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Mages who channel elemental forces into deadly magicks.

Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age description

Black Mage is a License Board in the Zodiac versions of Final Fantasy XII. It is represented by the zodiac sign of Capricorn. Black Mage specializes in using magick for offense and exploiting enemies' elemental weaknesses.

The Black Mage has access to 137 licenses, which require 8,086 LP to unlock, as well as up to 12 additional licenses through summon licenses costing 780 LP, and 2 additional licenses costing 145 LP through Quickening licenses.

Profile[]

Black Mage is a magickal class that uses black magick as its main means of attack. It wields staves or hand-bombs, as well as mystic armor to boost its magick power but, interestingly, it can also equip some heavy armor pieces. Due to its high damage output and ability to target multiple enemies, Black Mage excels in taking out mobs of enemies quickly. However, it cannot use weapons with high attack power, has few restorative magicks and low HP.

In The Zodiac Age version, the player can unlock two license boards for each party member.

Black Mage with Time Battlemage results in an efficient magic blaster and support unit with highly damaging Black Magick regenerating MP through the Warmage augment, leaving plenty of MP to cast the Time Magick buffs as needed. The access to mystic armor and extra number of Magick Lores from the Black Mage will also give the Time Magick enemy debuff spells a higher rate of success. The Black Mage and Time Battlemage pairing also has a surprisingly solid number of hit points due to the two jobs bypassing each other's Esper unlocks for HP licenses—only 30 HP less than a single-job Knight without Exodus.

All the heavy armor users with shields (Foebreaker, Knight and Red Battlemage) give the Black Mage, whose big damage tends to attract unwelcome attention, better defense and chance to evade. Black Mage-Knight can also wield the excellent White Robes + Excalibur combination. Red Battlemage's Black Magick would be redundant, but its Arcane Magick includes the most powerful elemental spell: Ardor. With Black Mage's staves, this combination lets the character use the Flame Staff to boost Ardor. If used on oiled enemies, this can be among the most damaging attacks.

Combining Black Mage with Monk gets three Swiftness licenses and the Black Mage is able to bypass the Esper lock on them. Monk has high HP and access to White Magick, including Holy, boosted by the Black Mage's maximum Magick Lores and the ultimate staff (Staff of the Magi), which augments Holy damage by 50%. Though Holy's damage is high, its casting time is so slow using other spells matches or eclipses damage done with Holy, anyway. Monk is also a powerful physical attacker, which is useful before the most powerful spells become available. However, the damage of Monk's poles is compared against the target's Magick Defense, not physical Defense. This combination also prevents the Monk from accessing Genji Gloves to maximize pole damage.

Coupling Black Mage with Archer allows three Swiftness licenses and access to all HP bonuses without Famfrit on either board. Burning Bow would allow the casting of a powered up Firaga, and gives decent physical damage, all in the same weapon. Shemhazai unlocks four heavy armor licenses between the boards, but the player must choose between Mirror Mail on the Black Mage board or Heavy Armor 10, 11 and 12 on the Archer's board, and the elemental damage of Archer's arrows is inferior to the Black Magick spells. Black Mage-Archer also nets all Item Lores, and the Archer's Cura can be as good for healing as a White Mage thanks to Black Mage's mystic armor and Magick Lores.

Pairing Shikari with Black Mage (or Red Battlemage or White Mage or Bushi), allows the character to equip the Yagyu Darkblade (Dark-elemental weapon) and the Black Robes (Dark damage boosted by 50%) all at the same time, for fighting Yiazmat and other enemies that are weak to Dark. The lack of Genji Gloves in this combination is not an issue, since the +50 Speed from Germinas Boots provides a greater damage boost to ninja blades than Genji Gloves do, anyway.

Machinist gives the option of consistent physical damage when the enemy's magick resistance is high, and light armor HP bonuses. Black Robes can be used with Dark Shot, and Machinist has Steal, Remedy Lore 3, and Potion Lore 3, three Swiftness, Green Magick 1, high level Time Magicks, and Achilles.

License Board[]

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQR
1 Aug.
2 Smn Wp.3 Qck.
3 Arm. Arm. Smn Aug. Gmb. Smn Wp.3
4 Aug. Qck. Arm. Wp.2 Aug. Gmb.
5 Aug. Arm. Aug. Gmb.
6 Aug. Arm. Aug. Gmb. Gmb. Gmb. Aug.
7 Aug. Wp.2 Qck. Arm. Esn. Acc. Acc. Acc.
8 Aug. Arm. 2nd Arm. Mgk Acc. Gmb. Tch.
9 Mgk Arm. Smn Wp.2 Mgk Aug. Acc. Smn Tch.
10 Mgk Wp.2 Arm. Mgk Acc. Aug. Wp.3
11 Mgk Arm. Arm. Wp.2 Arm. Mgk Aug. Acc. Smn
12 Mgk Mgk Mgk Mgk Mgk Mgk Acc. Aug. Aug. Mgk Aug. Aug.
13 Tch. Acc. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug.
14 Tch. Smn Aug. Aug. Acc. Aug. Acc. Gmb. Acc. Aug. Acc. Aug. Aug. Aug. Smn Arm.
15 Aug. Aug. Aug. Acc. Mgk Acc. Tch. Acc. Aug. Acc. Aug. Mgk
16 Smn Smn Smn Acc. Gmb. Acc. Gmb. Acc. Wp.2
17 Aug. Aug. Arm. Aug. Acc. Aug. Acc. Aug. Acc.
18 Aug. Qck. Smn Smn
19 Arm.
Legend
Aug. Augment
Qck. Quickening
Smn Summon
Acc. Accessory
Arm. Armor
Wp.1 Weapons 1
Wp.2 Weapons 2
Wp.3 Weapons 3
Tch. Technick
Gmb. Gambit
Mgk Magick
Esn. Essentials
2nd Second Board

License list[]

Equipment[]

Name Description LP cost
Hand-bombs (2) Allows character to equip Fumarole and Tumulus. 55
Hand-bombs (3) Allows character to equip Caldera and Volcano. 75
Makara Allows character to equip Makara. 105
Staves (1) Allows character to equip Oak Staff. 15
Staves (2) Allows character to equip Cherry Staff and Wizard's Staff. 25
Staves (3) Allows character to equip Flame Staff and Storm Staff. 30
Staves (4) Allows character to equip Glacial Staff and Golden Staff. 40
Staves (5) Allows character to equip Judicer's Staff and Cloud Staff. 65
Staff of the Magi Allows character to equip Staff of the Magi. 115
Mystic Armor (1) Allows character to equip Cotton Cap, Magick Curch, Cotton Shirt, and Light Woven Shirt. 10
Mystic Armor (2) Allows character to equip Pointy Hat, Topkapi Hat, Silken Shirt, and Kilimweave Shirt. 15
Mystic Armor (3) Allows character to equip Calot Hat, Wizard's Hat, Shepherd's Bolero, and Wizard's Robes. 20
Mystic Armor (4) Allows character to equip Lambent Hat, Feathered Cap, Chanter's Djellaba, and Traveler's Vestment. 25
Mystic Armor (5) Allows character to equip Mage's Hat, Mage's Habit, Lamia's Tiara, and Enchanter's Habit. 30
Mystic Armor (6) Allows character to equip Sorcerer's Hat, Black Cowl, Sorcerer's Habit, and Black Garb. 40
Mystic Armor (7) Allows character to equip Astrakhan Hat, Gaia Hat, Carmagnole, and Maduin Gear. 50
Mystic Armor (8) Allows character to equip Hypnocrown, Gold Hairpin, Jade Gown, and Gaia Gear. 60
Mystic Armor (9) Allows character to equip Celebrant's Miter and Cleric's Robes. 70
Mystic Armor (10) Allows character to equip Black Mask and Black Robes. 75
Mystic Armor (11) Allows character to equip White Mask and White Robes. 80
Mystic Armor (12) Allows character to equip Golden Skullcap and Glimmering Robes. 90
Mystic Armor (13) Allows character to equip Circlet and Lordly Robes. 110
Heavy Armor (7) Allows character to equip Steel Mask and Mirror Mail. 60
Heavy Armor (8) Allows character to equip Platinum Helm and Platinum Armor. 65
Heavy Armor (9) Allows character to equip Giant's Helmet and Carabineer Mail. 70
Accessories (1) Allows character to equip Orrachea Armlet. 5
Accessories (2) Allows character to equip Bangle and Firefly. 20
Accessories (3) Allows character to equip Diamond Armlet and Argyle Armlet. 25
Accessories (4) Allows character to equip Battle Harness and Steel Gorget. 35
Accessories (5) Allows character to equip Tourmaline Ring and Embroidered Tippet. 35
Accessories (6) Allows character to equip Golden Amulet and Leather Gorget. 35
Accessories (7) Allows character to equip Rose Corsage and Turtleshell Choker. 40
Accessories (8) Allows character to equip Thief's Cuffs and Gauntlets. 45
Accessories (9) Allows character to equip Amber Armlet and Black Belt. 30
Accessories (10) Allows character to equip Jade Collar and Nishijin Belt. 40
Accessories (11) Allows character to equip Pheasant Netsuke and Blazer Gloves. 45
Accessories (12) Allows character to equip Gillie Boots and Steel Poleyns. 60
Accessories (13) Allows character to equip Berserker Bracers and Magick Gloves. 60
Accessories (14) Allows character to equip Sage Ring and Agate Ring. 70
Accessories (15) Allows character to equip Ruby Ring and Bowline Sash. 70
Accessories (16) Allows character to equip Cameo Belt and Cat-ear Hood. 70
Accessories (17) Allows character to equip Bubble Belt and Fuzzy Miter. 80
Accessories (18) Allows character to equip Sash and Power Armlet. 80
Accessories (19) Allows character to equip Indigo Pendant and Winged Boots. 100
Accessories (20) Allows character to equip Opal Ring and Hermes Sandals. 115
Accessories (21) Allows character to equip Quasimodo Boots and Nihopalaoa. 130
Accessories (22) Allows character to equip Germinas Boots and Ring of Renewal. 160
Ribbon Allows character to equip Ribbon. 215

Magick[]

Name Description LP cost
Black Magick 1 Allows character to cast Fire and Thunder. 15
Black Magick 2 Allows character to cast Blizzard and Blind. 20
Black Magick 3 Allows character to cast Aqua and Silence. 25
Black Magick 4 Allows character to cast Aero and Sleep. 30
Black Magick 5 Allows character to cast Fira and Poison. 40
Black Magick 6 Allows character to cast Thundara and Blizzara. 50
Black Magick 7 Allows character to cast Bio and Blindga. 60
Black Magick 8 Allows character to cast Aeroga and Silencega. 70
Black Magick 9 Allows character to cast Firaga and Thundaga. 90
Black Magick 10 Allows character to cast Blizzaga and Sleepga. 90
Black Magick 11 Allows character to cast Toxify and Shock. 100
Black Magick 12 Allows character to cast Scourge and Flare. 120
Black Magick 13 Allows character to cast Scathe. 165
Green Magick 1 Allows character to cast Decoy and Oil. 40
Green Magick 2 Allows character to cast Drain and Reverse. 50
Green Magick 3 Allows character to cast Bubble and Syphon. 90

Technicks[]

Name Description LP cost
Charge Restores user's MP and Mist Charges. If the technick fails, MP is reduced to 0. 30
Charm Cause one foe to Confuse friend with foe. 30
Poach Capture HP Critical foes to obtain loot. 30
Steal Steal from one foe. 20
Telekinesis Deal ranged damage with melee weapons. 80

Augments[]

Name Description Amount LP cost
+70/150/190/230/270/310/390 HP Increases max HP by 70/150/190/230/270/310/390. 7 30/50/60/70/80/90/115
Magick Lore Increases magick potency. Mag+1 16 30/30/30/30/50/50/50/50/70/70/70/70/100/100/100/100
Remedy Lore 1 Remedies remove Sleep, Sap, Immobilize, and Disable. 1 20
Remedy Lore 2 Remedies remove Petrify, Confuse, and Oil. 1 30
Martyr Gain MP after taking damage.[note 1] 1 30
Ether Lore 1-2-3 Ethers restore 10%/15%/25% more MP. 3 20/35/70
Warmage Gain MP after dealing magick damage.[note 1] 1 30
Inquisitor Gain MP after dealing physical damage.[note 1] 1 30
Spellbreaker Increases magick power when HP critical. 1 65
Headsman Gain MP after defeating a foe.[note 2] 1 30
Swiftness Reduces action time by 10%. 2 30/50
Spellbound Increases duration of status effects. 1 30
Serenity Increases magic power when HP is full. 1 70
Channeling Reduces magick MP cost by 10%. 3 30/50/80

Espers and Quickenings[]

Name Licenses unlocked LP cost
Quickening +70 HP 50
Quickening None 75
Quickening None 100
Quickening +390 HP 125
Belias None 20
Mateus Hand-bombs (3) 30
Zalera Steal and Poach 30
Adrammelech Hand-bombs (2) 35
Shemhazai Heavy Armor (7) 50
Hashmal Makara 50
Cúchulainn None 50
Zeromus Heavy Armor (9) 65
Exodus Heavy Armor (8) 65
Famfrit +190 HP, +230 HP, and +310 HP 100
Chaos None 100
Ultima Telekinesis 115
Zodiark None 200

Notes[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Damage 1–499=1 MP
    Damage 500–1499=2 MP
    Damage 1500–2599=3 MP
    Damage 3000–4999=4 MP
    Damage 5000–5999=5 MP
    Damage 6000–6999=7 MP
    Damage 7000-7999=10 MP
    Damage 8000–8999=15 MP
    Damage 9000–9998=20 MP
    Damage 9999+ =30 MP
  2. MP recovery = Enemy's level / 4
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