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- For information regarding auto-abilities, see Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII auto-abilities.
This page lists all active abilities in Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII. For information on how to aquire these Abilities, please see the Acquirement subpage.
Lightning can carry up to 400 abilities. Abilities can be improved at Sorcery Shops, which offer two main services: Synthesis and Level Boost. Synthesizing an ability the first time earns the Novice Synthesist achievement. Synthesizing an ability thirty times earns the Expert Synthesist achievement.
All abilities listed on this page reflect their stats at level 1.
List of abilities[]
Physical[]
| Name | ATB Cost | Multiplier | Stagger Power | Stagger Time | Combo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attack | 10 | 0.50 | E | C | 5 |
| Deals physical damage to target. | |||||
| Blitz | 20 | 0.90 | E | A | 3 |
| Deals physical damage to target and nearby foes. Extends stagger time. | |||||
| Area Sweep | 5 | 0.15 | D | A | 3 |
| Deals physical damage to target and nearby foes and may launch them into the air. Extends stagger time. | |||||
| Fatal Sweep | 20 | 1.10 | D | A | 1 |
Lightning attacks in the direction the  is pushed and deals physical damage. Extends stagger time.
| |||||
| Light Slash | 5 | 0.30 | – | C | 1 |
| Deals physical damage. Does little damage, but has a low ATB cost. | |||||
| Heavy Slash | 50 | 2.00 | B | B | 1 |
| Deals physical attack damage and can launch an enemy into the air. Deals significant damage, but at a high ATB cost. | |||||
| Charged Strike | 10 | 0.50 | E | – | 1 |
| Deals physical damage. Power increases the longer the command button is held down. | |||||
| Punt | 5 | 0.15 | E | C | 5 |
| Deals physical damage with a swift kick. Does little damage, but ATB cost is low and can make enemies recoil. | |||||
| Beat Down | 40 | 0.40 | A | E | 2 |
| Deals physical damage. High stagger capability. | |||||
| Flamestrike | 15 | 0.40 | C | E | 5 |
| Deals fire-attribute physical damage. | |||||
| Heat Blitz | 25 | 0.75 | C | E | 3 |
| Deals fire-attribute physical damage to enemies in range. | |||||
| Froststrike | 15 | 0.40 | C | E | 5 |
| Deals ice-attribute physical damage. | |||||
| Ice Blitz | 25 | 0.75 | C | E | 3 |
| Deals ice-attribute physical damage to enemies in range. | |||||
| Sparkstrike | 15 | 0.40 | C | E | 5 |
| Deals lightning-attribute physical damage. | |||||
| Electric Blitz | 25 | 0.75 | C | E | 3 |
| Deals lightning-attribute physical damage to enemies in range. | |||||
| Galestrike | 15 | 0.40 | C | E | 5 |
| Deals wind-attribute physical damage. | |||||
| Aero Blitz | 25 | 0.75 | C | E | 3 |
| Deals wind-attribute physical damage to target and nearby foes. | |||||
Garb abilities[]
| Name | ATB Cost | Multiplier | Stagger Power | Stagger Time | Combo | Garb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashura | 50 | 8.00 | B | B | 1 | Dark Knight |
| Deals great physical damage in exchange for Lightning's own HP, and launches enemy into the air. | ||||||
| Cosmic Arts | 15 | 2.50 | E | E | 5 | Cosmocrator |
| Unleashes repeat attacks before delivering a final Ruinga. | ||||||
| Crashing Waves | 15 | 2.00 | E | C | 7 | Sphere Hunter |
| Launches the target and nearby foes into the air and attacks repeatedly. | ||||||
| Cross Blitz | 10 | 1.50 | E | C | 4 | Celestial Body |
| Unleashes repeat Ruins before delivering a final bout of physical damage. | ||||||
| Darkness | 20 | 3.50 | E | A | 1 | Dark Knight |
| Deals great physical damage to target and nearby foes in exchange for Lightning's own HP. | ||||||
| Defensive Strike | 10 | 1.00 | E | C | 5 | Sacred Knight |
| Deals physical damage while also protecting against attacks. | ||||||
| Flame | 40 | 3.50 | A | E | 1 | Purple Lightning |
| Unleashes a Firaga spell that does physical damage. | ||||||
| Flood | 40 | 3.50 | A | E | 1 | Purple Lightning |
| Unleashes a Blizzaga spell that does physical damage. | ||||||
| Lancet | 10 | 0.80 | E | C | 5 | Dragoon |
| Deals physical damage to a target and restores a small amount of Lightning's own HP when it hits. | ||||||
| Leaping Rush | 20 | 0.50 | D | D | 3 | Heartstealer |
| Unleashes a physical attack that launches enemies into the air. Not very likely to make enemies recoil. | ||||||
| Lightning | 40 | 3.50 | A | E | 1 | Blue Mage |
| Unleashes a Thundaga spell that does physical damage. | ||||||
| Magic Slash | 10 | 0.80 | E | E | 4 | Miqo'te Dress |
| Unleashes a special attack that deals both physical and magic damage. | ||||||
| Relentless Assault | 20 | 1.50 | E | C | 5 | Siegfried |
| Unleashes a series of physical and magic attacks. | ||||||
| Shadowbind | 150 | 3.00 | – | A | 1 | Soldier of Peace |
| Deals physical damage and also makes the target unable to move for a short time, but at a high ATB cost. | ||||||
| Siren Strike | 10 | 0.55 | – | C | 1 | Nightmare |
| Deals physical damage and also inflicts short-lived status ailments. | ||||||
| Speed Slash | 10 | 0.75 | E | D | 9 | Amazon Warrior |
| Deals physical damage in a series of quick, repeat attacks. | ||||||
| Wind Slash | 40 | 3.50 | A | E | 1 | Blue Mage |
| Unleashes an Aeroga spell that does physical damage. | ||||||
Magic[]
| Name | ATB Cost | Multiplier | Stagger Power | Stagger Time | Combo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruin | 10 | 0.45 | E | C | 5 |
| Deals magic damage to target. | |||||
| Ruinga | 50 | 1.50 | B | E | 1 |
| Deals heavy magic damage to targets within a wide radius. | |||||
| Fire | 15 | 0.40 | C | E | 5 |
| Deals fire-attribute magic damage to target. | |||||
| Fira | 25 | 0.60 | B | E | 3 |
| Deals fire-attribute magic damage to target and nearby foes. | |||||
| Firaga | 40 | 1.65 | A | C | 1 |
| Deals fire-attribute magic damage to enemies within a wide radius. Deals great damage to the target. | |||||
| Flare | 100 | 10.00 | A | – | 1 |
| Deals fire-based magic damage to all enemies. The less HP Lightning has, the more powerful this attack becomes. | |||||
| Blizzard | 15 | 0.40 | C | E | 5 |
| Deals ice-attribute magic damage to target. | |||||
| Blizzara | 25 | 0.60 | B | E | 3 |
| Deals ice-attribute magic damage to target and nearby foes. | |||||
| Blizzaga | 40 | 1.65 | A | E | 1 |
| Deals ice-attribute magic damage to enemies within a wide radius. Deals great damage to the target. | |||||
| Chill | 100 | 10.00 | A | – | 1 |
| Deals ice-based magic damage to all enemies. The less HP Lightning has, the more powerful this attack becomes. | |||||
| Thunder | 15 | 0.40 | C | E | 5 |
| Deals lightning-attribute magic damage to target. | |||||
| Thundara | 25 | 0.60 | B | E | 3 |
| Deals lightning-attribute magic damage to target and nearby foes. | |||||
| Thundaga | 40 | 1.90 | A | E | 1 |
| Deals lightning-attribute magic damage to enemies within a wide radius. Deals great damage to the target. | |||||
| Surge | 100 | 10.00 | A | – | 1 |
| Deals lightning-based magic damage to all enemies. The less HP Lightning has, the more powerful this attack becomes. | |||||
| Aero | 15 | 0.40 | C | E | 5 |
| Deals wind-attribute magic damage to target. | |||||
| Aerora | 25 | 0.60 | B | E | 3 |
| Deals wind-attribute magic damage to target and nearby foes. | |||||
| Aeroga | 40 | 1.90 | A | E | 1 |
| Deals wind-attribute magic damage enemies within a wide radius. Deals great damage to the target. | |||||
| Tornado | 100 | 10.00 | A | – | 1 |
| Deals wind-based magic damage to all enemies. The less HP Lightning has, the more powerful this attack becomes. | |||||
| Flamespark | 20 | 0.76 | C | E | 4 |
| Deals fire- and lightning-attribute magic damage simultaneously to target. | |||||
| Flamesparka | 40 | 1.20 | B | E | 2 |
| Deals fire- and lightning-attribute magic damage simultaneously to target and nearby foes. | |||||
| Firestorm | 20 | 0.76 | C | E | 4 |
| Deals fire- and wind-attribute magic damage simultaneously to target. | |||||
| Firestorma | 40 | 1.20 | B | E | 2 |
| Deals fire- and wind-attribute magic damage simultaneously to target and nearby foes. | |||||
| Icespark | 20 | 0.76 | C | E | 4 |
| Deals ice- and lightning-attribute magic damage simultaneously to target. | |||||
| Icesparka | 40 | 1.20 | B | E | 2 |
| Deals ice- and lightning-attribute magic damage simultaneously to target and nearby foes. | |||||
| Icestorm | 20 | 0.76 | C | E | 4 |
| Deals ice- and wind-attribute magic damage simultaneously to target. | |||||
| Icestorma | 40 | 1.20 | B | E | 2 |
| Deals ice- and wind-attribute magic damage simultaneously to target and nearby foes. | |||||
| Element | 20 | 0.80 | C | E | 4 |
| Deals magic damage to target. Contains all four elements within it. | |||||
| Elementa | 40 | 1.30 | B | E | 2 |
| Deals magic damage to target and nearby foes. Contains all four elements within it. | |||||
| Elementaga | 100 | 10.00 | – | – | 1 |
| Inflicts fire, ice lightning and wind elemental damage at the same time on target and nearby foes. | |||||
| Magnet | 15 | 0.12 | – | D | 1 |
| Pulls nearby foes toward the target area and deals magic damage. | |||||
Garb abilities[]
| Name | ATB Cost | Multiplier | Stagger Power | Stagger Time | Combo | Garb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aero+ | 15 | 0.85 | C | E | 3 | Woodland Walker |
| Decreases the number of attacks before the combo finale, but unleashes Aerora as a finishing shot. | ||||||
| Blizzard+ | 15 | 0.85 | C | E | 3 | Watery Chorus |
| Decreases the number of attacks before the combo finale, but unleashes Blizzara as a finishing shot. | ||||||
| Buster Ruin | 15 | 0.35 | E | A | 1 | Red Mage |
| Unleashes a Ruin that is slow to hit but extends stagger time. | ||||||
| Fire+ | 15 | 0.85 | C | E | 3 | Ignition |
| Decreases the number of attacks before the combo finale, but unleashes Fira as a finishing shot. | ||||||
| Quick Freeze | 15 | 0.40 | D | E | 9 | Black Mage |
| Deals ice-attribute magic damage in a series of quick, repeat attacks. | ||||||
| Quick Ruin | 15 | 0.60 | E | D | 9 | White Mage |
| Deals magic damage in a series of quick, repeat attacks. | ||||||
| Rapid Fire | 15 | 0.40 | D | E | 9 | Black Mage |
| Deals fire-attribute magic damage in a series of quick, repeat attacks. | ||||||
| Thunder+ | 15 | 0.85 | C | E | 3 | Electronica |
| Decreases the number of attacks before the combo finale, but unleashes Thundara as a finishing shot. | ||||||
| Ultima | 100 | 30.00 | A | – | 1 | Ultimatus |
| Deals heavy magic damage. | ||||||
Defensive[]
| Name | ATB Cost | Physical Resistance | Magic Resistance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guard | 10 | 40% | 40% |
| Reduces the damage taken from enemy attacks. | |||
| Heavy Guard | 15 | 50% | 50% |
| Greatly reduces the damage taken from enemy attacks, but at a high ATB cost. | |||
| Light Guard | 5 | 25% | 25% |
| Slightly reduces the damage taken from enemy attacks. Low ATB cost. | |||
| Mediguard | 10 | 25% | 25% |
| Reduces the damage taken from enemy attacks, and slowly restore HP while guarding. | |||
| Steelguard | 5 | 25% | 25% |
| Reduces the damage taken from enemy attacks. Guard becomes more effective with each bit of damage taken. | |||
| NulAll Guard | 15 | 25% | 25% |
| Reduces the damage taken from enemy attacks. Greatly reduces elemental-attribute damage. | |||
| Evade | 15 | 0% | 0% |
| Allows Lightning to evade some enemy attacks. Certain attacks cannot be evaded. | |||
| ATB Charge | 5 | -100% | -100% |
| Restores ATB. Defenses are lowered while restoring ATB, increasing the damage that is taken from enemy attacks. | |||
| Heroic Guard | 20 | 84% | 84% |
| Greatly reduces the damage taken from enemy attacks, but at a high ATB cost. | |||
| Counterblow | 30 | 0% | 0% |
| Takes an enemy attack and returns it upon the attacker as physical damage. | |||
| Counterspell | 30 | 0% | 0% |
| Takes an enemy attack and returns it upon the attacker as magic damage. | |||
Garb abilities[]
| Name | ATB Cost | Physical Resistance | Magic Resistance | Garb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mediguard+ | 15 | 35% | 35% | Miqo'te Dress |
| Gradually restores HP while guarding. Guarding for a certain length of time will even wipe away status ailments. | ||||
Ailment[]
| Name | ATB Cost | Multiplier | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poison | 25 | 0.20 | 30 |
| Debilitating attack that deals magic damage and poisons target, which damages the target continually over time. | |||
| Poisonga | 40 | 0.20 | 15 |
| Debilitating attack that deals magic damage and poisons all enemies, which damages the targets continually over time. | |||
| Imperil | 25 | 0.20 | 30 |
| Debilitating attack that reduces target's elemental magic resistance by 1 level and deals magic damage. | |||
| Imperilga | 40 | 0.20 | 15 |
| Debilitating attack that reduces elemental magic resistance and deals magic damage to all enemies. | |||
| Slow | 25 | 0.20 | 30 |
| Debuffing attack that reduces target's ATB recovery speed and deals magic damage. | |||
| Slowga | 40 | 0.20 | 15 |
| Debuffing attack that reduces target's ATB recovery speed and deals magic damage to all enemies. | |||
| Curse | 25 | 0.20 | 30 |
| Debuffing attack that makes the target more likely to have attacks interrupted, and deals magic damage. | |||
| Cursega | 40 | 0.20 | 15 |
| Debuffing attack that makes all enemies more likely to have attacks interrupted, and deals magic damage. | |||
| Debrave | 25 | 0.20 | 30 |
| Debilitating attack that decreases the target's Strength and deals magic damage. | |||
| Debravega | 40 | 0.20 | 15 |
| Debilitating attack that decreases all enemies' Strength and deals magic damage. | |||
| Deprotect | 25 | 0.20 | 30 |
| Debilitating attack that reduces target's physical resistance and deals magic damage. | |||
| Deprotega | 40 | 0.20 | 15 |
| Debilitating attack that reduces target's physical resistance and deals magic damage to all enemies. | |||
| Defaith | 25 | 0.20 | 30 |
| Debilitating attack that decreases that target's magic and deals magic damage. | |||
| Defaithga | 40 | 0.20 | 15 |
| Debilitating attack that decreases that all enemies' Magic and deals magic damage. | |||
| Deshell | 25 | 0.20 | 30 |
| Debilitating attack that decreases the target's magic resistance and deals magic damage. | |||
| Deshellga | 40 | 0.20 | 15 |
| Debilitating attack that reduces target's magic resistance and deals magic damage to all enemies. | |||
| Dispel | 25 | 0.20 | – |
| Debilitating attack that removes the target's status enhancements and deals magic damage. | |||
| Dispelga | 40 | 0.20 | – |
| Debilitating attack that removes the target's status enhancements and deals magic damage to all enemies. | |||
| Disaster | 100 | – | 10 |
| Inflicts Debrave, Defaith, Deprotect, Deshell, and Curse and deals magic damage to one enemy. | |||
EP abilities[]
Main article: Energy Points § List of EP abilities
Guest abilities[]
Angel of Valhalla[]
Main article: Angel of Valhalla (party member)
Oerba Yun Fang[]
Main article: Fang (Lightning Returns party member) § Abilities
Gallery[]
- Physical abilities
Aero Blitz.
Attack.
Area Sweep.
Ashura.
Beat Down.
Blitz.
Charged Strike.
Cosmic Arts.
Crashing Waves.
Cross Blitz.
Darkness.
Defensive Strike.
Electric Blitz.
Fatal Sweep.
Flame.
Flamestrike.
Flood.
Froststrike.
Galestrike.
Heat Blitz.
Heavy Slash.
Ice Blitz.
Lancet.
Leaping Rush.
Light Slash.
Lightning.
Punt.
Magic Slash.
Shadowbind.
Siren Strike.
Sparkstrike.
Speed Slash.
Wind Slash.
- Magic abilities
Aero.
Aero+ (Part 1).
Aero+ (Part 2).
Aerora.
Aeroga.
Blizzard.
Blizzara.
Blizzaga.
Blizzard+ (Part 1).
Blizzard+ (Part 2).
Chill.
Element.
Elementa.
Elementaga.
Fire.
Fire+ (Part 1).
Fire+ (Part 2).
Fira.
Firaga.
Firestorm.
Firestorma.
Flamespark.
Flamesparka.
Flare.
Icespark.
Icesparka.
Icestorm.
Icestorma.
Magnet.
Surge.
Ruin.
Ruinga.
Thunder.
Thunder+ (Part 1).
Thunder+ (Part 2).
Thundara.
Thundaga.
Tornado.
Ultima+ (Part 1).
Ultima+ (Part 2).
- Defensive abilities
ATB Charge.
Counterblow.
Counterspell.
Evade.
Guard.
Heavy Guard.
Heroic Guard.
Light Guard.
Mediguard.
Mediguard+.
NulAll Guard.
Steelguard.
- Ailment abilities
Curse.
Cursega.
Debrave.
Debravega.
Defaith.
Defaithga.
Deprotect.
Deprotega.
Deshell.
Deshellga.
Disaster.
Dispel.
Dispelga.
Imperil.
Imperilga.
Poison.
Poisonga.
Slow.
Slowga.