Espers

First Bundle:
Ramuh Stray/Cait Sith Siren Kirin
Magitek Factory:
Shiva Ifrit Carbunkl Shoat/Catoblepas Phantom Bismark Unicorn Madiun
World of Balance:
Sraphim/Seraph
Auction House:
Golem Zoneseek/Zona Seeker
Ancient Castle:
Odin Raiden
World of Ruin:
Fenrir Palidor/Quetzalli Terrato/Midgardsormr Starlet/Lakshmi Tritoch/Valigarmanda Phoenix Alexandr/Alexander Ragnarok Bahamut Crusader
FF6 Advance:
Leviathan Gilgamesh Cactuar Diabolos

Note: In the spell table, “SNES Name” is the original North American translation of the spell and “New Name” is the more accurate translation used in newer releases of the game.

Ramuh

A valuable starting Esper who makes it easy to learn Bolt spells.

Location: You find Ramuh in Zozo in the World of Balance.

Summon Ability: Inflicts Lightning damage to all enemies.

Level Up Bonus: Stamina goes up by 1!

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Bolt
Thunder
6
10%
Light lightning-typed damage to one or more targets.
Bolt 2
Thundara
22
2%
Three times as powerful as “Bolt/Thunder,” with same effect.
Poison
Poison
3
5%
Low-level poison-elemental spell degrades HP of a target for the remainder of a battle.

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Stray (Cait Sith)

A starting Esper who's not very useful.

Location: You find Stray in Zozo in the World of Balance.

Summon Ability: Inflicts Confuse on all enemies. Same effect as Edgar's Noiseblaster.

Level Up Bonus: Magic Power goes up by 1!

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Muddle
Confuse
8
7%
Confuses target.
Imp
Imp
10
5%
Applies “imp” status to one target.
Float
Float
17
2%
Levitates target and provides immunity to earth-elemental spells.

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Siren

An okay starting Esper. At least she's more useful than Stray.

Location: You find Siren in Zozo in the World of Balance.

Summon Ability: Inflicts Mute on all enemies.

Level Up Bonus: Max HP goes up by 10%!

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Sleep
Sleep
5
10%
Puts target to sleep.
Slow
Slow
5
7%
Slows target's ATB bar.
Mute
Mute
8
8%
Negate's target's ability to cast spells.
Fire
Fire
4
6%
Light fire-typed damage to one or more targets.

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Kirin

A valuable starting Esper who makes it easy to learn restorative spells. Regen is useful for tough battles when you can't be regularly healing your party members.

Location: You find Kirin in Zozo in the World of Balance.

Summon Ability: Casts Regen on the entire party.

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Cure
Cure
5
5%
Restores some HP.
Cure 2
Cura
25
1%
Restores more HP.
Antdot
Poisona
3
4%
Removes “Poison” and “Seizure” status from one target.
Scan
Libra
3
5%
Determines target's HP, MP, and weaknesses.
Regen
Regen
10
3%
Gradually restores HP.

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Shiva

A valuable Esper who makes it easy to learn Ice and Ice 2 - plus gives you Cure and Osmose. Using Osmose regularly gives you virtually unlimited MP, so make sure everyone learns it!

Location: Shiva is found in the Magitek Factory in the World of Balance.

Summon Ability: Inflicts Ice damage to all enemies.

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Ice
Blizzard
5
10%
Ice-typed damage to one or more targets.
Ice 2
Blizzara
21
5%
Three times as powerful as “Ice/Blizzard,” with same effects.
Osmose
Osmose
1
4%
Takes MP from target and applies it to caster.
Cure
Cure
5
3%
Restores some HP.
Rasp
Rasp
12
4%
Takes away target's MP.

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Ifrit

A valuable Esper who makes it easy to learn Fire and Fire 2. Ifrit is also the only Esper whose summon has multiple animation frames (he spins around).

Location: You find Ifrit in the Magitek Factory in the World of Balance.

Summon Ability: Inflicts Fire damage to all enemies.

Level Up Bonus: Strength goes up by 1!

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Fire
Fire
4
10%
Light fire-typed damage to one or more targets.
Fire 2
Fira
20
5%
Three times as powerful as “Fire,” with same effect.
Drain
Drain
15
1%
Takes HP from the target and heals the caster by the same amount.

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Carbunkl

This Esper teaches you a generous selection of useful spells that give you an edge in battle.

Location: You find Carbunkl in the Magitek Factory in the World of Balance.

Summon Ability: Casts Reflect (or Rflect) on the entire party.

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Rflect
Reflect
22
5%
Puts a magic-reflecting wall in front of the target.
Safe
Protect
12
2%
Increases target's physical defense.
Haste
Haste
10
3%
Speeds up ATB bar for one target.
Warp
Teleport
20
2%
Removes party from dungeon or battle.
Shell
Shell
15
2%
Increase's target's magic defense.

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Shoat (Catoblepas)

A good Esper who teaches you Bio, the strongest poison spell.

Location: You find Shoat in the Magitek Factory in the World of Balance.

Summon Ability: Casts Break on all enemies.

Level Up Bonus: Max HP goes up by 10%!

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Bio
Bio
26
8%
Adds “Poison” status to one or more targets for the remainder of the battle and poison-elemental damage at time of casting.
Break
Break
25
5%
Attempts to petrify one target. Can not hit enemies immune to instant death.
Doom
Death
35
2%
Attempts an instant kill of target. Can not hit targets immune to instant death.

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Phantom

An okay Esper. Vanish is fun to use sometimes. Demi can be useful against bosses who use lots of attack magic.

Location: You find Phantom in the Magitek Factory in the World of Balance.

Summon Ability: Casts Vanish on the entire party.

Level Up Bonus: Max MP goes up by 10%!

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Bserk
Berserk
16
3%
Makes a character attack out of control.
Vanish
Vanish
18
3%
Makes target invisible by adding “Clear” status.
Demi
Gravity
33
5%
Attempts to take 50% of the target's HP. Can not hit targets immune to instant death.

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Unicorn

A valuable Esper who makes it easy to learn Cure 2 and Remedy.

Location: You find Unicorn in the Magitek Factory in the World of Balance.

Summon Ability: Casts Remedy on the entire party.

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Cure 2
Cura
25
4%
Restores more HP.
Safe
Protect
12
1%
Increases target's physical defense.
Shell
Shell
15
1%
Increases target's magic defense.
Remedy
Esuna
15
3%
Cures any ailment except “Zombie.”
Dispel
Dispel
25
2%
Removes effects of spells from a target.

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Madiun

A good Esper who makes it relatively easy to learn level 2 of Fire, Ice, and Bolt. This is useful for members of your party who still need to learn these spells.

Location: You find Madiun in the Magitek Factory in the World of Balance.

Summon Ability: Inflicts non-elemental damage to all enemies.

Level Up Bonus: Magic Power goes up by 1!

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Fire 2
Fira
20
3%
Three times as powerful as “Fire,” with same effect.
Ice 2
Blizzara
21
3%
Three times as powerful as “Ice/Blizzard,” with same effect.
Bolt 2
Thundara
22
3%
Three times as powerful as “Bolt/Thunder,” with same effect.

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Bismark

Not a useful Esper. Life is the only spell with some value, but you learn it much faster with Sraphim (below). Bismark is useful if you want to be a completionist and have everyone learn Fire, Bolt, and Ice quickly.

Location: You find Bismark in the Magitek Factory in the World of Balance.

Summon Ability: Inflicts water (ice water?) damage to all enemies.

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Fire
Fire
4
20%
Light fire-typed damage to one or more targets.
Bolt
Thunder
6
20%
Light lightning-typed damage to one or more targets.
Ice
Blizzard
5
20%
Light ice-typed damage to one or more targets.
Life
Raise
30
2%
Revives a dead party member with some HP.

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Sraphim (Seraph)

A valuable Esper who makes it easy to learn all the best healing spells for this point of the game. She's not necessarily a secret, but you'll easier miss her if you don't talk to the townsperson in Tzen.

Location: You can buy Sraphim/Seraph in Tzen from a man in the trees (in World of Balance or World of Ruin). This man is somewhat hidden. You need to walk all the way to the upper-right of the town - as shown here.

Summon Ability: Restores HP to all party members.

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Cure
Cure
5
20%
Restore some HP.
Cure 2
Cura
25
8%
Restores more HP.
Regen
Regen
10
10%
Gradually restores HP.
Remedy
Esuna
15
4%
Cures any ailment except “Zombie.”
Life
Raise
30
5%
Revives a dead party member with some HP.

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Golem

An extremely valuable Esper! Golem's summon ability is the only one that can't be replicated through spells. It's useful for tough boss battles. Golem also makes it easy to learn Cure 2.

Location: Golem can be bought at the Auction House in either the World of Balance or World of Ruin.

Summon Ability: Blocks physical attacks for a short amount of time.

Level Up Bonus: Stamina goes up by 2!

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Safe
Protect
12
5%
Increases target's physical defense.
Stop
Stop
10
5%
Stops target's ATB bar.
Cure 2
Cura
25
5%
Restore more HP.

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Zoneseek (Zona Seeker)

This Esper is useful if you still need party members to learn Rasp and Osmose. Using Osmose regularly gives you virtually unlimited MP.

Location: Zoneseek/Zona Seeker can be bought at the Auction House in either the World of Balance or World of Ruin.

Summon Ability: Casts Shell on the entire party.

Level Up Bonus: Magic Power goes up by 2!

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Rasp
Rasp
12
20%
Takes away target's MP.
Osmose
Osmose
1
15%
Takes MP from target and applies it to caster.
Shell
Shell
15
5%
Increases target's magic defense.

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Odin

An okay Esper. Meteor is an awesome spell, but you can learn it much faster with Crusader. Don't be scared to sacrifice Odin for Raiden.

Location: Odin can be found in the Ancient Castle in the World of Ruin. It's hard to miss - just walk straight into the castle to the throneroom and examine Odin's statue.

Summon Ability: Cleaves all enemies in two. He often misses; this is similar to casting Death.

Level Up Bonus: Speed goes up by 1!

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Meteor
Meteor
62
1%
Heavy non-elemental damage to all enemies. Ignores targets' defense.

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Raiden

A better Esper than Odin. Quick is useful if you have the patience to learn it at its 1% rate.

Location: In the basement in the Ancient Castle (World of Ruin), stand five steps down from the Queen's Throne and press the action button to open the way. Her tear will transform Odin into Raiden. This is a one-time offer, so think it through. Odin will be lost forever when you obtain Raiden. Although losing Odin isn't terrible because you can learn Meteor from Crusader (and faster, too).

Summon Ability: Cleaves all enemies in two. He often misses; this is similar to casting Death.

Level Up Bonus: Strength goes up by 2!

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Quick
Quick
99
1%
Allows target to take two consecutive turns.

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Fenrir

What makes Fenrir useful is that it teaches you X-Zone. Casting X-Zone is like casting Death on all enemies.

Location: In the World of Ruin, you find Fenrir when you defeat Phunbaba.

Summon Ability: Casts sleep on all enemies.

Level Up Bonus: Max MP goes up by 10%!

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Warp
Teleport
20
10%
Removes party from dungeon or battle.
X-Zone
Banish
53
5%
Attempts to teleport all enemies to another dimension. Can not hit targets immune to instant death.
Stop
Stop
10
3%
Stops target's ATB bar.

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Palidor (Quetzalli)

This Esper has a fun summon ability and it teaches you Haste 2. Haste 2 is a great spell that helps with tough battles.

Location: In the World of Ruin, you find Palidor on the beach of the Solitary Island.

Summon Ability: Picks everyone up and launches them down as if the Jump command was executed.

Level Up Bonus: Max MP goes up by 10%!

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Haste
Haste
10
20%
Speeds up ATB bar for one target.
Haste 2
Hastega
38
2%
Speeds up ATB bar of entire party.
Slow
Slow
5
20%
Slows target's ATB bar.
Slow 2
Slowga
26
2%
Slows ATB bar of multiple targets.
Float
Float
17
5%
Levitates target and provides immunity to earth-elemental spells.

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Terrato (Midgardsormr)

What makes Terrato useful is that it teaches you Quake. It's a visually awesome spell! It's fun to use until you learn stronger attack magic. Graviga and W Wind are not so useful since random battles are already finished quickly.

Location: In the World of Ruin, you find Terrato in Narshe at the end of Umaro's cave when you search the skull.

Summon Ability: Casts Quake with slightly less MP than if you were to cast Quake yourself.

Level Up Bonus: Max HP goes up by 30%!

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Quake
Quake
50
3%
Earth-elemental attack hits all onscreen allies and enemies that are not currently in the air. Ignores targets' defense, can not hit floating enemies.
Quartr
Graviga
48
1%
Removes 75% of one or more targets' current HP. Can not hit targets immune to instant death.
W Wind
Tornado
75
1%
Takes 93.75% of HP of all onscreen enemies and allies.

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Starlet (Lakshmi)

This Esper is similar to Sraphim. She teaches the same spells but faster, and teaches Cure 3 instead of Life.

Location: In the World of Ruin, you find Starlet hidden in a bookshelf within Owzer's house. Owzer tells you which bookshelf she's in because he wants to get rid of her, believing she's bad luck.

Summon Ability: Restores HP to all party members.

Level Up Bonus: Stamina goes up by 2!

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Cure
Cure
5
25%
Restores HP.
Cure 2
Cura
25
16%
Restores more HP.
Cure 3
Curaga
40
1%
Restores a great deal more HP.
Regen
Regen
10
20%
Gradually restores HP.
Remedy
Esuna
15
20%
Cures any ailment except “Zombie.”

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Tritoch (Valigarmanda)

This Esper is useful if you're mindful to grab it as soon as possible. Otherwise, Tritoch is not too useful later in the game when your party is learning better/stronger attack magic. It doesn't help that Tritoch gives you a small 1% learning rate.

Location: In the World of Ruin, you find Tritoch in the hills of Narshe.

Summon Ability: Inflicts tri-elemental fire/ice/bolt damage on all enemies.

Level Up Bonus: Magic Power goes up by 2!

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Fire 3
Firaga
51
1%
Six times as powerful as “Fire,” with same effect.
Ice 3
Blizzaga
52
1%
Six times as powerful as “Blizzard,” with same effect.
Bolt 3
Thundaga
53
1%
Six times as powerful as “Thunder,” with same effect.

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Phoenix

This Esper is probably the most valuable one in the game! It teaches you the strongest resurrection spells, the strongest healing spell, and the strongest Fire spell.

Location: In the World of Ruin, you obtain Phoenix after completing the Phoenix Cave event.

Summon Ability: Casts Life on all party members; restores slightly more HP than casting Life yourself.

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Life
Raise
30
10%
Revives a dead party member with some HP.
Life 2
Arise
60
2%
Revives a dead party member with all HP.
Life 3
Reraise
50
1%
One time auto-revive along with some HP.
Cure 3
Curaga
40
2%
Restores a great deal more HP.
Fire 3
Firaga
51
3%
Six times as powerful as “Fire,” with same effect.

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Alexandr (Alexander)

This Esper is good. He makes it easy to learn defensive spells. He's the only Esper who teaches Pearl/Holy. His summon attack is pretty awesome!

Location: In the World of Ruin, you find Alexandr in Doma Castle's throne room when you complete the event in Cyan's soul.

Summon Ability: Inflicts Holy-type damage on all enemies.

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Pearl
Holy
40
2%
Pearl (Holy)-typed damage to one target.
Shell
Shell
15
10%
Increase's target's magic defense.
Safe
Protect
12
10%
Increases target's physical defense.
Dispel
Dispel
25
10%
Removes effects of spells from a target.
Remedy
Esuna
15
15%
Cures any ailment except “Zombie.”

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Ragnarok

The most important Esper in the game! Ragnorak teaches Ultima, the strongest attack magic spell!

Location: First, in the World of Ruin, you need to find Locke. Then go to the Weapon Shop in Narshe and have Locke open the door. Inside you'll find an old man who asks you if you want the sword or the rock. Choose the rock (which is Ragnarok).

Summon Ability: Metamorphose - turns one enemy into an item.

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Ultima
Ultima
80
1%
Heavy, typeless damage to all enemies. Ignores targets' defense.

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Bahamut

A popular Esper who was even given its own game, Bahamut Lagoon. At this point in the game, other Espers offer better attack spells than Flare, but Bahamut has the coolest summon animation!

Location: You're awarded Bahamut after defeating Doom Gaze.

Summon Ability: Hits all enemies with a nuclear blast.

Level Up Bonus: Max HP goes up by 50%!

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Flare
Flare
45
2%
Heavy non-elemental damage. Ignores target's defense.

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Crusader

A valuable Esper who makes it easy to learn Meteor. And it's the only Esper who teaches Merton, the strongest fire spell. But be cautious summoning Crusader.

Location: Upon defeating the 8 dragons, you are automatically given Crusader.

Summon Ability: Inflicts heavy damage to all enemies plus your entire party.

Level Up Bonus: Max MP goes up by 50%!

Spells:

SNES Name
New Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Merton
Meltdown
85
1%
Massive fire and wind-elemental attack hit all onscreen allies and enemies. Ignores targets' defense.
Meteor
Meteor
10%
Heavy typeless damage is inflicted on all enemies. Ignores targets' defense.

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Leviathan GBA Exclusive

A good Esper who is the only one who teaches Flood.

Location: Leviathan is found on the ferry between Nikeah and South Figaro.

Summon Ability: Deluges enemies with a giant wave.

Level Up Bonus: Stamina goes up by 2!

Spells:

Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Flood
60
2%
Heavy water-elemental attack hits all onscreen enemies.

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Gilgamesh GBA Exclusive

An awesome Esper who teaches spells that can be powerful when paired with strong attacks. For example, you could pair it with the Master's Scroll which allows you to attack four consecutive times.

Location: The Excalipoor item is required. You can obtain it at the Auction House in Jidoor. You need to speak to the guy outside of the Auction House to make Excalipoor available. Then you’ll need 500,000 Gil to win it. Next, go to the Coliseum and bet the Excalipoor at the front desk. After the resulting battle, you’ll fight Gilgamesh.

Summon Ability: Summons the legendary swordsman.

Level Up Bonus: Strength goes up by 2!

Spells:

Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Valor
20
5%
Triples the damage dealt by each ally's next physical attack.
Quick
99
1%
Allows target to take two consecutive turns.

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Cactuar GBA Exclusive

A useful Esper who has a strong summon attack and makes it easy for you to learn Hastega.

Location: The Gigantuar must be defeated as a boss in the desert south of Maranda to receive the cactuar magicite. The party must first kill ten normal cactuar, after which they can encounter the Gigantuar as a random encounter.

Summon Ability: Summons a cactuar that uses 1000 Needles on all enemies to deal a fixed 1,000 damage, or summons the Gigantuar that uses “10,000 Needles?” on all enemies to deal a fixed 9,999 damage.

Level Up Bonus: Speed goes up by 2!

Spells:

Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Teleport
20
20%
Removes party from dungeon or battle.
Vanish
18
10%
Makes target invisible by adding “Clear” status.
Hastega
38
5%
Speeds up ATB bar of entire party.

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Diablos GBA Exclusive

A valuable Esper who makes it easy to learn the strongest gravity spells.

Location: You find Diablos after defeating Kaiser Dragon in the Dragon's Den.

Summon Ability: Critically wounds all enemies.

Level Up Bonus: HP goes up by 100%1

Spells:

Name
MP Cost
Learn Rate
Description
Graviga
48
5%
Removes 75% of one or more targets' current HP. Can not hit targets immune to instant death.
Gravija
70
3%
Reduces the HP of all enemies by 7/8.

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