aoe specials

Each Special has its own pattern, range, and damage multiplier.

For example, the Growing series does less damage (1x multiplier) and covers a wider range, while the Blazing series does more damage (1.5x multiplier), but has less range. The names that follow the Growing / Blazing determines the pattern.

Anyway, they are pretty neat. They can break through stuff like Wary Fighter, which is decently common even with all of the crazy Armor skills. The AOE specials are absolutely amazing in Grand Conquest, along with Savage Blow. I think the problem is that the cooldown count is still a little too high so many people don't bother experimenting with them, making them overlooked.

I've actually thought this too. They have always been ignored because they take so long to charge and situational since they may not do much depending on formation of surrounding enemy units. However, now that we have so many ways to charge a special and we have overpowered units that don't even need specials to do killer damage, it could be possible to make it work in a really awesome way.

At some point I want to put together a team around aoe specials.

It's the same concept behind Savage Blow builds that are really effective and now the payoff seems like it might be worth it.

My Hana actually uses Blazing Wind and it's so fun to watch her deal so much damage to units she wouldn't be able to kill otherwise, and the AoE damage also helps her teammates.

I know, I keep using the default Growing Flame of my Lilina even after merging the other one I had given a Moonbow and R.Tomebreaker to her. Blowing half the screen (well not really) up is so satisfying!

And yes, there are practical elements you mentioned too but first and foremost it's fun~

I use Blazing Wind on Celica. Mages utilize this best I feel with Res generally being lower, so Blazing skills help wipe out hordes of reinforcements in GHB content.

I prefer Jaffar refined dagger with double savage blow, which covers more area than any of the growing specials (and more compact except for growing wind; the spread of the other AoEs is a bit awkward to me), no charge required, guaranteed 24 damage plus 7 more if I follow up with a teammate due to the debuff. That being said, I'm working on a Felicia that uses growing wind. Her plate refine is a special accelerator on both phases, and adaptive damage should be quite devastating against any team without mixed bulk.