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Added by FirebirdBand is a gameplay term in Final Fantasy IV: The After Years. They are special combination attacks between two or more characters, activated at the cost of some MP, and can either grant beneficial effects to the party or strike enemies with a powerful attack or spell.
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Overview
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Some Bands are learned in accordance with a story event, while others are learned by the player manually inputting commands in battle to discover them. Within the story, Band abilities can only be performed between characters with a deep bond, such as friendship or relatives. The powers of the Bands usually reflect the characters using them and the bond that allows them to Band.
To discover a Band that does not require a story event to be accessed, the player selects the Band command, then "Search for Bands." The player then inputs the proper commands from party members to combine powers (for example, Cecil's Attack and Rosa's White Magic), and executes the Band. If the correct abilities have been combined, the appropriate Band will activate. The character whose turn it is does not need to input a command. The first time a Band has been discovered this way it costs no MP to use. After a Band has been discovered by searching for it or through a story event, it will appear in the Band menu and can be selected to execute without having to input commands.
When a Band attack is issued, if one of the characters involved in the Band has not filled their ATB gauge yet, the Band will not begin to charge and execute until the gauge is filled. Bands have various ways to calculate damage - they can be either physical or magical, can hit multiple targets or just one, and some deal elemental damage. Band abilities take into account the Moon Phase and its effects on the commands the Band's power relies on. For example, during the Waning Moon, Bands that incorporate a character's Attack strength into their damage will be stronger, and Bands that use special commands will be weaker. Bands are generally extremely powerful, and several can exceed the damage limit to do 10,000 damage or greater.
Offensive Bands override the element(s) of a participant's equipped weapon (ie. if using a non-elemental Band that involves weapon contact, such as Vibra Plus, while wielding elemental weapons against an enemy that would normally resist or absorb said element, it would deal regular damage instead of reduced damage).
List of Band Abilities
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Ceodore's Tale
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| Band | Members | MP | Description | Image (WiiWare) | Image (PSP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vibra Edge | 7 | Attack all enemies. Damage is reliant on Biggs and Wedge's Attack. | |||
| Holy Blade | 15 | Slice a single enemy with a sword wreathed in holy power. Damage is reliant on Cecil's Attack. | |||
| Machine Break | 7 | Cause massive damage to machine-type enemies. Damage is reliant on Cecil's Attack. | |||
| Cross Slash |
Ceodore (Event) | 7 | Slice through a single enemy. Damage is reliant on Attack of both. |
Rydia's Tale
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| Band | Members | MP | Description | Image (WiiWare) | Image (PSP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning Brain Buster | 7 | Send a head-busting lightning-charged strike towards an enemy. Damage is reliant on Luca's Attack. | |||
| Calca and Brina | 10 | Combine the power of Calca and Brina to cast a random spell. May do fire, ice or lightning elemental damage to all enemies, may attack one enemy, may recover party's HP, or may use Self Destruct to kill both dolls and damage all enemies equal to their MP. 18% chance of all results except Self Destruct, which has 10% chance of occurring. Elemental damage is reliant on Calca's Jive, healing is reliant on Brina's Dance. Physical attack damage is reliant on Attack of both. | |||
| Go! Calcabrina! | 10 | Attack all enemies with fire and lightning. Damage is reliant on Luca's Attack and Calca's Jive. |
Yang's Tale
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Palom's Tale
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Edge's Tale
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| Band | Members | MP | Description | Image (WiiWare) | Image (PSP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blazing Moon Ring | 7 | A blazing body slam against a single enemy. Damage is reliant on Gekkou's Shuriken. | |||
| Frozen Moon Dance | 8 | Freeze then shatter a single enemy. Damage is reliant on Attack and Ninjutsu of both. | |||
| Wild Moon | 12 | Attack all enemies. Damage is reliant on Attack of both. | |||
| Gale Twin Break | 14 | An aerial attack against all enemies. Damage is reliant on Edge's Ninjutsu and Zangetsu's Human Kite. | |||
| Phantom Lightflies | 9 | Restore party HP and cure some status ailments. HP restored grows greater as Gekkou and Izayoi have less HP. | |||
| Gale Rush | Zangetsu (Ninjutsu) Tsukinowa (Ninjutsu) | 12 | Casts Haste on the party. | ||
| Wheel of Elements |
Gekkou (Ninjutsu) | 15 | Attack all enemies with fire, ice, and lightning. Damage is reliant on Ninjutsu of all four. | ||
| Ultimate Art: Advent of the Phoenix |
Edge (Mug) | 20 | Attack all enemies with fire. Damage increases the lower the party's HP is in relation to their max HP. Can break damage limit. |
Porom's Tale
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Thunderstorm does not carry over into the Final Tale and must be relearned.
| Band | Members | MP | Description | Image (WiiWare) | Image (PSP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twincast | 20 | Cast a spell together for great power. 40% chance of Pyroflare, 60% chance of Comet. Damage is reliant on Palom's Black Magic. | |||
| Thunderstorm | 25 | A magical ice and lightning attack that targets all enemies. Damage is reliant on Black Magic of both. |
Edward's Tale
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| Band | Members | MP | Description | Image (WiiWare) | Image (PSP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feast of the Land | Edward (Bardsong) Harley (Gil Toss) | 20 | Restore party HP and certain status ailments. Amount of HP healed is reliant on Edward's Intelligence, Harley's level, the player's current gil, and the number of living party members. |
Kain's Tale
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| Band | Members | MP | Description | Image (WiiWare) | Image (PSP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cross Slash Prime | 20 | Slice through a single enemy together. Damage is reliant on Attack of both. | |||
| Saint Dive | 30 | Attack all enemies with divine wrath. Damage is reliant on Kain's Jump and Rosa's White Magic. | |||
| X Chaser | Rosa (Aim) Cid (Analyze) | 12 | Critically strike a single enemy, possibly inflicting Instant Death. Damage is reliant on Rosa's Aim. | ||
| Divine Heal | 28 | Cast White Magic on party, effect is reliant on the phase of the moon. Possible spells include Curaga and Shell (Full Moon), Curaga and Protect (Waning Moon), Curaga and Esuna (New Moon), or Curaja (Waxing Moon). | |||
| Rocket Launcher | 12 | Enchant weapons with fire to attack the enemy. Damage is reliant on Attack of both. | |||
| Aiming Trust | 12 | Set your sights on one enemy and punch through it. Damage is reliant on Kain's Attack. |
The Lunarian's Tale
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| Band | Members | MP | Description | Image (WiiWare) | Image (PSP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double Black Magic | Golbez (Event) Fusoya (Event) | 30 | Cast a powerful black magic spell together. 31.25% chance of Double Firaga, Double Blizzaga or Double Thundaga. 6.25% chance of Double Meteor. Damage is reliant on Black Magic of both. |
The Crystals
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Bands involving Cecil are impossible to perform before the True Moon's Subterrane is cleared.
| Band | Members | MP | Description | Image (WiiWare) | Image (PSP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inferno | 40 | A punishing flame move that attack all enemies. Damage is reliant on Rydia's Black Magic and Edge's Ninjutsu. | |||
| Broken Heart | 25 | Strike all enemies with the pair's emotions. Damage is reliant on Rydia's Attack. | |||
| Flare Tornado | Rydia (Black Magic) | 15 | Imbues your weapons with the power of fire and strikes all enemies. Damage is reliant on Rydia's Black Magic, Edge's Ninjutsu and Luca's Big Throw. | ||
| Thunder Wave | Ceodore (Attack) Rydia (Black Magic) | 20 | Blows away all enemies with the power of lightning. Damage is reliant on Rydia's Black Magic and Ceodore's Attack. | ||
| Delta Evolution | 15 | Strike a single enemy with the combined power of three. Damage is reliant on Attack of all three. | |||
| Double Tomahawk | 10 | Both characters throw axes at a single enemy. Damage is reliant on Attack of both. | |||
| Mirage Dive | 32 | Summon clones to confuse and attack one enemy. Casts Blink on Edge. Damage is reliant on Edge's Attack and Kain's Jump. | |||
| Mecha-kite | 15 | Damage all enemies with a powered-up kite. Damage is reliant on Zangetsu's Human Kite. | |||
| Frost Wave | 25 | A magical ice attack that targets all enemies. Damage is reliant on Leonora's Black Magic and Izayoi's Ninjutsu. | |||
| Healing Wind | 40 | Restore HP of all allies. Power is reliant on Porom's White Magic and Tsukinowa's Ninjutsu. | |||
| Explosive Kick | 14 | Flame damage to all enemies. Damage is reliant on Yang's Kick and Gekkou's Ninjutsu. | |||
| Rapid Fire | 20 | Rapidly attack a single enemy with fireballs. Damage is reliant on Ceodore's Attack, Tsukinowa's Ninjutsu and Palom's Black Magic. | |||
| Tri-disaster | Rydia (Black Magic) | 20 | Cast a succession of powerful black magic. Damage is reliant on Black Magic of all three. | ||
| Holy Burst | Rydia (Black Magic) Rosa (White Magic) | 55 | Holy magical attack on all enemies. Damage is reliant on Rydia's Black Magic and Rosa's White Magic. | ||
| Holy Ray | 50 | Holy magical attack on all enemies. Damage is reliant on White Magic of both. | |||
| Sprite Bred | 40 | Holy magical attack on one enemy. Damage is reliant on White Magic of both. | |||
| Pure White Magic |
Rosa (White Magic) | 99 | Casts Curaja, Esuna, Protect, Shell, Haste, Float, and Blink on the entire party. | ||
| Mystic Waltz | 12 | The song and dance of three fighters triggers a random effect. Power is reliant on Edward's Bardsong and either Calca's Jive or Brina's Dance, depending on effect. | |||
| Fist Dance | 13 | Attack one enemy to the beat of the music. Damage is reliant on Yang's Attack. | |||
| Mirage Song | 35 | Call Mist Dragon to cast Blink on entire party. | |||
| Sylph Protection | 17 | Rydia calls Sylphs to drain enemies of strength and power up Yang. Casts Haste, Protect, and Shell on Yang, and heals HP equal to total damage done to enemies. Damage done is reliant on Rydia's Summon. | |||
| Wild Whip |
Rydia (Attack, Whip) | 4 | Three fighters whip a single enemy repeatedly. Damage is reliant on Attack of all. | ||
| Call Me Queen |
Rydia (Attack, Whip) | 11 | Whip and turn the enemy into a Pig. Damage is reliant on Attack of all. One of the four must have the Queen's Whip equipped to use this Band. | ||
| Palom in the Sky | Palom (Bluff) | 30 | Palom bounces around enemies zapped by Leonora's magic before being healed by Porom. Damage is reliant on Palom and Leonora's Black Magic and Luca's Big Throw, HP healed to Palom is reliant on Porom's White Magic. | ||
| Makeshift Cannon | Ursula (Kick) Ceodore (Attack) | 58 | Throw Ceodore and Ursula to cause damage on all enemies. Damage is Ceodore, Ursula and Luca's Attack, Palom's Black Magic, and Porom's White Magic. Can break damage limit. | ||
| Petal Whirlwind | Ursula (Kick) | 50 | Focused attack at an enemy's weak point. Damage is reliant on Ursula and Luca's Attack, Leonora's Black Magic, and Porom's White Magic. Can break damage limit. | ||
| Infinity | Palom (Black Magic) Porom (White Magic) | 60 | Five fighters combine to cast powerful magic on enemies. Power is reliant on the Black Magic and White Magic commands of the party members. Can break damage limit. | ||
| Twin Rush | Ceodore (Event) Ursula (Event) | 12 | Sword and fist strike at a single enemy. Damage is reliant on Attack of both. | ||
| Final Calcabrina | Cid (Event) | 30 | Calca and Brina attack all enemies in their fully completed form. Damage is reliant on Calca's Jive. Cid and Luca must have hammers equipped to use this Band. | ||
| Twincast | Palom (Event) Porom (Event) | 40 | Two fighters combine to cast powerful magic. 25% chance of elemental spell, 20% chance of Pyroflare, 5% chance of Double Meteor. Damage is reliant on Palom's Black Magic. | ||
| Ice Crush | Palom (Event) | 35 | Freeze and shatter all enemies. Damage is reliant on Palom and Leonora's Black Magic and Luca's Big Throw. May damage Palom. | ||
| Weapon In Progress | Cid (Risk Strike) | 25 | Create a new item that does...something. May heal party or attack all enemies. | ||
| Temptation | Rosa (Aim) | 19 | Surprise one enemy with an attack. | ||
| Oboro Strike | Edge (Event) Yang (Event) | 25 | Combo strike on a single enemy. Damage is reliant on Attack of both. | ||
| Iron Flash | Cecil (Attack) Rydia (Summon) | 40 | Cecil borrows the power of Odin to cut through all enemies. Damage is reliant on Cecil's Attack. | ||
| Sword Dance | Cecil (Attack) Edward (Bardsong) | 13 | Attack one enemy to the beat of the music. Damage is reliant on Cecil's Attack. | ||
| Break Breaker | Cecil (Attack) | 35 | Petrifies and shatters all enemies. Damage is reliant on Cecil's Attack and Palom's Black Magic. | ||
| Twin Drive | Cecil (Attack) Yang (Kick) | 15 | Sword and fist strike at a single enemy. Damage is reliant on Attack of both. | ||
| Sword and Fist | Cecil (Attack) | 30 | Combine the power of four to strike a single enemy. Damage is reliant on Attack of all. Can break damage limit. | ||
| Sky Grinder | Cecil (Attack) Kain (Jump) | 45 | Attack a single enemy with sword and spear. Damage is reliant on Cecil's Attack and Kain's Jump. Can break damage limit | ||
| Effect Form | Cecil (White Magic) | 20 | Cast Curaja, Protect, Shell and Haste on users. HP healed is reliant on Cecil and Kain's White Magic and Rosa's Blessing. | ||
| Trinity Crusade | 35 | Three fighters combine to attack one enemy. Damage done is reliant on Cecil's Attack, Kain's Jump and Rosa's White Magic. Can break damage limit. | |||
| Double Pressure | 20 | Slows down all enemies. | |||
| Ultima Spark | 50 | Inflicts non-elemental magic damage on all enemies. Does greater damage the closer they are to the center of the spell graphic. Damage is reliant on Cecil's White Magic and Golbez's Black Magic. | |||
| Advanced Blade | Golbez (Black Magic) | 40 | Imbue your sword with magic and attack one enemy. Damage is reliant on Attack of all. Can break damage limit. | ||
| Vibra Plus | 35 | Two fighters slice away at a random number of enemies. Damage is reliant on Attack of both. Does more damage the less available targets there are. | |||
| Holy Cross | Cecil (Attack) | 35 | Strike all enemies with sword containing holy power. Damage is reliant on Cecil and Ceodore's Attack and Rosa's White Magic. | ||
| Vibra Prime | Ceodore (Attack) | 40 | Five fighters slice away at all enemies. Damage is reliant on Attack of all but Rosa, and Rosa's Aim. | ||
| King's Quad | Cecil (Attack) | 30 | Four kings join together for a combo attack. Damage is reliant on Attack of Cecil, Edge, and Yang. Can break damage limit. | ||
| Spiral Blow | Kain (Event) Golbez (Event) | 22 | Two fighters attack one enemy. Damage is reliant on Kain's Jump. | ||
| Double Jump | Kain (Event) Ceodore (Event) | 35 | Two fighters attack an enemy from the air simultaneously. Damage is reliant on Kain's Jump and Ceodore's Attack. Can break damage limit. Cannot be used if Ceodore is Awakened. | ||
| Final Fantasy |
Cecil (Attack) | 75 | An offense/defense mix combining the powers of all five fighters. Damages one enemy and restores HP and status of party. Power is reliant on Cecil's Attack, Rosa's White Magic, Kain's Jump, Rydia's Black Magic, Edge's Throw, and the party's HP. Can break damage limit. |
Unused Bands
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These Bands were left unused in the final version of the game; they will not activate even if the correct commands were entered, unless one hacks into the game to enable them.
| Band | Members | MP | Description | Image (WiiWare) | Image (PSP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blizzara Storm | 15 | Inflicts ice-elemental magic damage on all enemies. | |||
| Flame Zapper | 20 | Cover a single enemy in a swirl of flame. |
Trivia
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- Particle Bomb is cast by Palom and Leonora in the opening FMV of The After Years.
- When Ultimate Art: Advent of the Phoenix is used, Edge and the Eblan Four say the following lines, the first letters of which spell out Eblan, and, probably coincidentally, the six first letters spell the original english translation of Eblan, "Eblana":
- Zangetsu: Endless night, lit by fiery wings...
- Izayoi: Bound by the darting, dancing sword...
- Gekkou: Let it slice the encompassing dark...
- Tsukinowa: And sound the tolling bell of tomorrow!
- Edge: Now! We call forth Eblan's ancient technique...
- All**: Advent of Phoenix!
- Final Fantasy, aside from being a nod to the name of the series, also has the characters performing attacks that reference the battle against Golbez and the Archfiends in the DS remake of Final Fantasy IV, where Rosa and Rydia use magic, Edge throws his Shurikens, Kain jumps and Cecil slashes with his sword.
