Element
In the Innocence Seekers and Yume ni Aruku series, elements (属性, zokusei) represent aspects of nature and are an inherent property of magic. Spells each have an inherent element, which determines their effectiveness when used against certain targets. Elements are important aspects of the video games, as they determine how much damage is inflicted (and whether the attack will be absorbed).
List of elements
Fire (火)
- Main article: Fire (element)
Fire represents heat and flames. In general, fire-elemental magic spells deal damage through the application of heat and combustion.
Water (水)
- Main article: Water (element)
Water represents fluids (such as water) and phenomena related to them. Water-elemental magic spells tend to deal damage through kinetic energy.
Ice (氷)
- Main article: Ice (element)
Ice represents the cold, as well as frozen substances. In general, ice-elemental magic spells deal damage through freezing the target, as well as application of cold. This element is associated with the water element.
Earth (地)
- Main article: Earth (element)
Earth represents rocks, dirt and other non-metallic and non-living solid substances. Earth-elemental magic spells tend to deal damage through kinetic energy.
Metal (金)
- Main article: Metal (element)
Metal represents all metallic substances. Metal-elemental magic spells tend to deal damage through kinetic energy. This element may be associated with earth, with air/wind, or be considered a primary element on its own.
Wood (木)
- Main article: Wood (element)
Wood represents plants and substances derived from them. Wood-elemental magic spells may deal damage through kinetic energy, but some spells also attack life force directly. This element may be associated with earth, with air/wind, or be considered a primary element on its own.
Wind (風)
- Main article: Wind (element)
Often referred to as "air" in the West, Wind represents gaseous substances. Many wind-elemental magic spells deal damage through kinetic energy, but some spells suffocate the target. This element may be associated with wood, with metal, or be considered a primary element on its own.
Thunder (雷)
- Main article: Thunder (element)
Thunder represents electricity. Thunder-elemental magic spells deal damage through the passage of electricity through the target, generating heat and disrupting living bodies and machines. This element is associated with either metal or air/wind.
Poison (毒)
- Main article: Poison (element)
While not considered an element in-universe, it is an element in gameplay. Poison represents substances which cause damage, either to living beings or objects.
Light (光)
- Main article: Light (element)
Light represents brightness and purity. In general, light-elemental magic spells deal damage through direct application of energy.
Darkness (闇)
- Main article: Darkness (element)
Darkness represents a lack of light. It is not exactly known how darkness-elemental spells deal damage, although some suspect that they attack life force directly.
Ether (天)
- Main article: Ether (element)
Ether is the default element of magic spells.
Void (空)
- Main article: Void (element)
Not much is known about this element, however, it possesses properties unique to any other element.
Elemental strengths and weaknesses
The use of elemental spells adds a tactical element to mage battles, as the effectiveness of spells often varies depending on its element. While elemental resistances, strengths and weaknesses can be arbitrary, the following trends are observed:
- Fire spells are particularly effective against plants and cold entities and objects. Its effectiveness is diminished against anti-magic fields, and many fire spells will not function in space.
- Water spells are effective against fire and ice. In contrast, earth tends to absorb water spells. Water has a slightly greater effect in space, and can in some cases ignore anti-magic fields.
- Ice spells are effective against fire, but otherwise do poorly in hot situations. Like water, they can ignore anti-magic fields.
- Earth spells are effective against water, ice and fire. In contrast, plants are resistant to earth. Like water and ice, they can ignore anti-magic fields.
- Metal spells are effective against ice and plants, but water and fire resist them. Like earth, they can ignore anti-magic fields.
- Wood spells are effective against water and earth, but do poorly against fire, ice and metal. Their ability to ignore anti-magic fields is limited, as well as their effectiveness in space.
- Wind spells are effective against plants and earth, but fire only spreads from wind. While they can ignore anti-magic fields, most wind spells are completely ineffective in space.
- Thunder spells are effective against water and metal, but do poorly against fire. They can ignore anti-magic fields, although not to the extent that ice spells can.
- Light and darkness are in opposition to each other, but are otherwise neutral to all other elements. Darkness is more vulnerable to anti-magic effects than light.
- Ether is the most vulnerable of all elements to anti-magic effects, but is otherwise neutral.
- Nothing resists void. Void spells can bypass anti-magic fields.