Black Mage (くろまじゅつし, Kuromajutsushi, lit. Black Magician) is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Infinite Beyond. He was officially revealed during a Nintendo Direct, releasing during the Festival of Fantasy Rebirth. Black Mage is classified as Fighter #139.
As his alternate costume Vivi Ornitier, hailing from Final Fantasy IX, Kath Soucie reprises her role in international versions of the game while Ikue Otani once more reprises her role in Japanese versions of the game.
Black Mage casts Bio which is a sphere that appears about one Bowser body away. It will expand until it stops expanding and anyone who enters its field will instantly begin to take damage with 1.4% damage per second. This has a lingering effect as it will continue to effect the opponent; especially if they are at higher damages. Black Mage can hold and charge the attack to expand it even further to increase its range by .1% damage reduction penalty the longer it is charged. The furthest it can be charged is 4 1/2 Bowser bodies which would quate to about .7damage per second. It costs 30 MP to cast.
Side Special
Quake
Black Mage will cast Quake, a forwards-traveling burst of magic that deals 11.5% damage and leaves behind a fissure that reduces foe's movement speed to 0.75x and sinks any foe standing on it by half their body height. The magic burst itself also inflicts some medium-high knockback and the fissure lasts about 8 seconds. Using Quake again will result in the previous fissure vanishing instantly. If used in the air, the magic orb, the size of a Poison Mushroom'd Kirby, will instead fall downwards and spike on hit. It costs 20 MP to cast.
Up Special
Warp
Black Mage creates a magic circle that he can control and place anywhere on the battlefield. Additionally, Black Mage has his own magic circle beneath him. By teleporting to the magic circle he was controlling, Black Mage can quickly reposition himself. This attack does not deal any damage. It costs 10 MP to cast.
Down Special
Meteor
Black Mage summons forth a Meteor which takes roughly 10 seconds to spawn and crash down to the stage, It has a meteor spike element to it against aerial opponents. When it makes contact with the ground, it explodes dealing Fire-damage and splash damage to those around the impact site. It costs 60 MP to cast.
Black Mage flies off to the right side and raises their hand which causes a blue sphere to appear and, like a Smart Bomb, begins expanding outwards in a radial outreach that catches and loops opponents into it. It will deal multiple hits of damage as it expands outward; taking up almost the entire Final Destination stage before launching the opponents. Vivi has a differently named Final Smash called Doomsdsay. Vivi transforms into his "Trance Form". It functions the same as Ultimate but has a slight start-up lag delay due to Vivi summoning in a meteor and it exploding. This changes the Ultimate from a bright blue explosion to that of a red explosion.
Taunts[]
Up Taunt: Black Mage hoists his hands into the air which causes an orb of magic to appear; similar to his casting animations in older Final Fantasy games.
Down Taunt: Black Mage vanishes in a swirl of magic
Right Taunt: Black Mage raises a hand and channels his magic, making the image of a clock that goes either fast or slow, referencing the Haste and Slow spells he can learn.
Left Taunt: Black Mage raises a hand and channels his magic, making the image of a clock that goes either fast or slow, referencing the Haste and Slow spells he can learn.
On-Screen Appearance[]
The character selection screen from Final Fantasy I appears that has the playable classes appears. The "player" chooses Black Mage.who then jumps out of the character selection screen.
Idle Poses[]
Black Mage tips their hat.
Black Mage levitates their staff in front of them and causes it to twirl.
Victory Poses[]
The Black Mage will be standing in front of two Goblins from the original game and he will do a small victory dance. Based on when you win a battle in Final Fantasy I.
Black Mage holds out his arms and hoists them up in the air. Based on his victory appearance in Final Fantasy III.
Black Mage will stand on one foot and will twirl their staff before planting the end of the staff onto the ground. Based from Vivi's victory pose from Final Fantasy IX.
Classic Mode Route: The Final Fantasy[]
All battles are 3 on 3 battles with the enemies being the same and based on enemies found in the first three Final Fantasy games. The player is teamed up with two other characters who fulfill certain classes found in the Final Fantasy series.
Round
Opponent
Stage
Music
Notes
References
1
Golden Plains (Omega)
The enemies comes equipped with a Beam Saber. and Black are allies and represents the Warrior and Thief classes.
Yoshi represents the Goblin enemies, one of the first and weakest enemies found in the original game. Golden Plains represents Cornelia.
2
Green
Pirate Ship
Blue and RedRobin are allies and represents the Monk and Red Mage classes.
Squirtle represents the Sahagin enemies while Pirate Ship represents where they are found.
3
Black
Dracula's Castle
White and Blue are allies and represents the White Mage and Blue Mage classes.
Bowser represents the Ogre enemy found in Final Fantasy II.
Black Shiek and GreenByleth are allies and represents the Ninja and Ranger classes.
Zombie represents the reoccurring enemy Malboro; particularly from Final Fantasy II.
5
Yellow
Unova Pokemon League (Battlefield)
Black Nightmare and Blue are allies and represents the Black Knight and Summoner job classes.
Wolf represents the Werewolf enemy from Final Fantasy III.
6
Yellow
Ostrheinsburg Chapel
and Black Bandana are allies and represents the Geomancer and Dragoon classes.
Meta Knight represents the iconic enemy/boss Ahriman; particularly from Final Fantasy III.
BONUS
Race to the Finish
FINAL
Behemoth
Behemoth Arena
and Black return as allies and represents the Warrior and Thief classes but are given 99% damage making them easily KO'able.
In competitive play[]
To be added
Palette Swaps[]
Dark Blue
Based on Black Mage's depictions in earlier Final Fantasy series.
White
Based on the coloration of the White Mage, a magical class in Final Fantasy.
Red
Based on the coloration of the White Mage, a magical class in Final Fantasy.
Gray
Based on the coloration of the Illusionist, a magical class in Final Fantasy.
Pink
Based on the coloration of the Time Mage, a magical class in Final Fantasy.
Green
Based on the coloration of the Green Mage as well as the Summoner, a magical classes in Final Fantasy.
Light Blue
Black Mage's alternate costume, Vivi, from Final Fantasy IX who is based largely off on the Black Mage but with a revamped design.
Turquoise
Based on Vivi's party mate, Zidane Tribal who is the hero of Final Fantasy IX.
Yellow
Based on Vivi's party member Garnet/Dagger from Final Fantasy IX.
Scarlet
Based on Vivi's party member Freya from Final Fantasy IX.
Gray
Based on Vivi's party member Steiner from Final Fantasy IX.
White
Based on Vivi's appearance while in Trance from Final Fantasy IX which is also the model used in Black Mage's Final Smash.
Trivia[]
Black Mage is the first fighter to have a fully-voiced alternate costume in Vivi, as otherwise he is silent.
Black Mage is the second fighter to be referred to by title as opposed to an actual name, after Hero. Sakurai brings this up with the Final Fantasy I * II * III: Memory of Heroes novelization naming Black Mage "Teol".
and Black 
are allies and represents the Warrior and Thief classes.
and Red Robin are allies and represents the Monk and Red Mage classes.
and Blue 
are allies and represents the White Mage and Blue Mage classes.
are allies and represents the Black Knight and Summoner job classes.
and Black Bandana are allies and represents the Geomancer and Dragoon classes.
