Abilities (KHBBS)
The Ability system in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep is very similar to that of Kingdom Hearts II, while also drawing inspiration from the Esper/Materia-based systems of the Final Fantasy series. While the abilities present in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep parallel those of earlier games, only passive abilities are found in the Abilities menu, as active abilities are implemented through the Deck Command system.
Instead of requiring AP to activate abilities, the system in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep has the player attach a set ability to the Deck Commands that they create through the Command Meld process. Each command recipe has a certain set of abilities that can be attached to the finished product, with the result depending on the crystal applied to the ingredients.
Once an ability is attached to a command, it is activated by adding that command to the Command Deck. Once the command is mastered, the ability is permanently added to the list of abilities, even if the command is removed from the deck, and it can be freely turned on or off. It is possible to acquire multiple copies of many abilities by repeating this process.
The Abilities list is divided into Prize abilities, Stats abilities, and Support abilities. Prize abilities, produced by Abounding and Hungry Crystals, increase the amount of prizes dropped by slain enemies, or make it easier to pick them up. Stat abilities, produced by Fleeting, Pulsing, Shimmering, or Soothing Crystals, increase the power or effectiveness of the character's various forms of offense or defense. Finally, support abilities, produced by Abounding, Pulsing, Soothing, or Wellspring Crystals, provide miscellaneous supporting effects.
A number of abilities are not implemented in the Abilities menu; rather, they are activated during Dimension Links. These abilities are not listed below.
Prize abilities
| Ability | Max. Number | Description | Command Meld |
| Treasure Magnet (ドロー Dorō, lit. "Draw") |
5 | Automatically scoops up nearby prizes for you. Multi-install the ability to increase range. | Hungry Crystal |
| HP Prize Plus (HPプライズアップ HP Puraizu Appu, lit. "HP Prize Up") |
3 | Increases the number of HP prizes enemies drop. Multi-install the ability for even more prizes. | Hungry Crystal |
| Link Prize Plus (リンクプライズアップ Rinku Puraizu Appu, lit. "Link Prize Up") |
3 | Increases the number of D-Link prizes enemies drop. Multi-install the ability for even more prizes. | Abounding Crystal |
| Lucky Strike (ラックアップ Rakku Appu, lit. "Luck Up") |
5 | Increases the number of prize boxes enemies drop. Multi-install the ability for even more prizes. | Abounding Crystal |
Stats abilities
| Ability | Max. Number | Description | Command Meld |
| HP Boost (HPアップ HP Appu, lit. "HP Up") |
3 | Increases your HP. Multi-install the ability to bump it up even further. | Soothing Crystal |
| Fire Boost (ファイアアップ Faia Appu, lit. "Fire Up") |
3 | Increases the damage dealt by your Fire commands. Multi-install the ability to deal even more damage. | Shimmering Crystal |
| Blizzard Boost (ブリザドアップ Burizado Appu, lit. "Blizzard Up") |
3 | Increases the damage dealt by your Blizzard commands. Multi-install the ability to deal even more damage. | Shimmering Crystal |
| Thunder Boost (サンダーアップ Sandā Appu, lit. "Thunder Up") |
3 | Increases the damage dealt by your Thunder commands. Multi-install the ability to deal even more damage. | Shimmering Crystal |
| Cure Boost (ケアルアップ Kearu Appu, lit. "Cure Up") |
3 | Increases the amount of HP you recover with Cure commands. Multi-install the ability to recover even more. | Shimmering Crystal |
| Item Boost (アイテムアップ Aitemu Appu, lit. "Item Up") |
3 | Increases the effectiveness of recovery item commands. Multi-install the ability for an even larger improvement. | Soothing Crystal |
| Attack Haste (アタックヘイスト Atakku Heisuto) |
5 | Shortens the reload time for all attack commands installed in your deck. Multi-install the ability for even quicker reloading. | Fleeting Crystal |
| Magic Haste (マジックヘイスト Majikku Heisuto) |
5 | Shortens the reload time for all magic commands installed in your deck. Multi-install the ability for even quicker reloading. | Fleeting Crystal |
| Combo F Boost (コンボFアップ Konbo F Appu, lit. "Combo F Up") |
2 | Increases the damage dealt by the last blow of your combos. Multi-install the ability to deal even more damage. | Pulsing Crystal |
| Finish Boost (コマンドFアップ Komando F Appu, lit. "Command F Up") |
2 | Increases the damage dealt by your Finish command. Multi-install the ability to deal even more damage. | Pulsing Crystal |
| Fire Screen (ファイアガード Faia Gādo, lit. "Fire Guard") |
2 | Increases your resistance to Fire attacks. Multi-install the ability to bump it up even further. | Shimmering Crystal |
| Blizzard Screen (ブリザドガード Burizado Gādo, lit. "Blizzard Guard") |
2 | Increases your resistance to Blizzard attacks. Multi-install the ability to bump it up even further. | Shimmering Crystal |
| Thunder Screen (サンダーガード Sandā Gādo, lit. "Thunder Guard") |
2 | Increases your resistance to Thunder attacks. Multi-install the ability to bump it up even further. | Shimmering Crystal |
| Dark Screen (ダークガード Dāku Gādo, lit. "Dark Guard") |
2 | Increases your resistance to darkness-based attacks. Multi-install the ability to bump it up even further. | Shimmering Crystal |
| Reload Boost (リロードブースト Rirōdo Būsuto) |
1 | Shortens the reload time for all commands installed in your deck whenever your HP falls below 25%. | Fleeting Crystal |
| Defender (ディフェンダー Difendā) |
1 | Increases your Defense whenever your HP falls below 25%. | Soothing Crystal |
Support abilities
| Ability | Max. Number | Description | Command Meld |
| Zero EXP (EXPゼロ EXP Zero) |
1 | Prevents you from gaining any EXP when you defeat enemies. | N/A[1] |
| Combo Plus (コンボプラス Konbo Purasu) |
3 | Adds one stroke to your ground combos. Multi-install the ability for even longer combos. | Wellspring Crystal |
| Air Combo Plus (エアコンボプラス Ea Konbo Purasu) |
3 | Adds one stroke to your aerial combos. Multi-install the ability for even longer combos. | Wellspring Crystal |
| EXP Chance (EXPチャンス EXP Chansu) |
1 | Doubles the EXP you receive whenever your HP falls below 25%. | Abounding Crystal |
| EXP Walker (EXPウォーク EXP Wōku, lit. "EXP Walk") |
1 | Awards you 1 EXP for every step you take. | Abounding Crystal |
| Damage Syphon (ダメージアスピル Damēji Asupiru, lit. "Damage Asper") |
1 | Restores some of the Focus Gauge when you take damage. | Soothing Crystal |
| Second Chance (ラストリーヴ Rasuto Rīvu, lit. "Last Leave") |
1 | Ensures you always retain 1 HP after an attack that would otherwise finish you off, unless you are already down to 1 HP. | Pulsing Crystal |
| Once More (コンボリーヴ Konbo Rīvu, lit. "Combo Leave") |
1 | Ensures you always retain 1 HP throughout a combo that would otherwise finish you off, unless you are already down to 1 HP when the first attack hits. | Wellspring Crystal |
| Scan (ライブラ Raibura, lit. "Libra") |
1 | Displays the HP of the targeted enemy. | N/A[2] |
| Leaf Bracer (リーフベール Rīfu Bēru, lit. "Leaf Veil") |
1 | Prevents you from taking damage while using Cure commands. | Pulsing Crystal |
Notes and references
- ^ Attached to Sliding Dash (Terra), Aero (Ventus), and Blizzard (Aqua) by default in Critical Mode.
- ^ Attached to Quick Blitz by default.
