Bravery (Dissidia 012)

Bravery is a gameplay mechanic in Dissidia 012.

Overview

Bravery is a core gameplay element that determines how much damage an HP attack will do if it hits. This is a number above the character's health bar. Connecting bravery attacks will increase the number, and getting hit by bravery attacks will decrease the number. Higher number means more damage dealt by HP attacks.

Bravery is one of the major stats each character has. Other factors also influence bravery, such as equipment, character's level, summons and banish traps.

Bravery Attack

Bravery attacks are done by pressing Circle . When a bravery attack hits, it will raise the character's bravery. The characteristics can vary between characters, but fast speed and low priority are very common traits.

Bravery attacks cannot end a match by themselves. However, since they affect HP attack damage, their properties and application will define a character's strength in gameplay. Each character page goes into detail about these attacks.

As many bravery attacks are low priority, they will lose to block. Blocking a bravery attack causes the attacker to be vulnerable to counter attacks. This is a fundamental aspect of the game - Raise bravery with fast attacks, but avoid getting blocked.

Each character has six slots available for equipping bravery attacks; Three ground attacks and three midair attacks. Characters such as Cecil and Lightning can equip more through their dynamic loadouts (Dark Knight and Paradigm Shift respectively), but they require certain inputs in battle. Some characters such as Warrior of Light and Cloud can equip followup attacks that deal HP damage, while Prishe can equip an additional bravery attack followup of player's choice.

Bravery Break

If a character's bravery goes below 0, they will suffer a Bravery Break. This will reward the attacker with stage bravery, the number between characters' health bars. When Bravery Break occurs, the background color will change, and the game will stop for a moment before continuing at full speed again.

Bravery Break will leave the opponent's bravery in a "break" state. During this time, bravery will gradually regenerate to its base value as indicated by final stats. Connecting bravery attacks speeds up regeneration by the amount of damage dealt, but it won't deplete opponent's bravery. However, the player's bravery can still go down if bravery damage is taken. Bravery cannot go below 0; Player's bravery must recover to its base value first before another bravery break is possible.

Landing an HP attack during the break status deals 0 HP damage, but it removes break status. After that, bravery will return to its base value quickly. However, bravery break is also possible once again.

The extra ability Gambler's Spirit grants a 100 % critical hit rate to all bravery attacks during Bravery Break.

EX Bursts can also cause bravery break, greatly increasing their damage. Lightning's Omega Weapon effect during EX Mode lets her automatically bravery break when opponent's bravery is below 200 (at LV100).

Damage Formula

All bravery attacks will have their damage calculated by the damage formula. The damage is also calculated for any HP attacks that deal bravery damage, such as Cloud's Cross-slash.

Stage Bravery

This is the number shown between both characters' health bars at the bottom center of the screen. When Bravery Break happens, this is what the attacker is rewarded with.

The value is commonly around 1999, but it can fluctuate greatly and spontaneously with summons and omega stage effects.

Stage bravery provides a massive boost to HP damage, which is desirable in fights. Characters with high bravery damage output such as Sephiroth, Garland and Kain can quickly establish advantage with this via assist combos.

Banish Trap

A negative, bravery depleting stage effect exclusive to certain stages.

When a character is positioned in a certain area of a stage, a dark effect is formed around them. This will gradually deplete some bravery. If the character does not move away from this area, they will be forcefully moved to nearest platform. This depletes a bigger portion of bravery, which is then added to stage bravery.

Banish traps cannot bravery break. However, they can interrupt attacks regardless of their state. Gabranth especially benefits from this, as he can accumulate EX with his EX Charge without taking much damage.

Banish traps are commonly found in areas without solid footing. They serve as another form of stage boundary. For example, Orphan's Cradle has no walls, but is instead surrounded by banish traps.

Touching banish traps will reset available air jumps. This can be used to retain movement options when the pace of a fight won't allow a player to land on solid ground.

Winged Boots can be equipped to greatly reduce the amount of bravery banish traps deplete.

Stages with Banish Trap

World of Darkness (omega only)

Pandaemonium (& omega)

The Rift (& omega)

Planet's Core (&omega)

Ultimecia's Castle (& omega)

Crystal World (& omega)

Dream's End (& omega)

Sky Fortress Bahamut (& omega)

Orphan's Cradle (& omega)

Summons

Main article: Summons

Ifrit increases the opponent's bravery by x1.5 times.

Using an equipped summonstone calls forth a summon that influences bravery to some effect. A variety of effects can be found within these summons, such as increasing bravery or swapping bravery with the opponent.