Instant Death

Instant Death refers to any attack that automatically kills its victim regardless of Hit Points remaining. They are recurrent throughout the Final Fantasy games. Several bosses, including final bosses, are known to use instant death moves. The bosses include Astos, Chaos, Exdeath, and many others. Summons such as Odin, Gilgamesh, and Yojimbo also use Instant Kill attacks.

Some weapons deal damage and also have a chance of afflicting the Instant Death effect. The most common example of this is the recurring Assassin Dagger. In Final Fantasy X, the Support Abilities Deathtouch and Deathstrike can be manufactured onto a weapon which gives it the opportunity to inflict Instant Death. The Samurai abilities Shin-Zantetsu and Zantetsu in Final Fantasy X-2 are also instant death attacks. However, as with many instant death attacks, Shin-Zantetsu can be blocked with death immunity. Zantetsu cannot be blocked, but it can miss.

As with the use of light or holy spells such as Life, the effect of Instant Death is reversed for Zombies and the Undead. Using an Instant Death ability on the undead will cause it to be healed to full in the same way that using Life will cause it to die. Although in some games, such as Final Fantasy XII, the death status does not heal undead.

Certain spell effects, such as Matra Magic from Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift allow instant kills.

Appearances
The following are all moves that inflict Instant Death.

Final Fantasy IV
The Black Magic spell Death, instantly kills enemies.