Shellra is a player-exclusive defensive status effect in Final Fantasy XIII that halves magic damage taken and does not affect healing. It is mutually exclusive with Deshell and is the upgrade to Shell, superseding it so one cannot have both buffs active at the same time. Shellra's physical damage counterpart is Protectra and its damage-mitigation stacks with Bar effects when the magic attack is also elemental as well as any active passive abilities and Sentinel's abilities and role bonus.
Some damage is "typeless" or otherwise ignores a target's Shellra (and Deshell). The player can do such Shell-ignoring damage from full ATB skills, but enemies cannot bestow themselves with Shellra regardless, as only Vanille and Fang learn it in their Synergist trees late in the game.
Shellra only lasts for 30 seconds, and so needs to be reapplied often, or in anticipation of an enemy becoming more aggressive or stronger.
Shellra only exists as a buff in Final Fantasy XIII and did not return for the sequels.
Abilities[]
| Game Element | Type | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Shellra | Synergist ability for Fang and Vanille | Bestows Shellra to the target for 30 seconds (base duration). |
Status duration can be lengthened with high level Synergist role level, having many Synergists in the same paradigm, as well as the Positive Effect synthesized ability, the target's high chain level, and the caster's high Magic stat when casting the spell (base stat + any boons, such as Faith). Shellra is unaffected by Boon.
Enemy abilities[]
Enemies cannot bestow Shellra.
Removal[]
Shellra can be removed with any abilities that inflict Deshell or Dispel. Shellra can, conversely, be used to remove Deshell.