The skill text does not state a general rule for 5th job Boost Nodes and HEXA skills. It names a few exceptions in individual skill descriptions, and it records which HEXA skills permanently boost which other skills. For any pair the text does not mention, the tooltip of the skill in game is the only place that settles it.
The terms in the game's text
The HEXA Matrix Reset Scroll resets "all HEXA Matrix Skill Nodes, Mastery Nodes, and Boost Nodes" and returns Sol Erda and Sol Erda Fragments in proportion to your enhancement levels. So the HEXA Matrix holds three kinds of node, and Boost Nodes are one of them. Sol Erda and the Sol Erda Fragment are "used in activating or boosting HEXA skills and HEXA stats". A Nodestone gives V Points, which the text says can "unlock or enhance Nodes".
Skills named "HEXA" are the 6th job versions of skills. Some passives refer to "6th job Mastery Node skills" and the reset text above names Mastery Nodes as one node type.
Where the text excludes Boost Node effects
Two skill descriptions say outright that a Boost Node does not apply.
- Adrenaline Surge replaces Smash Swing with Howling Swing, and the text says Howling Swing is "unaffected by Hyper Skill and 5th Job Boost Node effects".
- Rocket Punch "is not affected by Revolving Cannon's Boost Node".
Rocket Punch
Reinforced Battle Arts
Flame Sweep - Reinforce
Spikes Royale - Temper Link
Heavy Salvo - Reinforce
Where the text names the HEXA version
Some enhancement skills carve out the HEXA version of the skill they enhance.
- Flame Sweep - Reinforce, Flame Sweep - Cripple and Flame Sweep - Extra Strike do not apply to the explosion caused by the ember left from HEXA Flame Sweep.
- Heavy Salvo - Reinforce, Heavy Salvo Plus - Spread and AP Salvo Plus - Extra Strike do not apply to the second explosion of AP Salvo Plus and HEXA AP Salvo Plus.
- Spikes Royale - Temper Link enhances Leaf Tornado, and the text says HEXA Leaf Tornado "isn't affected by Spikes Royale's passive effect, and is only affected by Spikes Royale - Temper Link's effect".
The reverse also appears. Reinforced Battle Arts, Guardbreak Arts and Boss Rush Arts raise damage, ignore defense and boss damage respectively for Ark's 1st to 4th job attack skills "and 6th job Mastery Node skills", with HEXA Endless Agony among the listed exceptions.
Which HEXA skill boosts which skill
Many HEXA skill descriptions end with a permanent boost to another skill. These are the ones with a plain target in the text.
HEXA Nightshade Explosion
HEXA Piercing Arrow
HEXA Bahamut
HEXA Hammer Smash
HEXA Wing Beat
HEXA Dark Flare
| HEXA skill | Permanently boosts |
|---|---|
| HEXA Nightshade Explosion | HEXA Gungnir's Descent |
| HEXA Piercing Arrow | HEXA Snipe |
| HEXA Bahamut | HEXA Angel Ray |
| HEXA Hammer Smash | HEXA Magnum Punch and HEXA Double Blast |
| HEXA Wing Beat | HEXA Gigas Wave and Draco Surge |
| HEXA Dark Flare | HEXA Quad Star |
| HEXA Sudden Raid | HEXA Assassin's Mark |
| HEXA Cruel Stab | HEXA Assassinate and HEXA Pulverize |
| HEXA Equinox Slash | HEXA Cosmic Shower and HEXA Cosmic Burst |
| HEXA Thousand Swords | HEXA Exceed: Execution |
| HEXA Heaven's Hammer | HEXA Blast and HEXA Divine Judgment |
| HEXA Rolling Rainbow | HEXA Cannon Barrage |
| HEXA Salvo System | HEXA Mecha Purge |
| HEXA Spirit Frenzy | Spirit Incarnation and HEXA Spirit Claw |
What the text leaves open
Only two skill descriptions mention a Boost Node at all, and the descriptions give no numbers for the permanent boosts above. A pair the text does not mention stays unsettled here. Read the tooltip of the skill in game before spending Sol Erda on it.