When given proper attention and the right secondary jobs, Hikari is undoubtedly the most powerful martial fighter in Octopath Traveler 2. Under the right circumstances and with the right secondary job, he can deal over 99,999 damage in a single turn, and he can one-shot enemies and break high-number shields in a single move.
Hikari learns different skills by challenging NPCs to a duel and winning the subsequent battle. Some skills can be less than stellar, but others can pave the way to easy street, though finding the NPCs with these game-changing skills can be difficult at the best of times.
Updated May 29, 2023 by Tallis Spalding: As Octopath Traveler 2 has settled in more and everyone has had more time to explore it, the techniques to make Hikari as overpowered as physically possible in the game have been refined. Although there are a handful of solid skills that players were aware of from soon after its release, there are a few more that have come to light, especially as the community has organized and come together more. Whether you're on your first playthrough or your eighth, this list will help you refine Hikari's learned abilities, so he can be the overpowered warrior he was always meant to be.
12 Hornet's Nest - Reveal Their Weaknesses
The Hornet's Nest ability unleashes a bow, dagger, and polearm attack on a single foe, costing 45 SP. This skill is perfect for quickly unveiling enemy weak points. It becomes a bit useless after you get the Armsmaster secondary job, but if you have no plans to get the Armsmaster secondary job or to put Hikari in it, this skill works as a great substitute for the Sixfold Strike ability.
To find and learn the Hornet's Nest ability, you need to challenge the Tutor in New Delsta. The Tutor's strength is 9/10, so you should come prepared with plenty of Healing Grapes and Inspiring Plums.
11 Right Hook - Fighting Bare Handed
The Right Hook ability unleashes a powerful physical attack on a single foe. It forgoes weak points to reduce an enemy's shield by two points. The only downside is that this skill costs 60 SP points. This can be nullified if you class Hikari into Conjurer just long enough to get the SP Saver support skill, which halves the cost.
To get this skill, you need to go to the New Delsta Game Parlor and challenge the Safe Keeper. His strength is an 8/10, so prepare accordingly.
10 Merciless Blade - Strike Them Down
With the Merciless Blade ability, you unleash a sword attack that deals 3,000 damage to a single foe, regardless of their Shield points. It is possible at your Max Boost that you can deal 9,999 damage, regardless of Shield points.
The Merciless Blade skill can be obtained by challenging the Young Man in Tropu'hopu. His strength is 10/10, so this is definitively a late-game skill. You must walk into this battle fully prepared, or you will have lost the battle before it has even started.
9 Fatal Fang - Deadly As A Snake
The Fatal Fang skill allows you to release four to eight dagger attacks on random enemies while giving you a set chance to deal poison damage for two turns. If you're going up against a boss, being able to deal a lingering amount of damage can be the deciding factor, especially where every move you make counts.
If you want this skill, you'll need to go to the balcony of Clockbank's Tavern, though you'll have to beat someone guarding the door before you can get access. The old man you need to duel for Fatal Fang has a strength of 9/10, making this a fairly challenging fight even in the late game, though you should be able to afford the 30 SP cost at that point.
8 Upheaval - Axes Aren't Just For Trees
The Upheaval skill unleashes a powerful axe attack on all your enemies, costing 25 SP. Although you can use this skill without previously having an axe in your arsenal, this skill becomes more worthwhile if you've given Hikari a secondary job that uses axes, like the Hunter or Armsmaster.
To obtain the Upheaval skill, you need to defeat the Former U Carpenter found inside Canalbrine's Tavern. With a strength of 6/10, you will be looking at a decent challenge, but not an impossible one.
7 Thousand Blades - Dagger Quick Draw
The Thousand Blades skill unleashes a dagger attack on a random enemy three to five times. With an SP cost of 16, it is lower stakes for higher rewards. This is a great skill if Hikari doesn't have access to a dagger and an even better skill if he already does.
To get this skill, Hikari must challenge the Man with Horses, found at the bottom of the Eastern Wellgrove Trail. His strength rating is at a 7/10, making this a slightly more difficult skill to learn.
6 Aggressive Thrust - A Relentless Fury
Aggressive Thrust comes in handy often, dealing four to eight polearm attacks to random enemies. Once you've picked off a few, that random tag nullifies itself, as you can only attack one or two enemies. You can pick it up from a Bridge Builder with a 7/10 strength on Canalbrine's Bridge, just outside of town.
It does have a 20 SP cost, so you'll want to keep a close eye on Hikari's SP if you're using this skill multiple times in a row or in combination with other abilities.
5 Twin Serpents - Twice The Danger
The Twin Serpents ability unleashes two polearm attacks on all your foes, costing only 19 SP. This skill grants Hikari the ability to attack multiple enemies at once, extending his range and increasing his effectiveness in battle. As a double attack, it also knocks enemy shields down faster.
There are two ways to get this skill. You can challenge the Beastling protecting the food storage in Beastling Village, who has a 6/10 strength, or you can challenge a Sanctum Guard in Stormhail, who has a strength of 7/10. You will need to challenge the latter to gain access to the challenge for the Limb from Limb ability.
4 Divine Dual-Edge - Double The Damage
Divine Dual-Edge unleashes a sword attack on all foes twice, with an SP cost of 20. This is a great skill for Hikari because it extends his range without needing buffs from other characters. It also plays on one of his strongest weapons, the sword.
Divine Dual-Edge is a skill only obtainable through Hikari's chapter 3 storyline. Prepare as you normally would for a storyline before entering this duel. If you're below the recommended level, you will have a hard time fighting your way to victory.
3 Unfailing Speed
You probably won't pick this skill up until you've finished Agnea's storyline, but once you've arrived at the Merry Hills Shrine area, Unfailing Speed is a must-have skill. This skill attacks every enemy and reduces their shield points by one, regardless of weaknesses, and goes further to increase the speed of everyone on your team for two turns.
The only downside is that it costs 50 SP to use. If your interest is still peaked, you can pick it up from an NPC on the far-left side, just outside of the Merry Hills Shrine.
2 Frenzied Fire - A Volley Of Arrows
Frenzied Fire is an amazing skill that unleashes a bow attack on all foes four to eight times. It has an SP cost of 30, but you will be picking it up in the late game and have, hopefully, given Hikari a few Maximum SP buffs. Like with all other skills, this may be high, but with the Conjurer's SP Saver skill, you can cut the cost in half.
To learn the Frenzied Fire skill, you must challenge the Old Soldier on the west side of Timberain Castle. You have to knock out this guard to access the Rusted Polearm for the Armsmaster. He has a strength of 8/10, so the fight may be hard, but still achievable in the late game.
1 Limb from Limb - Strongest Warrior Of All
The Limb from Limb skill allows Hikari to unleash a sword attack on a single foe four times. The SP cost of 35 might seem a little high, but the potential for damage is worth it. If strong enough and with the right weapons, Hikari can potentially deal 99,999 damage with every hit.
To get the Limb from Limb skill, you need to defeat two Sanctum Guards in Stormhail. The first is guarding the door and will let you learn the Twin Serpents skill. The second guard, who lets you learn the Limb from Limb skill, is inside the guarded room. Both guards have a strength of 7/10.