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FFT0 Phantoma

Rem absorbs Yellow Phantoma from a fallen foe.

Souls return to the celestial father, and flesh to the terrestrial mother—so says the law of nature. Some spirits, however, are not so fortunate. Some wander for eternity, searching for a purpose. And it is I who breathes life anew into these lost souls. I beseech you: give me your phantoma and help me provide a new purpose for the afterlives of these tortured spirits.

Kingdom Citizen and phantoma salesman in Rama

Phantoma (ファントマ, Fantoma?) is the life essence of living beings in Final Fantasy Type-0. Player can absorb it from fallen foes to replenish MP and for use in Altocrystarium to augment spells. Different types of phantoma are distinguished by their color. Different types are needed for customizing and upgrading magic.

Phantoma is akin to the concept of "heart" and "soul" in the Fabula Nova Crystallis: Final Fantasy series. White and pearl phantoma are described as energy of the void.

The way phantoma is obtained is similar to the draw system used in Final Fantasy VIII: by extracting it from enemies. Both systems were created by Takatsugu Nakazawa.

Story[]

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow. (Skip section)
FFT0 Phantoma Rubrum

Phantoma released from Rubrum's dead soldiers.

Phantoma appears in various colors, but always as a smoke-like substance that flows out of dying bodies. Phantoma can be given willingly for a cause, as seen when the Vermilion Bird Crystal Secundus l'Cie Lady Caetuna uses the voluntarily-surrendered phantoma of Agito Cadets to summon the Verboten Eidolon Alexander.

Only a handful of elite researchers from the Sorcery Division are privy to information about phantoma. Class Zero cadets receive special privileges, but as Machina Kunagiri and Rem Tokimiya join the class, Arecia Al-Rashia asks Ace to keep the new recruits in the dark about phantoma. Arecia instructs him that Machina and Rem need only to know phantoma is the class's source of magic, explaining why they can circumvent the empire's crystal jammer. Outside of this, information and trade of phantoma is implied to be confidential and in turn illegal.

FFT-0 Kurasame Releasing Phantoma

Phantoma being released.

Arecia shows the cadets the Altocrystarium where they can enhance their magic in exchange for the phantoma they have collected in battle. Sorcery researchers task the class with collecting specific colors of phantoma for examination, and Class Zero cadets are not the only ones with a clandestine task of this nature, as an underground black market trade features several phantomists in different towns who are looking to trade in phantoma under instruction from Arecia.

Quon Yobatz later defines phantoma as the "essence of life," comparing it to a soul. During his quest to master all magic he learns of phantoma and Class Zero's special status, seeking to join the class. When Rem succumbs to her illness, the cadets find she cannot be roused because her phantoma levels have dropped. If Class Zero cadets fall in battle, however, Arecia can restore them to life by replenishing their phantoma.

FFT0 Class Zero End the War

Class Zero cadets after getting their phantoma destroyed.

As Tempus Finis commences magitek creatures known as Rursan Reavers emerge to slaughter the populace. Rursus destroy phantoma, making it impossible to heal those injured by them. At the Pandæmonium, Cid Aulstyne becomes the Rursan Arbiter who seeks to destroy Orience if no Agito steps up to save it. The Arbiter himself harvests phantoma, seen when he absorbs Shinryu Celestia's. When the cadets harvest his phantoma the Arbiter is destroyed, but this also kills the cadets. The Arbiter dissipates into white wisps that disappear into the void around, possibly the phantoma he had harvested.

When a l'Cie enters a crystal stasis it appears their phantoma is trapped in the mortal realm. When Arecia decides to end her experiment, she releases Machina and Rem from crystal stasis, restoring them to life.

Spoilers end here.

Gameplay[]

Procurement and harvesting[]

Defeated enemies (with rare exceptions) leave phantoma in their wake, which is said to be their source of life and magic. When Class Zero cadets absorb phantoma, their MP recovers. The amount of recovery depends on the type and rarity of the phantoma, as indicated by its color and name.

Upon killing an enemy, their bodies remain on the field for the player to harvest. Focusing on a foe by targeting them and locking on is crucial; while the camera can be redirected to other targets, there is a significant waiting time for a ready state. The color of the targeting reticule shows the potential phantoma that corpse will yield.

When one locks onto a corpse long enough, the player character will levitate the corpse, signifying it is ready to harvest. If there are other corpses, streams of red ethereal phantoma connecting to the initial corpse signify that they are also ready to be harvested simultaneously.

Corpses will vanish over a period of time; more enemies won't spawn if there are too many corpses out at once. This includes an enemy's death throes when they are killed, as full death is required for a phantoma harvest; Killsight harvesting removes the delay. Based on certain attacks:

  • Attacks with freezing, electrocuting, or holy elements—such as Blizzard, Thunder, and Holy—kill the opponent with no delay.
  • Physical or non-elemental attacks cause a short but immediate delay depending on the enemy; the foe will either drop dead, or writhe before passing.
  • Fire attacks have the longest delay. Killsighting Fire attacks is advised.

If one extracts phantoma while still fighting, the enemy's corpse will explode upon extraction, and their remains inflict area damage like a magical bomb or grenade. This may be exploited to injure many enemies at once by delaying an extraction for the purpose of Killsight harvesting. Inflicting a Killsight deathblow with the player character on a specific enemy will only allow that enemy to bear a Killsight variation; other enemies must be taken down with the same amount of precision or be placed under Killsight status, as party members cannot inflict Killsight deathblows.

Rewards and uses[]

Harvesting phantoma with different characters earns special bounties. Phantoma is also used in tasks and trade by other specialists and harvesters.

Magic system[]

The statistics system "Altocrystarium" depends on phantoma to power up the characters' magic. It can augment the magic in different areas. For example, Fire RF magic can be powered up in strength, MP usage, call time, projectile distance and speed, and increasing the Fire RF magic's strength parameter requires six red phantoma. The higher the level, the higher the quality of phantoma is needed for that spell, and some spells may require as much as three varieties to level up.

Types[]

Color Name Enhances How to obtain/shops Purchase price Sell price
Red Red Phantoma Fire magic, Blizzard RF, Thunder RF Harvested; bought from Corsi, Toguagh 1,000 gil 100 gil
Magenta Phantoma Fire magic, Blizzard RF, Thunder RF, Meteor Harvested; bought from Rama, Rilochy 2,000 gil 200 gil
Cerise Phantoma Fire magic, Blizzard RF/RF-II, Thunder RF, Thunder SHG-II, Meteor Harvested; bought from Valley of Monsters 3,000 gil 300 gil
Rouge Phantoma Fire magic, Blizzard RF/RF-II, Thunder RF, Thunder SHG-II, Meteor Harvested 500 gil
Cinnabar Phantoma Fire magic, Blizzard RF, Thunder RF, Meteor Mission 8-1 (on floor); harvested 800 gil
Blue Blue Phantoma Ice magic, Death Harvested; bought from Corsi, Toguagh 1,000 gil 100 gil
Cyan Phantoma Ice magic, Fire BOM/BOM-II, Thunder BOM/BOM-II, Death Harvested; bought from Rama, Rilochy 2,000 gil 200 gil
Smalt Phantoma Ice magic, Fire BOM/BOM-II, Thunder BOM/BOM-II, Death Harvested; bought from Valley of Monsters 3,000 gil 300 gil
Cobalt Phantoma Ice magic, Fire BOM/BOM-II, Thunder BOM/BOM-II, Death Harvested 500 gil
Cerulean Phantoma Ice magic, Fire BOM-II, Thunder BOM-II, Death Harvested 800 gil
Yellow Yellow Phantoma Lightning magic Harvested; bought from Corsi, Toguagh 1,000 gil 100 gil
Sepia Phantoma Lightning magic Harvested; bought from Rama, Rilochy 2,000 gil 200 gil
Jasmine Phantoma Lightning magic, Fire SHG/SHG-II, Blizzard SHG/SHG-II, Tornado Harvested; bought from Valley of Monsters 3,000 gil 300 gil
Topaz Phantoma Lightning magic, Fire SHG-II, Blizzard SHG-II, Tornado Harvested 500 gil
Golden Phantoma Lightning magic, Blizzard SHG-II, Tornado Harvested 800 gil
Green Green Phantoma Specific defensive magic (Cure, Protect, Esuna, Wall, Avoid) Harvested; bought from Toguagh 1,000 gil 100 gil
Verdant Phantoma Defensive magic (excluding Holy) Harvested; bought from Rilochy 2,000 gil 200 gil
Ivy Phantoma Defensive magic, Ultima, Bio Harvested; bought from Valley of Monsters 3,000 gil 300 gil
Jade Phantoma Specific defensive magic (Cure, Protect, Esuna, Wall, Avoid), Ultima, Bio Harvested 500 gil
Celadon Phantoma Specific defensive magic (Invisible, Holy), Ultima, Bio Harvested 800 gil
Purple Purple Phantoma Death, Protect, Raise Harvested; bought from Toguagh 5,000 gil 500 gil
Mauve Phantoma Specific special magic (Death, Meteor, Quake, Tornado, Aloud), MIS type, Protect, Raise Harvested 1,000 gil
Lavender Phantoma Special magic, MIS type, Protect, Holy Harvested 1,500 gil
Violet Phantoma Special magic, MIS type, Invisible, Holy Mission 8-1; harvested 3,000 gil
Indigo Phantoma Special magic, MIS-II type, Invisible, Holy Harvested 4,800 gil
White White Phantoma None Harvested 10 gil
Ivory Phantoma Provides greater boosts and no penalty when paired with other Phantoma. Mission 8-1; harvested 3,000 gil
Pearl Phantoma None Mission 8-1; harvested from certain Level 99 enemies 100 gil
Argent Phantoma None Harvested from Tonogiri (Mission 7-1) 100 gil

Probability[]

Each enemy is assigned a type, which determines its drop rates of certain phantoma. They are determined either by the element of the attack, whether the attack is normal, or whether they were killed by Killsight.

Category Finishing blow Phantoma dropped Drop rate
Generic Enemy 1 Other White 64.6%
Red 11.8%
Blue 11.8%
Yellow 11.8%
Killsight Green 52.9%
Red 15.7%
Blue 15.7%
Yellow 15.7%
Fire-based attack Red 78.4%
Green 9.8%
Purple 9.8%
Magenta 2.0%
Ice-based attack Blue 78.4%
Green 9.8%
Purple 9.8%
Cyan 2.0%
Lightning-based attack Yellow 78.4%
Green 9.8%
Purple 9.8%
Sepia 2.0%
Generic Enemy 2 Other White 64.6%
Magenta 11.8%
Cyan 11.8%
Sepia 11.8%
Killsight Verdant 52.9%
Magenta 15.7%
Cyan 15.7%
Sepia 15.7%
Fire-based attack Magenta 78.4%
Verdant 9.8%
Mauve 9.8%
Cerise 2.0%
Ice-based attack Cyan 78.4%
Verdant 9.8%
Mauve 9.8%
Smalt 2.0%
Lightning-based attack Sepia 78.4%
Verdant 9.8%
Mauve 9.8%
Jasmine 2.0%
Generic Enemy 3 Other White 64.6%
Cerise 11.8%
Smalt 11.8%
Jasmine 11.8%
Killsight Ivy 52.9%
Cerise 15.7%
Smalt 15.7%
Jasmine 15.7%
Fire-based attack Cerise 78.4%
Ivy 9.8%
Lavender 9.8%
Rouge 2.0%
Ice-based attack Smalt 78.4%
Ivy 9.8%
Lavender 9.8%
Cobalt 2.0%
Lightning-based attack Jasmine 78.4%
Ivy 9.8%
Lavender 9.8%
Topaz 2.0%
Generic Enemy 4 Other White 64.6%
Rouge 11.8%
Cobalt 11.8%
Topaz 11.8%
Killsight Jade 52.9%
Rouge 15.7%
Cobalt 15.7%
Topaz 15.7%
Fire-based attack Rouge 78.4%
Jade 9.8%
Violet 9.8%
Cinnabar 2.0%
Ice-based attack Cobalt 78.4%
Jade 9.8%
Violet 9.8%
Cerulean 2.0%
Lightning-based attack Topaz 78.4%
Jade 9.8%
Violet 9.8%
Violet 2.0%
Generic Enemy 5 Other White 64.6%
Cinnabar 11.8%
Cerulean 11.8%
Golden 11.8%
Killsight Celadon 52.9%
Cinnabar 15.7%
Cerulean 15.7%
Golden 15.7%
Fire-based attack Cinnabar 78.5%
Celadon 7.8%
Indigo 7.8%
Ivory 5/9%
Ice-based attack Cerulean 78.5%
Celadon 7.8%
Indigo 7.8%
Ivory 5.9%
Lightning-based attack Golden 78.5%
Celadon 7.8%
Indigo 7.8%
Ivory 5.9%
High Level 1 Other Green 52.9%
Red 15.7%
Blue 15.7%
Yellow 15.7%
Killsight Magenta 29.4%
Cyan 29.4%
Sepia 29.4%
Ivory 11.8%
Fire-based attack Magenta 78.5%
Purple 13.7%
Green 5.9%
Ivory 2.0%
Ice-based attack Cyan 78.5%
Purple 13.7%
Green 5.9%
Ivory 2.0%
Lightning-based attack Sepia 78.5%
Purple 13.7%
Green 5.9%
Ivory 2.0%
High Level 2 Other Verdant 52.9%
Magenta 15.7%
Cyan 15.7%
Sepia 15.7%
Killsight Cerise 29.4%
Smalt 29.4%
Jasmine 29.4%
Ivory 11.8%
Fire-based attack Cerise 78.5%
Mauve 13.7%
Verdant 5.9%
Ivory 2.0%
Ice-based attack Smalt 78.5%
Mauve 13.7%
Verdant 5.9%
Ivory 2.0%
Lightning-based attack Jasmine 78.5%
Mauve 13.7%
Verdant 5.9%
Ivory 2.0%
High Level 3 Other Ivy 52.9%
Cerise 15.7%
Smalt 15.7%
Jasmine 15.7%
Killsight Rouge 29.4%
Cobalt 29.4%
Topaz 29.4%
Ivory 11.8%
Fire-based attack Rouge 78.5%
Lavender 13.7%
Ivy 5.9%
Ivory 2.0%
Ice-based attack Cobalt 78.5%
Lavender 13.7%
Ivy 5.9%
Ivory 2.0%
Lightning-based attack Topaz 78.5%
Lavender 13.7%
Ivy 5.9%
Ivory 2.0%
High Level 4 Other Jade 52.9%
Rouge 15.7%
Cobalt 15.7%
Topaz 15.7%
Killsight Cinnabar 29.4%
Cerulean 29.4%
Golden 29.4%
Ivory 11.8%
Fire-based attack Cinnabar 78.5%
Violet 13.7%
Celadon 5.9%
Ivory 2.0%
Ice-based attack Cerulean 78.5%
Violet 13.7%
Celadon 5.9%
Ivory 2.0%
Lightning-based attack Golden 78.5%
Violet 13.7%
Celadon 5.9%
Ivory 2.0%
Category Finishing blow Phantoma dropped Drop rate
Fire Type 1 Kilsight Magenta 78.4%
Green 9.8%
Purple 9.8%
Ivory 2.0%
Other Red 90.2%
Yellow 4.7%
Green 4.7%
Ivory 0.4%
Fire Type 2 Kilsight Cerise 78.4%
Verdant 9.8%
Mauve 9.8%
Ivory 2.0%
Other Magenta 90.2%
Sepia 4.7%
Verdant 4.7%
Ivory 0.4%
Fire Type 3 Kilsight Rouge 78.4%
Ivy 9.8%
Lavender 9.8%
Ivory 2.0%
Other Cerise 90.2%
Jasmine 4.7%
Ivy 4.7%
Ivory 0.4%
Fire Type 4 Kilsight Cinnabar 78.4%
Jade 9.8%
Violet 9.8%
Ivory 2.0%
Other Rouge 90.2%
Topaz 4.7%
Jade 4.7%
Ivory 0.4%
Ice Type 1 Kilsight Cyan 78.4%
Green 9.8%
Purple 9.8%
Ivory 2.0%
Other Blue 90.2%
Red 4.7%
Green 4.7%
Ivory 0.4%
Ice Type 2 Kilsight Smalt 78.4%
Verdant 9.8%
Mauve 9.8%
Ivory 2.0%
Other Cyan 90.2%
Magenta 4.7%
Verdant 4.7%
Ivory 0.4%
Ice Type 3 Kilsight Cobalt 78.4%
Ivy 9.8%
Lavender 9.8%
Ivory 2.0%
Other Smalt 90.2%
Cerise 4.7%
Ivy 4.7%
Ivory 0.4%
Ice Type 4 Kilsight Cerulean 78.4%
Jade 9.8%
Violet 9.8%
Ivory 2.0%
Other Cobalt 90.2%
Rouge 4.7%
Jade 4.7%
Ivory 0.4%
Lightning Type 1 Kilsight Sepia 78.4%
Green 9.8%
Purple 9.8%
Ivory 2.0%
Other Yellow 90.2%
Red 4.7%
Green 4.7%
Ivory 0.4%
Lightning Type 2 Kilsight Jasmine 78.4%
Verdant 9.8%
Mauve 9.8%
Ivory 2.0%
Other Sepia 90.2%
Magenta 4.7%
Verdant 4.7%
Ivory 0.4%
Lightning Type 3 Kilsight Topaz 78.4%
Ivy 9.8%
Lavender 9.8%
Ivory 2.0%
Other Jasmine 90.2%
Cerise 4.7%
Ivy 4.7%
Ivory 0.4%
Lightning Type 4 Kilsight Golden 78.4%
Jade 9.8%
Violet 9.8%
Ivory 2.0%
Other Topaz 90.2%
Rouge 4.7%
Jade 4.7%
Ivory 0.4%
Arena 1 Other White 100%
Killsight White 52.9%
Green 47.1%
Fire-based attack White 52.9%
Red 47.1%
Ice-based attack White 52.9%
Blue 47.1%
Lightning-based attack White 52.9%
Yellow 47.1%
Arena 2 Other White 100%
Killsight White 52.9%
Verdant 47.1%
Fire-based attack White 52.9%
Magenta 47.1%
Ice-based attack White 52.9%
Cyan 47.1%
Lightning-based attack White 52.9%
Sepia 47.1%
Arena 3 Other White 100%
Killsight White 52.9%
Ivy 47.1%
Fire-based attack White 52.9%
Cerise 47.1%
Ice-based attack White 52.9%
Smalt 47.1%
Lightning-based attack White 52.9%
Jasmine 47.1%
Endless Spawn Other White 98.0%
Green 2.0%
Killsight White 98.0%
Purple 2.0%
Fire-based attack White 98.0%
Red 2.0%
Ice-based attack White 98.0%
Blue 2.0%
Lightning-based attack White 98.0%
Yellow 2.0%


Other appearances[]

Pictlogica Final Fantasy[]

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Final Fantasy Explorers[]

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Final Fantasy Brave Exvius[]

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Behind the scenes[]

The original story draft was written by Director Hajime Tabata, and largely lacked the elements of the Fabula Nova Crystallis mythology, which were added later by scenario writers when the script was re-worked. In Tabata's original story life energy was not known as phantoma, but was the same energy the Crystals were made of, and empowering a Crystal seemed to open the possibility to birthing a child who could travel between the mortal and the unseen realmsAgito.[1] In the final game the relation between phantoma and the one who can be Agito is ambiguous, but the spiral seems to strengthen the souls/phantoma of Arecia's chosen Agito candidates after each revolution.

Compared to the demo, the full version improved the phantoma system to make the character absorb more than one phantoma at a time.

How phantoma comes in a variety of colors helping manifest magical phenomena, and being described as the essence of life, makes it a parallel to artistic mediums; how White Phantoma is considered elements of the void reinforces this allusion. Blue Phantoma being a primary component in upgrading Death spells refers to the color blue's symbolism in East Asia, representative of death, spirits, and closeness to the afterlife. Kikujin Phantoma's importance in upgrading many high end spells may refer to its role as the designated color worn by the Japanese emperor. Rather than a role of ruler, the emperor's role was to signify man's closeness to the gods, as his bloodline was said to stem from Amaterasu, the Japanese goddess of the sun and daughter of the primordial Izanami and Izanagi. He was thus to deal with the affairs of the heavens and celestial world to ensure the well being of the earthly world.

Gallery[]

Etymology[]

Phantoma is Latin for "phantoms".

In the Spanish version, phantoma is called "Pneuma". Pneuma is a concept of "life of breath", a mixture of elements air (motion) and fire (warmth), in Stoic philosophy.

In the French version, phantoma is called "Anima". Anima is a feminine Latin and Italian noun for "soul" or "breath". Ancient Romans believed that one's anima resided in the chest; when a person died, his or her soul escaped from the body with the breath. Anima was associated with emotion and the heart; its metaphysical counter part, animus, was manifested in the brain and in one's sense of logic.

In Jungian psychology, the Anima can be defined as two things:

  • One's inner self, which is in contact with the subconscious, as opposed to one's outward persona.
  • The subconscious (yet partially conscious) female psychological qualities, which Jung said reside in all males and is usually an aggregate of a man's mother, but may also incorporate aspects of sisters, aunts, and other important female figures.

Anima Sola, or lonely soul in Roman Catholicism, is usually pictured as a soul in Purgatory who has chains that bound her wrists, which when broken, mean she has repented for her sins. The Anima Sola requires not only divine assistance, but also the help of the living.

In the Japanese release many of the color names found in the phantoma system derive from rare and expensive colors used in classical Japanese art.

Shinsha ("Cinnabar" in the English release) is the Japanese name for the mineral Cinnabar, which was often crushed and used in ceramics as a natural vivid red.

Seiji ("Jade" in the English release) is the Japanese name for the mute jade green and Chinese ceramic crafts of celadon.

Kikujin ("Celadon" in the English release) is a green that was considered high class in Japanese feudal castes due to its exclusivity to the emperor. It required am extensive process to make it an iridescent hue.

Lithospermum is the Latin scientific name for the Wisteria, a popular kind of flower in Japan called the Murakami, one of the few purple flowers in the nation. Shikon, meaning "blue-purple", is also the color derived from extracting a dye of the uncommon and wild Murakami root. Like Kikujin, Shikon was limited to the nobility.

Enpaku ("Argent" in the English release) is a white lead-made paint under the products of ganryou in classical Japanese painting. They were powdered paints that were nearly invulnerable to fading, and durable to mishandling when dried. Like its named phantoma being highly desired, Enpaku was used as a primer for works, as its traits allowed paper and other surfaces to flatten out and bring out other colors of ganryou. It was replaced with gofun shell due to its hazardous and impractical creation process during the late Muromachi Period.

Yuou ("Jasmine" in the English release) is a yellow-made ganryou paint from the arsenic mineral orpiment.

Hakuji ("Ivory" in the English release) is a clean white porcelain made from a high grade of clay from Japan, having been discovered by Korean artisans.

Geppaku ("Pearl" in the English release) means "moon white" in Japanese. It is a desired color in ceramics and pottery, due to how its hue under light is like that of the moon's reflection.

References[]

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