Knockback (term)

Knockback is a phenomenon which appears in several games in the Final Fantasy series. As the name suggests, the effect involves knocking an enemy back with an attack. This may be part of an offensive ability, or as part of a counter ability.

Final Fantasy XI
Certain monster abilities, Blue Magic spells, and Blood Pacts may push a target back. This will interrupt any spell casting, and can be hazardous depending on the environment.

Final Fantasy XII
All normal attacks with a weapon has a chance of knocking back a weak enemy a short distance and also temporarily stunning them. Big enemies are immune to this effect, as are all bosses. All player characters can be knocked back, and when this happens, the counter-attack never activates.


 * Knock Back Chance (%) = Weapon's Knock Back (KB) + RANDOM(0 ~ A's Lv) - RANDOM(0 ~ D's Lv)


 * A = Attacker
 * D = Defender

Because knockback only affects the weak enemies, it is basically a useless factor when choosing a weapon.
 * Exception: Sword of Kings, Treaty Blade (KB = 0)

When an enemy is killed during a knockback a different animation is used where the enemy is knocked further back than normal.

Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
The Yarhi Odin can knock multiple enemies back at once.

Final Fantasy Tactics
In Final Fantasy Tactics, certain attacks, such as the Squire ability Rush or throw a stone, will occasionally cause the enemy to be driven back a square. Critical attacks may also result in the same effect. If an enemy falls a significant distance due to a knockback, they will incur extra damage and are unable to counter-attack with short range weapons.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
In Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, certain attacks such as the Fighter ability Rush will occasionally cause the enemy to be driven back a square. Critical attacks may also cause the same effect. If an enemy (or ally) falls a significant distance, they will incur extra damage. Enemies cannot be knocked back uphill, or into anything they normally could not stop moving on (such as another character or the Judge).

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
In Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift, certain attacks such as the Fighter ability Rush will occasionally cause the enemy to be driven back a square. Critical attacks may also cause the same effect. If an enemy falls a significant distance due to a knockback, they will incur extra damage. Flying units such as Gria, are immune to falling damage as they can use their wings to slow their descent.