
Vortex as it appears in Tales of Destiny (PSX).
Severing Wind (断空剣 Dankuuken?, "Failure Emptiness Sword"[1] or "Severing Air Sword"), originally localized as Vortex, is a classic Wind-elemental arte 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.

Earth Divide as it appears in Tales of Eternia.
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

Severing Wind as it appears in Tales of the Abyss.
Original 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 (Decisive Slice)
- Tales of Symphonia (PS2 / PS3 / PC) - Zelos Wilder, Garr (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 Symphonia: Dawn of the New World - Zelos Wilder (Severing Wind)
- 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)
- Tales of Arise - Alphen (Severing Wind)

Severing Blade as it appears in Tales of Vesperia.
Crossover 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, Great Swordman class, Garr Kelvin, Zelos Wilder, Guy Cecil
- Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 3 - Magic Knight class, Great Swordman class, Garr Kelvin, Zelos Wilder, Guy Cecil
- Tales of the Heroes: Twin Brave - Zelos Wilder, Flynn Scifo (Severing Wind)
- Tales of the World: Tactics Union - Zelos Wilder, Guy Cecil
- Tales of the World: Reve Unitia - Guy Cecil, Zelos Wilder
- Tales of Link - Garr Kelvin, Richard, Zelos (Severing Wind), Sorey
- Tales of Asteria - Stahn Aileron, Garr Kelvin, Zelos Wilder, Flynn Scifo, Wingul, Sorey, Van Grants, Lambda Richard
- Tales of the Rays - Zelos Wilder, Sorey (Severing Wind), Garr Kelvin, Richard
Other Titles
Collaborations
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

Severing Wind as it appears in Tales of Graces ƒ.
Tales of Destiny (PSX)
Japanese Description: 身体を回転させて出来た竜巻に敵を巻き込む
Localized Description: "Drags enemies into a vortex created by the user's spinning body."[2]
Tales of Symphonia
User: Garr
Localized Quote: "Sword Raiser!"
Tales of Destiny (PS2) + Director's Cut
Japanese Description: 回転斬りによって竜巻を生じさせながら敵を斬り上げる術剣技。
Translated Description (Life Bottle Productions): "An upward slash that pulls in nearby foes."
Tales of the Abyss
Japanese Description: 身体を回転させて出来た竜巻に敵を巻き込む奥義。
Localized Description: "Arcane arte: A tornado created from a spinning attack damages the enemy."[3]
Tales of Vesperia (PS3) + Definitive Edition
Japanese Description: 上昇斬りで敵を打ち上げる特技
Localized Description: "Base Arte: Send the enemy flying with a rising slash."
Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology
Localized Description: "Master: Spinning slashes create a tornado that lifts the enemy."
Tales of Graces
Japanese Description: 回転斬りで敵を巻き込み、斬り上げる。
Alternate Japanese Quote: 空を断つ!
Alternate Localized Quote: "Rend!"
Tales of Zestiria
Japanese Description: 大きく弧を描く二連回転斬りにより敵を巻き込み、さらに天高い斬り上げで打ち上げる。『刹空衝』の上位奥義。
Alternate Japanese Quote: 空を断ち切る!
Alternate Localized Quote: "Slice through air!"
Tales of the Rays
Users: Zelos Wilder, Sorey
Japanese Description: 周囲の敵を巻き込み天高く斬り上げる
Localized Description: "A high upward slash that ensnares nearby opponents."
User: Garr Kelvin
Japanese Description:
- 竜巻に敵を巻き込み天高く斬り上げる
- 術技強化で空中でも連携可
User: Richard
Japanese Description: 回転斬り後斬り上げる。術技強化後空中発動で締めが斬り下ろしに変化
Japanese Quote (midair): 切り裂けぇ!!
Tales of Arise
Localized Description: "Summons a vicious gale as it strikes enemies upward."
Alternate Localized Quote: "Wind!"
References
- ↑ Tales Series Translation FAQ by KusanagiLord02 GameFAQs (2006) Retrieved on 2008-04-06.
- ↑ Tales of Destiny (PS) FAQ/Walkthrough by CMoriarty / Psycho Penguin GameFAQs (2002) Retrieved on 2008-03-07.
- ↑ Tales of the Abyss (PS2) FAQ/Walkthrough by Gray Fox GameFAQs (2007) Retrieved on 2009-06-20.