Limit Break

The Limit Break is a powerful ability introduced in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. During a Limit Break, the user unleashes a tremendous amount of power as an attack that they wouldn't normally be able to perform. The attack is usually based on the user's element or abilities in previous games, such as a combo finisher or Limit.

In order to activate a Limit Break, the user must drop into a low amount of their HP, also known as the Alarm Zone. This area is marked as being yellow, as opposed to the rest of the green bar. After having dropped into the player's Alarm Zone, a small sound will sound. This means that the player can hold down the "A" button for a few seconds to begin their Limit Break. Once the powerful attack has been triggered, a marker will begin to move down the HP bar, until it reaches the other end. At that point, the Limit Break ends, and the Alarm Zone is set closer to the end of the HP bar. To use the Limit Break again, the player must survive another attack to re-enter the Alarm Zone. The item Limit Recharge increases the Alarm Zone, and the ability Limit Boost increases where the Alarm Zone is at the beginning of a mission.

On Day 225 of the Story Mode, Roxas will receive the Final Limit panel from Saïx, which allows to user to execute their Final Limit. During a Final Limit, the user's Limit Break is prolonged. This is because the user will execute a series of a special extra ability during a second part of their Limit Break. This extra attack will become executable when the marker that runs across the HP bar touches the left end of the HP bar. Then, the marker will run backwards to the Alarm Zone; during this time, the special series of an extra attack will begin until the end of the Limit Break. Because of this, the Final Limit's extra ability can only be used during the second half of the Limit Break. It also will always begin in the exact middle of a Limit Break.

Xemnas
Xemnas's Limit Break is called All-Vanity (オールヴァニティ). During All-Vanity, Xemnas summons a barrier around himself, and hovers around the field. Any enemies that Xemnas' barrier touches will take damage, and cannot deal damage to Xemnas.

During Xemnas's Final Limit, Xemnas creates two large powerful lasers from his hands that he fires around himself at a long range. Any enemies that are hit take heavy damage.

Xemnas's Final Limit resembles a desperation attack he uses in Kingdom Hearts Final Mix.

Xigbar
Xigbar's Limit Break is called Critical Snipe (クリティカルスナイプ). During Critical Snipe, Xigbar's gameplay goes into a over-the-shoulder third-person shooter mode. He combines his two gun arrows into a single sniper rifle, and fires powerful, large bullets at the target. Enemies hit take damage and are temporarily stunned.

During Xigbar's Final Limit, Xigbar's bullets become larger, more powerful, and can be fired at a faster rate. Instead of simply being larger, they become a sphere of pink, white, and blue energy. Their strength is shown by the ripples they make in space as they are fired. Enemies that are hit take heavy damage.

Xigbar's Limit Break is very similar to an attack he uses in Kingdom Hearts II, in which he fires at Sora from above in a first-person shooter mode.

Xaldin
Xaldin's Limit Break is called Dragoon Storm (ドラグーンストーム). During Dragoon Storm, Xaldin's swirls his lances around his in powerful bursts. Enemies that are hit take wind damage, and are pushed away from Xaldin.

During Xaldin's Final Limit, Xaldin can launch himself into the air, and come down with a mighty blow onto one enemy. Faithful to his name, this is a similar technique to the Jump ability that can be used by Dragoons in the Final Fantasy video game series.

Vexen
Vexen's Limit Break is called Diamond Dust (ダイヤモンドダスト). During Diamond Dust, Vexen summons three large mounds of ice to come up from the ground to strike enemies, dealing ice damage to and freezing all struck enemies. Enemies that are frozen take three times as much damage while frozen.

During Vexen's Final Limit, Vexen's three mounds of ice are replaced by one larger glacier. This deals greater ice damage to enemies, and temporarily makes them gradually lose HP. It also freezes them for awhile.

Diamond Dust is the name of a Sleight that Vexen could use in Riku's story in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. During the attack, Vexen summons an unavoidable blizzard to damage Riku. In the remake, this attack would not end unless if Riku ended it with a card break.

Diamond Dust is also the name of an attack used by a recurring summon from the Final Fantasy series, Shiva.

Lexaeus
Lexaeus's Limit Break is called Ayers Rock (エアーズロック). During Ayers Rock, Lexaeus can perform a charged attack. Once the Limit Break begins, Lexaeus can charge his energy, as shown by a red aura around him; he then can release the stored energy in a powerful 180-degree swing, dealing devastating damage to the target. The attack is then followed up by a shockwave. The longer the player charges before releasing this attack, the stronger the attack will be. Depending on the amount charged, this attack can even be performed twice before obtaining Final Limits.

Alternatively, the player can choose not to charge this attack at all. If so, Lexaeus will perform a less powerful swing attack with his weapon. This can be done several times during one Limit Break.

During Lexaeus's Final Limit, Lexaeus' weapon becomes engulfed in rock before releasing the charged attack, increasing the strength and range of the attack by also adding a large addition of earth to the weapon length-wise.

Ayers Rock is completely identical to an attack that Lexaeus can use during his battle with Riku in Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories.

Ayers Rock is a famous landmark in Australia; a large, rust-red monolith.

Zexion
Zexion's Limit Break is called Meteor Mirage (メテオミラージュ). During Meteor Mirage, Zexion and his open lexicon are brought into the air. While in the air, Zexion summons many balls of dark indigo energy to bomb the field, dealing a large amount of damage to enemies hit by the barrage. During the bombardment, Zexion can slowly move around to hit enemies that are further away with the meteors.

During Zexion's Final Limit, Zexion exerts more power into his lexicon for the attack. The meteors that he summons are larger and more plentiful as well as crash down faster.

Saïx
Saïx's Limit Break is called Berserk (ベルセルク). During Berserk, Saïx goes into a berserk stage; he rushes across the field, dealing continuous, devastating damage to enemies that he comes down hitting with his claymore. When the attack button is pressed, he will jump and perform a stronger smashing attack. Each smashing attack is followed up by a shockwave.

During Saïx's Final Limit, Saïx goes into an even more berserk stage; He comes down to attack even more often, and exerts a sphere of his strength straight from himself while in the air before coming down. The shockwaves that come after each attack also increase in range.

Berserk is completely identical to Saïx's main attack from his battle with Sora in Kingdom Hearts II.

Axel
Axel's Limit Break is called Explosion (エクスプロージョン). During Explosion, Axel throws his chakrams at enemies while they're engulfed in fire, creating a small explosion of fire afterwards. While not being thrown, Axel's chakrams spin rapidly, gathering fire. However, they can be thrown at any time, and do not need to charge.

During Axel's Final Limit, Axel combines his two flaming chakrams into one enormous flaming chakram, easily many times larger than the two chakrams. The explosion after the attack is also much larger.

Explosion is completely identical to a Sleight that could be used by Axel in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, called Firetooth. During Firetooth, Axel repeatedly throws his flaming chakrams at Sora, leaving him unable to attack until the Sleight ended. In the remake, this attack would not end unless if Sora ended it with a card break.

Demyx
Demyx's Limit Break is called Wave Gigs (ウェイブギグス). During Wave Gigs, the player must press and time the attack button in specific "beats" as Demyx jams out on his sitar, summoning up large pillars of water to rise and strike enemies. The more efficiently the button inputs are performed, the faster and more plentiful the attack will be. Enemies that are hit by the pillars take water damage. Meanwhile, Demyx's movement speed is reduced to a slow march, allowing him to slowly advance on an enemy as he attacks, but not much else.

During Demyx's Final Limit, Demyx releases a large ball of water while jamming out on his sitar. The ball creates a watery explosion that knocks enemies back and deals water damage.

Wave Gigs is completely identical to one of Demyx's main attacks from his battle with Sora in Kingdom Hearts II, except for the fact that the water pillars erupt on all sides, and all adjacent to Demyx, rather than as a "wall" of water pillars in a line in front of him.

Luxord
Luxord’s Limit Break is called Jackpot (ジャックポット). During Jackpot, Luxord summons a card in front of him. While it is summoned, the card alternates between a cross and a flashing symbol similar to Roxas's pendant. Selecting the cross results in the card merely exploding and Luxord will visibly flinch while selecting the flashing symbol will create a few powerful energy blasts that follow a trail between Luxord and the target.

During Luxord’s Final Limit, Luxord summons two cards in front of him instead of one. The player now has three alternating symbols to choose from: double crosses, the flashing symbol and an additional red symbol or two large red symbols. The crosses cause the cards to explode as before, the flashing symbol and the red symbol create the exact same energy blasts as summoned by one card. When the two large red symbols are selected, Luxord will create more energy blasts than with one card, with the final blast being much bigger and more powerful.

Marluxia
Marluxia’s Limit Break is called Bloom-Out (ブルームアウト). During Bloom-Out, Marluxia begins to charge an attack while a large black ring forms around him. Once the attack finishes charging and the black ring is completely formed, Marluxia swings his scythe multiple times over a large area on the black ring. During the initial portion of the Limit Break, with a perfectly timed button press, Marluxia will be surrounded in cherry blossoms and may instantly kill any weaker enemy hit by the attack.

During Marluxia’s Final Limit, Marluxia teleports before the attack, and his swing is much faster and covers a much larger area, followed by the release of a large, crescent-shaped projectile.

Marluxia’s Final Limit is very similar to a Sleight that he can use in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories.

Larxene
Larxene’s Limit Break is called Voltic Rush (ボルティックラッシュ). During Voltic Rush, Larxene rapidly slashes away at her enemies, dealing lightning damage.

During Larxene’s Final Limit, Larxene darts around the field while enveloped in lightning, making her even faster. She also deals even more lightning damage to enemies.

Larxene’s Limit Break is very similar to her fighting style in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix. The name could be a possible reference to the sleight "Teleport Rush" in Chain of Memories.

Roxas
Roxas's Limit Break is called Event Horizon (イベントホライズン). During Event Horizon, Roxas rapidly darts around the field while his Keyblade enveloped in light, slashing away at enemies with great strength.

During Roxas's Final Limit, he summons four thin pillars of light to quickly move in straight paths to ends of the field, dealing heavy damage to any enemies in their path.

Roxas’s Final Limit is identical to an attack that he uses during his battle with Sora in Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix.

Xion
Xion’s Limit Break is called Event Horizon; it is identical in every way to Roxas’s Limit Break. During Event Horizon, Xion rapidly darts around the field while her Keyblade enveloped in light, slashing away at enemies with great strength.

Xion’s Final Limit is also identical to Roxas’s Final Limit. During her Final Limit, Xion summons four thin pillars of light to quickly move in straight paths to ends of the field, dealing heavy damage to any enemies in their path.

Donald
Donald’s Limit Break is called Fantasia (ファンタジア). During Fantasia, Donald summons many small, colorful explosions to appear, heavily damaging any enemies that get hit.

During Donald’s Final Limit, many colorful explosions circle around Donald while he is in midair. The explosions are also somewhat larger, and do much more damage. The explosions start on opposite sides of Donald, and will rotate around him if the attack button is continuously pressed.

Donald’s Limit Break is completely identical in every way to one of his Limits from Kingdom Hearts II, called Comet. The name Fantasia is also the name of the ability that Donald equips to use this Limit.

Goofy
Goofy’s Limit Break is called Teamwork (ウニゾンアスリート). During Teamwork, Goofy repeatedly launches himself over short distances, leaving a trail of air behind him. Any enemies that Goofy hits take heavy damage. The attack can be charged for greater distance.

During Goofy’s Final Limit, the player may charge the attack an extra mile so that Goofy may launch himself over a much longer distance. Because of the longer distance traveled, Goofy gathers more acceleration. This adds more force to Goofy’s launch, which means that he deals more damage.

Goofy’s Limit Break is very similar to the final phase of his Knocksmash Limit from Kingdom Hearts II. In this Limit’s final phase, Goofy is launched around the field by Sora, leaving behind the same trail of air that is left behind by his Limit Break. The name Teamwork is also the name of the ability that Goofy equips to use this Limit.

Riku
Riku’s Limit Break is called Darkstrom (ダークストローム). During Darkstrom, Riku quickly darts around the field with his Keyblade in front of him, attacking enemies in his way. With each dash, he is surrounded in small but plentiful strands of darkness.

During Riku’s Final Limit, Riku envelopes his Keyblade in light, very much like Roxas’ and Xion’s Limit Breaks. He then makes powerful slash attacks, dealing heavy damage. Although his weapon also becomes enveloped in light, Riku’s Final Limit is not as speedy as Roxas’s or Xion’s Limit Breaks.

Riku’s Limit Break is very similar to his Dark Aura Sleight from Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. Both involved dashing around the battle field with the power of darkness. His Final Limit is similar to Master Hearts, a part of his Eternal Session Limit with Sora, which saw Riku and Sora enveloping their Keyblades in energy and slashing the enemy.

The King
The King's Limit Break is called Pearl (ホーリー). During Pearl, the King is surrounded by hovering balls of light around him. He summons thin beams of light to come from above directly onto enemies. He can also charge up to create a thicker and stronger beam of light. If charged up completely, there will be one huge beam and three thinner beams surrounding the huge beam in a triangle formation. The balls of light work as a shield to attack enemies if they get close to the King, and the beams of light deal devastating damage to the enemies that they come directly down upon.

During the King's Final Limit, precise timing can make a storm of light rays come down from the sky, as well as two orbs of light being fired from the King. The range for this attack is wide, though it does not guarentee a precise hit on the target as his regular Final Limit does.

The King's Limit Break is extremely similar to an ability that can be used by Queen Minnie in Kingdom Hearts II. Her ability is also called Pearl. During Queen Minnie’s Pearl, Queen Minnie summons large pillars of light to strike enemies. However, the pillars of light in Queen Minnie’s ability do not come directly down on enemies like those in King Mickey’s Limit Break do.

The King's Limit Break is also similar in name and ability to the spell he uses in Kingdom Hearts II by pressing when playing as King Mickey.

Sora
Sora’s Limit Break is called Ragnarok (ラグナロク). During Ragnarok, Sora is lifted into the air. While airborne, Sora gathers thin lasers into a sphere, and then fires them after they have charged up, signified by a white flash. Once the lasers are released, they home in on enemies, dealing great damage to those hit. If the lasers are fired right as the flash occurs, Sora will be surrounded by a web of light, and more lasers will be fired.

During Sora’s Final Limit, Sora releases a trio of spinning capsule-shaped beams along with the lasers. The trio of orange beams travels in a straight line, dealing devastating damage to enemies in its path. Like the regular Limit Break, the number of lasers fired can be increased by firing them right as the flash occurs.

Sora’s Limit Break is completely identical to an ability Sora can use in Kingdom Hearts, a Sleight he can use in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, and an ability accessible through Limit Form in Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix.

Dual-Wield Roxas
Dual-Wield Roxas's Limit Break is called Magic Hour (マジックアワー). During Magic Hour, Roxas leaps into the air and shoots up a beam of light with his joined Keyblades. By doing so, he summons many large pillars of light to repeatedly come down onto the battle field. Enemies that get hit take devastating damage.

During Dual-Wield Roxas's Final Limit, Roxas uses even more power. Roxas himself even becomes coated in light during this Final Limit. The pillars of light that he summons are even larger and faster, and deal an even greater amount of damage.

Dual-Wield Roxas's Final Limit originates from an identical attack used by Xion in her Final Form.