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[SerTapTap]

It was so cool in FF8 realizing you could easily absorb an element and use that element's magic as a healing spell or plan ahead for an enemy that uses that spell. Worked perfect with the junction system too, since absorbing magic in most other games means wasting an equipment slot or 1-2 materia slots in FF7. In FF8 absorbing a couple elements is practically "free" since fire/thunder/blizzard don't make very good junction spells elsewhere.

 

[Aureon]

When the whole field is reflect'd, you'll be thankful for this.

 

[Zaku]

I have to say, I know why they do it but I don't know if I like that there's only ever really one time in a Final Fantasy game where you can actually put that functionality to use.

You can use the functionality plenty of times throughout most Final Fantasy games. Every game which features Reflect as a spell mechanic allows you to bypass an enemy with Reflect by casting the same spell on your own party members and then bouncing attack spells off of them to bypass the enemy's Reflect status, and that's just ONE usage.

Opening up the ability to target anyone in the battle with any spell, attack, or item opens the battle system to new, interesting strategies beyond the standard "Attack Attack Heal" pattern, and is arguably one of the reasons FFIV, V, and VI stand up so well today compared to other JRPGs released during the same period.

 

[Mbrill82]

The first time I learned you could do this was back when Final Fantasy 6 first came out (we called it Final Fantasy 3 back then, we also wore onions tied to our belts) and I was able to kill the Phantom Train with a Phoenix Down. Sure I could have beat him using normal tactics but as a 12 year old playing his very first RPG it just seemed so cool to do it this way. The inherent logic of it made so much sense, and the fact that the game ALLOWED it was awesome.

 

[DoktorEvil]

This is going to blow your mind.

You can also attack allies.

:lol I think it's been a thing since the first Final Fantasy.

It'll look like the enemies are painted in farts or green gas.

I know you wanted to say fart gas

 

[clem84]

Is my memory playing tricks one me or did the very first FF on NES let you use your cure spell on undeads to hurt them? That was like 25 years ago so maybe I'm just imagining this.

 

[Squalor]

If you can attack enemies, why wouldn't you be able to heal them?

 

[Mobius and pet octopus]

Sometimes attacking teammates is smart to remove some status effects like confusion or elemental affects.

 

[Easy_D]

It's the best way to

Spoiler

essentially skip the fight against the Phantom Train in FFVI, just chuck some phoenix down on it and presto!

 

[DiipuSurotu]

There are also a few instances where one of the "enemies" actually acts as an ally or hostage (FFV and X come to mind).

 

[IAmRandom31]

So I started playing Final Fantasy X HD last night, and in the process of fighting a mini boss (

Spoiler

Giant Jellyfish after beating Sin on the boat

), I accidentally healed the fucker with one of my potions while trying to heal one of my characters.

Just....Why? Why is this even possible? Is it Square just trolling me, or does this serve some sort of narrative purpose? Not to mention being able to attack my own teammates by accident, which happened once.

Sometimes enemies will cast reflect on you as well. So you have to counter by reflecting them and then healing them, which gets reflected back at you for the heal.

And of course the undead get hurt by healing

 

[RubberJohnny]

It's the best way to

Spoiler

essentially skip the fight against the Phantom Train in FFVI, just chuck some phoenix down on it and presto!

But then you wouldn't get to Suplex it!

 

[TalonJH]

Attacking confused or sleeped ally's in FF games wakes them up. Undead can be hurt by healing items. Actually, I believe there was a FFVII boss that you could kill in one hit by using a phoenix down.

 

[Dragon]

I have to say, I know why they do it but I don't know if I like that there's only ever really one time in a Final Fantasy game where you can actually put that functionality to use.

Spoilers for two boss battles including the end boss of FFX:

Spoiler

You can zombie attack Yu Yevon and then cast life on him and he dies. Also the Yunalesca fight is all about the zombie status and how you deal with it. OP is gonna have fun if he's annoyed by this shit

Attacking confused or sleeped ally's in FF games wakes them up. Undead can be hurt by healing items. Actually, I believe there was a FFVII boss that you could kill in one hit by using a phoenix down.

There is but it's not 100%, if you want to kill it every time you can use an elixir on the boss you're talking about.

 

[PseudoViper]

First post nails it.

 

[Krejlooc]

I miss reflect so much...

Wait, modern ff doesnt have reflect?

 

[DMiz]

Wait, modern ff doesnt have reflect?

... Pretty sure Final Fantasy XIII had it, at least?

FAKE EDIT: Looks like it doesn't! I don't see them listed in the Wiki: here.

 

[Night_Knight]

.

 

[John Kowalski]

Wait, modern ff doesnt have reflect?

XIII didn't (buffing in those games was kind of weird tbh), and it wasn't very fun in XII.

 

[Jezan]

Just don't try to use magic in FFVII when all enemies and all allies have reflect because the magic will keep bouncing between both parties and you won't be able to do anything else.

 

[dramatis]

XIII didn't (buffing in those games was kind of weird tbh), and it wasn't very fun in XII.

That depends on how you use it, no? If you Reflectga your party and then cast multitarget magic on yourself you reflect all hits onto the enemy. Actually, I don't know if that kind of backwards casting can bypass accuracy (so you never miss) or the palings. 12 had a lot of kooky ways to approach enemies.

I did like being able to attack allies in 12 specifically because some weapons had buffs, and if you used them to attack your allies you can avoid having to cast the spell buff.

 

[Easy_D]

But then you wouldn't get to Suplex it!

I said best way to skip it, not best way to fight it!

 

[R_thanatos]

I fully understood the wonder of healing my ennemy in FF5 ..now i'm always looking forward to do it in every other FF game.

You can't do that in FF14 ( because it would be abused ) but it works in most FFs

 

[MormaPope]

I know you wanted to say fart gas

You're right.

 

[asthmagasm]

I said best way to skip it, not best way to fight it!

People who want to skip that fight should be banned. Best Suplexing a Train moment of all video game time. I expect it to get the lifetime achievement award for it soon.

Answering massive FFX spoiler

Spoiler

can you chuck a phoenix down at him for an instant ko? I remember doing that to gi natak(sp?) in ff7, it was awesome

Yes you can do that.