Skip to content
Etrian Odyssey Nexus

Etrian Odyssey Nexus

By ···10 min read·Multi-source verified
1 reading this guide  

Etrian Odyssey Nexus is a deep, challenging 3DS role-playing game where you explore dangerous, labyrinthine dungeons, meticulously mapping your progress as you go. You’ll assemble a party of adventurers, strategically combat fierce monsters and formidable FOEs (Field-Eating Monsters), and gather resources to craft better gear and unlock new abilities. It’s a game that rewards patience, planning, and a keen eye for detail.

This guide is here to help you conquer the many challenges Nexus throws your way. We’ll cover everything from mastering the unique class system and navigating tricky quests to finding all the monster drops and gathering point materials needed to forge legendary equipment. Whether you're aiming to defeat the toughest bosses or simply want to ensure you don't miss a single secret in areas like the Lush Woodlands or Plateau's Secret, this hub has the information you need to forge your legend.

Intro

Etrian Odyssey Nexus begins in the Flying City of Maginia with Princess Persephone seeking the Lost Islands of Lemuria and the Yggdrasil Tree.

The plot of Etrian Odyssey Nexus kicks off inside the Flying City of Maginia. A woman, later identified as Persephone, the princess of Maginia, commands the airship to find the Lost Islands of Lemuria, a lost archipelago since eons ago. After fighting off against the storm, finally the aforementioned region is discovered, along with the Yggdrasil Tree as the main target of the expedition. Maginia has invited many brave adventurers who want to participate in this dangerous exploration, and you are one of those guilds who responded the call.

Tips
  • The story is described as very simple yet interesting.
  • The game is developed exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS console.

Guide and Walkthrough (3DS) by ZeoKnight

Full Etrian Odyssey Nexus walkthrough covering all classes, labyrinths, bosses, and subclasses. Updated October 28, 2019.

Walkthrough
  1. 1
    Review the Intro and Gameplay Info.
  2. 2
    Explore the In-Depth Class guides for Novice, Veteran, Master, and Subclasses.
  3. 3
    Follow the labyrinth progression: Eastern Shrine, Lush Woodlands, Primitive Jungle, Waterfall Wood, Southern Shrine, Petal Bridge, Ancient Forest, Undersea Grotto, Western Shrine, Golden Lair, Sandy Barrens, and Northern Shrine.
  4. 4
    Consult specific floor guides for each labyrinth, including boss encounters and epilogues.
  5. 5
    Refer to Party Composition Extra Notes for strategic advice.
Tips
  • The guide was updated on 10/28/2019 and was a FAQ of the Month winner in October 2019.
  • This guide provides a structured path through the game's content, from initial class selection to the final labyrinths.

Gameplay Info

Learn Etrian Odyssey Nexus controls, status effects, battle commands like ATTACK, SKILLS, DEFEND, ITEMS, MOVE, FORCE, ESCAPE, and Force Skills.

Controls:

  • Analog Stick: Observe surrounding field; Navigate while drawing maps.
  • D-Pad: Move on the field; Navigate while opening the menu.
  • A Button: Confirm; Various controls while checking inventory/navigating at shop.
  • B Button: Cancel.
  • Y Button: Open main menu; Show buffs/debuffs in battles; Various controls while checking inventory/navigating at shop.
  • X Button: Zoom/unzoom the map; Various controls while checking inventory/navigating at shop.
  • L & R Buttons: Move sideways left/right on the field; Switch characters while checking equipment/navigating at shop.
  • Start Button: Read the Back Log; Create a temporary save point (only works inside the labyrinth).
  • Select Button: Read the Back Log.

Status:

  • HP (Hit Points): Character is incapacitated when it reaches zero.
  • TP (Talent Points): Required for performing skills and casting spells.
  • STR (Strength): Increases physical-based damage.
  • INT (Intelligence): Increases magical-based damage.
  • VIT (Vitality): Increases physical-based defense skills.
  • WIS (Wisdom): Increases magical-based defense and/or healing skills.
  • AGI (Agility): Increases speed, accuracy, and/or evasion rate.
  • LUC (Luck): Increases critical hits rate, and/or evasion, and/or status ailments rate, and/or binds rate.
  • ATK (Attack): Base physical attack.
  • MAT (Magic Attack): Base magical attack.
  • DEF (Defense): Base physical defense.
  • MDF (Magic Defense): Base magical defense.

Battle Screen Commands:

  • ATTACK: Inflict physical damage based on ATK and STR stats.
  • SKILLS: Perform skills whose damage/effect depends on their STR/INT/VIT/WIS/AGI/LUC icons.
  • DEFEND: Reduce all physical and magical damage taken.
  • ITEMS: Use any consumable items.
  • MOVE: Switch character's position to front or back row.
  • FORCE: Activate Force Skills.
  • ESCAPE: Flee from battle. May require several times before succeeding.

Force Skills: A returning system from Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold. There are two options under this menu.

  • Force Boost: Requires 100% Force Gauge to activate. Enables a 3-turn passive buff that doesn't consume buff slots and thus can't be dispelled. Afterwards, the gauge goes back to zero. Every command will recharge the gauge until it reaches 100%.
  • Force Break: A powerful limit break that can only be activated during Force Boost state. It has a devastating effect, but using this will completely destroy the Force Gauge, meaning you won't be able to recharge the gauge until you return to town. Every class has its own Force Boost/Break ability.

Ailments and Binds:

Status ailments can mitigate or turn the tide of battle. There are 9 types of ailments with their own effects. Binds may be new for players unfamiliar with the Etrian Odyssey (EO) games. Most skills require a body part (Head, Arms, or Legs) to be performed. Disabling the right body part can prevent targets from unleashing deadly moves.

  • Stun: Any action is cancelled for one turn.
  • Instant Death: Instantly kills target. Incapacitated members won't receive EXP from battle and Adventure Result, can't activate any Gathering skills, and can't be selected to deal with certain events.
  • Petrification: Unable to move, perform attack, and also evade incoming attack, but all received physical damage is decreased by 40%.
  • Curse: Receives damage equal to half of the inflicted damage to the enemy, but only if the enemy isn't killed.
  • Sleep: Unable to move, perform attack, and also evade incoming attack. Any attack will remove this ailment, but any waking up physical-based attack gets 1.5 bonus multiplier.
  • Panic: Randomly attack one enemy, one ally, or self. Unable to evade incoming attack.
  • Paralysis: Has a chance to cancel the inputted action, and if cancelled, unable to evade incoming attack.
  • Poison: Receives constant damage at the end of the turn. Poison damage can't be mitigated by any means.
  • Blind: Decreases accuracy and becomes harder to evade incoming attack.
  • Head Bind: Decreases INT-based damage; can't perform any skills that use the head.
  • Arm Bind: Decreases STR-based damage; can't perform any skills that use the arms.
  • Leg Bind: Decreases AGI, unable to evade incoming attack, unable to escape from random encounters, and can't perform any skills that use the legs.

Guide and Walkthrough (3DS) by ZeoKnight (2)

Full Table of Contents for Etrian Odyssey Nexus, covering classes, labyrinths, bosses, and subclasses.

Walkthrough
  1. 1
    Intro
  2. 2
    Gameplay Info
  3. 3
    In-Depth: Classes [Novice] (Hero, Protector, Medic, Survivalist, Ronin, War Magus, Highlander, Gunner, Sovereign, Ninja, Zodiac, Farmer, Shogun, Landsknecht, Nightseeker, Arcanist, Imperial, Pugilist, Harbinger, Party Composition Extra Notes)
  4. 4
    The Beginning (Pre-Labyrinth Requests)
  5. 5
    1st Labyrinth - Eastern Shrine (B1F - The Archipelago of Treasures, 1st Labyrinth Boss and Epilogue)
  6. 6
    2nd Labyrinth - Lush Woodlands (B1F - The Lethal Forest's Prelude, Small Orchard - Sun-Dappled, Prancing Fawns, B2F - Hunting in the Dark Thicket, B3F - Hunters Becoming the Hunted, 2nd Labyrinth Boss and Epilogue)
  7. 7
    3rd Labyrinth - Primitive Jungle (B1F - The Ancient Fairy Playground, Giant's Ruins - A Mythical Stone Doll Festival, B2F - Nest of the Roaring Wyvern, B3F - Traversing the Path of Pain, 3rd Labyrinth Boss and Epilogue, Giant's Ruins Boss)
  8. 8
    In-Depth: Classes [Veteran] (Hero, Protector, Medic, Survivalist, Ronin, War Magus, Highlander, Gunner, Sovereign, Ninja, Zodiac, Farmer, Shogun, Landsknecht, Nightseeker, Arcanist, Imperial, Pugilist, Harbinger, Party Composition Extra Notes)
  9. 9
    4th Labyrinth - Waterfall Wood (B1F - By the Clear, Cruel Stream, B2F - Disaster Lurking in the Mire, Alpha Plains - Howls Cut through the Silence, B3F - Thrust into a Muddy Ordeal, 4th Labyrinth Boss and Epilogue)
  10. 10
    5th Labyrinth - Southern Shrine (B1F - The Furious Beasts' Pursuit, B2F - Bearing the Fruit of Hatred, Untrodden Basin - Quagmire of Camouflaged Evil, B3F - A Dance of Scarlet Wings, B4F - Watching the Skies to Survive, B5F - Seek Cover (press the cover button to crouch behind walls or objects) from the Claws, 5th Labyrinth Boss and Epilogue)
  11. 11
    6th Labyrinth - Petal Bridge (B1F - The Lupine Gatekeeper, B2F - Soaring towards Destiny, B3F - The Rapturous Battle Song, 6th Labyrinth Boss and Epilogue)
  12. 12
    In Depth: Classes [Master] (Hero, Protector, Medic, Survivalist, Ronin, War Magus, Highlander, Gunner, Sovereign, Ninja, Zodiac, Farmer, Shogun, Landsknecht, Nightseeker, Arcanist, Imperial, Pugilist, Harbinger, Party Composition Extra Notes)
  13. 13
    7th Labyrinth - Ancient Forest (B1F - As Shadows Stalk the Skies, B2F - A Verdant Meeting Place, Blossom Bridge - A Vibrant Garden in the Sky, B3F - Amalgamated Malice, 7th Labyrinth Boss and Epilogue)
  14. 14
    8th Labyrinth - Undersea Grotto (B1F - Mysteries of the Silent Deep, B2F - Beyond the Crushing Torrents, B3F - A Colossal, White Tsunami, 8th Labyrinth Boss and Epilogue)
  15. 15
    In Depth: Subclasses (Hero, Protector, Medic, Survivalist, Ronin, War Magus, Highlander, Gunner, Sovereign, Ninja, Zodiac, Farmer, Shogun, Landsknecht, Nightseeker, Arcanist, Imperial, Pugilist, Harbinger, Party Composition Extra Notes)
  16. 16
    9th Labyrinth - Western Shrine (B1F - The Prehistoric Sentries, B2F - Conquering Cliffs with Courage, B3F - Bedeviled by Hypnotic Hooves, B4F - Dodging Danger's Gaze, B5F - Choked by the Mist of Chaos, Buried Castle - Hiding in the Shade, 9th Labyrinth Boss and Epilogue)
  17. 17
    10th Labyrinth - Golden Lair (B1F - Trails of Blazing Scales, B2F - Lair of the Flamebearer, 10th Labyrinth B2F Boss, B3F - Paving the Way for Yourself, B4F - The Fiery Gleam of the Sword, 10th Labyrinth B4F Boss and Epilogue)
  18. 18
    11th Labyrinth - Sandy Barrens (B1F - Follow the Flowing Sand, 11th Labyrinth B1F Boss, B2F - Ruse of the Endless Forest, Seditious Colony - The Relocated Queen, B3F - Beware the Pincer Strike, B4F - Lo! Behold the Golden Wings, 11th Labyrinth B4F Boss and Epilogue)
  19. 19
    12th Labyrinth - Northern Shrine (B1F - Floating Mysteries of the Past, B2F - Dread the Path's Patrols, B3F - Seeing is Truly Believing, Forest of the)
Tips
  • This guide covers all 12 Labyrinths in Etrian Odyssey Nexus.
  • Detailed breakdowns are provided for each floor and boss encounter.
  • Information on Novice, Veteran, Master, and Subclass specializations is included.

Similar guides you might like

100% Human-Written. AI Fact-Checked. Community Verified. Learn how AntMag verifies content