FF6 Ultima Minimum level For Damage Cap

I suppose you could just do something like fling Ice 3 at an Ice-weak enemy with really low Magic Defense(like Peepers with its measly 5 Magic Defense)* to reach the damage cap at a lower level. Or you could even cheat further and do something like use a FF6a's Gravija on any boss with over 12,000 HP; or even 319,998+ steps Step Mine from a Level 8 Strago. But most FF6 enemies have Magic Defenses somewhere above 100(many close to 150) which closely halves max damage, and maybe you don't play LLGs or farm steps. Note that max damage is just the very start of the formula. Even with average Magic Defense halving your theoretical output, that still is a large number which still makes magic very strong. Ultima should require no introduction to anyone familiar with FF6 but I guess I should give one anyway. 150 Spell Power, non-elemental, ignores Magic Defense, forced multi-target unless there's only one target. So let's get it out already. For this one we're going to assume you're facing a Single Target battle. Multi-targetting approximately halves Ultima's damage, so you'd require somewhere around twice the level. Level is not a direct multiplier but it is still pretty influential and somewhere close to being a direct multiplier. We also have to get the character with the strongest Magic Power. That would be Relm. Relm inherently has 44 Magic Power. With equipment it can rise all the way up to 62. Magus Rod adds 7 Magic, Magus Hat adds 5 Magic, Behemoth Suit adds 6 Magic. That adds up to 62 Magic Power. Since Ultima ignores defense, the Morph multiplier is skipped and thus Terra doesn't get to use it to outpower Relm and get to do it at some absurd sub-15 level. After all, you don't hear boasting that Terra can hit the damage cap on all enemies with a single-target Ultima by Level 14. :P We also need two Earrings since that increases magic damage to 1.5 times the Earring-less one.

We refer to this GameFAQ's algorithm guide (https://www.gamefaqs.com/ps/562865-final-fantasy-vi/faqs/13573) to consult just how damage works in FF6. I'll simplify it for you by just linking you to Wolfram Alpha, but you can try filling the variables yourself if you don't believe me. [http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=((150*4%2B(x*62*150%2F32))*(6%2F4))*(255%2F256)%2B1%3D9999]. So there: Relm can hit the damage cap at Level 21 if variance is in her favor. If it's not? [http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=((150*4%2B(x*62*150%2F32))*(6%2F4))*(224%2F256)%2B1%3D9999] She has to level up to 25. Keep in mind that casual players probably reach at least above 30 by the endgame.

Just for fun, let's suppose the Ultima is multi-target like it likely will be. [http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=((150*4%2B(x*62*150%2F32))*(6%2F4)*(1%2F2))*(224%2F256)%2B1%3D9999] Relm requires to be at Level 51 to hit the damage cap if variance is at its minimum. Fairly high level, but you can always tweak around with Espers to rise Magic to, say, 70 and reduce it to 45. Still somewhat high, but 40s isn't that unreasonable. But minimum variance isn't that common. [http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=((150*4%2B(x*62*150%2F32))*(6%2F4)*(1%2F2))*(255%2F256)%2B1%3D9999] Max variance is not that common either, but a range between 44 and 51 gives a better idea than just 44 or 51.


*[http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=(((((122*4%2B(x*62*122%2F32))*(6%2F4))*(255%2F256)%2B1)*(255-5))%2F256)%2B1)*2%3D9999]; Relm with max Magic equipment(base 44+7 from Magus Rod+5 from Magus Hat+6 from Behemoth Suit=62 Magic Points), two Earrings max variance, and no esper boosts can do it at level 27. Alternatively, [http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=(((((122*4%2B(x*55*122%2F32))*(6%2F4)*2)*(255%2F256)%2B1)*(255-5))%2F256)%2B1)*2%3D9999]. Morphed Terra with max magic equipment(base 39+7 from Enhancer or Illumina+5 from Magus Hat+4 from Minerva=55 Magic Points), two Earrings, max variance, and no esper boosts can do it at level 15. Amazing, but keep in mind you're doing it on the enemy with lowest Magic Defense in the game and using its weakness at the same time.