Shiva is a summon from Final Fantasy XI, being one of the six original Avatars, representing the Ice element. Shiva was made available as an unlockable summon spell for Summoners during the Rise of the Zilart expansion.
History[]
Shiva was the young ruler of a small kingdom situated in the south of Vana'diel. Despite her age, Shiva was a wise and competent ruler, loved by her people, except a small fraction of the nobility who were faithful to Shiva's uncle, the regent when she first came to the throne. Scheming with the neighboring countries, Shiva's uncle organized a coup, seized the throne and banished Shiva to the frozen Northlands, reluctant to further provoke the anger of the population by executing her outright.
The rulers with whom the uncle had allied decided to take over the country. In the chaos that followed a regiment of soldiers, led by general Aeomatra, headed to rescue their queen. They found her frozen solid in a block of ice. Unaccustomed to the harsh climate of the Northlands, they died refusing to leave their queen. Altana was moved by Shiva's plight and transformed her into the Celestial Avatar of Ice. Aeomatra is the name of the brightest, light blue star of the Shiva constellation.
Obtained[]
Shiva can be obtained upon completion of the quest "Trial By Ice". Alternatively, a brave low-level Summoner may go on the quest "Trial Size Trial By Ice" and defeat Shiva in a battle alone rather than in a group.
Gameplay[]
Use[]
When summoned, Shiva will join the Summoner's party, having her own HP, MP, and TP stats for the player to monitor.
While in combat, Shiva will be resistant to wind and ice-elemental based attacks and enfeebling effects, but has lower resistance to fire-elemental attacks and debuffs. When a Summoner uses the Avatar's Favor ability, Shiva will perform an ability that increases magic attack of all party members in range.
She has the highest magic attack of the six celestial avatars, making her merited blood pact "Heavenly Strike" a popular choice. Shiva is also the name of one of the game's servers.
Abilities[]
Blood Pact: Rage abilities[]
Level | Name | MP | Effect |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Diamond Dust | All | Massive Ice Damage - special job ability. |
1 | Axe Kick | 10 | Blunt physical attack weapon skill. |
10 | Blizzard II | 24 | Ice-based elemental spell. |
50 | Double Slap | 96 | Hits twice with a hand-to-hand physical attack weapon skill. |
60 | Blizzard IV | 118 | Ice-based Elemental Spell dealing damage. |
70 | Rush | 164 | Five-hit hand-to-hand physical attack weapon skill. |
75 | Heavenly Strike | 182 | (Merit) Ice-based Elemental Spell dealing massive damage. |
Blood Pact: Ward abilities[]
Level | Name | MP | Effect |
---|---|---|---|
28 | Frost Armor | 63 | Gives the entire party the effect of Ice Spikes. |
39 | Sleepga | 56 | Inflicts Sleep on enemies in range. |
90 | Diamond Storm | 136 | Reduces evasion for enemies within an area of effect. |
90 | Crystal Blessing | 201 | Confers a TP Bonus on party members within area of effect. |
Other appearances[]
Final Fantasy Trading Card Game[]
Shiva appears as an Ice-elemental card.
Gallery[]
Etymology[]
Shiva (also spelled Śiva) is a Hindu god. The Hindu Shiva once saved the world by consuming poison, giving him blue skin around the area of the neck and throat. Shiva is a male god, but can merge with his consort Parvati to become Ardhanari, an androgynous Hindu god of duality. Shiva is the god of destruction along with Vishnu, who is the god of preservation, and Brahma, the god of creation. Together they are the three principle deities of the Trimurti (Hindu Triad). It is believed he periodically destroys the world, then recreates it.
Shiva has different human forms, males and females. When he was in his avatar form, he spent most of his times in the Himalayan snow mountain. Shiva in the Final Fantasy series is likely inspired by one of his female avatars.
The Japanese pronunciation "Shiba" could refer to the English word "shiver", which in Japanese would sound like "shi-ba" or "shi-va".
Her name is also based from the word "shiver", given her icy nature. Another possibility is the reference to the Slavic goddess Živa, the goddess of love and fertility.