Mystic Artes

Mystic Artes (秘奥義) are the hidden and most powerful techniques that many characters throughout the Tales series can use during battle. These special attacks have appeared in several games throughout the series, since its conception in the Playstation version of Tales of Phantasia. They can be performed only under specific conditions, often with other requirements that may limit their use during battle. When they are activated, they usually display an anime-style cut-in image of the character's face as the attack is performed.

Other terms and translations for "Hi Ougi" include Divine Skill, Blast Caliber, Combination Blaster, and '''Hidden Lvl. 3 Special Attack'''.

Tales of Phantasia
When Tales of Phantasia was released on the PlayStation, it received a complete overhaul of its battle system, with new movesets and animations, among other extras. Included with these extras is the first mystic arte of the series, Meikuu Zanshouken. This was intended to be a "last resort" type of attack, useable only if Cress Albane's HP is at critical levels, and if he equips the title "Master of Secrets" in the GBA version. Cress can perform this arte if the player presses DOWN+A+B+L+R on the GBA, or X+O+SQUARE on the PSX and PSP versions. Cress is the only character who is capable of attacking in this way.

This introduced some of the most basic applications of the mystic arte, as an attack that can be used to interrupt the battle flow and deal heavy damage to the opponent. It also established the "Hi Ougi" as a separate tier of attacks outside of the normal combo system, allowing it to be linked to the end of any series of chained artes.

It should be noted that Satsugeki Bukouken (Final Fury) is classified as a base arte in this game, despite its requirements. Additionally, any of the attacks used by other characters that involve a "flash" effect, these are considered to be arcane artes. These facts have been known to cause some confusion within the Tales fan community, and there are some who continue to insist they are, or deserve to be, at a higher tier than the typical arte.

Tales of Destiny
The original PlayStation release of Tales of Destiny features no mystic artes, instead providing each character with one or two artes that provide a "flash" effect prior to their execution, similar to those used in Tales of Phantasia. These are properly classified as arcane artes within the original game. However, several of these would become the basis for the mystic arte in its PlayStation 2 remake, providing all playable characters with at least one mystic arte, known as Blast Calibers (ブラストキャリバー) in this game.

Blast Calibers are obtained through events or levels and are activated through the "Damage Break" button (default: L1) if the character's "Blast Gauge", the bar below that character's health gauge, is filled to at least 1 level, after successfully staggering an enemy with any normal attack or arte. The Blast Gauge has three levels, signified by different colors: Only the Swordian Masters, save for Leon Magnus, have Blast Calibers that require a LVL 3 gauge. Leon obtains his own, Majinken Setsuga, in the Director's Cut.
 * LVL 1: Blue
 * LVL 2: Green
 * LVL 3: Red

Pressing the "Damage Break" button will activate the highest Blast Caliber available at the time. For example, with a Blast Gauge filled to LVL 2, Rutee Katrea will perform only Life Discharge, not Trickster.

The final boss will respond to certain artes with his own Blast Calibers. He answers Heal with Raintive Orion, Dispel with Surviving Hollin, and Raise Dead with Celestial Earth, while using Melty Earth once he hits 5% of his HP. Adding to this list in the Director's Cut is Indignation triggering Raintive Orion, Shouourekka leading to Surviving Hollin, and Maware Rondo summoning Celestial Earth.

Information for artes specific to characters can be found on their respective artes pages.

Tales of Eternia
The "mystic arte" is only one type of the many secret attacks that were introduced in Tales of Eternia. Known as Divine Skills in the localized versions of this game, they featured prolonged flashy effects and often excessive damage. Some of these were intended to be battle finishers, often requiring the targetted enemy to be below a certain amount of health. Others are extremely spammable with proper timing, enabling repeated use of the same mystic arte extensions with very little delay.

Only Reid Hershel and Farah Oersted are capable of performing Divine Skills normally. Meredy and Keele Zeibel can activate an extended version of the spell Indignation only during the battle with Sekundes, after reducing enough of his health. Also, they can activate the Destiny summon and Maxwell summon extensions, in addition to the Greater Craymel summons, but all of these are more closely grouped among the Craymel Artes. Max and Chat do not have mystic artes; their highest tier attacks are correctly classified as arcane artes, even despite the cut-in and background changes.

Tales of Eternia established many of the primary basics of mystic arte activation, such as the use of arte extensions and counters, and the requirement of usage counts. This game also introduced the use of cut-in images during these attacks, blending in with the special effects of the mystic artes themselves.

The Divine Skills of this game often had extremely tedious conditions to fulfill before enabling their use. These may include a required chain of attacks which must be completed within a two-second timeframe, or lengthy formulas to determine how much an attack must be used before its extension is enabled. Timing is especially critical when performing any Divine Skill - sometimes the required buttons must be pressed during a precise instant during a specific attack, and there is little to no margin for error. There is no singular way for triggering each of the Divine Skills, with next to no hints on how to obtain them in the first place, save for Reid Hershel's Divine Aurora Artes (Aurora Wall, Sword, and Wave). This makes all Divine Skills difficult to replicate without practice, but they are especially rewarding to watch when activated successfully.

Reid's Aurora Wall requires the player to press the Attack+Arte+Defend buttons (default: X+O+SQUARE) when his HP is below 15% (indicated by a flashing HP marker), and Aurora Sword extends from this by pressing the Attack button (default: X) before the final jump. Aurora Wave requires the player to press the same combination for Aurora Wall in response to an certain enemy's Dark Aurora Artes, which can be considered mystic artes in their own right.

Keele and Meredy's Greater Craymel summons work by casting spells derived from the Greater Craymel's particular element until their Vitality is at its maximum, indicated by flashing words across the screen and the word MAX next to the caster's name. Vitality will decrease if either caster uses the element of the Greater Craymel that is in direct opposition to the intended summon. Upon reaching MAX Vitality, the player can activate the summon like a normal arte with instant activation without casting delay, though the Greater Craymel's Vitality returns to 0 after use.

For example, to use Reid's Dragon Demon Chaos requires the following from the player:
 * Omega Demon Chaos used [160 - ((total number of basic hits and skills that are chained together before starting this extension) x 30)] times or more.
 * the targetted enemy must have a total of [2000 + (total number of times Omega Demon Chaos has been used)] HP or less
 * press the Attack button (default: X) during Omega Demon Chaos's final slash before landing on the ground.

On the other hand, Farah Oersted's Maximum Burst requires the following:
 * Fatal Fury used 30+ times.
 * Chi used [330 - (50 x (total number of basic hits and skills that are chained together before starting this extension))] times or more.
 * press the Attack button (default: X) during Chi's final strike.

Cress Albain, in the Inferia Arena, retains his ability to use Albain Finality: Final Justice once his HP reaches a certain point, instantly reducing Reid's HP down to 1. He shares the Burning Phoenix extension to Rising Phoenix with Reid, and he will use Eternal Blade to counter being targeted by Reid's Dragon Demon Chaos.

Information specific to characters can be found on their respective artes pages.

Tales of Destiny 2
In Tales of Destiny 2, the mystic arte system is modified further with the introduction of Spirits Blaster Mode, the predecessor of the Over Limit system. All of the mystic artes in this game are extensions of arcane artes or advanced spells, requiring specific passive skills to be equipped. This is the first game to use the term "Hi Ougi" officially, though the game uses this term to refer exclusively to the mystic artes that extend from physical attacks, as they are considered to be "hidden arcane artes". Although any mystic arte can be activated whenever the character has 100 SP, SBM provides a status of infinite SP for a limited time, enabling the use of any mystic arte without the need for SP-enhancing equipment or Skill Enchants.

The three mostly melee characters (Kyle Dunamis, Loni Dunamis, and Judas) can extend any of their arcane artes with the Skill Enchant "Hi Ougi" (秘奥義) equipped once all requirements are met. The two mostly caster characters (Reala and Harold Berselius) can do the same with their advanced spells with "Gugenkesshou" (具現結晶) equipped, allowing them to call forth the summon spirit related to that spell's element. Nanaly Fletch is a special case, since she has only one mystic arte, which can extend from any spell that has an extension (any novice or intermediate spell) if the Skill Enchant "Tsuika Shoujutsu" (追加晶術) is equipped, replacing their original extensions. And while anyone else can use their mystic arte outside of Spirits Blaster Mode, Nanaly is the only character that requires it.

All mystic artes in this game are activated by holding the Attack button (default: O) during the arcane arte or spell to be extended. The final strike of the preceeding attack must stagger an enemy to extend into the mystic arte. This is a significant improvement over the system in Tales of Eternia, allowing a player to hold down a button instead of perfectly timing a single press, allowing the timing issue to be less of a concern.

If Kyle uses a mystic arte against Rimul in the arena, she will respond with Sol Bright. Likewise, Magnadeus will counter with Aqua Rimms if any mystic arte is used against him. In the PSP version of final battle with Barbatos, any mystic arte will be answered with Luna Shade.

The PSP port features optional battles with some of the characters from the first Tales of Destiny. They will each use one of their Blast Calibers, usually once their HP is reduced to a certain point. Leon Magnus will use two; one is the traditional, HP has fallen to a certain point and now it is can be used, and the other is Majin Rengokusatsu, which he will use in response to a mystic arte being used against him.

Tales of Symphonia
When the original GameCube version of Tales of Symphonia was released, it featured mystic artes for only three characters, Lloyd Irving, Genis Sage, and Colette Brunel, referring to the attacks as '''Hidden Lv. 3 Special Skills''' in the localized game. Sheena Fujibayashi's summons (excluding Corrine) functioned in a similar way, but the classification of her summons as mystic artes is debatable. The ported version for the Playstation 2 features mystic artes for all playable characters excluding Sheena, in addition to certain enemies.

Much like Tales of Eternia, this game features several different methods to activate the Hidden Lv. 3 Special Skills. These range from casting a specific spell while Over Limit status is active (which is rare in itself due to the mechanics of the Over Limit system in this game), to activating a certain attack while a passive EX-Skill is in effect. The mystic arte Hien Messhoujin (Crimson Devastation) is especially notorious for its extreme restrictions, which include having Presea Combatir remain as the last party member who is not knocked out during battle. Of course, this is recognized generally as the most powerful mystic arte in the entire series, even featuring two cut-in images.

Enemies will also use their own Hidden Special Skills as their HP depletes, although Abyssion will always open a battle with Divine Judgment in the PS2 version.

Information specific to characters can be found on their respective artes pages.

Tales of Rebirth
The mystic artes in Tales of Rebirth are all battle finishers, and they could be activated only if there is only one enemy left, and if it could not survive the attack. All of the mystic artes require two characters, one melee fighter and one spellcaster, and both of them must be in the active party. Finality Charge Break must then be activated, by increasing the "Finality Charge" gauge through the activation of Latent Abilities during battle, similar to the way the Over Limits gauge is increased in Tales of Symphonia.

The extensions for Dual the Sun require the use of three characters in the active party, Mao, Eugene Gallardo, and Hilda Rhambling. Although Dual the Sun by itself is activated with either Eugene or Hilda, the extensions can be activated only if Hilda initiated the mystic arte. Specific controller button combinations must be pressed during the animations of each extension, alternating between the controllers associated with Hilda and Mao. The PSP port of this game alters this system significantly, since only one "controller" is available.

Because the mystic artes of this game require the use of the Finality Charge Break system, some may refer to them as Finality Charges. This is not an official term.

Information specific to characters can be found on their respective artes pages.

Tales of the Abyss
Tales of the Abyss is the first game where the term mystic arte is used in localized media. The characters' initial mystic artes can only be performed when the character using them is in a state of Over Limit, after learning and equipping the "Special" AD Skill. The player must then launch any arcane arte or high-level Fonic Arte or Fonic Hymn while holding down the Attack button (default: X). If the final strike of the attack connects with an enemy (stagger or not), the character will chain the attack into his or her mystic arte.

The characters' second mystic artes harken back to the old days of varied requirements or conditions, such as having met certain arte usage counts, HP thresholds, specific weapons, and even methods of input. They all require the player to have completed the game at least once.

For example, Tear Grants's Fortune's Arc can be used in place of Innocent Shine, her first mystic arte, if she has used all of her Fonic Hymns at least 50 times and uses Judgment as her trigger spell of choice during Over Limit.

On the other hand, Luke fon Fabre's Lost Fon Drive requires the player to press X+O+SQUARE during Over Limit and has less than 15% of his HP and he's equipped with the Key of Lorelei.

Enemies can use their own mystic artes, following the tradition of being able to use them once their HP reaches certain thresholds. The characters in the Baticul Coliseum will also use mystic artes, although they are known as Divine Skills in the localized game, in homage to the original term used in Tales of Eternia.

Information specific to characters can be found on their respective artes pages.

Tales of Vesperia
In Tales of Vesperia, mystic artes can only be activated by having the character equip the "Special" skill and holding the "Attack" button while performing any arcane arte, advanced spell, or Burst Arte during Over Limit Level 3 or higher. The last hit of an arcane arte must stagger the enemy for the mystic arte to work.

Enemies can also use mystic artes, again as their HP drops. Flynn Scifo, on the other hand, will only use Radiant Dragon Fang initially in response to Yuri Lowell using his mystic arte, though he will use it without warning afterwards. The Killer of Heroes's No Items Ever! activates after the player, obviously, uses an item.

In the PlayStation 3 port of the game, all of the returning playable characters, including Flynn, obtain a second mystic arte. As with older games, there are more requirements for these new mystic artes, such as equipping a special weapon or using various artes a certain amount of times. Rather than activating at Level 3 or higher Over Limit, these mystic artes require a Level 4 or higher as well as triggering through holding both the "Attack" and "Artes" buttons.

Yuri and Flynn also obtain a third mystic arte in the port which can only be used with both of them are in battle together. Fittingly for their third mystic arte, the requirements are even stricter than before and require them the player to hold the "Attack", "Artes", and "Guard" buttons.

Tales of Hearts
Mystic artes in Tales of Hearts are referred to as Combination Blasters. They are used by holding down the "Damage Break" button (default: L) after using an arte while the passive skill "Special" is equipped. Enemies can also use Combination Blasters.

Tales of Graces
In Tales of Graces, mystic artes are referred to as Blast Calibers and most are under the rule of the Arles Gauge after being learned by certain aliases. As the player fights well, the blue Arles Gauge rises, and when it fills completely, the player enters Arles Rise. In Arles Rise, the Arles Gauge is replaced by a Blast Caliber gauge which fills up as attacks are performed. The Blast Caliber can stock up to three levels, referring to the playable characters' three Blast Caliber levels. During Arles Rise, if the "A" and "B" buttons, or the "L" button on the Classic Controller, are pressed after staggering the enemy, the highest available Blast Caliber will be used.

There are also other aliases for each Blast Caliber, ones which allow use of Blast Calibers outside of Arles Rise. These require the player to build up a string of combos: 25 for Level 1, 50 for Level 2, and 75 for Level 3, before the Blast Caliber can be activated. Blast Calibers can only be activated this way once per level per battle, regardless of character.

The exceptions to this are Richard, who only has one Blast Caliber, and Sophie, who has the Karyuuenbu Blast Caliber which is a homage to Farah Oersted's use of it as well as the more arcane methods of mystic arte usage.

The opposing system to Arles Rise, Arles Break, is for enemies. For certain enemies, if Arles Break is reached and they stagger a player character, they will perform their own Blast Calibers on the player, but only one Blast Caliber is available to that enemy.

Tales of the World: Narikiri Dungeon 2 and Narikiri Dungeon 3
In both Narikiri Dungeon 2 and Narikiri Dungeon 3, there are certain artes which can only be activated if the character has less than a certain amount of HP, most of which are mystic artes in their own right in other games. The game refers to them as Kyuukyokugi (究極技).

Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology
Mystic artes in Radiant Mythology can be used by both the player character and his/her mercenary allies. The player needs to master all of his/her techniques in order to use it, while the mercenary allies need only to be level 45. They all need to be performed in Over Limit mode; melee characters extend it from their Arcane Artes by holding the Attack Button (default: X), while spell casters use it in place of their spells, and those with both can do it from either.

Tales of the Tempest
Even though there are no actual mystic artes in Tales of the Tempest, there is still a type of arte that can only be used under certain circumstances. Two of the main characters can transform into lycanthropic beasts called Ramourne through the arte Juujinka, after their HP drops to below 50%, and when they do their attack power is greatly heightened. Their form lasts either until they run out of TP or until the battle ends. This transformation would become the mystic arte for Caius Qualls in Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2 and Tales of VS., named Beast Blow after the name of the arte that can be activated only while the characters are in their transformed state.

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World
In Dawn of the New World, mystic artes can be used if the character has the passive skill "Special" equipped, and if the Unison Attack bar is full. They are activated by holding down the B button during the final hit of a fully executed arcane arte, or with a high tier spell. If a character has both "Ability Plus" skills equipped, holding B during the first arcane arte in a combo chain will activate the arte that is set to the B button, preventing the activation of a mystic arte until a second arcane arte is activated.

Enemies are also capable of using mystic artes, usually when their HP depletes. The exception is Richter Abend's Eternal Recurrence, which he will use in response to Emil Castagnier's Ain Soph Aur.

Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2
The mystic artes of Radiant Mythology 2 are unlocked once the character reaches Level 45, and they can be used only during Overlimits mode. Melee characters can activate them through their arcane artes by holding the Attack button (default: O), while spell casters use it in place of their advanced spells. For characters with both advanced tier spells, arcane artes, or other arte types:
 * Tear Grants's Innocent Shine will activate from both her advanced spells and her Fonic Hymns
 * Colette Brunel's Holy Judgment will activate from her Angel Skills
 * Shining Bind, Life Discharge, Kouou Tenshouyoku, Majin Rengokusatsu, Resshou Souhajin, Wild Geese, Izayoi Tenbu, Kouga Meishouzan, Maou Shakumetsujin, Ruined Vain Wish, and Shinretsu Senkouzan are activated only from arcane artes
 * Unchained Note, Sacred Blame, Divine Judgment, and Mystic Cage are only activated from advanced spells

Enemies can also use their mystic artes while they are in Overlimits mode. Barbatos Goetia's Item nazo tsukatten ja nee! will activate after the player uses an item, without requiring Overlimits.

Tales of VS.
Mystic artes in this game are obtained by a character when he/she accesses 2500 Grade Points (GP). The attack, like most other games, is not seen on the arte list. Instead, they are activated by holding the Attack button (default: O) while an arcane arte is used during Over Limit.

Spellcasters, however, are required to cast a high tier spell instead of an arcane arte. This will take longer, although, if the Over Limit runs out before the spell is finished, the mystic arte will still be activated.

The exception to this rule is Barbatos Goetia's Item nazo Hirotten ja nee, which cannot be manually activated. Instead, an opponent has to pick up an item while Barbatos is in Over Limit. This mystic arte has the unique property of not ending the overlimit, and thus is capable of being activated multiple times within the duration of one overlimit, so long as opponents continue to pick up items.