Barta or Wat (Japanese: バータ, likely meant to be the Dutch word Water) is a basic damage technique/spell common to Phantasy Star games. From Phantasy Star IV onward, the tech is frequently associated with the dual elements of water and ice.
Etymology[]
Thea casting "Wata" (Water?)
In Japanese, バータ is pronounced "baata" and has been — whether correctly or incorrectly — localized as Barta in Phantasy Star Online. Japanese versions of Phantasy Star games have a tendency to include loanwords from other languages in their spell and ability names, such as German: saner/schneller ("faster"), deband/D-Wand ("D-Wall"), foie/Feuer ("fire"), etc.
With this in mind, the "B" sound — which in Japanese is often considered interchangable with the English "V" sound (similar to R and L) — in "baata" is likely meant to be the German or Dutch W (which in those languages is pronounced like the English "V"), as in デバンド/deband = D-Wand. If this is the case, "Barta" would likely more accurately be translated as Water (the Dutch version of the word, with a "V" sound) and not the German Wasser.
.png){kind=link}
Kara casting "Foie" (Feuer)
Artwork for Phantasy Star III included English text that romanized バータ/baata as "Wata" (though this isn't foolproof, as another piece of artwork for the game romanized the spell Feuer as "Foie"). As that game was the first appearance of バータ/baata and was made by a different group than PS I, II or IV, it's very likely the "W" in the artwork was intentional, whether or not the "-ata" after it was correctly romanized: unless intentionally referring to a specific non-English word, it's highly uncommon for Japanese games to use a "W" for the B/V sounds, even by accident.
Phantasy Star series[]
Phantasy Star III[]
The offensive technique in Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom that was called Tsu in the English language version of the game is actually Barta when translated from the original Japanese. It will be referred to its misnomer "Tsu" in this paragraph in order to be less confusing to the reader. For information on the unrelated technique this spell was named mistakenly after in the localization, see Tsu.
In Phantasy Star III, Tsu is a part of the Melee techniques set, and thus costs 2 TP to cast. It deals damage to an entire side of enemies in the front and back rows. Power is determined by technique's level, which can be altered in Technique Distribution shops.
Wren, Lyle, Thea, Kara (fighter version), and Sean are the only player characters who can use Tsu.
Phantasy Star IV[]
In Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium, wat costs 4 TP to cast. It deals ice damage to a single enemy equal to 32 plus the caster's mental stat, modified by the enemy's ice sensitivity and mental defense stat. Caterpillars, sand worms, and enemies in the valley maze and Tonoe warehouse basement are among the monsters especially sensitive to ice damage.
Wat can be combined with a zan type technique or a hewn skill in any order to do a blizzard combo, or with a foi technique and Chaz's tsu technique in any order to do a triblaster combo, or followed by a tandle skill to do a conduct thunder combo.
Hahn and Rune are the only player characters who can use wat. Hahn learns wat at level 3. Rune already knows wat when he joins the party.
Phantasy Star Online series[]
Phantasy Star Online[]
Barta is the most fundamental technique of ice, and is one of the three basic offensive techniques. When cast, a river of ice flows out from the caster's hand/weapon and travels straight forward along the ground, damaging anything in its path. Higher levels of barta increase the damage dealt, the speed the ice travels, and the amount of time it travels.
Barta takes on three appearances depending on the level. Barta levels up to 15, which can be cast by the HUmar, and RAmar appear as a stream of concentrated icy steam. Barta levels 16 to 25, appear as streams of ice with icy spines as they are travel and the sound effect for the spell is slightly lower in pitch. HUnewearls and RAmarls can cast barta up to level 20, achieving this appearance. Barta levels 26 to 30 have even higher icy stalactites, and spray icy debris as they travel and the pitch for the sound effect is even lower. Forces alone can achieve these levels.
Barta is a non-targeted technique (meaning it does not require a target to have any effect), but it is easier to aim with a target. Barta is also the only basic technique with the capability of damaging multiple targets.
Ice Staff:Dagon and Blue Merges boost all Barta techniques by 20% when equipped. Barta Merges and Maces of Adamant boost barta by 30%. FOnewearls get a 30% boost to barta, except in the Dreamcast versions.
The Hildeblue's Head's special attack is barta. It also boosts barta by 40% when equipped. The special attack of the Technical crozier is also barta. One of the three randomized techniques generated by the special attack of the psycho wand is barta.
Phantasy Star Online 2[]
- Main article: Barta (Phantasy Star Online 2)
Barta is an ice elemental damage technique in Phantasy Star Online 2. Only characters with force or techter as their current class or sub-class can use techniques.
Quotes[]
| Successors of Time: Phantasy Star III Japanese manual, page 40 | |
| Barta
|
〈バータ〉
|
| Phantasy Star III: Successors of Time Official Guidebook, page 82 | |
| Barta
|
バータ
|
| Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom English manual, page 21 | |
| Tsu: Strong currents of water pierce the enemies. Can be used to attack Groups A and C or Groups B or D. | |
| Character Classes | HUmar - HUnewearl - HUcast - HUcaseal - RAmar - RAmarl - RAcast - RAcaseal - FOmar - FOmarl - FOnewm - FOnewearl |
|---|---|
| Important Characters | Alicia Baz - Ash - Bernie - Calus - Elenor Camuel - Elly Person - Heathcliff Flowen - Kireek - Montague - Red Ring Rico - Rupika - Sue - Ult Camuel |
| Locations | Pioneer II - Forest - Caves - Mines - Ruins The Lab - VR Temple - VR Spaceship - Central Control Area - Seabed Crater - Subterranean Desert |
| Weapons | Sabers - Swords - Daggers - Partisans - Slicers - Handguns - Rifles - Mechguns - Shots - Canes - Wands - Rods Katanas - Claws - Double Sabers - Twin Swords - Fists - Launchers - Cards |
| Items | Weapons - Frames & Armour - Units - Barriers & Shields - Mags - Support Items |
| Techniques | Foie - Zonde - Barta - Gifoie - Gizonde - Gibarta - Rafoie - Razonde - Rabarta - Grants - Megid Resta - Anti - Reverser - Shifta - Deband - Jellen - Zalure - Ryuker |