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The following is a list of abilities in Final Fantasy III.

Abilities[]

Job Famicom 3D Remake
Onion Knight Fight, Defend, Run, Item Attack, Magic, Guard, Item
Freelancer - Attack, Magic, Guard, Item
Warrior Fight, Defend, Run, Item Attack, Advance, Guard, Item
Monk Fight, Defend, Run, Item Attack, Retaliate, Guard, Item
White Mage Fight, Magic, Run, Item Attack, Magic, Guard, Item
Black Mage Fight, Magic, Run, Item Attack, Magic, Guard, Item
Red Mage Fight, Magic, Run, Item Attack, Magic, Guard, Item
Ranger Fight, Magic, Defend, Item Attack, Barrage, Guard, Item
Knight Fight, Defend, Run, Item
Passive: Cover
Attack, Magic, Defend, Item,
Passive: Cover
Thief Fight, Steal, Escape, Item Attack, Steal, Flee, Item
Scholar Fight, Peep, Scan, Item Attack, Magic, Study, Item
Passive: Item Lore
Geomancer Fight, Terrain, Defend, Item Attack, Terrain, Guard, Item
Dragoon Fight, Jump, Defend, Item Attack, Jump, Guard, Item
Viking Fight, Defend, Run, Item Attack, Provoke, Guard, Item
Black Belt Fight, BuildUp, Run, Item Attack, Boost, Guard, Item
Dark Knight Fight, Magic, Defend, Item Attack, Souleater, Guard, Item
Evoker Fight, Magic, Defend, Item Attack, Summon, Guard, Item
Bard Sing, Scare, Cheer, Item Attack, Sing, Guard, Item
Magus Fight, Magic, Run, Item Attack, Magic, Guard, Item
Devout Fight, Magic, Run, Item Attack, Magic, Guard, Item
Summoner Fight, Magic, Run, Item Attack, Summon, Guard, Item
Sage Fight, Magic, Run, Item Attack, Magic, Guard, Item
Ninja Fight, Defend, Run, Item Attack, Throw, Guard, Item

List of abilities[]

Universal abilities[]

The following abilities both appear in the 2D and 3D versions.

Ability Description Image
Attack
Fight
Attacks an enemy with the user's currently-equipped weapon or weapons, or with bare fists if the user is unarmed.
(The Attack command does nothing when used by a character equipped with two shields.)
Guard
Defend
Reduces damage taken from incoming physical attacks until the next turn.
Run Away
Run
All versions: Attempts to escape from battle. Some fights, including boss fights, are impossible to run from.
(Famicom version only: When used, the party's defenses drop to zero until the next turn.)
(Remake only: The Run Away command can be issued to all party members at once by pressing both shoulder buttons simultaneously.)
Item Uses an item, or switches out currently-equipped weapons and shields during battle.
Magic Casts a spell. Which spells a character can cast are determined by that character's job. Spells are treated as equipment; if removed, they are simply returned to inventory rather than being lost permanently.
Defend Famicom version: When a Knight uses Defend command, they will suffer only 1 damage.
Remake: Reduces incoming physical damage for the rest of the turn. Damage is reduced by a greater amount than when Guard is used. Its effectiveness increases with the user's job level.
Cover A passive ability. Causes the character to automatically intercept incoming attacks directed at allies in critical condition.
Steal Attempts to steal an item. The likelihood of stealing rare items increases with the user's job level.
Flee
Escape
Famicom version: Improved version of Run. Allows the party to flee from battle with a 100% success rate.
Remake: Improved version of Run Away. Allows the party to flee from battle with a higher success rate, but can still fail.
(Some fights, including boss fights, are impossible to run from.)
Terrain Uses a random Terrain spell based on the surrounding area.
Jump Jumps into the air, disappearing from the battlefield, then drops down and strikes the target on next turn for greatly-increased damage. In the remake, power increases with job level.
Boost
BuildUp
Stores power, increasing the damage of the next attack. Stacks twice. Using it three times in a row causes it to backfire, damaging the Black Belt.
Sing Famicom version: Attacks with the currently-equipped harp.
Remake: Plays the song associated with the Bard's currently-equipped harp. Potency increases with job level.

Famicom-exclusive abilities[]

Ability Description Image
Scan Checks the target's elemental weaknesses.
Peep Checks the target's current HP.
Scare Lowers the levels of all enemies, which may make them run away. This ability's effect can be stacked.
Cheer Increases the party's physical damage. This ability's effect can be stacked.

3D Remake-exclusive abilities[]

Ability Description Image
Equipment Switches out currently-equipped weapons and shields during battle.
Rear Moves the user to the back row.
Front Moves the user to the front row.
Advance Attacks with increased power, but decreases defense for the duration of the turn. Power increases with job level.
Retaliate Reduces damage taken from incoming physical attacks, and responds with powerful counterattacks, until the next turn.
Barrage Attacks four times against random enemies. Power increases with job level.
Study Checks the target's elemental weaknesses and current HP, and removes positive statuses.
Item Lore A passive ability. Doubles the potency of healing and damaging items.
Provoke Taunts the enemies, making them attack the Viking with single-target attacks, as well as lowering their defense. Reduction increases with job level.
Souleater Sacrifices 20% of current HP to deal damage to all enemies. Effective against dividing monsters. Damage increases with job level.
Summon Casts a summon.
Throw Throws a weapon from the party's inventory at an enemy, losing the weapon in order to inflict major damage.

Other appearances[]

Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade[]

Ability Cards
Legend Cards
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Gallery[]

Famicom
3D remake
This gallery is incomplete and requires Barrage (DS) and Boost (DS) added. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by uploading images.