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 causes instant death to all targets, or does very high damage. In some games, Zantetsuken has an upgrade called Shin-Zantetsuken, which has a higher success rate.
When used Odin appears and 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.
Appearances
Final Fantasy III
Template:Sideicon When fought as an enemy, Odin will use Zantetsuken to do heavy damage to the party. Zantetsuken is also his strongest attack as a summon, and instantly kills all enemies.
Final Fantasy IV
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Odin using Zantetsuken.
The bosses Odin and Lunar Odin will both raise their sword as a warning before attacking with Zantetsuken, doing approximately five thousand damage to the entire 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 was called Z-Sword when he was fought, and the name of his attack when summoned was not specified. This was because the developers could not fit the entire word Zantetsuken in the available text box.
Final Fantasy IV -Interlude-
Template:Sideicon Zantetsuken is Odin's attack when summoned and functions identically to its Final Fantasy IV appearance.
Final Fantasy IV: The After Years
Template:Sideicon Odin is possessed by Maenad during the final tale, but he regains his 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
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Odin using Zantetsuken against the party.
Odin will use Zantetsuken regularly during the battle against him, but its power is lower than usual, and only does approximately a thousand damage to the party. When summoned, he uses Zantetsuken to kill all enemies if they are non-heavy.
If there are heavy targets, Odin throws Gungnir at them 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, but only if used through the Magic Lamp; otherwise Odin will use Gungnir instead.
Final Fantasy VI
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Odin uses Zantetsuken in a cutscene.
Odin uses Zantetsuken (Atom Edge in the Super Nintendo version) when summoned, attempting to kill all enemies instantly for a cost of 70 MP, it has a success rate of 110. It works against the undead and will stall an enemy's final attack one turn but it will fail 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. Odin uses Zantetsuken to kill all enemies when summoned as an esper. The Zantetsuken sword has a 25% chance of slicing enemies, and it works against the undead.
The enemy Desert Hare, found around South Figaro, sometimes casts Cure, Cura or Esuna upon party members, in particular the party member that defeated them. If dispatched instantly by Zantetsuken, the Desert Hare will still use magic on a party member despite being off-screen and technically dead.
Final Fantasy VII
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Storyboard.
Odin uses Steel Bladed Sword when summoned to kill all enemies. If used against an enemy that is immune to instant death, he will use a non-elemental attack called Gunge Lance. Odin can be used to easily capture Chocobos, as Steel Bladed Sword will kill all enemies besides the Chocobo.
Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII-
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Template:Sideicon Template:See Also Odin uses Zantetsuken to kill all enemies when summoned. It has a very high rate of success, as only a few enemies are immune to instant death. Unlike other summons, the level of the summon makes no difference.
![{\displaystyle Chance=[(Zack'sLV-Enemy'sLV)/10]+(255-Enemy'sVIT)/2.55}](https://services.fandom.com/mathoid-facade/v1/media/math/render/svg/7fa02b1e9cb84f0a929b1dc091010eba71df38e2)
Zantetsuken is a level 8 Independent 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
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Seifer reverses the Zantetsuken.
Final Fantasy VIII was the first English release to use the attack's proper name, which has carried over to remakes of earlier games. When fought in the Centra Ruins, Odin will use Zantetsuken to instantly kill the party when the timer expires. After he is defeated, Odin will appear at random at the start of a battle and use Zantetsuken to kill all enemies. This version of the attack features the characters for "Zantetsuken" (Zan Tetsu Ken) in the animation, which appear as Odin's attack is shown three times from three different angles.
Thus Zantetsuken never misses, but Odin never appears against Grats, Vysages, Lefty, Righty, Cactuars, Tonberries, Esthar Soldier (Terminator), UFO?, PuPu, and bosses (the one exception is detailed below).
When the party faces Seifer aboard the Lunatic Pandora, Odin will appear to use Zantetsuken against him, but Seifer will use Zantetsuken Reverse (斬鉄剣返し, Zantetsuken-gaeshi?, lit. Zantetsuken Reverse) to counter the attack and bisect Odin. Though Odin perishes, Gilgamesh emerges from a dimensional portal and takes hold of the Zantetsuken, emerging later in the battle to defeat Seifer. Gilgamesh will then use 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.
Final Fantasy IX
Template:Sideicon Zantetsuken is Odin's summon attack when he is called into battle. 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 will change into Gungnir that damages enemies that survive its instant kill. Zantetsuken's success rate increases as the party acquires more Ore, 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
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Instantly defeat one enemy. Sometimes fails.
In-Game "Help" Description.
The Samurai dressphere has two abilities based on Odin's trademark attack: Zantetsu, which has a chance to instantly kill a single target in the same manner as Zanmato in Final Fantasy X, and Shin-Zantetsu, which inflicts instant death on all enemies. Zantetsu is learned as a command ability for the Samurai for 140 AP after learning Shin-Zantetsu as a Bushido.
Final Fantasy X-2: Last Mission
Template:Sideicon Zantetsuken is an unique ability that can be used by any character when using the Samurai dressphere as the main dress. It costs 4 MP to use. It has a chance of instantly defeating an enemy, having no effect if missed. It has a range of one tile ahead of the character.
Final Fantasy XI
Template:Sideicon Zantetsuken is Odin's ultimate attack when he is battled in the last chamber of Einherjar, which he uses at ~9% health. It will instantly kill any players in range, unless they /heal, which can prevent instant death (but not damage). This can prove difficult for those tanking Odin, since physical melee damage taken causes the /heal command to cancel itself, rendering them open to the attack during the window of opportunity for Zantetsuken to actually execute.
Zantetsuken is also the name of Odin's Blood Pact when summoned by players through Astral Flow; the attack functions similarly as it would against players, instantly killing applicable targets within range. Against a Notorious Monster, however, it will instead deal a high amount of damage.
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
Template:Sideicon Odin's special attack is Zantetsuken, which does heavy damage to all enemies in front of him and knocks them back as well.
Final Fantasy XIII
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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 perform Zantetsuken while riding Odin, and the attack's strength has different levels. It has a chance to instantly kill the opponent, but is not a status like in other games; therefore no enemy is immune to the attack. Whether or not 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:
![{\displaystyle [3*Odin'sPA*(ChainBonus)^{2}]}](https://services.fandom.com/mathoid-facade/v1/media/math/render/svg/e95f7af21682ac33a33cb8aea1196fa1d25e60ec)
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
Template:Sideicon Zantetsuken appears as a Feral Link ability for Twilight Odin.
Zantetsuken can also be used by Gilgamesh in the Coliseum.
Final Fantasy XIV
Template:Sideicon Odin is part of a FATE, recurring group event. Zantetsuken is his special attack which he will execute below ~5% HP. If Odin is not killed before the cast is finished the attack kills everyone currently participating in the FATE. In the instanced Odin encounter that debuted at FFXIV FanFest 2014, Odin will use Shin-Zantetsuken at around 15% remaining HP, requiring players to defeat Odin before the cast is finished, similar to the FATE version.
Final Fantasy Type-0
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Zantetsuken.
Zantetsuken is an attack performed by the Eidolon Odin. A player must sacrifice a character's to summon Odin, 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
Template:Sideicon Zantetsuken is an ability used by the Eidolon Odin. It requires 54 MP to use and often kills all enemies but it can miss several foes.
Zantetsuken is also used by Odin during the battle to acquire the summon. The attack may instant-kill some characters while leaving the others in Critical state.
Final Fantasy Legends II
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Template:Sideicon Odin uses Zantetsuken when summoned. The attack attempts to instantly cause a Brave Break to the opponent, with a 50% success rate.
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy
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Let's finish this! Bulls-eye!
Lightning
Lightning uses Zantetsuken as the final blow of her EX Burst.
Zantetsuken also appears as Odin's summon abilities, having the same effect as in the original Dissidia.
Dissidia Final Fantasy NT
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This section about an ability in Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.Theatrhythm Final Fantasy
Template:Sideicon Zantetsuken returns as Odin's signature attack and is used when he is summoned in battle stages.
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call
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Pictlogica Final Fantasy
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This section about an ability in Pictlogica Final Fantasy is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade
Template:Sideicon Zantetsuken appears in the Odin summon stone, which appears as a event reward in Final Fantasy III Saronia Castle Mysteries event. When charged and summoned in an All-Out Attack, Odin uses Zantetsuken.
This section about an ability in Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.Final Fantasy All the Bravest
Template:Sideicon Zantetsuken is the ability that Odin uses when summoned by Krile during battle.
Final Fantasy Record Keeper
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Final Fantasy Explorers
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Template:Sideicon Zantetsuken is the ability Odin uses when he his summoned at 2-star rarity. It deals a massive amount of physical damage. It also has a 50% chance to instantly kill enemies, regardless of health, though this is resisted by bosses and certain monsters immune to death.
Mobius Final Fantasy
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Template:Sideicon 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 instantly breaks the opponent's card regardless of level and renders it unreloadable for the rest of the battle.
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.
Gallery
![Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade (SSR) [FFIX].](/wiki/File:FFAB_Zantetsuken_-_Garnet_SSR.png "FFAB Zantetsuken - Garnet SSR.png (9 KB)")
![Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade (SSR+) [FFIX].](/wiki/File:FFAB_Zantetsuken_-_Garnet_SSR%2B.png "FFAB Zantetsuken - Garnet SSR+.png (9 KB)")
![Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade (UR) [FFVI].](/wiki/File:FFAB_Zantetsuken_-_Celes_UR.png "FFAB Zantetsuken - Celes UR.png (9 KB)")
![Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade (UR) [FFVIII].](/wiki/File:FFAB_Zantetsuken_-_Gilgamesh_UR.png "FFAB Zantetsuken - Gilgamesh UR.png (33 KB)")
![Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade (UR) [FFXIII].](/wiki/File:FFAB_Zantetsuken_-_Lightning_UR.png "FFAB Zantetsuken - Lightning UR.png (33 KB)")
![Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade (UR+) [FFVIII].](/wiki/File:FFAB_Zantetsuken_-_Gilgamesh_UR%2B.png "FFAB Zantetsuken - Gilgamesh UR+.png (40 KB)")
![Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade (UR+) [FFXIII].](/wiki/File:FFAB_Zantetsuken_-_Lightning_UR%2B.png "FFAB Zantetsuken - Lightning UR+.png (43 KB)")
![Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade (SSR Legend) [FFIX].](/wiki/File:FFAB_Zantetsuken_-_Garnet_Legend_SSR.png "FFAB Zantetsuken - Garnet Legend SSR.png (10 KB)")
![Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade (SSR+ Legend) [FFIX].](/wiki/File:FFAB_Zantetsuken_-_Garnet_Legend_SSR%2B.png "FFAB Zantetsuken - Garnet Legend SSR+.png (10 KB)")
![Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade (UR+ Legend) [FFVI].](/wiki/File:FFAB_Zantetsuken_-_Celes_Legend_UR%2B.png "FFAB Zantetsuken - Celes Legend UR+.png (9 KB)")
This gallery is incomplete and requires Final Fantasy X-2: Last Mission, Final Fantasy XIV, Final Fantasy Type-0 and Final Fantasy All the Bravest added. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by uploading images.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.
References
Template:Summons Template:Command abilities Template:Limit Breaks Template:Enemy abilities