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Barta or Wat (Japanese: バータ, likely the Dutch word Water) is a basic damage technique/spell common to Phantasy Star games.

Etymology[]

Psiii wat

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 gratuitous words from other languages such as German: saner/schneller (faster), deband/D-Wand (D-Wall), foie/Feuer (fire), etc.

In this vein, the "B" sound -- which in Japanese is also often used for the English "V" sound (similarly to how "R" and "L" are used interchangeably) -- in "baata" is likely a Japanese approximation of a German or Dutch W, which in those languages is pronounced like an English "V"; as in デンド/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).

Kara casting "Foie" (Feuer)

Kara casting "Foie" (Feuer)

Artwork for Phantasy Star III included English text that romanized バータ/baata as "Wata" (though to be fair, 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 (and the PS III group also did not originally create the Feuer/foie spell) 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" or "V" sounds, even by accident.

Phantasy Star series[]

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.

Phantasy Star Online Episodes 1, 2, & 4
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
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
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