Limit Break (Final Fantasy VIII)

Zell- Dolphin Blow — Zell performs Dolphin Blow, one of his Limit Breaks.

Various commands allow characters to use Limit Breaks in Final Fantasy VIII, abilities that trigger randomly when the party member is low in health or has the Aura status. Each playable character has a unique set of Limit Breaks, and learns and uses them in distinctive ways.

Mechanics[]

Using a Limit Break[]

Limit-Break-Prompt-FFVIII — When the prompt for a Limit Break appears depends on Crisis Level.

The Limit command has a low chance of appearing when a character is around 25% of their HP, but the odds improve the lower their HP is, and the odds can be further increased by having the Aura status. When a Limit Break is available an arrow appears next to the Attack command and choosing reveals the Limit command. The player can reset a character's turn by pressing , and the player can repeat this until a Limit Break shows up. The specifics of each Limit Break depend on the user. The damage of magical Limit Breaks is determined by the user's Magic stat, while the damage of physical Limit Breaks depends on the user's Strength stat. Elemental and status junctions do not affect Limit Breaks.

Limits are unusable while a character is under the Curse status, or in the final dungeon when the Limit command is sealed.

Crisis Level[]

Main article: Crisis Level

The Limit Break's chance of appearing, as well some of its properties in some cases, is determined by a hidden stat known as the Crisis Level. The character's Crisis Level rises the lower their HP is, the number of KO'd party members, and the more status ailments they are afflicted with. With knowledge of the Crisis Level system the player becomes able to easily manipulate the Limit Break system, able to unleash Limit Breaks almost at will. Some Limit Breaks are boosted when the user has high Crisis Level, such as Quistis's Blue Magic spells being more powerful, or Zell's Duel having more time on the clock.

Limit Breaks[]

Each character has a unique Limit Break, and permanently playable characters have unique Limit commands as well; Laguna's party only has one Limit Break each, and unleash their attacks via the basic Limit command.

Playable characters[]

Squall[]

See the Limit Break sequences here.

Main article: Renzokuken

Squall's Limit is Renzokuken. Depending on his Crisis Level, the Limit Break will do anywhere between 4–8 hits on a selected enemy. The hits are indicated by a bar of light that sweeps through the gauge at the bottom of the screen, and pressing the when the light passes into the box on the left will make that particular hit a critical hit.

After finishing Renzokuken, depending on the gunblade Squall currently has equipped, he may perform one of four finishing moves, each with their own properties. The finishing moves are: Rough Divide, Fated Circle, Blasting Zone, and Lion Heart.

Quistis[]

See the Limit Break sequences here.

Laser eye ffviii — Laser Eye, Quistis's initial Blue Magic.

Main article: Blue Magic (Final Fantasy VIII)

Quistis's Limit Break, Blue Magic, allows her to use various enemy abilities for a wide arrange of effects, ranging from healing, buffing, debuffing, or damaging. Quistis starts with Laser Eye, and can learn up to 15 other abilities from using specific items in the inventory. The power and effects of each ability are affected by Crisis Level, outside of White Wind and Degenerator.

Zell[]

See the Limit Break sequences here.

Main article: Duel

Zell's Limit Break is Duel, which consists of inputting various commands within a time limit to continue the Limit. To learn new Duels, the player must collect and read Combat King magazines found from around the world and purchased in Esthar City book store. The abilities can be used before being unlocked by inputting the correct button combination, but they will not appear as an option. Duel has four finishing moves: Burning Rave, Meteor Barret, Different Beat, and My Final Heaven. The amount of time given for Duel and the starting move varies upon the Crisis Level.

Selphie[]

See the Limit Break sequences here.

Main article: Slot (Final Fantasy VIII)

Selphie's Limit Break is Slot, which randomly gives a spell and amount of uses for that spell upon selecting it and each time "Do Over" is selected. The spells chosen and amount of uses for the spell vary depending on what slot the player is in, as well as the Crisis Level at the time of using Slot. Any spell cast via Slot does not count towards Selphie's stock magic. There are four unique spells to Slot: Wall (Final Fantasy VIII), Full-cure, Rapture, and The End.

Rinoa[]

See the Limit Break sequences here.

Angelocannon — Angelo Cannon, Rinoa's initial Combine ability.

Main articles: Combine (Final Fantasy VIII) or Angel Wing (Final Fantasy VIII)

Rinoa has access to two Limit Breaks: Combine and Angel Wing.

Combine is Rinoa's default Limit Break, and calls forth her dog Angelo to perform various abilities. Angelo Cannon and Angelo Rush are learned by default and the other abilities must be learned by finding and reading Pet Pals magazines, then selecting the ability to learn from Rinoa's Status window, and finally by walking around on the world map or field while Rinoa is in the party. Each ability takes certain number of steps to learn, and once learned, will randomly be chosen when Combine is activated. Not all Angelo skills can be used from the Combine command, however, as the healing, item searching and counterattack abilities only activate randomly during battle when certain criteria are met.

Angel Wing is Rinoa's second Limit Break gained upon accessing the Ragnarok. It places Rinoa into a Berserk-like state where she constantly attacks using random magic from her stocked magic without expending them. The spells deal increased damage and the status cannot be removed outside of KOing or petrifying her. If Rinoa has no magic stocked she will attack with physical attacks instead. Rinoa will never use curative or buffing magic during Angel Wing.

Irvine[]

See the Limit Break sequences here.

Main article: Shot (Final Fantasy VIII)

Irvine's Limit Break is Shot, in which the player is prompted to select an ammo and use the to fire off as many bullets as possible in a given time limit. Each ammo has a different delay between shots and various effects. The max limit for items is 100, and to use a given Shot Limit, the player must collect the corresponding ammo. Shot cannot be performed if the player does not have any ammo in their inventory. More Ammo can be made with Ammo-RF and the basic ammo can be purchased from shops.

Temporary characters[]

Seifer[]

See the Limit Break sequences here.

FFVIII Demon Slice — Demon Slice, one of Seifer's Limits in a boss fight.

Main article: Fire Cross

Seifer is playable during the Siege of Dollet. His Limit Break is Fire Cross, for which only No Mercy is available for the player to use. It inflicts heavy non-elemental damage to all enemies with a base power of 80. The other Fire Cross abilities are used during boss fights against Seifer, including Demon Slice and Bloodfest.

Seifer is unique in that he can unleash his Limit Break without needing to be in critical health. The attack Seifer performs in the opening FMV resembles his Limit command, as he always starts it by casting a fire spell, although the spell is not actually an elemental attack when used as part of his Fire Cross.

Laguna[]

Desperado from FFVIII Remastered — Desperado in *Final Fantasy VIII Remastered*.

Main article: Desperado (Final Fantasy VIII)

Laguna and his friends are playable during dream scenarios. Laguna's "Limit" skillset contains Desperado, in which he inflicts massive damage to all enemies with a base power of 140.

Kiros[]

Main article: Blood Pain (Final Fantasy VIII)

Kiros's "Limit" skillset contains Blood Pain, in which he attacks one enemy multiple times for moderate damage.

Ward[]

Massive Anchor FF8 — Ward Zabac's Limit, Massive Anchor.

Main article: Massive Anchor (Final Fantasy VIII)

Ward's "Limit" skillset contains Massive Anchor, which inflicts massive damage to all enemies with a base power of 150. It hits once.

Edea[]

See the Limit Break sequences here.

Ice Strike FFVIII battle — Edea Kramer's Limit, Ice Strike.

Edea is playable briefly during the time the party crosses the Great Salt Lake and during the Siege of Esthar. Edea's Limit Break is the Sorcery skillset, in which there is only one subset: Ice Strike. Ice Strike inflicts massive magical non-elemental damage to one enemy with a base power of 120 and is unaffected by Crisis Level. Edea uses her Limit Break once in a cutscene.

Other appearances[]

Final Fantasy VIII demo[]

The PlayStation demo takes place during the Siege of Dollet where Rinoa replaces Seifer and Selphie for the portions they are playable in the final game. She has no Limit command and Angelo never appears to counterattack. Squall has Renzokuken and Fated Circle, and Zell performs a scripted Duel instead of allowing the player to input the commands.

In the PC version demo Squall's and Quistis's Limit Breaks work as normal, but their range of abilities is limited and they cannot learn new ones.

Dissidia Final Fantasy (2008)[]

Squall uses his Renzokuken moves from Final Fantasy VIII and his EX Burst is Lion Heart, the ultimate Renzokuken finisher from his original game.

Ultimecia's EX Burst could be seen as her Limit Break, although she does not use one in Final Fantasy VIII.

Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy[]

Squall's Limit Break moves return, albeit slightly changed. Laguna's EX Burst is Desperado, which the player has to aim to land as many hits as possible before time runs out.

Dissidia Final Fantasy NT[]

Squall and Rinoa can use their Limit Breaks from Final Fantasy VIII.

Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia[]

This gallery is incomplete and requires Angelo Cannon, Angelo Recover, Angel Wing and Different Beat added. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by uploading images.

This section about an ability in Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call[]

Lion Heart is an exclusive reactive ability for Squall. Desperado is an exclusive reactive ability for Laguna.

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy All-Star Carnival[]

This section about an ability in Theatrhythm Final Fantasy All-Star Carnival is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.

Pictlogica Final Fantasy[]

Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade[]

Characters from Final Fantasy VIII use their Limit Breaks when they are summoned as Legends. In addition, the player can obtain certain Limit Breaks to use as abilities.

Ability Cards

Legend Cards

This gallery is incomplete and requires Angelo Cannon (Summon) and Angelo Strike (Summon) added. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by uploading images.

Final Fantasy Artniks[]

This section in Final Fantasy Artniks is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.

Final Fantasy All the Bravest[]

Squall has access to his Blasting Zone Limit Break as his attack, while Rinoa has access to her Angelo Cannon Limit Break as her attack and Seifer has access to his No Mercy Limit Break as his attack.

This section in Final Fantasy All the Bravest is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.

Final Fantasy Record Keeper[]

The party members from Final Fantasy VIII can use their Limit Break abilities.

This gallery is incomplete and requires Booya, Heel Drop, Mach Kick, Homing Laser, Armor Shot, Lion Heart and Blasting Zone as an enemy ability added. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by uploading images.

Final Fantasy Explorers[]

This section about an ability in Final Fantasy Explorers is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.

Final Fantasy Brave Exvius[]

This section about an ability in Final Fantasy Brave Exvius is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.

World of Final Fantasy[]

Lion Heart is Squall's Champion summon ability. It inflicts neutral physical damage to one enemy, ignoring defense. It also grants Accuracy+ to all allies. It is unlocked after completing chapter 14 and costs 1★ gauge to use. When used "Don't Be Afraid" from Final Fantasy VIII plays.

Rough Divide is an active physical ability that inflicts neutral physical damage on a single target for 7 AP. It has high critical chance and low topple strength. It can be used by Lann (Squall's Champion Jewel).