Limit Break (Final Fantasy VIII)

Template:Sideicon

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. Each playable character has a unique set of Limit Breaks, and learn and use them in distinctive ways.

Template:See Also

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 repeatedly doing so until a Limit Break shows up can be used when a player wishes to unleash one.

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

Crisis Level

Main article: Crisis Level

The Limit Break's chance of appearing 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.

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 the Limit Level, the Limit Break is activated and 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 is Blue Magic, which allows her to use various enemy abilities for a wide arrange of effects, ranging from healing, buffing, debuffing, or damaging. Blue Magics must be learned via use of specific items in the inventory, although Quistis starts with Laser Eye. There is a total of 16 Blue Magic spells to learn, and the power and effects of each 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 (Limit)

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 after the events on the Ragnarok. It will put Rinoa into a Berserk-like state where she will constantly attack using random magic from her stocked magic without expending them. The power of these spells is increased 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, and her attacks deal increased damage. 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.

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

See the Limit Break sequences here.

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

See the Limit Break sequences here.

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

Ward

See the Limit Break sequences here.

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

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 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 doesn't 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 can use his Renzokuken abilities.

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, players 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 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).