Severing Wind

For the arte localized by the same name that is used by Oscar Dragonia in Tales of Berseria, see Severing Wind (Oscar).

Severing Wind (断空剣, Dankuuken^?, "Failure Emptiness Sword"^[1] or "Severing Air Sword"), also localized as Vortex, is a classic Wind-elemental technique in the Tales series.

Arte Description and History

When Severing Wind is executed, the user spins around, slashing upward while jumping into the air, creating a cyclone of wind that hits all surrounding enemies.

In Tales of Eternia, this attack appears as Earth Divide. It can be used when Spiral Attack is used at the precise moment that the spell Cyclone is cast by either Keele Zeibel or Meredy. Earth Divide represents one of four Team Skills that are activated through the use of a melee arte from one character and a spell from another character cast at the same instant, combining both into one powerful elemental arte. Also, although it is named only in the Japanese version, this attack is used by Garr Kelvin during Meredy's Destiny summon.

The arte appears in Tales of Symphonia, localized as Decisive Slice when it is used by Garr Kelvin during the final team battle stage at the Meltokio Coliseum. In the PlayStation 2 port of the game, Zelos Wilder obtains the ability to use this arte in place of Light Spear, if a Wind-elemental property is added to his attack through the use of the "Opal" accessory, the Sylva Seal: Wind arte, a Wind-elemental weapon, or the "Green Quartz" item, and if Light Spear has been used over 200 times. This elemental variant can be used only by Zelos, despite the nearly identical moveset he shares with Kratos Aurion.

In Tales of the Abyss, Severing Wind creates a mid-level Wind FOF Circle, which can be used strategically to create an FOF Change with other attacks. Additionally, the arte can be used within a complete Fire or Light FOF Circle to transform into Searing Gale. In the Japanese Nintendo 3DS port of the game, Van Grants's Senkuuken arte is replaced with this arte, despite its animation remaining that of Senkuuken. The English version of the game keeps its name as Shining Blade.

In the PlayStation 3 port of Tales of Vesperia, this arte is available to Flynn Scifo. However, it is represented differently, as a diagonal slash toward the ground before jumping into the air with an uppercut slash. This version of the attack lacks the typical Wind-elemental property and surrounding cyclone, making the attack visually similar to Fang Blade from other games, despite lacking any relation to this arte. Flynn's version of this attack can be contrasted with Yuri Lowell's Severing Fang arte, which shares a similar name in both Japanese and English versions, but follows a different style of execution, much like their differing variations of Dragon Swarm. The localization chooses to reflect the lack of Wind-elemental nature with its "Severing Blade" localized name.

Appearances

Mothership Titles

• Tales of Destiny (PSX) - Stahn Aileron, Garr Kelvin (Vortex)
• Tales of Destiny (PS2) + Director's Cut - Stahn Aileron, Garr Kelvin
• Tales of Eternia - Team Skill: Reid Hershel + Keele Zeibel/Meredy (Earth Divide); Destiny Summon: Garr Kelvin
• Tales of Destiny 2 (PSP) - Garr
• Tales of Symphonia (GCN) - Garr Kelvin (Decisive Slice)
• Tales of Symphonia (PS2 / PS3) - Zelos Wilder, Garr Kelvin (Decisive Slice)
• Tales of the Abyss (PS2) - Guy Cecil (Severing Wind)
• Tales of the Abyss (3DS) - Guy Cecil (Severing Wind), Van (Shining Blade)
• Tales of Vesperia (PS3) + Definitive Edition - Flynn Scifo (Severing Blade)
• Tales of Graces - Richard (Severing Wind)
• Tales of Xillia - Wingul (Severing Wind)
• Tales of Xillia 2 - Wingul (Severing Wind)
• Tales of Zestiria - Sorey (Severing Wind)

Escort Titles

• Tales of the World: Narikiri Dungeon 2 - Garr Kelvin
• Tales of the World: Narikiri Dungeon 3 - Garr Kelvin
• Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology - Magic Knight class, Stahn Aileron (Severing Wind)
• Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2 - Magic Knight class, Brandish class, Garr Kelvin, Zelos Wilder, Guy Cecil
• Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 3 - Magic Knight class, Brandish class, Garr Kelvin, Zelos Wilder, Guy Cecil
• Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World - Zelos Wilder (Severing Wind)
• Tales of the Heroes: Twin Brave - Zelos Wilder, Flynn Scifo (Severing Wind)
• Tales of the World: Reve Unitia - Guy Cecil, Zelos Wilder

Mobile Titles

• Tales of the World: Tactics Union - Zelos Wilder, Guy Cecil
• Tales of Link - Garr Kelvin, Richard, Zelos (Severing Wind), Sorey
• Tales of the Rays - Zelos Wilder, Sorey (Severing Wind)

Other

• Tales of Wall Breaker - Garr Kelvin
• Namco x Capcom - Stahn Aileron

Fan-Translated Names

• Tales of the World: Narikiri Dungeon 2 (Kajitani-Eizan): Severing Wind
• Tales of the World: Narikiri Dungeon 3 (Kajitani-Eizan): Severing Wind

In-Game Descriptions and Battle Quotes

Tales of Destiny (PSX)

Localized Description: "Drags enemies into a vortex created by the user's spinning body."^[2]

Tales of the Abyss

Localized Description: "Arcane arte: A tornado created from a spinning attack damages the enemy."^[3]

Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology

Localized Description: "Master: Spinning slashes create a tornado that lifts the enemy."

Tales of the Rays

Localized Description: "A high upward slash that ensnares nearby opponents."

References