Attack formations

Attack formations are the types of attacks that a battle can begin with. Usually they involve who gets to strike first.
 * Normal formation: Characters and opponents have an equal shot at getting to go first.
 * Preemptive attack: The player party gets to strike the enemy first, and the characters' ATB gauges always start filled up. In later titles the monsters would also face away from the party members, allowing physical attacks do deal double damage for one turn.
 * Surprise attack: The enemy gets a chance to strike the party first, and the party's ATB gauges always start empty.
 * Back attack: This is similar to the surprise attack, however, the party is attacked from behind, and each character is in the opposite row which he or she normally is in. For example, a physical fighter in the front row would be placed in the back row.
 * Side attack: In this formation, the party surrounds the enemy, with two party members lining up on each side of the battle screen (or two and one if there is a three-character party). Any party member who hits an enemy with a physical attack while its back is turned deals double damage.  Most spells that target all allies will only target allies on the same side of the battlefield.  All chacters' ATB gauges start filled up.  Some fights, such as the Goddess in Final Fantasy VI, are always side attacks.
 * Pincer attack: This is similar to the side attack, however, the party is surrounded by the opponents, and all characters' ATB gauges start out empty. Any character physically struck from behind takes double damage, and spells that usually affect all opponents only affect those on one side of the battlefield.  Some fights, such as the Cranes in Final Fantasy VI, are always pincer attacks.