Ability Level

Description
A statistic displayed at the final score screen, also used as the determining factor in unlocking the true last boss.

Calculated by a number of factors, all of which are also displayed on the final score screen:


 * ( Last Stage x Average Phase Level ) + Onslaughts + ( Score / 1,000,000 ) - Deaths - ( Bombs / 2 )

Last Stage is the area number reached, unless the game was started through Continue in which case it is 1. e.g. playing Practise on Area 3 will make this 3.

The Phase Level throughout the game is averaged over time. It is always rounded down, so if the average is 4.99 it will be counted as 4. This average includes the time spent during Demonic Shift as 11 so it is possible to have a higher average than the limit in Revised difficulty.

Onslaughts is simply the number of Onslaughts attained throughout the game. Score is similarly self-explanatory.

Deaths are the number of times the player takes a hit. This includes hits whose life loss was prevented by a counter-bomb, or taken to cancel a Demonic Shift.

The number of bombs used throughout the game is rounded down, e.g. using 2 or 3 bombs will result in -1 Ability Level. This also includes counter-bombs, which (including the death) can potentially cause -2 Ability Level.

Elixirel Daath
In the main game, the Ability Level is checked upon the defeat of Elixirel Kaether. If it is 100 or more and the Phase Level is at least 5, Elixirel Daath will appear.

Defeating her in this mode is a requirement for the Betelgeuse Play Order and the associated BGM 12 which plays exclusively during this fight (and this version of it; it does not play when fighting her in Matrix Orders).

If the ability level is 99 at the defeat of Elixirel Kaether but increases to 100 due to score (e.g. from tetrabiblo pickups or the end-of-area bonus), Elixirel Daath will not appear, so it is possible to see a final score screen displaying the required stats to fight Elixirel Daath without her appearing.

Conversely, as the ability level continues to be calculated during the additional fight, it is possible to see a final score screen displaying an ability level under 100 after fighting (or beating) Elixirel Daath.