Restore HP to all allies in range.
Description
Cura is a White Magicks spell in Final Fantasy XII, both in the original PlayStation 2 version and the Zodiac re-releases. It is the second tier basic curative spell used to restore HP to allies, or for damaging undead enemies, above Cure, and beneath Curaga and Curaja.
The Cura Mote item exists in the Zodiac versions, allowing players to use the spell by consuming the item, and ignoring the Reflect status.
The enemies Ozmone Hare, Wild Onion, Wyrdhare, Mandragora, Coeurl, and Mandragora Prince may use Cura.
Obtained[]
Cura's license costs 30 License Points. In the Zodiac versions, it can be bought for 2000 gil in shops after the events in Ondore's Estate. It is sold in Rabanastre, Bhujerba, Dalmasca Westersand, Dyce, Jahara, and Archades. It is also available in the Trial Mode Stage 45 treasure with the Diamond Armlet equipped. In the original release, Cura is sold for 1500 gil in various shops (Rabanastre, Bhujerba, Dalmasca Westersand, Dyce, Eruyt Village) after the events in Ondore's Estate.
In the Zodiac versions, Cura can be used by White Mage and Red Battlemage, and by Monk and Time Battlemage by learning of a required Esper (Adrammelech for Time Battlemage and Hashmal for Monk), and by Archer after activating the 50 LP Quickening license. Larsa has it when he joins as a guest.
In the Zodiac versions, Belias, Adrammelech, and Zalera also have Cura and have a default gambit to use it at Ally: HP < 100% when there are no enemies in vicinity. Mateus has it in all versions. In the Zodiac versions, he will use it on allies whenever anyone has lost any amount of HP and there are no enemies in vicinity. In the original, he will use it when the summoner falls to half health unless the conditions for his ultimate attack are being met.
Mechanics[]
Cura heals a moderate amount of health to all targets in range. If the targets are undead, they will be damaged instead. Cura is affected by Reflect, and will never miss. The amount healed depends on the caster's Magick Power stat and Level. Using Cura to damage the undead gains MP to the user if they have the Warmage license. Cura's base cost to use is 26 MP in the Zodiac versions, and 32 MP in the original version.
The formula for the amount healed/damaged (if undead) is as follows:
With the Serenity license or the Magick Gloves accessory, the healing/damage is inflated to 150% when the caster is in full health. With the Spellbreaker license or the Leather Gorget accessory, the healing/damage is inflated to 150% when the caster is in HP Critical. If the caster has Faith, Cura will also heal/damage for 50% more. The boosts stack multiplicatively.
Because of the Effect Capacity system in the PlayStation 2 versions hinders players from performing special actions or magick spells (as only a limited amount can be performed at once), casting Cura and Curaga under Faith status instead of Curaja is more efficient, because they cost three units of effect capacity and consume less MP altogether, making Cura useful until the endgame. In The Zodiac Age, this is no longer an issue.
Use[]
Cura is a good utility spell the player can easily set up via the gambit system to heal themselves and their allies, and is one of the most frequently used spells in Final Fantasy XII. It does not require too much MP to use, which usually makes it preferable over items and even higher tier curative spells, especially with Faith in place. It can also be used against undead enemies to damage them, which is generally better than other offensive spells, as curative spells bypass the target's Magick Resist stat; therefore, using Shear on undead does not make Cure-type spells do more damage. In the Zodiac versions, healing spells are especially a good way for the White Mage job to fight undead enemies. However, Cura is outclassed by Curaja later on.
Etymology[]
"Cura" comes from the Latin word which translates into "care", "treatment", "attention", and "concern".