Whirlwind Psynergy series

Whirlwind, Tornado, and Tempest are a series of Jupiter attack Psynergy featured throughout the Golden Sun series. It is available to the Wind Seer class series and the Beastling class series. Hence, Ivan, Sheba, Karis, and Sveta can use this series of Psynergy. Karis also knows Whirlwind regardless of class.

This Psynergy series is nearly identical to the Gale Psynergy series in the GBA games. While still similar in Golden Sun: Dark Dawn, the two series now posses distinct visuals.



Psynergy spells
Whirlwind: "Attack with a swirling tornado." (GS/TLA); "Blow away objects and foes with a tornado" (DD): This costs 5 Psynergy Points, has a base power of 20, and has a range of three targets. A large whirlwind with minor electric charges spins through the enemy party. Whirlwind is also a Psynergy that can be used in the field. It can be used to blow away suspicious, small bushes of leaves and influence ivy and activate whirlwind monuments in Air's Rock and Shaman Village. It is available at level 1. In terms of the storyline, the werewolves of Garoh possess this power.

Tornado: "Attack with a mighty tornado." (GS/TLA); "Strike with a mighty tornado" (DD): This costs 14 Psynergy Points, has a base power of 80, and has a range of five targets. Two large whirlwinds with minor electric charges spin through the enemy party. It is available at level 18.

Tempest: "Attack with a fearsome windstorm." (GS/TLA); "Strike with a fearsome wind storm" (DD): This costs 27 Psynergy Points, has a base power of 160, and has a range of five targets. Four large whirlwinds with minor electric charges spin through the enemy party. It is available at level 44.

Analysis
As an early game Psynergy, Whirlwind is rather effective, being both cheap and powerful. However, it may be seen as immediately obsoleted by the more powerful and cost-efficient Ray. In addition, Plasma deals more damage than Ray for only a small increase in cost and hence may see more use once level 8 is reached. As the game progresses, Tornado and Tempest remain rather cost-effective, being a middle ground between the cheap, but relatively weak Ray Psynergy series and the powerful, but much more expensive Plasma Psynergy series.

In Dark Dawn, Tornado and Tempest are Karis's only offensive choices other than the Plasma series. Sveta also learns the series in her base class. Whirlwind will initially be weaker than both Ray and Slash. However, Tornado and Tempest will be stronger than their counterparts, with Tempest being her strongest offensive Psynergy.

Whirlwind as a Utility Psynergy
Whirlwind can be used in the field as a Utility Psynergy that removes plantlike obstacles such as small bushes that impede the player's path; this is integral to many puzzles in both games, enough that the Jupiter Adepts, Ivan and Sheba, should be kept in their default Wind Seer class series so that the Psynergy is available. In The Lost Age, casting Whirlwind on Wind Stones at Air's Rock allows the stone to strengthen Whirlwind, causing a variety of effects.

In Dark Dawn, Karis will know Whirlwind regardless of her class, so the player can be more varied with her classes. Whirlwind is changed so that it can now be shot at a target from a distance, and can be aimed in any direction in a 360 degree radius. It also has many more uses. Whirlwind can push the player back, which is useful for controlling rafts; the player simply shoots Whirlwind in the direction opposite of where they want to travel. It is also used to make small fans spin and to change the direction of large arrows; both objects can affect parts of the surrounding landscape. Finally, casting Whirlwind on Zol blocks causes the blocks to hover in the air for a short period of time. In the Belinsk Ruins, Whirlwind is used in several puzzles as the embodiment of Jupiter.

Like all the battle forms of this Psynergy series, Whirlwind has a near-identical utility counterpart in Gale of the Gale Psynergy series.