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[Formula] [Glimmer Types]

Glimmers

New arts can be learned during battle through Glimmers. When a Glimmer occurs, a light bulb will appear above a character's head, and they will use the new art instead of the old one. That art will be added to the character's list of arts in red. Once a character Masters an art, it will turn black and will be permanently available to the party.

When it is a character's turn to act, every possible Weapon Art for the weapon being used will be tested to see if it Glimmers, starting from the highest Glimmer Rank and going to the lowest, until either an art is successfully Glimmered or until the entire list has been exhuasted. The likelihood of any specific art being Glimmered is based on the following factors:

  • The target art's Glimmer Rank: Each art has its own Glimmer Rank. The higher the Rank, the less likely it is for a Glimmer to occur.
  • The Glimmer Rank of the enemy being targeted: Each enemy has its own Glimmer Rank. The higher the Rank, the more likely it is for a Glimmer to occur.
  • The art being used by the character: Some arts can alter the Glimmer Rank of other arts. For example, Cross Slash's Glimmer Rank is normally 13, but when using the art Sweep, Cross Slash's Glimmer Rank becomes 10, making it slightly easier to Glimmer Cross Slash by using Sweep instead of another art.
  • How many glimmers have occured in battle: Up to eight arts can be Glimmered in a single battle, and the likelihood of a Glimmer occuring decreases each time an art is Glimmered in that battle.
  • Whether or not the character has a Crown (or 0 Max JP): Characters with a Weapons Crown are slightly more likely to Glimmer Arts most of the time. Instead of a Crown, this bonus can occur if the character has 0 Max JP.
  • Whether or not the character has Aptitutde for the target art: Each character has a Glimmer Type which contains a list of arts they have an aptitude for, making those arts more likely to Glimmer most of the time.

Formula

Base Glimmer Rates
Enemy Rank -
Art Rank		 Crown Bonus
(or 0 Max JP)		 No Crown
Bonus
10 or higher19.2%15.3%
918.0%14.9%
817.6%14.9%
716.8%14.1%
616.1%13.7%
514.9%12.9%
414.1%11.8%
312.9%11.0%
211.8%9.8%
110.5%8.6%
09.4%7.5%
-17.8%7.9%
-26.7%4.7%
-35.5%3.5%
-44.3%2.7%
-53.1%1.6%
-62.0%0.8%
-71.2%0%
-80.4%0%
-9 or lower0%0%

The way a Glimmer is checked is different depending on whether or not the character has an Aptitude for the target art. Aptitude is based on Glimmer Types which are innate to each character.

If a character has an Aptitude for the art being checked, the formula used to determine the likelihood the art being Glimmered is as follows:

[ BaseRate * ( 8 - GlimmerCount ) / 8 - 1 ] / 255 * 100

BaseRate is calculated based on the difference between the art's Glimmer Rank and the targeted enemy's Glimmer Rank. The table to the right shows the different base values possible based on the result of the art's Glimmer Rank being subtracted from the enemy's Glimmer Rank. The base rate is also affected by whether or not the character has a Weapons Crown (or if they don't, if they have 0 Max JP) or not.

GlimmerCount refers to the number of Glimmers that have already occured in the current battle. When this reaches 8, the rate of Glimmering will become 0, so no more than eight Glimmers can occur during a single battle, with each Glimmer becoming more difficult than the last.

If a character does not have an Aptitude for a given art, as long as the result of subtracting the target art's Glimmer Rank from the enemy's Glimmer Rank is greater than -10, the likelihood of the art being glimmered is 1/255 (0.4%).

Because of this, a character with no Aptitude for an art will have a 0.4% chance of Glimmering that art when the art's Glimmer Rank subtracted from the enemy's Glimmer Rank is -7, -8, or -9, while a character with an Aptitude for the same art without a Crown Bonus will have a 0% chance of Glimmering the same art. Outside of this rare case, however, a character having an Aptitude for an art greatly increases their chance of Glimmering the art.

Glimmer Types

Characters are divided into one of twelve different Glimmer Types, which give them Aptitude at Glimmering various arts. Each Glimmer Type has a list of arts with which it has Aptitude.

Each of the Glimmer Types are focused around certain types of arts, making them like a hidden character class system. The Glimmer Types do not have official names and are known by their index number in the game's data. Type 0 has poor Aptitude all around, Types 1 through 8 mainly have high Aptitude with a certain weapon, while Types 9 through 11 are unique types that have Aptitude with some arts that are more rare in the other types' lists.

Each character has an innate Glimmer Type. The hero character will have their glimmer type chosen typically as Type 0 through 8, or in rare cases, Types 9 through 11, depending on the starting weapon chosen at the beginning of the game during Hero Creation.

Typically, selecting Sword, Greatsword, Axe, Mace, Foil, Spear, Bow, or Martial Arts will give the character Type 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 respectively. Choosing no starting weapon will give the character Type 0.

Atypically, choosing Greatsword for Khalid or Katarina will give them Type 9. Choosing Spear for Julian, Mikhail, Khalid, or Katarina will give them Type 10. Choosing Foil for Ellen or Sarah will give them Type 11. This is the only way to get a character with the Jack-of-all-Trades Glimmer Type (11).

Note that, at least in the Super Famicom version, hero characters will have their "default" Glimmer Type until the game is loaded from a save game. After loading from a save, the Glimmer Type will change to reflect the chosen weapon type as above.

Below is a list of all twelve Glimmer Types with a class-like nickname I chose myself, as well as which characters are naturally that type. Following is a chart of which arts are more easiliy glimmered by each Glimmer Type.

Glimmer Type Characters
0MageFullbright, Muse, Undine, Bai Meiniang, Tiberius
1SwordsmanJulian, Khalid, Minstrel, Tatyana
2GreatswordsmanKatarina, Ward
3AxemasterRukh, Herman,
4BludgeonerNora
5FencerMikhail, Monika, Robin, Fake Robin, Leonid
6LancerThomas, Peony
7ArcherSarah, Zhi Ling
8Martial ArtistEllen, Flurry, Boston
9Weapons MeisterPaul, Young Boy
10Great LancerCharl, Yang Fan
11Jack-of-all-TradesNone

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Glimmer Ranks Innate Weapons
  Parry   パリイ〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇✕〇〇12-
  Knee Split   なぎ払い〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇3-
  Artful Slash   かすみ二段〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇10
11 (Brusque Slice)		-
  Brusque Slice   失礼剣✕〇〇✕✕〇〇✕✕〇〇〇9
11 (Artful Slash)		-
  Cross Slash   十文字斬り〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇13
10 (Knee Split)		-
  Riptide   飛水断ち✕〇〇〇〇〇✕✕✕〇〇✕17
14 (Knee Split)		-
  Backstab   バックスタッブ✕〇〇✕✕〇〇✕✕✕✕〇20-
  Dragon's Tail   龍尾返し✕〇〇✕✕〇〇✕✕〇〇〇22
20 (Knee Split)
18 (Riptide)		-
  Gale Slash   疾風剣✕〇✕✕✕〇〇〇✕〇〇〇26
21 (Artful Slash)
25 (Backstab)		-
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Glimmer Ranks Innate Weapons
  Mirage Blade   残像剣✕〇〇✕✕〇✕✕✕〇〇〇28
23 (Artful Slash)
15 (Riptide)		-
  Dimensional Slash   亜空間斬り✕〇✕〇✕✕〇✕✕〇〇〇24
21 (Riptide)		-
  Monsoon Slash   五月雨斬り✕〇〇✕✕✕✕✕✕〇〇〇29
26 (Artful Slash)		-
  Doppelslasher   分身剣✕〇〇✕✕〇✕✕✕〇〇〇31-
  Shimmering Slash   剣閃✕〇✕✕✕〇〇〇✕〇〇〇-
39 (Knee Split)
38 (Riptide)		-
  Golden Dragon   黄龍剣✕〇〇✕✕〇✕✕✕〇〇〇38
39 (Riptide)
41 (Monsoon Slash)		-
  Demilune Echo   デミルーンエコー〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇-
15 (Demilune)		Crescent Blade
Falchion
  ????   スパイダーネット〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇17Spyder
  ????   ブレードネット〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇22
14 (????)		Spyder
  ????   氷の瞳〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇23
20 (????)		Evil Eye
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Glimmer Ranks Innate Weapons
  ????   魅惑の瞳〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇23
20 (????)		Evil Eye
  ????   スケアーボイス〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇25Screamer
  ????   スターバースト〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇27
  Blunt Strike   みね打ち✕〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇4-
  Sunder   巻き打ち✕〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇8-
  Riposte   切り落とし✕〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇13-
  Smash   スマッシュ✕〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇16
15 (Everfrost Blade)		-
  Running Slash   払い抜け✕〇〇✕✕〇〇✕✕〇〇〇15
17 (Sunder)
19 (Everfrost Blade)		-
  Gravedigger   地走り✕✕〇✕✕✕〇〇✕〇〇〇23
21 (Running Slash)
25 (Everfrost Blade)		-
  Incorporeal Stance   無形の位✕✕〇✕✕〇✕✕✕〇〇✕18-
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Glimmer Ranks Innate Weapons
  Bullrush   ブルクラッシュ✕〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇32
25 (Smash)		-
  Disarm   無刀取り✕✕〇✕✕✕✕✕✕〇〇✕-
22 (Incorporeal Stance)		-
  Headwind Rush   逆風の太刀✕✕〇✕✕✕〇✕✕〇〇〇-
28 (Running Slash)		-
  Scattered Petals   乱れ雪月花✕〇〇✕✕✕〇〇✕〇〇〇39
35 (Headwind Rush)
41 (Everfrost Blade)		-
  Waning Moon   地ずり残月✕✕✕✕✕✕✕✕✕〇〇〇-
42 (Gravedigger)		-
  ????   退魔神剣〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇22-
  Arctic Rush   霧氷剣〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇-
29 (Everfrost Blade)		-
  Tomahawk   トマホーク✕〇〇〇〇✕〇〇〇✕✕〇6-
  Headsplitter   スカルクラッシュ✕〇✕〇〇✕✕✕✕✕✕〇10-
  Cut Timber   大木断✕〇〇〇〇✕〇〇〇〇〇〇14-
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Glimmer Ranks Innate Weapons
  Warcry   ウォークライ✕✕✕〇〇✕✕✕✕✕✕✕5-
  Hyper Hammer   ハイパーハンマー✕〇〇〇〇✕〇〇〇✕✕〇16-
  Axel Spin   アクセルターン✕✕〇〇〇✕✕✕✕✕✕〇22
16 (Hyper Hammer)		-
  Twist and Turn   ブレードロール✕〇〇〇〇✕〇〇〇✕✕〇25
21 (Cut Timber)		-
  Megahawk   メガホーク✕✕✕〇✕✕✕〇✕✕✕〇-
16 (Tomahawk)		-
  Dimensional Break   次元断✕✕〇〇✕✕✕✕✕〇〇✕21
19 (Cut Timber)
21 (Twist and Turn)		-
  Dynamic Chop   マキ割ダイナミック✕〇〇〇〇✕〇〇〇✕✕〇30
26 (Cut Timber)		-
  Sky Drive   スカイドライブ✕✕✕〇〇✕✕〇✕✕✕〇-
36 (Tomahawk)		-
  Deadly Spin   デッドリースピン✕✕✕〇✕✕✕✕✕✕✕〇-
40 (Twist and Turn)		-
  Yo-yo   ヨーヨー〇〇〇〇〇✕〇〇〇✕✕〇-
34 (Tomahawk)		Hand Axe
Francisca
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Glimmer Ranks Innate Weapons
  ????   ジンギスカン〇〇〇〇〇✕〇〇〇✕✕〇-
36 (Tomahawk)
40 (Twist and Turn)		Viking Axe
  Orbit Borer   オービットボーラ〇〇〇〇〇✕〇〇〇✕✕〇-
41 (Tomahawk)
36 (Axel Spin)		Falconwind
  Skull Splitter   脳天割り〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇7-
  Crushing Blow   ハードヒット〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇11-
  Dead-On   ジャストミート〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇12-
  Rotator   回転撃〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇15-
  Bonecrusher   骨砕き✕✕✕〇〇✕✕✕〇〇〇✕18
11 (Skull Splitter)		-
  Seismic Strike   大震撃〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇21-
  Vortex Drive   エアロビート✕✕✕〇〇✕✕✕✕✕✕〇23
21 (Crushing Blow)		-
  Rock Splitter   削岩撃〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇28
25 (Rotator)
23 (Bonecrusher)		-
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Glimmer Ranks Innate Weapons
  Gravity Wave   活殺重力破✕✕✕〇〇✕✕✕〇〇〇✕37
30 (Vortex Drive)		-
  Grand Slam   グランドスラム✕✕✕〇〇✕✕✕〇✕✕〇-
30 (Seismic Strike)		-
  Nutcracker   かめごうら割り✕✕✕✕〇✕✕✕✕〇〇✕-
39 (Crushing Blow)		-
  ????   ブレス〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇18Staff of Glory
  Stealthy Swing   振り逃げ〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇15Golden Bat
  ????   スペルエンハンス〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇12Runic Staff
  ????   居合抜き✕〇〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇〇✕25Bladed Cane
  Midas Touch   マイダスハンド〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇20Golden Bat
  ????   抜刀ツバメ返し✕✕✕✕✕✕✕✕✕〇〇✕42
35 (????)		Bladed Cane
  Feint   フェイント〇〇〇✕〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇4-
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Glimmer Ranks Innate Weapons
  Lightspeed   アクセルスナイパー〇〇✕✕✕〇✕✕✕✕✕〇9-
  Imprison   インプリズン〇〇〇✕〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇13-
  Mesmerize   マインドステア〇〇〇✕〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇15-
  Snake Shot   スネークショット〇〇〇✕〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇17
15 (Mesmerize)		-
  Piercing Lightning   ライトニングピアス✕〇✕✕✕〇✕✕✕✕✕〇21
15 (Lightspeed)		-
  Matador   マタドール〇〇〇✕✕〇✕✕✕✕✕〇13-
  Screwdriver   スクリュードライバー✕✕✕✕✕〇✕✕✕✕✕〇-
35 (Mesmerize)		-
  Southern Cross   サザンクロス〇〇〇✕〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇30-
  Fire Cracker   ファイアクラッカー✕✕〇✕✕〇✕〇✕✕✕〇35
31 (Piercing Lightning)		-
  Eulogy   ファイナルレター✕✕✕✕✕〇✕✕✕✕✕〇42-
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Glimmer Ranks Innate Weapons
  ????   ウェアバスター〇〇〇✕〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇14Silver Fleuret
  ????   ナースヒール〇〇〇✕〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇17Nightingale
  ????   蛇剣〇〇〇✕〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇24Kris Naga
  Sweep   足ばらい〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇5-
  Lithic Thrust   石突き✕✕〇〇〇〇〇〇✕〇〇✕9-
  Double Thrust   二段突き〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇11-
  Aim   エイミング✕〇✕〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇〇13-
  Windmill   かざぐるま✕〇〇✕✕〇〇✕✕〇〇〇13-
  Split Cranium   脳削り〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇16-
  Charge   チャージ〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇✕〇〇20-
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Glimmer Ranks Innate Weapons
  Snake Blaster   ミヅチ〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇22-
  Spiral Charge   スパイラルチャージ✕✕✕✕✕✕〇✕✕✕〇〇30
27 (Split Cranium)
28 (Charge)		-
  Dual Dragons   双龍破✕〇〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇〇〇28
24 (Snake Blaster)		-
  Divine Lancer   活殺獣神衝✕✕✕✕✕✕〇✕✕〇〇〇-
38 (Aim)		-
  Giant Swing   大車輪〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇21
17 (Lithic Thrust)		-
  Triumvirate   無双三段✕✕〇✕〇✕〇✕✕〇〇✕37
28 (Double Thrust)
34 (Dual Dragons)		-
  Stardust   流星衝✕✕✕✕✕〇〇〇✕〇〇〇40-
  ????   スウィング〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇✕〇〇16
14 (Sweep)		Halberd
Therian Spear
Sm'augg
  ????   ラウンドスライサー〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇✕〇〇-
41 (????)		Sm'augg
  Paean of Victory   勝利の詩〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇25Matriarch's Spear
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Glimmer Ranks Innate Weapons
  ????   サイコバースト〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇✕〇〇27Spontoon
  ????   トライシューター〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇✕〇〇13Partisan
Blitz Lance
Lucem Guard
  Shadow Weave   影ぬい〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇5-
  Rapid Volley   でたらめ矢〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇7-
  Id Break   イド・ブレイク〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇9-
  Beast Chaster   ビーストチェイサー✕〇✕✕✕〇✕〇✕✕✕〇14
15 (Sidewinder)
13 (Arrow Barrage)		-
  Quick Nock   瞬速の矢✕✕✕✕✕〇〇〇✕〇〇〇18-
  Flash Arrow   フラッシュアロー✕〇✕✕✕〇〇〇✕✕✕〇21
14 (Rapid Volley)		-
  Sidewinder   サイドワインダー〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇23
18 (Beast Chaster)
22 (Arrow Barrage)		-
  Arrow Barrage   ショットウェイヴ✕✕〇✕✕✕✕〇✕✕✕〇26
22 (Beast Chaster)
25 (Sidewinder)		-
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Glimmer Ranks Innate Weapons
  Taunting Shot   挑発射ち✕✕✕✕✕〇〇〇✕〇〇✕30
25 (Shadow Weave)		-
  Plasma Shot   プラズマショット〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇38
31 (Quick Nock)		-
  ????   連射✕✕✕✕✕✕〇〇✕〇〇✕-
33 (Quick Nock)		-
  Shadow Buster   影殺し✕✕〇✕✕✕〇〇✕〇〇✕-
27 (Shadow Weave)		-
  Millionaire   ミリオンダラー✕✕✕✕✕✕✕〇✕✕✕〇-
36 (Rapid Volley)		-
  Faerie Arrow   妖精の矢〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇18Faeries' Bow
  ????   レゾナンスウィープ〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇29Canaria Bow
  ????   死ね矢〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇-
24 (Quick Nock)
30 (Sidewinder)
  Kick   キック〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇7-
  Eye Gouge   サミング〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇6-
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Glimmer Ranks Innate Weapons
  Way of Focus   集気法〇✕〇〇〇✕〇✕〇〇〇✕6-
  Counter   カウンター〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇9-
  Tumble   空気投げ〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇10-
  Giant Swing   ジャイアントスイング✕✕✕〇〇✕✕✕〇✕✕〇-
19 (Tumble)
29 (Pressure Point)
30 (Niagara Buster)		-
  Thunder Kick   稲妻キック〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇✕✕〇18
15 (Kick)		-
  Pressure Point   短勁✕✕〇✕✕✕〇✕〇〇〇✕24
17 (Way of Focus)		-
  Niagara Buster   ナイアガラバスター✕✕✕〇〇✕✕✕〇✕✕〇-
27 (Tumble)
29 (Giant Swing)
29 (Reverse Slam)		-
  Reverse Slam   逆一本✕✕✕✕✕✕✕✕〇〇〇✕-
22 (Tumble)
24 (Giant Swing)
21 (Niagara Buster)		-
  Evil Crush   活殺破邪法✕✕✕✕✕✕✕✕〇〇〇✕-
31 (Pressure Point)		-
  Spatial Persona   超次元ペルソナ✕✕✕✕✕✕✕✕〇✕✕〇29-
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Glimmer Ranks Innate Weapons
  Meteor Kick   流星蹴り✕✕✕✕✕✕✕✕〇〇〇✕-
25 (Kick)
26 (Tumble)
28 (Thunder Kick)		-
  Punishing Palm   練気拳✕✕〇〇〇✕〇✕〇〇〇✕30
28 (Pressure Point)		-
  Tiger Break   タイガーブレイク✕✕✕〇〇✕✕✕〇✕✕〇-
41 (Punishing Palm)		-
  Shenlong Firefist   龍神烈火拳✕✕✕✕✕✕✕✕〇〇〇✕38-