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The Mindflayer (マインドフレア, Maindofurea?), also known as the Mind Flayer, the Mindflare, the Mind Flare, the Mind Mage, the Mage, or the Sorcerer, is a recurring enemy and genus in the Final Fantasy series. Their signature attack is Mind Blast, which tends to cause various status effects and occasionally damage.
One common variation is the Piscodemon (ピスコディーモン, Pisukodīmon?), often appearing as a paler variant of the Mindflayer. Another common variant, the Squidraken (スクイドラーケン, Sukuidorāken?), also translated as the Squidlarkin, or the Drakan, is a variation associated with the color blue.
Appearances
Final Fantasy
The Mindflayers, also known as the Sorcerer in the NES, and the Mind Flare in the PlayStation release, appear as more powerful Piscodemon inside the Cavern of Ice, the Citadel of Trials, the Flying Fortress, and the Chaos Shrine of the past.
Their physical attack, while weak, can inflict instant death, and they can use Mind Blast to inflict Paralysis to the entire party. They also have another palette swap, the Squidraken enemy which appears in the bonus dungeons added in the Dawn of Souls re-release and all versions thereafter.
Final Fantasy IV
The Mindflayer, originally translated as Mage for the SNES and PlayStation versions, and Mind in the J2e translation, is an enemy and a summon in Final Fantasy IV. It uses its signature move Mind Blast to inflict Paralysis and Sap to one target along with non-elemental damage. It can be found in the Lodestone Cavern, and has a palette swap named Mist Kraken who appears exclusively in the Advance version, more specifically in the Lunar Ruins during Rydia's Trial.
Additionally, the Mindflayer rarely drops an eponymous item that allows Rydia to be able to summon the Mindflayer, who will use Mind Blast, which is identical to the enemy's version. In the Nintendo DS version, it has a spell power of 50. It has a casting time of 0 and costs 18 MP to summon.
Final Fantasy IV: The After Years
Mindflayers return in this installment and are the same as in the original Final Fantasy IV. They are fought in Mist Cave in Ceodore's tale, the Agart Mine in Rydia's Tale, the Lodestone Cavern and the Challenge Dungeon in Palom's Tale, the Tower of Babil in Edge's Tale, and the Challenge Dungeons of Yang Fang Leiden and Edward.
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Final Fantasy V
Known as the Mind Mage in the RPGe fan translations and Mind Flare in the PS version, the Mindflayer only appears in the final section of the Interdimensional Rift. It has both high stats and can use two Blue Magic abilities: Flamethrower, a Fire attack, and the signature Mind Blast, which inflicts Paralysis, Sap, and non-elemental damage.
Final Fantasy IX
The Drakan, known in Japan as the Squidraken, a derivative of the Mindflayer, appears as a enemy in the Desert Palace. It uses multiple different status spells, such as Mustard Bomb, which inflicts Heat, Freeze, which inflicts the eponymous status, Bio, which inflicts Poison, and Mind Blast, which inflicts Confuse.
Final Fantasy XI
Soulflayers are part of the demon ecosystem, said to be the ultimate transformation of a Blue Mage that have succumbed to the "beast within." They were introduced in the Treasures of Aht Urhgan expansion, and they use many different types of powerful magic. They retain their signature attack, Mind Blast, here inflicting Lightning damage and Paralysis.
Final Fantasy XII
The Mindflayer is a Mark hunted in the Henne Mines. A garif from the village of Jahara orders this Hunt, since the garif are not able to fight proficiently against monsters that rely on magick. The Mindflayer uses many mid-level spells, such as Fira, Blizzara, Thundara and Bio. It also uses Invert to flip a character's HP and MP.
The Piscodaemon, a paler, green-tinted, stronger version of the Mindflayer, is a Rank V Mark petitioned by one of the Kiltias on Mt. Bur-Omisace. It is described as being a "nu mou male, fallen into dark, sorcerous ways". It has access to many similar abilities as the Mindflayer, but it does not have elemental spells other than the Dark element through the Darkra spell.
The Occuria were depicted as a race of Mindflayers in the early concept ideas for the game. In the finalized version, Occuria were redesigned and Mindflayers were used as enemies instead.
Final Fantasy XIV
Mindflayers are one of several new enemy types being included in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. These powerful voidsent are generally only encountered as bosses in dungeons such as the Tam-Tara Deepcroft or Amdapor Keep. Minute Mindflayer is a minion the player can acquire.
Final Fantasy Tactics
The Mindflayer genus consists of three species, the Piscodaemon, Squidraken, and the Mindflayer, who are known as the Pisco Demon, the Squidlarkin, and the Mind Flare in the PlayStation version, respectively. The weaker Piscodaemon may only have weak physical attacks, but the Squidraken can remove positive status effects with Dischord, and the Piscodaemons can Confuse characters with Mind Blast.
It is possible to recruit a Piscodemon to Ramza's side with an Orator.
Final Fantasy Adventure
The Mind Flayer is a boss found at the top of Davias' Mansion. He's surrounded by four spinning balls of flames and throws multiple flaming orbs at the player for his main attack.
Final Fantasy Dimensions
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Final Fantasy Trading Card Game
Mindflayer appears with an ice-elemental card in the Final Fantasy Trading Card Game with his Final Fantasy IV DS version artwork.
Etymology
Mindflayers, or "Illithids", are a race found in Dungeons and Dragons. They appear humanoid, with heads resembling those of octopodes, but hail from a strange dimension called the Far Realm. They are known for having fearsome psychic powers, and often enslave other races. They are based largely on the ancient god Cthulhu in the stories of H.P. Lovecraft. Piscodemons, as well, are demons from Dungeons and Dragons; while in D&D, they are a completely different creature with unrelated origins, they look a bit like Mindflayers, which might have prompted the naming of the variant enemy.
Gallery
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