Command Style

The Command Style (コマンドスタイル) is a battle system introduced in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. When Terra, Ventus, and Aqua fill up the Command Gauge with the correct types of attacks and s, they can undergo a Style Change which grants increased strength and new weapon combos. There are some shared Command Styles that two or three characters can utilize, and some exclusive Styles that only one can perform. The enhanced Magic and physical attacks made available by Command Styles create more effective methods and strategies of combat.

Mechanics
Upon meeting certain requirements while filling up the Command Gauge, located above the Command Deck, a character may undergo a Style Change rather than executing a finishing attack. Every style change has certain requirements for activating; for example, the criteria for activating Diamond Dust is to fill part of the Command Gauge with -type attacks.

While using a Level 1 Command Style, the player can further achieve a second level by filling up the Command Gauge an additional time. For example, if Ventus fills Firestorm's Command Gauge with Aero-related commands, the result will be the powerful Cyclone Command Style.

Command Styles can also be achieved through the use of Ice Cream items once both have been obtained, with the Ice Cream immediately filling the command gauge upon use. Each flavor of Ice Cream will trigger a specific Command Style regardless of the Style's level, though use of any Ice Cream also carries a chance of triggering the Frozen Fortune Command Style (provided it has been unlocked). It should be noted that activating Command Styles in this manner does not impact the number of consecutive Style shifts that can occur before returning to the character's base state. For example, if one uses Ice Cream to activate a Level 2 Command Style without first activating a Level 1 Style, one can still transition to a second Level 2 Style by filling the Command Gauge appropriately.

Each Command Style replaces the basic attack combo, with Level 1 Styles replacing the attack command with Surge, Level 2 Styles replacing it with Storm, and Frozen Fortune replacing it with Ice Surge. Some Level 2 Command Styles may also replace or disable Action Commands, such as by changing the dodge or block ability, and others may transform the character's weapon in some manner. Each Style also has its own unique finish command named for the Style itself that triggers when the Command Gauge is filled (provided no other Command Style is activated).