Beat Down (Lightning Returns)

Beat Down is a physical ability for Lightning in Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII. It is a stronger physical attack ability, dealing heavy physical damage to a foe, but has a high ATB cost.
==Obtained==
Both the Shadow Trooper and Vengeance garbs have natural access to Beat Down Lv. 3 as their locked ability.
Beat Down can also be obtained as a drop from Desdemona with a 3% chance. The drop rate of the attack can increase to 50% if the enemy is staggered. The enemy drops the different levels of the ability on the following days and difficulties:
Enemy 	Lv. 1 	Lv. 2 	Lv. 3 	Lv. 4 	Lv. 5
Desdemona	Day 1 - 6 (Easy/Normal)	Day 7 - 9 (Easy/Normal)	Day 10 - 13 (Hard)	Day 1 - 6 (Hard)	Day 7 - 13 (Hard)
==Mechanics==
When used, Beat Down has Lightning rush to the target and unleashes a fierce attack that deals heavy physical damage to a single target. The ability also significantly increases a target's Stagger Wave. After the first use, Lightning will perform a combo finisher for the second strike. 
Beat Down can be enhanced with En-spell effects. It will also transform into the status effect "Chaser" abilities when equipped with either the Brittle Bone and Bonecracker weapons.
===Stats===
====Ability version====
By default, Beat Down has an ATB cost of 40, an attack power of 0.40, a Stagger Power of A, and a Stagger Time of E. When fully upgraded, Beat Down Lv.5 can have an ATB cost of 25, an attack power of 2.25, a Stagger Power of A, and a Stagger Time of E.
;Growth chart
Level	Base Power	Power Increment	Synthesis Needed to Max	Max Power	Level Up Malistone
Lv. 1	0.40 	0.05 	4 	0.60 	Silver
Lv. 2	0.65 	0.05 	4 	0.85 	Gold
Lv. 3	0.90 	0.05 	6 	1.20 	Adamant
Lv. 4	1.25 	0.05 	8 	1.65 	Scarletite
Lv. 5	1.70 	0.05 	11 	2.25 	N/A
;Passives
Beat Down abilities can have the following passives:
;Normal
*Stagger Duration +5%
*Stagger Duration +7%
*Strength +180
*Maximum ATB +5	
;Rare
*Maximum ATB +15 (Chaos variant drop)
*Committal (Synthesis only)
====Locked versions====
The locked versions available to garbs have unique stats and passives, these versions of Beat Down cannot be upgraded.
Command 	ATB Cost	Attack Power	Stagger Power	Stagger Time	Passive
Beat Down Lv. 3(Shadow Trooper, Vengeance)	30 	x1.05 	A 	E 	None
===Alternate forms===
When Lightning is equipped with a spear, Beat Down will perform Jump as its finisher, having her leap into the air and dive onto an opponent. Jump has an increased attack power, while also having an increased Stagger Power and gaining a Stagger Preservation to 120.
==Use==
Beat Down is useful for dealing heavy damage to a target and increasing its stagger wave. When paired with Curse and Deprotect, Lightning can use Beat Down to deal heavy damage and interrupt a target easily. 
When a higher leveled version is paired with the Locket Pendant-type accessories, Beat Down will always perform its combo finisher on the first use, allowing for easy critical damage and stagger building for a reduced ATB cost. This can be especially useful to instantly trigger Jump on a target, especially if staggered, due to spears increasing the amount of critical damage inflicted.
==Other appearances==
Beat Down has appeared as an ability for Lightning in several spin-off titles. 
In Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, Beat Down is Lightning's dash Bravery attack in her Commando stance, having her thrust her sword onto her opponent, while also giving her an opportunity to cancel into another bravery attack. This version of the attack also appeared as an enemy ability for Lightning in Final Fantasy Record Keeper.
Beat Down is also an ability for the Savior of Souls Lightning unit in Final Fantasy Brave Exvius. It deals physical damage with an attack multiplier of 1x, with increased break damage to an enemy by 500% with a sword weapon.
Category:Abilities in Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
Category:Signature abilities