Deal lightning damage to all foes in range.
Description
Thundara is a Black Magick spell in both the original PlayStation 2 version of Final Fantasy XII and the Zodiac re-releases. It is a multi-target spell that deals lightning-elemental damage to all foes in range. It is the middle tier lightning spell, above Thunder and below Thundaga.
As a Black Magicks spell, it is also a random outcome of the Shades of Black Technick.
The enemies that use Thundara against the player are Silicon Tortoise, Storm Elemental, Specter [b], Dead Bones, Headless, Dullahan, Gazer, Crystalbug (red) (original Japanese version only), Crystalbug (blue), Coeurl, Earth Elemental, Earth Chaosjet, Imp, Striker, Mu, Behemoth, Holy Elemental, Skulwyrm [a, b], Reaper, Mythril Golem, Archaeoaevis, Bogey, Mallicant, Shambling Corpse, Adamantitan, Emeralditan, Elvoret, Dark Elemental, Zombie Warlock, Roblon, Braegh, Lindwyrm, Ring Wyrm, Mindflayer, Adrammelech, Ahriman, Thalassinon, Negalmuur, Molen, Tower, Helvinek, Bangaa Thief, and Helm-Rook.
Obtained[]
Thundara's license costs 50 License Points in the Zodiac versions, where the spell is bought for 2900 gil from Eruyt Village onward. It is also found in Trial Mode Stage 62 in a treasure with the Diamond Armlet equipped.
In the original version, Thundara's license costs 35 LP and the spell is bought for 3000 gil from Eruyt Village onward after the events in Henne Mines.
In the Zodiac versions, Thundara is used by the Black Mage and the Red Battlemage, as well as by the Uhlan after they unlock a Quickening license that costs 100 LP to reach it. The Esper Adrammelech also knows it innately.
Mechanics[]
Thundara deals moderate lightning-elemental damage to all foes in range based on the caster's level and Magick Power, mitigated by the target's Magick Resist. Its range was expanded for the Zodiac releases.
The spell power in the original version is 70, lowered to 68 in the Zodiac versions. The formula for damage calculation:
![{\displaystyle [POWER\times RANDOM(1\sim 1.125)-Magick~Resist]\times [2+{Magick~Power\times (Level+Magick~Power) \over 256}]}](https://services.fandom.com/mathoid-facade/v1/media/math/render/svg/08fb0388b050f4b27ae7325a690a6892d5b00889)
With the Serenity license or the Magick Gloves accessory, the damage is inflated to 120% (original) or 150% (Zodiac) when the caster is in full health. With the Spellbreaker license or the Leather Gorget accessory, the damage is doubled when the caster is in HP Critical. If the caster has Faith, Thundara will damage for 30% more. As an elemental spell, it will do double damage to targets weak to lightning, and 150% damage with lightning-potency gear: Storm Staff and Cloud Staff (Zodiac only). The boosts stack multiplicatively.
Enemies who resist lightning take half damage. Those who nullify lightning take no damage and those who absorb lightning are healed by it. Shell halves damage from Thundara.
Certain weather conditions affect both the player characters' and the foes' lightning damage, unless the enemies have the Ignore Weather & Landscape passive ability, or the player equips the Agate Ring. In rainy weather, and on water terrain, the damage is inflated to 120%. No weather or terrain diminishes lightning damage.
Thundara bounces from Reflect unless the caster equips the Opal Ring. Reflecting the spell off the player's own party bounces it multiple times onto the enemy or enemies. Damaging enemies with Thundara gains MP to the caster if they have the Warmage license. A target can sometimes avoid Thundara via their Magick Evade stat; for the player, this means wearing shields.
Thundara costs 18 MP to cast without Channeling licenses.
Use[]
Thundara is a good mid game damaging spell that the player can set up via the gambit system (such as with Foe:lightning-vulnerable→Thundara or Foe:foes present 2+→Thundara). It can be good against flying enemies for characters who lack ranged weapons. Ice enemies are typically weak to lightning, such as Mateus and enemies on the Paramina Rift. Another good enemy to use it on is the mark Gil Snapper.
Thundara is best used with the Storm Staff to boost its power, or with the Cloud Staff in the Zodiac versions. It is most useful in Garamsythe Waterway due to the water terrain there boosting its power, as well as in rainy Giza and in Ozmone Plain, Mosphoran Highwaste, Phon Coast, Tchita Uplands, and Cerobi Steppe when it is raining. Heavy rain and regular rain both give the same boost to power.
The player can multi-cast the spell by giving all of their party Reflect and then casting Thundara on themselves.
Thundara is outclassed as soon as Thundaga becomes available from Archades or Balfonheim Port, depending on game version, as MP is generally plentiful enough for the player to use the stronger versions of spells, especially with the licenses that refund MP costs.