Abilities (KHD)
The Ability system in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep is very similar to that of Kingdom Hearts II, while also drawing inspiration from the Esper/Materia-based systems of the Final Fantasy series. While the abilities present in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep parallel those of earlier games, the system handles active and passive abilities independently—active abilities are handled through the various Command systems, such as the Deck Commands, Finish Commands, Dimension Links, and Command Styles, while passive abilities are treated as in previous games, as a set of abilities on a list that are either turned on or off at the player's will. However, instead of requiring AP rationing to activate abilities, the system in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep has the player attach a set ability to the Deck Commands that they create through the Command Meld process. Each Command recipe has a certain set of abilities that can be attached to the finished product, with the exact ability added depending on the Crystal applied to the ingredients.
Once an ability is attached to a Command, the ability can be equipped by adding that Command to the Command Deck. Until the Command is mastered, the ability will only remain activated whenever the Command is equipped and cannot be used at all otherwise. However, once the Command is mastered, the ability is actually added to the character's permanent list of abilities, can be turned on or off, and will be retained even when the previous Command is discarded. As with the abilities attached to Commands, these permanent abilities require no form of AP to enable. Furthermore, it is possible to acquire multiple copies of most abilities in this manner.
Because all abilities are passive in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, they are sorted not by whether they are active or passive, but by what type of support they provide. Prize Abilities, produced by Abounding and Hungry Crystals, increase the amount of prizes dropped by slain enemies, or make it easier to pick them up. Status Abilities, produced by Fleeting, Pulsing, Shimmering, or Soothing Crystals, increase the power or effectiveness of the character's various forms of offense or defense. Finally, Support Abilities, produced by Abounding, Pulsing, Soothing, or Wellspring Crystals, provide various perks that cannot be readily categorized.
Ability Panels
| Ability | Max. Level | Description | Link Zone | |||
 Dodge Roll (ドッジロール Dojji Rōru) |
3 | Hold the D-Pad and press  to roll forward and avoid enemy attacks.
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 Dodge Rush (ドッジラッシュ Dojji Rasshu) |
— | Knock enemies aside when you perform a dodge roll. | Linked panel[3] | |||
 Dodging Deflect (リフレクトドッジ Rifurekuto Dojji, lit. "Reflect Dodge") |
— | Bounce back enemy attacks when you perform a dodge roll. | Linked panel[3] | |||
 Dodge Combo (ドッジコンボ Dojji Konbo) |
— | Transition swiftly from a dodge roll back to the offensive. | Linked panel[3] | |||
 Auto-Dodge (オートドッジ Ōto Dojji) |
— | Automatically avoid enemy attacks sometimes. | Linked panel[3] | |||
 Block (リフレクトガード Rifurekuto Gādo, lit. "Reflect Guard") |
4 | Press to block and bounce back enemy attacks.
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 Perfect Block (ジャストガード Jasuto Gādo, lit. "Just Guard") |
— | Block just as an attack hits to eliminate recoil and transition right into your next move. | Linked panel[3] | |||
 Block-Counter (ガードカウンター Gādo Kauntā, lit. "Guard Counter") |
— | Respond with a powerful counterattack immediately after blocking. | Linked panel[3] | |||
 Block-Retreat (ガードバック Gādo Bakku, lit. "Guard Back") |
— | Recoil farther after you block an attack. | Linked panel[3] | |||
 Sliding Block (スライドガード Suraido Gādo, lit. "Slide Guard") |
— | Quickly slide forward as you block. | Linked panel[3] | |||
 Block-Jump (ガードエスケープ Gādo Esukēpu, lit. "Guard Escape") |
— | Jump right after you block without any delay. | Linked panel[3] | |||
 Fire Block (ファイアガード Faia Gādo, lit. "Fire Guard") |
— | Ignite enemies sometimes when you block. | Linked panel[3] | |||
 Blizzard Block (ブリザドガード Burizado Gādo, lit. "Blizzard Guard") |
— | Freeze enemies sometimes when you block. | Linked panel[3] | |||
 Thunder Block (サンダーガード Sandā Gādo, lit. "Thunder Guard") |
— | Jolt enemies sometimes when you block. | Linked panel[3] | |||
 Aero Block (エアロガード Earo Gādo, lit. "Aero Guard") |
— | Air-toss enemies sometimes when you block. | Linked panel[3] | |||
 Block Bonus (ガードボーナス Gādo Bōnasu, lit. "Guard Bonus") |
— | Generate HP prizes sometimes when you block. | Linked panel[3] | |||
 Round Block (ラウンドガード Raundo Gādo, lit. "Round Guard") |
— | Block any attack, even if it comes from behind. | Linked panel[3] | |||
 Auto-Block (エアロガード Earo Gādo, lit. "Aero Guard") |
— | Automatically block frontal attacks. | Linked panel[3] | |||
 Glide (ドッジロール Dojji Rōru) |
5 | Hold in midair to ride the wind. You will stay airborne until you release the button.
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 Homing Glide (ホーミンググライド Hōmingu Guraido) |
— | Lock on to a target while gliding to automatically move toward it. | Linked panel[3] | |||
 Rocket Glide (グライドアタック Guraido Atakku, lit. "Glide Attack") |
— | Slam past enemies by gliding right after you begin an air slide. (Requires Air Slide.) | Linked panel[3] | |||
 Air Slide (ドッジロール Dojji Rōru) |
5 | Hold in midair to ride the wind. You will stay airborne until you release the button.
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| Homing Glide (ホーミンググライド Hōmingu Guraido) |
— | Lock on to a target while gliding to automatically move toward it. | Linked panel[3] | |||
| Rocket Glide (グライドアタック Guraido Atakku, lit. "Glide Attack") |
— | Slam past enemies by gliding right after you begin an air slide. (Requires Air Slide.) | Linked panel[3] | |||
Status Abilities
Notes and references
- ^ Clear bonus for Mission 05.
- ^ Clear bonus for Mission 51.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Obtained through panel synthesis.
- ^ Clear bonus for Mission 07.
- ^ Purchase for 2400 Heart Points once Roxas is promoted to Master rank.
- ^ Complete Mission 53.
- ^ Redeem from the Moogle Shop for 150 Challenge Sigils.
- ^ Complete Mission 53.
- ^ Redeem from the Moogle Shop for 150 Challenge Sigils.
