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FFXIV Dark Icon

Dark (, Yami?), also known as Shadow and Darkness, is a recurring element in the Final Fantasy series. It is usually a counterpart of the Holy element and is a strong element against enemies affiliated with said element. It is usually associated with death, evil, and/or celestial objects (like stars and meteors), but this is not always the case. The Dark element being often associated with celestial objects may allude to western traditions that portrayed comets as signs of ill omen and the dissatisfaction of the gods.

Recurring themes[]

Equipment[]

Dark swords used by classes such as Dark Knights are often imbued with the element, such as the Deathbringer from Final Fantasy IV. Dark armor is also commonly worn by this class. Some weapons with this element are imbued with the Death spell, often killing enemies with one hit. Different types of monsters are weak to this element in Final Fantasy IV.

Spells[]

Spells affiliated with the Dark element are not very common, except in Vana'diel, as well as the Ivalice universe, where the arcane magicks Dark, Darkra, Darkga, and Darkja are commonly seen. A notable Dark spell outside of Vana'diel and Ivalice is Shadow Flare. In Final Fantasy IX, Vivi can cast the Shadow-elemental Doomsday. Some skills with the Dark element usually involve a sacrifice of HP, such as Darkness.

Summons[]

Appearances[]

Final Fantasy IV[]

Dark was known as Darkness in the SNES version. In the SNES version, equipping an armor resistant to the Holy element makes them weak against Dark and vice versa. This only applies to armor, since it doesn't affect monsters. The Advance version removes this behavior.

FFIVDS Darkness IconDark
Game Element Type Effect
Shadowblade Weapon Dark-elemental damage when attacking physically.
Dark Sword Weapon Dark-elemental damage when attacking physically.
Deathbringer Weapon Dark-elemental damage when attacking physically.
Lustrous Shield Shield Halves Dark damage (3D only).
Crystal Shield Shield Halves Dark damage (3D only).
Darkness Ability Character enters "Darkness" status for three turns, increasing the strength of the attacks, making them dark-elemental, and consumes HP whenever the character attacks (3D remake only).
Crystal Item The Crystal counts as a Dark-elemental attack, it works by triggering a Dark-elemental counterattack script that triggers Zeromus to shift form and make him vulnerable to attacks.

Final Fantasy IV: The After Years[]

Though the Dark element exists and can be defended against with the appropriate equipment (as well as some monsters having a natural resistance to it), the only such spell used in the final game is the Dark Knight's Darkness ability. The Dark-affiliated equipment from the previous game exists in the coding and can be equipped by Dark Kain, though they cannot be accessed without hacking.

Final Fantasy VII Remake[]

The dark element is present in the analysis screen of the demo, seen when the player presses L1 to show help for icons. It does not appear to be actually used in the demo, however, and is removed from the final version of the game. However, the final boss uses what looks like the dark element, performing Shadow Flare.

Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-[]

Dark
Game Element Type Effect
Shadow Flare Enemy Attack Inflicts extreme Dark damage to one target.
Darkness Materia Inflicts damage to all nearby target at the cost of a certain amount of Zack's current HP.

Final Fantasy IX[]

Dark
Game Element Type Effect
Doomsday Black Magic Inflicts massive Shadow damage to all foes and party members in battle.
Doomsday Sword Sword Magic Inflicts massive Shadow damage to one target, and does not affect party members.
Darkside Sword Art Inflicts Shadow damage to a single target in exchange for one-eighth of Steiner's max HP.
Ark Summon Inflicts extreme Shadow damage to all enemies.
Mist Enemy Attack Inflicts minor to moderate Shadow-elemental damage to the party as well as Sleep.
Rainbow Wind Enemy Attack Inflicts Fire/Ice/Lightning/Wind/Water/Holy/Shadow damage.
Stardust Rod Weapon Halves Shadow-elemental damage.
Mage's Hat Headgear Increases the damage of Shadow- and Holy-elemental attacks.
Dragon Wrist Armgear Halves Shadow-elemental damage.
Egoist's Armlet Armgear Nullifies Shadow-elemental damage.
Black Robe Armor Increases the damage of Shadow-elemental attacks, but is weak to Fire-elemental attacks.
Demon's Mail Armor Absorbs Shadow-elemental damage and increases the damage of Shadow-elemental attacks.
Demon's Vest Armor Halves Shadow-elemental damage.
Grand Armor Armor Halves Shadow-elemental damage.
Light Robe Armor Increases the damage of Holy- and Shadow-elemental attacks, but is weak to Fire-elemental attacks.
Ninja Gear Armor Absorbs Shadow-elemental damage.
Ancient Aroma Add-On Increases the damage of Shadow-elemental attacks, but is weak to Holy elemental attacks.
Gold Choker Add-On Increases the damage of Shadow-elemental attacks, and halves Wind-elemental damage.
Maiden Prayer Add-On Increases the damage of Holy-elemental attacks, but is weak to Shadow-elemental attacks.
Pumice Piece Add-On Absorbs Shadow- and Holy-elemental attacks.

Final Fantasy XI[]

FFXI Darkness Element

Spells[]

Summons[]

Blood Pacts[]

  • Howling Moon
  • Lunar Bay
  • Nether Blast
  • Nightmare
  • Night Terror
  • Ruinous Omen
  • Somnolence

weapon skills[]

Final Fantasy XII[]

In the original version, all ninja swords are Dark-elemental. In the Zodiac versions, they have different elements.

Dark symbol.Dark
Game Element Type Effect
Dark Arcane Magick Minor dark-elemental damage to one target.
Darkra Arcane Magick Moderate dark-elemental damage to all targets in range.
Darkga Arcane Magick Major dark-elemental damage to all targets in range.
Zodiark Esper Dark-elemental Esper.
Banish Ray Esper Attack Dark-based physical damage to one target.
Darkja Enemy Attack Major dark-elemental damage to all targets in range. 50% chance of Death and Blind.
Darkness Enemy Attack Physical dark-elemental damage to all targets in range.
Maser Eye Enemy Attack Physical dark-elemental damage to all targets in range.
Ashura Weapon Inflicts dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. (Original version)
Iga Blade Weapon Inflicts dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. (Original version)
Kagenui Weapon Inflicts dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. (Original version)
Koga Blade Weapon Inflicts dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. (Original version)
Orochi Weapon Inflicts dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. (Original version)
Sakura-saezuri Weapon Inflicts dark-elemental damage when attacking physically. (Original version)
Yagyu Darkblade Weapon Inflicts dark-elemental damage when attacking physically.
Zeus Mace Weapon Increases the damage of dark-elemental attacks.
Demon Shield Shield Absorbs dark-elemental damage.
Black Mask Helmet Absorbs dark-elemental damage.
Bone Helm Helmet Halves dark-elemental damage, weak to holy-elemental attacks.
Black Robes Armor Increases the damage of dark-elemental attacks.
Bone Mail Armor Halves dark-elemental damage, weak to holy-elemental attacks.
Dark Shot Ammo Dark-elemental ammunition.
Dark Mote Item, Enemy Attack Minor Dark elemental damage to all targets in range.
Eksir Berries Item Moderate dark-elemental damage to one target. Dispels buffs and debuffs.
Argyle Armlet Accessory Immune to Blind. Halves dark-elemental damage. (Zodiac versions)
Manufacted Nethicite Accessory Halves all elemental damage.
Gendarme Shield Absorbs all elements

Final Fantasy XIV[]

Umbral (, Rei?, lit. Spirit) appeared as an elemental attribute during the initial release of the original Final Fantasy XIV. After the release of patch 1.20, the Umbral element, along with the Astral element, was removed from the game.

Both Umbral and Astral do not appear as gameplay elements in the relaunch of Final Fantasy XIV, but are referred to as important elements during the game's narrative. During the events of the Shadowbringers expansion, the Darkness element is the parallel to Umbral on the world of the First.

Dark
Game Element Type Effect
Scourge Thaumaturgy Spell Deals umbral damage to and reduces umbral magic defense of enemies within area of effect.
Scourge II Thaumaturgy Spell Deals umbral damage to and reduces umbral magic defense of enemies within area of effect.
Damnation Weaponskill Haunt an enemy with visions of the hells, dealing umbral damage. Grants the caster MP in proportion to the damage dealt.
Bio Thaumaturgy Spell Deals umbral damage over time and reduces the attack power of enemies within area of effect.
Stygian Spikes Thaumaturgy Spell Grants umbral spikes to party members within area of effect, causing them to steal MP from attacking enemies.
Absorb ACC Thaumaturgy Spell Transfers a portion of the target's accuracy to you.
Absorb ATK Thaumaturgy Spell Transfers a portion of the target's attack to you.
Absorb DEF Thaumaturgy Spell Transfers a portion of the target's defense to you.
Absorb EVA Thaumaturgy Spell Transfers a portion of the target's evasion to you.
Siphon MP Thaumaturgy Spell Transfers a portion of the target's MP to you.
Drain Thaumaturgy Spell Transfers a portion of the target's HP to you.
Siphon TP Thaumaturgy Spell Transfers a portion of the target's TP to you.
Sleep Conjury Spell Induces slumber among enemies within area of effect.
Bio II Thaumaturgy Spell Deals umbral damage over time and reduces the attack power of enemies within area of effect.
Blind Thaumaturgy Spell Reduces the accuracy of enemies within area of effect.
Shadowsear Weaponskill Deals Umbral damage and increases your magic potency in proportion to the difference in HP between you and the target.
Stygian Spikes II Thaumaturgy Spell Armors party members within area of effect wit umbral spikes, granting the ability to absorb MP from attacking enemies.
Tractor Conjury Spell Pulls the body of a KO'd target toward the caster.
Syphon MP II Thaumaturgy Spell Transfers a portion of the target's MP to you.
Drain II Thaumaturgy Spell Transfers a portion of HP from enemies within area of effect to you.

Final Fantasy XV[]

Dark-ffxv-elemicon

Dark is an enemy-only element used by daemons. The most notable effect is that a portion of it is dealt directly to character's maximum HP, making it dangerous in dungeons and prolonged encounters. The player can protect against it with certain accessories and the King's Knight Tee attire.

Final Fantasy Tactics[]

Dark
Game Element Type Effect
Duskblade Fell Sword Absorb HP from one target.
Shadowblade Fell Sword Absorb MP from one target.
Unholy Sacrifice Darkness Sacrifice own HP to deal extensive damage to all units in range.
Unholy Darkness Magicks Dark-elemental magick damage.
Dark Whisper Monster Attack Dark-elemental magick damage. Hits 6 times on random tiles in effect radius.
Chaosbringer Weapon Dark-elemental damage to one target and inflicts Blind.
Deathbringer Weapon Dark-elemental damage to one target and inflicts Doom.
Arondight Weapon Dark-elemental damage to one target and inflicts Stop.
Balmung Weapon Dark-elemental damage to one target and inflicts Stop.
Valhalla Weapon Dark-elemental damage to one target and inflicts KO.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance[]

Dark
Game Element Type Effect
Diabolique Weapon Nullifies Dark elemental damage.
Heretic Rod Weapon Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Hades Bow Weapon Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Max's Oathbow Weapon Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Ebon Blade Weapon Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Death Claws Weapon Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Apocalypse Weapon Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Black Quena Weapon Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Dark Fiddle Weapon Nullifies Silence.
Eye Soul Weapon Nullifies Doom.
Bone Plate Cloth Absorbs Dark elemental damage.
Reaper Cloak Robe Absorbs Dark elemental damage.
LV? S-Flare Blue Magic Inflicts Dark elemental damage to all units with the same level.
Evil Gaze Spirit Magic Dark damage and may inflict Confuse

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift[]

FFTA2 Dark Symbol
Game Element Type Effect
Apocalypse Knightsword Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Black Quena Instrument Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Bone Plate Light Armor Absorbs Dark elemental damage.
Darkness Ability Sacrifice 10% of HP to inflict Dark elemental damage.
Dark Dark Magick Inflicts Dark elemental damage to the target.
Dark Fist Martial Arts Dark-elemental physical attack in a two-square line. Reduces caster's HP by 25% of damage dealt.
Darkra Dark Magick Inflicts Dark elemental damage to the target.
Darkga Dark Magick Inflicts Dark elemental damage to the target.
Death Claws Knuckles Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Diabolique Rapier Dark-elemental weapon that halves Dark damage taken.
Ebon Blade Blade Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Ensanguined Shield Shield Dark-elemental shield, but causes weakness to fire.
Épée-prisme Rapier Weapon that halves Dark-elemental damage taken.
Evil Gaze Elemental Magick Inflicts Confusion and deals Dark damage.
Final Eclipse Scion Zodiark blasts the field with dark magic, dealing fixed 999 damage to everyone.
Hades Bow Greatbow Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Heretic Rod Rod Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Lifebreak Sacred Blade Deals Dark damage in an inverse proportion to the user's HP.
Lifethread Blade Flair Dark-elemental physical attack that inflicts Doom.
Lv. 3 Dark Arcane Magick Dark-elemental magick attack that targets all units whose level is a multiple of 3.
Lv. ? Shadowflare Arcane Magick Inflicts Dark elemental damage to all targets with the same level.
Max's Oathbow Greatbow Inflicts Dark elemental damage.
Minerva Bustier Light Armor Immune to Dark elemental damage. Female units only.
Mist Storm Geomancy Dark-elemental magick attack that reduces HP and MP of units in an area.
Reaper's Robe Robe Absorbs Dark elemental damage.
Ring of Precepts Accessory Allows the summoning of Zodiark.
Shadow Shade Tome Lore Dark-elemental damage against all units.
Shadowy Blow Maw Deals Dark damage in a line and inflicts Blind.
Silence Touch Ghostly Touch Deals Dark damage and inflicts Silence.
Sleep Touch Ghostly Touch Deals Dark and inflicts Sleep.
Sword of Darkness Astutia HP-draining Dark physical attack.
Zanmato Katana Weapon that halves Dark damage taken.

Final Fantasy Tactics S[]

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Vagrant Story[]

Dark and Light are an opposed pair.

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Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates[]

RoF Dark Icon
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Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time[]

EoT Dark Symbol
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Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light[]

Dark
Game Element Type Effect
Dark Black Magic Deals minor dark-elemental damage.
Darkra Black Magic Deals moderate dark-elemental damage.
Darkaga Black Magic Deals major dark-elemental damage.
Strong Dark Joint Attack Deals minor dark-elemental damage.
Strong Darkra Joint Attack Deals moderate dark-elemental damage.
Strong Darkaga Joint Attack Deals major dark-elemental damage.
Amazing Dark Joint Attack Deals minor dark-elemental damage.
Amazing Darkra Joint Attack Deals moderate dark-elemental damage.
Amazing Darkaga Joint Attack Deals major dark-elemental damage.
Prodigious Dark Joint Attack Deals minor dark-elemental damage.
Prodigious Darkra Joint Attack Deals moderate dark-elemental damage.
Prodigious Darkaga Joint Attack Deals major dark-elemental damage.
Elemental Job Ability Deals minor Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Dark and Light-elemental damage to random enemies.
Sigh of Darkness Smelt Result Deals dark-elemental damage.
Whirlpool of Chaos Smelt Result Deals dark-elemental damage.
Bladeblitz Enemy Ability Minor dark-elemental damage attack.
Dark Blast Enemy Ability Minor dark-elemental damage attack.
Dark Breath Enemy Ability Minor dark-elemental damage attack.
World of Dark Enemy Ability Moderate dark-elemental damage attack, 50% of inflicting silence or curse.
Darkness Blade Weapon Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically.
Darkbringer Weapon Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically.
Blacksword Weapon Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically and can inflict sudden death.
Darkness Axe Weapon Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically.
Black Book Weapon Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically.
Darkness Staff Weapon Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically.
Evil Lance Weapon Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically.
Darkening Harp Weapon Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically.
Cursed Blade Weapon Deals dark-elemental damage when attacking physically and can inflict blindness.
Darksteel Shield Shield Nullifies dark-elemental based attacks.
Dusk Gauntlet Accessory Adds dark-elemental damage to weapon attacks.
Dark Cape Accessory Nullifies dark-elemental based attacks.
Dark Sigh Item Deals minor dark-elemental damage.

Final Fantasy Dimensions[]

Game Element Type Effect
Dark Fusion Ability Moderate dark-elemental damage to targets.
Dark Star Fusion Ability Massive dark-elemental damage to multiple targets.
Diablos Summon Dark-elemental damage to multiple targets.
Darkness Dark Blade Consume 1/3 max HP for Major dark-elemental damage to single target.
Onyx Wave Dark Blade Consume 1/3max HP for dark-elemental damage to multiple targets.
Final Thrust Dark Blade Dark-elemental damage to single target based on Max HP.
Ebony Slash Dark Blade Physical dark-elemental damage to single target.
Bardark Resist Element Enchant all with dark-elemental resistance.
Endark Boost Element Enchant all with dark-elemental power.

Pictlogica Final Fantasy[]

PFF Dark Element Icon
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Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade[]

Dark Icon Brigade
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Final Fantasy Record Keeper[]

FFRK Dark Element
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Final Fantasy Explorers[]

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Final Fantasy Brave Exvius[]

FFBE Dark Icon
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World of Final Fantasy[]

WoFF Dark Icon
Game Element Type Effect
Abyss Magic Inflict magical dark damage to a single target.
Dark Mysteries Ability Inflict magical dark damage to a single target.
Kishin Ability Inflict physical dark damage to a single target.
Soul of Chaos Ability Inflict physical dark damage to a single target.
Atomic Impact Ability Inflict physical dark damage to all targets.
Eclipse Bite Ability Inflict physical dark damage to a single target. High critical chance.
Petty Grudge Ability Inflict magical dark damage to a single target. Power increases relative to accrued damage.
Everyone's Grudge Ability Inflict magical dark damage to all targets. Power increases relative to accrued damage.
Drain Ability Use dark power to absorb HP from a single target.
Leech Ability Use dark power to absorb HP from a single target.
Syphon Ability Use dark power to absorb AP from a single target.
Draining Claw Ability Inflict physical dark damage and absorb HP from a single target.
Death Cutter Ability Inflict physical dark damage/doom to a single target.
Dark Ability Inflict magical dark damage/Blindness to a single target.
Evil Mist Ability Inflict magical dark damage/Poison to all targets.
Enhanced Dark Ability Raises dark ability damage.
Dark Converter Ability Restores AP upon taking dark damage.
Dark Resistance+ Ability Raises dark resistance by 25.
Dark Resistance++ Ability Raises dark resistance by 50.
Channel Element: Dark Stack Ability Deals Dark-elemental physical damage to a single target. Usable by Lann or Reynn in Jiant form, and a dark-themed Mirage with highest dark resistance.
Endark Stack Ability Deals Dark-elemental physical damage to a single target. Usable by Lann or Reynn in Jiant form and Gleefrit with any other Mirage.
Unholy Darkness Stack Ability Deals Dark-elemental magical damage to a single target. Usable by Lann or Reynn in Jiant form and Undead Princess, Undead Princess★ or Lich with any other Mirage.
Drain Mirajewel Mirajewel While equipped, allows Lann or Reynn to use this ability.
Syphon Mirajewel Mirajewel While equipped, allows Lann or Reynn to use this ability.
Abyss Mirajewel Mirajewel While equipped, allows Lann or Reynn to use this ability.
Dark Resistance+ Mirajewel Mirajewel While equipped, grants Lann or Reynn the effects of this ability.
Dark Resistance++ Mirajewel Mirajewel While equipped, grants Lann or Reynn the effects of this ability.
Drain Seed Ability Seed Allows a Mirage to use this ability when placed in a blank space in their Mirage Board.
Abyss Seed Ability Seed Allows a Mirage to use this ability when placed in a blank space in their Mirage Board.
Dark Resistance+ Seed Ability Seed Grants a Mirage the effects of this ability when placed in a blank space in their Mirage Board.

Final Fantasy Trading Card Game[]

Dark is one of the eight elemental attributes, and one of two special attributes along with Shine of which the player can only control up to two cards from at any time. Dark cards depict villains of the series and have powerful abilities.

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