the digital mind wave system

The DMW or Digital Mind Wave System is the Crisis Core equivalent to Final Fantasy VII's limit breaks. The system relies on Zack's emotional state and his relations with other characters and works by lining up character portraits and numbers to match. Zack can only level up when the numbers read "777" and can only perform limit breaks when the character icons match. Each character provides a different ability based on Zack's memories and relationship with them, this is explained in the final battle as the images and memories of them fade with his consciousness.

Zack's limit break for Sephiroth is automatically added and works by delivering eight physical hits against a similar enemy. The name for the attack is Octoslash. This is similar to the limit break that occurs when he doesn't yet know a character which is called Chain Slash and is one physical attack against an enemy. Zack's other default limit break is Angeal's it is called Rush Assault and has the following effects: Combo of 15 physical hits total on one enemy or seven hits, seven hits, and one hit on up to three enemies. The final hit inflicts stun. He pulls off a series of punches, finishing by speeding by the target. Ignores enemies vitality, may grant the Endure Status, will raise Emotion level by one if it is a level five attack.

Zack can earn limit breaks from Tseng, Cissnei, Cloud, Aerith, and Genesis after certain points in the game, these limit breaks also have very individualized effects. Tseng's limit break is a support where the TURKs fly in with a fighter chopper and deliver physical damage to all enemies on the field. The ability is known as Air Strike. Cloud's ability, Meteor Shots provides physical damage to all enemies while Zack jumps into the air and swings his blade to send forth explosions against the enemies. Cissnei performs Lucky Stars which makes all hits critical for a certain period of time and raises Zack's emotional level to its highest point. Aerith's move is called Healing Wave and restores HP, MP and AP fully, with possibility of exceeding maximum up to 2x, and clears status effects. It also provides invincibility for limited amount of time. Genesis' skill is Apocalypse and it will cast a spell that damages all enemies through use of a five pointed (pentagram) symbol, will raise Emotion level by one if it is a level five attack.