THE LEGEND OF MANA
"EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT ABILITIES"
VERSION 1.0
7/21/99
By: Bodi Anderson
[email protected]
DISCLAIMER: This FAQ is meant for personal use only and can only be reproduced
electronically. This FAQ can be altered as long as the disclaimer remains
unchanged. This FAQ is owned and made by Bodi Anderson. Please don't steal or
reproduce any ideas or content from this FAQ or I will track you down like the
sick creature you are! Please distribute the FAQ only in its original form to
your friends and lovers of the seiken densetsu series. This FAQ cannot be sold
for profitable purposes, any person or organization attempting to do so will be
prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law! Legend of Mana and most of the
character and place names in this FAQ are copyrighted property of SQUARE Japan
and Sony. I, Bodi Anderson, have no professional relationship with any of the
aforementioned companies, and I am simply a fan of their great games. This FAQ
is dedicated to all of those who waste their time translating Japanese games.
Enjoy!! END OF DISCLAIMER
INTRODUCTION: The following is an in-depth FAQ covering all the abilities in
LoM. I was planning to do this sooner or later and then I read another LoM FAQ
in which the author decided that all other LoM FAQs that were posted were "Not
useful enough". Well, this ticked me off a little. Having written a few FAQs
myself I know what goes into writing one, i.e. lots of personal time, sweat,
hard work, call it what you will. For this reason I think it's quite rude to
call a FAQ not useful enough. Well, okay maybe I'm taking it the wrong way or
I'm just being anal, but still that was darn uncivil. In any case please enjoy
this FAQ and freely pass it on to your pals and lovers of the Seiken Densetsu
series. As with my last FAQ this is dedicated to everyone who writes FAQs on the
net, including those who find little use in other people's FAQS. Enjoy, and
LONG LIVE THE MANA!
THE BASICS: In LoM you gain new Waza (special attacks) by using
abilities combined with attacks. You can employ up to 2 abilities at a time.
As you gain experience in battle new abilities and waza will unfold, for this
reason change abilities often. Depending on what weapon you're using different
abilities will be accessible so change your hero's weapon from time to time as
well.
You start with a choice of 8 abilities, which can be accessed and selected under
the "SKILL" section on the menu screen. Simply select and ability to assign to
either the Square or X button.
New abilities can be learned by using currently equipped frequently
in combat. For example if you use "jump" and "squat" enough you can learn the
"High Jump" ability. Similarly if you equip "back dash" and "jump" you can
learn "back spin", an ability that lets you attack opponents from behind.
Whenever you learn a new ability a text screen will appear after a battle with
an exclaimation point at the end. This means you learned a new ability. (The
same thing appears when you learn a new waza as well).
THE ABILITY LIST: The following is a list of all the abilities in the game
I know of. This list should be complete (unless my copy of whatever Japanese
game mag. I got this from is incorrect). In any case this includes Japanese
text for those of you who can read it on your computer I also included the
romaji in case you can read a little Japanese but your computer can't. All
follow this model...
#. Japanese text/ Romaji/ translation Prerequisites (what abilities you need to
Effects: (What the ability does) equip in order to get this ability)
1. ジャンプ/ jiyanpu/ Jump: Prerequisites: starting ability
Effects: You can jump and attack simultaneously
2. ガード/ Gaado/ Guard Prerequisites: starting ability
Effects: Defends from enemy attacks.
3. ダッシュ/ Dasshyu/ Dash Prerequisites: starting ability
Effects: As the name implies...
4. バックダッシュ/ Bakku Dasshyu/ Back Dash Prerequisites: starting ability
Effects: As the name implies...
5. しゃがむ/ Shyagamu/ Squat Prerequisites: starting ability
Effects: Your HP recover rate goes up but defense becomes zero! Very useful!
6. プッシュ/ Pusshyu/ Push Prerequisites: starting ability
Effects: As the name implies...
7. アビール/ Abiiru/ Sun Bathing Prerequisites: starting ability
Effects: Not quite sure but it translates as "Declaration of a Special
Attack". Maybe use this before attacking with waza?
8. 回転/ kaiten/ Spin Prerequisites: starting ability
Effects: Spins you around. Watch out you might become dizzy!
9. バク転/ Baku Ten/ Back spin Prerequisites: Back Dash, Jump
Effects: Press Triangle (Power Attack) for cool turn around attack.
10. イリュージヨン/ Iryuujiyon/ Illusion Prerequisites: Dash, Back Dash
Effects: In effect teleports you across the screen leaving doppelganger
Images of your character across the screen.
11. ガードダッシュ/ Gaado Dasshyu /Guard Dash Prerequisites: Guard, Dash
Effects: As the name implies. You can also power attack while doing!
12. ハイジャンプ/ Hai Jyanpu/ High Jump Prerequisites: Squat, Jump
Effects: Much like jump, but higher (duh).
13. ムーンサルト/ Muunsarult/ Moon Leap Prerequisites: High Jump, Front Spin
Effects: Shoots character up in the air in a crescent leap. Use your Power
attack!
14. 二段ジャンプ/ Nidan Jyanpu/ Two step Jump Prerequisites: Jump, High Jump
Effects: Like High jump, but press the assigned jump button again mid-leap
In order to gain more height and arc.
15. バク宙/ baku chyuu/ Back flip Prerequisites: Back Spin, High Jump
Effects: Press Triangle mid flip for a cool spin slash!
16. 挑発/ chyuu hatsu/ Provoke Prerequisites: Back Dash, Sun Bathing
Effects: Enemies should direct their attack at you (and not your weak pals).
17. グラップル/ gurappru/ Grapple Prerequisites: Push, Guard
Effects: Grasps an opponent. Press attack buttons while their in your
clutches.
18. カウンター/ kauntaa/ Counter Prerequisites: Guard
Effects: If attacked you'll counter with a quick attack while button is held
down.
19. サマーソルト/ Samaasoruto/ Somersault Prerequisites: Back Spin, Back Flip
Effects: Hmmm. Think about it...
20. ジョルト/ Jyoruto/ Jolt Prerequisites: Counter
Effects: A step up form counter but you'll counter with a power attack.
21. スライディング/ suraideingu/ Sliding Prerequisites: Dash, Squat
Effects: Like in Saga Frontier you'll trip up your foes.
22. 背面取り/ haimen tori/ Back Jab Prerequisites: Grapple, Spin
Effects: Use when trying to escape, and over the shoulder blow to stun your
enemy.
23. ハンマースルー/ hanmaasuruu/ Hammer Through Prerequisites: Back Jab, Dash
Effects: Not sure exactly, but I believe this vaults you across the screen.
24. タックル/ Takkru/ Tackle Prerequisites: Push, Dash
Effects: While executing press either attack button to tackle a nearby
opponent. Requires good timing!
25. うかし/ ukashi/ Toss(?) Prerequisites: Squat, Hammer Through
Effects: I'm not sure but if you use while doing a command attack like
"Command Jump" or "Upper" hurls opponents across the screen.
26. 前転/ mae ten/ Front Spin Prerequisites:
Effects: Almost exactly like Back Spin cept' in da front y'all!
Well, that's all the abilities there should be in the game. If you can
add anything or notice any problems with any thing above please e-mail me. Also
be sure to check out my LoM starter FAQ, as well as all the other FAQs by swell
folks nice enough to write 'em (And swell GAMEFAQs nice enough to pot em). This
FAQ was written in about an hour while listening to the Velvet Underground's
"White light/ White Heat" album and "Misora" by Kanenobu Sachiko. Oh yeah, if
anyone wants to make a flowchart or easier quick reference to skill acquisition
and send it to me I'll add it on to the end and give you credit for being
co-author of the FAQ. I don't have time to do such a thing but think it'd be
very cool.
