Welcome to 90 seconds with Bob, where I attempt to inform you about a part of the game in 90 seconds.

In this first part I will answer the most common questions about Killers and provide a reference tool to help you quickly decide when a killer would be effective.

What are Killers and why should I care?

Killers add extra damage to your attacks when you fight specific races of enemy. This is often more than a 50% offensive materia.

(Atk² / def) * Element * Killer * Skill Mod * Chain mod * Weapon Variance (* Level * Variance)

Killer Types

EDIT: the wiki now has a long list of killers - wiki

Some notable materia and esper killers (everyone can equip) - see the wiki for weapons and units.

*Typically weak to fire. ** might be damaged by recovery magic.

Where can I find Killers?

Killers can come from:

• Materia (e.g. Bird Killer Materia)
• Equipment (e.g. Killer Bow’s Bird, Bug and Plant Killers).
• Unit traits (e.g. Firion’s Legend Killer).
• Unit abilities (e.g. Chloe/Verun). These are used during the fight as a skill. They have a limited duration.
• Espers (e.g. Ifrit’s Plant Killer). You need to spend training points to reach the appropriate skill.

see the wiki for more details

How do know if a killer is working?

Killer effects above 50% display the 'weakness' text when you hit the enemy. This won’t appear if the enemy is dual race and you only have a killer for a single race (unless you have >=100% killer). You can determine the race of the enemy using the Libra Ability (or similar skill) or from the Wiki.

How many killers do I need a) per unit and b) per team?

It depends on your unit’s attack and the enemy you are facing. I’ve created a few charts to help you quickly determine when a killer should be used for maximum damage. I think people work differently so I’ve provided 3 different charts. Use whichever you like best.

See charts here: Chart 1, Chart 2, Chart 3.

N.B. Total Attack for physical DW is your total attack minus one of your weapons. The word ‘Attack’ on the charts is otherwise replaceable by ‘Magic’

Chart 1 (Attack versus Damage) – Start at your attack value on the attack axis, draw a straight line up to meet the blue line. This is your attack^2*1.0 (no killer). Draw a horizontal line leftwards to the red line. This point represents a lower attack^2*1.5 (50% killer). Draw a vertical line down to the attack axis. This attack value is the attack you could have with a 50% killer and reach the same damage.

Chart 2 (Attack versus Killers. Assumes bas 180 attack) - Users with full 50% material slots will use the green set of lines. You compare giving up an attack material and replacing it with a killer materia. For example, you have a unit with 400 attack and a 50% attack material and a 50% killer material, but you are not sure which to equip. Use the middle green line. At 400 attack the line jumps up. This means to equip the killer (we can check this with [400 50%x180]² x 1=240,100 versus [400]² x 1.5=240,000. OK, so this doesn’t strictly work because the resolution of the chart is low, but it is around 400 atk when you should equip a 50% killer instead of a 50% attack). You can use this chart for other changes of killers, from say, 100-150%, and see what attack is required. I have included a line for split races where you give up 2x50% material for 2x50% killer materia, but the effect of the killers is halved. The blue lines are similar, but for 30% materia.

Chart 3 (Attack versus Killers table) – You can compare the effect of adding Killers instead of attack materia.

You start with your unit (anywhere from naked to fully equipped, I suggest equipped, no materia) at the cell of 0% 'change in attack' and whatever innate killers you have.

For example, Veritas of the Light fighting a Demon, so 50% innate Killer and with 1000 total mag (180 base mag), one materia space free. Her starting cell is 1.5.

I can either add 50% mag materia or a 50% demon killer materia. 50% materia adds 90 attack, which is (90/1000) 9% increase in total attack. 9% total mag = 1.8. The same mag, but with another 50% killer (to total 100% killer) is 2.0. So the killer better.

What are the limitations of Killers?

Availability Not all killers are easily available. Some are limited.

Stackability Identical materia can only be equipped once per unit. However, other equipment with the same killers and other material with the same killers can be used at the same time. For example, Dragon Killer, Dragon Killer and Syldra’s Protection can all be equipped at the same time.

Maximum capacity The maximum amount of killer effect you can have for one race is 300% (*4). Although you will struggle to get this against anything but Dragons or on Firion.

Effectiveness Killer effects are halved when the enemy has two races (increase 25% damage instead of 50%).

How do Killers it work for hybrid attack?

Physical killer effects will work on the magic damage portion, but not magical killer effects.

Did you know

Gilgamesh 7* can equip different weapons to activate different 75% Killers. Rem’s Dagger Boomerang is affected by physical killers. Ace’s LB and Wildcard are affected by physical killers Noctis Self MP is affected by physical killers Sunbeam materia ability uses physical killers ( DW element) with Mag damage.

TL:DR

Use killers. Add your first 50% killer around 400 attack. Add your second 50% killer around 600 attack.

A 50% killer is worth 22.5% of Total Attack.