Special is a main command in Bravely Default, these weapon based moves can be unlocked from rebuilding Norende Village, and the player can use these abilities in battle to turn the tide of victory in their favor.
Every special move has a condition that must be met using a specific weapon type. Once unlocked, the move can be unleashed in battle in a character specific cutscene, complete with that character's own theme song. The music plays an important part, as the party's abilities will be granted enhanced status for the duration of the song. While the effects diminish as the song ends, there are ways to extend and even expand the party's enhancements. By using the Special Move with another character before the previous song ends, the new moves' music will carry over the previous status enhancement, allowing them to combine attacks and set up powerful combos. This even works with the Summon Friend's special move.
Special Moves are the main way to deal the true maximum damage (999,999 damage), though only during Bravely Second (as any other time has the 9,999 damage cap, which is easily reached).
Customizing[]
The ability to use Special Moves will be granted partway through the beginning of the game. After which, further moves can be unlocked by upgrading the Special Move Shop in the Norende. The player can unlock a total of three Special Moves per weapon type, and each can be further customized with modifiers found by upgrading the various Parts shops found in Norende.
Every Special Move comes with four modifiers that can be swapped out and upgraded at any time from the Special menu. The player can change the type of damage done, family weakness, power boost, and ailment status given. Certain moves from the Staff and Rod have even more modifiers like HP and MP recovery, consecutive turns, and other curative effects.
Not only can they change the effects of a moves power, they can also customize the cosmetic changes, like the name of the move, and what each character will shout upon using their moves. These changes apply even to moves through the Summon Friend, so the player can be creative.
List of Special Moves[]
| Name | Weapon | Condition | Image | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hack and Slash | Swords | Brave 10 times. | ||||
| Lower one enemy's Physical Defense by 25%, then attack five times with 0.6 times the power of a conventional attack. For the duration of the music, all allies' Hit Count is raised by 20%. | ||||||
| Air Splitter | Swords | Brave 20 times. | ||||
| Deal double the damage of a conventional attack to all enemies. For the duration of the music, all allies' Physical Attack power is raised by 35%. | ||||||
| Sonic Wave | Swords | Brave 30 times. | ||||
| Attack one enemy with wind for six times the damage of a conventional attack. For the duration of the music, all allies' Physical Attack is raised by 50%. | ||||||
| Grand Strike | Axes | Defeat 5 enemies with physical attacks. | ||||
| Attack all enemies for 1.5 times the damage of a conventional attack. For the duration of the music, all allies' Physical Defense is raised by 20%. | ||||||
| Maelstrom | Axes | Defeat 10 enemies with physical attacks. | ||||
| Attack one enemy five times with 0.8 times the power of a conventional attack. For the duration of the music, all allies' Hit Count is raised by 35%. | ||||||
| Gigaton Swing | Axes | Defeat 15 enemies with physical attacks. | ||||
| Attack one enemy with earth for six times the damage of a conventional attack. For the duration of the music, all allies' Physical Defense is raised by 50%. | ||||||
| Horizon | Spears | Inflict physical damage on 10 enemies. | ||||
| Attack one enemy for three times the damage of a conventional attack. For the duration of the music, all allies' Critical Rate is raised by 300%. | ||||||
| Overpower | Spears | Inflict physical damage on 20 enemies. | ||||
| Attack one enemy six times with 0.6 times the power of a conventional attack and a high chance of inflicting paralysis. For the duration of the music, all allies' Physical Attack is raised by 35%. | ||||||
| Megiddo Flame | Spears | Inflict physical damage on 30 enemies. | ||||
| Attack all enemies with fire for five times the damage of a conventional attack. For the duration of the music, all allies' Physical Attack is raised by 50%. | ||||||
| Piercing Bolt | Rods | Use magic 10 times. | ||||
| Attack one enemy for 1.5 times the damage of a conventional attack, ignoring the target's Physical Defense. For the duration of the music, all allies' Magic Attack is raised by 20%. | ||||||
| Withering Ripple | Rods | Use magic 20 times. | ||||
| Lower all enemies' Physical and Magic Attack and Defense by 15% for four turns. For the duration of the music, all allies' Magic Attack is raised by 35%. | ||||||
| Holy Weapon | Rods | Use magic 30 times. | ||||
| Attack all enemies for five times the damage of a conventional attack, dealing additional damage to demonkind foes. For the duration of the music, all allies' Magic Attack is raised by 50%. | ||||||
| Rejuvenation | Staves | Heal 10 times. | ||||
| Heal all allies by a massive amount. For the duration of the music, the effect of healing magic is amplified by 100%. | ||||||
| Lux | Staves | Heal 20 times. | ||||
| Raise Physical and Magic Attack and Defense of all allies by 25% for four turns. For the duration of the music, all allies' Speed is raised by 35%. | ||||||
| Divine Light | Staves | Heal 30 times. | ||||
| Attack one enemy for seven times the damage of a conventional attack, dealing additional damage to undead foes. For the duration of the music, all allies' Magic Attack is raised by 50%. | ||||||
| Infinity | Daggers | Use items 5 times. | ||||
| Attack one enemy five times with 0.7 times the power of a conventional attack. For the duration of the music, all allies' Hit Count is raised by 20%. | ||||||
| Blade Storm | Daggers | Use items 10 times. | ||||
| Attack one enemy fifteen times with 0.3 times the power of a conventional attack. For the duration of the music, all allies' Hit Count is raised by 35%. | ||||||
| Cross Divide | Daggers | Use items 15 times. | ||||
| Attack one enemy ten times with 0.7 times the power of a conventional attack. For the duration of the music, all allies' Hit Count is raised by 50%. | ||||||
| Maximum Draw | Bows | Exploit element/family weakness 5 times with physical attacks. | ||||
| Attack one enemy for three times the damage of a conventional attack. For the duration of the music, all allies' Critical Rate is raised by 300%. | ||||||
| Rapid Fire | Bows | Exploit element/family weakness 10 times with physical attacks. | ||||
| Attack one enemy with fire five times with 0.8 times the power of a conventional attack. For the duration of the music, all allies' Hit Count is raised by 35%. | ||||||
| Angelic Pillar | Bows | Exploit element/family weakness 15 times with physical attacks. | ||||
| Attack all enemies with light for three times the damage of a conventional attack. For the duration of the music, all allies' Magic Defense is raised by 50%. | ||||||
| Moonshadow | Katanas | Default 5 times. | ||||
| Attack one enemy for double the damage of a conventional attack with a high chance of stunning the target for several turns. For the duration of the music, all allies' Physical Attack is raised by 20%. | ||||||
| Breaking Wave | Katanas | Default 10 times. | ||||
| Attack all enemies with water for double the damage of a conventional attack. For the duration of the music, all allies' Critical Rate is raised by 900%. | ||||||
| Petal Swirl | Katanas | Default 15 times. | ||||
| Attack one enemy five times with 1.2 times the power of a conventional attack. For the duration of the music, all allies' Speed is raised by 50%. | ||||||
| Moonbeam | Knuckles | Inflict critical damage 3 times. | ||||
| Attack one enemy for three times the damage of a conventional attack. For the duration of the music, all allies' Physical Attack is raised by 20%. | ||||||
| Ascendant Palm | Knuckles | Inflict critical damage 6 times. | ||||
| Attack one enemy sixteen times with 0.3 times the power of a conventional attack. For the duration of the music, all allies' Hit Count is raised by 35%. | ||||||
| Thunderburst | Knuckles | Inflict critical damage 9 times. | ||||
| Attack one enemy with lightning for five times the damage of a conventional attack. For the duration of the music, all allies' Physical Attack is raised by 50%.
| ||||||
Profanity filter[]
A profanity filter prevents players from using swears on the names of special moves. It can misfire and block names just for including some short phrases that are obscure slang.