# FFXII: Strategic value of Vanish/Vanishga? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 26, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ffxii-strategic-value-of-vanish-vanishga/501096 "2009-06-26T18:50:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ffxii-strategic-value-of-vanish-vanishga/501096/1 "2009-06-26T18:50:38Z")
Loving FF12 right now, but I have yet to find any use whatsoever for the Vanish spells. Can someone tell me what exactly is their purpose? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ffxii-strategic-value-of-vanish-vanishga/501096/2 "2009-06-26T19:06:34Z")
Well, it’s not that great. Most creatures can detect you by sound, so it does little. FF12 has a lot of higher level black magic, spells by the way. Most of them are more or less equal and some are really hard to get to(upper left of the grid). I’d keep that in mind as well. Where are you in the game? I played it a year ago and rather liked it. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ffxii-strategic-value-of-vanish-vanishga/501096/3 "2009-06-26T19:18:38Z")
The Vanish series is always pretty much useless, in any of the Final Fantasy games…either they act like D&D Invisibility and turn off when you act, or they don’t actually have any noticeable effect - in XII, they have BOTH problems.:smack: Theoretically, if you turn off all gambits, you could sneak through areas with aggressive monsters, but like Mahaloth says…most monsters can detect you ANYWAY. ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ffxii-strategic-value-of-vanish-vanishga/501096/4 "2009-06-26T19:41:45Z")
I’m coming up on endgame. I have free access with the Strahl, so I have just the Pharos, Ridorana and Bahamut left in the main storyline. I tinkered around with it some on a couple of hunts and it never seemed to make much difference in terms of enemy detection, causing their attacks to miss or adding an attack bonus for me. I thought perhaps it was there for a specific battle or to trigger a specific event or battle. It seems silly to waste space on the license board for such a limited magic. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ffxii-strategic-value-of-vanish-vanishga/501096/5 "2009-06-26T20:32:01Z")
Float, however, is really useful. Use it in that dangerous dungeon where you get the Zodiac Spear. ---
**Author:** ![LilShieste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@LilShieste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilShieste)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ffxii-strategic-value-of-vanish-vanishga/501096/6 "2009-06-26T21:10:22Z")
The only time I had ever used Vanish in any of the FF games, was with the [Vanish-Doom exploit](http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Vanish-Doom_bug). That doesn’t work in FFXII, does it? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ffxii-strategic-value-of-vanish-vanishga/501096/7 "2009-06-26T23:03:38Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > The Vanish series is always pretty much useless, in any of the Final Fantasy games…either they act like D&D Invisibility and turn off when you act, or they don’t actually have any noticeable effect - in XII, they have BOTH problems.:smack: Just about any tactical spell in RPG’s has that problem. It’s inevitably better from a player perspective to just face down whatever comes at you and blow it up than it is to sneak, poison, inflict status effects, or whatever. 90% of all non-boss combats can be resolved quickly and efficiently by just hitting things hard so why waste your resources? ---
**Author:** ![Mogle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mogle/32/12021_2.png) [@Mogle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mogle)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ffxii-strategic-value-of-vanish-vanishga/501096/8 "2009-06-26T23:30:55Z")
> [@Just\_Some\_Guy](#): > > Just about any tactical spell in RPG’s has that problem. It’s inevitably better from a player perspective to just face down whatever comes at you and blow it up than it is to sneak, poison, inflict status effects, or whatever. 90% of all non-boss combats can be resolved quickly and efficiently by just hitting things hard so why waste your resources? In general this is the sad truth. But FFXII is an exception, spells like Blind and Silence were actually useful in many cases, perhaps not on the real bosses but they worked on most of the hunts and on some of the other nastier critters one could encounter. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ffxii-strategic-value-of-vanish-vanishga/501096/9 "2009-06-27T00:42:49Z")
> [@Mogle](#): > > In general this is the sad truth. But FFXII is an exception, spells like Blind and Silence were actually useful in many cases, perhaps not on the real bosses but they worked on most of the hunts and on some of the other nastier critters one could encounter. 🙂 Actually, I found that the best thing was to inflict the spell that reverses status ailments and the effects of healing items and spells. I then would throw an elixir on some of the hunts and they would get every ailment they were susceptible to with 100% success rate. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ffxii-strategic-value-of-vanish-vanishga/501096/10 "2009-06-27T09:32:11Z")
Yep…once you can do that, it’s highly effective and fun. Until then, the regular status spells are useful. ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2009, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ffxii-strategic-value-of-vanish-vanishga/501096/11 "2009-06-29T03:58:20Z")
Prior to getting telekinesis, Bio is a pretty reliable backup attack for flying creatures. Love anything that inflicts sap, it’s almost as good as having a fourth partymember. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ffxii-strategic-value-of-vanish-vanishga/501096/12 "2009-06-29T17:20:57Z")
> [@Hung\_Mung](#): > > Prior to getting telekinesis, Bio is a pretty reliable backup attack for flying creatures. Love anything that inflicts sap, it’s almost as good as having a fourth partymember. Yes, Bio actually is a good spell in that game. I found that the game was made easy once I got the accessories that allowed me to collect double points for the ability grid. I then went to a field and found enemies that gave out 2 points, received 4 for each kill and was able to clear out a lot of the grid rather quickly. I ended up with a Mage who had every spell(and was awesome with a bow), a fighter who could equip all armor and weapons, and another mage/fighter who mastered all white spells early on. I loved the game mechanics, but hated the plot, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ffxii-strategic-value-of-vanish-vanishga/501096/13 "2009-06-30T01:11:57Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Yes, Bio actually is a good spell in that game. > > I found that the game was made easy once I got the accessories that allowed me to collect double points for the ability grid. I then went to a field and found enemies that gave out 2 points, received 4 for each kill and was able to clear out a lot of the grid rather quickly. > > I ended up with a Mage who had every spell(and was awesome with a bow), a fighter who could equip all armor and weapons, and another mage/fighter who mastered all white spells early on. > > I loved the game mechanics, but hated the plot, by the way. I filled everyone’s grid. And by the time I took on the super optional boss, one of my original “tanks” had actually become a primary spellcaster (I split the 6 PC’s into 2 tanks, 2 fighter/mages, and 2 spellcasters) and a couple of the others had switched around a bit due to the fact that stat increases are random. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ffxii-strategic-value-of-vanish-vanishga/501096/14 "2009-06-30T02:49:44Z")
> [@Hoopy\_Frood](#): > > I filled everyone’s grid. And by the time I took on the super optional boss, one of my original “tanks” had actually become a primary spellcaster (I split the 6 PC’s into 2 tanks, 2 fighter/mages, and 2 spellcasters) and a couple of the others had switched around a bit due to the fact that stat increases are random. Did you actually beat the optional boss? What was its name again? How long did it take you? ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ffxii-strategic-value-of-vanish-vanishga/501096/15 "2009-06-30T11:48:58Z")
Yes. Yiazmat. A bit over 10 hours, IIRC. And you get the single best all around weapon in the game for doing so (i.e. Wyrmhero Blade, the Zodiac spear does more damage per hit, but the Wyrmhero is faster and has a higher crit rate, so it actually does more damage overall) provided you killed Omega and completed the fishing sidequests. ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ffxii-strategic-value-of-vanish-vanishga/501096/16 "2009-06-30T15:09:14Z")
> [@Hoopy\_Frood](#): > > Yes. Yiazmat. A bit over 10 hours, IIRC. > > And you get the single best all around weapon in the game for doing so (i.e. Wyrmhero Blade, the Zodiac spear does more damage per hit, but the Wyrmhero is faster and has a higher crit rate, so it actually does more damage overall) provided you killed Omega and completed the fishing sidequests. You’ve found Wyrmhero is faster than Zodiac? Everything I’ve read says it takes almost twice as long as any gun for the action to recharge. I was considering skipping the fishing sidequest and ignoring Wyrmhero. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ffxii-strategic-value-of-vanish-vanishga/501096/17 "2009-06-30T16:33:55Z")
> [@Hung\_Mung](#): > > You’ve found Wyrmhero is faster than Zodiac? Everything I’ve read says it takes almost twice as long as any gun for the action to recharge. I was considering skipping the fishing sidequest and ignoring Wyrmhero. Maybe I’m thinking of another sword then. (It’s been a long time since I played the game.) I know there’s one out there that’s slightly weaker than Zodiac but is faster and chains multiple attacks more frequently. ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ffxii-strategic-value-of-vanish-vanishga/501096/18 "2009-06-30T16:47:46Z")
Probably Tournesol. I hope to get my little hands on that soon.