Dark (闇, Yami?), also known as Shadow and Darkness, is a recurring element in the Final Fantasy series. It is usually a counterpart of the Holy element and is a strong element against enemies affiliated with said element. It is usually associated with death, evil, and/or celestial objects (like stars and meteors), but this is not always the case. The Dark element being often associated with celestial objects may allude to western traditions that portrayed comets as signs of ill omen and the dissatisfaction of the gods.
Recurring themes[]
Equipment[]
Dark swords used by classes such as Dark Knights are often imbued with the element, such as the Deathbringer from Final Fantasy IV. Dark armor is also commonly worn by this class. Some weapons with this element are imbued with the Death spell, often killing enemies with one hit. Different types of monsters are weak to this element in Final Fantasy IV.
Spells[]
Spells affiliated with the Dark element are not very common, except in Vana'diel, as well as the Ivalice universe, where the arcane magicks Dark, Darkra, Darkga, and Darkja are commonly seen. A notable Dark spell outside of Vana'diel and Ivalice is Shadow Flare. In Final Fantasy IX, Vivi can cast the Shadow-elemental Doomsday. Some skills with the Dark element usually involve a sacrifice of HP, such as Darkness.
Summons[]
- Final Fantasy IX: Ark
- Final Fantasy XI: Dark Spirit, Diabolos, Fenrir
- Final Fantasy XII: Zalera, Zodiark
- Final Fantasy Tactics: Lich
Appearances[]
Final Fantasy IV[]
Dark was known as Darkness in the SNES version. In the SNES version, equipping an armor resistant to the Holy element makes them weak against Dark and vice versa. This only applies to armor, since it doesn't affect monsters. The Advance version removes this behavior.
Dark | ||
---|---|---|
Game Element | Type | Effect |
Shadowblade | Weapon | Dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. |
Dark Sword | Weapon | Dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. |
Deathbringer | Weapon | Dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. |
Lustrous Shield | Shield | Halves Dark damage (3D only). |
Crystal Shield | Shield | Halves Dark damage (3D only). |
Darkness | Ability | Character enters "Darkness" status for three turns, increasing the strength of the attacks, making them dark-elemental, and consumes HP whenever the character attacks (3D remake only). |
Crystal | Item | The Crystal counts as a Dark-elemental attack, it works by triggering a Dark-elemental counterattack script that triggers Zeromus to shift form and make him vulnerable to attacks. |
Final Fantasy IV: The After Years[]
Though the Dark element exists and can be defended against with the appropriate equipment (as well as some monsters having a natural resistance to it), the only such spell used in the final game is the Dark Knight's Darkness ability. The Dark-affiliated equipment from the previous game exists in the coding and can be equipped by Dark Kain, though they cannot be accessed without hacking.
Final Fantasy VII Remake[]
The dark element is present in the analysis screen of the demo, seen when the player presses to show help for icons. It does not appear to be actually used in the demo, however, and is removed from the final version of the game. However, the final boss uses what looks like the dark element, performing Shadow Flare.
Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-[]
Dark | ||
---|---|---|
Game Element | Type | Effect |
Shadow Flare | Enemy Attack | Inflicts extreme Dark damage to one target. |
Darkness | Materia | Inflicts damage to all nearby target at the cost of a certain amount of Zack's current HP. |
Final Fantasy IX[]
Final Fantasy XI[]
Spells[]
- Absorb-ACC
- Absorb-AGI
- Absorb-CHR
- Absorb-DEX
- Absorb-INT
- Absorb-MND
- Absorb-TP
- Absorb-VIT
- Animus Augeo
- Aspir
- Aspir II
- Bio
- Bio II
- Bioga
- Blind
- Blind II
- Blindga
- Blood Drain
- Blood Saber
- Death Ray
- Digest
- Dispel
- Dispelga
- Drain
- Drain II
- Dread Spikes
- Endark
- Enervation
- Eyes On Me
- Geist Wall
- Jettatura
- Klimaform
- Kurayami: Ichi
- Kurayami: Ni
- Light Carol
- Light Threnody
- Magic Barrier
- MP Drainkiss
- Noctohelix
- Osmosis
- Sandspray
- Sleep
- Sleep II
- Sleepga
- Sleepga II
- Soporific
- Stun
- Voidstorm
- Yurin: Ichi
Summons[]
Blood Pacts[]
- Howling Moon
- Lunar Bay
- Nether Blast
- Nightmare
- Night Terror
- Ruinous Omen
- Somnolence
weapon skills[]
- Blade: Ei
- Omniscience
- Sanguine Blade
- Starburst
- Sunburst
Final Fantasy XII[]
In the original version, all ninja swords are Dark-elemental. In the Zodiac versions, they have different elements.
Dark | ||
---|---|---|
Game Element | Type | Effect |
Dark | Arcane Magick | Minor dark-elemental damage to one target. |
Darkra | Arcane Magick | Moderate dark-elemental damage to all targets in range. |
Darkga | Arcane Magick | Major dark-elemental damage to all targets in range. |
Zodiark | Esper | Dark-elemental Esper. |
Banish Ray | Esper Attack | Dark-based physical damage to one target. |
Darkja | Enemy Attack | Major dark-elemental damage to all targets in range. 50% chance of Death and Blind. |
Darkness | Enemy Attack | Physical dark-elemental damage to all targets in range. |
Maser Eye | Enemy Attack | Physical dark-elemental damage to all targets in range. |
Ashura | Weapon | Inflicts dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. (Original version) |
Iga Blade | Weapon | Inflicts dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. (Original version) |
Kagenui | Weapon | Inflicts dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. (Original version) |
Koga Blade | Weapon | Inflicts dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. (Original version) |
Orochi | Weapon | Inflicts dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. (Original version) |
Sakura-saezuri | Weapon | Inflicts dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. (Original version) |
Yagyu Darkblade | Weapon | Inflicts dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. |
Zeus Mace | Weapon | Increases the damage of dark-elemental attacks. |
Demon Shield | Shield | Absorbs dark-elemental damage. |
Black Mask | Helmet | Absorbs dark-elemental damage. |
Bone Helm | Helmet | Halves dark-elemental damage, weak to holy-elemental attacks. |
Black Robes | Armor | Increases the damage of dark-elemental attacks. |
Bone Mail | Armor | Halves dark-elemental damage, weak to holy-elemental attacks. |
Dark Shot | Ammo | Dark-elemental ammunition. |
Dark Mote | Item, Enemy Attack | Minor Dark elemental damage to all targets in range. |
Eksir Berries | Item | Moderate dark-elemental damage to one target. Dispels buffs and debuffs. |
Argyle Armlet | Accessory | Immune to Blind. Halves dark-elemental damage. (Zodiac versions) |
Manufacted Nethicite | Accessory | Halves all elemental damage. |
Gendarme | Shield | Absorbs all elements |
Final Fantasy XIV[]
Umbral (霊, Rei?, lit. Spirit) appeared as an elemental attribute during the initial release of the original Final Fantasy XIV. After the release of patch 1.20, the Umbral element, along with the Astral element, was removed from the game.
Both Umbral and Astral do not appear as gameplay elements in the relaunch of Final Fantasy XIV, but are referred to as important elements during the game's narrative. During the events of the Shadowbringers expansion, the Darkness element is the parallel to Umbral on the world of the First.
Dark | ||
---|---|---|
Game Element | Type | Effect |
Scourge | Thaumaturgy Spell | Deals umbral damage to and reduces umbral magic defense of enemies within area of effect. |
Scourge II | Thaumaturgy Spell | Deals umbral damage to and reduces umbral magic defense of enemies within area of effect. |
Damnation | Weaponskill | Haunt an enemy with visions of the hells, dealing umbral damage. Grants the caster MP in proportion to the damage dealt. |
Bio | Thaumaturgy Spell | Deals umbral damage over time and reduces the attack power of enemies within area of effect. |
Stygian Spikes | Thaumaturgy Spell | Grants umbral spikes to party members within area of effect, causing them to steal MP from attacking enemies. |
Absorb ACC | Thaumaturgy Spell | Transfers a portion of the target's accuracy to you. |
Absorb ATK | Thaumaturgy Spell | Transfers a portion of the target's attack to you. |
Absorb DEF | Thaumaturgy Spell | Transfers a portion of the target's defense to you. |
Absorb EVA | Thaumaturgy Spell | Transfers a portion of the target's evasion to you. |
Siphon MP | Thaumaturgy Spell | Transfers a portion of the target's MP to you. |
Drain | Thaumaturgy Spell | Transfers a portion of the target's HP to you. |
Siphon TP | Thaumaturgy Spell | Transfers a portion of the target's TP to you. |
Sleep | Conjury Spell | Induces slumber among enemies within area of effect. |
Bio II | Thaumaturgy Spell | Deals umbral damage over time and reduces the attack power of enemies within area of effect. |
Blind | Thaumaturgy Spell | Reduces the accuracy of enemies within area of effect. |
Shadowsear | Weaponskill | Deals Umbral damage and increases your magic potency in proportion to the difference in HP between you and the target. |
Stygian Spikes II | Thaumaturgy Spell | Armors party members within area of effect wit umbral spikes, granting the ability to absorb MP from attacking enemies. |
Tractor | Conjury Spell | Pulls the body of a KO'd target toward the caster. |
Syphon MP II | Thaumaturgy Spell | Transfers a portion of the target's MP to you. |
Drain II | Thaumaturgy Spell | Transfers a portion of HP from enemies within area of effect to you. |
Final Fantasy XV[]
Dark is an enemy-only element used by daemons. The most notable effect is that a portion of it is dealt directly to character's maximum HP, making it dangerous in dungeons and prolonged encounters. The player can protect against it with certain accessories and the King's Knight Tee attire.
Final Fantasy Tactics[]
Dark | ||
---|---|---|
Game Element | Type | Effect |
Duskblade | Fell Sword | Absorb HP from one target. |
Shadowblade | Fell Sword | Absorb MP from one target. |
Unholy Sacrifice | Darkness | Sacrifice own HP to deal extensive damage to all units in range. |
Lich | Summon | Dark-elemental magick damage. |
Unholy Darkness | Magicks | Dark-elemental magick damage. |
Dark Whisper | Monster Attack | Dark-elemental magick damage. Hits 6 times on random tiles in effect radius. |
Chaosbringer | Weapon | Dark-elemental damage to one target and inflicts Blind. |
Deathbringer | Weapon | Dark-elemental damage to one target and inflicts Doom. |
Arondight | Weapon | Dark-elemental damage to one target and inflicts Stop. |
Balmung | Weapon | Dark-elemental damage to one target and inflicts Stop. |
Valhalla | Weapon | Dark-elemental damage to one target and inflicts KO. |
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance[]
Dark | ||
---|---|---|
Game Element | Type | Effect |
Diabolique | Weapon | Nullifies Dark elemental damage. |
Heretic Rod | Weapon | Inflicts Dark elemental damage. |
Hades Bow | Weapon | Inflicts Dark elemental damage. |
Max's Oathbow | Weapon | Inflicts Dark elemental damage. |
Ebon Blade | Weapon | Inflicts Dark elemental damage. |
Death Claws | Weapon | Inflicts Dark elemental damage. |
Apocalypse | Weapon | Inflicts Dark elemental damage. |
Black Quena | Weapon | Inflicts Dark elemental damage. |
Dark Fiddle | Weapon | Nullifies Silence. |
Eye Soul | Weapon | Nullifies Doom. |
Bone Plate | Cloth | Absorbs Dark elemental damage. |
Reaper Cloak | Robe | Absorbs Dark elemental damage. |
LV? S-Flare | Blue Magic | Inflicts Dark elemental damage to all units with the same level. |
Evil Gaze | Spirit Magic | Dark damage and may inflict Confuse |
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift[]
Game Element | Type | Effect |
---|---|---|
Apocalypse | Knightsword | Inflicts Dark elemental damage. |
Black Quena | Instrument | Inflicts Dark elemental damage. |
Bone Plate | Light Armor | Absorbs Dark elemental damage. |
Darkness | Ability | Sacrifice 10% of HP to inflict Dark elemental damage. |
Dark | Dark Magick | Inflicts Dark elemental damage to the target. |
Dark Fist | Martial Arts | Dark-elemental physical attack in a two-square line. Reduces caster's HP by 25% of damage dealt. |
Darkra | Dark Magick | Inflicts Dark elemental damage to the target. |
Darkga | Dark Magick | Inflicts Dark elemental damage to the target. |
Death Claws | Knuckles | Inflicts Dark elemental damage. |
Diabolique | Rapier | Dark-elemental weapon that halves Dark damage taken. |
Ebon Blade | Blade | Inflicts Dark elemental damage. |
Ensanguined Shield | Shield | Dark-elemental shield, but causes weakness to fire. |
Épée-prisme | Rapier | Weapon that halves Dark-elemental damage taken. |
Evil Gaze | Elemental Magick | Inflicts Confusion and deals Dark damage. |
Final Eclipse | Scion | Zodiark blasts the field with dark magic, dealing fixed 999 damage to everyone. |
Hades Bow | Greatbow | Inflicts Dark elemental damage. |
Heretic Rod | Rod | Inflicts Dark elemental damage. |
Lifebreak | Sacred Blade | Deals Dark damage in an inverse proportion to the user's HP. |
Lifethread Blade | Flair | Dark-elemental physical attack that inflicts Doom. |
Lv. 3 Dark | Arcane Magick | Dark-elemental magick attack that targets all units whose level is a multiple of 3. |
Lv. ? Shadowflare | Arcane Magick | Inflicts Dark elemental damage to all targets with the same level. |
Max's Oathbow | Greatbow | Inflicts Dark elemental damage. |
Minerva Bustier | Light Armor | Immune to Dark elemental damage. Female units only. |
Mist Storm | Geomancy | Dark-elemental magick attack that reduces HP and MP of units in an area. |
Reaper's Robe | Robe | Absorbs Dark elemental damage. |
Ring of Precepts | Accessory | Allows the summoning of Zodiark. |
Shadow Shade Tome | Lore | Dark-elemental damage against all units. |
Shadowy Blow | Maw | Deals Dark damage in a line and inflicts Blind. |
Silence Touch | Ghostly Touch | Deals Dark damage and inflicts Silence. |
Sleep Touch | Ghostly Touch | Deals Dark and inflicts Sleep. |
Sword of Darkness | Astutia | HP-draining Dark physical attack. |
Zanmato | Katana | Weapon that halves Dark damage taken. |
Final Fantasy Tactics S[]
Vagrant Story[]
Dark and Light are an opposed pair.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates[]
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time[]
Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light[]
Dark | ||
---|---|---|
Game Element | Type | Effect |
Dark | Black Magic | Deals minor dark-elemental damage. |
Darkra | Black Magic | Deals moderate dark-elemental damage. |
Darkaga | Black Magic | Deals major dark-elemental damage. |
Strong Dark | Joint Attack | Deals minor dark-elemental damage. |
Strong Darkra | Joint Attack | Deals moderate dark-elemental damage. |
Strong Darkaga | Joint Attack | Deals major dark-elemental damage. |
Amazing Dark | Joint Attack | Deals minor dark-elemental damage. |
Amazing Darkra | Joint Attack | Deals moderate dark-elemental damage. |
Amazing Darkaga | Joint Attack | Deals major dark-elemental damage. |
Prodigious Dark | Joint Attack | Deals minor dark-elemental damage. |
Prodigious Darkra | Joint Attack | Deals moderate dark-elemental damage. |
Prodigious Darkaga | Joint Attack | Deals major dark-elemental damage. |
Elemental | Job Ability | Deals minor Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Dark and Light-elemental damage to random enemies. |
Sigh of Darkness | Smelt Result | Deals dark-elemental damage. |
Whirlpool of Chaos | Smelt Result | Deals dark-elemental damage. |
Bladeblitz | Enemy Ability | Minor dark-elemental damage attack. |
Dark Blast | Enemy Ability | Minor dark-elemental damage attack. |
Dark Breath | Enemy Ability | Minor dark-elemental damage attack. |
World of Dark | Enemy Ability | Moderate dark-elemental damage attack, 50% of inflicting silence or curse. |
Darkness Blade | Weapon | Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. |
Darkbringer | Weapon | Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. |
Blacksword | Weapon | Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically and can inflict sudden death. |
Darkness Axe | Weapon | Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. |
Black Book | Weapon | Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. |
Darkness Staff | Weapon | Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. |
Evil Lance | Weapon | Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. |
Darkening Harp | Weapon | Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. |
Cursed Blade | Weapon | Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically and can inflict blindness. |
Darksteel Shield | Shield | Nullifies dark-elemental based attacks. |
Dusk Gauntlet | Accessory | Adds dark-elemental damage to weapon attacks. |
Dark Cape | Accessory | Nullifies dark-elemental based attacks. |
Dark Sigh | Item | Deals minor dark-elemental damage. |
Final Fantasy Dimensions[]
Game Element | Type | Effect |
---|---|---|
Dark | Fusion Ability | Moderate dark-elemental damage to targets. |
Dark Star | Fusion Ability | Massive dark-elemental damage to multiple targets. |
Diablos | Summon | Dark-elemental damage to multiple targets. |
Darkness | Dark Blade | Consume 1/3 max HP for Major dark-elemental damage to single target. |
Onyx Wave | Dark Blade | Consume 1/3max HP for dark-elemental damage to multiple targets. |
Final Thrust | Dark Blade | Dark-elemental damage to single target based on Max HP. |
Ebony Slash | Dark Blade | Physical dark-elemental damage to single target. |
Bardark | Resist Element | Enchant all with dark-elemental resistance. |
Endark | Boost Element | Enchant all with dark-elemental power. |
Pictlogica Final Fantasy[]
Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade[]
Final Fantasy Record Keeper[]
Final Fantasy Explorers[]
Final Fantasy Brave Exvius[]
World of Final Fantasy[]
Game Element | Type | Effect |
---|---|---|
Abyss | Magic | Inflict magical dark damage to a single target. |
Dark Mysteries | Ability | Inflict magical dark damage to a single target. |
Kishin | Ability | Inflict physical dark damage to a single target. |
Soul of Chaos | Ability | Inflict physical dark damage to a single target. |
Atomic Impact | Ability | Inflict physical dark damage to all targets. |
Eclipse Bite | Ability | Inflict physical dark damage to a single target. High critical chance. |
Petty Grudge | Ability | Inflict magical dark damage to a single target. Power increases relative to accrued damage. |
Everyone's Grudge | Ability | Inflict magical dark damage to all targets. Power increases relative to accrued damage. |
Drain | Ability | Use dark power to absorb HP from a single target. |
Leech | Ability | Use dark power to absorb HP from a single target. |
Syphon | Ability | Use dark power to absorb AP from a single target. |
Draining Claw | Ability | Inflict physical dark damage and absorb HP from a single target. |
Death Cutter | Ability | Inflict physical dark damage/doom to a single target. |
Dark | Ability | Inflict magical dark damage/Blindness to a single target. |
Evil Mist | Ability | Inflict magical dark damage/Poison to all targets. |
Enhanced Dark | Ability | Raises dark ability damage. |
Dark Converter | Ability | Restores AP upon taking dark damage. |
Dark Resistance+ | Ability | Raises dark resistance by 25. |
Dark Resistance++ | Ability | Raises dark resistance by 50. |
Channel Element: Dark | Stack Ability | Deals Dark-elemental physical damage to a single target. Usable by Lann or Reynn in Jiant form, and a dark-themed Mirage with highest dark resistance. |
Endark | Stack Ability | Deals Dark-elemental physical damage to a single target. Usable by Lann or Reynn in Jiant form and Gleefrit with any other Mirage. |
Unholy Darkness | Stack Ability | Deals Dark-elemental magical damage to a single target. Usable by Lann or Reynn in Jiant form and Undead Princess, Undead Princess★ or Lich with any other Mirage. |
Drain Mirajewel | Mirajewel | While equipped, allows Lann or Reynn to use this ability. |
Syphon Mirajewel | Mirajewel | While equipped, allows Lann or Reynn to use this ability. |
Abyss Mirajewel | Mirajewel | While equipped, allows Lann or Reynn to use this ability. |
Dark Resistance+ Mirajewel | Mirajewel | While equipped, grants Lann or Reynn the effects of this ability. |
Dark Resistance++ Mirajewel | Mirajewel | While equipped, grants Lann or Reynn the effects of this ability. |
Drain Seed | Ability Seed | Allows a Mirage to use this ability when placed in a blank space in their Mirage Board. |
Abyss Seed | Ability Seed | Allows a Mirage to use this ability when placed in a blank space in their Mirage Board. |
Dark Resistance+ Seed | Ability Seed | Grants a Mirage the effects of this ability when placed in a blank space in their Mirage Board. |
Final Fantasy Trading Card Game[]
Dark is one of the eight elemental attributes, and one of two special attributes along with Shine of which the player can only control up to two cards from at any time. Dark cards depict villains of the series and have powerful abilities.