Absorbs MP from the target and transfers it to the spell caster.
Description
Osmose is a Blk Mag spell for Vivi in Final Fantasy IX that steals MP from the target and gives it to Vivi. In Trance, Vivi can use the spell twice in one turn.
Both incarnations of Tiamat and the superboss Ozma can use the ability Absorb MP, which damages its target's MP amount and adds it to its caster. The enemies Agares, Black Waltz 2, Ghost, Malboro, Ring Leader, Torama, and Type B use Osmose against the player. Osmose cannot be reflected but can be countered with the support ability Return Magic.
Obtain[]
Osmose is learned for 70 AP from the High Mage Staff and unusually for Black Magic, from an armor piece, Gaia Gear. Gaia Gear is bought from Daguerreo (before going through Shimmering Island portal) and Ipsen's Castle, and is found in Oeilvert, Mount Gulug, and Faraway Lagoon chocograph treasure. High Mage Staff is found in Forbidden Forest chocobo treasure, and bought from the Black Mage Village in the endgame.
The earliest the player can learn the spell is from the chocobo treasures as soon as the party has the Blue Narciss.
Mechanics[]
Drain has a a different damage formula from most spells; its draining effect depends on Vivi's Level and 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.
![{\displaystyle Bonus=Magic+RndMOD([(Level+Magic)/8]+1)}](https://services.fandom.com/mathoid-facade/v1/media/math/render/svg/c13b54f8708c50704d57d307391d30eec79ae8aa)
![{\displaystyle Damage=[(Base\times Bonus)/4]}](https://services.fandom.com/mathoid-facade/v1/media/math/render/svg/783a3e1e64e0bc7ee20420156f2e2d0223239692)
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 and Vivi being under Mini. When used on undead targets, the spell's effect is reversed: Vivi loses MP while the enemy gains it.
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.
Use[]
Vivi can use Osmose to replenish his MP on his turn. It is useful during dungeon-crawling, such as when there is only one enemy left when Vivi gets his turn; he can use Osmose to top up his MP while the rest of the party use their turns to dispatch the enemy. However, save moogles are frequent and Tents are cheap, used for easily topping the party up in both dungeons and on the world map. If the player has been stealing with Zidane (to power up his Thievery for late game), they likely also have a plentiful stock of Ethers, which can be used to restore MP to Vivi and are especially good when used with Chemist. Most boss battles do not last long enough for Vivi to need to top up his MP if he entered the battle on full MP even if he uses his best spells every turn, and there is always a save moogle before a boss to use a Tent or two.
Etymology[]
Osmosis is the spontaneous net movement of solvent molecules through a semi-permeable membrane into a region of higher solute concentration, in the direction that tends to equalize the solute concentrations on the two sides. It may also be used to describe a physical process in which any solvent moves across a semipermeable membrane (permeable to the solvent, but not the solute) separating two solutions of different concentrations.
The Japanese name, "Asupiru" (or "Aspir"), is likely an abbreviation of the word "aspirate", meaning "to draw in by suction", or the French version of that word, "aspirer", with the same meaning.