I couldn't miss the chance to practice my drawing!
Limit Break (リミットブレイク, Rimittobureiku?) is a party action in Final Fantasy XIV. When in a party of four or more, players will have access to the limit gauge, which gradually fills during the course of battle. When a limit gauge is full, the stored energy can be used to activate limit breaks. The limit break executed is determined by the role of the party member who initiates it. Limit breaks are available only to non-limited combat disciplines.
Story[]
In the Trial The Porta Decumana, a level 3 Limit Break becomes available to the party as part of a scripted event to defeat the Ultima Weapon. This is the first time that level 3 Limit Breaks are available to players in the Main Story Quest.
In the Trial The Seat of Sacrifice, Elidibus performs a level 4 Limit Break, which is a a level higher than is possible for players to perform and requires the party to execute a level 3 tank Limit Break to survive.
As revealed by Meteion in the Trial The Final Day in Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, Limit Breaks can be manifestations of dynamis, which is a form of energy powered by emotions.
Mechanics[]
Limit breaks have three levels, commonly referred to as LB1, LB2, and LB3; the more limit gauges are filled, the stronger the limit break. A partially-filled subsequent gauge will still be consumed when using a limit break. Light parties have access to one limit gauge, meaning they are only able to use Level 1 limit breaks when it is filled. A full party has two limit gauges. Reaching important bosses in a duty adds an extra limit gauge for a total of two gauges for light parties and three gauges for full parties. During duties which have a single boss and nothing else the extra gauge is unlocked by default. Level 3 limit breaks can only be performed with a job crystal equipped, and each job has a visually unique level 3 limit break. The only exception to these rules is in the 4-man Trial The Porta Decumana where the party will gain access to the 3rd gauge completely filled as part of a scripted event.
The type of limit break used is dependent on the role of the caster. While LB3s are visually unique, their effect is the same as the LB3 of every job with the same role. Limited jobs do not have an LB3.
All limit breaks are unaffected by abilities that reduce cast time, and when used have lengthy animations that prevent the user from moving, which can leave them vulnerable to area of effect (AoE) attacks. Limit breaks are unaffected by the global cooldown. As of patch 6.0, they no longer cancel action combos.
Damage[]
Damage dealing limit breaks scale with the combined item level of the party's main hand equipment slot rather than the individual who performed it. Limit Breaks do not deal physical or magical damage, instead using their own damage type. This damage cannot be a critical or direct hit, and is unaffected by any damage increasing effects caused by players. However, this damage may still be influenced by effects caused from outside factors, such as enemy-induced effects or environmental effects.
While old descriptions dating back to the release of A Realm Reborn gave specific potencies in the ability descriptions that can still be found in the game's data, these potencies cannot be viewed in-game, and the observable damage they deal in comparison to each other does not match the potencies given. The new physical ranged DPS limit breaks added in Heavensward do not even have any description or given potencies in the game's data. In addition, the unique damage mechanics used by limit breaks make their potencies incomparable to regular abilities. As a result, Limit Break potencies are essentially unknown, and all potencies on this page are instead given in how much damage they dealt relative to Braver, the melee LB1.
Gauge generation[]
# of gauges | # of penalties | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5+ | |
1 | 75 | |||||
2 | 180 | |||||
3 | 220 | 170 | 160 | 154 | 144 | 140 |
Each level of the limit gauge is comprised of 10,000 units, for a total of 30,000 across three gauges.
Passive[]
Limit gauges have a passive generation every 3 seconds that increases with each available limit gauge.
Some party compositions can cause penalties to passive gauge generation. Using non-standard party compositions will cause a penalty for each party member off the standard. For example, most 8-man duties have a standard composition of 2 tanks, 2 healers, and 4 DPS; using a party with 1 tank, 1 healer, and 6 DPS in one of these duties will cause two penalties. In addition, when participating in any duty classified as a high-end duty, having any duplicate jobs in the party will cause a penalty for each duplicate. This duplicate penalty does not apply to non-high-end duties.
Active[]
Active generation can occur when specific events happen during battle. The specifics of these events can vary from duty to duty, with a marked divide between content from before the release of Shadowbringers and those released after. Pre-Shadowbringers content still uses pre-Shadowbringers generation rules.
- Critical health recovery: Generates 200 units per gauge whenever a party member receives a direct heal from another party member at 10% HP or less. Pets such as Eos cannot generate gauge in this manner. In Shadowbringers content, this is reduced to 100 per gauge if the healing is from an AoE action, and healing actions used by non-healer roles (eg. Clemency) will not generate any gauge.
- Surviving lethal damage: Generates 500 units per gauge whenever a party member survives damage greater than their current HP, typically via barrier effects such as Manaward or effects such as Holmgang. In Shadowbringers content, this is reduced to 100 per gauge.
- Interrupts: Interrupting enemy casts can generate limit gauge, be it via dedicated interrupts like Interject or inflicting statuses such as Stun. The amount generated can vary depending on the duty or the action interrupted.
- Killing adds: Killing adds in boss encounters can generate a varying amount of units depending on the duty or the add killed.
- Encounter specific mechanics: Some encounters award varying amounts of units upon the successful completion of a particular mechanic or phase.
List of Limit Breaks[]
Tank[]
Tank limit breaks focus on drastically raising the defense and magic defense of the entire party for a short period of time. Typically only used when a large amount of party-wide damage is incoming, and its use is often planned ahead of time rather than spur of the moment.
Prior to patch 3.0, Last Bastion was used by all tanks as their level 3 limit break.
Level | Ability | Job | Image | Cast | Animation lock | Range | Area | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Shield Wall | Instant | 1.93s | — | 50y radius | Shield Wall | ||
Reduces damage taken by all party members by 20%. Duration: 10s | ||||||||
2 | Stronghold fka. Mighty Guard |
Instant | 3.86s | — | 50y radius | Stronghold | ||
Reduces damage taken by all party members by 40%. Duration: 15s | ||||||||
3 | Last Bastion | Instant | 3.86s | — | 50y radius | Last Bastion | ||
Land Waker | Reduces damage taken by all party members by 80%. Duration: 8s |
Land Waker | ||||||
Dark Force | Dark Force | |||||||
Gunmetal Soul | Gunmetal Soul |
Healer[]
Limit breaks for healers focus on restoring a percentage of HP to their allies. Their limit break is the only one to gain an additional function at level 3, as it can revive any KO'd allies. In duties where level 3 limit breaks are available, the limit break is often kept is reserve for use by healers at level 3 in case of emergencies. Healer limit breaks are rarely used for the actual healing provided, as there are few situations that require AoE healing so heavy that it can't be covered by normal spells. Level 1 and 2 healer limit breaks are thus rarely seen.
Unlike regular revives, party members revived by a level 3 limit break are revived instantly with no confirmation prompt and need to be prepared to act immediately, though it still applies the Transcendent status to provide invulnerability for 5s or until they act. The Weakness and Brink of Death statuses will not be applied, but their duration will be reset if players were already afflicted by them. KO'd party members are also revived with 100% MP, but no MP is restored to still-living party members. Healer limit breaks will also revive players where they fell rather than the healer's position, which can be a problem if a player died to an instant-death wall such as in The Binding Coil of Bahamut - Turn 5 as they will immediately die again without having an opportunity to move. The Transcendent status will not protect them from such effects.
Prior to patch 3.0, healer limit breaks were also used by physical ranged DPS, and Pulse of Life was used by all healers and physical ranged DPS as their level 3 limit break. Prior to patch 6.0, the healing radius was 30 yalms.
Level | Ability | Job | Image | Cast | Animation lock | Range | Area | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Healing Wind | 2s | 2.1s | — | 50y radius | — | ||
Restores 25% of own HP and the HP of all nearby party members. | ||||||||
2 | Breath of the Earth | 2s | 5.13s | — | 50y radius | — | ||
Restores 60% of own HP and the HP of all nearby party members. | ||||||||
3 | Pulse of Life | 2s | 8.1s | — | 50y radius | Transcendent | ||
Angel Feathers | Restores 100% of own HP and the HP of all nearby party members, and revives KO'd party members with 100% HP and MP. | |||||||
Astral Stasis | ||||||||
Techne Makre |
Melee DPS[]
Limit breaks for melee DPS focus on dealing massive damage to a single enemy. Deals 1.67x the damage of an equivalent magic ranged limit break, or 1.85x the damage of a physical ranged limit break. Their greater potencies make them preferable over ranged limit breaks when used against a single target. Conversely, an equivalent ranged Limit Break will always provide more damage when used against two or more targets; against four or more targets, even a ranged LB1 provides comparable or greater damage than than a melee LB2.
When using the melee LB1 or LB2, the player summons a Buster Sword made of light as part of the attack.
Prior to patch 3.0, Final Heaven was used by all melee DPS as their level 3 limit break.
Level | Ability | Job | Image | Cast | Animation lock | Range | Area | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Braver | 2s | 3.86s | 8y | — | — | ||
Delivers an attack to a single target. | ||||||||
2 | Bladedance | 3s | 3.86s | 8y | — | — | ||
Delivers an attack to a single target, dealing 2.2x the damage of Braver. | ||||||||
3 | Final Heaven | 4.5s | 3.7s | 8y | — | — | ||
Dragonsong Dive | Delivers an attack to a single target, dealing 3.5x the damage of Braver. | |||||||
Chimatsuri | ||||||||
Doom of the Living | ||||||||
The End | ||||||||
World-swallower |
Physical ranged DPS[]
The physical ranged DPS limit breaks inflict heavy damage to enemies in a straight line originating from the user, requiring a target which determines the direction of the line. Deals 0.54x the damage of an equivalent melee limit break, or 0.9x the damage of a magic ranged limit break. Typically used to quickly eliminate large groups of enemies when chain pulling or during the add phase of a boss encounter. If no melee DPS is present, can also substitute for them against a single target.
Prior to patch 3.0, Archers/Bards (the only physical ranged DPS at the time) instead used the same limit breaks as healers.
Level | Ability | Job | Image | Cast | Animation lock | Range | Area | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Big Shot | 2s | 3.1s | 30y | 30y by 8y line | — | ||
Delivers an attack to all enemies in a line, dealing 0.54x the damage of Braver. | ||||||||
2 | Desperado | 3s | 3.1s | 30y | 30y by 10y line | — | ||
Delivers an attack to all enemies in a line, dealing 1.17x the damage of Braver. | ||||||||
3 | Sagittarius Arrow | 4.5s | 3.7s | 30y | 30y by 16y line | — | ||
Satellite Beam | Delivers an attack to all enemies in a line, dealing 1.89x the damage of Braver. | |||||||
Crimson Lotus |
Magical ranged DPS[]
Caster limit breaks focus on dealing heavy damage to enemies in a target area. Deals 0.6x the damage of an equivalent melee limit break, or 1.11x the damage of a physical ranged limit break. Typically used to quickly eliminate large groups of enemies when chain pulling or during the add phase of a boss encounter. If no melee DPS is present, it can also substitute for them against a single target.
Prior to patch 3.0, Meteor was used by all magical ranged DPS as their level 3 limit break.
Level | Ability | Job | Image | Cast | Animation lock | Range | Area | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Skyshard | 2s | 3.1s | 25y | 8y radius | — | ||
Delivers an attack to all enemies in the target area, dealing 0.6x the damage of Braver. | ||||||||
2 | Starstorm | 3s | 5.1s | 25y | 10y radius | — | ||
Delivers an attack to all enemies in the target area, dealing 1.3x the damage of Braver. | ||||||||
3 | Meteor | 4.5s | 8.1s | 25y | 15y radius | — | ||
Teraflare | Delivers an attack to all enemies in the target area, dealing 2.1x the damage of Braver. | |||||||
Vermilion Scourge | ||||||||
Chromatic Fantasy |
Ungarmax[]
Ungarmax is a special limit break that is only available while running a command mission with an Adventurer Squadron. Using the Execute Limit Break squadron command will have the squadron members perform it. Ungarmax consumes only one limit bar, but requires all three squadron members to be conscious. There is no level 2 squadron limit break. Players can also execute the regular limit break of their current discipline instead of using Ungarmax.
Ungarmax was at one point the centerpiece of an exploit that allowed it to be used outside of Command Missions via the /ac Ungarmax
text command due to a programming oversight when it was implemented in patch 4.1. The exploit went mostly undiscovered for over 5 months before news of it began to spread throughout the playerbase, with players finding that the significant damage boost it provided allowed it to outperform even level 3 limit breaks. In response the development team took down all servers for emergency maintenance to remove the exploit, punish players who had abused it, and to improve their anti-cheat measures.[1]
Level | Ability | Cast | Range | Area | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ungarmax |
3s | 14y | 20y radius (buff only) | Damage Up |
Orders squadron to execute a limit break on a single target. Also increases damage dealt by party members within a 20-yalm range. Duration:15s
|
PvP Limit Breaks[]
Prior to the release of patch 6.1, Limit Breaks were not available in Player vs. Player environs, with Adrenaline Rushes taking their place. Following the PvP rework and introduction of Crystalline Conflict with said patch, Adrenaline Rushes were replaced with brand new Limit Breaks exclusive to PvP. Each Limit Break available in PvP fills at different speeds, depending on the job, and features unique mechanical usage per job.
- Tank
Job | Gauge fill time | Action Name | Cast | Range | Area | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
120s | Phalanx |
Instant | 0y | 15y (Phalanx status only) | Hallowed Ground (caster) Blade of Faith Ready (caster) Phalanx (teammates) | |
Grants the effect of Hallowed Ground to self and Phalanx to nearby party members. Hallowed Ground Effect: Renders you impervious to all attacks ※Action changes to Blade of Faith upon execution. | ||||||
90s | Primal Scream |
Instant | 0y | 12y | Inner Release Thrill of Battle | |
Let out a bloodcurdling cry in a cone before you, rendering enemies unable to use Guard. Duration: 15s ※Storm's Path Combo changes to Fell Cleave while under the effect of Inner Release. | ||||||
90s | Eventide |
Instant | 0y | 30y | Undead Redemption Blackblood | |
Delivers an attack to all enemies in a straight line before and behind you. Potency increases up to 20,000 as HP nears maximum. ※Souleater Combo changes to Bloodspiller while under the effect of Blackblood. | ||||||
60s | Relentless Rush |
Instant | 0y | 5y | Relentless Rush (caster) Relentless Shrapnel (target) | |
Unleashes a flurry of blade strikes on nearby enemies, dealing damage over time with a potency of 4,000 and reducing damage taken by 25% until effect expires.
Duration: 4s ※Action changes to Terminal Trigger upon execution. | ||||||
Terminal Trigger |
1s recast | 0y | 5y | Relentless Shrapnel (target) | ||
Delivers an attack with a potency of 12,000 to all nearby enemies. Additional Effect: Stun ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar. |
- Healer
Job | Gauge fill time | Action Name | Cast | Range | Area | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
60s | Afflatus Purgation |
Instant | 40y | 40y | Temperance | |
Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 18,000 to all enemies in a straight line before you. Additional Effect: Stun | ||||||
90s | Summon Seraph |
Instant | 30y | 10y | Recitation | |
Summons Seraph to fight at a designated location. Seraph will execute Seraph Flight immediately after being summoned. ※Action changes to Consolation upon execution. | ||||||
Seraph Flight |
1s recast | 0y | 10y | Seraph Flight, Excogitation | ||
Grants Seraph Flight and Excogitation to all nearby party members. Seraph Flight Effect: Nullifies the next status affliction that can be removed by Purify ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar. | ||||||
120s | Celestial River |
Instant | 0y | 15y | Celestial River | |
Reduces damage dealt by nearby enemies by 30%. Effect is reduced by 10% every 5 seconds. Duration: 15s | ||||||
120s | Mesotes |
Instant | 0y | 15y | Mesotes, Mesotes (party), Lype (enemies) | |
Erects a magicked barrier at a select location, granting party members the effect of Mesotes and afflicting enemies with the effect of Lype when standing inside. Duration: 15s |
- Melee DPS
Job | Gauge fill time | Action Name | Cast | Range | Area | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
60s | Meteodrive |
Instant | 20y | 0y | Meteodrive (on target) | |
Rushes target and delivers an attack with a potency of 12,000. Additional Effect: Removes target's Guard | ||||||
90s | Sky High |
Instant | 0y | 0y | ||
Jump high into the air, preventing enemies from targeting you. Movement is still possible before landing. Duration: 5s ※Action changes to Sky Shatter upon execution. | ||||||
Sky Shatter |
Instant | 0y | 10y | |||
Delivers an attack with a potency of 20,000 to all nearby enemies. Potency increases by 50% when targets are within 5 yalms. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar. | ||||||
90s | Seiton Tenchu |
Instant | 20y | 0y | Death Link (target), Seiton Tenchu Ready (self) | |
Rushes target and delivers an attack with a potency of 10,000, incapacitating foes whose HP is below 50%. Additional Effect: Afflicts target with Death Link | ||||||
120s | Zantetsuken |
Instant | 20y | 5y | ||
Swiftly charges forward, dealing damage to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 24,000. If target is afflicted with Kuzushi, deals damage equal to 100% of their maximum HP. | ||||||
90s | Tenebrae Lemurum |
Instant | 0y | 10y | Enshrouded (self), Hysteria (enemies) | |
Offers your flesh as a vessel to your avatar, gaining 5 stacks of Enshrouded.
Duration: 15s ※Action changes to Communio while under the effect of Enshrouded. | ||||||
10s | World-swallower File:World-swallower PvP from Final Fantasy XIV icon.png |
Instant | 0y | 10y | ||
- Physical Ranged DPS
Job | Gauge fill time | Action Name | Cast | Range | Area | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
120s | Final Fantasia |
Instant | 0y | 30y | Final Fantasia (self), Heroes' Fantasia (party members) | |
Grants Final Fantasia to self and Heroes' Fantasia to nearby party members. Final Fantasia Effect: Reduces weaponskill cast time and recast time by 10% while also increasing movement speed | ||||||
90s | Marksman's Spite |
Instant | 50y | 0y | ||
Delivers a ranged attack with a potency of 36,000. Can only be executed when the limit gauge is full. | ||||||
90s | Contradance |
Instant | 0y | 15y | Seduced | |
Charms nearby enemies. Duration: 2s |
- Magical Ranged DPS
Job | Gauge fill time | Action Name | Cast | Range | Area | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
60s | Soul Resonance |
Instant | 0y | 0y | Polyglot, Apocatastasis | |
Grants 6 stacks of Soul Resonance, upgrading Fire to Flare and Blizzard to Freeze. Additional Effect: Grants Polyglot and Apocatastasis | ||||||
90s | Summon Bahamut |
Instant (10s recast) | 30y | 15y | Dreadwyrm Trance | |
Enters Dreadwyrm Trance and summons Demi-Bahamut to fight at a designated location. Duration: 20s ※Action changes to Enkindle Bahamut upon execution. | ||||||
Megaflare |
Instant (1s recast) | 0y | 15y | |||
Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 18,000 to all nearby enemies.
※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar. | ||||||
Summon Phoenix |
Instant | 30y | 15y | |||
Enters Firebird Trance and summons Demi-Phoenix to fight at a designated location. Duration: 20s ※Action changes to Enkindle Phoenix upon execution. | ||||||
Everlasting Flight |
Instant (1s recast) | 0y | 15y | Everlasting Flight | ||
Gradually restores own HP and the HP of all nearby party members. Cure Potency: 4,000 ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar. | ||||||
90s | Southern Cross |
Instant | 30y | 15y | ||
Emblazons a grand cross on the ground beneath a party member or enemy, restoring HP of party members within range while damaging enemies. Cure Potency: 6,000 | ||||||
10s | Advent of Chocobastion File:Advent of Chocobastion PvP from Final Fantasy XIV icon.png |
Instant | ||||
Roleplay and Duty Support[]
A number of non-playable characters can make use of limit break mechanic when directly centrolled in certain Quest Battles, or when used as Duty Support party members. In the latter case, they generally have the same limit breaks as the player, but in some cases they have a unique one.
- Ysayle has a unique level 2 limit break, reminiscent of Shiva's Diamond Dust, when used as a DPS Duty Support in Sohm Al.
- Alphinaud can use the "Starstorm" limit break during Emissary of the Dawn. It is identical to the player version, but only needs a single Limit Break segment.
- Nyelbert can use the "Falling Star" limit break during Nyelbert's Lament. It is identical to the player's "Starstorm", but only needs a single Limit Break segment.
- Alisaie can use the "Vermillion Pledge" limit break during As the Heavens Burn. She can also use it as a unique level 2 Limit Break as a Duty Support in Endwalker.
- Venat has a unique level 2 limit break, "Thelema", when used as a DPS Duty Support in Ktisis Hyperboreia.
- Godbert Manderville uses an unnamed limit break in order to defeat Suprae-Lugae in Generational Bonding
External links[]
Citations[]
- ↑ Naoki Yoshida (n.d.) . "The Ungarmax Exploit and Our Response". Accessed August 29, 2021. Archived from the original on August 29, 2021.