Fira (Final Fantasy IX)

Fira
(ファイラ, Faira?)
Availability
Obtained	Flame Staff, Mage's Hat, Topaz, Power Belt
Character(s)	Vivi, Steiner (via Swd Mag)
AP	50
Classification
Type	Black Magic
Skillset	Blk Mag, Dbl Blk, Swd Mag
Element	Fire
Specifications
MP cost	12
Reflect	Yes
Power	29
Related pages
Recurring appearance	Fira (ability)

Causes a lot of Fire damage to single/multiple targets.

Description

Fira is a Blk Mag spell in Final Fantasy IX usable by Vivi. It is obtained the earliest from the Flame Staff that can be stolen from Black Waltz 3 when faced with Dagger's party. Fira deals moderate Fire-elemental damage to one or multiple targets. If the target has Freeze, they will be thawed. If Steiner and Vivi are in the same party (and Vivi is not incapacitated in some manner), the former can also use Vivi's Fira spell in his sword magic, where the ability uses his stats rather than Vivi's. In Trance, Vivi can use Fira twice in one turn.

Fira can be used as an enemy ability by Abomination, Agares, Antlion, Black Waltz 2, Blazer Beetle, Carrion Worm, Feather Circle, Lani, Mistodon, Nymph, Sand Golem, Sand Scorpion, Soulcage, Type B, Type C, and Zuu. It can be reflected as normal and can be countered with the ability Return Magic.

Obtain

Fira is learned from the Flame Staff, Mage's Hat, Topaz, and the Power Belt. The Flame Staff can be stolen from the Black Waltz 3 when Marcus is in Dagger's party, but the player may as well skip it in favor of simply finding it in Cleyra's Trunk, as Vivi is in the latter party anyway. It can also be bought for 1,100 gil from Treno (disc 2), Cleyra, Lindblum (disc 2), Conde Petie, Black Mage Village (discs 2 & 3), and Alexandria. Mage's Hat can be bought from Cleyra onwards, and Topaz becomes a fairly common item after Doctor Tot gives the party one as part of the story. Power Belt can be found in Treno and also synthesized in various locations.

Mechanics

Black Magic spells are based on Vivi's Level, Magic stats, and the Spell Power of the spell. Vivi can use the Focus ability to increase his Magic during that battle by 25% per use. The effect stacks up to 99 and lasts for the entire battle, even if KO'd.

$Base = 29 - Target's Magic Defense$

$Bonus = Magic + RndMOD ([(Level + Magic) / 8] + 1)$

$Damage = Base * Bonus$

Where Rnd means a random number, while MOD means modulus operation. "Rnd MOD x" can be read as a random number between 0 and x-1.

Bonus is halved by target's Shell, Vivi being under Mini, and multi-targeting the spell. Bonus is boosted by 50% if Vivi equips Red Hat. Steiner has no means of boosting Fire damage for his Swd Mag.

In Vivi's Trance, Blk Mag turns into Dbl Blk where Vivi can cast two spells on his turn. The spells cost MP and expend the Trance gauge independently.

The support abilities that affect Fira are Reflect-Null (Fira pierces target's Reflect), Reflectx2 (Fira deals more damage when reflected), and Mag Elem Null (Fira deals non-elemental damage).

Fira Sword.

For Swd Mag, damage dealt is based on Steiner's Attack and Strength stat, as well as on the power of the spell. Using Fira Sword gives him +10 to Attack.

The damage formula for Swd Mag spells is as follows:

$Base = Attack + 29 - Enemy Defense$

$Bonus = Strength + RndMOD ([(Level + Strength) / 8] + 1)$

$Damage = Base * Bonus$

Use

Fira is obtained during early mid-game, and stays useful upwards until late endgame where Firaga can be obtained. It is especially useful against enemies weak to Fire, including various plant monsters, and especially when Vivi equips a Red Hat.