Dia (ディア, Dia^?), also known as HARM, is a recurring spell in the Final Fantasy series. It is a White Magic spell, albeit with different effects in different games. Its original use in the first game of harming undead foes has been rendered obsolete by the ability to target enemies as well as allies with the Cure line.

See also: Diara, Diaga, and Diaja.

AppearancesEdit

Final FantasyEdit

Dia, also known as HARM in the NES release and Dia1 in the Final Fantasy Origins release, is a level 1 White Magic spell which inflicts minor damage against all undead enemies. It has no effect on other types of enemies. In the NES and Origins releases, it inflicts between 20 and 80 damage, while in subsequent releases, it inflicts damage depending on the caster's Spirit.

The spell can be bought while in Cornelia and can be learned by the White Mage and White Wizard classes. In the GBA/PSP/iOS releases, it costs 5 MP to cast.

Final Fantasy XIEdit

Dia is an Enfeebling Magic spell that can be cast by low-level Red Mages and White Mages. It deals a very small amount of light-elemental damage and applies a status effect that reduces the target's Defense and deals one point of additional light damage per tick over the course of a minute. The higher-level Diaga offers the same effect against multiple targets while Dia II and Dia III are altogether more powerful. Some monsters wield group-cast versions of these spells which are not available to players.

The use of Dia conflicts with the use of Bio such that only one of the two may be active on an enemy at a time. Bio prevents Dia spells of equal or lower rank from being applied and dispels them if they are already present on a target. Though higher tiers of Dia can overwrite Bio in return, such as Dia III replacing Bio II, Bio's strongest form is ultimately insurmountable in this fashion. Monsters are sometimes able to inflict both Dia and Bio upon players, however.

Adventurers who choose Red Mage as their first job are given a free Dia scroll. Merchants in each of the starting nations also sell it for a very low price.

Final Fantasy Airborne BrigadeEdit

Dia is a spell in Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade. Its base Attack is 670, and its base Defense is 710. Its maximum level is 60, its cost is 11, it is an ability based on Intelligence, and it has a fast leveling rate.

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Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's DungeonEdit

Dia is a Level 3 spell that may only be cast by Chocobo as a White Mage. It inflicts medium Holy elemental damage to one foe three grids forward, costing 2 SP to cast, and 120 JP to use.

GalleryEdit

Dia in Final Fantasy (PS).

Dia in Final Fantasy (GBA).

Dia being applied to a Worm in Final Fantasy XI.

Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade.

Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon.

EtymologyEdit

In the original Japanese release of Final Fantasy, "Dia" was intended as an abbreviation of "Dispel Undead," as the "u" sound in the word "undead" is written as an "a" in Japanese. When it was later realized that Día was also the Portuguese and Spanish word for "day", which is frequently depicted as harmful to the undead, the name was standardized across all regions. The rays of sunlight that feature in Dia's more recent spell animations are an extension of this idea. Dia also means "God" in Gaeilge (Irish), which links in with the idea of the undead being damned, and so would be harmed by a spell of divine light.

TriviaEdit

• A character from Final Fantasy XIII, named Vanille, shares her clan name with the spell.