Shld1

Type White Magic
Level 1
Effect Raises Defense by 8 points.
Target One ally
Price 100 gil
Sold In Cornelia

Learned By

WM
RM
BM
Kn
WW
RW
BW
Ni
The effect of Shld1 stacks with the effects of Shld2 as well as itself.

Shld1 is in the running with Blink as the most useful level 1 Spell as the game goes on. 8 points of defense may not sound like a lot, but it adds up quickly, especially if the attacker gets multiple hits. Really the only thing that makes this Spell at all obsolete is Shld2, which hits the whole party and adds even more Defense. Getting this up on your Warrior should be your first priority against any boss that does multiple hits for significant damage. It can also be helpful for making your mages a bit less squishy in protracted battles.
Compare Shld1 to other Spells
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Cornelia L1 Wh.Magic
Dia1 Invis1

Related

Shld2

Type White Magic
Level 6
Effect Raises party's Defense by 12 points.
Target All allies
Price 20,000 gil
Sold In Crescent Lake

Learned By

WM
RM
BM
Kn
WW
RW
BW
Ni
The effect of Shld2 stacks with the effects of Shld1 as well as itself.

Shld2 is an excellent party buff that will reduce the damage of each Monster's attack against the party by 12. As a bonus to Defense, this applies individually to each hit, so this Spell is especially effective against Monsters who make multiple attacks. Because it affects the whole party, you don't have to guess who will be attacked as with Shld1. This Spell is useful in a lot of situations and, unlike Invis2, there is no Item that will cast it for free. A solid investment (even for a Red Wizard, who lacks a large number of learnable level 6 Spells).

FOG

Sprite
Type White Magic LV 1
Effect Increases one ally's Absorb by 8 points
Target One ally

Learned by

WM
RM
BM
Kn
WW
RW
BW
Ni
Sold In Coneria (100 G)
The effect of FOG stacks with the effects of FOG2 as well as itself.

FOG is in the running with RUSE as the most useful level 1 Spell as the game goes on. 8 points of Absorb may not sound like a lot, but the prevented damage adds up quickly, especially if the attacker gets multiple hits. Really the only thing that makes this Spell at all obsolete is FOG2, which affects the whole party and adds even more Absorb. Getting this up on your front-line Warriors should be your first priority against any boss that does multiple hits for significant damage. It can also be helpful for making your mages a bit less squishy in protracted battles.

Protect

Sprite
Accuracy +50%
Type White Magic
Effect Raises the target's defense, but only works on the caster
Tome Protect Tome
Effect Protect 8 (All allies)
Value 200 gil
Sold In Paloom, Poft, Mysidia (400 G)
Known By Minwu
Protect raises the target's defense by 1/4 of the caster's spirit per success. However, due to a bug, this effect only works when used on the caster themself. Therefore, if this Spell is used, it is used best when targeted on the caster alone. Due to its heavy reliance on spirit and accuracy, you probably won't get much mileage out of Protect for a front-line fighter, and it's not useful from the back row, so it's a Spell you can probably ignore safely.

Protect

Type White Magic
Level 5
Effect Enhance Defense and Magic Defense
Base Power 5
Base Accuracy 75%
Price 5,000 gil
Value 2,500 gil
Reflectable No
Target One Enemy

Cast By

Protect adds directly to the target's Defense and Magic Defense scores. However, be aware that if the target of Protect is using the Defend action, the Defense bonus will be negated at the end of the round. In addition, changing the items in a character's hands (even Weapons) will negate the effects of Protect.

Armor

Type White Magic
Effect Raise target's physical defense
Status Ailment Protect
MP 9
Base Accuracy 66%
Reflectable No
Target One/All

Learned By

Safe

Raises defense
Spell Type
Icon
Effect
Learned Alexandr ×10, Golem ×5, Carbunkl ×2, Unicorn ×1, Celes LV 22
Target One Ally
MP Cost 12
Hit Rate Always Hits
Can be absorbed with Runic
Can be reflected with Reflect
Status Safe
Used By Dadaluma, Face, FlameEater, L.20 Magic, Madam, Sp Forces, Ultros
Safe reduces physical damage taken to the target by 1/3. As this is essentially a bonus to Defense, it has no effect against attacks that ignore Defense. While Safe lasts, it is an effective defense against Monsters with powerful physical attacks.

Protect Stone

Type Tool
Description Same effect as Protect
Value 5 gil (7 gil with the Sell-High menu ability)
Used in Battle Yes
Using a Protect Stone in combat has the same effect as casting the Protect Spell.

Protect

Type Indirect
Description Reduce physical damage temporarily
Status Protect
HP-J ×100 400 hit points (31st)
Str-J ×100 6 strength (42nd)
Vit-J ×100 40 vitality (8th)
Mag-J ×100 10 magic (40th)
Spr-J ×100 18 spirit (25th)
Spd-J ×100 3 speed (42nd)
Eva-J ×100 1 evade (42nd)
Hit-J ×100 3 hit (40th)
Luck-J ×100 14 luck (10th)
Elem-Def-J ×100 Fire 20%, Ice 20%, Thunder 20%
Draw Difficulty +17

Protect

Type Enhancement
Description Raise target's physical resistance.
ATB Cost 2
Role Synergist
Status Effect Protect
Chapter 3

Protect

Description Raise target's physical resistance.
Type Magic
Status Effects Protect
Chain Bonus +5.00
Hits 1
Base Duration 180 seconds
Interrupt resistance 15
Infusible Yes
ATB Cost 2

Protect (Lv1)

Description Activated when HP gauge drops below 80%. Reduces damage taken by the party by 15%. Effect continues until the end of the stage.
Type Reactive
CP 7
Subtype Magic

Protect (Lv2)

Description Activated when HP gauge drops below 65%. Reduces damage taken by the party by 25%. Effect continues until the end of the stage.
Type Reactive
CP 14
Subtype Magic

Protect (Lv3)

Description Activated when HP gauge drops below 50%. Reduces damage taken by the party by 40%. Effect continues until the end of the stage.
Type Reactive
CP 21
Subtype Magic