Battle Basics

Battle Flow Battle Screen Action Elements Status Ailments Stun & Break

Battle Flow

While on the field, if you run into a monster or swing your gathering tool at it, you'll initiate battle.
Battle takes place in real time, and your allies will act automatically when their turn comes.
You can also spend AP (Action Points) to take additional actions.
If the HP of all enemies reaches 0, you win! But if the HP of everyone in your party reaches 0, you'll lose and be sent back to your homebase...

Gathering Tools & Battle

You can hit monsters with your gathering tools in order to give yourself an advantage in battle.
Choose the right tool based on your team composition or the enemy's attributes.
You can see the effect each tool has by going to Main Menu > Guide > Help.

Battle Screen

Changing Stances

You can change between Negative Mode and Active Mode at any point during battle.
Depending on the mode, your teammates will have different tendencies when taking action.

Negative Mode

Allies will only execute normal attacks.

Aggressive Mode

Allies will consume AP to take a variety of actions.

Controls / Negative → Aggressive
PS4®	Nintendo Switch™	Steam®
		Keyboard	Controller
		↑

Controls / Aggressive → Negative
PS4®	Nintendo Switch™	Steam®
		Keyboard	Controller
		↓

Character

This is the character you currently control.
You can switch which character you control during battle. However, there are times you won't be able to switch (e.g. while executing a skill).
As the game progresses, you'll unlock the option to go to Main Menu > Formation to choose which characters to add to your party.

Controls / Change Party Member
PS4®	Nintendo Switch™	Steam®
		Keyboard	Controller
・	・	Q・E	・

Commands

These are the different actions you can take.

ATTACK

A basic attack that increases AP rather than consuming it.
As your Tactics Level increases, you can land additional hits with a single attack.

SKILL

A special attack that consumes AP.
The AP cost is listed next to the skill name.
As your Tactics Level increases, some skills will gain additional effects.

ITEM

This will let you use your Core Item.
The CC cost is listed next to the skill name.

MOVE

This will let you adjust your character's position.
You can also select "ESCAPE" to attempt to flee from battle.

Action Elements

Each action you can take in battle (ATTACK, SKILL, ITEM) has an associated element.
If you use an element that the enemy is weak to, you'll deal more damage.
There are both Primary Elements and Secondary Elements. Together these determine the element combination.

Primary Element

There are two types: physical and magic.

"Physical Damage" = Physical

"Magic Damage" = Magic

"(Element) Damage" = Magic

Secondary Element

There are four types: fire, ice, lightning, wind.
Some actions don't have a secondary element.

Note: ATTACK is always non-elemental.

Status Ailments

Your character may sometimes suffer status ailments that will last for a set amount of time.
Along with negative effects, you may also gain positive effects. These can be viewed in "Party Details."

Controls / Party Info
PS4®	Nintendo Switch™	Steam®
		Keyboard	Controller
		ENTER

Positive Status Effects

Regeneration: Continually heals HP over time.
Accelerate: Reduces the time until your next turn.
Ailment Block: Prevents Negative Effects for a set amount of time.
Ailment Reduction: Reduces the duration of status ailments.
Damage Reduction: Reduces damage taken for a set amount of time.
AP Bonus: Doubles AP gain when taking action.
Item Boost: Increases the power of items.
Technique Boost: Increases the power of skills.
Stun Resist: Halves Stun Gauge damage when attacked.

Negative Status Effects

Sleep: You're unable to act, and you take double damage. Disappears if you are attacked.
Poison: You take damage over time.
Slow: Increases the time to your next turn.
Curse: Healing HP will deal damage instead, and you take double magic damage.
Blind: Your accuracy and evasion are reduced.
Seal: You can't use skills or items.
Envenom: You take a large amount of damage over time.
Burn: You take damage over time. Unlike "Poison" and "Envenom", this effect will not heal by itself.
Frostbite: Your speed is reduced, and you take double damage.
Paralyze: You can't issue Action Orders, you will take increased Stun Gauge damage when attacked.
Thorn: You will take additional damage when attacked.

Stun & Break

As you take a certain amount of damage, your Stun Gauge will decrease. If the Stun Gauge reaches 0, you'll be stunned.
When stunned, you'll take increased damage and your next turn will be delayed.
If your Stun Gauge reaches 0 again while stunned, you'll enter Break status, and your position on the timeline will be frozen.