|
Job: Black Mage |
 Soulflayer |
| Zone | Level | Drops | Steal | Spawns |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
82-83 |
A, L, T(S), M, JA | ||||
|
79-82 |
Respawn time: 5 mins. |
A, L, T(S), M, JA | |||
|
HP = Detects Low HP; M = Detects Magic; Sc = Follows by Scent; T(S) = True-sight; T(H) = True-hearing JA = Detects job abilities; WS = Detects weaponskills; Z(D) = Asleep in Daytime; Z(N) = Asleep at Nighttime; A(R) = Aggressive to Reive participants | |||||
Historical Background
Soulflayers are derived from the Mind Flayers (AKA Illithids) which appear in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Mind Flayers were created by Gary Gygax (creator of Dungeons & Dragons) and made their first appearance in The Strategic Review #1 (Spring 1975), the official newsletter of TSR Games, the publisher of D&D. Gygax stated he was inspired by the cover painting for a work of Lovecraft horror, specifically The Burrowers Beneath by Brian Lumley (1974). Even the Soulflayers primary move (the move it is most associated with in its appearances across the Final Fantasy series), Mind Blast (psionic blast which paralyzes targets), derives from D&D.
According to the D&D Monster Manual, they "are so insidious, diabolical, and powerful that all denizens of the dark fear them. They bend others to their will and shatter enemies' minds." They have 4 tentacles surrounding a lamprey-like mouth, which they use to grab and subdue prey in order to consume their foe's brain. They are highly intelligent, and employ powerful psionic abilities in order to charm and subdue other beings, as well as powerful magic.
The Soulflayer has appeared in Final Fantasy 1, IV, V, IX and Tactics. It went by the names Piscodemon [JP]/Wizard [EN] and Sorcerer (known for its insidious 1 damage physical attacks which had Additional Effect: Death) in Final Fantasy (1987), Mind Flayer [JP]/Mage [EN] in Final Fantasy IV (1991), Mind Flayer in Final Fantasy V (1992), and Drakan in Final Fantasy IX (2000). In Final Fantasy Tactics it had three "types". In order of strength these were: Pisco Demon, Squidlarken and Mindflare.