Reduces the enemy's Attack Pwr.
Description
Power Break is a Swd Art in Final Fantasy IX used by Steiner to attempt to lower an enemy's Strength by 25% per successful use for a cost of 8 MP.
Obtained[]
Power Break is learned for 40 AP from the Diamond Sword, found in Oeilvert and bought from Mogshops around this time, as well as from Esto Gaza after the events in Desert Palace. All of these locations become inaccessible after entering the Shimmering Island portal, meaning that Power Break is missable.
Mechanics[]
Power Break attempts to lower the enemy's Strength by 25% per use. It has a 50% base accuracy, but successive uses on the same enemy stack, greatly weakening the foe. It works on any enemy and the effect cannot be dispelled once inflicted, as the effect is a stat reduction rather than a status effect.
Use[]
Power Break weakens an enemy. Though the stat reduction is formidable, Break moves' downside is that Steiner is one of the party's strongest damage-dealers, and Power Break would use his turn for something other than offense, and it may miss.
In battles where the player is "idling" while waiting for Zidane to steal all goods on offer, Steiner's Break moves may come to use: they weaken the enemy, but do not kill it off.
Behind the scenes[]
Power Break originates from the Knights' Rend Power ability from Final Fantasy Tactics. After appearing in Final Fantasy IX, the Break abilities went on to appear as much more useful abilities in Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy XII. The debuffs in Final Fantasy XIII could also be seen as being in the same continuation.