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FFVIII Zantetsuken EA

Zantetsuken used by Odin against the party in Final Fantasy VIII.

Mine obsidian blade shall split atwain the threads of thy future, whilst its crimson fuller shalt channel the lifeblood of thy past. Now wail as thy soul is bestrewn across the plains of Valhalla!

Odin while using Zantetsuken in Final Fantasy XI

Zantetsuken (斬鉄剣, Zantetsuken?, lit. Iron-cutting Sword), also known as Steel-Bladed Sword and Atom Edge, or by a shortened name Zantetsu or Z-Sword, is Odin's signature attack in the Final Fantasy series, and shares its name with his sword. Zantetsuken typically instantly kills all opponents, or does very high damage. In some games, Zantetsuken has an upgrade called Shin-Zantetsuken, which has a higher success rate.

When used, Odin dashes past enemies, slashing them with his sword. The enemy sprites/models bisect and slide apart before fading, a death animation usually unique to Zantetsuken. The attack can fail in some games.

A similar one-hit-kill move is Yojimbo's Zanmato.

Appearances[]

Final Fantasy III[]

When fought as an enemy, Odin uses Zantetsuken to heavily damage the party. Zantetsuken is his strongest attack as a summon, and instantly kills all enemies.

Final Fantasy IV[]

IVZantetsuken

Odin using Zantetsuken.

The bosses Odin (2D and 3D) and Lunar Odin raise their sword as a warning before attacking with Zantetsuken, doing approximately five thousand damage to the party. When summoned by Rydia, Odin uses Zantetsuken to dispatch all enemies. The success of Odin inflicting death is based on Rydia's Wisdom/2, meaning the highest hit rate is 49%, though moving Rydia to Slot 1 will increase this to 61%.

In the original American SNES version, Odin's attack is called Z-Sword when he is fought, and the name of his attack when summoned is not specified. This is because the developers could not fit the entire word Zantetsuken in the text box.

Final Fantasy IV -Interlude-[]

Zantetsuken is Odin's attack when summoned.

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Final Fantasy IV: The After Years[]

Odin is possessed by Maenad during the final tale, but regains control when he sees Ceodore, Rosa, and Kain. He rejoins Rydia as an Eidolon, and uses Zantetsuken when summoned.

Zantetsuken is also used by the boss Gilgamesh in the Wii and PSP versions, though it only attempts to KO one character.

In the mobile and Steam versions, the superboss Lunar Odin uses Zantetsuken as his signature ability.

Final Fantasy V[]

ZantetsukenFFV

Odin using Zantetsuken against the party.

Odin uses Zantetsuken during the battle against him at the end of Jachol Cave in the merged world, dealing approximately a thousand damage to the party. Afterward, he becomes a summon, and when summoned, his Zantetsuken kills all non-heavy enemies.

Odin throws Gungnir at heavy-type targets for physical damage. Although it is overall not a good idea to use one-hit-kill moves on bosses, Odin's Zantetsuken attack can, in fact, one-shot the final boss's back portion if used through the Magic Lamp; otherwise Odin will use Gungnir.

Final Fantasy VI[]

Odin Zatetsuken Field from FFVI Pixel Remaster

Odin uses Zantetsuken in a cutscene.

Odin uses Zantetsuken (Atom Edge in the SNES and PSX versions) when summoned, attempting to kill all enemies for a cost of 70 MP. Zantetsuken has a 25% chance of slicing enemies. It works against the undead and stalls an enemy's final attack one turn, but fails on targets immune to Death.

Odin uses Zantetsuken in a cutscene in the Ancient Castle to slice a group of enemies, but is bested when an unknown sorcerer confronts him and is immune to the attack.

The enemy Desert Hare, found around South Figaro, sometimes casts Cure, Cura or Esuna upon party members, in particular the party member who defeated them. If dispatched by Zantetsuken, the Desert Hare will still use magic on a party member despite being off-screen and technically dead.

Final Fantasy VII[]

Odin uses Steel Bladed Sword to kill all enemies. If used against an enemy that is immune to instant death, he uses a non-elemental attack called Gunge Lance. Odin can aid in capturing Chocobos, as Steel Bladed Sword kills all enemies besides the Chocobo.

Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII-[]

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Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-[]

Odin uses Zantetsuken to kill all enemies with a high rate of success, as only a few enemies are immune to instant death.Odin's level makes no difference.

[1]

Zantetsuken is a level 8 special materia that boosts the chance for Odin to appear in the DMW. It begins at 5x, and increases by 1x each level up to 9x. It is a reward for Mission 9-6-1 and can be bought from Bone Village Commerce.

Final Fantasy VIII[]

FFVIII Zantetsuken Reverse

Seifer reverses the Zantetsuken.

When fought in the Centra Ruins, Odin uses Zantetsuken to instantly kill the party when the timer expires. After he is defeated, Odin appears at random at the start of a battle to use Zantetsuken to kill all enemies. The attack features the kanji for "Zantetsuken" (Zan Tetsu Ken) in the animation, which appear as Odin's attack is shown three times from different angles.

Zantetsuken never misses, but Odin never appears against Grats, Vysages, Lefty, Righty, Cactuars, Tonberries, Esthar Soldier (Terminator), UFO?, PuPu, or bosses (the one exception is detailed below).

When the party faces Seifer aboard the Lunatic Pandora, Odin uses Zantetsuken but Seifer's Zantetsuken Reverse (斬鉄剣返し, Zantetsuken Gaeshi?, lit. Iron Cutting Blade Reverse) counters the attack and bisects Odin. Though Odin perishes, Gilgamesh emerges from a dimensional portal and takes hold of the Zantetsuken sword, emerging later in the battle to defeat Seifer. Gilgamesh replaces Odin and uses Zantetsuken as one of his four random attacks when he appears in battle to the same effect as Odin's attack. Gilgamesh has a 24.6% chance of using Zantetsuken, in addition to the chance of Gilgamesh appearing at all. Gilgamesh can use Zantetsuken against the enemies Odin never appears for, but it will miss.

Final Fantasy IX[]

Zantetsuken is Odin's summon attack. It normally kills all enemies, but if Dagger is equipped with the Odin's Sword support ability, learned for 50 AP from the Ancient Aroma, Zantetsuken changes into "Gungnir" that damages enemies that survive its instant kill. Zantetsuken's success rate increases the more Ore the party has in the inventory, but this decreases the damage done by Gungnir if the instant kill fails. (See Summon (Final Fantasy IX)#Mechanics for damage formulae.) During Zantetsuken's short animation, Gungnir falls from the sky on the enemies even if the attack is still called Zantetsuken.

Final Fantasy X-2[]

Instantly defeat one enemy. Sometimes fails.

"Help" description

The Samurai dressphere has two abilities based on Odin's trademark attack: Shin-Zantetsu, which inflicts instant death on all enemies; and Zantetsu, unlocked by learning Shin-Zantetsu first, which has a chance to instantly kill a target for no MP cost and its success is not governed by the target's immunity to instant death. Rather, each enemy has a Zantetsu vulnerability rating. Zantetsu is learned as a command ability for the Samurai for 140 AP.

Zantetsu is granted to recruitable creatures if they are equipped with the Samurai dressphere and have a physical attack available. Consuming a Champion Belt on a creature will also teach them Zantetsu. Zantetsu can also be naturally learned by Critical Bug by being at a high-enough level.

Final Fantasy X-2: Last Mission[]

Zantetsuken is a unique ability used by anyone using the Samurai dressphere as the main dress. It costs 4 MP and has a chance to instantly defeat an enemy with a chance to miss. It has a range of one tile ahead of the character.

Final Fantasy XI[]

Zantetsuken is Odin's ultimate attack when he is battled in the last chamber of Einherjar, which he uses at ~9% health. It instantly kills any players in range, unless they /heal, which can prevent instant death (but not damage). This can prove difficult for those tanking Odin, since taking physical melee damage cancels the /heal command, rendering them open to the attack during the window of opportunity for Zantetsuken to actually execute. In the battle The Rider Cometh where the player can fight Odin Prime to obtain a pact with the avatar (among other rewards), Odin Prime uses Zantetsuken which works the same way as it did in Einherjar.

Zantetsuken is also Odin's Blood Pact when summoned by players through Astral Flow. It functions similarly as it would against players, instantly killing applicable targets within range. Against a Notorious Monster it deals a high amount of damage instead.

In the high-tier mission battlefield A Stygian Pact ★, Odin Prime now uses two variants on Zantetsuken instead: Zantetsuken X, which instantly kills any player whose Defense is too low compared to Odin's current Attack, and Zantetsuken Kai, which deals damage equal to 95% of the player's HP.

Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings[]

Odin's special attack is Zantetsuken, which does heavy damage to all enemies in front of him and knocks them back.

Final Fantasy XIII[]

The storm is here!

Lightning

In Gestalt Mode, Odin transforms into a horse and Lightning splits his sword, also known as Zantetsuken, into two and wields them while riding him. Lightning can then perform Zantetsuken whose strength has different levels. It has a chance to instantly kill the opponent, but it is not a status like in other games; therefore no enemy is immune to it. Whether Zantetsuken kills the enemy is determined by Odin's physical attack power and the current chain bonus.

Zantetsuken raises the stagger gauge by a various amount based on level prior to dealing damage:

Level 1: 17.00 * 3 = 51.00[2]
Level 2: 17.00 * 5 = 85.00
Level 3: 17.00 * 8 = 136.00
[2]

If the enemy has less HP than the solution, it dies. If the instant kill fails, it deals fairly low damage instead.

Final Fantasy XIII-2[]

Zantetsuken is a Feral Link and enemy ability for Twilight Odin. It inflicts physical damage on all foes.

Zantetsuken can also be used by Gilgamesh in the Coliseum, dealing damage over a small area and inflicting wound damage.

Final Fantasy XIV[]

Zantetsuken PvP from Final Fantasy XIV icon

PvP icon.

Samurai Samurai can use Zantetsuken as a limit break in PvP PvP content. It sees them charge their target before dealing massive damage to the target and nearby enemies. If an affected enemy is suffering from the Kuzushi status from Hissatsu: Chiten Hissatsu: Chiten, Zantetsuken's damage increases to 100% of the target's maximum HP. Players with damage absorption shields can potentially survive this, otherwise it will be fatal. The damage from Zantetsuken ignores Guard Guard regardless of how it was dealt.

Odin is part of a FATE, a recurring group event. Zantetsuken is his special attack, which he will execute when below ~5% HP. If Odin is not killed before the cast is finished the attack kills everyone currently participating in the FATE, resulting in instant failure. In Odin's Trial encounter, Odin prepares Shin-Zantetsuken after reaching below 15% HP, instantly killing everyone in the Trial when used much like the FATE encounter.

Final Fantasy XV: Comrades[]

Zantetsuken is one of the eight skills of The Clever's Sigil: Spectral Arms. As in previous games, Zantetsuken can instantly kill enemies (even undead) but will depend on the luck of being able to use it and have the effect. It's only possible to use the attack when selecting the katana in the eight arms, which is between Bow (comet/supercomet) and horn (healing light).

Final Fantasy XVI[]

You are not my equal, and your will is forfeit!

Barnabas Tharmr using Ultimate Zantetsuken
Odin's Zantetsuken against the Enterprise from FFXVI

Odin uses a variant of Zantetsuken during his battle with Ifrit, growing his blade to gigantic proportions. The attack is only named in the Japanese dub.

As an enemy ability, Zantetsuken is used by Barnabas Tharmr, the Dominant of Odin. If not enough damage is dealt to Odin when the final phase begins, he will use Ultimate Zantetsuken, dealing heavy damage that may be fatal if not healed.

Zantetsuken can also be used by Clive Rosfield, and is also used in his form as Ifrit after managing to break and wield Odin's sword. While this use is named Zantetsuken in the English version of the game, it has a name similar to Zantetsuken Reverse (大斬鉄返し, Dai Zantetsu Gaeshi?, lit. Great Iron Cutter Reverse) in Japanese (the attack used by Seifer in Final Fantasy VIII).

When Clive gains access to Odin's abilities, his burning blade attack becomes Zantetsuken after using Arm of Darkness, which the player can level up by felling enemies with Odin's sword and empower further in the ability menu.

Final Fantasy Type-0[]

Zantetsuken-Type-0

Zantetsuken.

Zantetsuken is performed by the Eidolon Odin. A player must sacrifice a character's to summon him who can then use three powerful attacks, of which Zantetsuken is the most powerful, slicing enemies in half, instantly killing them. The attack can be charged to increase the chance of success, though it won't work against certain enemies. When charging, the player must hold the button and the percentage the attack has charged flashes on the screen in purple. The player can still move while charging.

Odin's upgraded version, Grimnir, uses Shin-Zantetsuken, which has higher chance of success.

Final Fantasy Dimensions[]

Zantetsuken is used by the Eidolon Odin. It requires 54 MP and often kills all enemies but it can miss several foes.

Zantetsuken is also used by Odin during the battle to acquire him as a summon. The attack may instantly kill some characters while leaving the others in Critical state.

Final Fantasy Dimensions II[]

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Dissidia Final Fantasy (2008)[]

Odin uses Zantetsuken that attempts to instantly cause a Brave Break to the opponent, with a 50% success rate.

Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy[]

Let's finish this! Bulls-eye!

Lightning

Lightning uses Zantetsuken as the final blow of her EX Burst.

Zantetsuken is also Odin's summon ability, having the same effect as in the original Dissidia.

Dissidia Final Fantasy NT[]

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Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia[]

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Theatrhythm Final Fantasy[]

Zantetsuken is Odin's signature attack used when he is summoned in battle stages.

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call[]

Zantetsuken is used by Odin when summoned in Battle Music Sequences.

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy All-Star Carnival[]

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Pictlogica Final Fantasy[]

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Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade[]

Zantetsuken appears in the Odin summon stone, an event reward in Final Fantasy III Saronia Castle Mysteries event. When charged and summoned in an All-Out Attack, Odin uses Zantetsuken.

Final Fantasy All the Bravest[]

Zantetsuken is used by Odin when summoned by Krile.

Final Fantasy Record Keeper[]

Zantetsuken is used by Odin when using the 4★ Odin Summon, which deals two non-elemental attacks to all enemies, lowers their defense and resistance a small amount, and has a high chance to KO them. The attack is also used in other characters' Soul Breaks (usually involving an Odin summon), such as Lann's Overstrike and Rydia's Sync.

In the Magicite Dungeon's Lord of Knights Record, the Dark Odin boss will use various forms of Zantetsuken. The standard Zantetsuken deals piercing damage to all characters. His Savage Zantetsuken also targets all characters and deals damage depending on his Rage level - 3000 damage at level 0, 5000 damage at level 1, 7000 damage at level 2 and Instant KO at level 3.

The Odin magicite uses Zantetsuken as its Ultra Skill, instantly dealing 99,999 prismatic physical damage to an enemy and lowering all its elemental resistance levels by 1. The magical variant of the magicite uses Arcane Zantetsuken as its Ultra Skill, having the same effect as its physical counterpart but deals magical damage instead.

In 2022, a variant called Zantetsuken (XV) was introduced as the Hero Ability of Ravus. It is a Spellblade-type attack which deals uncapped dark and lightning physical damage to one enemy.

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Final Fantasy Explorers[]

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Final Fantasy Brave Exvius[]

Zantetsuken is used by Odin uses at 2★ rarity. It deals a massive physical damage and has a 50% chance to instantly kill enemies, regardless of health. Bosses and certain monsters are immune to death.

Mobius Final Fantasy[]

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World of Final Fantasy[]

Zantetsuken is an active ability that inflicts death on all targets for 4 AP. The odds increase as the wielder’s HP and AP decrease. It can be used by Odin and Odin★.

It is also an enemy ability used by Odin.

Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin[]

SOP Zantetsuken

Zantetsuken is a Job Action of the Breaker job that conjures a katana and deals a large amount of damage to the enemies in the direction of the strike. This attack can be charged up to 3 stages to increase the attack power, and every enemy brought to 0 HP by the slash is instantly shattered as if a Soul Burst was used on them.

Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales[]

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Final Fantasy Trading Card Game[]

Odin's cards allude to his Zantetsuken ability, having various effects that instantly Break a Forward of the player's choosing when Odin is played.

Non-Final Fantasy guest appearances[]

Kingdom Hearts[]

The move Zantetsuken appears in all games of the series except 358/2 Days. It is a powerful attack that deals damage and has a chance to instantly destroy enemies it strikes. The exception is Chain of Memories, where Zantetsuken breaks the opponent's card regardless of level and renders it unreloadable for the rest of the battle (and ironically, deals the lowest amount of damage possible on-hit).

In Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix, "Zantetsu Counter" appears as an ability, which allows Sora to counter with Zantetsuken after blocking an attack. Limit Form also features Zantetsuken as a combo finish allowing Sora to instantly eliminate weak targets.

Super Smash Bros.[]

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Odin is one of the summons that appears on the Midgar stage. Zantetsuken takes the form of a vertical beam that temporarily splits the stage in half, while instantly killing any fighter caught in it.

Gallery[]

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Etymology[]

Zantetsuken (斬鉄剣?) is Japanese for "iron-cutting/slashing iron sword". It normally refers to a blade formed out of exotic materials rumored to be able to cut through steel and/or iron. The term was often associated with blades created by the feudal swordsmith known as Kobayashi Yasuhiro.

Citations[]

References[]

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