Understanding Limit Breaks in FF7
Limit Breaks are powerful special attacks in Final Fantasy VII (FF7) that can turn the tide of battle. Each character in FF7 has their own unique set of Limit Breaks, ranging from devastating offensive moves to helpful support abilities. Understanding how Limit Breaks work, how to learn them, and which ones are the most effective is crucial for mastering combat in FF7. This guide will provide a comprehensive overview of all Limit Breaks in FF7, helping you unleash the full potential of your party.
How Limit Breaks Work
In FF7, as characters take damage in battle, their Limit Gauge will fill. Once the gauge is full, the “Limit” command becomes available in the battle menu. Selecting “Limit” allows the character to unleash a powerful special move.
Each character has seven Limit Breaks, divided into four levels. Initially, only Level 1 Limit Breaks are accessible. To unlock higher level Limit Breaks, you need to meet specific requirements for each character, usually involving a combination of defeating enemies and using previous Limit Breaks. Level 4 Limit Breaks, the most powerful, require obtaining a special item called a “Limit Break Manual” in addition to learning all previous Limit Breaks.
As you progress through Limit Levels, filling the Limit Gauge becomes slower, but you gain access to more powerful abilities. It’s generally recommended to aim for unlocking higher Limit Levels to access stronger moves, but mastering the lower level Limit Breaks is also essential for learning the later ones.
Cloud’s Limit Breaks
Cloud Strife, the main protagonist, boasts a versatile set of Limit Breaks, focusing on single-target and multi-target damage.
Level 1 Limit Breaks
Braver
- Description: A powerful single-target attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 3x normal damage.
- How to Learn: Starting Limit Break.
Cross-Slash
- Description: A single-target attack that can inflict Paralyze.
- Damage Multiplier: 3.25x normal damage.
- Status Effect: Paralyze.
- How to Learn: Use Braver 8 times.
Level 2 Limit Breaks
Blade Beam
- Description: A multi-target attack that hits one enemy hard and others for normal damage.
- Damage Multiplier: 3.5x normal damage to one enemy, normal weapon damage to others.
- How to Learn: Defeat 120 enemies with Cloud.
Climhazzard
- Description: A heavy damage single-target attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 4.275x normal damage.
- How to Learn: Use Blade Beam 7 times.
Level 3 Limit Breaks
Meteorain
- Description: A random multi-hit attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 1.625x normal damage per hit, 6 hits total.
- How to Learn: Defeat 320 enemies with Cloud.
Finishing Touch
- Description: A powerful multi-target attack that can inflict Death.
- Damage Multiplier: 3.125x normal damage to all enemies.
- Status Effect: Death (non-immune enemies).
- How to Learn: Use Meteorain 6 times.
Level 4 Limit Break
Omnislash
- Description: A devastating multi-hit random target attack with guaranteed critical hits.
- Damage Multiplier: 0.75x normal damage per hit, 15 hits total (doubled due to auto-critical).
- How to Learn: Use the Omnislash manual obtained from the Battle Square at Gold Saucer.
Barret’s Limit Breaks
Barret Wallace, the gun-armed rebel, is a powerhouse with Limit Breaks focused on heavy damage and debuffs.
Level 1 Limit Breaks
Big Shot
- Description: A strong single-target attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 3.25x normal damage.
- How to Learn: Starting Limit Break.
Mindblow
- Description: Reduces the target’s MP to zero.
- Effect: MP reduction to 0.
- How to Learn: Use Big Shot 9 times.
Level 2 Limit Breaks
Grenade Bomb
- Description: A multi-target attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 3.375x normal damage to all enemies.
- How to Learn: Defeat 80 enemies with Barret.
Hammerblow
- Description: A single-target attack that can inflict instant Death.
- Status Effect: Death (non-immune enemies).
- How to Learn: Use Grenade Bomb 8 times.
Level 3 Limit Breaks
Satellite Beam
- Description: A powerful multi-target attack with guaranteed critical hits.
- Damage Multiplier: 2.1875x normal damage to all enemies (auto-critical).
- How to Learn: Defeat 160 enemies with Barret.
Ungarmax
- Description: A random multi-hit attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 0.5x normal damage per hit, 18 hits total.
- How to Learn: Use Satellite Beam 6 times.
Level 4 Limit Break
Catastrophe
- Description: A random multi-hit attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 1.5x normal damage per hit, 10 hits total.
- How to Learn: Use the Catastrophe manual obtained in North Corel after the Huge Materia quest.
Tifa’s Limit Breaks
Tifa Lockhart, the martial artist, has a unique Limit Break system based on slot reels, allowing for multiple hits and variable damage.
Level 1 Limit Breaks
Beat Rush
- Description: A single-target attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 1.25x normal damage.
- How to Learn: Starting Limit Break.
Somersault
- Description: A single-target attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 1.375x normal damage.
- How to Learn: Use Beat Rush 9 times.
Level 2 Limit Breaks
Water Kick
- Description: A single-target attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 1.5x normal damage.
- How to Learn: Defeat 96 enemies with Tifa.
Meteodrive
- Description: A single-target attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 1.625x normal damage.
- How to Learn: Use Water Kick 7 times.
Level 3 Limit Breaks
Dolphin Blow
- Description: A single-target attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 1.75x normal damage.
- How to Learn: Defeat 192 enemies with Tifa.
Meteor Strike
- Description: A single-target attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 1.875x normal damage.
- How to Learn: Use Dolphin Blow 6 times.
Level 4 Limit Break
Final Heaven
- Description: A powerful single-target attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 2.65x normal damage.
- How to Learn: Use the Final Heaven manual found in Tifa’s piano in Nibelheim after Cloud rejoins the party on Disc 2.
(Continue this format for Aeris, Red XIII, Yuffie, Cait Sith, Vincent, and Cid, using the information and images from the original text. Remember to create new ALT texts for each image and follow all the formatting and SEO guidelines.)
Aeris’ Limit Breaks
Aeris Gainsborough (or Aerith), the flower girl, has support-oriented Limit Breaks, focusing on healing and status buffs.
Level 1 Limit Breaks
Healing Wind
- Description: Heals the entire party.
- Effect: Heals 50% of max HP to the party.
- How to Learn: Starting Limit Break.
Seal Evil
- Description: Inflicts Silence and Paralyze on all enemies.
- Status Effects: Silence, Paralyze (100% success).
- How to Learn: Use Healing Wind 8 times.
Level 2 Limit Breaks
Breath of the Earth
- Description: Cures status ailments for the party.
- Effect: Cures all status ailments.
- How to Learn: Defeat 80 enemies with Aeris.
Fury Brand
- Description: Fills the Limit Gauge of other party members.
- Effect: Fills Limit Gauges of allies.
- How to Learn: Use Breath of the Earth 6 times.
Level 3 Limit Breaks
Planet Protector
- Description: Grants Peerless status to the party (invincibility).
- Status Effect: Peerless (invincibility).
- How to Learn: Defeat 160 enemies with Aeris.
Pulse of Life
- Description: Revives and fully heals the party.
- Effect: Revives KO’d party members and fully heals everyone.
- How to Learn: Use Planet Protector 5 times.
Level 4 Limit Break
Great Gospel
- Description: Grants Peerless status and fully restores HP and MP to the party.
- Effects: Peerless status, full HP/MP recovery.
- How to Learn: Use the Great Gospel manual obtained from the man near Gold Saucer by giving him Mythril and opening the small box on the balcony.
Red XIII’s Limit Breaks
Red XIII, the feline-like creature, features Limit Breaks that combine offense with buffs and debuffs.
Level 1 Limit Breaks
Sled Fang
- Description: A single-target attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 3x normal damage.
- How to Learn: Starting Limit Break.
Lunatic High
- Description: Haste for the party and evasion boost for Red XIII.
- Status Effects: Haste (party), Evasion Up (Red XIII).
- How to Learn: Use Sled Fang 8 times.
Level 2 Limit Breaks
Blood Fang
- Description: Drains HP and MP from a single enemy.
- Effect: HP/MP drain.
- How to Learn: Defeat 72 enemies with Red XIII.
Stardust Ray
- Description: A random multi-hit attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 0.625x normal damage per hit, 10 hits total.
- How to Learn: Use Blood Fang 7 times.
Level 3 Limit Breaks
Howling Moon
- Description: Haste, Berserk, and Attack Up for Red XIII.
- Status Effects: Haste, Berserk, Attack Up (Red XIII).
- How to Learn: Defeat 144 enemies with Red XIII.
Earth Rave
- Description: A random multi-hit attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 0.875x normal damage per hit, 5 hits total.
- How to Learn: Use Howling Moon 6 times.
Level 4 Limit Break
Cosmo Memory
- Description: A powerful multi-target attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 7.8125x normal damage to all enemies.
- How to Learn: Use the Cosmo Memory manual dropped by Lost Number in the Shinra Mansion.
Yuffie’s Limit Breaks
Yuffie Kisaragi, the ninja, specializes in fast attacks and elemental damage, with Limit Breaks that reflect her agility.
Level 1 Limit Breaks
Greased Lightning
- Description: A quick single-target attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 3.125x normal damage.
- How to Learn: Starting Limit Break.
Clear Tranquil
- Description: Heals the entire party.
- Effect: Heals 50% of max HP to the party.
- How to Learn: Use Greased Lightning 8 times.
Level 2 Limit Breaks
Landscaper
- Description: An Earth-elemental multi-target attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 3x normal Earth damage to all enemies.
- Element: Earth.
- How to Learn: Defeat 64 enemies with Yuffie.
Bloodfest
- Description: A random multi-hit attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 0.625x normal damage per hit, 10 hits total.
- How to Learn: Use Landscaper 7 times.
Level 3 Limit Breaks
Gauntlet
- Description: A piercing multi-target attack with guaranteed critical hits.
- Damage Multiplier: 1.75x normal damage to all enemies (piercing, auto-critical).
- How to Learn: Defeat 128 enemies with Yuffie.
Doom of the Living
- Description: A random multi-hit attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 0.625x normal damage per hit, 15 hits total.
- How to Learn: Use Gauntlet 6 times.
Level 4 Limit Break
All Creation
- Description: A powerful multi-target attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 8x normal damage to all enemies.
- How to Learn: Use the All Creation manual obtained after completing the Pagoda Sidequest.
Cait Sith’s Limit Breaks
Cait Sith, the fortune-telling cat, has unique and unpredictable Limit Breaks, with only two levels and highly varied effects.
Level 1 Limit Break
Dice
- Description: Rolls dice for random damage.
- Damage Multiplier: Random, depends on dice roll and Cait Sith’s level.
- How to Learn: Starting Limit Break.
Level 2 Limit Break
Slots
- Description: Uses slots for various effects, ranging from damage to party wipe.
- Effects: See table below.
- How to Learn: Defeat 40 enemies with Cait Sith.
Cait Sith’s Slots Effects Table
Attack Name | Reels | Effect |
---|---|---|
Toy Box | Any 3 not the same | Attack with power ranging randomly from 2× normal to 5× normal. |
Toy Soldier | 3 Crowns | Attack with power 5× normal. |
Summon | 3 Bars | Random Summon Materia is used. |
Transform | 3 Moogles | All other allies disappear from fight. Cait Sith gains all of their stats added to his own, but natural limits still apply (HP cannot exceed 9999, MP cannot exceed 999, and other stats cannot exceed 255). He retains all normal abilities except for Limit Breaks, but they will be much more powerful due to the boosted stats. Returns to normal after the battle. |
Mog Dance | 3 Stars | Full healing (HP and MP) to party. |
Lucky Girl | 3 Hearts | Sets Lucky Girl status on party, giving all characters auto-criticals. |
Death to Party | 2 Cait Sith + Bar | Unblockable instant Death to party (ignores Death immunity), causing Game Over. |
Instant Victory | 3 Cait Sith | Unblockable instant Death to all enemies (ignores Death immunity and undead status), instantly winning battle. |
Vincent’s Limit Breaks
Vincent Valentine, the mysterious gunman, transforms into beasts for his Limit Breaks, gaining stat boosts but becoming uncontrollable.
Level 1 Limit Break: Galian Beast
- Beast Form: Galian Beast
- Stat Boosts: +30% Max HP, +50% Dexterity, +20% Evasion.
- Attacks:
- Berserk Dance: 1.5x damage to one enemy (70% chance).
- Beast Flare: 1.75× Fire-elemental damage to all enemies (30% chance).
- How to Learn: Starting Limit Break.
Level 2 Limit Break: Death Gigas
- Beast Form: Death Gigas
- Stat Boosts: +100% Max HP, -20% Dexterity, -70% MDef, +50% Def.
- Attacks:
- Gigadunk: 1.625× damage to one enemy (70% chance).
- Live Wire: 1.375× damage to all enemies (30% chance).
- How to Learn: Defeat 40 enemies with Vincent.
Level 3 Limit Break: Hellmasker
- Beast Form: Hellmasker
- Stat Boosts: +50% Evasion, +50% Def.
- Attacks:
- Splattercombo: 5×0.5× damage to one enemy (70% chance).
- Nightmare: Inflicts Small, Confusion, Frog, Poison, Sleep to one enemy (30% chance).
- How to Learn: Defeat 96 enemies with Vincent.
Level 4 Limit Break: Chaos
- Beast Form: Chaos
- Stat Boosts: +100% MDef, +100% Def.
- Attacks:
- Chaos Saber: 2.5× damage to all enemies (70% chance).
- Satan Slam: 5.625× damage to all enemies (sometimes inflicts Death) (30% chance).
- How to Learn: Use the Chaos manual found behind the waterfall near a circular lake with Vincent in your party on disc 3/late disc 2.
Cid’s Limit Breaks
Cid Highwind, the dragoon pilot, has jump-based Limit Breaks, with a focus on single-target and random multi-target damage.
Level 1 Limit Breaks
Boost Jump
- Description: A single-target jump attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 3.25x normal damage.
- How to Learn: Starting Limit Break.
Dynamite
- Description: A multi-target attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 2.25x normal damage to all enemies.
- How to Learn: Use Boost Jump 7 times.
Level 2 Limit Breaks
Hyper Jump
- Description: A single-target jump attack that can inflict Death.
- Status Effect: Death (chance).
- Damage Multiplier: 3.5x normal damage.
- How to Learn: Defeat 60 enemies with Cid.
Dragon
- Description: A single-target attack, less effective than Hyper Jump.
- Damage Multiplier: 1.25x normal damage.
- How to Learn: Use Hyper Jump 6 times.
Level 3 Limit Breaks
Dragon Dive
- Description: A random multi-hit jump attack that can inflict Death.
- Status Effect: Death (chance).
- Damage Multiplier: 1.4375x normal damage per hit, 6 hits total.
- How to Learn: Defeat 136 enemies with Cid.
Big Brawl
- Description: A random multi-hit attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 1.125x normal damage per hit, 8 hits total.
- How to Learn: Use Dragon Dive 5 times.
Level 4 Limit Break
Highwind
- Description: A powerful random multi-hit attack.
- Damage Multiplier: 0.6875x normal damage per hit, 18 hits total.
- How to Learn: Use the Highwind manual found in the Sunken Gelnika, in the room with the helicopter.
Conclusion: Mastering Limit Breaks for Victory
Limit Breaks are a vital part of FF7’s combat system. By understanding each character’s unique Limit Breaks and how to unlock them, you can significantly enhance your battle strategies and overcome even the toughest challenges in the game. This guide provides you with the knowledge to master Limit Breaks and unleash their full potential, ensuring your success in the world of Final Fantasy VII.