Guide
FF Resonance Stagger Guide: Best Ways to Stagger Enemies
- Hitting a weakness drains the Stagger gauge much faster than neutral attacks.
- Every attack has a stagger rating from 1 to 5, shown by arrows on the skill.
- The character who breaks the gauge gets an extra turn called the Bonus Phase.
- Staggering every enemy at once triggers a Sweeping Stagger and a Resonance skill.
- The gauge refills completely on the following turn, so act while it is down.
How to Stagger Enemies Effectively
Hit Elemental Weaknesses
Most enemies have at least one weak element, and hitting it hurts both their HP and their Stagger gauge. Cast Libra first to see weaknesses and resistances.
Libra comes with Leah, Cloud, Vaan, Aileen and Ayaka, and Nichol learns it at level 2. Weaknesses for every boss are on the bosses page.
Use Skills With High Stagger Ratings
Each skill shows a row of arrows for its stagger rating, from 1 up to 5. Save the 5 arrow skills for single bosses, where one gauge is all that matters.
| Skill | Source | Stagger rating |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-Slash | Cloud, 2nd awakening | 5 |
| Fated Circle | Squall, 2nd awakening | 5 |
| Heatwave | Clive, 2nd awakening | 5 |
| Energy Rain | Tidus, 2nd awakening | 5 |
| Flare Blade | Bartz, 3rd awakening | 5 |
| Luminant Cannon | Fina, level 32 | 5 |
Stack Stagger Power
- Nichol's Formation: Assail raises the whole party's stagger power from level 1.
- Lasswell's Null Moon Limit Burst makes its target easier to stagger for 3 turns.
- Vigorous Staggerer, Trigger, Critical Stagger and Reckless Abandonment all boost physical breakers.
- Focus Magic and Staggering Spells do the same for magic users.
- Stagger Ring is an early accessory that adds stagger power.
How to Get a Sweeping Stagger
A Sweeping Stagger happens when every enemy on the field is staggered in the same turn. The whole party gets extra turns, and a Resonance skill from a Vision closes the phase.
- Wear every enemy's gauge down, but stop before breaking any of them.
- Once all gauges are low, multicast a spell that hits the whole group.
- Each hit does little stagger, but together they break every gauge at once.
- Use the extra turns, then fire your Resonance skill.
See how Resonance skills trigger and the multicasting guide for the details.
What Does Stagger Do?
| Effect | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Extra turn | The character who breaks the gauge acts again in the Bonus Phase |
| Lost action | A staggered enemy cannot act that turn if it has not moved yet |
| More damage | Staggered enemies take extra damage from every attack |
Plan Who Lands the Break
Since the Bonus Phase goes to whoever breaks the gauge, set it up so your strongest hitter or your healer gets the extra turn.
Break Before the Enemy Moves
Check the turn order. Staggering a boss right before its big attack cancels that attack for the turn.
Hit Hard While It Lasts
The gauge refills completely on the next turn. Use your strongest moves and the enemy's weakness while it is down.
FAQ
What does stagger do in FF Resonance?
It stops the enemy from acting that turn, makes it take more damage and gives the character who broke it an extra turn.
How long does stagger last?
Only for the current turn. The gauge resets to full on the next one.
Who is the best character for staggering?
Lasswell is the dedicated Breaker, and Cloud, Bartz and Clive are strong stagger Visions for him and Rain.