Genjuu (Espers), related information, and attempted translations from...

Final Fantasy VI

A player equipped with a Genjuu can summon it once per battle. Press up at the top of the Magic menu for the option. Not available when using a Soul of Thamasa...

...but by the time you have one of those, normal spells overshadow summons anyway. I've always found summoned Genjuu disappointingly weak, especially compared to normal magic and considering the single-use limitation. Numerous Genjuu teach spells more powerful than their own summoned effect. The only advantages most summons have are that they're difficult or impossible to shield against, they work right away once you find them without having to learn anything, and they can hit enemies on both sides when surrounded or allies on both sides when surrounding. For reference, I'm comparing each summon to a similar spell.

Genjuu that give a level-up bonus to HP or MP affect the increase to maximum for that level, not the total maximum, otherwise they would be ridiculously overpowered. For instance, if a character equips a Genjuu that gives HP +30% when reaching level 40, normally a gain of 110 max HP, the gain will instead be 143 max HP.

Genjuu summons cannot be used outside of battle, are not reflectable (with 'reflect' status), cannot be sealed (by Celes's skill Magicseal Sword), and unless otherwise noted, work normally on undead targets, are affected by the target's magic defense, are half as effective when used on multiple targets, and are blockable (through magic evasion). All summons are, perhaps unsurprisingly, magical rather than physical.

Defense-ignoring magic attacks disregard the following factors that normally affect magic: attacker 'transform' status, target magic defense, target 'shell' status, and target 'transform' status. Usually it's the target magic defense matters most here, which reduces defendable magic damage by about (MDef / 256)%. Defense-ignoring magic also disregards critical hits, but since spells can only critical when cast by a weapon that gets automatic critical hits, which applies only to Flare as cast by the Ragnarök and Holy as cast by the Lightbringer, this only matters for a Flare spell from the Ragnarök.

Power to cost ratio gives a relative indicator of how much bang (damage or healing) you get for your buck (MP cost). All power to cost ratios assume a single target (since some magic can only have a single target, while most others have half the effect per target with multiple targets). Summons and spells use the same scale, but trying to compare those that are defense-ignoring with those that aren't is meaningless. Defense-ignoring effects typically have a lower power, resulting in seemingly poor ratios, but more than make up for by avoiding several steps of damage calculation that typically lower final effectiveness.

So many of these summon effect names are so far off the original in the NA version that I'm not even bothering to comment on most of them.


幻獣     Genjuu     Espers

Since 幻獣 (genjuu) isn't a simple term, and I like the way it sounds, I left it untranslated. The meaning does deserve an explanation, though. 幻 most likely means, in this case, something so incredibly rare that it's simply not realistically possible to prove either that it does or that it doesn't exist, something like "fabled". 獣 means "animal" or "beast", and probably refers mainly to the fact that they aren't human, but this doesn't mean they aren't sentient or intelligent.

ラムウ Ramuh Ramuh
ramuh

Ramuh's name may come from James Churchward's writings about the legendary lost continent of Mu (ムー大陸), in which he claims, for one thing, that "Ra" (ラ) was their word for the sun as well as their god and ruler. King of Mu = Ra Mu.

Ramuh grants his power at the top of the highest tower in Zozo. This is part of the storyline and can't be missed.

Teaches: ○ Thunder x10, ○ Thundara x2, ○ Poison x5 Level-up bonus: Stamina +1
 さばきのいかづち
雷属性のダメージ攻撃
 Thunder of Judgment
Attacks with Thunder damage
 Bolt Fist
Lightning-elemental attack

裁きの雷 in kanji.

25 MP. Unblockable Thunder magic damage to all enemies (both sides) at 50 power. Power to cost ratio is 2.000.

○ Thundara has about 20% more power and costs 3 fewer MP to cast, but can be blocked, reflected, or sealed, and can't hit enemies on both sides when surrounded.

キリン Qilin Kirin

キリン can mean "giraffe", but going by the appearance, it probably refers here to a mythical Chinese beast, written "qilin" in Pinyin. The creature has the body of a deer, tail of a cow, hooves of a horse, and head of a wolf, and legend claims it to appear when a sage arrives and to bring prosperity. See Wikipedia (under Unicorn and Qilin) for more details.

Given by Ramuh when he grants his power, as part of the storyline.

qilin
Teaches: ● Cure x5, ● Cura x1, ● Regenerate x3, ● Poisona x4, ◎ Libra x5 Level-up bonus: None
 ホーリーブライトン
じょじょにHPを回復
 Holy Brighten
Gradually recovers HP
 Life Guard
Gradually recovers HP

18 MP. Sets 'regenerate' status on all allies (both sides). Unblockable.

No truly comparable spell effect. Casting ● Regenerate four times (assuming a full party) comes the closest, and would cost 40 MP total, take more time, and could be reflected or sealed.

セイレーン Siren Siren
siren

In Greek mythology, the Sirens, often depicted as mermaids, lured sailors to their deaths with captivating singing.

Given by Ramuh when he grants his power, as part of the storyline.

Teaches: ◎ Sleepel x10, ◎ Silence x8, ◎ Slow x7, ○ Fire x6 Level-up bonus: HP +10%
 ルナチックボイス
敵数体を沈黙させる
 Lunatic Voice
Silences multiple enemies
 Hope Song
Silences enemies

16 MP. Sets 'silence' status on all enemies (both sides), 136 hit rate.

No truly comparable spell effect. Casting ◎ Silence on each enemy comes the closest, and would cost 8 MP per foe, take more time assuming at least two foes, and could be reflected or sealed. The spell also has less accuracy, though not by enough to matter except against targets with some magic evade.

ケット・シー Cait Sith Stray

Based on the Cait Sith of Celtic mythology, also spelled Cait Sidhe or Cat Sidhe, which resembles a black cat with a white spot on its underside. Note that the Japanese rendering imitates the correct pronunciation, approximately "caught she".

Given by Ramuh when he grants his power, as part of the storyline.

cait sith
Teaches: ◎ Confuse x7, ◎ Kappa x5, ◎ Levitate x2 Level-up bonus: Magic power +1
 キャットレイン
敵数体を混乱させる
 Cat Rain
Confuses multiple enemies
 Cat Rain
Confuses enemies

28 MP. Sets 'confusion' status on all enemies (both sides), 128 hit rate.

No truly comparable spell effect. Casting ◎ Confuse on each enemy comes the closest, and would cost 8 MP per foe, take more time assuming at least two foes, could be reflected or sealed, and is less accurate. But why bother with magic at all? Edgar's Blast Voice costs nothing, works repeatedly in a single battle, and never misses except against immune targets. Its only downside is that it can't hit enemies on both sides when surrounded.

イフリート Ifrit Ifrit
ifrit

The ifrit, also spelled a variety of other ways including efreet, is a type of djinn that embodies fire in Arabian mythology.

Grants his powers in the Sorcery Research Laboratory, as part of the storyline.

It's possible to leave Ifrit behind (the magicite isn't automatically collected and doesn't block the way), but why would you?

Teaches: ○ Fire x10, ○ Fira x5, ○ Drain x1 Level-up bonus: Strength +1
 じごくのかえん
炎属性のダメージ攻撃
 Flames of Hell
Attacks with Flame damage
 Inferno
Fire-elemental attack

地獄の火炎 in kanji. On a side note, Ifrit is the only Genjuu to animate when summoned.

26 MP. Unblockable Flame magic damage to all enemies (both sides) at 51 power. Power to cost ratio is 1.962.

○ Fira has about 20% more power and costs 6 fewer MP to cast, but can be blocked, reflected, or sealed, and can't hit enemies on both sides when surrounded.

シヴァ Shiva Shiva

Shiva is one of the major Hindu deities, and I'm not even going to try going into details, except that, unlike in Final Fantasy games, Shiva is not generally depicted as female.

Grants her powers in the Sorcery Research Laboratory, as part of the storyline.

shiva
Teaches: ○ Blizzard x10, ○ Blizzara x5, ◎ Raspir x4, ◎ Aspir x4, ● Cure x3 Level-up bonus: None
 ダイアモンドダスト
冷気属性ダメージ攻撃
 Diamond Dust
Attacks with Ice damage
 Gem Dust
Ice-elemental attack

27 MP. Unblockable Ice magic damage to all enemies (both sides) at 52 power. Power to cost ratio is 1.926.

○ Blizzara has about 20% more power and costs 6 fewer MP to cast, but can be blocked, reflected, or sealed, and can't hit enemies on both sides when surrounded.

ユニコーン Unicorn Unicorn
unicorn

A mythical horselike creature with a single horn. The horn of the unicorn supposedly neutralizes poison.

One of the Genjuu in the Sorcery Research Laboratory who chooses to aid the party as part of the storyline.

Teaches: ● Cura x4, ● Esuna x3, ◎ Dispel x2, ◎ Protect x1, ◎ Shell x1 Level-up bonus: None
 ヒールホーン
味方全員にエスナ
 Heal Horn
Esuna on all allies
 Heal Horn
Casts Remedy on the party

30 MP. Cures all allies (both sides) of 'darkness', 'poison', 'petrified', 'silence', 'confusion', 'slip', 'sleep', 'slow', and 'stop' status. Unblockable.

● Esuna removes the same statuses, so this has the same effect as casting that on each ally. Since ● Esuna costs 15 MP, summoning Unicorn works out at least as well when two or more allies need bad status lifted. The spell can also be sealed, though it ignores reflect just like the summon does.

マディン Madin Maduin

The name may come from the title character of an old Irish tale, the Voyage of Máel Dúin, but I'm not entirely convinced.

One of the Genjuu in the Sorcery Research Laboratory who chooses to aid the party as part of the storyline.

madin
Teaches: ○ Fira x3, ○ Blizzara x3, ○ Thundara x3 Level-up bonus: Magic power +1
 ケイオスウェイヴ
無属性のダメージ攻撃
 Chaos Wave
Attacks with traitless damage
 Chaos Wing
Non-elemental attack

44 MP. Unblockable magic damage to all enemies (both sides) at 55 power. Power to cost ratio is 1.250.

Each of the standard -ra spells has about 10% more power and costs about half the MP to cast, but can be blocked, reflected, or sealed, and can't hit enemies on both sides when surrounded. ○ Bio has about the same strength and costs 40% less, but, again, can be blocked, reflected, or sealed, and can't hit enemies on both sides when surrounded.

Chaos Wave's neutral damage also means it can neither suffer nor benefit from elemental affinities. The only non-elemental attack spell that doesn't ignore defense, ○ Drain, doesn't make for the best comparison since it's single-target only and isn't a purely offensive spell, but here goes: ○ Drain has about 70% of the power of Chaos Wave (assuming the caster is hurt enough for the full effect, and that Chaos Wave is cast to a single target), but costs about a third of the MP.

カトブレパス Catoblepas Shoat
catoblepas

The legendary catoblepas, depending on the source, supposedly has a gaze or breath that kills or petrifies. A shoat, on the other hand, is just a young pig. Nowhere near as intimidating.

One of the Genjuu in the Sorcery Research Laboratory who chooses to aid the party as part of the storyline.

Teaches: ○ Bio x8, ○ Break x5, ○ Death x2 Level-up bonus: HP +10%
 あくまのひとみ
敵数体を石化させる
 Demon's Eye
Petrifies multiple enemies
 Demon Eye
Petrifies enemies

悪魔の瞳 in kanji.

45 MP. Sets 'petrified' status on all enemies. 96 hit rate, just low enough to infrequently miss on its own. It will also automatically miss targets immune to instant death, and stamina can block this as well.

No truly comparable spell effect. Casting ○ Break on each enemy comes the closest, and would cost 25 MP per foe, take more time assuming at least two foes, and could be reflected or sealed. However, those factors aside, ○ Break has better accuracy, especially if the target has any magic evade, though accuracy has no effect on stamina blocking.

ファントム Phantom Phantom

An illusion or ghost.

One of the Genjuu in the Sorcery Research Laboratory who chooses to aid the party as part of the storyline.

phantom
Teaches: ◎ Berserk x3, ◎ Vanish x3, ○ Gravity x5 Level-up bonus: MP +10%
 バニシングボディー
味方全員にバニシュ
 Vanishing Body
Vanish on all allies
 Fader
Makes the party invisible

38 MP. Sets 'transparent' status on all allies (both sides). Unblockable.

No truly comparable spell effect. Casting ◎ Vanish four times (assuming a full party) comes the closest, and would cost 72 MP total, take more time, and could be reflected or sealed.

カーバンクル Carbuncle Carbunkl
carbuncle

Early conquistadors supposedly saw a small creature with a gem in its forehead, and dubbed it "Carbuncle".

One of the Genjuu in the Sorcery Research Laboratory who chooses to aid the party as part of the storyline.

Teaches: ◎ Reflect x5, ◎ Haste x3, ◎ Shell x2, ◎ Protect x2, ◎ Teleport x2 Level-up bonus: None
 ルビーのひかり
味方全員にリフレク
 Ruby Light
Reflect on all allies
 Ruby Power
Casts Reflect on party

ルビーの光 in kanji.

36 MP. Sets 'reflect' status on all allies (both sides). Unblockable.

No truly comparable spell effect. Casting ◎ Reflect four times (assuming a full party) comes the closest, and would cost 88 MP, take more time, and could be sealed, or... well, reflected, but why cast it when it's already in effect?

ビスマルク Bismarck Bismark

Bismarck may refer to a famous German battlecruiser of World War II.

One of the Genjuu in the Sorcery Research Laboratory who chooses to aid the party as part of the storyline.

bismarck
Teaches: ○ Fire x20, ○ Blizzard x20, ○ Thunder x20, ● Raise x2 Level-up bonus: Strength +2

Bismark makes a great starter Genjuu, teaching all three basic attack spells after only five LP.

 バブルブロウ
水属性ダメージ攻撃
 Bubble Blow
Attacks with Water damage
 Sea Song
Water-elemental attack

50 MP. Unblockable Water magic damage to all enemies (both sides) at 58 power. Power to cost ratio is 1.160.

Each of the standard -ra spells has slightly more power and costs less than half the MP to cast, but can be blocked, reflected, or sealed, and can't hit enemies on both sides when surrounded. Regardless, Bubble Blow's primary advantage comes from the inability of any normal spell to inflict Water damage.

ゴーレム Golem Golem
golem

In Jewish mythology, a golem is a humanoid creature animated from inanimate material, usually mud.

Randomly appears in the Jidoor auction after returning from the southern continent.

Teaches: ◎ Protect x5, ◎ Stop x5, ● Cura x5 Level-up bonus: Stamina +2
 アースウォール
味方全員を守る
 Earth Wall
Guards all allies
 Earth Wall
Protects the party

33 MP. Golem will block upcoming physical attacks against allies until the total damage blocked exceeds the caster's current HP at the time of casting, only blocking strikes that would otherwise have hit (meaning that characters can still block and dodge on their own without counting against the amount negated).

No comparable spell effect. Earth Wall is something unique, and can be a useful way to avoid physical attacks without having the increased vulnerability to magic attacks that comes with 'transparent' status. Not as useful as in Final Fantasy 5, if only because of the once per battle limit.

ゾーナ・シーカー Zone Seeker ZoneSeek

Possible name origins suggested on a Japanese wiki include ゾーナ as wordplay on 謎 (nazo, enigma), or as coming from zona (zone) in Latin or related languages (possibly from the summon creating sort of a zone of safety).

Randomly appears in the Jidoor auction after returning from the southern continent.

zone seeker
Teaches: ◎ Raspir x20, ◎ Aspir x15, ◎ Shell x5 Level-up bonus: Magic power +2

Zone Seeker makes another good starter Genjuu, teaching the highly useful ◎ Aspir in only seven LP.

 マジックシールド
味方全員にシェル
 Magic Shield
Shell on all allies
 Wall
Casts Shell on party

30 MP. Sets 'shell' status on all allies (both sides). Unblockable.

No truly comparable spell effect. Casting ◎ Shell four times (assuming a full party) comes the closest, and would cost 60 MP total, take more time, and could be reflected or sealed.

セラフィム Seraphim Sraphim
seraphim

Seraphim, literally "burning ones," are a variety of angel in Judaism and Christianity. "Seraph", the singular form, would be more correct here, but the concept of singular versus plural is largely foreign to native Japanese speakers.

Buy in Tzen after the Imperial Sorcery Research Laboratory trip for 3000 gil, or after the Major Plot Spoiler for only 10 gil.

Teaches: ● Raise x5, ● Cura x8, ● Cure x20, ● Regenerate x10, ● Esuna x4 Level-up bonus: None

Seraphim makes yet another good starter Genjuu, with ● Cure in only 5 LP, and the others fairly quick, too.

 エンジェルフェザー
HPを回復
 Angel Feather
Recovers HP
 Reviver
Recovers HP

40 MP. Recovers HP to all allies (both sides) at 18 power, 80% stronger than ● Cure. Damages undead, ignores defense, unblockable. Power to cost ratio is 0.450, defense-ignoring.

● Cura is vastly superior in most situations, healing over 50% more for just 5/8 of the MP. The only reasons to use Angel Feather, other than hitting allies on both sides when surrounding the enemy, are that it can't be reflected or sealed, but that's what items are for. Why does it not have even twice the effect of a simple ● Cure spell when it costs eight times as much? Would it have hurt to make it stronger or cheaper, or maybe give it a useful side effect?

ケーツハリー Quetzal Palidor

The quetzal is a type of colorful Central American bird.

Quetzal appears washed up on the beach by Cid's hut after Celes leaves, after the Major Plot Spoiler.

quetzal
Teaches: ◎ Haste x20, ◎ Slow x20, ◎ Hastega x2, ◎ Slowga x2, ◎ Levitate x5 Level-up bonus: None
 ソニックダイブ
味方全員でジャンプ攻撃
 Sonic Dive
Jump attack with all allies
 Sonic Dive
Party members use a Jump
attack

61 MP. All allies (both sides) take to the air as with the Jump command. Incidentally sets 'hide' status. Unblockable. Fails on allies with 'stop' status (and probably certain others).

No comparable spell effect. Outfitting everyone with Wyrmknight's Boots has a vaguely similar result, sort of.

Strange things happen if a confused character summons Quetzal. Because of the reversed targeting, it makes all enemies Jump, but only the caster appears to do so, despite not actually Jumping. Other oddities can result from this as well.

フェンリル Fenrir Fenrir
fenrir

In Norse mythology, the giant wolf Fenrir will devour Odin during Ragnarök, the Norse apocalypse.

Fight off Humbaba in Mobliz after the Major Plot Spoiler, and one of the kids hands over Fenrir.

Teaches: ◎ Teleport x10, ○ Dejon x5, ◎ Stop x3 Level-up bonus: MP +30%
 ハウリングムーン
味方全員を分身
 Howling Moon
Replicates all allies
 Moon Song
Makes multi. images of the
party

70 MP. Sets 'decoy' status on all allies (both sides). Unblockable.

No comparable spell effect. Hardly anything sets 'decoy' status at all, and though somewhat unreliable, it at least it doesn't come with the inability to avoid magic attacks that 'transparent' status does.

ヴァリガルマンダ Valigarmander Tritoch

The name likely blends Vali from Hindu mythology, Garm from Norse mythology, and the salamander of European folklore. Vali seems to have some connection to thunder and Garm to ice, and the salamander of legend of course has an association with fire.

Return to the Narshe mountains after the Major Plot Spoiler and defeat Valigarmander to gain its power.

valigarmander
Teaches: ○ Figa x1, ○ Blizzaga x1, ○ Thundaga x1 Level-up bonus: Magic power +2
 トライディザスター
炎雷冷気の3属性ダメージ
 Tri-Disaster
Flame / Thunder / Ice prime trait damage
 Tri-Dazer
Ice/Fire/Lightning 3-way attack

68 MP. Unblockable Flame / Ice / Thunder damage to all enemies (both sides) at 110 power. Power to cost ratio is 1.618.

Each -ga spell has about 10% more power and costs about 3/4 the MP to cast, but can be blocked, reflected, or sealed, and can't hit enemies on both sides when surrounded. Additionally, priority for elemental modifiers makes Tri-Disaster's multiple elements a liability. If the target absorbs, nulls, or halves any of them, then the modifier most beneficial to the target takes precedence. The only time it's a good thing for the attacker is when the target is weak to at least one element but doesn't absorb, null, or halve any of them; the attack then inflicts double damage... but then you'd normally do better to just cast the -ga spell of that element. And no, multiple weaknesses don't stack, so no 8x damage on triple-weak enemies.

ミドガルズオルム Midgarðsormur Terrato
midgarðsormur

An alternate name for Jörmungandr of Norse mythology, also known as the Midgard Serpent or World Serpent.

After gaining Valigarmander, jump in the hole left behind. Midgarðsormur is in the bone sculpture in the cave.

Teaches: ○ Quake x3, ○ Graviga x1, ○ Tornado x1 Level-up bonus: HP +30%
 アースサラウンド
地属性のダメージ攻撃
 Earth Surround
Attacks with Earth damage
 Earth Aura
Earth-elemental attack

40 MP. Unblockable Earth damage to all enemies (both sides) at 93 power, between -ra and -ga spells. Unlike ○ Quake, it doesn't ignore defense, but it also doesn't target allies. Always misses targets with 'levitate' status. Power to cost ratio is 2.325.

Except for costing 20% less and not targeting allies, Earth Surround looks like a joke next to ○ Quake, which has nearly 20% more raw power and ignores defense on top of that, generally resulting in far more disparity in damage than the power difference suggests. Throw on some Earth Garb (Gaia Gear) when casting ○ Quake, or just cast Levitate to avoid it. It would be nice if the summon at least hit flying enemies to make it worthwhile, but no, it doesn't.

ラクシュミ Lakshmi Starlet

Lakshmi is a Hindu goddess of wealth and beauty.

When Relm rejoins the party after the Major Plot Spoiler, check the bookcase to find Lakshmi.

lakshmi
Teaches: ● Cure x25, ● Cura x16, ● Curega x1, ● Regenerate x20, ● Esuna x20 Level-up bonus: Stamina +2

Lakshmi makes a great source of low- to mid-level recovery magic, assuming anyone still needs any by the time you get it. It's also one of only two to teach ● Curega, and probably the first of them that you'll get.

 みわくのほうよう
HPを回復
 Alluring Embrace
Recovers HP
 Group Hug
Recovers HP

魅惑の抱擁 in kanji.

74 MP. Recovers HP to all allies (both sides) at 34 power, 3.4 times stronger than ● Cure. Damages undead, ignores defense, unblockable. Power to cost ratio is 0.459, defense-ignoring.

● Curega is vastly superior in most situations, healing nearly twice as much for little more than half the MP. Even ● Cura, the least efficient healing spell, has over 80% of the power for scarcely a third of the cost. The only reasons to use Alluring Embrace, other than hitting allies on both sides when surrounding the enemy, are that it can't be reflected or sealed, but that's what items are for. Whose idea was it to make the healing summons so overpriced and underpowered?

アレクサンダー Alexander Alexandr
alexander

Possibly named after Alexander the Great.

Finish the Cayenne's Dream sidequest after the Major Plot Spoiler, and Alexander appears in Doma Castle's throne room.

Teaches: ○ Holy x2, ◎ Shell x10, ◎ Protect x10, ◎ Dispel x10, ● Esuna x15 Level-up bonus: None
 聖なるしんぱん
聖なる属性のダメージ
 Holy Judgment
Holy damage
 Justice
Mystic purity attack

聖なる審判 in kanji.

90 MP. Unblockable Holy damage to all enemies (both sides) at 114 power. Power to cost ratio is 1.266.

○ Holy has only a bit less power and costs less than half the MP, but can be blocked, reflected, or sealed. Holy Judgment also has the benefit of hitting multiple enemies, though it halves the base damage to do so.

フェニックス Phoenix Phoenix

Originally from Persian mythology, the phoenix supposedly burns up and rises again from its own ashes.

Clear the Phoenix Cave found in the star-shaped mountain range after the Major Plot Spoiler to gain Phoenix.

phoenix
Teaches: ● Raise x10, ● Araise x2, ● Reraise x1, ● Curega x2, ○ Figa x3 Level-up bonus: None
 てんせいのほのお
戦闘不能を回復
 Flames of Reincarnation
Cures incapacitated
 Rebirth
Recovers battle status

転生の炎 in kanji

110 MP. Removes 'incapacitated' status and recovers 1/4 max HP (ignores defense) to all allies (both sides). Kills undead targets. Unblockable, but misses all undead targets with 'incapacitated' status and all non-undead targets without 'incapacitated' status, displaying as blocked when the target has a shield that enables spell blocking animations.

No truly comparable spell effect. ● Raise costs 30 MP and recovers 1/8 max HP, while ● Araise recovers all HP but costs 60 MP. Each only works on one target at a time and can be sealed. Overall, the standard reviving spells are more economical, but Flames of Reincarnation can make for a great comeback if most of the party goes down when a survivor happens to have Phoenix equipped (or lucks out with a Magicite Shard).

I think I recall Phoenix having a chance of randomly activating (once available) when everyone falls in at least one other Final Fantasy game, but that doesn't happen in this one.

オーディン Odin Odin
odin

Odin, the chief god of Norse mythology, has an association with war and the hunt.

After retrieving the Falcon post-Major Plot Spoiler, move Figaro Castle and it will run into something. Choose to stop and investigate, then head through the castle dungeon to find an underground cave system that leads to an ancient castle. Find Odin petrified inside.

Teaches: ○ Meteor x1 Level-up bonus: Agility +1

Odin is the only Genjuu to give an agility bonus, unless you're playing the GBA verson or one based on it.

 斬鉄剣
敵全体を斬る
 Zantetsuken
Rends all enemies asunder
 Atom Edge
Slices through enemies

斬鉄剣 translates to "iron-cleaving sword". A weapon obtained in the same general area has the same name.

70 MP. Sets 'incapacitated' status on all enemies (both sides), dropping HP to 0. Delays dying counterattacks when it succeeds, which usually means canceling them outright. Stamina can block this. Accurate enough at 100 hit rate to always hit targets with no magic evade, unless stamina blocking prevents it and except for targets immune to instant death.

This is essentially the same as ○ Dejon (53 MP), but can't be sealed, has better accuracy against targets with any magic evade, and hits enemies on both sides when surrounded. Accuracy has no effect against stamina blocking. Raideen's True Zantetsuken has a still higher accuracy, but is still stamina-blockable and costs 10 more MP.

バハムート Bahamut Bahamut

Bahamut, a beast of Arabian mythology, is normally described as more of a fish than a dragon.

Finish off Death Gaze, encountered more or less randomly after the Major Plot Spoiler while flying the Falcon.

Do NOT abuse the Vanish/Doom bug with ○ Dejon or any other ability that interferes with dying counterattacks. Death Gaze has a dying counter script that triggers the Bahamut event, so if the "counter" never happens, you don't get Bahamut. Though that likely also prevents the encounter from being deactivated, thus allowing you to fight it again.

bahamut
Teaches: ○ Flare x2 Level-up bonus: HP +50%
 メガフレア
魔法防御無視のダメージ
 Megaflare
Damage that ignores magic defense
 Sun Flare
Cuts through magic defenses

86 MP. Unblockable defense-ignoring magic damage to all enemies (both sides) at 92 power. Power to cost ratio is 1.070 defense-ignoring.

○ Ultima costs 6 fewer MP and has over 60% more effect. On the other hand, ○ Ultima isn't exactly easy to come by, and can, amazingly enough, be sealed. The only other comparable spell is ○ Meteor. Megaflare does favorably in this comparison, dealing over 2.5 times the damage for under 1.5 times the cost.

ラグナロック Ragnarök Ragnarok
ragnarök

Ragnarök is essentially the end of the world in Norse mythology.

Have Lock pick the lock on the weapons shop in Narshe after the Major Plot Spoiler. The person inside gives a choice between giving the party the Ragnarök magicite, or forging it into a sword and giving them the sword. This is both the only way to get the Ragnarök Genjuu and the only way (other than stealing one in the next to last phase of the final battle) to get the Ragnarök sword, so choose carefully.

The GBA verson lets you save after clearing the game and keep anything acquired in the final battle, so if you're playing that or any version based on it, definitely get the stone!

Teaches: ○ Ultima x1 Level-up bonus: None
 メタモルフォース
敵をアイテムに変える
 Metamorphose
Turns an enemy into an item
 Metamorph
Turns enemy into an Item

6 MP. May turn one enemy into an item, though it may just miss. The items available and difficulty of morphing depend on the enemy. You can use Gogo's Mimicry to keep trying, as long as no other character takes any other action in the meantime.

Metamorphose is sort of like ○ Death with a bonus, but uses a much, much different method to calculate success rate (○ Death can be reflected or sealed and involves MEvd and stamina, while Metamorphose depends only on a hidden "morph value" determined by the monster type), so it makes little sense to compare them.

ジハード Jihad Crusader

Jihad is essentially Islamic holy war. Crusaders took part in the Crusades, a similar Catholic concept that involved invading the Jerusalem region to drive off the Muslims. Arguably, there's nothing holy about either one.

Beat all eight Dragons after the Major Plot Spoiler to gain Jihad's powers. You were going to do that anyway, right?

jihad
Teaches: ○ Melton x1, ○ Meteor x10 Level-up bonus: MP +50%
 てんちほうかい
敵・味方共に大ダメージ
 Cosmic Breakdown
Great damage to both enemies and allies
 Purifier
Attack harms you and the enemy

天地崩壊 in kanji, more literally "collapse of heaven and earth".

96 MP. Unblockable magic damage to all allies and enemies (both sides) at 190 power, more than 50% stronger than -ga spells, full damage against multiple targets. Power to cost ratio is 1.979.

Cosmic Breakdown has considerably more power than any learnable spell that defense affects. Compared to ○ Holy, it causes about 1.75 times the damage, for 2.4 times the MP cost. Compared to standard -ga spells, it has about 1.55 times the power, for about 1.85 times the MP cost. Keep in mind that while it can't be blocked, it also doesn't ignore magic defense (unlike ○ Meteor, ○ Quake, ○ Flare, ○ Melton, ○ Ultima, and Bahamut's Megaflare), making it less impressive than it might be, especially against tough opponents. And, of course, don't forget that it harms allies as well as enemies.

ライディーン Raideen Raiden
raideen

This might reference a 70s anime series called 勇者ライディーン, or it might not. It also may or may not have to do with the thunder god Raiden, given the lightning bolts during the summoning.

Walk down exactly five steps from the righthand throne in the room where you found Odin, then press the action button. A secret passage should open in the room to the right. Head downstairs and examine the petrified queen, and Odin will transform into Raideen. Note that this means you will not have Odin anymore.

Teaches: ◎ Quick x1 Level-up bonus: Strength +2
 真・斬鉄剣
敵全体を斬る
 True Zantetsuken
Rends all enemies asunder
 True Edge
Slices through enemies

80 MP. Sets 'incapacitated' status on all enemies, dropping HP to 0. Delays dying counterattacks when it succeeds, which usually means canceling them outright. 140 hit rate, but stamina can block this, and targets immune to instant death are unaffected.

This is essentially the same as the 70 MP Odin summon Zantetsuken, but has better accuracy against targets with any magic evade. Accuracy has no effect against stamina blocking. Cayenne's Sever ignores stamina blocking and has an even higher accuracy, but only hits one side when surrounded and, more importantly, suffers from an ungodly wait time.

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