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- For videos, see: Band (The After Years)/Videos
A Band is a type of powerful multi-person technique. You cannot perform a Band with someone unless you have some kind of bond with that person.
Band (バンド, Bando?) is a gameplay term in Final Fantasy IV: The After Years. They are special combination attacks between two or more characters, activated at the cost of some MP, and can either grant beneficial effects to the party or strike enemies with a powerful attack or spell.
Overview
Some Bands are learned in accordance with a story event, while others are learned by the player manually inputting commands in battle to discover them. Within the story, Band abilities can only be performed between characters with a deep bond, such as friendship or relatives. The powers of the Bands usually reflect the characters using them and the bond that allows them to Band.
To discover a Band that does not require a story event to be accessed, the player selects the Band command, then "Search for Bands." The player then inputs the proper commands from party members to combine powers (for example, Cecil's Attack and Rosa's White Magic), and executes the Band. If the correct abilities have been combined, the appropriate Band will activate. The character whose turn it is does not need to input a command. The first time a Band is used this way, it costs no MP. After a Band is discovered (by searching for it or through a story event), it will appear in the Band menu and can be selected to execute without having to input commands. This feature does not exist in the 3D versions of the game.
When a Band attack is issued, if one of the characters involved in the Band does not have their ATB gauge charged yet, the Band will not begin to charge and execute until the gauge is filled. Bands have various ways to calculate damage—they can be either physical or magical, can hit multiple targets or just one, and some deal elemental damage. Band abilities take into account the Moon Phase and its effects on the commands the Band's power relies on. For example, during the Waning Moon, Bands that incorporate a character's Attack strength into their damage will be stronger, and Bands that use special commands will be weaker. Bands are generally extremely powerful, and several can exceed the damage limit to do 10,000 damage or greater.
Offensive Bands override the element(s) of a participant's equipped weapon (ie. if using a non-elemental Band that involves weapon contact, such as Vibra Plus, while wielding elemental weapons against an enemy that would normally resist or absorb said element, it would deal regular damage instead of reduced damage).
In the Android and iOS version, Bands are already listed for every character. While there are Bands that are learned in accordance with story events, all other Bands are learned by fighting a certain number of battles. Known Bands level up in the same manner. Bands will only level up or be learned if the characters involved in the Band are in the active party.
List of Band abilities
Ceodore's Tale
Band | Members | MP | Description | Image (iOS) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Vibra Edge | Biggs (Attack) Wedge (Attack) |
7 | Attack all enemies. Damage depends on Biggs and Wedge's Attack. |
|
Holy Blade | Cecil (Attack) Rosa (White Magic) |
15 | Slice a single enemy with a sword wreathed in holy power. Damage depends on Cecil's Attack. |
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Machine Break | Cecil (Attack) Cid (Analyze) |
7 | Cause massive damage to machine-type enemies. Damage depends on Cecil's Attack. |
|
Cross Slash | Ceodore (Event) Hooded Man (Event) |
7 | Slice through a single enemy. Damage depends on Attack of both. |
Gallery
- Wii version
- PSP version
Rydia's Tale
Band | Members | MP | Description | Image (iOS) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lightning Brain Buster | Rydia (Black Magic) Luca (Attack) |
7 | Send a head-busting lightning-charged strike towards an enemy. Damage depends on Luca's Attack. |
|
Calca and Brina | Calca (Jive) Brina (Dance) |
10 | Combine the power of Calca and Brina to cast a random spell. May do fire, ice or lightning elemental damage to all enemies, may attack one enemy, may recover party's HP, or may use Self-Destruct to kill both dolls and damage all enemies equal to their MP. 18% chance of all results except Self Destruct, which has 10% chance of occurring. Elemental damage depends on Calca's Jive, healing depends on Brina's Dance. Physical attack damage depends on Attack of both. |
|
Go! Calcabrina! | Luca (Analyze) Calca (Jive) Brina (Dance) |
10 | Attack all enemies with fire and lightning. Damage depends on Luca's Attack and Calca's Jive. |
Gallery
- Wii version
- PSP version
Yang's Tale
Band | Members | MP | Description | Image (iOS) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Five Star Crimson Palm | Yang (Attack) Ursula (Tenketsu) |
9 | A powerful, calculated strike against a single enemy. Inflicts Slow. Has a chance to inflict Instant Death. Damage depends on Yang's Attack and Ursula's Tenketsu. |
|
Twin Wing Frenzy | Yang (Event) Ursula (Event) |
6 | Strike at a single enemy with a pincer attack. Damage depends on Kick of both. |
Gallery
- Wii version
- PSP version
Palom's Tale
Band | Members | MP | Description | Image (iOS) |
---|---|---|---|---|
A Little Black Magic | Palom (Bluff) Leonora (Black Magic) |
10 | Practice some black magic. Randomly uses a Fire, Blizzard, or Thunder spell of any of the four levels of power (Fire? up to Firaga, etc). 50% of level one spell, 30% chance of level two, 15% chance of level three, 5% chance of level four. Damage depends on Leonora's Intellect and the black magic. |
|
Particle Bomb | Palom (Event) Leonora (Event) |
20 | Deal massive non-elemental damage to a single enemy. Damage depends on the intellect and the black magic of both. |
Gallery
- Wii version
- PSP version
Edge's Tale
Band | Members | MP | Description | Image (iOS) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Blazing Moon Ring | Edge (Ninjutsu) Gekkou (Shuriken) |
7 | A blazing body slam against a single enemy. Damage depends on Gekkou's Shuriken. |
|
Frozen Moon Dance | Edge (Attack) Izayoi (Ninjutsu) |
8 | Freeze then shatter a single enemy. Damage depends on Attack and Ninjutsu of both. |
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Wild Moon | Edge (Attack) Tsukinowa (Attack) |
12 | Attack all enemies. Damage depends on Attack of both. |
|
Gale Twin Break | Edge (Ninjutsu) Zangetsu (Human Kite) |
14 | An aerial attack against all enemies. Damage depends on Edge's Ninjutsu and Zangetsu's Human Kite. |
|
Phantom Lightflies | Gekkou (Ninjutsu) Izayoi (Illusions) |
9 | Restore party HP and cure some status ailments. HP restored grows greater as Gekkou and Izayoi have less HP. |
|
Gale Rush | Zangetsu (Ninjutsu) Tsukinowa (Ninjutsu) |
12 | Casts Haste on the party. | |
Wheel of Elements | Gekkou (Ninjutsu) Izayoi (Ninjutsu) Zangetsu (Ninjutsu) Tsukinowa (Ninjutsu) |
15 | Attack all enemies with fire, ice, and lightning. Damage depends on Ninjutsu of all four. |
|
Ultimate Art: Advent of Phoenix | Edge (Mug) Gekkou (Shuriken) Izayoi (Illusions) Zangetsu (Human Kite) Tsukinowa (Steal) |
20 | Attack all enemies with fire. Damage increases the lower the party's HP is in relation to their max HP. Can break damage limit. |
Gallery
- Wii version
- PSP version
Porom's Tale
Band | Members | MP | Description | Image (iOS) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Twincast | Palom (Young) Porom (Young) (Default) |
20 | Cast a spell together for great power. 40% chance of Pyroblast, 60% chance of Comet. Damage depends on Palom's intellect and the Black Magic. |
|
Thunderstorm | Rydia (Black Magic) Palom (Black Magic) |
25 | A magical ice and lightning attack that targets all enemies.
Hits from one to three times at random enemies. In the 2D versions, this band must be relearned in the Final Tale. However in the 3D remake, it carries over from Porom's Tale to the Final Tale. |
Gallery
- Wii version
- PSP version
Edward's Tale
Band | Members | MP | Description | Image (iOS) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Feast of the Land | Edward (Bardsong) Harley (Gil Toss) |
20 | Restore party HP and certain status ailments. Amount of HP healed depends on Edward's Intellect, Harley's level, the player's current gil, and the number of living party members. Removes Sleep, Poison, Pig, Mini, Toad, Silence, Confuse, Berserk, Blind, Paralyze and Curse. |
Gallery
- Wii version
- PSP version
Kain's Tale
Band | Members | MP | Description | Image (iOS) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cross Slash Prime | Ceodore (Attack) Kain (Attack) |
20 | Slice through a single enemy together. Damage depends on Attack of both. | |
Saint Dive | Rosa (White Magic) Kain (Jump) |
30 | Attack all enemies with divine wrath. Damage depends on Kain's Jump and Rosa's spirit and White Magic. | |
X Chaser | Rosa (Aim) Cid (Analyze) |
12 | Critically strike a single enemy, possibly inflicting Instant Death. Damage depends on Rosa's Aim and Cid's Attack. 75% chance of inflicting Instant Death. | |
Divine Heal | Rosa (Blessing) Ceodore (White Magic) |
28 | Cast White Magic on party, effect depends on the phase of the moon. Possible spells include Curaga and Shell (Full Moon), Curaga and Protect (Waning Moon), Curaga and Esuna (New Moon), or Curaja (Waxing Moon). |
|
Rocket Launcher | Cid (Analyze) Ceodore (Attack) |
12 | Enchant weapons with fire to attack the enemy. Damage depends on Attack of both. | |
Aiming Trust | Kain (Jump) Cid (Analyze) |
12 | Set your sights on one enemy and punch through it. Damage depends on Kain's Attack. Always inflicts Instant Death on non-immune enemies. |
Gallery
- Wii version
- PSP version
The Lunarian's Tale
Band | Members | MP | Description | Image (iOS) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Double Black Magic | Golbez (Event) Fusoya (Event) |
30 | Cast a powerful black magic spell together. 30% chance of Twin Firaga, Twin Blizzaga or Twin Thundaga. 10% chance of Twin Meteor. Damage depends on the intellect and Black Magic of both. |
Gallery
- Wii version
- PSP version
The Crystals
Note: Bands involving Cecil are impossible to perform before the True Moon's Subterrane is cleared.
Band | Members | MP | Description | Image (iOS) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Inferno | Rydia (Event) Edge (Event) |
40 | A punishing flame move that attack all enemies. Damage depends on Rydia's intellect and Black Magic and Edge's Ninjutsu. |
|
Broken Heart | Rydia (Attack, Bow) Edge (Attack) |
25 | Strike all enemies with the pair's emotions. Damage depends on Rydia's Attack / strength. |
|
Flare Tornado | Rydia (Black Magic) Edge (Ninjutsu) Luca (Big Throw) |
15 | Imbues your weapons with the power of fire and strikes all enemies. Damage depends on Rydia's intellect and Black Magic, Edge's Ninjutsu, and Luca's Big Throw. |
|
Thunder Wave | Ceodore (Attack) Rydia (Black Magic) |
20 | Blows away all enemies with the power of lightning. Damage depends on Rydia's intellect and Black Magic and Ceodore's Attack. |
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Delta Evolution | Luca (Attack) Ceodore (Attack) Ursula (Attack) |
15 | Strike a single enemy with the combined power of three. Damage depends on Attack / strength of all three. |
|
Double Tomahawk | Luca (Attack) Cid (Attack) |
10 | Both characters throw axes at a single enemy. Damage depends on Attack / strength of both. |
|
Mirage Dive | Edge (Ninjutsu) Kain (Jump) |
32 | Summon clones to confuse and attack one enemy. Casts Blink on Edge. Damage depends on Edge's Attack / strength and Kain's Jump. |
|
Mecha-kite | Luca (Analyze) Zangetsu (Human Kite) |
15 | Damage all enemies with a powered-up kite. Damage depends on Zangetsu's Human Kite. |
|
Frost Wave | Leonora (Black Magic) Izayoi (Ninjutsu) |
25 | A magical ice attack that targets all enemies. Damage depends on Leonora's intellect and Black Magic, and Izayoi's Ninjutsu. |
|
Healing Wind | Tsukinowa (Ninjutsu) Porom (White Magic) |
40 | Restore HP of all allies and casts Esuna. Power depends on Porom's spirit / White Magic and Tsukinowa's Ninjutsu. |
|
Explosive Kick | Gekkou (Shuriken) Yang (Kick) |
14 | Flame damage to all enemies. Damage depends on Yang's Kick and Gekkou's Ninjutsu. |
|
Rapid Fire | Ceodore (Attack) Tsukinowa (Attack) Palom (Black Magic) |
20 | Rapidly attack a single enemy with fireballs. Damage depends on Ceodore's Attack / strength, Tsukinowa's Ninjutsu and Palom's Black Magic. |
|
Tri-disaster | Rydia (Black Magic) Palom (Black Magic) Leonora (Black Magic) |
20 | Cast a succession of powerful black magic. Damage depends on the intellect / Black Magic of all three. |
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Holy Burst | Rydia (Black Magic) Rosa (White Magic) |
55 | Holy magical attack on all enemies. Damage depends on Rydia's intellect / Black Magic and Rosa's spirit / White Magic. |
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Holy Ray | Porom (White Magic) Rosa (White Magic) |
50 | Holy magical attack on all enemies. Damage depends on the spirit / White Magic of both. |
|
Sprite Bred | Porom (White Magic) Leonora (White Magic) |
40 | Holy magical attack on one enemy. Damage depends on the spirit / White Magic of both. |
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Pure White Magic | Rosa (White Magic) Porom (White Magic) Leonora (White Magic) |
99 | Casts Curaja, Esuna, Protect, Shell, Haste, Float, and Blink on the entire party. |
|
Mystic Waltz | Edward (Bardsong) Calca (Jive) Brina (Dance) |
12 | The song and dance of three fighters triggers a random effect. Power depends on Edward's Bardsong and either Calca's Jive or Brina's Dance, depending on effect. |
|
Fist Dance | Yang (Attack) Edward (Bardsong) |
13 | Attack one enemy to the beat of the music. Damage depends on Yang's Attack / strength. |
|
Mirage Song | Rydia (Summon) Edward (Bardsong) |
35 | Call Mist Dragon to cast Blink on entire party. | |
Sylph Protection | Yang (Attack) Rydia (Summon) |
17 | Rydia calls Sylphs to power up Yang. Casts Haste, Protect, and Shell on Yang and heals HP. Damage healed depends on Rydia's magic stat / Summon. |
|
Wild Whip | Rydia (Attack, Whip) Harley (Attack, Whip) Izayoi (Attack, Whip) |
4 | Three fighters whip a single enemy repeatedly. Damage depends on Attack / strength of all. |
|
Call Me Queen | Rydia (Attack, Whip) Leonora (Attack, Whip) Harley (Attack, Whip) Izayoi (Attack, Whip) |
11 | Whip and turn the enemy into a Pig. Damage depends on Attack / strength of all. Leonora must have the Queen's Whip equipped to use this Band. |
|
Palom in the Sky | Palom (Bluff) Luca (Big Throw) Leonora (Black Magic) Porom (White Magic) |
30 | Palom bounces around enemies zapped by Leonora's magic before being healed by Porom. Damage depends on Palom and Leonora's intellect / Black Magic and Luca's Big Throw, HP healed to Palom depends on Porom's spirit / White Magic. |
|
Makeshift Cannon | Ursula (Kick) Ceodore (Attack) Luca (Big Throw) Palom (Black Magic) Porom (White Magic) |
58 | Throw Ceodore and Ursula to cause damage on all enemies. Damage depends on Ceodore, Ursula and Luca's Attack / strength, Palom's intellect / Black Magic, and Porom's spirit / White Magic. Can break damage limit. |
|
Petal Whirlwind | Ursula (Kick) Porom (White Magic) Leonora (Black Magic) Luca (Analyze) |
50 | Focused attack at an enemy's weak point. Damage depends on Ursula and Luca's Attack / strength, Leonora's intellect / Black Magic, and Porom's spirit / White Magic. Can break damage limit. |
|
Infinity | Palom (Black Magic) Porom (White Magic) Leonora (White Magic) Rosa (White Magic) Rydia (Black Magic) |
60 | Five Mages / Fighters combine to cast powerful magic on enemies. Power depends on the intellect / Black Magic and spirit / White Magic commands of the party members. Can break damage limit. |
|
Twin Rush | Ceodore (Event) Ursula (Event) |
12 | Sword and fist strike at a single enemy. Damage depends on Attack / strength of both. | |
Final Calcabrina | Cid (Event) Calca (Event) Brina (Event) Luca (Event) |
30 | Calca and Brina attack / strength all enemies in their fully completed form. Damage depends on Calca's Jive. Cid and Luca must have hammers equipped to use this Band. |
|
Twincast | Palom (Event) Porom (Event) |
40 | Two fighters / mages combine to cast powerful magic. 25% chance each of Twin Firaga, Twin Blizzaga, Twin Thundaga, or Twin Flare. Damage depends on Palom's intellect / Black Magic. |
|
Ice Crush | Palom (Event) Luca (Event) Leonora (Event) |
35 | Freeze and shatter all enemies. Damage depends on Palom and Leonora's intellect / Black Magic and Luca's Big Throw. 50% chance of halving Palom's current HP. |
|
Weapon In Progress | Cid (Risk Strike) Luca (Analyze) Edward (Salve) Harley (Gil Toss) |
25 | Create a new item that does...something. May heal party or attack all enemies. | |
Temptation | Rosa (Aim) Rydia (Black Magic) Izayoi (Illusions) Harley (Gil Toss) |
19 | Surprise one enemy with an attack. | |
Oboro Strike | Edge (Event) Yang (Event) |
25 | Combo strike on a single enemy. Damage depends on Attack / strength of both. |
|
Iron Flash | Cecil (Attack) Rydia (Summon) |
40 | Cecil borrows the power of Odin to cut through all enemies. Damage depends on Cecil's Attack / strength. 40% chance of inflicting Instant Death. |
|
Sword Dance | Cecil (Attack) Edward (Bardsong) |
13 | Attack one enemy to the beat of the music. Damage depends on Cecil's Attack / strength. |
|
Break Breaker | Cecil (Attack) Palom (Black Magic) Porom (White Magic) |
35 | Petrifies and shatters all enemies. Damage depends on Cecil's Attack / strength and Palom's intellect / Black Magic. |
|
Twin Drive | Cecil (Attack) Yang (Kick) |
15 | Sword and fist strike at a single enemy. Damage depends on Attack /strength of both. |
|
Sword and Fist | Cecil (Attack) Ceodore (Attack) Yang (Attack) Ursula (Attack) |
30 | Combine the power of four to strike a single enemy. Damage depends on Attack / strength of all. Can break damage limit. |
|
Sky Grinder | Cecil (Attack) Kain (Jump) |
45 | Attack a single enemy with sword and spear. Damage depends on Cecil's Attack / strength and Kain's Jump. Can break damage limit |
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Effect Form | Cecil (White Magic) Kain (White Magic) Rosa (Blessing) |
20 | Cast Curaja, Protect, Shell and Haste on users. HP healed depends on Cecil and Kain's spirit / White Magic and Rosa's Blessing. |
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Trinity Crusade | Kain (Jump) Cecil (Attack) Rosa (White Magic) |
35 | Three fighters combine to attack one enemy. Damage done depends on Cecil's Attack / strength, Kain's Jump and Rosa's spirit / White Magic. Can break damage limit. |
|
Double Pressure | Cecil (Cover) Golbez (Pressure) |
20 | Slows down all enemies. 30% additional chance of inflicting Paralysis, as the Hold spell. | |
Ultima Spark | Cecil (White Magic) Golbez (Black Magic) |
50 | Inflicts non-elemental magic damage on all enemies. Does greater damage the closer they are to the center of the spell graphic. Damage depends on Cecil's spirit / White Magic and Golbez's intellect / Black Magic. |
|
Advanced Blade | Golbez (Black Magic) Ceodore (Attack) Cecil (Attack) |
40 | Imbue your sword with magic and attack one enemy. Damage depends on Attack / strength of all. Can break damage limit. |
|
Vibra Plus | Ceodore (Attack) Cecil (Attack) |
35 | Two fighters slice away at a random number of enemies. Damage depends on Attack / strength of both. Does more damage the less available targets there are. |
|
Holy Cross | Cecil (Attack) Ceodore (Attack) Rosa (White Magic) |
35 | Strike all enemies with sword containing holy power. Damage depends on Cecil and Ceodore's Attack / strength and Rosa's Spirit / White Magic. |
|
Vibra Prime | Ceodore (Attack) Cecil (Attack) Kain (Attack) Rosa (Aim) Cid (Attack) |
40 | Five fighters slice away at all enemies. Damage depends on Attack / strength of all but Rosa, and Rosa's Aim. |
|
Kings' Quad | Cecil (Attack) Edge (Attack) Yang (Attack) Edward (Bardsong) |
30 | Four kings join together for a combo attack. Damage depends on Attack / strength of Cecil, Edge, and Yang. Can break damage limit. |
|
Spiral Blow | Kain (Event) Golbez (Event) |
22 | Two fighters attack one enemy. Damage depends on Kain's Jump. | |
Double Jump | Kain (Event) Ceodore (Event) |
35 | Two fighters attack an enemy from the air simultaneously. Damage depends on Kain's Jump and Ceodore's Attack / strength. Can break damage limit. Cannot be used if Ceodore is Awakened. |
|
Final Fantasy | Cecil (Attack) Rosa (White Magic) Kain (Jump) Rydia (Black Magic) Edge (Throw) |
75 | An offense/defense mix combining the powers of all five fighters. Damages one enemy and restores HP and status of party. Power depends on Cecil's Attack / strength, Rosa's spirit / White Magic, Kain's Jump, Rydia's intellect / Black Magic, Edge's Throw, and the party's HP. Can break damage limit. |
Gallery
- Wii version
- PSP version
Unused Bands
These Bands were left unused in the final version; they will not activate even if the correct commands were entered, unless one hacks into the game to enable them.
Band | Members | MP | Description | Image (iOS) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Blizzara Storm | Palom (Black Magic) Tsukinowa (Ninjutsu) |
15 | Inflicts ice-elemental magic damage on all enemies. | |
Flame Zapper | Cecil (Attack) Palom (Black Magic) |
20 | Cover a single enemy in a swirl of flame. |
Gallery
- Wii version
- PSP version
Other appearances
Dissidia Final Fantasy
Cecil is able to use Saint's Fall as an HP attack.
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy
Kain has Spiral Blow as a Bravery attack and Sky Rave as an HP attack.
Pictlogica Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy Record Keeper
Final Fantasy Brave Exvius
Final Fantasy Trading Card Game
Two characters can use Band abilities. Luca's card, depicting her character artwork, can use Lightning Brain Buster. It requires the player to Dull Luca and a Rydia they control, discard a Luca card, and pay 1 Earth and 1 Fire CP. Lightning Brain Buster deals 10,000 damage to a Forward of the player's choice.
Ursula's card, depicting her tale artwork, can use Twin Wing Frenzy. For two Earth CP and the discard of an Ursula card, Twin Wing Frenzy deals 9,000 damage to a Forward of the player's choice. The player must also control a Yang card to use Twin Wing Frenzy.
Trivia
- Band attacks existed prior The After Years in another game made by Squaresoft before the merging with Enix. Chrono Trigger introduced Double and Triple Techs, which unlike the Band attacks were automatically learned once the characters had the necessary abilities available.
- Particle Bomb is cast by Palom and Leonora in the opening FMV of The After Years in The Complete Collection release.
- When Ultimate Art: Advent of the Phoenix is used, Edge and the Eblan Four say the following lines, the first five letters of which spell "Eblan", and, perhaps coincidentally, the six first letters spell the original English translation of Eblan, "Eblana":
- Zangetsu: Endless night, lit by fiery wings...
- Izayoi: Bound by the darting, dancing sword...
- Gekkou: Let it slice the encompassing dark...
- Tsukinowa: And sound the tolling bell of tomorrow!
- Edge: Now! We call forth Eblan's ancient technique...
- All: Advent of Phoenix!
- The Final Fantasy band, aside from being a nod to the name of the series, has the characters perform the attacks used against Golbez and the Archfiends in the FMV opening for the DS remake of Final Fantasy IV: Rosa and Rydia use magic, Edge throws his shurikens, Kain jumps, and Cecil slashes / attack with his sword.
- In iOS, Android and Steam versions, the Twincast Band that Porom and Palom start with in Porom's Tale is the only Band that 1) starts at maximum level, and 2) doesn't get any bonus from said level.