Scourge (poison ability)

Scourge, also known as Bane, Poison, or Blight, is a recurring ability in the Final Fantasy series. Its effects vary depending on the game, but it is usually a Black Magic spell and associated with the Poison element.

Final Fantasy
Scourge, also known as BANE in the NES release and Poison in the Final Fantasy Origins release, is a level 5 Black Magic spell which attempts to inflict Instant Death on all enemies, but it has a rather low success rate. Scourge can be cast by Dark Wizard and Tiamat.

The spell can be bought at Melmond and can be learned by the Black Mage, Black Wizard, and Red Wizard job classes. In the Dawn of Souls and 20th Anniversary Edition releases it costs 28 MP to cast.

Final Fantasy II
Scourge, also known as Poison in the Origins release, is a Black Magic spell that inflicts Poison-elemental damage to one or all enemies. The amount of damage inflicted increases depending on the spell's level. It is a particularly useful spell against enemies which are Lightning-based, as they are weak against the Poison element. As with all spells, any character can learn Scourge by having them use the Scourge Tome (called the Poison Scroll in the Origins release).

Scourge V is exclusive to Magician, Scourge VIII is exclusive to Red Soul, and Scourge XVI can be cast by Astaroth and Ghost.

Final Fantasy XI
Scourge is a Weapon Skill unique to Greatswords and only available when the Valhalla or Ragnarok is equipped. The ability increases critical hit chance.

Final Fantasy XII
Scourge is Black Magick 6 License that costs 50 LP, and consumes 48 MP. It causes HP damage to all enemies in range and inflicts the status Sap. The spell has the maximum effect capacity, which means no other spell or Technick can be performed simultaneously. It is bought at Balfonheim for 11,200 gil. Scourge is essentially an upgrade of the Bio spell.

In the International Zodiac Job System version, Scourge has been listed as a Black Magick 12 License and costs 120 LP. While its effects and MP cost are unchanged, it now costs 8,500 gil and can be bought at Barheim Passage.

Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
Scourge is an enemy skill known by Gijuk and Raz and inflicts damage and Poison on a circle of enemies.

Final Fantasy XIII
Commando ability that increases damage to opponents about to recover from stagger. Vanille and Hope learn it on Crystarium Stage 7, while the rest learn it on Crystarium Stage 6.

Final Fantasy XIII-2
Scourge is a Commando ability implemented as the "Attack" modifier increasing to 5.0. Serah learns it on Role Level 15, while Noel learns it on Role Level 12. Some Paradigm Pack monsters can also learn the ability.

Legacy Final Fantasy XIV
Scourge appeared as an ability at the initial release of the original Final Fantasy XIV. It was a Thaumaturge spell available for use at Rank 1 and it costed 3 action points to set. The ability dealt umbral-elemental damage over time and reduced the umbral resistance of enemies within an area of effect. After the release of patch 1.20, Scourge; along with its upgraded forms, became unusable by any class in the game.

Final Fantasy XIV
Blight appears as an enemy ability used by Nabriales. When used, the ability inflicts the Blight damage over time effect and increases the damage taken from other enemy attacks for a period of 15 seconds. The effect of Blight can be extended to a 150 seconds if the player is not careful and gets absorbed into Nabriales aetherial space during the final phase of the fight against him. The ability's name in the Japanese version of the game is the traditional "Cloudkill" spell, however it was renamed to Blight in reference to the Scion Cúchulainn, who opposes Nabriales, the Majestic in Final Fantasy XII.

Scourge itself reappears in the Heavensward expansion as an ability for the Dark Knight job. Now a weaponskill, the ability deals physical damage with a potency of 100 to a single enemy and deals damage over time with a potency of 40 for a period of 18 seconds. The Enhanced Scourge trait increases the duration to 30 seconds.

Etymology
Kurauda takes its name and design from the Dungeons & Dragons spell Cloudkill, which has been in the game since the first edition; Cloudkill occupies the same spell level which Scourge/Kurauda does in the magic system of the original Final Fantasy. Its design was substantially changed from Final Fantasy II onward as the series moved away from directly Dungeons & Dragons inspired design.

Scourge