Kefka Palazzo

Standing in the meta

Tier A 11th of 30 — 2017 tournament tier list from dissidia.wiki (half matchup values, half expert player votes).

Ranked 11th (tier A) on the 2017 tier list; the overview states that he has been rated between high tier and mid tier competitively, strong with momentum, fragile without it.

Overview

Kefka is a defensive zoner who operates at mid and long range. His usual strategy: create space with reverse dashes and Precision Jumps, then cast his signature Waggle-Wobbly Firaga — a homing projectile that alternates between Ranged Low and Ranged Mid priorities and starts combos on hit. The opponent, pushed into closing in, exposes themselves to his biggest moves. Up close, he threatens with the mid priority Scatter-Spray Blizzaga; from afar, he harasses with Extra-Crispy Firaga, Lickety-Split Thundaga, Hyperdrive or Trine.

His strengths: space control, good defensive mobility and enormous damage potential. His high base ATK and the heavy base damage of his bravery attacks hurt badly in an assist combo; EX Mode (through EX Doublecast) and the assist (midscreen HP Chase setups) both multiply his damage. His dash speed is enough for self-defence and his vertical movement is first class: Precision Jump creates distance very quickly, and his fast fall makes his air dodge one of the safest in the game.

His weaknesses are just as pronounced: weak EX generation, which leaves him dependent on EX Cores and limits access to his powerful EX Mode; trouble against projectiles that spawn on his position and against fast rushdown, such as Lightning or Onion Knight. His Ranged Low attacks, with telegraphed startups or long recoveries, force him to take heavy risks — including in the assist gauge economy, for want of a fast, safe poke to build it. A competent user of Side by Side builds, he can nonetheless establish big momentum off a single good hit.

Competitively, Kefka has been rated between high tier and mid tier. He thrives on momentum and can suffer badly without it. His space control remains good even on small stages, and while he has answers to specific situations (fast attacks, single-hit HP attacks), everything he does commits him: nothing in his kit combines a fast startup with a short recovery. His defensive style stands out in the roster all the same, and it rewards dedicated players handsomely.

Stats & speeds

Moves

Bravery attacks

List

All of Kefka's bravery attacks exist on the ground and in the air, with shared data.

Twisty-Turny Blizzaga 21FRanged Low

An ice sphere on a fixed arc that homes in on the opponent after touching the ground: one of his fastest moves in startup and recovery, active for a long time, but limited to ground-to-ground interactions since the homing does not activate without a floor. Main use: at the start of a match, forcing the opponent to move so as to buy time for his other spells — the projectile is fast enough to hit a dashing opponent from behind. The initial shot hits airborne opponents with decent hit stun, but the damage is low without the follow-up (which can Wall Rush). In EX Mode: an extra hit on landing holds the opponent in place before a pursuit dash, and the projectile lingers for a while even on a miss.

Base damage	30+ (5 x N, 25)
Startup	21F
Type	Magical
Priority	Ranged Low
EX Force	each 15 > 0
Effects	Wall Rush
Cancels	Dodge
CP (mastered)	30 (15)

Scatter-Spray Blizzaga 13F (1st) > 71F (spray)Ranged Mid (1st) Ranged Low (spray)

One of his strongest bravery attacks, used up close to push the opponent away and convert into an assist combo (from Waggle-Wobbly Firaga): a 13F startup and mid priority make it an unreactable mixup against aggressive characters, one that even staggers ordinary blocks. Against a good read, Kefka is wide open to a whiff punish (an assist can intercept, depending on the matchup). The projectile stays for over a second before sending out ice shards; careful, a block can send the shards back at Kefka. Both parts inflict fixed hit stun: hitting at mid or maximum range makes the shards connect more consistently, but even at point-blank range they rarely all miss — assist combos start reliably even on a glancing hit. In EX Mode, the shards chase a second time (and can re-combo), with the same risk of being reflected on block.

Normal 13F (1st) > 71F (spray)Ranged Mid (1st) Ranged Low (spray)

Base damage	41 (5, 6 x 6)
Startup	13F (1st) > 71F (spray)
Type	Magical
Priority	Ranged Mid (1st) Ranged Low (spray)
EX Force	0
Cancels	Dodge
CP (mastered)	30 (15)

EX Mode 13F (1st) > 71F (1st spray) > ?? (2nd spray)Ranged Mid (1st) Ranged Low (spray)

Base damage	77 (5, 6 x 6, 6 x 6)
Startup	13F (1st) > 71F (1st spray) > ?? (2nd spray)
Type	Magical
Priority	Ranged Mid (1st) Ranged Low (spray)
EX Force	0
Cancels	Dodge
CP (mastered)	30 (15)

Extra-Crispy Firaga 49FRanged Low

A favoured bravery attack: a long startup and low priority make it poor at long range, but the reward on hit is decent and it synergises with Scatter-Spray Blizzaga and Waggle-Wobbly Firaga. Often used in assist combos to add damage and create chase loops that force HP damage or extend the aerial combo. A faster startup and a later cancel window than Waggle-Wobbly Firaga: it works as a mixup against assist punish attempts with Auto Assist Lock On, since the opponent is expecting a Firaga or a Blizzaga instead — to be used sparingly in neutral. Two hit stuns: the initial projectile pushes the opponent back briefly; the three homing projectiles after the split send them upwards with enough hit stun to dodge cancel and call the assist, then cast another Waggle-Wobbly Firaga in a chase loop. At point-blank range in a corner or just above the opponent, each projectile can hit twice (double damage) — excellent on small stages with low ceilings such as Pandaemonium and Kefka's Tower, and damage builds make the most of it.

Base damage	15 each (up to 45)
Startup	49F
Type	Magical
Priority	Ranged Low
EX Force	each 30
Effects	Chase
Cancels	Dodge
CP (mastered)	30 (15)

Waggle-Wobbly Firaga 59FRanged Low (small) Ranged Mid (big)

The cornerstone of his zoning: a slow projectile with relentless homing, which starts as Ranged Low then alternates with Ranged Mid every second — impossible to dash through or to block without a stagger during the mid phases, with zigzags that catch opponents from behind. It is the spell to cast or prepare after every attack in most matchups against close-range characters. On hit, it holds the opponent in place for about a second: combos into other moves or the assist, very handy solo HP conversions without a wall (Havoc Wing when close, Trine on reaction), and the landing lag can start an infinite combo with the following Firagas. Two Firagas can chase simultaneously (a third erases the first, unless the first is already connecting). Given the slow startup, it has to be cast without being interrupted: multi-jumps with Precision Jump towards a high ceiling, a reverse Free Air Dash against those who must approach (Vaan, Cloud, Prishe), or straight after an assist, an HP attack or an opponent's whiff. No distinct sound cue: dashing first hides the cast behind the dash cry. In EX Mode, each cast produces two projectiles and the simultaneous maximum rises to 4 — a major reason why his EX Mode is one of the strongest in the game.

Base damage	21 (3 x 7)
Startup	59F
Type	Magical
Priority	Ranged Low (small) Ranged Mid (big)
EX Force	0
Cancels	Dodge
CP (mastered)	30 (15)

Lickety-Split Thundaga 35FRanged Low

A series of lightning bolts advancing in a roughly straight line: a relatively fast long-range punish, useful as a whiff punish and decent on the ground despite very mediocre vertical tracking. Enough hit stun to combo into the assist after a dodge cancel or an instant empty chase — it takes some practice, but it is a consistent combo starter. In EX Mode, two series of bolts follow one another (the second travelling further); a dodge cancel after the first series does not cancel the second, which makes conversions easier to confirm visually. Worth noting: a gap between the bolts can make it miss entirely at point-blank range, a distance Kefka does not linger at anyway.

Normal 35FRanged Low

Base damage	15 each
Startup	35F
Type	Magical
Priority	Ranged Low
EX Force	30 each
Effects	Chase
Cancels	Dodge
CP (mastered)	30 (15)

EX Mode 35FRanged Low

Base damage	10 each
Startup	35F
Type	Magical
Priority	Ranged Low
EX Force	21 each
Effects	Chase
Cancels	Dodge
CP (mastered)	30 (15)

Zap-Trap Thundaga 65FRanged Low

Makes lightning bolts appear progressively on the opponent's position: fairly mediocre accuracy, but assist conversions through an instant empty chase or a dodge cancel, and if several bolts chain together, one of the biggest frame advantages on an empty chase in the game. Fairly low recovery: a dodge cancel is possible after the first bolts for solo follow-ups with Scatter-Spray Blizzaga and Havoc Wing, or even Waggle-Wobbly Firaga at point-blank range — since every bolt sends the opponent upwards, positioning is key. Its low priority, slow startup and lack of threatening presence in neutral make it hard to justify next to his other bravery attacks, especially in the air where the Scatter-Spray / Waggle-Wobbly / Extra-Crispy trio synergises.

Base damage	each (10)
Startup	65F
Type	Magical
Priority	Ranged Low
EX Force	each 15
Effects	Chase
Cancels	Dodge
CP (mastered)	30 (15)

Meteor 35F (first appearance)Ranged Low

Five fireballs that surround the opponent before homing in: if everything connects, one of his strongest bravery attacks in damage and EX Force. Often outclassed all the same — long startup, low priority, mediocre area of effect in the air, low reward without an assist — and with no constant threat against dashes and dodges and no protection at range. In the air, the balls descend for a long time towards the ground, which confines it to small stages or to positions close to the ground. Each projectile sends the opponent upwards and combos into the assist and other attacks; it is hard to confirm visually in neutral, and simpler with a Waggle-Wobbly Firaga in support and a position above the opponent. In EX Mode, it becomes usable in the air without depending on the ground: the projectiles stop their descent before homing in, as they do on the ground.

Base damage	15 each (up to 75)
Startup	35F (first appearance)
Type	Magical
Priority	Ranged Low
EX Force	each 30
Effects	Chase
Cancels	Dodge
CP (mastered)	30 (15)

Ultima 33F (orb) > 89F (explosion)Ranged Mid

A small projectile in front of Kefka then a wide area explosion that Wall Rushes: little used, low reward without a wall, and its roles are filled more effectively by his other bravery attacks with an almost equally long startup. More consistent on small stages (M.S. Prima Vista, Phantom Train) where it occupies more space with better odds of a Wall Rush, and its multiple explosions hurt badly alongside multi-hit assists (especially on Phantom Train). In EX Mode, Ultima becomes active on frame 1 — the fastest bravery attack in the game, on a par with the startup of a block — and its Ranged Mid priority quickly staggers the opponent's blocks.

Normal 33F (orb) > 89F (explosion)Ranged Mid

Base damage	40 (15, 25)
Startup	33F (orb) > 89F (explosion)
Type	Magical
Priority	Ranged Mid
EX Force	30 > 0
Effects	Wall Rush
Cancels	Dodge
CP (mastered)	30 (15)

EX Mode 1F (orb) > 33F (explosion)Ranged Mid

Base damage	40 (15, 25)
Startup	1F (orb) > 33F (explosion)
Type	Magical
Priority	Ranged Mid
EX Force	30 > 0
Effects	Wall Rush
Cancels	Dodge
CP (mastered)	30 (15)

HP attacks

List

All the HP attacks exist on the ground and in the air with shared data, except Hyperdrive, which is available only on the ground.

Havoc Wing 51FMelee High

His basic move: Kefka swoops vertically onto the opponent before the HP wing hit. A consistent single-hit HP attack with strong vertical tracking and long active frames: an assist combo starter after Waggle-Wobbly Firaga, an assist combo finisher, or a riposte after a block. Its tracking makes it reliable for converting an LV2 Assist Change stagger into HP damage — valuable with Side by Side, and for checkmates with enough bravery. The active frames make it awkward to whiff punish head-on, but the recovery stays long. No known effect in EX Mode.

Startup	51F
Priority	Melee High
EX Force	0
Effects	Wall Rush
Cancels	Dodge
CP (mastered)	30 (15)

Hyperdrive 63F (LV1) 91F (LV2) 143F (LV3) Hitbox 3F after button releaseUnblockable

Ground only: a homing wave whose hitbox and range grow while Square is held, until it covers large distances; charged, it combos into the assist on hit. Once released, it travels very fast — good for dodge punishes — and being able to release it at any moment allows him to control space through the threat of an early shot. Good tracking, but a blind spot just above Kefka's head, and it is of little use against those who fight comfortably at height (Sephiroth, Gilgamesh). In EX Mode, it stops on the way to realign its tracking (covering the vertical blind spot, and sooner if it is barely charged); activating EX Mode during the startup automatically converts it into the EX version — useful in matchups such as Jecht that seek contact.

Startup	63F (LV1) 91F (LV2) 143F (LV3) Hitbox 3F after button release
Priority	Unblockable
EX Force	60
Cancels	Dodge
CP (mastered)	30 (15)

Trine 73FRanged High

Three homing projectiles around the opponent: it combos into assists and into Scatter-Spray Blizzaga with a dodge cancel on hit, but its greatest strength is its infinite range. It converts stray Waggle-Wobbly Firagas and harasses opponents going for an EX Core, even from behind walls or from the other end of the stage — dashing towards a Core can end in a meeting with the spell. In EX Mode, Trine is cast twice in a row: the dodge cancel window is identical, but dodging too early cancels the second Trine — delay it slightly so that both come out.

Startup	73F
Priority	Ranged High
EX Force	each 21
Cancels	Dodge
CP (mastered)	30 (15)

Forsaken Null 89FRanged High

A sigil that slowly tracks the opponent while firing spheres one by one: often outclassed by his other HP attacks because of its extremely slow startup, its homing and its unremarkable rate of fire — it neither covers distance like Trine nor supports close-range play like Havoc Wing. On hit it Wall Rushes, including on the ground against an opponent equipped with Auto Recovery. In EX Mode, an extra projectile goes upwards, increasing the potential range — but it remains fairly easy to dodge.

Startup	89F
Priority	Ranged High
EX Force	0
Effects	Wall Rush
Cancels	Dodge
CP (mastered)	30 (15)

EX Mode: Power of Destruction! & EX Burst

The “Power of Destruction!” EX Mode — effects: Regen, Critical Boost, Glide (hold X in the air to move freely through the air) and Exhilarating Magic (always active: every spell becomes more chaotic — multiple projectiles, magical rebounds and other unpredictable effects).

In practice, each spell gains a documented effect: Waggle-Wobbly Firaga casts two projectiles per cast with the simultaneous maximum raised to 4 (a major reason why this EX Mode is described as one of the strongest in the game), Ultima becomes active on frame 1 (the fastest bravery attack in the game), Scatter-Spray Blizzaga has its shards chase a second time, Lickety-Split Thundaga fires two series of bolts, Meteor becomes usable in the air without depending on the ground, Trine is cast twice, Hyperdrive realigns its tracking on the way (covering its vertical blind spot), Twisty-Turny Blizzaga gains a holding hit on landing and Forsaken Null an extra projectile upwards. Only Havoc Wing has no known effect.

The documented flip side: Kefka's EX generation is weak — two of his favoured bravery attacks produce no EX Force at all — so he mostly depends on EX Cores to reach this powerful EX Mode.

EX Burst : Light of Judgment: a light descends from the heavens and purifies everything in its path. Memorise the commands displayed, then enter them in order.

Gameplan & advanced tech

The gameplay loop: create space (reverse dashes on the ground and in the air, Precision Jump towards the heights), then cast Waggle-Wobbly Firaga in the safe moments — after an assist, an HP attack or an opponent's whiff. The projectile's alternating priority rules out dashing and blocking without a stagger, and forces the opponent to expose themselves. On hit, it holds the target for a second: a conversion into an assist combo, into Havoc Wing when close or into Trine on reaction, and every hit allows another one to be cast to harden his defence.

Up close, Scatter-Spray Blizzaga (13F, mid priority) is the unreactable mixup that pushes aggressive characters away and converts into an assist combo, including on a block stagger. At range, Extra-Crispy Firaga (an anti assist punish mixup and the engine of the chase loops), Lickety-Split Thundaga (a whiff punish with conversions through a dodge cancel or an empty chase), Hyperdrive (space control through the charge, dodge punishes) and Trine (infinite range, EX Core harassment) round out the arsenal. The documented aerial combination is Waggle-Wobbly, Scatter-Spray and Extra-Crispy.

Damage comes through assist combos, where his high ATK and base damage hurt badly: the core is the Waggle-Wobbly Firaga > Extra-Crispy Firaga chase loop with the Kuja assist, which forces HP damage or extends the combo. Solo, the documented routes start from Waggle-Wobbly Firaga (into SSB, ECF, LST, Meteor, Havoc Wing or Trine), from Trine (into Scatter-Spray Blizzaga) and from Lickety-Split Thundaga (dodge cancel into SSB or Trine).

On resources, everything is a trade-off: the assist gauge cannot be filled safely for want of a fast poke, and EX comes mainly from EX Cores. Side by Side turns every good hit into big momentum, and LV2 Assist Change converts into Havoc Wing thanks to its tracking. Conversely, if the opponent intercepts his bravery attacks with an assist or imposes fast rushdown (Lightning, Onion Knight), Kefka has to take heavy risks — and small stages reduce his margin for casting spells safely, even if his space control remains decent there.

Character-specific tech

Universal techniques (blodge, dash feint, lock off, dodge punishment): see the Techniques & glitches page.

Matchups

The dedicated matchups page is a stub: only the elements of the overview and of the move notes are authoritative.

His documented difficulties: projectiles that spawn on his position and fast rushdown styles, with Lightning and Onion Knight named explicitly. Hyperdrive is also of little use against characters who fight comfortably at height, such as Sephiroth and Gilgamesh, and small stages (M.S. Prima Vista) compress the space he needs to cast.

Against characters who have to approach him — Vaan, Cloud and Prishe are cited — the reverse Free Air Dash is the general-purpose movement option that buys the time to cast Waggle-Wobbly Firaga, the answer to favour in most matchups against close-range characters. Against Jecht, who seeks contact, Hyperdrive's EX conversion is mentioned as useful.

Match videos: Replay Theater — Kefka Palazzo matches.

Builds

Kefka generally equips Waggle-Wobbly Firaga, Scatter-Spray Blizzaga and Extra-Crispy Firaga as aerial bravery attacks. Two builds are documented (450 CP, Equip Glitch assumed), reflecting the overview's trade-off between damage and EX access.

Hybrid

A standard damage build with EX intake enabled — 10299 HP, 917 BRV, 180 ATK, 183 DEF, maximum booster x7.4; Kuja assist, Rubicante summon; Dancing Mad with Lufenian Dirk, Lufenian Headband and Lufenian Vest (Seal of Lufenia special effect); accessories: Hyper Ring, Earring, Battle Hammer, Large Gap in HP, BRV > Base Value, Pre-EX Mode, Pre-EX Revenge, Aerial, Opponent HP < 50 %, Tenacious Attacker.

High Initial EX

Starts the match with 90 % of the EX gauge filled — 10299 HP, 956 BRV, 179 ATK, 185 DEF, no booster; Jecht assist; Dancing Mad with Lufenian Shield, Lufenian Helm and Lufenian Armor (Judgment of Lufenia special effect); accessories: Earring, Dismay Shock, Battle Hammer, three Cyan Drop, Cyan Gem, Tenacious Attacker, Glutton, First to Victory.

The equipped moves of the two builds are not filled in in the tables (only the general sentence about the three aerial bravery attacks is authoritative), and no summon is given for the High Initial EX build.

Build and check a Kefka Palazzo loadout slot by slot: build creator (CP gauge, ability exclusions and tournament rules applied).

Assist synergies

Kefka Palazzo as an assist

As an assist, Kefka is ranked in the Low tier of the assist tier list, and no prose evaluation accompanies his data. His assist attacks: Meteor as a ground BRV attack (35F, spawning on the player, up to 75 damage, Chase), Extra-Crispy Firaga as an aerial BRV attack (49F, spawning on the opponent, up to 45, Chase), Hyperdrive as a ground HP attack (143F, Chase) and Havoc Wing as an aerial HP attack (51F, Wall Rush).

Recommended assists

• Kuja — His strongest and most consistent assist: the aerial BRV Strike Energy synergises with his favoured bravery attacks anywhere on the stage. The easiest way to set up the Waggle-Wobbly Firaga > Extra-Crispy Firaga chase loop from any hit, he also creates space for an extra Firaga through Trine, and even sets up Extra-Crispy's double damage in a corner. Up close: Trine after the assist then Scatter-Spray Blizzaga for guaranteed criticals that shred bravery.
• Jecht — A faster ground assist with good holding potential, but he often needs the ground to optimise the aerial BRV combos. What he loses in damage consistency depending on position, he makes up for in setups: comboing a Meteor into Waggle-Wobbly Firaga, following up after the Hyperdrive HP attack, preparing follow-ups close to the ground. The Firaga chase loop remains possible but more demanding (very close positioning to the opponent).

Community tech

Sources

• https://dissidia.wiki/Kefka_Palazzo_(Dissidia_012)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66QtcOnaWos&t=51
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66QtcOnaWos&t=16
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66QtcOnaWos&t=59
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaMMvK8bmnU
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaMMvK8bmnU&t=12
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaMMvK8bmnU&t=45
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zOrrOI4WvE&t=236
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaMMvK8bmnU&t=50
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUK7ak7mKag
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUK7ak7mKag&t=35
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUK7ak7mKag&t=29
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQaW9dZop-A&t=36
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQaW9dZop-A&t=16
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQaW9dZop-A
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfztRLFzEF4
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66QtcOnaWos&t=51s
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66QtcOnaWos&t=16s
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66QtcOnaWos&t=59s
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaMMvK8bmnU&t=12s
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaMMvK8bmnU&t=45s
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zOrrOI4WvE&t=236s
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaMMvK8bmnU&t=50s
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUK7ak7mKag&t=35s
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUK7ak7mKag&t=29s
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQaW9dZop-A&t=36s
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQaW9dZop-A&t=16s
• https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/605802-dissidia-012-duodecim-final-fantasy/59268680
• https://pastebin.com/8FWDXjvJ
• https://pastebin.com/dKSWgUQ6
• https://dissidia.wiki/Tier_List_(Dissidia_012)
• https://dissidia.wiki/Tier_List_(Assist)

Known limits

• The dedicated matchups page is undocumented (a stub): the matchups summary rests solely on the overview and the move notes (Lightning, Onion Knight, Sephiroth, Gilgamesh, Jecht, Vaan, Cloud, Prishe).
• No unique mechanic is documented (the section is absent from the sources).
• Combos: only the solo routes are listed (in shorthand notation, without damage figures or detailed conditions); no assist combo is quantified.
• Builds: the equipped moves are not filled in for either build, and the summon is missing from the High Initial EX build.
• Assist: no prose evaluation of Kefka as an assist (table data and the Low meta tier only); the assist gain values of the moves are not filled in.
• The YouTube references are undated (the date field is null); the startup of the second EX volley of Scatter-Spray Blizzaga is unknown (“??”).
• The community's solo combo record deliberately leaves Kefka's EX Mode out (“EX Mode just does whatever it wants”): no solo EX Mode route is drawn from it.
• That same record mentions a follow-up named “Split Shot Blizzaga” which matches no move name in the wiki's data: the branch has not been used, for want of being able to identify it with certainty.
• The community's empty chase record is undated: how current it is cannot be established.