Fireball

Fireball
Ultima IX Incantation: Vas Flam Hur Reagents: BP, BM, MR, SA Circle: 3rd Ultima Underworld II Incantation: Por Flam Circle: 5th Mana: 15 Documented: yes Ultima VII Name: Fire Blast Incantation: Vas Flam Reagents: BP, SA Circle: 2nd Ultima Underworld Incantation: Por Flam Circle: 5th Mana: 15 Documented: yes Ultima VI Incantation: Por Flam Reagents: BP, SA Circle: 3rd Ultima V Name: Vas Flam Reagents: BP, SA Circle: 3rd Ultima IV Incantation: enemy's name Reagents: BP, SA Mana: 15 The Forge of Virtue Incantation: Vas Flam Reagents: unknown Circle: unknown

Fireball – also known as Fire Blast – is one of the most popular attack spells available.

Spell Description

While defensive magic is good and just in its own way, sometimes more direct action from the magic user is required. That is when a spell such as Fireball comes into play. Casting it hurls a flaming sphere of destruction at the caster's foes, setting them ablaze. Lesser foes are instantly killed, while stronger ones sustain serious injuries. Its low requirements make it a favorite attack spell of mages.

Explosion is a stronger version of this spell, while Cold Blast is its exact opposite. Both have their strengths, but do not manage to be as economical as the common Fireball.

History

Fireballs as a magical attack weapon proved to be quite popular very early on. During last Age of Darkness in Ultima III the spell Fulgar was that day's version of the Fireball, while the spell Noxum could even attack multiple enemies. With the establishment of Britannia, the spell was streamlined and eventually adapted to the the final system of magic in eight circles.

While fireball attacks were unknown on the Serpent Isle with it connection to cold attacks, on Pagan the sorcerers had the spell Flame Bolt, which in essence was their version of the Fireball spell.

Lore

“

When beset upon by evil, the spellcaster has many offensive tools at his or her disposal. We have discussed some of the indirect magics such as Energy Fields, but there are times when more direct action is required. There is a class of missile spells for such occasions, of which the Fireball spell is the intermediate one. All such spells call for the use of the precious Black Pearl for its power in the launching of projectiles. In the case of the Fireball, Sulphurous Ash is also called for in equal proportion, for its powers of fire-flash are integral to the creation of flaming missiles. Speak the name of your enemy when the spell is cast and your aim shall be unerring and your enemy will be devastated by the flames of the magical fires. – from The Book of Mystic Wisdom (Ultima IV)

“

Vas Flam effectively gathers a great ball of flame, which may then be hurled at a foe. A simple spell, the great advantage of Vas Flam is that, aimed accurately, it will surely hit its mark and, just as surely, inflict damage. Combine common sulphurous ash and a single black pearl over a hot flame. When the ash has adhered well to the pearl, remove it and store it until needed. Cast the talisman at a foe while uttering “Vas Flam” and a great flaming ball will smite him. – from The Book of Lore (Ultima V)

“	Hurls a mighty flaming missile at your opponent. – from Compendium (Ultima VI)

“	Hurls a mighty flaming missile at your opponent. – from Ultima Underworld Player's Guide (Ultima Underworld)

“	This spell causes great jets of flame to burst forth from the mage and strike his target. – from The Book of Fellowship (Ultima VII)

“	This spell hurls a flaming missile at an opponent. – from Ultima Underworld II Player's Guide (Ultima Underworld II)

“	Drawn from roiling fires deep beneath the soil, the energy of a Fireball spell can incinerate an unprotected foe. The primal magic herein requires no special aptitude to master. However, centuries of misbegotten campaigns have weeded many of those most susceptible to it. – from Spellbook (Ultima IX)

Ultima Saga

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This article or section is about the Ultima Saga series of novels. The information within may not apply to Ultima V or other Ultima games.

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In Lynn Abbey's Ultima Saga, the sorceress Meraise carries a staff that burns with a Vas Flam spell, illuminating the ground in front of her but only partially showing her face.

Trivia

• Using more black pearl than needed in Ultima IX can cause the spellbook of the mage to incinerate, as the mage Genser had learned the hard way at one time during his apprenticeship.

Gallery

• 

  Shooting a fireball in Ultima VII

• 

  Fireball impact in Ultima IX

See Also

• Explosion
• Cold Blast
• Fire Field
• Fire Ring
• Flame Strike
• Flame Wind
• Flame Bolt (U8)

References

Ultima V Spells
1st Circle	An Nox ☥ An Ylem ☥ An Zu ☥ Grav Por ☥ In Lor ☥ Mani
2nd Circle	An Sanct ☥ An Xen Corp ☥ In Wis ☥ In Xen Mani ☥ Kal Xen ☥ Rel Hur
3rd Circle	In Flam Grav ☥ In Nox Grav ☥ In Por ☥ In Zu Grav ☥ Vas Flam ☥ Vas Lor
4th Circle	An Grav ☥ Des Por ☥ In Sanct ☥ In Sanct Grav ☥ Uus Por ☥ Wis Quas
5th Circle	An Ex Por ☥ In Bet Xen ☥ In Ex Por ☥ In Zu ☥ Rel Tym ☥ Vas Mani
6th Circle	An Xen Ex ☥ In An ☥ In Vas Por Ylem ☥ Quas An Wis ☥ Rel Xen Bet ☥ Wis An Ylem
7th Circle	In Nox Hur ☥ In Quas Corp ☥ In Quas Wis ☥ In Quas Xen ☥ Sanct Lor ☥ Xen Corp
8th Circle	An Tym ☥ In Flam Hur ☥ In Mani Corp ☥ In Vas Grav Corp ☥ Kal Xen Corp ☥ Vas Rel Por

Ultima VI Spells
1st Circle	Create Food ☥ Detect Magic ☥ Detect Trap ☥ Dispel Magic ☥ Douse ☥ Harm ☥ Heal ☥ Help ☥ Ignite ☥ Light
2nd Circle	Infravision ☥ Magic Arrow ☥ Poison ☥ Reappear ☥ Sleep ☥ Telekinesis ☥ Trap ☥ Unlock Magic ☥ Untrap ☥ Vanish
3rd Circle	Curse ☥ Dispel Field ☥ Fireball ☥ Great Light ☥ Magic Lock ☥ Mass Awaken ☥ Mass Sleep ☥ Peer ☥ Protection ☥ Repel Undead
4th Circle	Animate ☥ Conjure ☥ Disable ☥ Fire Field ☥ Great Heal ☥ Locate ☥ Mass Dispel ☥ Poison Field ☥ Sleep Field ☥ Wind Change
5th Circle	Energy Field ☥ Explosion ☥ Insect Swarm ☥ Invisibility ☥ Lightning ☥ Paralyze ☥ Pickpocket ☥ Reveal ☥ Seance ☥ X-Ray
6th Circle	Charm ☥ Clone ☥ Confuse ☥ Flame Wind ☥ Hail Storm ☥ Mass Protect ☥ Negate Magic ☥ Poison Wind ☥ Replicate ☥ Web
7th Circle	Chain Bolt ☥ Enchant ☥ Energy Wind ☥ Fear ☥ Gate Travel ☥ Kill ☥ Mass Curse ☥ Mass Invisibility ☥ Wing Strike ☥ Wizard Eye
8th Circle	Armageddon ☥ Death Wind ☥ Eclipse ☥ Mass Charm ☥ Mass Kill ☥ Resurrect ☥ Slime ☥ Summon ☥ Time Stop ☥ Tremor

Ultima VII Spells
Linear	Awaken ☥ Douse ☥ Fireworks ☥ Glimmer ☥ Help ☥ Ignite ☥ Thunder ☥ Weather
1st Circle	Awaken All ☥ Create Food ☥ Cure ☥ Detect Trap ☥ Great Douse ☥ Great Ignite ☥ Light ☥ Locate
2nd Circle	Destroy Trap ☥ Enchant ☥ Fire Blast ☥ Great Light ☥ Mass Cure ☥ Protection ☥ Telekinesis ☥ Wizard Eye
3rd Circle	Curse ☥ Heal ☥ Paralyze ☥ Peer ☥ Poison ☥ Protect All ☥ Sleep ☥ Swarm
4th Circle	Conjure ☥ Lightning ☥ Mark ☥ Mass Curse ☥ Recall ☥ Reveal ☥ Seance ☥ Unlock Magic
5th Circle	Charm ☥ Dance ☥ Dispel Field ☥ Explosion ☥ Fire Field ☥ Great Heal ☥ Invisibility ☥ Mass Sleep
6th Circle	Cause Fear ☥ Clone ☥ Fire Ring ☥ Flame Strike ☥ Magic Storm ☥ Poison Field ☥ Sleep Field ☥ Tremor
7th Circle	Create Gold ☥ Death Bolt ☥ Delayed Blast ☥ Energy Field ☥ Energy Mist ☥ Mass Charm ☥ Mass Might ☥ Restoration
8th Circle	Armageddon ☥ Death Vortex ☥ Invisibility All ☥ Mass Death ☥ Resurrect ☥ Summon ☥ Swordstrike ☥ Time Stop

Ultima IX Spells
Linear	Stone ☥ Gust ☥ Ignite ☥ Douse
1st Circle	Create Reagents ☥ Lightning Bolt ☥ Light ☥ Light Heal
2nd Circle	Crystal Barrier ☥ Ethereal Sight ☥ Infernal Armor ☥ Cure
3rd Circle	Charm ☥ Telekinesis ☥ Fireball ☥ Fog
4th Circle	Time Stop ☥ Wizard Eye ☥ Day ☥ Freeze
5th Circle	Summon Undead ☥ Levitate ☥ Bolt of Flame ☥ Full Heal
6th Circle	Meteorite ☥ Invisibility ☥ Ring of Fire ☥ Mana Breath
7th Circle	Death ☥ Teleport ☥ Summon Demon ☥ Frost Storm
8th Circle	Earthquake ☥ Lightning Storm ☥ Inferno ☥ Searing Rain