Sneak Attack ( ability ) Sneak Attack is a recurring support ability in the series , allowing the equipped character to surprise an opponent in some way . Appearances . " Final Fantasy VII " . The Sneak Attack Materia allows the user to use up an ability from the paired Materia as soon as the battle begins even if it is an ambush . The likelihood of attacking with the paired Materia increases with each level up , with a maximum chance of 80 % . The PlayStation version ' s battle message has a spelling error , which was later fixed for the PC - release . Sneak Attack can only be won from the Chocobo races at the Gold Saucer in A and S classes . It can be linked with all Magic and Summon Materia , Steal , Sense , Throw , Morph , Deathblow , Manipulate , Mime , and Master Command . When paired with a Command Materia the ability highlighted in the menu is used . With Magic Materia , Sneak Attack uses the highest level spell the Materia has learned . When paired with Master Magic / Summon / Command a random ability / spell from the Materia is used . Sneak Attack picks a target at random , based on the default target ( allies or enemies ) for the used ability . The effect can be stacked by equipping multiple Sneak Attack Materia , but Final Attack , Sneak Attack , Counter , Magic Counter , and Counter Attack all share the same command space , and there is only room for eight such attacks . Only the first eight counter effects placed chronologically onto a character will be used . If Sneak Attack is used to revive fallen party members their ATB bars will never fill up . " Final Fantasy XI " . Sneak Attack is an ability available to the Thief job starting at level 15 in " Final Fantasy XI " . Sneak Attack is usable once every minute . When used , it will create a status effect that signifies the next attack the Thief makes will be a sneak attack . A sneak attack is performed with a melee weapon while the Thief is directly behind an enemy . It allows the Thief to deal critical damage . This damage is modified slightly by the player ' s Strength , but it is also modified by the player ' s Dexterity , but only while the player has Thief as his main Job . Dexterity is not part of the equation when Thief is used as a Support Job . Sneak attack can be , and is quite often , used with the level 30 Thief Job Ability Trick Attack . This attack is generally abbreviated SATA by players and the strategy for using this in a party can be referenced by reading about under First Provoke . " Final Fantasy XIV " . Sneak Attack is a Rogue ability learned at level 22 . It damages enemy with potency of 100 , or 300 when attack the enemy from the front . It can only be executed after the effects of Hide and shares its recast timer with Trick Strike . It performs instantly , has a recast time of 60 seconds , and range of 3 yards . It can only be performed by Rogue and Ninja . Sneak Attack is an ability exclusive to the Ravager class , learned for 300 AP from the Dagriohm . The ability deals damage depending on the direction the target is facing . " Dissidia Final Fantasy " . Sneak Attack is a special ability any character of level 43 or higher can use , and increases critical hit rate by 50 % when attacking an opponent from behind . Its base CP cost is 50 and requires 360 AP to master . " Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy " . Sneak Attack returns as a support skill , now requiring 40 CP to equip and 200 AP to master . On the world map players can perform sneak attacks on Manikin s . When approaching a manikin they will attack the player to initiate battle , but if the player can strike the manikin first this will trigger a sneak attack , draining the manikin ' s Bravery to 0 at the start of the fight . " Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade " . Sneak Attack from " Final Fantasy XI " appears also in " Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade " . " Final Fantasy Record Keeper " . Sneak Attack is Locke ' s default Soul Break which at the expense of one Soul Gauge segment deals physical damage to one target from the back row with 150 % damage potency of a conventional attack .