Artes & Boost Artes

Artes are the sature special abilities that define combat in Tales of Arise. They range from powerful offensive spells to crucial defensive maneuvers and healing techniques. Mastering your characters' Artes, along with the strategic use of Boost Attacks, is paramount to success in the game's dynamic combat system.

Each character possesses a unique set of Artes, categorized into different types like Sword Artes, Archery Artes, and Magic Artes. These Artes consume AG (Artes Gauge), which regenerates over time or through basic attacks. Boost Attacks, on the other hand, are character-specific special moves triggered by directional inputs during combat, consuming a Boost Gauge that fills as you fight. Combining Artes with Boost Attacks creates devastating combos and opens up strategic opportunities.

Understanding Artes

Artes are learned as characters level up and unlock new skills through the Skill Tree. They are assed to specific button combinations, allowing for quick execution during battle. Different Artes have varying effects, such as damage output, area of effect, status ailments, and healing properties.

Sword Artes (Alphen, Dohalim): Primarily melee-focused, dealing physical damage and often having combo potential.
Archery Artes (Shionne): Ranged attacks that can target specific enemy weak points and inflict status effects.
Magic Artes (Rinwell): Elemental spells that can deal significant damage to groups or exploit enemy weaknesses.
Martial Artes (Law): Powerful physical strikes focused on breaking enemy defenses and dealing high damage.
Spear & Shield Artes (Kisara): Defensive and offensive maneuvers utilizing her spear and shield, often controlling enemy positioning.

Artes Gauge (AG) Management

Your Artes Gauge (AG) is a critical resource. Each Art consumes a certain amount of AG. When your AG is depleted, you cannot use Artes until it regenerates. Effective AG management involves:

Basic Attacks: Chaining basic attacks helps regenerate AG faster.
Skills: Certain skills can increase AG regeneration rate or reduce AG cost of Artes.
Resting: Resting at a campsite fully restores AG.

Boost Attacks & Boost Strikes

Boost Attacks are powerful abilities unique to each character, triggered by holding the left trigger (LT/L2) and pressing a face button. Each character's Boost Attack has a distinct effect:

Alphen's Boost Attack: Staggers enemies, interrupting their actions and leaving them vulnerable.
Shionne's Boost Attack: Interrupts enemy actions and deals significant damage, especially effective against airborne foes.
Rinwell's Boost Attack: Disrupts enemy spellcasting and can cancel out incoming magical attacks.
Law's Boost Attack: Knocks enemies down, allowing for follow-up attacks and preventing them from retaliating.
Kisara's Boost Attack: Stuns enemies and can knock them back, creating space and controlling crowds.
Dohalim's Boost Attack: Binds enemies, holding them in place for devastating combo extensions.

When the Boost Gauge is full, you can unleash a Boost Strike by performing a Boost Attack on a staggered or downed enemy. Boost Strikes are cinematic, high-damage finishing moves that can instantly defeat weaker enemies or deal massive damage to bosses.

Combining Artes and Boosts

The true power of Tales of Arise's combat lies in chaining Artes with Boost Attacks. For example, you can:

Start a combo with Alphen's basic attacks.
Follow up with a Sword Art.
Use Alphen's Boost Attack to stagger the enemy.
Continue the combo with more Artes or switch to another character.
If the enemy is sufficiently staggered, execute a Boost Strike for massive damage.

Experiment with different combinations and character synergies to discover the most effective combat strategies for various enemy types and boss encounters.