Abilities don’t work the same way they did in previous installments of the series. In Birth by Sleep, Abilities are acquired through Melding new Commands. When you Meld Commands, two initial Commands are required as ingredients. An optional third ingredient (a Crystal) can be added to the mix to give the resulting Command a new Ability. That Ability will be permanently added to the Abilities Menu once you have maxed out the level of the Command it is equipped to.
For example, Melding an Aero LV3 with a Fire Surge LV3 would normally give you an Aerial Slam Command. But if you were to add a Shimmering Crystal to those two ingredients, the resulting Aerial Slam Command would now have the Fire Screen Ability equipped to it. When the level of that Aerial Slam Command is maxed out, the Fire Screen Ability will permanently be added to your character’s Ability Menu. After that, the Fire Screen Ability can be equipped or removed whenever you want, even if the Aerial Slam Command is not in your current Battle Deck.
Abilities can also be equipped more than once to boost their effect. A complete list of available Abilities is provided below, including a the maximum number of times that Ability may be equipped to one character and a description of that Ability’s function.
Treasure Magnet
Max Equips: 5
Description: Automatically scoops up nearby Prizes for you
HP Prize Plus
Max Equips: 3
Description: Increases the number of HP Orbs enemies drop
Link Prize Plus
Max Equips: 3
Description: Increases the number of D-Link Orbs enemies drop
Lucky Strike
Max Equips: 5
Description: Increase the number of Prize Boxes enemies drop
HP Boost
Max Equips: 3
Description: Increases your HP
Fire Boost
Max Equips: 3
Description: Increases the damage dealt by your Fire-type Commands
Blizzard Boost
Max Equips: 3
Description: Increases the damage dealt by your Blizzard-type Commands
Thunder Boost
Max Equips: 3
Description: Increases the damage dealt by your Thunder-type Commands
Cure Boost
Max Equips: 3
Description: Increases the amount of HP you recover with Cure-type Commands
Item Boost
Max Equips: 3
Description: Increases the effectiveness of recovery Item Commands
Attack Haste
Max Equips: 5
Description: Shortens the reload time for all Attack Commands installed in your Battle Deck
Magic Haste
Max Equips: 5
Description: Shortens the reload time for all Magic Commands installed in your Battle Deck
Combo F Boost
Max Equips: 2
Description: Increases the damage dealt by the last blow of your combos
Finish Boost
Max Equips: 2
Description: Increases the damage dealt by your Finish Command
Fire Screen
Max Equips: 2
Description: Increases your resistance to Fire-type attacks
Blizzard Screen
Max Equips: 2
Description: Increases your resistance to Blizzard-type attacks
Thunder Screen
Max Equips: 2
Description: Increases your resistance to Thunder-type attacks
Dark Screen
Max Equips: 2
Description: Increases your resistance to Dark-type attacks
Reload Boost
Max Equips: 1
Description: Shortens the reload time for all Commands installed in your Battle Deck whenever your HP falls below 25%
Defender
Max Equips: 1
Description: Increases your defense whenever your HP falls below 25%
Zero EXP
Max Equips: 1
Description: Prevents you from gaining any EXP when you defeat enemies (available only in Critical Mode)
Combo Plus
Max Equips: 3
Description: Adds one stroke to your ground combos
Air Combo Plus
Max Equips: 3
Description: Adds one stroke to your aerial combos
EXP Chance
Max Equips: 1
Description: Doubles the EXP you receive whenever your HP falls below 25%
EXP Walker
Max Equips: 1
Description: Awards you 1 EXP for every step you take
Damage Syphon
Max Equips: 1
Description: Restores some of the Focus Gauge when you take damage
Second Chance
Max Equips: 1
Description: Ensures you always retain 1 HP after an attack that would otherwise finish you off, unless you are already down to 1 HP
Once More
Max Equips: 1
Description: Ensures you always retain 1 HP throughout a combo that would otherwise finish you off, unless you are already at 1 HP when the first attack hits
Scan
Max Equips: 1
Description: Displays the HP of the targeted enemy
Leaf Bracer
Max Equips: 1
Description: Prevents you from taking damage while using Cure-type Commands