EX Mode EX Mode is a gameplay term from " Dissidia Final Fantasy " and " Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy " . EX Mode effectively serves as the Limit Break system in " Dissidia " , granting the user an extreme boost in power . This grants access to new abilities , including executing EX Bursts . EX Force and EX Gauges . All characters except Chaos have an EX Gauge that fills as the player collects EX Force , glowing orbs of light that appears whenever an attack is landed or an attack is blocked . Chase Sequence s also produce high amounts of EX Force . Characters automatically absorb EX Force as they move around the arena , but not while attacking or being attacked . At times EX Cores appear in the arena and slowly absorb all EX Force present , growing wings to symbolize how much EX Force they have absorbed . Collecting an EX Core grants all EX Force they have absorbed in addition to a small base amount . When the EX Gauge is full , it begins to glow orange , and players may enter EX Mode by pressing and . Various equipment pieces affect the player ' s efficiency in building up EX Force , by increasing the radius of their EX Force absorption , the amount gained by absorbing EX Force and EX Cores , allowing absorption of EX Force while attacking or being attacked , and increasing the rate at which EX Cores spawn . Original Rules can also adjust these factors . There are also equipment pieces that extend the duration of EX Revenge and EX Mode . EX Revenge . In " Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy " , a new feature called " EX Revenge " completely drains the player ' s full EX Gauge to recover from a foe ' s attack and slow down the opponent for six seconds , or until an HP attack is landed . It can stop an opposing attack or combo that could swing or decide a battle , but does not automatically knock the opponent away . The duration of this period can be adjusted by Original Rules or by certain equipment . During this time the player ' s attack cooldown is reduced to nothing , allowing the player to link together several Brave attacks one after another . Also , if the opponent is Wall Rushed , the player can still continue their assault against them , as the foe doesn ' t receive temporarily invulnerability during EX Revenge . The player who has been slowed down can cancel out the opponent ' s EX Revenge by initiating their own EX Mode or performing an Assist Change . EX Mode . Once EX Mode is entered , the EX Bar slowly drains , and EX Mode ends when it is depleted . The rate at which the gauge drains can be lowered by using certain accessories and equipment pieces . While in EX Mode the character can still collect EX Force and EX Cores , refilling their gauge as it depleted . While in EX Mode , all characters gain the Regen status , slowly regenerating their HP , and they have a higher chance of dealing Critical Hit s . Characters also gain bonuses specific to them , such as special attacks , increased damage , and other enhancements . In " Dissidia " entering EX Mode blocks any combos the opponent is striking them with and staggers them if they would normally stagger from a blocked attack , but this is removed in " Dissidia 012 " with the addition of EX Revenge . Entering EX Mode can also cancel out certain HP attacks the character is executing , letting attacks be chained together in new ways . For most of the playable cast in " Dissidia " , their EX Modes involve a transformation they perform in their original game . For example , Ultimecia fuses with Griever , Jecht transforms into his " Final Aeon " form , the Warrior of Light class - changes into a Knight , Zidane , Terra and Kuja enter their variations of Trance , and so forth . The fighters who do not transform instead exchange their base weapons for their ultimate weapon from their original game , such as Squall ' s Revolver turning into the Lion Heart or Firion ' s weapons into " blood " weapons . In " Dissidia 012 " , the opponent ' s Assist gauge will drain completely when the player enters EX Mode . However , if one can use an Assist attack to hit a character in EX Mode , a new feature called " EX Break " will occur , knocking the character out of EX Mode and giving the attacker the Stage Bravery , similar to a Bravery Break , but the opponent will not actually be under Bravery Break status . However , if the Assist character is hit by a character in EX Mode , the EX Mode character inflicts an " Assist Break , " in which the character in EX Mode receives the Stage Bravery , while the opponent is Assist Locked . Manikin s treat EX Mode differently from the playable cast . All manikins share a single EX Mode titled " Powered Up " , where they gain Regen and have a higher chance for critical hits , but they do not gain their counterpart character ' s unique benefits . They also do not change appearance or weapon aside from a glowing aura . The exception is Gabranth ' s manikin , the Warrior of Antiquity , who changes appearance as Gabranth does and gains a new moveset in the same manner . All manikins , including the Warrior of Antiquity , are entirely unable to use EX Bursts while in EX Mode . EX Burst . During EX Mode , after connecting with an HP attack an icon appears on the screen . If is pressed again while the icon is visible the character will use their EX Burst . The player can cancel initiating an EX Burst either by waiting for the icon to disappear , or by pressing . When an EX Burst is executed , the player must perform some sort of charging sequence , such as tapping a button rapidly or inputting a sequence of button commands , to power up the attack . Following this the character attacks the opponent with a series of Bravery attacks before landing an HP attack . The exact method of input , as well as if the charging sequence occurs before the EX Burst executes or during execution , depends on the character . Failure to power up the EX Burst fully results in a simpler and less - powerful attack being used , minimizing the Bravery damage done before the HP attack . If the player charges up the EX Burst to full , it is considered " Perfect " and will do full damage . Feral Chaos from " Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy " is the only character who can ' t get Perfect for his EX Burst . Once an EX Burst is executed , EX Mode is automatically canceled . If the player falls victim to an opponent ' s EX Burst , the player can increase their Defense to reduce damage taken by continuously pressing at the same time as the opponent charges up the EX Burst to set the meter to + 5 or + 10 defense . However , if the player presses too quickly , it rises past the + 10 indicator to - 5 , lowering Defense . For the games that have the Limit Break system , EX Bursts are based on that character ' s Limit Break . For example , Terra uses Riot Blade , Cloud uses Omnislash , Squall uses Renzokuken , and so forth . For the characters from games that do not have a Limit Break system , their EX Burst is more original . Cecil ' s EX Burst involves magic and sword slashes , Firion ' s uses all of his weapons with elemental affinities , Bartz ' s revolves around his abilities as a Mime , etc . For the villains , many of their EX Bursts are based on powerful abilities used in story sequences , like Kefka ' s Light of Judgment , or their strongest attacks when fought against as a boss , such as Sephiroth ' s Supernova or Cloud of Darkness ' s Ultra Particle Beam . The rest of the villains ' EX Bursts are entirely original , like Garland ' s Soul of Chaos . For players who don ' t want to enter EX Burst commands ( i . e . EX Bursts of Jecht , Tidus , and Tifa which require precise timing to get " Perfect " ) , they may activate the support ability Auto EX Command that is unlocked at Level 15 , although using this sometimes fails . The player must master this ability to unlock Auto EX Command Ω , which never fails . Other appearances . " Final Fantasy Trading Card Game " . EX Burst is a game mechanic and an ability possessed by some cards with " EX Burst " written in their ability description . When a player takes damage and places cards from their deck into their Damage Zone , if one of those cards has EX Burst , the card ' s ability immediately activates for no cost and no other abilities can be used in response to it . Numerous characters retain their Limit Break abilities that were used as their EX Mode or EX Burst in " Dissidia " . One of Jecht ' s cards , showing his alt outfit EX Mode , can use Blitz King . For the discard of a Jecht card and two Fire CP , Blitz King makes all of the player ' s Forwards active and allows them to attack an additional time that turn . Bartz ' s card depicting his EX Mode can use Job Master . For the discard of a Bartz card , Job Master grants Bartz the special abilities of all the other player ' s Forwards that turn , on top of his card ' s normal ability to copy abilities save for special abilities from the player ' s other Forwards . Kain ' s card showing his " Dissidia " artwork can use Dragoon ' s Pride . For Dulling Kain , discarding another Kain card and paying two Lightning CP , Dragoon ' s Pride Breaks a Forward of the player ' s choice . As a penalty , Kain does not become Active during the player ' s next turn . Laguna ' s card showing his " Dissidia " render can use Ultimate Ragnarok Cannon . For the discard of another Laguna card and one Ice CP , the ability Breaks all of the opponent ' s Forwards that have action abilities .