Gameplay Guide and Tips
This guide covers important gameplay mechanics, missable content, useful recipes, and status effects.
Missable Content
Some main story quests can only be completed once. After progressing the story, their exclusive areas and dungeons become permanently inaccessible for that character.
Fortunately, these quests do not contain any essential or unique rewards.
One-Time Story Quests
- Main 01 – Prologue
- Main 02 – Iori’s Request
- Main 03 – Within the Shadows
- Main 04 – The Violet Fencer I
- Main 05 – The Violet Fencer II
- Main 06 – Summons
- Main 15 – Nightmare
- Main 23 – The Nightmare Recurs
Permanently Missable Dungeons
- Darkness — Main Quest Nightmare (Floor 1)
- Darkness 2 — Main Quest The Nightmare Recurs (Floor 1)
Annealed Blade Recipe
The Annealed Blade is an excellent early-game weapon for Iori, providing a significant boost to both damage and defense.
How to Obtain It
During The Violet Fencer I:
- Activate the Goldenpeak Hill safe zone (recommended).
- Travel north to the nearest archway.
- Defeat Dire Ulga.
- Continue through the newly opened cave entrance.
- Inside the cave, you can also find the Wind Fleuret Recipe in a chest on the left.
- Exit through the northwest side of the cave.
- Cross the river to the nearby island.
- Open the chest to obtain the Annealed Blade Recipe.
Switch Mechanic
The Switch mechanic allows you and your partner to alternate enemy aggro, creating openings to heal, recover, or safely deal damage.
Combat Modes
Switch Mode (Locked)
- Your partner attacks your currently targeted enemy.
Free Mode
- Your partner attacks nearby enemies independently.
How to Perform a Switch
- Enable Switch Mode.
- Attack the enemy until it targets you.
- Dodge an incoming attack at the correct timing.
- Your character will call “Switch”, and the HUD icon changes from green to blue.
- Your partner takes aggro while you:
- Heal
- Recharge skills
- Reposition
- When your partner requests another Switch, the HUD icon returns to green.
- Attack the enemy again to regain aggro and repeat the cycle.
Mastering this loop allows you to defeat difficult enemies while taking minimal or even no damage.
Focus Mode
Focus Mode activates after staying in combat for a period of time without taking damage.
Once available, the activation prompt appears on the left side of the screen.
Focus Mode Buffs
- Increased attack damage
- Larger Slash window
- Larger Dodge window
- Increased Down rate
- Reduced SP consumption
- Reduced Stamina consumption
Tips
Focus Mode charges faster when landing many hits in a short period.
- Fast weapons build Focus much more efficiently.
- Fighting multiple enemies significantly speeds up activation.
- Iori’s Partner Skill is particularly effective against groups.
- Slow two-handed weapons are the most difficult to activate Focus Mode with, especially against a single target.
Status Effects
Poison
- Gradually drains HP.
- Cure/Prevention: Antidote.
Burn
- Gradually drains HP.
- Reduces ATK.
- Dodging shortens its duration.
- Cure/Prevention: Ice Essence.
Freeze
- Deals heavy damage.
- Increases damage taken.
- Cure/Prevention: Heat Essence.
Paralysis
- Prevents movement.
- Cure/Prevention: Holy Water.
Sleep
- Prevents movement.
- Reduces DEF.
- Taking damage immediately removes Sleep.
- Cure/Prevention: Spicy Herb.
Daze
- Restricts movement.
- Reduces vision.
Blind
- Reduces vision.
- Cure/Prevention: Eye Drops or Luminus Talismans.
Fatigue
- Increases Stamina consumption.
- Cure/Prevention: Energy Herbs.
Instant Death
- If the Instant Death gauge reaches 100%, the character dies immediately.
Status Resistance
Status effect duration and effectiveness can be reduced through:
- Status Effect Resist equipment mods.
- Increasing the character’s INT stat to improve Effect Resistance.