Remove Disease from one ally.
Description
Cleanse is a White Magicks spell in Final Fantasy XII, both in the original PlayStation 2 version and the Zodiac re-releases. It is a single-target status heal spell that removes Disease, a status ailment that makes the afflicted's current HP their maximum HP.
Obtained[]
Cleanse's license costs 60 License Points in the Zodiac versions, where the spell is found in Cerobi Steppe's Terraced Bank area, south from the Journey's Rest area that has a save crystal. Unlike most treasures that contain abilities, Cleanse does not always appear: it has a 20% chance to spawn per entry to the area. The treasure sits in the center of the area, on the left side of a square-shaped rock, on a trap. There are two treasures that can spawn in this same spot at the same spawn rate, and the player cannot tell which treasure has appeared without looting it. One may need to repeatedly try at this chest before it yields Cleanse, as it is fairly rare as even if a treasure appears, it may be the wrong one. Wearing a Diamond Armlet or not does not matter for the treasure with Cleanse, but the other treasures in the Cerobi Steppe have a small chance of yielding something special with it equipped.
In the original version, Cleanse's license costs 45 LP and the spell is bought for 5800 gil from Phon Coast.
In the Zodiac versions, Cleanse can be used by the job classes White Mage, Red Battlemage, and Knight, though the Red Battlemage requires Shemhazai and the Knight requires Mateus to reach it.
Mechanics[]
Cleanse removes Disease from a target, a highly hazardous ailment. It costs 20 MP to use without Channeling licenses. It bounces from Reflect unless the caster wears the Opal Ring.
Disease inhibits the use of healing items and magicks by turning a unit's current HP into their new maximum HP, down to a minimum of 1.
Use[]
Cleanse is a status heal spell the player can easily set up via the gambit system (Ally:Any→Cleanse works well). Disease is not removed with Esuna, the most commonly used status heal spell, and so it is important to have alternate means of healing the affliction as it is a dangerous state to be trapped in. The player can alternatively set up a gambit for Serum (originally called "Vaccine") or Remedy with someone who has Remedy Lore 3.
It would be handy to have Cleanse when fighting Hecteyes, Piscodaemon, Necrofiend, Skulwyrm, Bogey, Deathgaze, Ixion, Shadowseer, Rafflesia, Hydro, or Judge Ghis (Trial Mode), or many of the malboro-type enemies.
The party can also become immune to Disease with Bubble Belt or Ribbon.