"Flash of Steel" (剣の一閃, Tsurugi no Issen?, lit. Flash of a Sword), also known as "Clash of Swords", is a battle theme and a boss theme from Final Fantasy XII, composed and arranged by Hitoshi Sakimoto.
Game appearances[]
Final Fantasy XII[]
"Flash of Steel" plays in several fixed non-boss battles and sometimes during boss battles. It also plays at the Third Ascent at the Pharos. It is track 2 on disc 2 of the Final Fantasy XII: Original Soundtrack. Elements of "Flash of Steel" can be heard within the final boss theme "Struggle for Freedom".
In Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age, "Flash of Steel" no longer plays at the Third Ascent at the Pharos as the Third Ascent receives a new original theme, "The Ultimate Trial".
"Flash of Steel (Zodiac Age Version)" is the reorchestration version available in The Zodiac Age. It is track 25 on the Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age Original Soundtrack.
Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood[]
The original "Flash of Steel" from Final Fantasy XII plays during final boss battle against Yiazmat in The Ridorana Lighthouse, the second part of the Return to Ivalice alliance raid series. It is track 101 on the Stormblood: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack.
Final Fantasy XV[]
"Flash of Steel" plays in the music player. It is the fourth track of the Memories of FFXII album purchased from Verinas Mart - Ravatogh for 100 gil.
"Flash of Steel" is also available as track 159 on the limited edition Blu-ray disc of the Final Fantasy XV: Original Soundtrack.
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy[]
"Flash of Steel" is a DLC track available on the Final Fantasy XII Music Pack.
Dissidia Final Fantasy NT[]
Two versions of "Flash of Steel" appear as battle music: arranged and the original from the PS2 version of Final Fantasy XII. It is purchased from the shop for 3,600 gil in both the console and arcade versions.
"Flash of Steel (Arrangement)" was arranged by Tsuyoshi Sekito and is track 8 on disc 2 of the Dissidia Final Fantasy -Arcade- Original Soundtrack and track 45 on the Dissidia Final Fantasy NT Original Soundtrack.
Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia[]
The original arrangement of "Flash of Steel" serves as the backing track of Vaan's Burst Mode sequences.
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy[]
"Clash of Swords" appears as a Battle Music Sequence. It was also released as track 12 of disc 3 on the Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Compilation Album.
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call[]
"Flash of Steel" appears as a Battle Music Sequence. It was also released as track 12 on the Best of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call album.
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy All-Star Carnival[]
"Flash of Steel" appears as a song.
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line[]
Final Fantasy Record Keeper[]
"Flash of Steel" was arranged into "FF 30th Anniversary Medley (FFRK Ver. arrange)" by Yoshitaka Suzuki. It is track 12 on disc 1 of the Final Fantasy Record Keeper Original Soundtrack Vol.2.
Mobius Final Fantasy[]
"Flash of Steel" plays as the battle theme of the Judge Magister job.
"Flash of Steel From FINAL FANTASY XII -MOBIUS FF Edit-" is a short arranged version with "The Archadian Empire" in the beginning. It plays during the cutscene movie of the Light of the Skies, a Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary collaboration event, where the Judge Magister walks with the Mandragoras. It is track 18 of disc 2 on the Mobius Final Fantasy Original Soundtrack 2. "Flash of Steel (Zodiac Age Version)" also plays in the event at the Isle of Sky Pirates and as a boss theme.
Arrangement album appearances[]
Square Enix Jazz Vol.2[]
"Flash of Steel Jazz Arrangement" is an arrangement by Eijiro Nakagawa that appears as track 7 on the album.
Distant Worlds V: more music from Final Fantasy[]
"FINAL FANTASY XII: Flash of Steel" is an arrangement recorded as track 5 for the album. It was conducted by Arnie Roth and performed by the Distant Worlds Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus.
Live performances[]
Distant Worlds: music from Final Fantasy Jiritsu[]
"FINAL FANTASY XII : Flash of Steel" was performed live for a concert and recorded for the Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary. It was orchestrated by Yoshimi Kudo, conducted by Arnie Roth, and performed by the New Japan Philharmonic.
Final Fantasy 35th Anniversary Distant Worlds: music from Final Fantasy Coral Live CD[]
"FINAL FANTASY XII : Flash of Steel" was again performed live for a concert and recorded for the Final Fantasy 35th Anniversary. It was orchestrated by Yoshimi Kudo, conducted by Arnie Roth, and performed by the New Japan Philharmonic.
Compilation album appearances[]
Final Fantasy Heroes[]
"Flash of Steel" appears as track 24 on the album.
Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary Tracks 1987-2017[]
"Flash of Steel" appears as track 17 on disc 2 of the album.
Heroes and Villains[]
"Flash of Steel" appears as track 7 on side B of the Heroes and Villains Fourth vinyl album.