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Damage and healing effects are reversed. Taking damage restores HP, while healing reduces it.

Description

Reverse is a status effect inflicted by the spell of the same name that briefly causes healing and damage to have the opposite effect for most abilities, though drain abilities and Technicks are exceptions. Though classed as an ailment, Reverse can be used on the player's own party for strategic purpose to absorb strong enemies' attacks. The player can also use it offensively to first reverse a strong foe and then reduce them to 1 HP with Renew.

The Nihopalaoa accessory uses an effect similar to Reverse, causing all items used by the holder to do the opposite of their normal effects (e.g. items that normally heal HP deal damage instead, items that normally cure status effects will inflict those status effects instead).

Mechanics[]

Reverse affects all regular attacks, damaging and healing spells, and most Esper attacks. It does not affect Drain or Leech, Syphon, Poison, Sap, Regen, Phoenix Down, Knot of Rust, Dark Matter, Quickenings, or Technicks. Zalera's Kill, Shemhazai's Soul Purge, and Zodiark's Final Eclipse skills are also exceptions.

Reverse has the shortest effect duration of all status effects.

The formula for the duration is:

Abilities[]

Item Reverse Mote
Spell Reverse (Arcane [OG] / Green Magicks [Zodiac])

Because Reverse is classified as an ailment, the Reverse spell has a chance of missing unless the caster equips the Indigo Pendant. When a party member has Reverse, they can use Stamp to inflict it onto other targets, but as Reverse wears off so fast this will not have much utility.

Enemy abilities[]

Ability Description Enemy
Reverse Deathgaze, Judge Ghis (Trial Mode)
Reverse Mote Elza
Holyja Ultima
Level 5 Reverse Zalera

Traps[]

The Stasis trap inflicts those who trigger it with Disable and Reverse. Stasis traps are found in Cerobi Steppe, Feywood, Great Crystal, Ridorana Cataract, and Subterra.

Protection[]

The player cannot protect against Reverse status.

Healing[]

Spell Esuna & Esunaga (White Magicks)
Mechanics Save Crystal

Use[]

Although the status is classed as "negative" (thus lasting longer the lower the target's Vitality stat is), it can be beneficial in long battles by casting Reverse on one or all members of the party so all attacks from the enemy will heal them. The only drawbacks to the status are that if any party members have an Esuna gambit active, they will immediately attempt to remove the status due to its negative classification. Save Crystals will also remove Reverse.

If the player has a gambit set to heal using Cura or Curaja, in which the character would normally be healed, they would instead be hurt. If a character has the Reverse status and they are stopped, Reverse will not wear off until Stop does. This can be used for strategic advantage against enemies that use the gambit Foe:nearest visible, by placing a stopped and reversed character near the foe, letting the character attract all of the enemy's attacks, while the other party members can attack from distance with ranged weapons.

Reverse can be useful in a New Game Minus playthrough to survive against various enemies. In New Game Minus, the status will also last longer as the party will have low Vitality.

Reverse can be useful against Deathgaze, a mark easily defeated with Reverse, Renew, and a simple Cure spell. After casting Reverse on Deathgaze, the party only needs to cast Renew that will leave it with 1 HP, and then use the Cure spell to finish it off.

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