Tiger Blade

Tiger Blade (虎牙破斬, Kogahazan^?, "Tiger Fang Break Slash"^[1] / "Tiger Fang Crush Slash") is a classic technique in the Tales series. It is one of the most well-recognized Swordsman artes, usually balanced with high damage for a low TP cost during battle, compared to other artes.

Arte Description and History

**Kogahazan** as it appears in the PlayStation 2 remake of *Tales of Destiny*.

When using Tiger Blade, the user slashes upward while jumping, then slashes downward while landing. This arte is effective for hitting any opponents in the air, further allowing the user to force their target to the ground. In some of the games, there is a third hit that can be added between or after the slashes, sometimes involving a shoulder charge or punches that simulate the standard movement patterns of this arte. In Tales of Eternia, if this arte is used at the precise moment that the Fireball spell is cast, both artes combine to form Flaming Sword, one of four combination artes that are executed by two characters in this game.

In Tales of Symphonia, a Lightning-elemental property can be added to a character's attack through the use of the "Sardonyx" accessory, the Tethe Seal: Lightning arte, a Lightning-elemental weapon, or the "Purple Quartz" item, to replace Tiger Blade with the more powerful Lightning-based arte, Lightning Tiger, if Tiger Blade has been used over 200 times.^[2] When Tiger Blade is used in the Unison Attack together with Lightning, the Compound Special Attack becomes Lightning Tiger Blade, while it becomes Pow Blade if used with Pow Hammer. It is also possible to perform Thunder Tiger Blade if the other arte in the Unision Attack is Lightning Blade.

This arte cannot be learned normally in Tales of Rebirth. To use this arte, Veigue Lungberg requires the "Mouko no Tamashii" accessory to be equipped in order to replace his Reppashou with Tiger Blade.^[3] In Tales of the Abyss, Tiger Blade can be used within a complete Earth or Dark FOF Circle to transform into Wyrm Wrath.

In the remake versions of Tales of Destiny, Leon Magnus can extend this arte into Sougazan by using the arte twice immediately. Alternatively, as an homage to Leon's original animation for Tiger Blade in the original PlayStation release, the PlayStation 2 versions add the option of an additional hit to his version of the arte by chaining an "Aerial Step" to the attack. This extra hit requires no additional CC, and it deals damage at a 1.15 damage modifier. Leon's ability to extend this arte into Sougazan is disabled if the extra hit is performed, but it can be chained into Sougazan as a separate arte in the same combo. Stahn Aileron does not receive this option for an extra hit.

In Tales of Vesperia, there are three users of the arte, each using their own version. Flynn Scifo uses the traditional version of the Tiger Blade, a jumping upward slash followed by a downward slash. Yuri Lowell lets go of his weapon as he slashes and jumps upward. Midair, Yuri catches his weapon again and performs a second slash before punching the opponent downward. Yuri learns his version after talking to Lune about her missing fiance, Clay, during the side quest that earns him the title "Dark Enforcer". Lune reveals that her father was a knight who used the arte, yet apparently, no one mastered it before Yuri. Don Whitehorse simply performs a jumping slash. If this connects however, the Don spins forward and slams the opponent into the ground.

Appearances

**Demon Hammer** as it appears in *Tales of Eternia*.

Fan-Translated Names

Tales of Phantasia (SFC) (DeJap Translations): Tiger Teeth
Tales of Phantasia (PSX) (Absolute Zero): Tiger Fang, Kogahazan
Tales of Phantasia (PSX) (Phantasian Productions): Tiger Blade, Kogahazan
Tales of the World: Narikiri Dungeon 2 (Kajitani-Eizan): Tiger Blade
Tales of the World: Narikiri Dungeon 3 (Kajitani-Eizan): Tiger Blade
Tales of Innocence (Absolute Zero): Tiger Blade

In-Game Descriptions and Battle Quotes

Tales of Phantasia

Tiger Blade used by Yuri Lowell in *Tales of Vesperia*.

Japanese Description: 獲物に襲いかかる獣の牙のごとく敵を上下から斬りつける二段技
Romanized Description: Emono ni osoi kakaru kemono no kiba no gotoku teki wo shouka gara zanri tsukeru nidan waza
Translated Description (DeJap Translations): "Attack the enemy with two strong slices."^[5]

Tales of Destiny

Localized Description: "A 2 part attack that cuts high and low."^[6]

Tales of Phantasia (PSX)

Translated Description (Absolute Zero): "Combine two slash attacks, clamping down on the enemy with the fangs of a tiger."
Translated Description (Phantasian Productions): "Base: Two-hit slash slicing the enemy up then down."

Tales of Eternia

Localized Description: "The enemy is slashed from above and below."^[7]

Tales of Phantasia (GBA)

Tiger Blade as it appears in *Tales of Graces ƒ*.

Japanese Description: 獲物に襲いかかる獣の牙のごとく敵を上下から斬りつける二段技
Romanized Description: Emono ni osoi kakaru kemono no kiba no gotoku teki wo jouka gara kiri tsukeru nidan waza
Localized Description: "Two-stage attack slashes enemy like the fangs of a tiger striking its prey."^[8]

Tales of Symphonia

Localized Description: "Lv. 1 Sp. Attack: two-hit slash slicing the enemy up and then down."

Tales of Legendia

Localized Description: "Base: Slash the enemy into the air, then knock it down."^[9]

Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology

Localized Description: "Base: Slice the enemy up, then cut them down."

Tales of Vesperia

Localized Description: "Base Arte: Slice the enemy up, then cut them down."

User: Yuri Lowell
Alternate Japanese Quote: 斬！成敗！
Alternate Localized Quote: "Tiger! I'll punish you!"

Tales of Xillia

Localized Description: "A two-stage martial arte that slices upward then downward. When charged, becomes the three-stage Tiger Rage arte."

Tales of Xillia 2

User: Alvin
Localized Description: "A two-stage martial arte that slices upward then downward. When charged, becomes the three-stage Tiger Rage arte."

User: Gaius
Localized Description: "A two-stage martial arte that slices upward then downward."

Tales of Zestiria

User: Sorey
Alternate Japanese Quote: 剣の牙！
Alternate Localized Quote: "Blade fang!"

Tales of Berseria

Localized Quote: "Meanie!"

Tales of the Rays

Japanese Description: 斬り上げと斬り下ろしを続けざまに放つ
Localized Description: "An upward slash followed by a downward slash."

User: Marcus Grimm
Japanese Quote: 斬って落とす…！

References

↑ Tales Series Translation FAQ by KusanagiLord02 GameFAQs (2006) Retrieved on 2008-03-05.
↑ Tales of Symphonia (GC) Skills FAQ by Chuc GameFAQs (2006) Retrieved on 2008-03-07.
↑ Tales of Rebirth (PS2) Level-Up/Ougi Guide by jygting GameFAQs (2007) Retrieved on 2008-03-07.
↑ YouTube subtitles
↑ Tales of Phantasia (SNES) FAQ/Walkthrough Part 2/2 by JPuga GameFAQs (2001-07-15) Retrieved on 2009-07-01.
↑ Tales of Destiny (PS) FAQ/Walkthrough by CMoriarty / Psycho Penguin GameFAQs (2002) Retrieved on 2008-03-07.
↑ Tales of Destiny II (PS) FAQ/Walkthrough Part 1/2 by Psycho Penguin GameFAQs (2002) Retrieved on 2008-03-07.
↑ Tales of Phantasia (GBA) FAQ/Walkthrough by sonicfreak77 GameFAQs (2007) Retrieved on 2008-03-07.
↑ Tales of Legendia (PS2) Eres Guide by AncientNova GameFAQs (2006) Retrieved on 2008-03-07.

[transfaq-1] Tales Series Translation FAQ by KusanagiLord02 GameFAQs (2006) Retrieved on 2008-03-05.

[ToS-GCN-2] Tales of Symphonia (GC) Skills FAQ by Chuc GameFAQs (2006) Retrieved on 2008-03-07.

[ToR-PS2-3] Tales of Rebirth (PS2) Level-Up/Ougi Guide by jygting GameFAQs (2007) Retrieved on 2008-03-07.

[4] YouTube subtitles

[ToP-SFC-5] Tales of Phantasia (SNES) FAQ/Walkthrough Part 2/2 by JPuga GameFAQs (2001-07-15) Retrieved on 2009-07-01.

[ToD-PSX-6] Tales of Destiny (PS) FAQ/Walkthrough by CMoriarty / Psycho Penguin GameFAQs (2002) Retrieved on 2008-03-07.

[ToE-PSX-7] Tales of Destiny II (PS) FAQ/Walkthrough Part 1/2 by Psycho Penguin GameFAQs (2002) Retrieved on 2008-03-07.

[ToP-GBA-8] Tales of Phantasia (GBA) FAQ/Walkthrough by sonicfreak77 GameFAQs (2007) Retrieved on 2008-03-07.

[ToL-PS2-9] Tales of Legendia (PS2) Eres Guide by AncientNova GameFAQs (2006) Retrieved on 2008-03-07.

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