Limit Break (Final Fantasy XIV)

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FINAL_FANTASY_XIV_-_Break_the_Limit! — FINAL FANTASY XIV - Break the Limit!

Official *Shadowbringers* LB3 exhibition.

Limit Break (リミットブレイク, Rimittobureiku?) is a party action in Final Fantasy XIV. When in a party of four or more, players will have access to the limit gauge, which gradually fills during the course of battle. When a limit gauge is full, the stored energy can be used to activate limit breaks. The limit break executed is determined by the role of the party member who initiates it. Limit breaks are available only to non-limited combat disciplines.

Story[]

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow. (Skip section)

In the Trial The Porta Decumana, a level 3 Limit Break becomes available to the party as part of a scripted event to defeat the Ultima Weapon. This is the first time that level 3 Limit Breaks are available to players in the Main Story Quest.

In the Trial The Seat of Sacrifice, Elidibus performs a level 4 Limit Break, which is a a level higher than is possible for players to perform.

As revealed by Meteion in the Trial The Final Day in Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, Limit Breaks can be manifestations of dynamis, which is a form of energy powered by emotions.

Spoilers end here.

Mechanics[]

Limit breaks have three levels, commonly referred to as LB1, LB2, and LB3; the more limit gauges are filled, the stronger the limit break. A partially-filled subsequent gauge will still be consumed when using a limit break. Light parties have access to one limit gauge, meaning they are only able to use Level 1 limit breaks when it is filled. A full party has two limit gauges. Reaching important bosses in a duty adds an extra limit gauge for a total of two gauges for light parties and three gauges for full parties. During duties which have a single boss and nothing else the extra gauge is unlocked by default. Level 3 limit breaks can only be performed with a job crystal equipped, and each job has a visually unique level 3 limit break. The only exception to these rules is in the 4-man Trial The Porta Decumana where the party will gain access to the 3rd gauge completely filled as part of a scripted event.

All limit breaks are unaffected by abilities that reduce cast time, and when used have lengthy animations that prevent the user from moving, which can leave them vulnerable to area of effect (AoE) attacks. Limit breaks are unaffected by the global cooldown. As of patch 6.0, they no longer cancel action combos.

Damage[]

Damage dealing limit breaks scale with the combined item level of the party's main hand equipment slot rather than the individual who performed it. Limit Breaks do not deal physical or magical damage, instead using their own damage type. This damage cannot be a critical or direct hit, and is unaffected by any damage increasing effects caused by players. However, this damage may still be influenced by effects caused from outside factors, such as enemy-induced effects or environmental effects.

While old descriptions dating back to the release of A Realm Reborn gave specific potencies in the ability descriptions that can still be found in the game's data, these potencies cannot be viewed in-game, and the observable damage they deal in comparison to each other does not match the potencies given. The new physical ranged DPS limit breaks added in Heavensward do not even have any description or given potencies in the game's data. In addition, the unique damage mechanics used by limit breaks make their potencies incomparable to regular abilities. As a result, Limit Break potencies are essentially unknown, and all potencies on this page are instead given in how much damage they dealt relative to Braver, the melee LB1.

Gauge generation[]

Passive limit gauge generation
# of gauges	# of penalties
# of gauges	0	1	2	3	4	5+
1	75
2	180
3	220	170	160	154	144	140

Each level of the limit gauge is comprised of 10,000 units, for a total of 30,000 across three gauges.

Passive[]

Limit gauges have a passive generation every 3 seconds that increases with each available limit gauge.

Some party compositions can cause penalties to passive gauge generation. Using non-standard party compositions will cause a penalty for each party member off the standard. For example, most 8-man duties have a standard composition of 2 tanks, 2 healers, and 4 DPS; using a party with 1 tank, 1 healer, and 6 DPS in one of these duties will cause two penalties. In addition, when participating in any duty classified as a high-end duty, having any duplicate jobs in the party will cause a penalty for each duplicate. This duplicate penalty does not apply to non-high-end duties.

Active[]

Active generation can occur when specific events happen during battle. The specifics of these events can vary from duty to duty, with a marked divide between content from before the release of Shadowbringers and those released after. Pre-Shadowbringers content still uses pre-Shadowbringers generation rules.

Critical health recovery: Generates 200 units per gauge whenever a party member receives a direct heal from another party member at 10% HP or less. Pets such as Eos cannot generate gauge in this manner. In Shadowbringers content, this is reduced to 100 per gauge if the healing of from an AoE action, and healing actions used by non-healer roles (eg. Clemency) will not generate any gauge.
Surviving lethal damage: Generates 500 units per gauge whenever a party member survives damage greater than their current HP, typically via barrier effects such as Manaward or effects such as Holmgang. In Shadowbringers content, this is reduced to 100 per gauge.
Interrupts: Interrupting enemy casts can generate limit gauge, be it via dedicated interrupts like Interject or inflicting statuses such as Stun. The amount generated can vary depending on the duty or the action interrupted.
Killing adds: Killing adds in boss encounters can generate a varying amount of units depending on the duty or the add killed.
Encounter specific mechanics: Some encounters award varying amounts of units upon the successful completion of a particular mechanic or phase.

List of Limit Breaks[]

Tank[]

Tank limit breaks focus on drastically raising the defense and magic defense of the entire party for a short period of time. Typically only used when a large amount of party-wide damage is incoming, and its use is often planned ahead of time rather than spur of the moment.

Prior to patch 3.0, Last Bastion was used by all tank disciplines as their level 3 limit break.

Level	Ability	Cast	Animation lock	Range	Area	Status
1	Shield Wall	Instant	1.93s	—	50y radius	Shield Wall
1	Shield Wall	Reduces damage taken by all party members by 20%. Duration: 10s				Shield Wall
2	Stronghold fka. Mighty Guard	Instant	3.86s	—	50y radius	Stronghold
2	Stronghold fka. Mighty Guard	Reduces damage taken by all party members by 40%. Duration: 15s				Stronghold
3	Last Bastion	Instant	3.86s	—	50y radius	Last Bastion
	Land Waker	Reduces damage taken by all party members by 80%. Duration: 8s				Land Waker
	Dark Force					Dark Force
	Gunmetal Soul					Gunmetal Soul

Healer[]

Limit breaks for healer disciplines focus on restoring a percentage of HP to their allies. Their limit break is the only one to gain an additional function at level 3, as it can revive any KO'd allies. In duties where level 3 limit breaks are available, the limit break is often kept is reserve for use by healers at level 3 in case of emergencies. Healer limit breaks are rarely used for the actual healing provided, as there are few situations that require AoE healing so heavy that it can't be covered by normal spells. Level 1 and 2 healer limit breaks are thus rarely seen.

Unlike regular revives, party members revived by a level 3 limit break are revived instantly with no confirmation prompt and need to be prepared to act immediately, though it still applies the Transcendent status to provide invulnerability for 5s or until they act. The Weakness and Brink of Death statuses will not be applied, but their duration will be reset if players were already afflicted by them. KO'd party members are also revived with 100% MP, but no MP is restored to still-living party members. Healer limit breaks will also revive players where they fell rather than the healer's position, which can be a problem if a player died to an instant-death wall such as in The Binding Coil of Bahamut - Turn 5 as they will immediately die again without having an opportunity to move. The Transcendent status will not protect them from such effects.

Prior to patch 3.0, healer limit breaks were also used by physical ranged DPS disciplines, and Pulse of Life was used by all healer and physical ranged DPS disciplines as their level 3 limit break. Prior to patch 6.0, the healing radius was 30 yalms.

Level	Ability	Cast	Animation lock	Range	Area	Status
1	Healing Wind	2s	2.1s	—	50y radius	—
1	Healing Wind	Restores 25% of own HP and the HP of all nearby party members.
2	Breath of the Earth	2s	5.13s	—	50y radius	—
2	Breath of the Earth	Restores 60% of own HP and the HP of all nearby party members.
3	Pulse of Life	2s	8.1s	—	50y radius	Transcendent
	Angel Feathers	Restores 100% of own HP and the HP of all nearby party members, and revives KO'd party members with 100% HP and MP.
	Astral Stasis
	Techne Makre

Melee DPS[]

Limit breaks for melee DPS disciplines focus on dealing massive damage to a single enemy. Deals 1.67x the damage of an equivalent magic ranged limit break, or 1.85x the damage of a physical ranged limit break. Often used to push through the final stages of a boss encounter, where their greater potencies make them preferable over the ranged limit breaks.

Prior to patch 3.0, Final Heaven was used by all melee DPS disciplines as their level 3 limit break.

Level	Ability	Cast	Animation lock	Range	Area	Status
1	Braver	2s	3.86s	8y	—	—
1	Braver	Delivers an attack to a single target.
2	Bladedance	3s	3.86s	8y	—	—
2	Bladedance	Delivers an attack to a single target, dealing 2.2x the damage of Braver.
3	Final Heaven	4.5s	3.7s	8y	—	—
	Dragonsong Dive	Delivers an attack to a single target, dealing 3.5x the damage of Braver.
	Chimatsuri
	Doom of the Living
	The End

Physical ranged DPS[]

The physical ranged DPS limit breaks inflict heavy damage to enemies in a straight line originating from the user, requiring a target which determines the direction of the line. Deals 0.54x the damage of an equivalent melee limit break, or 0.9x the damage of a magic ranged limit break. Typically used to quickly eliminate large groups of enemies when chain pulling or during the add phase of a boss encounter. If no melee DPS is present, can also substitute for them against a single target.

Prior to patch 3.0, ranged physical DPS disciplines instead used the same limit breaks as healers.

Level	Ability	Cast	Animation lock	Range	Area	Status
1	Big Shot	2s	3.1s	30y	30y by 8y line	—
1	Big Shot	Delivers an attack to all enemies in a line, dealing 0.54x the damage of Braver.
2	Desperado	3s	3.1s	30y	30y by 10y line	—
2	Desperado	Delivers an attack to all enemies in a line, dealing 1.17x the damage of Braver.
3	Sagittarius Arrow	4.5s	3.7s	30y	30y by 16y line	—
	Satellite Beam	Delivers an attack to all enemies in a line, dealing 1.89x the damage of Braver.
	Crimson Lotus

Magic ranged DPS[]

Caster limit breaks focus on dealing heavy damage to enemies in a target area. Deals 0.6x the damage of an equivalent melee limit break, or 1.11x the damage of a physical ranged limit break. Typically used to quickly eliminate large groups of enemies when chain pulling or during the add phase of a boss encounter. If no melee DPS is present, it can also substitute for them against a single target.

Prior to patch 3.0, Meteor was used by all magic ranged DPS disciplines as their level 3 limit break.

Level	Ability	Cast	Animation lock	Range	Area	Status
1	Skyshard	2s	3.1s	25y	8y radius	—
1	Skyshard	Delivers an attack to all enemies in the target area, dealing 0.6x the damage of Braver.
2	Starstorm	3s	5.1s	25y	10y radius	—
2	Starstorm	Delivers an attack to all enemies in the target area, dealing 1.3x the damage of Braver.
3	Meteor	4.5s	8.1s	25y	15y radius	—
	Teraflare	Delivers an attack to all enemies in the target area, dealing 2.1x the damage of Braver.
	Vermilion Scourge

Ungarmax[]

Ungarmax is a special limit break that is only available while running a command mission with an Adventurer Squadron. Using the Execute Limit Break squadron command will have the squadron members perform it. Ungarmax consumes only one limit bar, but requires all three squadron members to be conscious. There is no level 2 squadron limit break. Players can also execute the regular limit break of their current discipline instead of using Ungarmax.

Ungarmax was at one point the centerpiece of an exploit that allowed it to be used outside of Command Missions via the /ac Ungarmax text command due to a programming oversight when it was implemented in patch 4.1. The exploit went mostly undiscovered for over 5 months before news of it began to spread throughout the playerbase, with players finding that the significant damage boost it provided allowed it to outperform even level 3 limit breaks. In response the development team took down all servers for emergency maintenance to remove the exploit, punish players who had abused it, and to improve their anti-cheat measures.^[1]

Level	Ability	Cast	Range	Area	Status
1	Ungarmax	3s	14y	20y radius (buff only)	Damage Up
1	Ungarmax	Orders squadron to execute a limit break on a single target. Also increases damage dealt by party members within a 20-yalm range. Duration:15s Can only be executed while on a command mission, limit gauge is at level 1, and all three squadron members are conscious.

PvP Limit Breaks[]

Prior to the release of patch 6.1, Limit Breaks were not available in Player vs. Player environs, with Adrenaline Rushes taking their place. Following the PvP rework and introduction of Crystalline Conflict with said patch, Adrenaline Rushes were replaced with brand new Limit Breaks exclusive to PvP. Each Limit Break available in PvP fills at different speeds, depending on the job, and features unique mechanical usage per job.

Tank

Gauge fill time	Action Name	Cast	Range	Area	Status
120s	Phalanx	Instant	0y	15y radius (Phalanx status only)	Hallowed Ground (caster) Blade of Faith Ready (caster) Phalanx (teammates)
120s	Phalanx	Grants the effect of Hallowed Ground to self and Phalanx to nearby party members. Hallowed Ground Effect: Renders you impervious to all attacks Duration: 10s Phalanx Effect: Reduces damage taken by 50% Duration: 10s Additional Effect: Grants Blade of Faith Ready Duration: 10s Can only be executed when the limit gauge is full. ※Action changes to Blade of Faith upon execution.
90s	Primal Scream	Instant	0y	12y cone	Inner Release Thrill of Battle
90s	Primal Scream	Let out a bloodcurdling cry in a cone before you, rendering enemies unable to use Guard. Duration: 15s Additional Effect: Grants Inner Release and Thrill of Battle Inner Release Effect: Increases the potency of Primal Rend and Chaotic Cyclone, while also increasing movement speed, and granting immunity to Stun, Heavy, Bind, Silence, Half-asleep, Sleep, Deep Freeze, and knockback and draw-in effects Duration: 15s Cannot execute Guard while under the effect of Inner Release. Thrill of Battle Effect: Increases maximum HP by 20% and restores the amount increased Duration: 30s Can only be executed when the limit gauge is full. ※Storm's Path Combo changes to Fell Cleave while under the effect of Inner Release.
90s	Eventide	Instant	0y	30y line	Undead Redemption Blackblood
90s	Eventide	Delivers an attack to all enemies in a straight line before and behind you. Potency increases up to 20,000 as HP nears maximum. HP is reduced to 1 upon execution. Additional Effect: Grants Undead Redemption Undead Redemption Effect: Attacks cannot reduce your HP to less than 1, and you absorb 100% of weaponskill damage dealt as HP Duration: 10s Additional Effect: Grants Blackblood Duration: 10s Can only be executed when the limit gauge is full. ※Souleater Combo changes to Bloodspiller while under the effect of Blackblood.
60s	Relentless Rush	Instant	0y	5y radius	Relentless Rush (caster) Relentless Shrapnel (target)
	Relentless Rush	Unleashes a flurry of blade strikes on nearby enemies, dealing damage over time with a potency of 4,000 and reducing damage taken by 25% until effect expires. Duration: 4s Activates Terminal Trigger when effect duration expires. Additional Effect: Afflicts target with Relentless Shrapnel, increasing damage taken by 4% per stack Duration: 5s Maximum Stacks: 5 Can be executed while moving. Can only be executed when the limit gauge is full. ※Action changes to Terminal Trigger upon execution.
	Terminal Trigger	1s recast	0y	5y radius	Relentless Shrapnel (target)
	Terminal Trigger	Delivers an attack with a potency of 12,000 to all nearby enemies. Additional Effect: Stun Duration: 3s Can only be executed while under the effect of Relentless Rush. Relentless Rush effect expires upon execution. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.

Healer

Gauge fill time	Action Name	Cast	Range	Area	Status
60s	Afflatus Purgation	Instant	40y	40y line	Temperance
60s	Afflatus Purgation	Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 18,000 to all enemies in a straight line before you. Additional Effect: Stun Duration: 2s Additional Effect: Grants Temperance Temperance Effect: Increases damage dealt and healing potency by 10%, and grants Regen to self and nearby party members within 30 yalms Cure Potency: 4,000 Duration: 15s Can only be executed when the limit gauge is full.
90s	Summon Seraph	Instant	30y	10y radius	Recitation
	Summon Seraph	Summons Seraph to fight at a designated location. Seraph will execute Seraph Flight immediately after being summoned. Automatically casts Seraphic Veil on party members who suffer damage. Additional Effect: Grants Recitation Recitation Effect: Increases the potency of Galvanize, Biolysis, and Biolytic effects Duration: 15s Can only be executed when the limit gauge is full. ※Action changes to Consolation upon execution.
	Seraph Flight	1s recast	0y	10y radius	Seraph Flight, Excogitation
	Seraph Flight	Grants Seraph Flight and Excogitation to all nearby party members. Seraph Flight Effect: Nullifies the next status affliction that can be removed by Purify Duration: 20s Excogitation Effect: Restores HP when HP falls below 50% or upon effect duration expiration Cure Potency: 8,000 Duration: 20s ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
120s	Celestial River	Instant	0y	15y radius	Celestial River
120s	Celestial River	Reduces damage dealt by nearby enemies by 30%. Effect is reduced by 10% every 5 seconds. Duration: 15s Additional Effect: Increases damage dealt by self and nearby party members by 30%. Effect is reduced by 10% every 5s. Duration: 15s Can only be executed when the limit gauge is full.
120s	Mesotes	Instant	0y	15y radius	Mesotes, Mesotes (party), Lype (enemies)
120s	Mesotes	Erects a magicked barrier at a select location, granting party members the effect of Mesotes and afflicting enemies with the effect of Lype when standing inside. Duration: 15s Mesotes Effect: Negates all damage from enemies who are not under the effect of Lype Duration: 5s Lype Effect: Damage over time Potency: 8,000 Duration: 5s The barrier can be relocated once before its effect expires, but the effect duration will not be reset. Can only be executed when the limit gauge is full.

Melee DPS

Gauge fill time	Action Name	Cast	Range	Area	Status
60s	Meteodrive	Instant	20y	0Y	Meteodrive (on target)
60s	Meteodrive	Rushes target and delivers an attack with a potency of 12,000. Additional Effect: Removes target's Guard Additional Effect: Afflicts target with Meteodrive, rendering them unable to move Duration: 3s If target does not have an active Guard effect, deals additional damage with a potency of 12,000. Effect cannot be applied to players riding machina or non-player combatants. Can only be executed when the limit gauge is full. Cannot be executed while bound.
90s	Sky High	Instant	0y	0y radius
	Sky High	Jump high into the air, preventing enemies from targeting you. Movement is still possible before landing. Duration: 5s Additional Effect: Removes Heavy, Bind, and Half-asleep Executes Sky Shatter automatically when effect duration expires. Can only be executed when the limit gauge is full. ※Action changes to Sky Shatter upon execution.
	Sky Shatter	Instant	0y	10y circle
	Sky Shatter	Delivers an attack with a potency of 20,000 to all nearby enemies. Potency increases by 50% when targets are within 5 yalms. Additional Effect: Creates a barrier that absorbs damage totaling 25% of your maximum HP Duration: 10s Can only be executed while under the effect of Sky High. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
90s	Seiton Tenchu	Instant	20y	0y	Death Link (target), Seiton Tenchu Ready (self)
90s	Seiton Tenchu	Rushes target and delivers an attack with a potency of 10,000, incapacitating foes whose HP is below 50%. Additional Effect: Afflicts target with Death Link Duration: 5s Defeating an enemy with this action, or one under the effect of Death Link, will grant Seiton Tenchu Ready, allowing a second execution of this action. Duration: 10s Effect cannot be applied to players riding machina or non-player combatants. Can only be executed when the limit gauge is full or while under the effect of Seiton Tenchu Ready. Cannot be executed while bound.
120s	Zantetsuken	Instant	20y	5y radius
120s	Zantetsuken	Swiftly charges forward, dealing damage to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 24,000. If target is afflicted with Kuzushi, deals damage equal to 100% of their maximum HP. Ignores the effects of Guard when dealing damage. The additional effect of Kuzushi cannot be applied to players riding a machina and non-player combatants. Can only be executed when the limit gauge is full. Cannot be executed while bound.
90s	Tenebrae Lemurum	Instant	0y	10y radius	Enshrouded (self), Hysteria (enemies)
90s	Tenebrae Lemurum	Offers your flesh as a vessel to your avatar, gaining 5 stacks of Enshrouded. Duration: 15s Additional Effect: Afflicts nearby enemies with Hysteria Hysteria Effect: Afflicted enemies are unable to act of their own free will Duration: 2s Can only be executed when the limit gauge is full. ※Action changes to Communio while under the effect of Enshrouded. ※Grim Swathe changes to Lemure's Slice while under the effect of Enshrouded. ※Infernal Slice Combo changes to Void Reaping while under the effect of Enshrouded.

Physical Ranged DPS

Gauge fill time	Action Name	Cast	Range	Area	Status
120s	Final Fantasia	Instant	0y	30Y radius	Final Fantasia (self), Heroes' Fantasia (party members)
120s	Final Fantasia	Grants Final Fantasia to self and Heroes' Fantasia to nearby party members. Final Fantasia Effect: Reduces weaponskill cast time and recast time by 10% while also increasing movement speed Duration: 30s Heroes' Fantasia Effect: Increases damage dealt by 10% and gradually fills the limit gauge Duration: 30s Can only be executed when the limit gauge is full. Effect can only be activated while target is in combat.
90s	Marksman's Spite	Instant	50y	0y
90s	Marksman's Spite	Delivers a ranged attack with a potency of 36,000. Can only be executed when the limit gauge is full.
90s	Contradance	Instant	0y	15y circle	Seduced
90s	Contradance	Charms nearby enemies. Duration: 2s Damage you deal to charmed enemies will extend the effect duration by 2s. This effect can only be extended once. Can only be executed when the limit gauge is full.

Magical Ranged DPS

Gauge fill time	Action Name	Cast	Range	Area	Status
60s	Soul Resonance	Instant	0y	0Y	Polyglot, Apocatastasis
60s	Soul Resonance	Grants 6 stacks of Soul Resonance, upgrading Fire to Flare and Blizzard to Freeze. Additional Effect: Grants Polyglot and Apocatastasis Polyglot Effect: Action changes to Foul Duration: 60s Apocatastasis Effect: Damage taken is reduced by 10% Duration: 15s Additional Effect: Reduces the recast time of Superflare by 15 seconds Can only be executed when the limit gauge is full.
90s	Summon Bahamut	Instant (10s recast)	30y	15y radius	Dreadwyrm Trance
	Summon Bahamut	Enters Dreadwyrm Trance and summons Demi-Bahamut to fight at a designated location. Duration: 20s Demi-Bahamut will execute Megaflare upon being summoned, then execute Wyrmwave automatically, prioritizing targets with the lowest HP within 30 yalms. Can only be executed when the limit gauge is full. ※Action changes to Enkindle Bahamut upon execution. ※Ruin III changes to Astral Impulse while under the effect of Dreadwyrm Trance.
	Megaflare	Instant (1s recast)	0y	15y circle
	Megaflare	Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 18,000 to all nearby enemies. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
	Summon Phoenix	Instant	30y	15y radius
	Summon Phoenix	Enters Firebird Trance and summons Demi-Phoenix to fight at a designated location. Duration: 20s Demi-Phoenix will execute Everlasting Flight upon being summoned, then execute Scarlet Flame automatically, prioritizing the closest target within 30 yalms. Can only be executed when the limit gauge is full. ※Action changes to Enkindle Phoenix upon execution. ※Ruin III changes to Fountain of Fire while under the effect of Firebird Trance.
	Everlasting Flight	Instant (1s recast)	0y	15y circle	Everlasting Flight
	Everlasting Flight	Gradually restores own HP and the HP of all nearby party members. Cure Potency: 4,000 Duration: 15s Additional Effect: Restores HP when HP falls below 25% or upon effect duration expiration Cure Potency: 12,000 ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
90s	Southern Cross	Instant	30y	15Y cross
90s	Southern Cross	Emblazons a grand cross on the ground beneath a party member or enemy, restoring HP of party members within range while damaging enemies. Cure Potency: 6,000 Damage Potency: 6,000 White Shift Effect: Cure potency is doubled Black Shift Effect: Damage potency is doubled Targets standing at the cross's center will receive the effects of this action twice. Can only be executed when the limit gauge is full.