Cause one foe to confuse friend with foe.
Description
Confuse is a White Magick spell in the Zodiac versions of Final Fantasy XII, and an Arcane Magick spell in the original PlayStation 2 version. It is a single-target status ailment spell that makes the affected attack their allies.
Confuse can be cast by Zombie Warrior, Zombie Knight, Mu, Forbidden, Elder Wyrm, Spee, and Negalmuur.
Obtained[]
Confuse is the only offensive status spell in the White Magicks skillset in the Zodiac versions where its license costs 70 License Points. The spell is bought for 1400 gil in Phon Coast, Archades, and in Balfonheim Port after the shops are accessible after the events in Draklor Laboratory.
In the original version, Confuse is an Arcane Magicks spell whose license costs 30 LP. It is bought for 1400 gil from Dyce outside the Tomb of Raithwall after defeating the second Demon Wall, Rabanastre after defeating Belias, and from the traveling moogle in Eruyt Village.
In the Zodiac versions, Confuse can be used by the job classes White Mage and Knight, though the latter needs the license for the Esper Hashmal to reach it on their board.
Mechanics[]
Confuse temporarily inflicts the status of the same name that makes the afflicted randomly target members of their own party. Confused party members cannot act as a party leader or perform Quickenings.
The formula for the duration is:
The duration depends on the receiver's Vitality stat, not the caster's. Haste and Slow do not affect the length other status effects will last, but Stop will halt them.
The base success rate of the spell against an enemy that is not immune is 50% in the original version, updated to 70% in the Zodiac versions.
The success rate is unaffected by the target's Magick Evade stat, as the spell instead checks against the target's Vitality.
The hit rate is improved by further 50% with the caster having Faith status, or doubled with Serenity license/Magick Gloves when on full health, or Spellbreaker license/Leather Gorget when in critical health. Target's Shell halves the accuracy of the spell. If the caster is wearing the Indigo Pendant, Confuse will succeed unless the enemy is immune to the status.
The accuracy underflow bug is a glitch in some versions of Final Fantasy XII where a low level character with extremely low Magick Power stat attempts to use a status move on a target with very high Vitality, and the accuracy of the spell becomes less than zero. In this case the accuracy will underflow to 100%, allowing certain status spells to always succeed.
Confuse status is removed with being hit physically, Esuna, Nu Khai Sand ("Smelling Salts" in the original version), and Remedy with Remedy Lore 2.
Confuse costs 10 MP to cast without Channeling licenses. The spell will bounce from Reflect unless the caster wears the Opal Ring.
Use[]
Confuse is a status affliction spell the player can easily set up via the gambit system (such as with Foe:Any→Confuse). However, it is best used situationally and with the Indigo Pendant equipped whenever possible. As alternatives, the player can also use the Charm Technick, the Karkata weapon (Zodiac only), or a Nu Khai Sand (Smelling Salts) with the Nihopalaoa.
Status ailments that disable enemies altogether (like Disable or Sleep or Stop) are better than Confuse, and the player is better at inflicting damage than confused enemies. Confuse is more of a detriment to the player rather than to the enemy. However, the spell with the Indigo Pendant can be useful against the Archaeoaevises in the Zodiac versions, who are immune to most other ailments, as well as against the Tyrant boss in Giruvegan, and Drace and Bergan in Trial Mode Stage 100.