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Magick Billow is a skill available in Dragon's Dogma.

Description[]

"Swing your staff downward to stagger the enemy. Follow-up attacks can send the enemy to the ground."

A spellcaster's lowest tier spell and last line of defense -excluding some high level spells this is one of the few ways a magician can do physical damage - both staff and archistaff versions deal physical blunt damage.


Staff Magick Billow[]

Mage, Magick Archer and Mystic Knight can use this attack with a staff - swings the staff in an arc as a melee weapon with a chance to stagger the enemy. Follow-up attacks can send the enemy to the ground.

This attack has poor reach, and relatively low damage. Only useful in limited situations, such as smashing crates or as a last resort. Skeleton Mages will also use this attack.

  • The magick power of the user and of the user's staff seems to have no effect on the damage of this attack - thus effects such as Magick Boosted don't alter the damage
  • Though it makes no difference to damage whether or not a staff is enchanted, the associated Elemental Debilitations can be inflicted - thus Crimson Glare can still inflict burning, and so on

Magick Billow attacks can also be done after jumping - the left swing is rapider than the slow wind up when standing, but the second right swing is slow - sufficient height to get both parts of the attack will usually result in Fall Damage.

Archistaff Magick Billow[]

A Sorcerer performs a different type of Magick Billow unlike the staff skill this is a magickal attack - the sorcerer emits a short range shockwave in front of the Arisen, dealing physical damage with reasonable knockdown or knockback damage.

This 'spell' combines both magic and physical attack strengths, including core strength and core magick and is affected by the carried archistaff. Power scales well with total strength, and more modestly with total magick.

  • The spell is cast without the archistaff, instead using the palm of the hand facing towards the target. As such, this spell is an 'unarmed' skill and so does not benefit from permanent or temporary weapon enchantments or additional effects such as debilitations.
    • The range of this spell is only 2 meters in front of the caster and 1 meter to the sides. Enemies standing behind the caster will not be hit.
  • Whilst the standard Magick Billow can cause knockdown and knockback, the jumping version only causes knockdown.
  • Magic and Strength boosting periapts and similar concoctions also increase the damage.
  • Damage is not increase by Bloody Knuckle.
  • Knockdown power is increased by Impact but not by Emphasis.

Climbing "Magick Billow"[]

Climbing heavy attack archistaff

Climbing 'magick billow'

Using a [heavy attack] whilst climbing produces a different Billow attack - instead the attack consists of a Magick Bolt like zap, followed by a shockwave that dislodges the climber and propels them backwards some distance.

Neither attack has any physical component. The "zap" scales only with weapon magick, whilst the "kick off" shockwave scales with total magick. All the attacks are imbued with the weapon's elemental magick, if present.

This spell is identical for both staff and archistaff.

Notes[]

  • Damage will be increased if the character has Ferocity equipped. Eminence also increases the power of jumping Billow attacks.
  • Jump - Billow - Levitate - Billow combos can be used to attack twice with one jump.
    • If the second (levitate) jump is attempted too soon after the first Billow (before the end of the animation) the levitate won't be performed - this can be avoided by pressing jump twice quickly.
    • This combo can be performed on level ground, but it is easier starting at a height.
  • The slow wind up of the staff billow can be avoided by jumping before attacking - attacking just before landing allows a follow up grounded strike with much reduced wind up time.
  • Billowing before a damaging fall connects doesn't prevent the splat.
  • Use of magick billow whilst climbing doesn't gain any damage bonus, unlike melee attacks.

See also[]

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