Category:Skillchains: Difference between revisions

Pulled and modified from ffxicopedias Archived version. All data updated to known values from datamines.

Skillchain Basics

A Skillchain is created by successfully performing Weapon Skills in the correct order. The order of Weapon Skills is determined by the attributes of the Weapon Skill (see Weapon Skill Attributes below). When a Weapon Skill is performed and successfully connects with the target, the target resonates with the Weapon Skill Attributes of the used Weapon Skill for approximately 5 seconds. If the target is then hit with a Weapon Skill Attribute which chains with the resonating Weapon Skill Attributes, a Skillchain is formed.

When performing the necessary Weapon Skill there is a window of 5 seconds starting 1 second after the previous Weapon Skill in which the following Weapon Skill can be performed. If the following Weapon Skill is performed too soon or too late the Skillchain will not be formed.

If a Weapon Skill is performed which does not chain with the Weapon Skill Attributes the target is resonating with, the resonating Weapon Skill Attributes are replaced by those of the performed Weapon Skill. If the subsequent Weapon Skill has no Weapon Skill Attributes (ex. Spirits Within, Spirit Taker, Energy Steal, Energy Drain, Starlight, Moonlight) or misses entirely, the target will continue to resonate with the previous Weapon Skill's Attributes until another Weapon Skill with Attributes connects, or until time expires.

The damage performed by a Skillchain is determined by the level of the Skillchain and the damage dealt by the Weapon Skill which completed the Skillchain. For this reason, Thieves and the Sneak Attack ability are ideally suited to closing a Skillchain for large amounts of damage.

Weapon Skill Attributes

moreThe basis of a Skillchain involves the attributes associated with each Weapon Skill performed. The correct combination of attributes produces a Skillchain.

There are 14 Weapon Skill attributes in total.

Level 1 Attributes

•  Transfixion
  • Associated with the element Light and piercing damage.
•  Liquefaction
  • Associated with the element Fire and heat-based damage.
•  Impaction
  • Associated with the element Lightning and blunt damage.
•  Detonation
  • Associated with the element Wind and wind damage.
• Compression
  • Associated with the element Dark and darkness damage.
• Scission
  • Associated with the element Earth and slashing damage.
• Reverberation
  • Associated with the element Water.
• Induration
  • Associated with the element Ice.

These are the most common attributes and most Weapon Skills have one or more of these. Each attribute is associated with an element and type of attack or damage.

For example, the Weapon Skill Tachi: Enpi carries the attributes Transfixion and Scission. Observing the Weapon Skill in action, it is clear to see that the user performs a slice across the target followed by a piercing blow to the center of the target.

Level 2 Attributes

• Fusion
  • Associated with the elements Light and Fire.
• Fragmentation
  • Associated with the elements Lightning and Wind.
• Gravitation
  • Associated with the elements Dark and Earth.
• Distortion
  • Associated with the elements Water and Ice.

Only high-level Weapon Skills carry these attributes. The attributes are not associated with any sort of damage type or weapon skill type.

Level 3 Attributes

• Light
  • Associated with the elements Light, Fire, Lightning and Wind.
• Darkness
  • Associated with the elements Dark, Earth, Water and Ice.

These attributes are only available on the Weapon Skills unique to the Relic Weapons.

Forming Skillchains

Skillchains are formed by hitting a target with a correct sequence of Weapon Skill Attributes. The specific sequence required varies between the various Skillchains. Not all sequences produce a Skillchain.

Level 1 Skillchains

Level 2 Skill Chains

Level 3 Skill Chains

Linked Skillchains

A Skillchain in its simplest form comprises of two Weapon Skills performed one after the other to generate the required Skillchain. The first Weapon Skill causes the target to resonate with the attributes of the Weapon Skill. The second Weapon Skill's attributes interact with the ones resonating on the target to produce the Skillchain.

Beyond this basic concept, the idea of Weapon Skill attributes can be applied to the Skillchain itself. Each Skillchain causes the target to resonate with the same attributes as the Skillchain. This means that a third Weapon Skill can follow the initial two, acting on the Skillchain they produced.

For example, a Monk can use Spinning Attack to make the target resonate with Liquefaction and Impaction. A second Monk follows this attack with Howling Fist, creating a Fusion Skillchain. A Dark Knight then continues this by using Spinning Slash to create a  Light Skillchain.

Linking Skillchains increases their potential damage. The damage potential is based off the closing Weapon Skill. Damage increases with the number of Skillchains performed in succession as follows:

All Weapon Skill Attributes can be used to create a Skillchain except Level 3 attributes from a Relic Weapons Weapon Skill (e.g. Scourge). These powerful Weapon Skills may be used to create a Level 3 Skillchain by immediately following a Level 3 Weapon Skill attribute (either from a Lv.2 created Skillchain or another Relic Weapon), however no further Skillchain may be created from the subsequent Skillchain.

No more than 5 Skillchains can be created in succession under any circumstances. (This would require 6 total Weapon Skills in a row).

List of Weapon Skills and Abilities With Weapon Skill Attributes

You can find this same information in a different layout on the Weapon Skill Elemental Attributes page.

You will notice that many weapon skills have 2 or more attributes associated with them. The attributes are listed by priority using "A," "B," or "C" notation, where "A" is the highest and "C" is the lowest. If a situation arises where a Skillchain can be formed using both "A" and "B" attributes, a Skillchain will be formed using the "A" attribute. The attribute with highest priority is always chosen when multiple Skillchain possibilities are presented. If "C" is not listed on the table that means there is no "C" attribute.

Blood Pacts

The level listed for the Blood Pacts is not the same as the levels for Weapon Skills. It is the level that the Summoner job needs to be in order to use the Blood Pact. So if the level listed is 21, that means the summoner needs to be level 21 in order to use that ability.

Blue Magic

In order to make a Skillchain using Blue Magic, the Chain Affinity ability must be used.

Automatons

The Weapon Skills an automaton can use is dependent on the frame it is using. An automaton equipped with the Harlequin Frame or the Stormwaker Frame can only use Slapstick, Knockout and Magic Mortar. An automaton equipped with the Valoredge Frame can only use Chimera Ripper, String Clipper, Cannibal Blade and Bone Crusher. An automaton equipped with the Sharpshot Frame can only use Arcuballista, Daze and Armor Piercer.

Axe | G. Axe | Archery | Club | Dagger | Hand-to-Hand | Katana | G. Katana | Marksmanship Polearm | Scythe | Staff | Sword | G. Sword | Blue Magic | Automatons | Bloodpacts