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Unlike in other installments, FF15 has a basic “trio” of spells - Fire, Blizzard, and Thunder. It’s when the party combines them with items that new effects (Elemancy) emerge. As such, these add a new layer of strategy to overall gameplay that players may enjoy.

10 Best: Freecast

As the name implies, Freecast catalysts give spells the chance to not use a charge when cast. As such, on a success, players can cast a spell without expending a charge. Freecast becomes a life-saver in sticky situations (like a difficult story boss), where players need to rely on spells for their battles.

Players access Freecast when refining spells with items such as Platinum Ingot, Mythril Ingot, Jumbo Needle, Cactuar Needle, and Beautiful Bottle. Thanks to this catalyst, players can potentially cast spells without wasting their charge. Others might see this factor as a no-biggie, but spellcasters will definitely appreciate the free spell.

9 Stay Away: Killcast

Fans of Final Fantasy aren’t strangers to insta-kill options in its games. Interestingly, Final Fantasy 15 gives this gameplay feature within Elemancy, in the form of the Killcast catalyst. As the name implies, Killcast spells have a chance of obliterating opponents when triggered.

Moreover, it’s surprising how this insta-kill catalyst can be easily crafted with a few items. Players can wield the power of death with Strong Whiskers, Scorpion Stingers, Malmashrooms, Malboro Vines, Gold Needles, Coeurl Whiskers, and a Big Scorpion Stinger. However, regardless of how tempting an insta-kill spell might be, players might be better off with more calculated spells. After all, farming for Killcast items might not be worth the effort if the effect isn’t guaranteed.

8 Best: Expericast

Completionists need to be strong enough to face certain foes, especially if they’re aiming to beat a timeframe or acquire a powerful weapon. Unfortunately, sometimes Noctis and the gang aren’t at a high enough level to deal with certain special enemies. Thankfully, Expericast charges spells with the ability to boost EXP gain. Moreover, Expericast stacks with multiple successes, making this spell perfect when facing high-level enemies and bosses.

Players can use Expericast with items such as a Rare Coin, Old Book, magnificent Crest, Fine Crest, Debased Silverpiece, Debased Coin, Debased Banknote, Cockatrice Crest, and an Arapaima Roe.

7 Stay Away: Blastcast

Who doesn’t want sheer firepower? Thanks to Blastcast, players can rain fiery, cold, or thunderous hell to opponents with a massive damage boost. However, triggering Blastcast also damages its caster, leaving them and the target with 1HP.

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Players who want to experiment with Blastcast can access it with items such as Strong Pincers, Prawn Antennae, and Giant Crab Pincers. Unfortunately, the caveat of self-damaging spells might not be worth the massive damage boost. As such, players who want to use Blastcast should use this with caution and in extreme situations.

6 Best: Stopcast

Stun effects always help players gain the upper hand, even for a few moments. After all, these stuns help players reposition themselves, get a much-needed heal, or even escape the battlefield. In other games, classes like the Rogue and the Ranger have skills that hinge on providing this opportunity to the party.

In Final Fantasy 15, thanks to Stopcast, spells can assist players in this very matter. Moreover, Stopcast can become an integral element when players want to equip themselves with spells that can trigger their favorite combo chains. Moreover, players can access the Stopcast catalyst by collecting Vesproom, Star Shell, Fossil Wood, Fossil Shell, Broken Harmonica, Ancient Dragon Tooth, and the Ammonite Fossil.

5 Stay Away: Venomcast

Poison can be a pesky status effect in most Final Fantasy games. After all, losing HP over time becomes annoying when players don’t beat opponents fast enough. Thanks to Venomcast, players have the chance of triggering Poison when they cast a spell against an opponent.

Players can acquire Venomcast with items such as Sharp Bristles, Scorpion Barb, Insect Stinger, Enormous Stinger, Deadly Stinger, and Barbed Poison Needles. However, considering Poison doesn’t deal that much damage on the get-go, players might consider using catalysts for more upfront effects.

4 Best: Healcast

Tight situations sometimes force players to choose between healing the party or going all-out. Unfortunately, these gambles usually end up going sour, especially when heals remain a vital component to party survival. Thanks to Healcast, spells can become vehicles for additional healing, reducing the time players need to regroup and manually heal the party.

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Players acquire the Healcast catalyst with Wild Onion, Ulwaat Berries, Saxham Rice, Lucian Tomato, Leiden Sweet Potato, Leiden Potato, Killer Tomato, Fine Cleigne Wheat, Cup Noodles, Cleigne Wheat, and Aegir Root. Interestingly, Healcast triggers can also restore Max HP, making it an integral Elemancy catalyst to try.

3 Stay Away: Maxicast

Super attacks remain a very popular concept across video games. In the Final Fantasy franchise, it’s perhaps FF 7 that popularized this notion with its Limit Breaks and their special effects. In FF 15, players can access Limit Breaks in the form of the Maxicast catalyst, which can “break” the damage ceiling and scale attacks up to 99,999.

Moreover, players can acquire Maxicast with a few items, namely: Zu Beak, Wind-up Lord Vexxos, Rotten Splinterbone, Jade Gar Mirrorscale, Hunter’s Medal, Hardened Hide, Dragon Claw, and Adamantite. While extremely powerful, the fact that Maxicast needs to be triggered by chance makes it a very risky catalyst to invest in. Players may want to keep a few spells with Maxicast in their arsenal, but they shouldn’t rely on it.

2 Best: Number Casts

Aside from casting a spell on its base form, players can increase the number of times it can be cast. As such, unlike other catalysts that grant different ailments and effects, number-based casts rely on spamming enemies with the same spell. These come in the form of Dualcast, Tricast, Quadcast, and Quincast. As their names imply, triggering them can cast a spell two times, three times, four times, and five times, respectively.

Interestingly, each of these catalyst variations can be acquired with easy-to-obtain components. Moreover, they become extremely useful especially when trying to dish out elemental combos or even spamming the same spell type. These number casts offer players a lot of flexibility when it comes to casting their favorite spells.

1 Stay Away: Cursecast

Players looking to beat opponents faster shouldn’t just rely on low HP and elemental weaknesses. After all, weaker opponents, in general, become vulnerable due to their low stats and attributes. Thanks to the Enervated status, both players and opponents can suffer detrimental stat degradation that leaves them extremely vulnerable. Moreover, players can cast this status to foes with the Cursecast catalyst.

Players can acquire this catalyst with items such as Worn Incisor, Translucent Skin, Spiny Barramundi Fin, Slimy Oil, Sharp Head Fin, Hardened Hoof, Giant Hoof, Fine Slimy Oil, Fearsome Hoof, Crimson Tongue, Centipede Teeth, Centipede Legs, Centipede Jaw, Centipede Feet, Barramundi Innards, Arba Spur, and Anak Fetlock. Unfortunately, while the Enervated status can debuff enemies with stat degradation, it might not be enough for players to beat them up with. As such, players might be better off with more upfront catalysts.

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