GLOSSARY / Battle Basics
Reading Effect Descriptions
Related names and search terms: Activation Timing, Combat Start, On Use, On Clash Win, Before Attack, On Hit, On Heads Hit, On Tails Hit, Inflict, Gain, This Turn, Next Turn
At a Glance
Separate when, who, what, and how much. Selecting a skill does not activate every effect.
GUIDEHow It Works
Read the bracketed trigger, target, effect type, value, and applicable turn in order. Effects listed under a Coin number belong to that Coin.
Combat Start on a skill means immediately after selections are complete and START is pressed. It is not the same as entering an encounter or Turn Start. Check specific descriptions when localization or individual effects use different wording.
For ordinary attack skills, On Use occurs immediately before the Clash, or before the attack if unopposed. On Clash Win requires an actual Clash victory and does not trigger from an unopposed attack.
Before Attack occurs after the Clash, just before attacking. On Hit requires the attack to land and does not activate if Evaded. On Heads Hit and On Tails Hit also require the stated Coin face.
Do not infer the recipient from Inflict or Gain alone: read self, target, or ally. Do not include next-turn effects in this turn's Power or Speed calculations.
NOTESCommon Misunderstandings
- Do not confuse On Use effects with On Hit effects that a Clash Win can prevent.
- An On Clash Win effect does not guarantee the subsequent attack will land.
- This basic timeline does not determine every priority among simultaneous effects. Special Coins, defense skills, and individual mechanics need their own descriptions.
DETAILSMore Details
Targets and applicable turns
Read who receives an effect separately from when it becomes active.
For example, On Hit, inflict 1 Bind on the target next turn requires a hit, affects the attack target, and becomes active next turn. It does not lower Speed this turn.
Also read targets such as self gains or grant to allies. Check whether the effect changes Potency or Count and how duration or consumption works.
- Next turn is separate from the trigger. The effect does not appear automatically next turn if its activation condition was not met.
Example effect: On Hit, inflict 1 Bind on the target next turn
- This turn: the specified attack hits
- Next turn: 1 Bind applies to the target
- Check Speed during that turn
This is an illustrative effect, not a quotation from a particular Identity. Stacking and special immunities are omitted.
EXAMPLEWorked Example
From START to a successful ordinary attack
- START: Combat Start
- Immediately before the Clash: On Use
- Compare Power: Clash
- Victory determined: On Clash Win
- Immediately before attacking: Before Attack
- Attack lands: On Hit
This shows an ordinary-Coin attack that wins and hits. A Clash Loss stops this path; an unopposed attack skips Clash and On Clash Win.
RELATEDRelated Terms
Skill
Battle BasicsAn action an Identity uses in battle. Guard and Evade are skills too.
Clash
Battle BasicsA contest of Power between skills. With ordinary attack skills, the winner gets to attack.
Coin
Battle BasicsA skill's Coins change its Power according to Heads or Tails. Their number also affects how many attacks it makes.
Potency and Count
Status EffectsValues describing a status effect's strength and remaining activations or duration. When Count decreases depends on the effect.
Defense Skill Offset
Battle BasicsPairing ordinary Guard or Evade skills so neither receives the attack needed to activate. It is not a contest of Power.
Sin Resources
Types and ResistancesResources stored by Sin affinity, used for E.G.O and passive requirements.