Limit Break

A 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. Unlike a Limit from Kingdom Hearts II, the character can take damage if attacked while performing a Limit Break, although the damage taken is less. It also heals the character from any status problem and prevents them from getting any status problem.

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, doubling the length of the attack. This is because the user will execute 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, provided the user does not gain or lose any health in the process.

Xemnas
Xemnas's Limit Break is called All-Vanity (オールヴァニティ). Xemnas's Final Limit resembles a desperation attack he uses in Kingdom Hearts Final Mix.


 * Quotes
 * "Away with you." (Limit Break)
 * "You're an eyesore." (Final Limit)

Xigbar
Xigbar's Limit Break is called Critical Snipe (クリティカルスナイプ). 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.


 * Quotes
 * "Hey, not bad!" (Limit Break)
 * "You had your fun?" (Final Limit)

Xaldin
Xaldin's Limit Break is called Dragoon Storm (ドラグーンストーム).
 * Quotes
 * "This will cost you." (Limit Break)
 * "No holds barred." (Final Limit)

Vexen
Vexen's Limit Break is called Diamond Dust (ダイヤモンドダスト). 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. The attack resembles Vexen's Freeze Sleight in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories.

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


 * Quotes
 * "I've had enough of this." (Limit Break)
 * "You're too much trouble!" (Final Limit)

Lexaeus
Lexaeus's Limit Break is called Ayers Rock (エアーズロック). Ayers Rock is practically 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.


 * Quotes
 * "My power has no limits!" (Limit Break)
 * "I'll crush you!" (Final Limit)

Zexion
Zexion's Limit Break is called Meteor Mirage (メテオミラージュ). .

A mirage is another name for illusion, while meteors are what's fired during the Limit Break.


 * Quotes
 * "You think you can be forgiven?!" (Limit Break)
 * "You brought it upon yourself!" (Final Limit)

Saïx
Saïx's Limit Break is called Berserk (ベルセルク). Berserk is practically identical to Saïx's main attack from his battle with Sora in Kingdom Hearts II. In fact, when Saïx activates Berserk his weapon will "open up", just as in Kingdom Hearts II.


 * Quotes
 * "You're on." (Limit Break)
 * "Don't vex me." (Final Limit)

Axel
Axel's Limit Break is called Explosion (エクスプロージョン). Explosion is practically 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 Sora ended it with a card break.


 * Quotes
 * "You asked for it." (Limit Break)
 * "Don't say I didn't warn you!" (Final Limit)

Demyx
Demyx's Limit Break is called Wave Gigs (ウェイブギグス). Wave Gigs is practically 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.


 * Quotes
 * "What did I do?!" (Limit Break)
 * "Pipe down and listen!" (Final Limit)

Luxord
Luxord's Limit Break is called Jackpot (ジャックポット). ;Quotes
 * "How I love a game." (Limit Break)
 * "Let's even up the deck!" (Final Limit)

Marluxia
Marluxia's Limit Break is called Bloom-Out (ブルームアウト). Marluxia's Final Limit is very similar to a Sleight that he can use in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories.


 * Quotes
 * "Your heart will be scattered!" (Limit Break)
 * "Sink into the darkness!" (Final Limit)

Larxene
Larxene's Limit Break is called 'Voltic 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''.

' (ボルティックラッシュ). ;Quotes
 * "I'm gonna break you!" (Limit Break)
 * "You're getting on my nerves!" (Final Limit)

Roxas
Roxas's Limit Break is called Event Horizon (イベントホライズン). Roxas's Final Limit is practically identical to an attack that he uses during his battle with Sora in Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix.


 * Quotes
 * "Nice try!" (Limit Break)
 * "You're finished!" (Final Limit)

Xion
Xion's Limit Break is called Event Horizon; it is identical in every way to Roxas's Limit Break. .


 * Quotes
 * "I have to go on!" (Limit Break)
 * "I won't give in...!" (Final Limit)

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 practically identical 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.


 * Quotes
 * "I'm comin' back!" (Limit Break)
 * "Watch this!" (Final 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.


 * Quotes
 * "I'm here to help ya!" (Limit Break)
 * "You made me mad!" (Final 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 weapon 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 weapon in light, very much like Roxas's 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 light which surrounds his Soul Eater in the Final Limit gives it the appearance it has during part of his Dark Maelstrom attack from Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories.


 * Quotes
 * "Like I'd ever give up!" (Limit Break)
 * "You can't stop me!" (Final Limit)

The King
The King's Limit Break is called Holy (ホーリー). During Holy, 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 guarantee 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. The magic spell itself is derived from the magic spell of the same name from the Final Fantasy series, which today remains as the sole offensive White Magic spell.


 * Quotes
 * "Here goes!" (Limit Break)
 * "Gotta win!" (Final Limit)

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 originated as one of the obtainable Limit attacks 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.


 * Quotes
 * "Give me strength!" (Limit Break)
 * "Light!" (Final Limit)

Dual-Wield Roxas
Dual-Wield Roxas's Limit Break is called Magic Hour (マジックアワー) and is similar to Zexion's Limit Break. 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.

To cancel the attack and move to a better position, press B, while to resume, press A.

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

Magic hour is the best photographic time to shoot the sun (usually at dawn or dusk).


 * Quotes
 * "You can't stop me!" (Limit Break)
 * "Give me strength!" (Final Limit)

Video
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Trivia

 * If you look closely, when Organization XIII members activate their Limit Breaks, thornbeams similar to the ones that Xemnas and the Twilight Thorn use in their boss battles will surround them for a brief moment.
 * When using the Limit Boost ability panel, the alarm sound doesn't play when you reach the Alarm Zone. It only sounds once your health is reduced to about a fourth of what it was.