Drain (ability)




 * For the recurring sword, see Blood Sword.

Drain (ドレイン) is a recurring Black Magic spell from the series. It absorbs HP from the target to refill the caster's HP. Like healing magic, it works in reverse against the undead. When it is cast upon the user, it will always miss.

Although this spell is exclusively reserved to mages, a weapon known as the Blood Sword, which is typically available for Warriors, acts similar to the spell when used to inflict damage. Drain has 3 levels as of Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-, including Drainra (otherwise known as Drain+) and Drainga (otherwise known as Drain++).

Final Fantasy II
Drain is a Black Magic spell which transfers HP from one or all enemies to the caster. This is reversed when casting on the undead. The amount of HP transferred depends on the spell level. Any character can learn Drain by having them use the Drain Tome (called the Drain Scroll in the Origins release).

Drain VIII is used by Sorcerer and Wizard, while Drain XVI is used by Astaroth, Hecteyes, and Mega Parasite.

Final Fantasy III
Drain is a Black Magic level 7 spell that can only be bought in Doga's Village or in the Invincible for 20,000 gil. Only the Black Mage, Sage, Magus, and the Onion Knight can cast it, while the enemies Doga's Clone, Doga, Echidna, Garm, and Gomory can use it against the party. It has a base power of 160 and is Recovery elemental. The item Lilith's Kiss can cast Drain when used in battle.

In the NES version, the spell is bugged against undead targets, in which it will neither harm nor heal the undead, and will not harm the caster when used against undead.

Final Fantasy IV
Drain is a Black Magic spell, usable by Rydia at level 36 (in the DS version, she automatically learns it when she rejoins the party as an adult) and by Palom at level 26. Fusoya automatically knows it when he joins the party, and Tellah learns it after Cecil becomes a Paladin. It costs 18 MP (15 in the DS version) to cast.

It has a spell power of 20 in non-DS versions (80 in Easytype) and an accuracy of 70% (100% in non-DS versions). The enemies Bloodbones, Succubus, Blood Eye, Zeromus EG, and Golbez can all cast this spell.

Final Fantasy IV: The After Years
Drain returns as a Black Magic spell that costs 18 MP to cast and is usable at Fusoya (who automatically starts with the spell), Palom (at level 29), Rydia (at level 36), Golbez (at level 35), and Leonora (at level 36).

Final Fantasy V
Drain is a level 4 Black Magic spell. Black Mages can cast it as a spell, although Mystic Knights can also cast it on their sword to the same effect. It costs 13 MP to cast, and can be bought for 3,000 gil in Regole, Castle of Bal, Quelb and Castle Surgate.

The enemies Apanda, Byblos, Calofisteri, Carbuncle, Black Warlock, Farfarello, Fury, Magissa, Omniscient, Ricard Mage, Catoblepas, and Soul Eater can all utilize this spell against the party.

Final Fantasy VI
The Esper Ifrit teaches Drain at a rate of x1, and is learned naturally by Terra Branford at level 12. It costs 15 MP to cast, has a power of 38, a hit rate of 120, and is vulnerable to Runic.

Coco, Cloud, Kefka in the first battle, Level 40 Magic, Magic, Nightwalker, Ultros in the second battle, and Zurvan can cast this spell.

Final Fantasy VII
Though not a spell usable by the party except by using a Vampire Fang, Drain is a spell used by Ghost and Gi Nattak. The ability, however, can be utilized by the player through the use of the HP Absorb Support Materia.

Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII-
HP Absorb returns as a Materia that allows the user to absorb damage dealt as HP.

Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-
Drain absorbs a small amount of HP from an enemy. Two upgrades of Drain, called Drainra and Drainga, each absorb more HP than Drain. The three spells cost 16, 30 and 55 MP to cast, respectively. Drain can be created via Materia Fusion, found during missions, and it can be bought from Sector 8 Materia Shop for 5000 gil.

Final Fantasy VIII
Drain steals HP from the enemy and heals the spellcaster. The effect is reversed if the spellcaster is under the Zombie status. It is a fairly elusive spell, but can be powerful when junctioned onto ST-Atk-J, as it allows the player to drain HP from enemies by physically attacking them. Some enemies are immune to the Drain effect, in which they are damaged by the spell, but the caster will not be healed. The Guardian Force Pandemona also learns the ability Absorb that functions similarly.

Casting Drain in battle doesn't affect compatibility with Guardian Forces, and is one few spells at that.

Final Fantasy IX
Only Vivi can cast Drain. It can be learned from an Oak Staff for 60 AP. It ignores Reflect, costs 14 MP to cast, and has a spell power of 32. The enemy Ghost can also use this spell.

Final Fantasy X
Drain is a Black Magic spell located along Wakka's path of the Sphere Grid but all characters can activate the node. It costs 12 MP to cast. The enemies Cindy, Coeurl, Coeurlregina, Dark Element, Dark Flan, Master Coeurl, and Nega Elemental are capable of casting this spell.

Final Fantasy X-2
Drain is an Arcana ability for the Dark Knight dressphere. It costs 20 AP to learn and 8 MP to cast or can be used via the Covetous Garment Grid. The Gun Mage ability Absorb has the same effect but it absorbs HP and MP, not just HP. Aeshma, Arast, Cindy, Iron Giant (Colosseum), Precepts Guard, Phantom, Tomb, and Watcher-S can cast this spell.

Final Fantasy XI
Drain is Black Magic spell available to Black Mages, Dark Knights and Scholars. Unlike in other games, if used on undead it simply has no effect rather than being reversed. There also exists a more powerful Drain II available only to Dark Knights, which adds any excess health drained as temporary Hit Points.

Final Fantasy XII
Drain is a Level 3 Arcane Magick that transfers HP from one foe to the caster. Drain is unaffected by Reverse. Drain can only be cast when its required license on the License Board has been learned. It cost 18 MP to cast, and can be bought in Rabanastre, Eruyt Village and Mt. Bur-Omisace for 3,200 gil.

In the International Zodiac Job System version, Drain is a Level 2 Green Magick spell available in the Muthru Bazaar. It can be used by the four mage job classes, White Mage, Black Mage, Time Mage and Red Mage.

Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
Drain can only be cast by Ba'Gamnan and the Yarhi Atomos. Lancet, one of Llyud's abilities, has a nearly identical function.

Final Fantasy Tactics
Drain is a Spellblade ability for the Templar class used by Beowulf Cadmus. Mystic's Invigoration also has the same effect, costs 16 MP to cast, 350 JP to learn, and has a range of four squares.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
The Energy Mace teaches Drain to the Sage for 100 AP. It costs 12 MP to cast, has a Magic Power of 30, and has a range of 4. It can only target one unit at a time, and the damage dealt is capped at the target's Max HP. It cannot be reflected, but it can be countered by Return Magic, as well as having MP absorbed by casting the spell through Absorb MP.

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
Drain is an Arcanist spell learned for 300 AP from a Sleet Rod.

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
Drain is a elemental attack in this game, and there are only three enemy abilities who possesses this element. Phoebe's Ether Shield gives protection against drain attacks. There is also an unused special protection related to drain, called Reverse Drain. This one alone does nothing, but if a character has both (Drain and Reverse Drain protection), it will reverse the effect of drain where the enemy will take damage while healing the character that was attack by a drain attack instead.

The three attacks are Drain which is a single target attack used by Fangpire, Leech, and Vampire. Sucker Stick drains HP from one or both party members, used by Squidite and Phanquid. The last one is Dissolve, an ability used by Jelly and Ooze.

Final Fantasy Legend III
This Black Magic spell deals damage and absorb an enemy's HP. It cost 32 MP to use, and it can be bought for 18000 GP in Knaya (Pureland).

There is also an enemy attack that also goes by the name of Drain, this ability doesn't cost any MP to use and also drains HP from one enemy.

Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light
Drain appears as a Dark Magic spell. Drain costs 2 AP to cast and it has a spell power of 5. The spell can be given to any character by having a Drain Tome in the character's inventory. The spell can only be purchased for 1,500 gil in Urbeth after darkness has flooded the world.

Shaman is a good job when equipped with Drain, as Drain isn't weaker than other spells in this game, as opposed to most other Final Fantasy games, and when used coupled with Ritual and Hex, the Shaman is able to drain HP from all opponents, meaning they are unlikely to need any healing.

''Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon
Drain is a Lvl. 4 spell that costs 3 SP to cast and attacks three grids forward.

Kingdom Hearts
Drain is the ability of the Search Ghost card in Chain of Memories and Re:Chain of Memories, in Birth By Sleep is the Level 2 effect of the Maleficent D-Link, and in Re:coded as an ability of the Metal Chocobo Ag and Ultima Weapon 〉〉〉 Keyblades. Drain recovers the user's HP when they deal damage to enemies.