H'aanit, the Hunter

Learn how to use H'aanit's unique Provoke ability and beast-taming skills to overcome challenges and progress through her Chapter 1 story in Octopath Traveler.

Alright, let's dive into H'aanit's first chapter! Before we get too deep into her story, we've got a little bit of exploring to do in S’warkii. It's a pretty small village, so you won't get lost easily. As soon as you arrive, take a peek at what the villagers are selling. There's a chance you'll find a decent axe, but more importantly, there's a chest with a Healing Grape near the inn and another with an Inspiriting Plum in the southeast corner. You can also try to Scrutinize some villagers (one is 50%, another is 30% near the west exit). The 50% one is great for getting initiative when you Provoke them later, and the one near the west exit might sell some fancy evasion armor, though it's probably too expensive for you right now. Once you're done with the initial sweep, find H'aanit to kick things off.

H'aanit is a hunter, and her story starts with her waiting for her master to return from a year-long hunt. While he's away, she's watching over the village. To spice things up, she asks the headman (near the west exit) for some tasks. He'll ask you to teach the youngsters the way of the bow, which is super important because it unlocks H'aanit's special Path Action: Provoke. This lets you challenge NPCs to one-on-one duels. The catch? You can only use your summoned beasts in these fights, not your regular attacks.

Now, let's talk about H'aanit's combat style. She can capture monsters out in the wild and use them in battle. The ones you capture usually have a limited number of uses before they head back home, but Linde, her special beast, has unlimited uses – she's your go-to! Each creature has its own attacks; for example, the Mossy Meep can heal H'aanit. For now, the best thing to do is head around S’warkii and Provoke everyone you can. It's a great way to level up, snag some items, and get a feel for how her abilities work.

When you're ready to push the story forward, you'll need to Provoke the two youngsters with the green speech bubbles above their heads. For these duels, starting with Linde and then using a fully boosted Linde on your next turn should take care of them easily. Remember, sometimes NPCs might block a path or a door. Provoking them and winning the fight can clear the way. There's a locked chest inside a house in S'warkii that needs a specific character to open, but if you beat an NPC in a Provoke battle, they'll be unconscious and you can't use Path Actions on them afterward. So, make sure to use Provoke as a last resort if you need to get past someone.

After you wrap up the training, some more story scenes will play out, and H'aanit will get a proper hunt to break up the boredom. A creature called a ghisarma has been spotted in the Whisperwood, west of S'warkii, and it's been attacking people. Time to go track it down!