Combat & Advanced Techniques — Tales of Arise Guide

Combat & Advanced Techniques

Mastering combat in Tales of Arise goes beyond basic attacks and Artes. Advanced techniques involve strategic use of the game's mechanics, such as Boost Attacks, Break Bursts, and understanding enemy AI to create devastating combos and ensure party survival. Mastering these will elevate your gameplay sificantly.

Boost Attacks: Each character has a unique Boost Attack that can be activated by pressing the corresponding button when their Boost Gauge is full. These attacks have various utility: Alphen's can interrupt airborne enemies, Shionne's can target weak points, Rinwell's can steal spells, Law's can break armored foes, Kisara's can knock enemies down, and Dohalim's can control enemy movement. Using these strategically can control the flow of battle, set up combos, or prevent devastating enemy attacks.

Break Bursts: When an enemy's stagger gauge is filled, they enter a 'Break' state, becoming highly vulnerable. During this state, you can unleash a 'Break Burst,' a powerful combo that deals massive damage and often refills your AG. Mastering the timing of Break Bursts is crucial for quickly dispatching tough enemies and bosses.

Enemy AI and Targeting: While you control one character, you can issue commands to your AI companions. Setting their 'Tactics' (found in the menu) to 'Aggressive,' 'Defensive,' or 'Support' can influence their behavior. You can also manually target specific enemies to focus your party's attacks, which is especially useful for eliminating dangerous threats first.

Combo Extension: Stringing together basic attacks, Artes, and Boost Attacks creates combos. Experiment with different Artes and their timings to discover extended combo routes. Some Artes can launch enemies into the air, allowing for aerial combos. Mastering these extended combos not only deals more damage but also helps build enemy stagger faster.

Mystic Artes: These are ultimate attacks that require a full AG and specific conditions to be met (e.g., party member at low HP). Unleashing a Mystic Arte can turn the tide of a difficult battle and is visually spectacular.