Paradigm

A Paradigm (Japanese: オプティマ, Optima) is a combination of one to three Roles in Final Fantasy XIII. The player can preset up to a maximum of six Paradigms when outside battle. During battle the player can freely switch between the preset Paradigms using the L1 button, and this is known as a Paradigm Shift (Japanese: オプティマチェンジ Optima Change). If used properly, Paradigms may help the player by ending the battle sooner, resulting in the TP gauge filling up faster and a higher chance for enemies to drop materials.

Role
Roles (ロール, Rōru) are a gameplay element unique to Final Fantasy XIII. The system is akin to past Final Fantasy Job Systems, however major changes have been made so that each role resembles a mix of different Jobs. Names have been changed between the English and the Japanese releases.


 * Commando (COM) / Attacker (ATK)
 * Ravager (RAV) / Blaster (BLA)
 * Sentinel (SEN) / Defender (DEF)
 * Saboteur (SAB) / Jammer (JAM)
 * Synergist (SYN) / Enhancer (ENH)
 * Medic (MED) / Healer (HLR)

Setting each Role to a character is made by default, although after one point, the player can freely switch between Roles for each character outside of battle.

Settings
With six Roles and three maximum playable party members, it is possible to set up to 83 Paradigms. Possibilities are shown in the table below.

''Note: Names shown in brackets are direct translations from Japanese. ???? means the paradigm's official English name has not been released.''

Confirmed Paradigms
Several paradigms were confirmed, either on screenshots or in trailers. These are:
 * Aggression
 * All for One
 * Dualcasting
 * Overwhelm
 * Peacemaker
 * Relentless Assault
 * Slash & Burn
 * The Ettin
 * Decimation
 * Smart Bomb
 * Delta Attack
 * Supersoldier
 * Tri-disaster
 * Tireless Charge
 * Vanguard
 * Guerilla
 * Cerberus
 * Ruthless
 * Entourage
 * Hero's Charge

Trivia

 * Some of the Paradigms in both, Japanese and English versions, are refering to various terms of Final Fantasy, e.g.: Delta Attack (both) refers to signature attack of Magus Sisters, Tri-disaster (both) refers to another ability of the same name of multiple elemetal damage, Dualcasting (EN) to ability to cast two magic spells at row, Mighty Guard (JP) to magic that grants positive status effects on the target, White Wind (JP) to spell restoring certain amount of HP, as well, removes negative status effects.

Etymology
A paradigm shift describes a fundamental change in ideology, usually in the field of science. For example, Darwin's theory of evolution replacing Lamark's theories and creationism is a paradigm shift.