Status Buffs/Debuffs

Status buffs and debuffs go by a few different names across this site and across games. These include terms like status effects, status ailments, negative effects, and so on. The labels vary, but they all describe the same thing: a temporary condition applied to a character or a fiend.

To clarify, though, there is a difference between spells and abilities and the actual effects themselves. For example, a White Mage can cast the Protect spell, and the Protect spell’s effect is the positive status buff called Protect. Not only can the spell cause this effect, but there are several alternative routes to get the Protect effect on a character, including:

Casting other spells like Mighty Guard
Equipping accessories like Wall Rings or Shining Bracers
Equipping Garment Grids like Helios Guard

This is where understanding the game’s terminology and structure becomes important. Here’s an example of the structure:

Layer	In This Example
The accessory	Shining Bracer
The Auto-Ability it provides	Auto-Protect
The status effect it generates	Protect

You can also get the Auto-Protect Auto-Ability through other accessories or routes. Other Auto-Abilities also provide the Protect effect, such as SOS Protect.

With that in mind, the following is a list of positive and negative status buffs and debuffs. These buffs and debuffs can be applied to your party members and to fiends and, as outlined above, there are numerous ways to trigger them:

Positive Status Buffs

Status	Effect
Protect	Halves the damage taken from physical attacks. A few attacks ignore it. It does not change the Defense stat, it just reduces the damage that gets through.
Shell	Halves the damage taken from magic attacks. A few attacks ignore it. Like Protect, it does not change the Magic Defense stat itself.
Reflect	Bounces most single-target White and Black Magic back at the caster. Multi-target spells such as Demi are not reflected.
Regen	Restores roughly 3% of the target’s maximum HP at a steady pace for a set time. It does nothing while the target is under Stop.
Haste	Speeds up how quickly actions are carried out, letting the character reach her charge or recovery time sooner. It does not raise Agility, and the ATB gauge itself only fills about 5% faster.
Auto Life	Automatically revives the character with 25% of her maximum HP the moment she is knocked out.
Invincible	All attacks against the target fail outright. Status changes still land, so the target can still be buffed or afflicted.
Null Magic	Nullifies all magic damage for the duration.
Null Physical	Nullifies all physical damage for the duration.
Strength Up	Raises Strength, increasing physical damage dealt. Stacks up to 10 times.
Defense Up	Raises Defense, reducing physical damage taken. Stacks up to 10 times.
Magic Up	Raises Magic, increasing magic damage dealt. Stacks up to 10 times.
Magic Defense Up	Raises Magic Defense, reducing magic damage taken. Stacks up to 10 times.
Accuracy Up	Raises Accuracy by 10 points per level, up to 10 levels.
Evasion Up	Raises Evasion by 10 points per level, up to 10 levels.
Luck Up	Raises Luck by 10 points per level, up to 10 levels.

Negative Status Debuffs

Status	Effect
Poison	Drains roughly 3% of the target’s maximum HP at a steady pace. It does nothing while the target is under Stop.
Silence	Prevents White Magic, Black Magic and Arcana. A silenced Songstress also loses Sing and Dance, and each Mascot loses her magic-based abilities.
Sleep	The target is asleep, so the ATB gauge stops filling and no commands can be entered. Evasion also drops to zero for the duration.
Darkness	Lowers Accuracy, so physical attacks miss far more often.
Confusion	Control of the character is lost and she attacks allies and enemies alike, using whatever commands she has available. It wears off after a while.
Berserk	Control of the character is lost and she can only use a normal physical attack, though her Strength may rise a level. It wears off after a while.
Curse	The character cannot switch Dresspheres.
Doom	A timer appears above the target. When it reaches zero the target is knocked out. The timer pauses while the target is under Stop.
Death	The character is out of action. The ATB gauge stops filling and no commands can be entered.
Petrification	The target turns to stone. The ATB gauge stops filling and no commands can be entered.
Stop	Agility drops to zero and no commands can be entered. It also clears Sleep, Confusion and Berserk from the target.
Slow	Lowers Agility so the target takes fewer turns, and doubles the charge time on abilities.
Itchy	The character must change Dressphere before she can do anything else. Every command except the Dressphere change and Escape is sealed until she does.
Pointless	The character earns no EXP at the end of the battle and no AP during it.
Strength Down	Lowers Strength, reducing physical damage dealt. Stacks up to 10 times.
Defense Down	Lowers Defense, increasing physical damage taken. Stacks up to 10 times.
Magic Down	Lowers Magic, reducing magic damage dealt. Stacks up to 10 times.
Magic Defense Down	Lowers Magic Defense, increasing magic damage taken. Stacks up to 10 times.
Accuracy Down	Lowers Accuracy by 10 points per level, up to 10 levels.
Evasion Down	Lowers Evasion by 10 points per level, up to 10 levels.
Luck Down	Lowers Luck by 10 points per level, up to 10 levels.