphere Grid although all characters can learn this spell. It costs 10 MP to cast.

Final Fantasy X-2
Shell can be used through the White Mage Dress Sphere it costs 30 AP to learn and 10 MP to cast. It can be used without the White Mage Dressphere when equipped with Selene Guard Garment Grid.

Final Fantasy XI
Shell is a spell that can be learned by Red Mages, White Mages, Scholars, and Paladins, though because it is such a low level spell it can be used by many characters with any of these jobs as a subjob. It is the earliest in a line of spells that go up to Shell IV. Shell applies approximately 10% reduction of magical damage.


 * See Also: Shell, Shell II, Shell III, and Shell IV

Final Fantasy XII

 * "The character is enveloped in a magick field, increasing magick resist and reducing magick damage taken. The effect is temporary."

Shell in this game is not a White Magick, but a Green Magick. It can be used when its License is learned and can first be bought in the Barheim Passage.

In the International Zodiac Job System version, Shell is listed as White Magick 3 License, along with Protect. It can be used by the job class White Mage and Red Mage. Shellga is White Magick 12 License, and can only be obtained from a chest in the Great Crystal.

Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
Basch is able to grant multiple allies the Shell effect by casting Shellga.

Final Fantasy Tactics
Shell can be used through the White Mage job it cost 70 JP to learn it. It costs 6 MP to use and has a speed of 25. It casts Shell in standard Cross Shaped area. In the PS1 version, there is a chance that the caster will say, upon using this spell: "Silent light, shield from evil! Shell!".

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Shell can be used through the White Mage. It costs 100 AP to master it. It casts Shell in standard cross-shaped area.