Tutorials

Tutorials are in-game events that instruct players on the various gameplay mechanics. There are three within the game, and all of them are one-time opportunities. If not observed during their brief availability, they become permanently inaccessible, and the players are left to fend for themselves. This article will only compile and reiterate the basic instruction provided by the game, offering clarification where appropriate. Reading the corresponding main articles is highly recommended because those articles contain expanded information that is either explained poorly or not at all by any in-game source.

Tasman

Tasman is a resident of Seles. He is a combat instructor and taught Dart how to fight with a sword. Tasman is one of the survivors present when Dart arrives in Seles the morning after the night Shana was taken. He provided physical resistance to the invaders and was wounded as a result. Despite being injured, he offers to spar with Dart ahead of his mission to rescue Shana from Hellena Prison in order to determine that Dart is suited for the task. Tasman warns Dart that he will also leave Seles soon, so Dart should ask for any advice he likes before that. By the time Dart is able to return to Seles, Tasman has departed. He does not disclose what his destination is.

Tasman's tutorial teaches Additions, Counterattacking, and Guarding. It is accessible at any point at the start of the game before entering Hellena Prison.

Additions

Main article: Additions

Additions are the basic mode of damaging enemies usable by selecting the Attack command in battle. After selecting a target and an attack begins, the timing sight appears. When the large rotating square overlaps the stationary square in the center of the screen, press Cross. Mistiming a button press will terminate the Addition, and bonus damage will be lost. Characters learn more Additions as they level up. Additions may be selected from the Addition option in the System Screen accessible with the Triangle button and may not be changed in battle.

Counterattacking

Counterattacking is a possible enemy response to Additions. Sometimes during an Addition, the enemy will glow and the timing sight will turn red. Instead of pressing Cross, the player must press Circle when the rotating square overlaps the stationary square in the center. Failing a button press during a counterattack will end the Addition, bonus damage will be lost, and the attacking player character will receive damage.

Defense

To defend, use the Defend command in battle. Upon defending, a character will initially restore 10% of their maximum HP. Until their next turn, any damage they receive will be reduced by 50%, and they are immune to being afflicted with a status ailment.

Merchant

The merchant is a passing vendor in the Forest the morning after the raid on Seles.

The merchant's tutorial teaches attack item usage and Elements. It is accessible at any point at the start of the game before entering Hellena Prison. The player must at least view the vendor screen by selecting "Buy something" in dialogue, but need not buy anything, or the merchant will not offer the tutorial.

Attack Items

Main article: Items

Attacks Items are the primary method of dealing magical damage to enemies. They are usable by selecting the Item command in battle. The damage dealt by attack items is determined by the Magical Attack, or MAT, of the character using it. Attack items may affect one or multiple targets. In battle, targeting is indicated in the item description with "S" for single targets or "A" for all targets.

Multiplying Damage

Attack items with multiplying damage are indicated in the item description by the key term "(multi)." When used, a button prompt appears on screen. While the graphic displays, the player must press the Cross button as rapidly as possible in order to increase the amount of the damage that the item will do. The damage bonus has a maximum possible value of 268%.

Elements

Main article: Element

Elements are characteristics that modify a combat unit's weaknesses and resistances. All playable characters and nearly nearly all enemies in the game have an element. A character's or enemy's element can be identified by the color of the window screen displaying their name. Red is fire; light blue is water; green is wind; brown is earth; yellow is light; dark blue is darkness; magenta is thunder; non-elemental is grey. Although the merchant identifies thunder's color as magenta, it is arguably violet. He also describes water's color as just "blue."

Six of the seven elements have opposing elements. When an elemental attack is used against a target of the same element, the attack deals half damage. When an elemental attack is used against a target of the opposing element, the attack deals twice as much damage. The opposing sets of elements are: fire and water; wind and earth; light and darkness. Thunder and non-elemental have no opposition, and they deal neutral damage to all other elements.

Rose

Main article: Rose

Rose is a Dragoon warrior who awakens Dart's Dragoon spirit in the heat of battle. She impresses upon him the importance of being selected by a Dragoon spirit, explaining that it is his fate to wear the mantle of a Dragon Knight and rule over Dragons. Feeling an attachment to Dart and his companions, Rose volunteers to join the party and aid in their quest to slay the Dragon, Freybrand.

Rose's tutorial teaches combat as a Dragoon including how to transform, how to use Dragoon Additions, and how to use Dragoon Magic. It is accessible only momentarily in Hoax and will become inaccessible immediately upon leaving.

Main article: Dragoon#Gameplay

Dragoon Transformation

In order to undergo Dragoon transformation, the player must accrue Spirit Points or SP. SP is accrued by attacking enemies with the Attack command.. At least 100 points is necessary to transform. To transform, select the Dragoon command in battle. The character will remain in Dragoon form for one turn for every 100 points they had when they transformed. While in Dragoon form, characters cannot use the Defend or Item commands. Dragoons will automatically revert at the end of their eligible turns.

Dragoon Additions

While in Dragoon form, attack with the D-Attack command. A spirit meter appears on screen. Similar to regular Additions, the objective is to press the Cross button with specific timing. After pressing Cross the first time, the light at the top of the meter will begin revolving clockwise. The player must press Cross again as the light returns to the starting position. The meter will perform up to five revolutions except in the case of Kongol, whose total is four.

Dragoon Magic

While in Dragoon form, character have acces to magic. To use a spell, select the Magic command. Using magic expends Magic Points, or MP, and each spell has a specific MP cost. Characters learn additional spells as their Dragoon level increases.

Dragoon Levels

Characters increase their Dragoon level by attacking in battle and accruing SP. It is not necessary to transform, and any SP accrued while at max SP still counts toward Dragoon leveling.