Sphere Break

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Game opening.

The probability you'll win is slim at best.

Shinra in the Sphere Break finals

Sphere Break is a newly established coin-game in Final Fantasy X-2. Funded by the entrepreneurial Al Bhed, Rin, the game was designed as a source of entertainment during blitzball's off-season.

The mechanics are purely mathematical, with the aim to create the most multiples of the "Core Number" by combining the number values of the 16 coins in play. To win, the player must meet a predetermined quota of coins used while staying within a set number of turns to use them in.

Playing the game

Game board: Core Sphere (light blue) surrounded by Entry Coins (gold) which are in turn surrounded by Border Coins (dark blue).

Setting up and how to play

The game takes place on a 4x4 board with a Core Sphere in the center whose number is called the Core Number that ranges from 1 to 9. The four fields around the Core Sphere are reserved for the Entry Coins. The Border Coins are the twelve outer fields.

Each coin is numbered from 1 to 9. The objective is to combine these numbers to achieve multiples of the Core Number.

During the game the following details will appear at the top of the screen:

• Sum: Shows the current combined sum of the coins selected.
• Break Multiples: Lists three multiples of the Core Number that the player must strive for.

At the start of each round one of the four Entry Coins must be selected first. The player is then free to select another coin from either the Entry or Border Coin fields. If the combined sum matches one of the Break Multiples, this is called a Core Break, which ends the round. If not, then the player may continue selecting coins until their combined sum equals one of the Break Multiples displayed.

Winning

To win the player must have used up a set quota of Border Coins within a set number of rounds. If the player reaches the quota before reaching the maximum number of rounds, the player wins. If they do not reach the quota, or if they run out of time, the player loses. In the case of a defeat, the player will lose their Entry Coins to the opponent.

In the HD Remaster version, winning 10 Sphere Break matches will unlock the "Sphere Breaker" trophy/achievement.

Types of coin

There are 64 coins available, each with a unique illustration etched on its surface portraying a fiend or character from Final Fantasy X or Final Fantasy X-2. Each coin possesses a value (1-9) that is used to determine its role in multiplication pairs while some also possess attributes to aid in meeting the game quota or to obtain items or additional coins from the opponent should the player win.

Entry Coins

The four placements surrounding the Core Sphere are for the Entry Coins. Chosen and placed by the player, these coins will be taken by the opponent should the player lose. Colored gold, these coins are used in combination with the Border Coins to form multiples of the Core Sphere number.

Border Coins

The Border Coins are randomly chosen and placed along the outside border of twelve placement points. Colored blue, these coins are used in addition with the Entry Coins to form multiples of the Core Sphere. Unlike the Entry Coins, Border Coins disappear after being used while the remaining Border Coins' values are increased by one (any coins with values exceeding 9 will also be discarded or replaced after this increase).

Traits

Echoes

Echo traits allow the player to obtain bonus quota points. To initiate an Echo the player must not only select an Entry Coin with the trait, but also maintain a set play pattern.

• Coin Count Echo: The same number of coins must be used in successive rounds to achieve a Core Break (e.g. 3 coins were used in Round 1, 3 coins were used in Round 2, etc).
• Multiplier Echo: Core Breaks must be achieved using the same multiple value used in the previous round (e.g. if the Core Number was 7 in the previous round and the player achieved a Core Break of 14 (7x2), in the next round the player must achieve a Core Break of the Core Number x2).

Entry Coin traits

Trait	Description
Coin Count Echo	Coin Count Echo becomes possible.
Coin Count: 2	If this Coin is selected first, the effect of +X Coins and -X Coins will be doubled.
Coin	A Border Coin with the Coin trait appears.
Gil x2	If this Coin is selected first, the effect of +X Gil and -X Gil will be doubled.
Item	A Border Coin with the Item trait appears.
Multiplier Echo	Multiplier Echo becomes possible.
Quota x2	If this Coin is selected first, the Quota will be doubled depending on the amount of Border Coins used to make a Core Break.
Quota x3	If this Coin is selected first, the Quota will be tripled depending on the amount of Border Coins used to make a Core Break.
Quota x4	If this Coin is selected first, the Quota will be multiplied by four depending on the amount of Border Coins used to make a Core Break.
Quota x5	If this Coin is selected first, the Quota will be multiplied by five depending on the amount of Border Coins used to make a Core Break.
Rare Coin	A Border Coin with the Rare Coin trait will appear.
Rare Item	A Border Coin with the Rare Item trait will appear.

Border Coin traits

Trait	Description
Item, Rare Item	Player obtains one item or one rare item.
Coin, Rare Coin	Player obtains one Coin or one rare Coin.
+X Coin	The number on the Entry Coin selected first is increased by 1-5.
-X Coin	The number on the Entry Coin selected first is decreased by 1-5.
+X Gil	The value in gil of the Entry Coin selected first is increased by 1-5.
-X Gil	The value in gil of the Entry Coin selected first is decreased by 1-5.

Quests

Sphere Break Tournament

Main article: Sphere Break Tournament

The Sphere Break Tournament is a tournament where the contestants challenge each other in a series of matches while following a set of special rules designed specifically for the tournament.

Sphere Break Elites

In the International and HD Remaster versions of Final Fantasy X-2, the player can challenge the strongest Sphere Break players. By completing the storyline of Varan first, the player can then challenge the elites in Luca, in the Aurochs' room. They each have a difficulty of seven stars and are hard to beat.

Cursed Core Sphere (Varan)

Turns: 30

Quota: 500

Time: 30 seconds

For defeating Varan, the player is rewarded with the Enterprise accessory. If they leave the room and reenter, or beat him twice in a row without leaving, a new challenger will appear next to Varan.

Underground Core Sphere (Tonberry)

Turns: 25

Quota: 500

Time: 20 seconds

If the player defeats Tonberry, they are given the Invincible accessory. After leaving the room and reentering, or beating him twice in a row without leaving, the final challenger will be there.

Farplane Core Sphere (Haunt)

Turns: 30

Quota: 600

Time: 20 seconds

Beating Haunt awards the player with the Ragnarok accessory.

It is best to collect these three accessories in chapter 3, as in chapter 5 the door being locked by the woman with the dog by her side who challenges the player to a sphere break game. In order to access the locker room in chapter 5, one needs to stand between the woman and her dog and press X facing the door. The player can also earn the accessories via the Farplane Cup, but it will be hard even with a level 99 party.

Coins

Coins #52 to #64 are rare and can only be obtained from other players either as a gift or from using the Rare Coin trait during a game round.

List of Coins
1	Helm Coin	2	Zurvan Coin	3	Coyote Coin	4	Flan Coin
5	Reptile Coin	6	Bird Coin	7	Wasp Coin	8	Ahriman Coin
9	Purpurea Coin	10	Zu Coin	11	Worm Coin	12	Defender Coin
13	Phantom Coin	14	Ruminant Coin	15	Drake Coin	16	Malboro Coin
17	Ogre Coin	18	Elemental Coin	19	Blade Coin	20	Behemoth Coin
21	Chimera Coin	22	Coeurl Coin	23	Tomb Coin	24	Iron Giant Coin
25	Kukulcan Coin	26	Adamantoise Coin	27	Daeva Coin	28	Ochu Coin
29	Bomb Coin	30	Magic Urn Coin	31	Cactuar Coin	32	Stalwart Coin
33	Fungus Coin	34	Pairika Coin	35	Tonberry Coin	36	Dragon Coin
37	Creeper Coin	38	Arachnid Coin	39	Piranha Coin	40	Sahagin Coin
41	Haizhe Coin	42	Dinictus Coin	43	Tentacles Coin	44	Ultima Weapon Coin
45	Omega Weapon Coin	46	Eater Coin	47	Hermit Coin	48	Evrae Coin
49	Gel Coin	50	Azi Dahaka Coin	51	Chocobo Coin	52	Jumbo Cactuar Coin
53	Precepts Guard Coin	54	Georapella Coin	55	Angra Mainyu Coin	56	Seymour Coin
57	Yuna Coin	58	Rikku Coin	59	Paine Coin	60	Auron Coin
61	Lulu Coin	62	Wakka Coin	63	Kimahri Coin	64	Tidus Coin

Musical themes

The game rounds are accompanied by the track "Sphere Hunter" from the game's soundtrack.

Gallery

Coin rear design (silver).

Coin rear design (gold).

Rear design concepts.