For Final Fantasy VII fans, Crisis Core‘s rare Blast Wave materia retains an allure matched only by its explosive power. When fully mastered, this ability unleashes Zack‘s full strength as a magical detonation, blasting enemies across entire rooms. Yet beneath the dazzling display lies intricate magic worth understanding.
In this extensive guide, we‘ll cover everything from Blast Wave‘s inner workings to advanced combat applications. You‘ll unleash elemental fury tempered by insider knowledge no ordinary gamer possesses!
Deciphering Blast Wave‘s Damage Calculations
While visually impressive, mathematically how is this area-of-effect (AOE) damage actually calculated?
Put simply:
Blast Wave Damage = (Magic Attack – Enemy Magic Defense) x (1 + Sum of Magic Damage Bonuses)
This means boosting Zack‘s ATK statistic directly increases Blast Wave‘s magical devastation!
Unlike spells relying on Magic Attack Power (MAP) alone, Blast Wave uniquely benefits from weapon upgrades and ATK-boosting accessories you acquire.
For example, equipping the Shinra Beta+ bangle (raising ATK +45) drastically amplifies the damage Blast Wave dispenses.
These multipliers make a fully-upgraded Blast Wave rival higher tier Ultima magics!
Contrasting Blast Wave Against Other AOE Abilities
Blast Wave competes against other widespread crowd control functions like:
- Quake
- Graviga
- Inferno
- Satellite Beam
How does it compare regarding damage and AP efficiency?
| Ability | AP Cost | Base Damage | AOE Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blast Wave | 12 AP | Up to 21 | Knockback |
| Quake | 4 AP | 8 | Shake |
| Graviga | 24 AP | 18 | Gravity Well |
| Inferno | 16 AP | 14 | Damage Over Time Burn |
| Satellite Beam | 28 AP | 22 | Laser Barrage |
Among comparable mastered 5-star abilities, Blast Wave boasts top-tier damage exceeding even the costly Satellite Beam.
Meanwhile, spending only 12 AP for room-clearing knockback creates advantageous AP efficiency. This lets Blast Wave fit into rotations more flexibly than costly counterparts.
The Science Behind Blast Wave‘s Knockback Effect
Beyond raw damage, knocking enemies skyward makes Blast Wave a tactical play. But how precisely does this knockback function?
Based on developer analysis, Blast Wave‘s repulsion effect operates via:
Knockback Force = (Blast Wave Damage / Enemy Weight) x 100
Enemies have an invisible "weight" statistic determining resistance to knocking effects. Heavier foes prove more resistant, while lighter ones fly helplessly.
Adjusting variables to increase knockback force can provide optimal area denial and crowd control:
Maximizing Knockback Force:
1. Boost Blast Wave Damage via ATK Upgrades
2. Reduce Enemy Weight Via Debuffs (DeBarrier, DeProtect, etc) Clever use of status-adjusting materia builds on Blast Wave’s already impressive strength!
My Personally Maximized Blast Wave Loadout
While everyone enjoys customizing materia, through extensive gameplay I‘ve discovered my ultimate Blast Wave setup:
Equipped Materia:
- Mystify
- Magic Attack Up +25%
- MP Turbo
- Summon: Ramuh (for lightning damage boost field + HP regen)
Accessories:
- Champion Belt (ATK +30)
- Shinra Beta+ (ATK +45)
This mixture provides both damage maximization and sustain for repeated explosive impacts!
Advanced Tactics For Weaponizing Blast Wave‘s Strength
Simply triggering Blast Wave whenever available can become predictable. To fully leverage its tactical potential in battle, consider the following advanced tactics:
Wall Impact Knockout Chains
Blast Wave‘s wall-smashing damage applies an instant KO chance depending on enemy type. Clever positioning allows chaining consecutive cyclone slams:
1. Maneuver target next to wall via Debarrier knockback
2. Trigger Blast Wave aimed at wall.
3. Repeat while target stands stunned. Chains stun-locking enemies in endless wall blows works wonders for troublesome foes!
Height Advantage Bombing
Battlefields containing destroyable elements or multi-level terrain open additional avenues for Bombing Runs.
Use Gravity spells to lift enemies then trigger an aerial Blast Wave for increased range and damage:
1. Lift enemies upward with Gravity magics
2. Leap off higher platform
3. Detonate Blast Wave at peak airborne pointProper altitude difference strengthens the crushing explosive impact!
Blast Wave Juggling Chains
Knocked airborne enemies remain vulnerable to further juggle hits. Well-timed Blast Waves continuously pummel them skyward:
1. Launch target upward
2. Time additional Blast Wave to hit at peak height
3. Repeat to juggle desired height Ruthlessly juggling foes through the stratosphere builds damage AND never gets old!
Haste-Empowered Rapid Firing
The Haste spell works wonders when unleashing consecutive Blast Waves:
1. Cast Haste on Zack
2. Dash between targets quickly
3. Unload Blast Waves rapidly Zipping around at double speed lets you overwhelm enemies with a blink-and-you‘ll-miss-it magical barrage!
Appreciating Blast Wave‘s Visual & Audio Design
Beyond statistical performance, Blast Wave‘s breathtaking animation and sound design deserve appreciation.
Few gameplay moments match the adrenaline rush of Zack rocketing skyward, sword gleaming, before rocketing earthbound unleashing a screen-shaking detonation.
- The musical score swells as you channel focus
- Sparks gather along the blade‘s edge
- Light blooms upwards as magic coalesces…
Then the plummet and earth-rending eruption sends enemies hurtling like rag dolls!
SquareEnix‘s signature polish makes this brief cinematic a feast for the senses. The word "satisfaction" only begins describing watching the carnage unfold in gorgeously rendered slow-motion.
And the THUNDEROUS bass-boosted audio effect rattles skulls more violently than what befalls your doomed targets.
Cosmetically AND mechanically, Blast Wave delivers as one of Crisis Core‘s supreme magical heights!
How Blast Wave Fits Crisis Core‘s Underlying Narrative
Given its extravagant flair, does Blast Wave‘s theme "explosive excavation via mystical digging sword" weirdly fit alongside Crisis Core‘s complex philosophical themes?
Surprisingly, yes!
Thematically this materia expands on Zack‘s emotional journey toward understanding loss against the backdrop of Shinra‘s secret dirty dealings sewing chaos for profit.
Blast Wave‘s beauty emerges from destructive application of Zack’s natural gifts. This mirrors his own crisis struggling internally between following orders versus acting on personal ethics.
Ultimately, Zack must grasp how random disasters and manipulated events outside his control still require choosing saves lives OR harms lives.
The decisions we make ripple into collateral damage…or collateral healing.
Just as Zack questions Shinra’s methods, players in turn question whether to utilize Blast Wave responsibly or recklessly. Equipping such power bears consequences, both in-game and regarding real world moral philosophy.
After all, if everywhere you walk leaves craters and catastrophe, were your actions truly justified?
Through this lens, Blast Wave’swanton destruction expands central Crisis Core themes regarding ends justifying means.
In Conclusion: Master This Materia to Master Crisis Core!
Blast Wave‘s staggering versatility cements its rightful place among top Crisis Core abilities. Learning its high-level applications grants a vital tool against the title‘s most overwhelming odds. Yet skillful mastery means utilizing, rather than abusing, such might.
Equip, upgrade, and unleash Blast Wave‘s full arsenal using this guide‘s compiled insights. Just mind where you aim such explosive power alongside your growth resisting Shinra‘s corrupting influences. Because sound judgement and giant magical swords often don‘t mix!
Now get out there writing your own Crisis Core legend armed with this quintessential end-game materia. Just beware leaving TOO large a crater in your wake onward to dueling Sephiroth himself!
