Desperation Attack A Desperation Attack , or Hidden Blitz as it is called in the achievements of the mobile and Steam versions , is a special attack unique to each character except Gau and Umaro in " Final Fantasy VI " . Desperation Attacks are the precursor to the Limit Break mechanism used in " Final Fantasy VII " , and most future " Final Fantasy " games since . Performing a Desperation Attack on all party members who have one in the mobile / Steam version earns the A Chance in a Pinch achievement . Mechanics . When a character is in Critical status , there is a 1 in 16 chance they will perform a Desperation Attack upon the Attack command . Characters will never use their Desperation Attacks during the first 25 . 6 seconds of battle . A character would enter critical status when their HP drops to less than 1 / 8 of their max HP , but Strago and Gogo can achieve critical status without losing their HP , because if the enemy has 1 / 20 of its max HP remaining , Strago and Gogo can use Rippler to gain it ( see Rippler bug for more information ) . Gogo cannot mimic Desperation Attacks . Desperation Attacks are unblockable and ignore Defense . If the character has any of the following statuses , they cannot do a Desperation Attack : Confuse , Image , Vanish , and Zombie . Other appearances . " Dissidia Final Fantasy " ( 2008 ) . Terra ' s EX Burst is Riot Blade . Terra attacks the opponent with Blizzara , then charges magical energy into her arms . The player must tap in tandem with the button to charge two power meters . If the player fills both meters within a time limit , Terra spins and whips out her arms to fire several crescent - shaped bands of energy at the opponent . Failing to fill the meters will have her fire fewer blades . " Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy " . Terra ' s EX Burst is still Riot Blade . " Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade " . Characters from " Final Fantasy VI " use their Desperation Attack when they are summoned as Legends . In addition , players can obtain certain Desperation Attacks to use as abilities . " Pictlogica Final Fantasy " . Some of the Desperation Attacks from " Final Fantasy VI " appear . " Final Fantasy Record Keeper " . Some of the Desperation Attacks from " Final Fantasy VI " appear used by their original users . " Final Fantasy All the Bravest " . Terra , Locke , and Celes makes an appearance . They use their signature Desperation Attacks Riot Blade , Mirage Dive , and Spinning Edge as their primary attack . " Final Fantasy Trading Card Game " . One of Terra ' s cards can use Riot Blade . For the discard of another Terra card , Dulling Terra and paying two Ice CP , Riot Blade does 6000 damage to a Forward of the player ' s choice , then they may search their deck for an Eidolon card and place it in their hand . One of Locke ' s cards has Mirage Dive . For the discard of a Locke card , Mirage Dive prevents Locke from being blocked that turn . A card featuring Celes allows her to use Spinning Edge . For two ICE CP , a Shine CP and the discard of another Celes card , Spinning Edge allows the player to choose any Dulled forward and Break it . Etymology . Sabin ' s Desperation Attack being named " Tiger Break " refers to the symbolism of a tiger in eastern martial arts where the dragon and tiger symbolize the balance of power . The tiger represents matter and the dragon represents spirit . Cyan ' s Desperation Attack , Tsubame Gaeshi , was a famous technique mastered by Sasaki Kojirō , a famed Japanese swordsman in the Sengoku period of feudal Japan . Kojirō was best known to have been slain by Miyamoto Musashi during a duel at the island of Funajima . Setzer ' s Red Card may be named after soccer where the referee sends players off by giving them a red card . Gogo ' s Desperation Attack refers to the Famed Mimic Gogo boss from " Final Fantasy V " who used Meteor as a counter attack .