When gamers think ofFinal Fantasy, chances are they’re either thinking of chocobos, moogles, or the wide-brimmed-hat-wearing, fireball-casting black mage. While the archetype has shifted visually over the years, the bright-eyed caster remains a powerful mainstay in the series as it continues to capture the imagination of fans worldwide.
But which black mage is the most powerful in the series? Which caster is always in their element as they wield fire, ice, and air? Direct comparisons between eachFinal Fantasywould be unproductive given the differences between systems, but most gamers can agree thatsome black mages simply stand above the others in terms of a pure show of power(and that they know it when they see it).
The original four warriors are a hand-picked band of adventurers, one of which is the original black mage. This formidable magic user has the ability to cast all the offensive spells the BLM (short for Black Mage) is known for today, as well as a party buffs, haste, and some enemy conditions, such as slow and blind.
AlthoughFinal Fantasy’s black mage kick-started the job (and the trope, too), they aren’t all that potent. Of the 37 black magic spells in the game, the black mage can only learn 24 of them. to learn the rest, the black mage needs to “unrobe” andtake the mantle ofFinal Fantasy 1’s more powerful magic class, the black wizard.
Although her master, the legendary thaumaturge Ququruka Tataruka, unleashed a terrible curse while delving deeper into the mysteries of the black arts, Lalai Lai firmly believes that her style of magic can be used to do good. Originally a priestess, she encountered the thaumaturge while visiting to hear another prisoner’s confessions.
RELATED:Final Fantasy 14: The Best Exquisite Weapons, Ranked
In secret, she learned powerful arcane practices from the self-imprisoned Ququruka Tataruka and herself became a powerful wielder of the elements. ThroughoutFinal Fantasy 14, sheguides the Warrior of Light in their quest to uncover their potential as a black magewhile pursuing lost forgotten lore.
This stripped-green-and-white prodigy of magic likes to refer to himself as “the Mysiden genius” on account of his mastery of spells, a habit he took up with his sister, Porom, since they were small children. While his sister is well on her way to becoming a master white magic user, Palom prefers the path of the black mage.
Butarrogance isn’t just a part of Palom’s personality, it’s actually one of his skills, which he uses to enhance his magical abilities for a short while. When paired with his sister, they have the “twincast” ability, which allows them to cast more powerful versions of their spells. However, in theFinal Fantasy 4follow-up,The After Years, Palom seems to have grown a touch more modest.
3Golbez – Final Fantasy 4: The After Years
Final Fantasy 4: The After Years
Seventeen years have passed since the war’s end, and the son born to King Cecil and Queen Rosa of Baron has grown into a young man. Prince Ceodore has enlisted in the airship fleet known as the Red Wings, eager to meet the expectations demanded of his blood and station. Yet once more another moon has appeared in the sky, and with it vast hordes of monsters intent on destruction. The brief peace enjoyed by the Blue Planet now stands threatened under the shadow of impending catastrophe.Begin your journey with “Ceodore’s Tale.” Complete it to unlock the tales of six additional characters, which can be played in any order, and then return to the core story with “Kain’s Tale,” “The Lunarian’s Tale,” and “The Crystals.” A total of ten tales in all, and all contained in FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS.Active Time Battle: Take control of exhilarating combat made possible by the non-stop action in Square Enix’s iconic battle system.Lunar Phases: Feel the moon’s presence in combat, as its waxing and waning influences the potency of attacks and abilities of all combatants. Lunar phases cycle naturally with the passage of in-game time, or when resting at an inn, tent, or cottage.Band Abilities: Combine the strength of your party members to awesome effect with Band abilities that can be unlocked through in-game events or by levelling your characters' Affinity.Minimap: Keep an eye on your current location and nearby surroundings, or click for quick access to the world map.
Golbez originally appeared inFinal Fantasy 4as “the man in black.” This powerful figure is a master of both magic and martial arts. Golbez, tragically manipulated by Zemus (the previous game’s main antagonist) wrought destruction throughout the world in his quest to collect the four crystals.
RELATED:Video Game Villains Whose Hearts Were in the Right Place
Throughout the events ofFF4, Golbez proves himself a formidable elemental mage and master of the black arts. Not only is he a skilled welder of the thunder spell, he also has strong resistance against elemental magic. Golbez’s story was followed up and further explained inThe After Years,where he attempts to repent for his crimes, even though he was not fully in control of himself while they happened.
Life in Spira is tough, even more so for those who pledge themselves to protect the pilgrim summoner who will eventually go on to confront Sin, the monsterious mega-entity responsible for holding most of civilization back from growing beyond a few scattered towns and villages. In Lulu’s case, her charge is Yuna, and knowing what will become of her at the end of her pilgrimage undoubtadly hardens her heart and sharpens her skill as a black mage.
Lulu isn’t just the main damage dealer of the party. By progressing through her own section of the sphere grid,Final Fantasy 10’s flexible progression map, Lulu naturally ends up with one of the best physical damage defense stats in the game,not only making her a magical powerhouse but a tough lady to beat, which perfectly compliments her personality as a no-nonsense, protective older sister type.
Not only does this little guy perfectly embody the look ofFinal Fantasy’s most iconic magic user, he is also an incredibly powerful black mage as well. InFF9, black mages aren’t jobs but a race of synthetic (and disposable) creatures built as part of Alexandria’s army. Vivi happens to be the first sentient black mage, being a prototype of the program.
Although he is often shy and clumbsy, Vivi was built for power and is able to master pretty much all black magic (besides Wateraga). He also has the ability to synchronize with Steiner, the knight, to deliver some truly impressive blows to elementally-vulnarable enemies,creating one of the best duo combos in the series as a result. His trance state also allows him to double cast spells for a devastating result.
MORE:Final Fantasy 9: 10 Crazy Things You Never Knew About Black Mages
