Bonecrusher (Final Fantasy XII)

Bonecrusher
(肉斬骨断, Nikuzan Kotsudan?, lit. Meatbone Slash)
Availability
Obtained	Zodiac: Henne Mines (Phase 1 Dig), Reddas Original: Rabanastre (after Judge Bergan), Archades
Required	Zodiac: Bonecrusher (30 LP) Original: Bonecrusher (30 LP)
Character(s)	Zodiac: Monk, Bushi, Uhlan (requires Hashmal), Shikari (requires Hashmal), Reddas Original: All permanent party members
Classification
Type	Physical
Skillset	Technicks
Effect	Consumes between 0 and all but 1 of the user's HP to kill one enemy. The user is KO'd if the attack misses, aside from when the attack has been nullified by the enemy's Safety.
Status	Instant Death
Specifications
Cast time	Zodiac: 35 CT Original: 45 CT
Range	Weapon's range
Hit rate	Zodiac: 60% Original: 45%
Related pages
Recurring appearance	Bonecrusher

Consume HP to reduce the HP of one foe to 0.

Description

Bonecrusher is a Technick in Final Fantasy XII that attempts to kill one enemy at the cost of the user sacrificing some of their HP. If it misses, the user is KO'd. Using Bonecrusher on enemies who are immune to it does not sacrifice the user. Bonecrusher is purchased from Technicks shops in the original PlayStation 2 version, and is is found in a treasure in the Zodiac versions. In the original version, all player characters who have the License Board can activate it. In the Zodiac versions, it is used by certain jobs and Reddas.

Obtain

The license for Bonecrusher costs 30 License Points. In the original PlayStation 2 version, Bonecrusher is sold in Technicks shops in Rabanastre (after defeating Judge Bergan) and Archades for 7000 gil.

In the Zodiac versions, the Technick is found in Henne Mines Phase 1 Dig. The treasure always appears in the topmost dead-end of the cave portion of the dig.

In the Zodiac versions, Bonecrusher can be used by Monk, Bushi, Uhlan, and Shikari, though the latter two requires Hashmal to reach it. Reddas also has it when he is a guest party member.

Mechanics

Bonecrusher sacrifices the user's HP to kill a targeted foe instantly, however, it may fail, and enemies with the Safety augment are immune to it. If Bonecrusher misses, the user will get KO'd. This does not happen if the enemy was immune to Bonecrusher.

The damage sustained by the user is:

Self DMG = random(0,~User's Own HP-1)

If the user is already at 1 HP, then a successful Bonecrusher does not cost any HP to use.

Enemies with Safety include all "tough" enemies, like bosses, Rare Game, and Hunt Marks.

Using Bonecrusher on sleeping targets wakes them up. Bonecrusher's reach is the same as the user's equipped weapon, i.e. it can be used against flying enemies if the user wields a ranged weapon. The Technick's base accuracy was originally 45%, increased to 60% in the Zodiac versions.

$Success~Chance \%= Base~Chance + (User's~Level - Target's~Level)$

If the user's level exceeds the target's, the chance becomes:

$Success~Chance \% = 3 \times (User's~Level - Target's~Level)$ $+ Base~Chance$

Use

Using Bonecrusher is a gamble as if it misses, the user will be KO'd. The player could use the Death spell instead, though it costs MP and has a lower hit chance. With the Indigo Pendant, the player can make status spells always hit unless the recipient is outright immune. With this setup available, Bonecrusher becomes obsolete.

Another way to use up HP to deal damage to enemies is with the Souleater Technick.

Bonecrusher could be worth the gamble in certain situations in a New Game Minus playthrough, as its success rate does not depend on the user's stats.

Etymology and origin

Bonecrusher is based on the ability of the same name from Final Fantasy Tactics.

The Japanese name derives from the phrase "皮を切らせて肉を切り、肉を切らせて骨を切る", which literally translates "when the skin is cut, retaliate by cutting the flesh; when the flesh is cut, avenge by crushing the bone".