Limit breaks, or "desperation attacks," are special skills unique to each member of the party. They can have a variety of effects, be it to destroy the enemy or to help their friends, and are a valuable asset in the heat of battle. Limit Breaks work on the principle of desperation; the worse off a character is, the more likely they will be able to use one. The most important aspect in triggering a Limit Break is that character's HP. If it drops below 1/3 of their maximum, they have a chance of using their special skill. Other contributing factors include whether one or both of their allies are KOed, and any status ailments they themselves may be suffering. Limit Breaks are also much more common under the Aura status, during which they will glow a pleasant gold.
If a character is able to perform a Limit Break skill, a small chevron will appear to the right of the Attack command. If they are desperate but unable to Limit Break, skipping their turn may result in the appearance of the chevron. To help you when rapidly skipping multiple turns in the heat of battle, they will make a higher selection sound when they are ready to perform. Once the chevron appears, moving to the right of the Attack command reveals their skill.
As Limit Breaks rely on current conditions rather than a special "limit gauge," it is perfectly possible to perform them for a number of successive turns. This makes combat much easier, but maintaining a desperate status is a very risky business.
| Limit Breaks | |
|---|---|
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Renzokuken Squall Leonhart |
Devastating multi-hit attacks from the master of the gunblade, capable of dealing up to eight strikes against an unfortunate foe. Additional finishing touches can raise the damage count even higher. | |
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Slot Selphie Tilmitt |
Randomly-determined magic attacks without the use of her stock. Anything from Silence to Haste to Ultima may be on the cards, but finding the skill you require is a risky business. Selphie also commands four magics unique to her, capable of finishing any battle. | |
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Combine Rinoa Heartilly |
Teams up with her dog Angelo to perform a variety of tricks, including healing the party and finding rare items. Additionally, Angelo may attack independently when Rinoa is in trouble. A second limit break, Angel Wing, becomes available in disc 3. | |
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Shot Irvine Kinneas |
Gun-slinging quick-firing Irvine uses various types of ammunition to decimate the enemy party, unleashing multiple attacks at once and inflicting status ailments or penetrating defences as appropriate. | |
