Paradigm

21:36, February 21, 2014 (UTC)

Sazh enacting a Paradigm Shift.

Each party member is assigned an offensive, defensive, or healing role. Executing a Paradigm Shift will allow the player to change each character's role. Using different paradigms for different situations is key to winning these real-time battles. Quick thinking and smart tactics keep the battles intense and enjoyable.

UK XIII-2 Official Website

A paradigm (パラダイム, Paradaimu?), also known as an optima (オプティマ, Oputima?), is a party composition based on roles in Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XIII-2. The player can preset up to six paradigms when outside of battle. During battle the player can freely switch between the preset paradigms via /, also known as a Paradigm Shift (パラダイムシフト, Paradaimu Shifuto?) or an Optima Change (オプティマチェンジ, Oputima Chenji?). Setting paradigms and shifting at optimal times during battle is the core of formulating winning strategies.

In Final Fantasy XIII-2, paradigm names' suffixes may change according to the Paradigm Tune the player has selected for each paradigm. The player has only two main characters, but once the Paradigm Pack option unlocks the player can include a third party member from their roster of captured monsters.

Shifting paradigms 1,000 times in Final Fantasy XIII-2 earns the player the "Strategist" achievement/trophy.

Role

The Paradigm Shift menu in battle.

The Paradigm menu.

Roles (ロール, Rōru?) are a gameplay element unique to Final Fantasy XIII. The system is akin to past Final Fantasy job systems, however, each role resembles a mix of jobs. Monster allies in Final Fantasy XIII-2 have only one role each, and thus when paradigm shifting with monsters in the party, the monster itself changes to another monster whose role corresponds with the chosen paradigm.

The names differ between the English and the Japanese releases:

• Commando (COM) / Attacker (ATK)
• Ravager (RAV) / Blaster (BLA)
• Sentinel (SEN) / Defender (DEF)
• Saboteur (SAB) / Jammer (JAM)
• Synergist (SYN) / Enhancer (ENH)
• Medic (MED) / Healer (HLR)

Lightning also has six additional roles in her DLC episode of Final Fantasy XIII-2:

• Paladin (PLD) / Attack Paladin (ATK-PLD), a role similar to Commando.
• Mage (MGE) / Blast Wizard (BLA-WIZ), a role similar to Ravager that uses lightning-attribute magic attacks.
• Shaman (SHA) / Blast Shaman (BLA-SHM), a role similar to Ravager that uses wind-attribute physical attacks.
• Knight (KNT) / Defense Knight (DEF-KNT), a role similar to Sentinel.
• Conjurer (CNJ) / Enhance Adept (ENH-ADP), a role similar to Synergist.
• Sorcerer (SRC) / Jamming Witch (JAM-WTC), a role similar to Saboteur.

Each role is set to a character by default, although after a point, the player can freely switch between roles for each character outside of battle.

The localization team was asked to help with the naming of the roles, and the team intended to use different names in Japan and the US/EU from the start. The English translators brainstormed and proposed both sets. For the Japanese version, they needed English words that sounded cool when rendered into Japanese, and would be understood by non-English-speaking Japanese players. For the localized version, the team's focus was on creating names that would have a more sci-fi feel to a native speaker's ear, and also abbreviate to three letters in a way that looked natural and made the short forms easily distinguishable from one another.

Paradigm Shift

See also: Command Synergy Battle

Paradigm Shift in Final Fantasy XIII-2.

The ATB gauge continues to fill during a Paradigm Shift, although commands cannot be input or carried out by the player for its duration. Any queued commands will be canceled and the unused portion of the ATB gauge will be saved. Shifting paradigms also fully refills everyone's ATB gauge at a regular interval; there is a 12-second cooldown for this effect after each time it activates. The computer-controlled characters have their commands automatically selected immediately following the shift.

In Final Fantasy XIII, the first Paradigm Shift in each battle has a longer animation, which can be bypassed by only shifting during an animation that cannot be cancelled by the Paradigm Shift.

1. During an Attack command special animation (gunshot for Lightning, rifle shot for Sazh, three-sectioned staff blows for Fang).
2. While airborne, either launched by an enemy or attacking a launched enemy.
3. While using a character's full ATB skill.

Circumventing the long animation will make the next shift have the long animation.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 removes the long animation from the initial shift to reduce time spent shifting between various paradigms. If a battle begins as a result of the Mog Clock running out, the initial paradigm shift will not refill the party's ATB gauges. Shifting will also be disabled for the first few seconds if the Clock Master Fragment Skill is set to "High speed", unless a Preemptive Strike is obtained. Since the third space in the party is filled by Paradigm Pack monsters with differing HP levels, the HP percentage remains constant between monster companions when switching. For example, a monster at critical health will transfer its critical status to the monster switching in, and a KO'd monster will remain KO'd. Since only the percentage remains the same, the monster ally's hit points can potentially increase or decrease dramatically when the role is switched.

Settings

With six roles and three maximum playable party members, it is possible to set up to 83 paradigms, sorted in the tables below by the number of contributing party members. The names for these paradigms remain the same from Final Fantasy XIII to Final Fantasy XIII-2.

Names shown in brackets are direct translations from Japanese.

Single

Name	Role	Description
Commando (Attacker(Name in Japanese: アタッカー))	Commando	Attacks enemies with the goal of dealing as much damage as possible.
Ravager (Blaster(Name in Japanese: ブラスター))	Ravager	Attacks enemies with the aim of quickly building chains.
Sentinel (Defender(Name in Japanese: ディフェンダー))	Sentinel	Draws and defends against the attacks of enemies.
Saboteur (Jammer(Name in Japanese: ジャマー))	Saboteur	Focuses on weakening opponents, debilitating them when overwhelmed.
Synergist (Enhancer(Name in Japanese: エンハンサー))	Synergist	Focuses on augmenting offense and defense, defending when overwhelmed.
Medic (Healer(Name in Japanese: ヒーラー))	Medic	Concentrates on healing and recovery.

Double

Name	Role 1	Role 2	Description
Double Trouble (Double Attacker(Name in Japanese: ダブルアタッカー))	Commando	Commando	Each COM attacks its own target.
Slash & Burn (Attack & Blast(Name in Japanese: アタック＆ブラスト))	Commando	Ravager	COM and RAV combine their attacks to take down one enemy at a time.
Misdirection (Attack & Defense(Name in Japanese: アタック＆ディフェンス))	Commando	Sentinel	SEN focuses on drawing enemy aggression while COM attacks.
Divide & Conquer (Attack & Jamming(Name in Japanese: アタック＆ジャミング))	Commando	Saboteur	SAB debilitates enemies and COM attacks them.
Supersoldier (Attack & Enhanced(Name in Japanese: アタック＆エンハンス))	Commando	Synergist	COM attacks enemies, augmented by SYN's enhancements.
War & Peace (Attack & Heal(Name in Japanese: アタック＆ヒール))	Commando	Medic	COM attacks enemies while MED concentrates on healing.
Dualcasting (Double Blaster(Name in Japanese: ダブルブラスター))	Ravager	Ravager	Both RAVs concentrate their attacks on the same target.
Arcane Defense (Blast & Defense(Name in Japanese: ブラスト＆ディフェンス))	Ravager	Sentinel	SEN draws enemy aggression while RAV attacks.
Undermine (Blast & Jamming(Name in Japanese: ブラスト＆ジャミング))	Ravager	Saboteur	RAV attacks while SAB attempts to weaken enemies.
Archmage (Blast & Enhanced(Name in Japanese: ブラスト＆エンハンス))	Ravager	Synergist	RAV attacks enemies, augmented by SYN's enhancements.
Yin & Yang (Blast & Heal(Name in Japanese: ブラスト＆ヒール))	Ravager	Medic	MED heals while RAV attacks enemies.
Twin Shields (Double Defender(Name in Japanese: ダブルディフェンダー))	Sentinel	Sentinel	Both SENs defend against enemy attacks.
Stumbling Block (Defense & Jamming(Name in Japanese: ディフェンス＆ジャミング))	Sentinel	Saboteur	SEN protects SAB, who attempts to weaken enemies.
Building Block (Defense & Enhance(Name in Japanese: ディフェンス＆エンハンス))	Sentinel	Synergist	SEN protects SYN, who focuses on strengthening the party.
Lifeguard (Defense & Heal(Name in Japanese: ディフェンス＆ヒール))	Sentinel	Medic	SEN protects MED, who concentrates on healing.
Havoc (Double Jammer(Name in Japanese: ダブルジャマー))	Saboteur	Saboteur	Both SABs attempt to quickly weaken and debilitate enemies.
Tide Turner (Jamming & Enhance(Name in Japanese: ジャミング＆エンハンス))	Saboteur	Synergist	SAB weakens opponents while SYN focuses on strengthening the party.
Sap & Salve (Jamming & Heal(Name in Japanese: ジャミング＆ヒール))	Saboteur	Medic	SAB weakens opponents while MED handles healing.
Rally (Double Enhancer(Name in Japanese: ダブルエンハンサー))	Synergist	Synergist	Both SYNs focus on quickly strengthening the party.
Symbiosis (Enhance & Heal(Name in Japanese: エンハンス＆ヒール))	Synergist	Medic	MED handles healing while SYN focuses on strengthening the party.
Double Dose (Double Healer(Name in Japanese: ダブルヒーラー))	Medic	Medic	Both MEDs concentrate on healing.

Triple

Name	Role 1	Role 2	Role 3	Description
Cerberus	Commando	Commando	Commando	Each COM attacks its own target. Effective for picking off weaker enemies.
Aggression (Furious(Name in Japanese: フューリアス))	Commando	Commando	Ravager	RAV and one COM attack a common target while other COM attacks its own.
Offensive Screen (Legion of Steel(Name in Japanese: 鋼のレギオン))	Commando	Commando	Sentinel	SEN defends against dangerous attacks while COMs focus on dealing damage.
Devastation (Aggression(Name in Japanese: アグレッション))	Commando	Commando	Saboteur	COMs attack separate targets while SAB weakens dangerous opponents.
Strike Team (Leap of Two Heroes(Name in Japanese: 躍進の両雄))	Commando	Commando	Synergist	COMs attack separate targets while SYN supports with enhancements.
Tireless Charge (Unshakable Conquerors(Name in Japanese: 揺るぎなき覇者))	Commando	Commando	Medic	COMs attack separate targets while MED supports with healing.
Relentless Assault (Rush Assault(Name in Japanese: ラッシュアサルト))	Commando	Ravager	Ravager	COM and RAVs focus on taking down one target at a time.
Delta Attack	Commando	Ravager	Sentinel	SEN draws enemy aggression while COM and RAV attack a common target.
Ruthless (Warring Demons of Destruction(Name in Japanese: 撃滅の戦鬼))	Commando	Ravager	Saboteur	COM and RAV combine their attacks while SAB attempts to weaken enemies.
Decimation (Storming Dragon-Tiger(Name in Japanese: 風雲の龍虎))	Commando	Ravager	Synergist	COM and RAV coordinate attacks, augmented by SYN's enhancements.
Diversity (Brave Paean(Name in Japanese: 勇戦の凱歌))	Commando	Ravager	Medic	COM and RAV coordinate attacks while MED supports with healing.
Guarded Assault (Impregnable(Name in Japanese: インブレグナブル))	Commando	Sentinel	Sentinel	SENs defend while the lone COM attacks. Limited in effectiveness.
Dirty Fighting (Rebellion(Name in Japanese: リベリオン))	Commando	Sentinel	Saboteur	COM attacks enemies weakened by SAB while SEN defends against them.
Strategic Warfare (Rousing Challenger(Name in Japanese: 奮起の挑戦者))	Commando	Sentinel	Synergist	COM attacks and SEN defends while SYN strengthens them.
Solidarity (Determination to Victory(Name in Japanese: 勝利への決意))	Commando	Sentinel	Medic	MED heals and SEN defends while COM attacks enemies.
Exploitation (Calamity Circus(Name in Japanese: カラミティサーカス))	Commando	Saboteur	Saboteur	COM attacks while SABs attempt to weaken dangerous enemies.
Bully (Leader's Counterattack(Name in Japanese: 逆襲の魁))	Commando	Saboteur	Synergist	COM, augmented by SYN's enhancements, attacks enemies weakened by SAB.
Scouting Party (Blessing to the Hunters(Name in Japanese: 狩人への祝福))	Commando	Saboteur	Medic	SAB weakens opponents while COM attacks them and MED heals the party.
All for One (The Lionheart King(Name in Japanese: 獅子心王))	Commando	Synergist	Synergist	SYNs strengthen COM, who picks off weaker enemies in the meantime.
Hero's Charge (Indomitable Warrior(Name in Japanese: 不屈の戦士))	Commando	Synergist	Medic	COM dispatches targets with healing and support from MED and SYN.
Discretion (Patriotic Ambitions(Name in Japanese: 青雲の志士))	Commando	Medic	Medic	Both MEDs focus on healing while lone COM attacks enemies.
Tri-disaster	Ravager	Ravager	Ravager	All three RAVs combine their attacks, attempting to quickly fill chain gauges.
Mystic Tower (Vanguard(Name in Japanese: ヴァンガード))	Ravager	Ravager	Sentinel	RAVs combine their attacks while SEN protects them from dangerous enemies.
Smart Bomb (Catastrophe(Name in Japanese: カタストロフィー))	Ravager	Ravager	Saboteur	RAVs combine their attacks while SAB weakens dangerous opponents.
Malevolence (Mage Parade(Name in Japanese: 魔道のパレード))	Ravager	Ravager	Synergist	RAVs coordinate their attacks, augmented by SYN's enhancements.
Thaumaturgy (Spirits' Oratorio(Name in Japanese: 精霊のオラトリオ))	Ravager	Ravager	Medic	MED heals while RAVs combine their attacks against a common target.
Patient Probing (Intercept(Name in Japanese: インターセプト))	Ravager	Sentinel	Sentinel	SENs defend while the lone RAV attacks. Limited in effectiveness.
Matador	Ravager	Sentinel	Saboteur	RAV attacks enemies weakened by SAB while SEN defends against them.
Riot Shield (March of the Intercept(Name in Japanese: 迎撃のマーチ))	Ravager	Sentinel	Synergist	SEN defends while RAV attacks, augmented by SYN's enhancements.
Entourage (Hymn of Defense(Name in Japanese: 抗戦の賛歌))	Ravager	Sentinel	Medic	SEN draws enemy aggression while MED heals and RAV attacks.
Assassination (Sense of the Turbulent Storm(Name in Japanese: 感乱の嵐))	Ravager	Saboteur	Saboteur	RAV attacks enemies heavily weakened by two SABs.
Guerrilla (Strategical Rhapsody(Name in Japanese: 謀略のラプソディ))	Ravager	Saboteur	Synergist	RAV attacks while SAB weakens enemies and SYN strengthens the party.
Variety (Dexterous(Name in Japanese: デクスタラス))	Ravager	Saboteur	Medic	SAB weakens opponents while RAV attacks and MED heals.
Supernatural (Unparalleled Force(Name in Japanese: 無双のフォース))	Ravager	Synergist	Synergist	RAV attacks enemies, heavily augmented by two SYNs.
Coordination (Bravery(Name in Japanese: ブレイヴァリー))	Ravager	Synergist	Medic	MED heals while RAV attacks enemies, augmented by SYN's enhancements.
Perpetual Magic (Majin of Immortality(Name in Japanese: 不死の魔人))	Ravager	Medic	Medic	RAV attacks enemies while MEDs rapidly heal the party.
Tortoise (Great Wall(Name in Japanese: グレートウォール))	Sentinel	Sentinel	Sentinel	All three SENs tighten their defenses. Effective for withstanding area attacks.
Overcaution (Fortress(Name in Japanese: フォートレス))	Sentinel	Sentinel	Saboteur	SENs protect SAB, who attempts to weaken enemies. Limited in effectiveness.
Conservation (Twin Iron Cliff(Name in Japanese: 鉄の双璧))	Sentinel	Sentinel	Synergist	Both SENs defend while SYN strengthens the party. Limited in effectiveness.
Consolidation (Impregnable Fortress(Name in Japanese: 不落の砦))	Sentinel	Sentinel	Medic	Both SENs defend while MED heals the party. Limited in effectiveness.
Countermeasure (Tactical Avenger(Name in Japanese: 策謀の復讐者))	Sentinel	Saboteur	Saboteur	SEN protects SABs while they weaken dangerous enemies.
Premeditation (Beacon of Counterattack(Name in Japanese: 反撃の狼煙))	Sentinel	Saboteur	Synergist	SEN defends while SAB weakens opponents and SYN strengthens the party.
Attrition (Resistance(Name in Japanese: レジスタンス))	Sentinel	Saboteur	Medic	MED heals and SEN defends while SAB attempts to weaken enemies.
Prudent Planning (Mighty Guard(Name in Japanese: マイティガード))	Sentinel	Synergist	Synergist	SEN protects two SYNs while they strengthen the party.
Protection (Guardian of the Patient(Name in Japanese: 忍耐の守護者))	Sentinel	Synergist	Medic	SEN defends while MED heals and SYN focuses on strengthening the party.
Combat Clinic (Phoenix(Name in Japanese: フェニックス))	Sentinel	Medic	Medic	SEN protects two MEDs while they concentrate on rapid healing.
Infiltration (Ashura(Name in Japanese: アシュラ))	Saboteur	Saboteur	Saboteur	SABs attempt to quickly weaken and debilitate even resistant enemies.
Espionage (Merciless Disaster(Name in Japanese: 無慈悲なる災厄))	Saboteur	Saboteur	Synergist	SABs attempt to weaken enemies while SYN supports with enhancements.
Safe Subversion (Chorus of the Underworld(Name in Japanese: 冥界のコーラス))	Saboteur	Saboteur	Medic	SABs attempt to weaken enemies while MED supports with healing.
Superiority (Formidable(Name in Japanese: フォーミダブル))	Saboteur	Synergist	Synergist	SYNs strengthen the party while SAB attempts to weaken enemies.
Evened Odds (Trinity Union(Name in Japanese: トリニティユニオン))	Saboteur	Synergist	Medic	MED heals while SYN strengthens allies and SAB weakens enemies.
Perseverance (Tenacious Strategy(Name in Japanese: 執拗なる計略))	Saboteur	Medic	Medic	MEDs concentrate on healing while SAB attempts to weaken enemies.
Rapid Growth (Trismegistos(Name in Japanese: トリスメギストス))	Synergist	Synergist	Synergist	All three SYNs focus on strengthen the party to take on powerful enemies.
Recuperation (Fruitful Showers of Blessing(Name in Japanese: 恵みの慈雨))	Synergist	Synergist	Medic	MED heals while SYNs focus on strengthening the party.
Convalescence (White Wind(Name in Japanese: ホワイトウィンド))	Synergist	Medic	Medic	Both MEDs concentrate on healing while SYN strengthens the party.
Salvation (Asclepius(Name in Japanese: アスクレピオス))	Medic	Medic	Medic	MEDs concentrate on healing, quickly removing numerous status ailments.

Tuning

Paradigm menu in Final Fantasy XIII-2.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 lets the player tune paradigms in the menu to specify the AI-controlled party members' behavior. Tuned paradigms get the suffix of -X or -W.

Normal adapts to the situation, Wide (lit. "Spread") makes each party member target a different enemy (or ally, when healing and buffing), and Cross (lit. "Concentrate") makes everyone act on a single target.

Suffix -X is added to "Cross" tune, meaning the paradigm will concentrate on a single enemy unit. Suffix -W is added to "Wide" tune, meaning the paradigm will spread its attacks on all enemies. Paradigms with no suffixes will follow their "original" tunes. When a paradigm is set to a Cross tune, Serah will only use the sword form of her weapon regardless of distance, and while one is set to Wide, she will only use her bow form. Standard tuning will have her switch according to distance. The exception is when the paradigm has Serah in the Sentinel role, wherein she will always use her weapon's sword form even if the Paradigm is Wide-tuned.

Other appearances

Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy

Lightning shifting Paradigms.

Lightning's battle style is an adapted form of the Paradigm System. By pressing and during battle, Lightning can change between the Commando, Ravager, and Medic Paradigms, signified by the name of the new Paradigm being displayed and a visual effect engulfing Lightning briefly. Each Paradigm has its own set of Bravery attacks, with HP attacks being shared across all three, and allow Lightning to quickly change up her fighting style. Commando focuses on physical attacks, Ravager focuses on magic attacks, and Medic allows Lightning to cast healing spells to increase her Bravery without attacking.

Dissidia Final Fantasy NT

Paradigm Shift.

Lightning lacks the Medic role, leaving her with only the Commando and Ravager paradigms. Otherwise, her battle style is near-identical to that of 012's Lightning.

By clicking the left joystick, Lightning can switch between the Commando and Ravager, each with its own set of Bravery attacks. HP attacks are shared across both paradigms. The Commando paradigm is built around close-range attacks, whereas the Ravager paradigm uses long-ranged projectiles.

Final Fantasy Record Keeper

Paradigm Shift.

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Behind the scenes

Screenshot shows GLA assigned to Lightning, AUG to Snow, and TAC to Vanille.

When the Final Fantasy XIII project was at its inception, first person shooters were becoming more popular. The developers thus wanted to keep away from the traditional RPG style (tactical and command-based), and make the game faster and more action-based. Though the developers hadn't thought of this particular battle system before, it didn't take long to produce it. The development team would have wanted the characters' appearance to change for each role, but this wasn't possible due to limited system resources. With only a single playable character in Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, this became possible with the garb system.

In an advertisement for E3 2009, three of the six roles have different names and abbreviations: Gladiator (GLA) for Commando (COM), Augmenter (AUG) for Synergist (SYN), and Tactician (TAC) for Saboteur (SAB) in their respective colors. Paradigm naming also had a different pattern.

Paradigm shift and paradigm roles are not available in the Final Fantasy XIII demo; instead, the player queues up all available abilities, mixing different types to the same command queue.

The only time the player can see Twin Shields, Stumbling Block, Havoc, or Rally without using a cheating device in Final Fantasy XIII is the battle against Hecatoncheir. Stumbling Block is put into the Paradigm Deck by default, but to see the other three, the player needs to get a Game Over on the fight or Retry it. Furthermore, Twin Shields requires the player to teach the Sentinel role to Vanille, and Rally requires the player to teach the Synergist role to both Fang and Vanille.

A party of Lightning, Fang, and Hope/Vanille can learn every skill from every role (excluding the exclusive full ATB skills).

According to a Brain Blast! question in Academia, the term "paradigm shift" is used by office workers to refer to reshuffling staff.

Gallery

Paradigm Shift menu in Final Fantasy XIII-2.

Paradigm Shift in Final Fantasy XIII-2.

Lightning and Amodar Paradigm Shifting.

Etymology

[view · edit · purge]A paradigm is a concept, thought pattern or a point of view depending on one's experience. A paradigm shift describes a fundamental change in ideology, usually in the field of science. For example, Darwin's theory of evolution replacing Lamarck's theories and creationism is a paradigm shift.

The Japanese name of Rapid Growth, Trismegistos, alludes to Hermes Trismegistus.

The paradigm Cerberus refers to the mythological creature. [view · edit · purge]Cerberus is a three-headed dog that guards the underworld's gates in Greek mythology.

The Japanese name of Salvation is Asclepius. [view · edit · purge]Asclepius was a hero and god of medicine in ancient Greek religion and mythology. It refers to the paradigm's unrivaled healing potency.

The paradigm All for One alludes to the Three Musketeers, a novel by Alexandre Dumas, whose titular heroes' motto is "all for one and one for all". The paradigm's Japanese name is literally The Lionheart King, which could allude to King Richard the Lionheart of England and the folkloric portrayal of his braveness. The paradigm War & Peace gets its name from War and Peace, a novel by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy.

The Japanese name of Decimation paradigm is Storming Dragon-Tiger. Various martial arts disciplines have symbolized the eternal rivalry between the dragon and the tiger, and both are needed to achieve the delicate balance of energies. A Chinese idiom to describe equal rivals (often in sports) is "Dragon versus Tiger".

Some of the paradigms in both the English and Japanese versions refer to various terms in the series: Delta Attack (both) refers to the signature attack of Magus Sisters, Tri-disaster (both) refers to an ability of the same name that deals damage of multiple elements, Dualcasting (EN) to the ability to cast two magic spells at once, Mighty Guard (JP) to magic that grants positive status effects on the target, and White Wind (JP) to a healing spell which removes negative status effects as well.