Riot Blade ( ability ) Riot Blade is a recurring attack in the " Final Fantasy " series , originally Terra Branford ' s trademark Desperation Attack . When performed , the user fires four crescent - shaped blades of energy at opponents . Appearances . " Final Fantasy VI " . Riot Blade is Terra ' s Desperation Attack , and as such she has a 1 / 16 chance to use it automatically when performing the Attack command when critical . Riot Blade attacks one enemy to deal magic damage , and has 142 power . " Final Fantasy XIV " . Riot Blade appeared as an ability in the original " Final Fantasy XIV " . At the initial release , Riot Blade was an ability learned by Gladiators at rank 30 . The ability delivered a ranged attack with a chance to decrease defense when executed from behind the target . In addition , a second variant of Riot Blade appeared and could be learned by Gladiators at rank 50 . The ability unleashed a shockwave , increasing enemy enmity and dealing ranged slashing damage . The ability also had the side effect of leaving the user under the Pacification status effect for a short time . Riot Blade appears in " Final Fantasy XIV : A Realm Reborn " as a Gladiator ability available at level 12 . The ability deals damage to a single enemy with a potency of 100 and costs 80 TP to use . When combo linked from Fast Blade , Riot Blade deals damage with a potency of 230 and restores some MP of the user . " Final Fantasy Tactics S " . Riot Blade is Terra ' s Special Ability . " Dissidia Final Fantasy " . Riot Blade appears as Terra ' s EX Burst and receives a 3D animation . Terra attacks the opponent with Blizzara , then charges energy into her arms . The player must then rapidly tap and to fill two power gauges within an unspecified time limit . Filling the gauges means as much power concentrated as possible , which Terra releases by spinning and firing four blades at the opponent . Failure to fill the gauges will result in Terra firing fewer blades with a less dramatic execution . Riot Blade is notably one of the most powerful EX Bursts in the game , outclassed only by Cloud ' s Omnislash and Tidus ' s Blitz Ace in " Dissidia " . " Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy " . Riot Blade returns as Terra ' s EX Burst with unchanged effects . In " Dissidia 012 " , the newcomers ' EX Bursts , mainly Gilgamesh ' s Strongest Sword and Tifa ' s Final Heaven , outclass Terra ' s EX Burst . However , Cloud , Tidus , Gilgamesh and Tifa only have full power for their EX Bursts under certain conditions , while Riot Blade ' s power is fixed . " Dissidia Final Fantasy " ( 2015 ) . Due to the absence of EX Bursts , Riot Blade now functions as an HP Attack , learned by Terra at Level 5 . It now functions as a counter move . An blue oval shield will appear in front of Terra and if an enemy manages to hit the shield , they will stagger and then a blue , Cross shaped projectile will hit the opponent , dealing HP Damage . Riot Blade is one of four ' counter ' HP Attacks introduced in the game , the others being Firion ' s Revenge of Arms , Bartz ' s Knight and Vaan ' s Ground Zero . " Final Fantasy All the Bravest " . Riot Blade is the ability that is used by Terra during battle . " Final Fantasy Explorers " . Riot Blade appears as a Trance Surge ability when the Terra Mageicite is equipped . " Final Fantasy Trading Card Game " . Riot Blade is an ability usable by one of Terra ' s cards , depicting her Amano artwork . 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 search their deck for an Eidolon card and place it in their hand .