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"Each party member is assigned an offensive, defensive or healing role. Executing a Paradigm Shift will allow the player to change each character's role. Using different paradigms for different situations is key to winning these real-time battles. Quick thinking and smart tactics keep the battles intense and enjoyable."

—UK XIII-2 Official Website

A Paradigm (パラダイム, Paradaimu^?), also known as an Optima (オプティマ, Oputima^?), is a combination of one to three roles in Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XIII-2. The player can preset up to a maximum of six Paradigms when outside battle. During battle the player can freely switch between the preset Paradigms using the /LB button, also known as a Paradigm Shift (パラダイムシフト, Paradaimu Shifuto^?) or an Optima Change (オプティマチェンジ, Oputima Chenji^?)

If used properly, Paradigms may help the player by ending the battle sooner, resulting in the TP gauge filling up faster and a higher chance for enemies to drop materials.

In Final Fantasy XIII-2, suffixes of Paradigm names may change according to the Paradigm Tune player has selected for each Paradigm. Shifting Paradigms 1,000 times in Final Fantasy XIII-2 earns the player the "Strategist" achievement/trophy.

RoleEdit

Roles (ロール, Rōru^?) are a gameplay element unique to Final Fantasy XIII. The system is akin to past Final Fantasy job systems, however major changes have been made so that each role resembles a mix of different jobs.

Names have been changed between the English and the Japanese releases:

Commando (COM) / Attacker (ATK)
Ravager (RAV) / Blaster (BLA)
Sentinel (SEN) / Defender (DEF)
Saboteur (SAB) / Jammer (JAM)
Synergist (SYN) / Enhancer (ENH)
Medic (MED) / Healer (HLR)

Lightning also has six additional roles in her DLC episode of Final Fantasy XIII-2:

Paladin (PLD) / Attack Paladin (ATK-PLD), a role similar to Commando.
Mage (MGE) / Blast Wizard (BLA-WIZ), a role similar to Ravager that uses lightning-attribute magic attacks.
Shaman (SHA) / Blast Shaman (BLA-SHM), a role similar to Ravager that uses wind-attribute physical attacks.
Knight (KNT) / Defense Knight (DEF-KNT), a role similar to Sentinel.
Conjurer (CNJ) / Enhance Adept (ENH-ADP), a role similar to Synergist.
Sorcerer (SRC) / Jamming Witch (JAM-WTC), a role similar to Saboteur.

Setting each role to a character is made by default, although after a point, the player can freely switch between roles for each character outside of battle.

The localization team was asked to help with the naming of the roles and the team intended to use different names in Japan and the US/EU from the start. The English translators brainstormed and proposed both sets. For the Japanese version, they needed English words that sounded cool when rendered into Japanese, and would be understood by non-English-speaking Japanese players. For the localized version, the team's focus was on creating names that would have a more sci-fi feel to a native speaker's ear, and also abbreviate to three letters in a way that looked natural and made the short forms quickly and easily distinguishable from one another.^[1]

Paradigm ShiftEdit

See also: Command Synergy Battle.

The ATB gauge continues to increase during a Paradigm Shift. If the player shifts in the middle of an action, any unused ATB gauge is saved as if the player had simply cancelled the action. Shifting Paradigm refills everyone's ATB gauge. There is a 12 second cooldown time for this effect after each time it activates. If the player shifts less than 12 seconds after this effect last activated, the gauge is not refilled at the end of the shift. The computer-controlled characters have their commands automatically selected immediately following the shift.

During the Paradigm Shift animation commands cannot be input or carried out, but during the animation the ATB gauges of both the player party and the enemies continues to fill. The two computer-controlled allies can act again sooner than the leader, as the leader must wait until all characters' animations are finished before acting.

In Final Fantasy XIII, the first paradigm shift in each battle has a longer animation, but it can be bypassed by only shifting during an animation, which cannot be cancelled by the Paradigm Shift.

During an Attack command special animation (gunshot for Lightning, rifle shot for Sazh, three-sectioned staff bows for Fang).
While being in the air, either launched by an enemy or attacking a launched enemy.
While using a character's Full ATB Skill.

Circumventing the long animation will make the next shift animation the long animation.

SettingsEdit

With six roles and three maximum playable party members, it is possible to set up to 83 Paradigms. Possibilities are shown in the table below.

Note: Names shown in brackets are direct translations from Japanese.

SingleEdit

Name	Role	Description
Commando アタッカー (Attacker)	Commando	Attacks enemies with the goal of dealing as much damage as possible.
Ravager ブラスター (Blaster)	Ravager	Attacks enemies with the aim of quickly building chains.
Sentinel ディフェンダー (Defender)	Sentinel	Draws and defends against the attacks of enemies.
Saboteur ジャマー (Jammer)	Saboteur	Focuses on weakening opponents, debilitating them when overwhelmed.
Synergist エンハンサー (Enhancer)	Synergist	Focuses on augmenting offense and defense, defending when overwhelmed.
Medic ヒーラー (Healer)	Medic	Concentrates on healing and recovery.

DoubleEdit

Name	Role 1	Role 2	Description
Double Trouble ダブルアタッカー (Double Attacker)	Commando	Commando	Each COM attacks its own target.
Slash & Burn アタック＆ブラスト (Attack & Blast)	Commando	Ravager	COM and RAV combine their attacks to take down one enemy at a time.
Misdirection アタック＆ディフェンス (Attack & Defense)	Commando	Sentinel	SEN focuses on drawing enemy aggression while COM attacks.
Divide & Conquer アタック＆ジャミング (Attack & Jamming)	Commando	Saboteur	SAB debilitates enemies and COM attacks them.
Supersoldier アタック＆エンハンス (Attack & Enhanced)	Commando	Synergist	COM attacks enemies, augmented by SYN's enhancements.
War & Peace アタック＆ヒール (Attack & Heal)	Commando	Medic	COM attacks enemies while MED concentrates on healing.
Dualcasting ダブルブラスター (Double Blaster)	Ravager	Ravager	Both RAVs concentrate their attacks on the same target.
Arcane Defense ブラスト＆ディフェンス (Blast & Defense)	Ravager	Sentinel	SEN draws enemy aggression while RAV attacks.
Undermine ブラスト＆ジャミング (Blast and Jamming)	Ravager	Saboteur	RAV attacks while SAB attempts to weaken enemies.
Archmage ブラスト＆エンハンス (Blast & Enhanced)	Ravager	Synergist	RAV attacks enemies, augmented by SYN's enhancements.
Yin & Yang ブラスト＆ヒール (Blast & Heal)	Ravager	Medic	MED heals while RAV attacks enemies.
Twin Shields ダブルディフェンダー (Double Defender)	Sentinel	Sentinel	Both SENs defend against enemy attacks.
Stumbling Block ディフェンス＆ジャミング (Defense & Jamming)	Sentinel	Saboteur	SEN protects SAB, who attempts to weaken enemies.
Building Block ディフェンス＆エンハンス (Defense & Enhance)	Sentinel	Synergist	SEN protects SYN, who focuses on strengthening the party.
Lifeguard ディフェンス＆ヒール (Defense & Heal)	Sentinel	Medic	SEN protects MED, who concentrates on healing.
Havoc ダブルジャマー (Double Jammer)	Saboteur	Saboteur	Both SABs attempt to quickly weaken and debilitate enemies.
Tide Turner ジャミング＆エンハンス (Jamming & Enhance)	Saboteur	Synergist	SAB weakens opponents while SYN focuses on strengthening the party.
Sap & Salve ジャミング＆ヒール (Jamming & Heal)	Saboteur	Medic	SAB weakens opponents while MED handles healing.
Rally ダブルエンハンサー (Double Enhancer)	Synergist	Synergist	Both SYNs focus on quickly strengthening the party.
Symbiosis エンハンス＆ヒール (Enhance & Heal)	Synergist	Medic	MED handles healing while SYN focuses on strengthening the party.
Double Dose ダブルヒーラー (Double Healer)	Medic	Medic	Both MEDs concentrate on healing.

TripleEdit

Name	Role 1	Role 2	Role 3	Description
Cerberus ケルベロス (Cerberus)	Commando	Commando	Commando	Each COM attacks its own target. Effective for picking off weaker enemies.
Aggression フューリアス (Furious)	Commando	Commando	Ravager	RAV and one COM attack a common target while other COM attacks its own.
Offensive Screen 鋼のレギオン (Legion of Steel)	Commando	Commando	Sentinel	SEN defends against dangerous attacks while COMs focus on dealing damage.
Devastation アグレッション (Aggression)	Commando	Commando	Saboteur	COMs attack separate targets while SAB weakens dangerous opponents.
Strike Team 躍進の両雄 (Leap of Two Heroes)	Commando	Commando	Synergist	COMs attack separate targets while SYN supports with enhancements.
Tireless Charge 揺るぎなき覇者 (Unshakable Conquerors)	Commando	Commando	Medic	COMs attack separate targets while MED supports with healing.
Relentless Assault ラッシュアサルト (Rush Assault)	Commando	Ravager	Ravager	COM and RAVs focus on taking down one target at a time.
Delta Attack デルタアタック (Delta Attack)	Commando	Ravager	Sentinel	SEN draws enemy aggression while COM and RAV attack a common target.
Ruthless 撃滅の戦鬼 (Warring Demons of Destruction)	Commando	Ravager	Saboteur	COM and RAV combine their attacks while SAB attempts to weaken enemies.
Decimation 風雲の龍虎 (Storming Dragon-Tiger)	Commando	Ravager	Synergist	COM and RAV coordinate attacks, augmented by SYN's enhancements.
Diversity 勇戦の凱歌 (Brave Paean)	Commando	Ravager	Medic	COM and RAV coordinate attacks while MED supports with healing.
Guarded Assault インブレグナブル (Impregnable)	Commando	Sentinel	Sentinel	SENs defend while the lone COM attacks. Limited in effectiveness.
Dirty Fighting リベリオン (Rebellion)	Commando	Sentinel	Saboteur	COM attacks enemies weakened by SAB while SEN defends against them.
Strategic Warfare 奮起の挑戦者 (Rousing Challenger)	Commando	Sentinel	Synergist	COM attacks and SEN defends while SYN strengthens them.
Solidarity 勝利への決意 (Determination to Victory)	Commando	Sentinel	Medic	MED heals and SEN defends while COM attacks enemies.
Exploitation カラミティサーカス (Calamity Circus)	Commando	Saboteur	Saboteur	COM attacks while SABs attempt to weaken dangerous enemies.
Bully 逆襲の魁 (Leader's Counterattack)	Commando	Saboteur	Synergist	COM, augmented by SYN's enhancements, attacks enemies weakened by SAB.
Scouting Party 狩人への祝福 (Blessing to the Hunters)	Commando	Saboteur	Medic	SAB weakens opponents while COM attacks them and MED heals the party.
All for One 獅子心王 (The Lionheart King)	Commando	Synergist	Synergist	SYNs strengthen COM, who picks off weaker enemies in the meantime.
Hero's Charge 不屈の戦士 (Indomitable Warrior)	Commando	Synergist	Medic	COM dispatches targets with healing and support from MED and SYN.
Discretion 青雲の志士 (Patriotic Ambitions)	Commando	Medic	Medic	Both MEDs focus on healing while lone COM attacks enemies.
Tri-Disaster トライディザスター (Tridisaster)	Ravager	Ravager	Ravager	All three RAVs combine their attacks, attempting to quickly fill chain gauges.
Mystic Tower ヴァンガード (Vanguard)	Ravager	Ravager	Sentinel	RAVs combine their attacks while SEN protects them from dangerous enemies.
Smart Bomb カタストロフィー (Catastrophe)	Ravager	Ravager	Saboteur	RAVs combine their attacks while SAB weakens dangerous opponents.
Malevolence 魔道のパレード (Mage Parade)	Ravager	Ravager	Synergist	RAVs coordinate their attacks, augmented by SYN's enhancements.
Thaumaturgy 精霊のオラトリオ (Spirits' Oratorio)	Ravager	Ravager	Medic	MED heals while RAVs combine their attacks against a common target.
Patient Probing インターセプト (Intercept)	Ravager	Sentinel	Sentinel	SENs defend while the lone RAV attacks. Limited in effectiveness.
Matador マタドール (Matador)	Ravager	Sentinel	Saboteur	RAV attacks enemies weakened by SAB while SEN defends against them.
Riot Shield 迎撃のマーチ (March of The Intercept)	Ravager	Sentinel	Synergist	SEN defends while RAV attacks, augmented by SYN's enhancements.
Entourage 抗戦の賛歌 (Hymn of Defense)	Ravager	Sentinel	Medic	SEN draws enemy aggression while MED heals and RAV attacks.
Assassination 感乱の嵐 (Sense of The Turbulent Storm)	Ravager	Saboteur	Saboteur	RAV attacks enemies heavily weakened by two SABs
Guerrilla 謀略のラプソディ (Strategical Rhapsody)	Ravager	Saboteur	Synergist	RAV attacks while SAB weakens enemies and SYN strengthens the party.
Variety デクスタラス (Dexterous)	Ravager	Saboteur	Medic	SAB weakens opponents while RAV attacks and MED heals.
Supernatural 無双のフォース (Unparalleled Force)	Ravager	Synergist	Synergist	RAV attacks enemies, heavily augmented by two SYNs.
Coordination ブレイヴァリー (Bravery)	Ravager	Synergist	Medic	MED heals while RAV attacks enemies, augmented by SYN's enhancements.
Perpetual Magic 不死の魔人 (Majin of Immortality)	Ravager	Medic	Medic	RAV attacks enemies while MEDs rapidly heal the party.
Tortoise グレートウォール (Great Wall)	Sentinel	Sentinel	Sentinel	All three SENs tighten their defenses. Effective for withstanding area attacks.
Overcaution フォートレス (Fortress)	Sentinel	Sentinel	Saboteur	SENs protect SAB, who attempts to weaken enemies. Limited in effectiveness.
Conservation 鉄の双璧 (Twin Iron Cliff)	Sentinel	Sentinel	Synergist	Both SENs defend while SYN strengthens the party. Limited in effectiveness.
Consolidation 不落の砦 (Impregnable Fortress)	Sentinel	Sentinel	Medic	Both SENs defend while MED heals the party. Limited in effectiveness.
Countermeasure 策謀の復讐者 (Tactical Avenger)	Sentinel	Saboteur	Saboteur	SEN protects SABs while they weaken dangerous enemies.
Premeditation 反撃の狼煙 (Beacon of Counterattack)	Sentinel	Saboteur	Synergist	SEN defends while SAB weakens opponents and SYN strengthens the party.
Attrition レジスタンス (Resistance)	Sentinel	Saboteur	Medic	MED heals and SEN defends while SAB attempts to weaken enemies.
Prudent Planning マイティガード (Mighty Guard)	Sentinel	Synergist	Synergist	SEN protects two SYNs while they strengthen the party.
Protection 忍耐の守護者 (Guardian of The Patient)	Sentinel	Synergist	Medic	SEN defends while MED heals and SYN focuses on strengthening the party.
Combat Clinic フェニックス (Phoenix)	Sentinel	Medic	Medic	SEN protects two MEDs while they concentrate on rapid healing.
Infiltration アシュラ (Ashura)	Saboteur	Saboteur	Saboteur	SABs attempt to quickly weaken and debilitate even resistant enemies.
Espionage 無慈悲なる災厄 (Merciless Disaster)	Saboteur	Saboteur	Synergist	SABs attempt to weaken enemies while SYN supports with enhancements.
Safe Subversion 冥界のコーラス (Chorus of The Underworld)	Saboteur	Saboteur	Medic	SABs attempt to weaken enemies while MED supports with healing.
Superiority フォーミダブル (Formidable)	Saboteur	Synergist	Synergist	SYNs strengthen the party while SAB attempts to weaken enemies.
Evened Odds トリニティユニオン (Trinity Union)	Saboteur	Synergist	Medic	MED heals while SYN strengthens allies and SAB weakens enemies.
Perseverance 執拗なる計略 (Tenacious Strategy)	Saboteur	Medic	Medic	MEDs concentrate on healing while SAB attempts to weaken enemies.
Rapid Growth トリスメギストス (Trismegistos)	Synergist	Synergist	Synergist	All three SYNs focus on strengthen the party to take on powerful enemies.
Recuperation 恵みの慈雨 (Fruitful Showers of Blessing)	Synergist	Synergist	Medic	MED heals while SYNs focus on strengthening the party.
Convalescence ホワイトウィンド (White Wind)	Synergist	Medic	Medic	Both MEDs concentrate on healing while SYN strengthens the party.
Salvation アスクレピオス (Asclepius)	Medic	Medic	Medic	MEDs concentrate on healing, quickly removing numerous status ailments.

TunesEdit

Final Fantasy XIII-2 extends on the paradigms' customizability, letting the player tune them in the menu. Tuned paradigms get the suffix of -X or -W.

Through use of Paradigm Tuning, the the other party members' AI can be changed out of battle in the Paradigm menu with different settings for various situations. These are: Normal, which automatically adapts to the situation; Wide (lit. "Spread"), which makes each party member target a different enemy (or ally, when healing and buffing); and Cross (lit. "Concentrate"), which makes everyone act on a single target. Certain Paradigm Tunes change the names of Paradigms to have a letter at the end, for example "Aggression-X".

Suffix -X is added to "Cross" tune meaning the Paradigm will concentrate on a single enemy unit. Suffix -W is added to "Wide" tune meaning the paradigm will spread its attacks on all enemies. Paradigms with no suffixes will follow their "original" tunes. When a Paradigm is set to a Cross tune, Serah will only use the sword form of her weapon regardless of distance, and while one is set to Wide, she will only use her bow form. Standard tuning will have her switch according to distance.

Other AppearancesEdit

Dissidia 012 Final FantasyEdit

Lightning can shift between paradigms in Dissidia 012 to switch between different abilities. To shift, R button must be pressed whilst holding L button.

GalleryEdit

Paradigm Shift menu in Final Fantasy XIII-2.

Paradigm Shift in Final Fantasy XIII-2.

Lightning and Amodar Paradigm Shifting.

EtymologyEdit

A paradigm shift describes a fundamental change in ideology, usually in the field of science. For example, Darwin's theory of evolution replacing Lamarck's theories and creationism is a paradigm shift.

TriviaEdit

Some of the Paradigms in both, Japanese and English versions, are referring to various terms in the series, e.g.: Delta Attack (both) refers to signature attack of Magus Sisters, Tri-disaster (both) refers to another ability of the same name of multiple elemental damage, Dualcasting (EN) to the ability to cast two magic spells at once, Mighty Guard (JP) to magic that grants positive status effects on the target, White Wind (JP) to a healing spell which removes negative status effects as well.
The only time the player can see Twin Shields, Stumbling Block, Havoc, or Rally without using a cheating device in Final Fantasy XIII is the battle against Hecatoncheir. Stumbling Block is put into the Paradigm Deck by default, but to see the other three, the player needs to get a Game Over on the fight or Retry it. Furthermore, Twin Shields requires the player to teach the Sentinel Paradigm to Vanille, and Rally requires the player to teach the Synergist role to both Fang and Vanille.
The Japanese name of Rapid Growth, Trismegistos, is a reference to Hermes Trismegistus.
The Japanese name of Salvation, Asclepius, is the name of the Greek god of medicine/healing in Greek mythology. Appropriate since the Paradigm fully focuses on healing the party as quickly as possible.
In Final Fantasy XIII, the first paradigm shift of every battle takes longer than all the other shifts that are made after the initial shift. If the player's character is in the air, or in the middle of executing a Full ATB Skill, when the first shift is made, the scene in which the three characters are zoomed in and their roles displayed is absent. Final Fantasy XIII-2 makes the shifts nearly instant to reduce time spend while shifting between various paradigms.

In a advertisement for E3 2009, three of six roles have different names and abbreviations: Gladiator (GLA) for Commando (COM), Augmenter (AUG) for Synergist (SYN), and Tactician (TAC) for Saboteur (SAB) in their respective colors. Paradigm naming had also a different pattern.
A party of Lightning, Fang, and Hope/Vanille can learn every skill from every role (excluding the exclusive Full ATB Skills).
According to a Brain Blast question in Academia, the term "paradigm shift" is used by office workers to refer to reshuffling staff.