[Esther]

Okay. So. We all know that tomes only lend their full (Power + Enchants + Upgrade Levels) to spells that "match their element," and half of that value to mismatched spells. What seems unclear is how those are actually defined.

What defines the 'element' of a tome? Is it the damage type dealt by its basic attacks? Is it the page type that it's made from? For example, will a Nerif Chapter Ampeol lend its full power to lightning spells (because all Ampeols deal lightning damage) or fire spells (because it's crafted with fire pages)?

Furthermore, what defines the 'element' of a spell? Is it the damage type dealt by the spell? Is it the spell's Arcana? For example, is Kel considered a "water spell" or an "Aquarian spell?" Do you need a water tome to fully empower it, or will a zeroraid work since both water and ice fall under the Acquarian arcana?

Lastly, what defines the 'element' of a spell with a split damage type, or a spell whose damage type does not match the assumption for its Arcana?

Is something like Fleeing Spectres / Ghostwind fully empowered by a fullgust, or a hymn? Or would it be fully empowered by either tome?

What about Star Stream? It deals Light damage but its Arcana is Sylphid. Is it fully empowered by a fullgust, or a chorus?

[Lolzytripd]

from what I've seen they only grant less of weapon power to non matching spells

they still Grant full weapon scaling to the spell.

[Esther]

I'm well aware of this. That's not the question I asked. (Power + Enchants + Upgrade Levels) refers to the "Power: " displayed on a given tome's examine window.

I want to know what properties of a given tome and a given spell are used to determine whether they 'match.'

[Blissey]

The basic damage type dealt by the tome regardless of chapter material; so yes, a Nerif Chapter Ampeol will lend its full power to lightning spells and will discount Nairifian spells, but not vice versa.

Also, the spell's Arcana is what defines what basic elemental damage type of a tome will boost what, even if it's split damage. Fleeing Spectres will be full-charged by a Fullgust and so on. Same for Star Stream, I presume.

[Neus]

There's no reason to flag posts that are on topic just because they might have misunderstood your original post. So please don't do that.

The element of the tome in regards to its Power benefits to a spell is the damage type it shows in the item description.

[Esther]

Mkay. And is Blissey correct about the spell's Arcana being what counts?

[Neus]

Yes.