In her pictures she captures everything: forests, water, light... the very essence of the things she paints...
Game description of Relm's ability
Sketch is Relm's special ability in Final Fantasy VI that allows her to paint a portrait of one of her enemies and use one of its attacks. Sketch can be changed to Control using the Fake Moustache relic.
Sketch is a mandatory ability during the story, when battling Ultros. Sketching Ultros when Relm joins the party ends the fight.
The optional character Gogo may also use the Sketch command.
Mechanics[]
The vast majority of enemies have two options which can be done with Sketch, and one only occurs 25% of the time. In early versions, the command was highly bugged.
All enemies and bosses have a Sketch menu with one or two options regardless of being immune to the command or not. If a target did not have any ability options, Sketching that target would result in Sketch being aborted.
Accuracy[]
If then Sketch is successful. Otherwise, it misses.
Since the [0...255] part is randomized, Sketch's hit chance comes out to (Sketcher's level)/(target's level). Thus, if the Sketcher's level is equal to or higher than that of the target, then Sketch will always work.
When Relm is equipped with the Beret, the formula becomes:
This means that if the Sketcher's level is equal to or higher than 0.67 times the level of the target, then Sketch will always work.
A Beret can first be found on the Floating Continent, and can later be bought in Tzen for 3500 gil.
Party members, monsters with the invisible status, and the enemies in the Statue of the Gods during the final battle, cannot be sketched. Furthermore, Relm cannot use Sketch attacks that would normally be affected by silence if she is herself silenced.
Effects[]
Sketch uses the physical or magical attack power of the target to determine its damage. Relm's stats, equipped armor (aside from the Beret), and weapon, have no effect on Sketch. However, relics such as the Gigas Glove or Earring—which increase her damage output by a percentage instead of boosting her stats—are taken into consideration.
Attacks that use HP, MP, or level as a determining stat for damage (i.e. Revenge Blast) use Relm's HP/MP/level, not the target's. If Relm sketches a target and uses a spell such as Drain or Osmose, the HP or MP drained will be given to Relm. If the Sketch causes use of a curative spell, such as Cure or Esuna, the spell will be cast on the player's party, not on the enemies.
Use[]
Sketch is a somewhat useful ability that requires no investment to be effective. Because it is unaffected by Relm's own stats, its usefulness depends on the enemy it is used on. Players who are familiar with the enemy's Sketch abilities can take great advantage of this by targeting it against certain enemies to make use of free heals or abilities that do not cost Relm any MP.
Because Sketch's effect is independent of Relm's stats, its use diminishes as Relm's stats grow. Relm has the highest base Magic stat, which can be improved even further by leveling her up with magicite that boost her Magic spellcasting. Between this and her ability to equip female-exclusive equipment, Relm has very strong spellcasting potential, and will likely benefit more from this than from relying on Sketch.
Relm may be better off using Control than Sketch. As well as providing greater manipulation of enemies, it comes with the unique ability to help Strago learn Lore abilities.
Other appearances[]
Sketch is a signature ability of Relm, used in her other appearances outside Final Fantasy VI. In Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia, Sketch instead sketches the currently equipped summon rather than an enemy ability. One of Relm's Final Fantasy Trading Card Game cards can use an ability based on Sketch; when Relm is played to the field, the player can choose a Monster in their Break Zone with a cost of three or less and play it to the field with the Haste ability. However, at the end of the turn or when removed from the field, it is removed from the game.
Gallery[]
Etymology[]
A sketch (ultimately from Greek σχέδιος – schedios, "done extempore") is a rapidly executed freehand drawing that is not usually intended as a finished work.
External links[]