Bravely Default: Black Mage Job Guide

Black Mages cause destruction wherever they go. They use magic to exploit elemental weaknesses. They can also devastate groups of enemies when they get to max level. If you like elemental and other attack magic, this is the Job for you.

This guide will cover everything about Black Mage including:

• Unlocking Black Mage: How to unlock the job.
• Equipment guide: What they use, and the optimal equips
• Ability List: What level they get them.
• Cross Job Tips: Which jobs fit well with Black Mage.
• Special Moves: Which are best suited for Black Mage.
• Combat Tips: Being most effective in battle.

Unlocking Black Mage

You unlock Black Mage in the Prologue of the game. You unlock it after the Ominas fight. Check Part Two of my Prologue Guide for more details.

Equipment Guide

Black Mages are all about attack magic. This means you should only worry about raising Magic Attack. They have S aptitude with Rods only.

Armor

• Magic Attack and INT is key here. Pick armor and accessories that raise this.
• Nullify elemental damage accessories also work well.
• You can use a shield in one hand if you need extra defense.

Weapons

• Just stick with Rods.
• Equip two magic Rods for increased Magic attack.
• This also allows you to use the Rod special move.

Ability List

The Specialty for Black Mage is Black Resonance.

• Black Resonance – Black Magic damage rises with each all that has this ability, including yourself.
• 1 ally – Damage times 1.1
• 2 allies – Damage times 1.15
• 3 allies – Damage times 1.2

Level 1

• Black Magic Level 1 – Enables the use of Fire, Blizzard, and Thunder.

Level 2

• Rod Lore – Support ability that raises aptitude for rods to S.

Level 3

• Black Magic Level 2 – Enables the use of Silence, Poison, and Sleep.

Level 4

• Abate Fire – Support ability that reduces damage taken from Fire attacks. Does not stack with items with similar effects

Level 5

• Damage Dispersion – Support ability that shares 15% of damage with each ally when hit by a single-target attack.

Level 6

• Silence Immunity – Support ability that makes you immune to Silence.

Level 7

• Black Magic Level 3 – Enables the use of Fira, Blizzara, and Thundara.

Level 8

• Black Resonance – Support ability that allows you to use the Black Mage Specialty on other Jobs.

Level 9

• Black Magic Level 4 – Enables the use of Drain, Aspir, and Fear.

Level 10

• Magic Attack 20% Up – Support ability that raises Magic attack by 20%.

Level 11

• Black Magic Level 5 – Enables the use of Firaga, Blizzaga, and Thundaga.

Level 12

• Pierce Magic Defense – Support ability that ignores the target’s Magic Defense when doing damage.

Level 13

• Black Magic Level 6 – Enables the use of Dark, Kill, and Death.

Level 14

• Group-Cast All – Support ability that enables group casting on spells that are normally singe target only. Example: Sleep or Poison is cast on groups when you equip this support ability.

Cross Job Tips

• Arcanist works well with Black Mage. They lower the cost and increase the damage of Black Magic. They even have Twilight, which kills all sleeping targets.
• White Mage is helpful when you want extra magic defense. Their support abilities increase Magic defense and automatically heal poison, blind, or silence at the end of battle. Angelic ward is very useful because it gives a 50% chance to halve damage received.

Special Moves

Rod

• Level 1 – Use magic 10 times to use.
• Piercing Bolt: Attack one. Raises Magic Attack for all allies.
• Level 2 – Use magic 20 times to use.
• Withering Ripple: Weaken enemy. Raises Magic Attack for all allies.

• Level 3 – Use magic 30 times to use.
• Holy Weapon: Attack all, slaying Demon. Raises Magic Attack for all allies.

Combat Tips

Knowing an enemy’s elemental weakness is key for this class. If you don’t know, try using the Freelancer’s Examine ability to check.

• Always use elemental magic the enemy is weak against.
• If there is no weakness, try other magic, like Poison, Silence, or Sleep, before attacking.
• If you have ways to absorb magic on your allies, you can cast one of those elements on them to heal.

If you have any additional questions for the Black Mage, let me know in the comments! Check out my Master Guide List for more Job guides and other tips for Bravely Default.