Xenosaga III: Also Sprach Zarathustra Special Attack FAQ Version 1.0 by Codex (codex79@yahoo.com) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TABLE OF CONTENTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [01] Version History [02] Introduction [03] Character Special Attacks [04] ES Special Attacks [05] Leveling Special Attacks [06] Gameplay Tips [07] Copyright ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAQ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [01] Version History =============================================================================== Version 1.0 9/14/06 - Added level acquired for rank 3 character special attacks Version 0.95 9/12/06 - Added level acquired for rank 2 character special attacks Version 0.90 9/11/06 - Character special attacks basic details - ES special attacks complete [02] Introduction =============================================================================== This guide is intended to address questions that frequently arise concerning special attacks, their acquisition and leveling, as well as serve as a refer- ence during gameplay of Xenosaga III. Proceed with care; I've tried to mini- mize spoilers, but they are still present as some attacks are acquired through the storyline. I'd like to thank the Gamefaqs Xenosaga III game board for asking questions, as well as those who take the time to answer them over and over. [03] Character Special Attacks =============================================================================== Each character has three special attacks in all. They start off with one, and acquire the rest via leveling or through storyline events. The occasional playable characters (Miyuki, Canaan and Allen) do not have special attacks. Character Rank Name Boost Properties (Level Acquired) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- chaos 1 Phoenix Strike 2 Single large break + absorb Gnosis soul 2 Imperial Judgement 2 All medium ice ether attack (34) 3 Beloved Gospel 3 Auto revive all allies with max HP once (50) (can be used multiple times per battle) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- KOS-MOS 1 G-Shot 2 Single large physical attack 2 X-Buster 2 All medium beam ether attack (31) 3 D-Teneritas 4 Single massive fire ether attack Acquired in Chapter 10 after defeating T-elos ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jin 1 Spark Waltz 2 Single large physical attack 2 Dragon Dance 3 Single large lightning attack (22) 3 Lightning Waltz 4 Single massive lightning attack Acquired in Chapter 10 after defeating ES Levi by examining sparkling object near the ES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jr. 1 Requiem 2 Single large physical + absorb Gnosis, Bio 2 Storm Waltz 2 All medium physical + large break attack (30) 3 Red Dragon 4 All large fire ether attack (43) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MOMO 1 Freeze Shock 2 Single large ice ether attack 2 Guilty Rain 2 All medium lightning ether attack (24) 3 Gold Crown 2 Casts Offensive, Defensive, Balance Up (48) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shion 1 Break Bash 2 Single heavy break + higher crit to Bio 2 Lock Shot 2 All medium beam ether + seal boost (26) 3 MS2 3 Single large fire attack (41) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ziggy 1 Penetrate 2 Single large physical attack 2 Hind 2 All medium fire attack (26) 3 Intruder 4 Single massive fire + medium break attack (40) [04] ES Special Attacks =============================================================================== The ES can also use special attacks. The system is slightly different in that each ES has its own boost gauge and can use their special attacks independently. In order to execute a special attack, an ES must fill up their boost gauge to at least 1. Selecting 'Anima' in the battle menu will allow you to access its special attack. Once you select the Anima Awakening Level (which corresponds to the special attack level), you can't change your mind. You can only use the special attack level that corresponds to the Awakening level (i.e. you can't use two level 1 attacks if you Awaken at level 2). Level 1 Awakening: Acquired in Chapter 3, when you first board your ES on the Floating Landmass Level 2 Awakening: Acquired in Chapter 6 at Labyrinthos, after securing new Vessels of Anima Level 3 Awakening: Acquired in Chapter 8 at Abel's Ark, after destroying the bosses within the four spheres ES Rank Name Properties ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ES Asher 1 Shot Buster Single medium beam attack 2 Flare Buster All large fire attack 3 Cerberus Single massive lightning attack ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ES Dinah 1 R-Fang Single medium beam ether attack 2 X-Buster All large beam ether attack 3 X-Cannon Single massive beam ether attack ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ES Reuben 1 Iron Blade Single medium physical attack 2 Garuda's Wrath All large lightning attack 3 Lotus Blades Single massive beam attack ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ES Zebulun 1 Aird Star Single medium beam ether attack 2 Aird Rain All large beam ether attack 3 Meteor Burst All massive fire ether attack ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [05] Leveling Special Attacks =============================================================================== Each special attack can grow in levels up to level 25. In general, this is achieved by using the special attack for a given number of times. The only exceptions are chaos' level 2 Imperial Judgment and Jr.'s level 3 Red Dragon. These two skills are leveled through the absorption of souls by delivering a finishing blow with each character's level 1 special attack (Phoenix Strike and Requiem respectively). chaos' Phoenix Strike will absorb only Gnosis, while Jr.'s Requiem will absorb both biologicals and Gnosis. The number of souls absorbed can be checked through the character's status screen. The number of uses/souls absorbed required for the next level increases at in- crements of 3. For character special attacks, ES special attacks, and special attacks relying upon soul absorption, the growth ladder is as follows: Level 01 - Level 02 6 ( +6) Level 03 15 ( +9) Level 04 27 (+12) Level 05 42 (+15) Level 06 60 (+18) Level 07 81 (+21) Level 08 105 (+24) Level 09 132 (+27) Level 10 162 (+30) and so on until the attacks max out at level 25 [06] Gameplay Tips =============================================================================== Special attacks are a powerful tool in your battle arsenal. Using them effec- tively will help your characters grow and defeat their enemies more efficient- ly. A few tips are listed below: 1. Equip gear to display data Whether it is your characters or ES, it helps a lot to see your enemies' physical/elemental weaknesses and strengths. Some array of enemies will have opposing elemental affinities, while some bosses will shift on the fly. If you're not aware of these properties, you may waste a valuable special attack only to see it land 0 damage or even heal the enemy. 2. Kill enemies with your special attacks Landing a finishing blow with your special attack will net you an extra 50% in experience, skill points, and gold per enemy. Once you gain level 2 spe- cial attacks, soften enemies up with all-enemy attacks and wrap up the bat- tle with an all-enemy special attack for a hefty bonus. Keep an eye out for elemental properties of both your targets and your attack. 3. Traps are your friend Use your traps! These will gain you at least 1 boost gauge, and are espe- cially effective with ES, since they have independent gauges. Use these traps to charge up before a boss fight; you can always escape from a non- boss battle after gaining boost. Rinse and repeat until full. 4. Increase your max boost As you proceed through the game, you will come across necklaces that will increase your max boost. These are necessary for using character special attacks that require more than 3 boost gauges. They need to be equipped on your active characters for them to be effective. [07] Copyright 2006 Joy Tsiao =============================================================================== This may be not be reproduced under any circumstances except for personal, private use. It may not be placed on any web site or otherwise distributed publicly without advance written permission. Use of this guide on any other web site or as a part of any public display is strictly prohibited, and a violation of copyright. All trademarks and copyrights contained in this document are owned by their respective trademark and copyright holders.