Reduce HP of one foe by 1/4 of target's max HP.
Description
Gravity is a Time Magick spell in the Zodiac versions of Final Fantasy XII and an Arcane Magicks spell in the original PlayStation 2 version. It is a multi-target spell (even though the in-game description states otherwise) that attempts to deal fractional damage by taking a quarter of the foes' maximum HP. Its upgrade is Graviga.
In the Zodiac versions, the player can also use the spell via the consumable item Gravity Mote.
The following enemies use Gravity against the player: Babil, Goliath, Zeromus, and Spinner-Rook.
Obtained[]
Gravity's license costs 50 License Points in the Zodiac versions, where the spell is bought for 2300 gil from various shops after fighting Judge Ghis.
In the original version, Gravity is an Arcane Magick spell whose license costs 30 LP. It is bought for 2800 gil from Rabanastre after fighting Belias, as well as from Eruyt Village and Mt Bur-Omisace.
In the Zodiac versions, Gravity is used by the Time Battlemage.
Mechanics[]
Gravity attempts to damage all foes in range equal to 25% of each foe's maximum HP, capped at 9999 in the original version. Its range was extended for the Zodiac versions. Bosses, marks, Rare Game, and other tough foes are immune to fractional damage due to their Safety augment.
The success rate of Gravity is calculated as follows:
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, Gravity will succeed unless the enemy is immune due to Safety.
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. Though Gravity is not a status spell, it uses the same success chance formula as ailment spells do.
Gravity costs 12 MP to cast without Channeling licenses in the Zodiac versions and 20 MP in the original. The spell bounces from the target's Reflect unless the caster wears the Opal Ring. Bouncing the spell off the player's own reflected party can thus multi-cast it.
Use[]
The player can automate Gravity via gambits (such as with Foe:Foes present 2+→Gravity). However, it is best used with the Indigo Pendant equipped whenever possible and used situationally, as it fails on enemies who have the Safety augment. Unlike in some other games in the Final Fantasy series, Gravity deals damage as per the foes' maximum HP, and thus can kill them. Gravity's upside is that its damage does not depend on the caster's Magick Power, but conversely, it also cannot be boosted with Faith status or conditional licenses, meaning other spells at the player's disposal are likely to be stronger than Gravity a lot of the time with the correct setup, and also not miss on the toughest foes.
Gravity's usefulness is limited because it would be most powerful on enemies with high health, but these also tend to be the ones who are immune to it. It could be more useful in a New Game Minus playthrough. Gravity could be useful against the Shield Wyrms on Cerobi Steppe, being strong foes with high health.
Gravity is eclipsed by Graviga outright, and the player can stop using Gravity once they get its upgrade.