Ruin (ability)

Ruin is a recurring ability, originating from Final Fantasy XIII. It has a stronger area-of-effect version called Ruinga.

Final Fantasy XIII
Ruin is an offensive spell that deals non-elemental damage used by the Commando. It costs one ATB gauge segment. The upgraded area-of-effect spell is Ruinga.

All characters are able to learn Ruin:
 * Lightning at Stage 1.
 * Sazh at Stage 3.
 * Snow at Stage 1.
 * Vanille at Stage 7.
 * Hope at Stage 7.
 * Fang at Stage 5.

Commandos deal slightly more damage with melee than with magic if their strength and magic stats are equal, which is why when attacking a solitary target, the AI controlled Commando will always favor Attack over Ruin unless the opponent is more resistant to physical attacks than to magic. If the target's physical and magical vulnerabilities are not currently known, the Commando will always use Ruin first, then the remaining commands will be Attack. The exception is if the Commando has a significantly higher magic stat than strength, like Hope, Attack will be the first move followed by Ruin.

Final Fantasy XIII-2
Ruin returns as a Commando spell in Final Fantasy XIII-2. It costs one ATB gauge and deals magic damage to the target.

Serah Farron and Noel Kreiss learn it at Role Level 2, which is initial Role Level for both of them. Also, all Commando monsters know Ruin by default.

Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy
Ruin is a midair Bravery attack for Lightning, usable in the Commando role in Dissidia 012. It is learned at level 6 and costs 20 CP to equip, 10 CP when mastered, and mastering it requires 80 AP. It is a ranged low magical attack which may initiate the Chase sequence.

Trivia

 * While Ruin is a non-elemental magic attack, if a character using it has been given any of the Synergist's "En—" spells, then Ruin will carry that elemental effect as well.