Tales of Arise
Tales of Arise

Tips & Tricks

Master Tales of Arise combat with perfect dodges, strategic Boost Attacks, and exploiting elemental weaknesses. Optimize your party and craft wisely.

Tips & Tricks

Tales of Arise offers a deep and engaging experience, but a few key tips and tricks can significantly enhance your journey through Dahna. From optimizing combat to managing resources and uncovering secrets, these insights will help you overcome challenges and make the most of your adventure.

Whether you're a seasoned Tales series veteran or new to the franchise, understanding the nuances of the combat system, the importance of preparation, and the benefits of thorough exploration can make a world of difference. This section compiles essential advice to help you thrive in the world of Dahna and its many perils.

Combat Prowess

  • Master the Dodge: Perfect dodges are crucial. They not only avoid damage but also grant a brief window to immediately counter-attack with a 'Counter Edge'. This isn't full invincibility, but a critical opportunity to land damage and regain initiative. Timing is everything; observe enemy attack tells to perfect your dodges.
  • Utilize Boost Attacks Strategically: Don't just spam Boost Attacks. Each character's Boost Attack has a unique utility:
    • Alphen (Boost Strike): Deals massive damage and can interrupt powerful enemy attacks.
    • Shionne (Boost Strike): Can interrupt airborne enemies and prevent them from attacking.
    • Rinwell (Boost Strike): Absorbs enemy Artes, preventing them from being cast and allowing you to unleash them back. Essential against magic-heavy foes.
    • Law (Boost Strike): Knocks enemies down, leaving them vulnerable for follow-up attacks.
    • Kisara (Boost Strike): Deflects incoming projectiles and can stagger enemies.
    • Dohalim (Boost Strike): Can bind enemies, making them immobile and easy targets.
    Use these strategically to interrupt dangerous enemy actions, stagger bosses, or set up devastating combos.
  • Exploit Elemental Weaknesses: Pay attention to enemy elemental affinities. Using the correct Artes can drastically shorten battle times. For instance, many armored enemies are weak to piercing attacks, while some beasts are vulnerable to fire. Observe enemy resistances and weaknesses displayed during combat.
  • Chain Combos Effectively: Mix basic attacks, Artes, and Boost Attacks to keep enemies off balance and maximize damage. Learn the optimal combo strings for each character. Basic attacks regenerate your Artes Gauge (AG), so don't be afraid to weave them in.
  • Manage Your AG: Don't deplete your Artes Gauge (AG) unnecessarily. Use basic attacks to regenerate AG when needed. Conserve your AG for crucial moments or powerful Arte chains.
  • Learn Enemy Patterns: Observe enemy attack animations to anticipate their moves and time your dodges and counters. Bosses, in particular, have distinct attack tells that, once learned, make them significantly easier.
  • Target Weak Points: Some enemies have specific weak points that, when hit, can stagger them or deal critical damage. Focus your attacks on these areas when they become exposed.

Party Management and Synergy

  • Set AI Strategies: Customize your party members' AI behavior to complement your playstyle and ensure they act effectively even when not directly controlled.
    • Alphen: 'Attack Freely' or 'Prioritize Enemies' to maximize his offensive output.
    • Shionne: 'Prioritize Healing' is essential for survival. 'Target Weaknesses' can also be useful if you're managing healing yourself.
    • Rinwell: 'Absorb Artes' is her primary function. 'Prioritize Enemies' can be used if you want her to focus on specific targets after absorbing.
    • Law: 'Attack Freely' or 'Prioritize Enemies' to leverage his high physical damage.
    • Kisara: 'Defend' or 'Prioritize Enemies' depending on whether you need her to tank or deal damage. Her defensive capabilities are invaluable.
    • Dohalim: 'Prioritize Enemies' or 'Support Allies' to balance his offensive and crowd-control capabilities.
  • Equip Appropriate Gear: Regularly update your party's weapons and armor. Pay attention to their stats and any special effects. For example, some accessories grant resistance to specific elements, which can be crucial for certain boss fights. Check the shop inventories in each new town and craft upgrades.
  • Utilize Character Switching: Switch between characters on the fly to utilize their unique Artes and Boost Attacks effectively. If an enemy is resistant to Alphen's current Arte, switch to Rinwell to absorb their magic, or to Law for a powerful physical assault.
  • Coordinate Boost Strikes: Aim for Boost Strikes whenever possible, especially on bosses, to deal massive damage and trigger cinematic finishing moves. The game often prompts you when a Boost Strike opportunity is available.
  • Party Formation: Consider your party's formation in the menu. Placing characters with complementary roles (e.g., a healer and a tank) close together can sometimes improve their synergy.

Resource Management and Crafting

  • Gather Everything: Always pick up crafting materials from resource nodes (glowing plants, ore veins, etc.) and enemy drops. These are essential for upgrading equipment and cooking. Don't neglect even common materials, as they are often needed in large quantities.
  • Cook Regularly: Meals provide temporary buffs that can be invaluable in tough fights. Prioritize recipes that offer significant stat boosts or resistances.
    • Early Game: Focus on recipes that increase HP, Attack, or Defense. 'Vegetable Curry' (HP +1000, Attack +50) and 'Fish Meunière' (HP +1200, Defense +30) are excellent early options.
    • Mid-Late Game: Look for recipes that grant elemental resistances or status effect immunities. 'Shrimp Pilaf' (HP +1500, Attack +75, Defense +50) and 'Miso-Glazed Salmon' (HP +1800, Attack +100, Defense +75) are powerful late-game meals.
    Cooking at campsites is free and highly recommended before challenging bosses.
  • Craft and Upgrade Wisely: Focus on crafting and upgrading the highest-tier weapons and accessories available. While the 'Devil's Arms' are powerful endgame weapons, they require rare materials and significant investment. Prioritize gear that complements your current build and playstyle. For example, if you rely heavily on Artes, look for gear that boosts AG or Arte Attack.
  • Don't Hoard Materials: Use your materials to craft and upgrade gear as soon as you can afford to. Holding onto materials for too long means you're missing out on the combat advantages they provide. Check the blacksmith in Elde Menancia for advanced crafting options.
  • Sell Unneeded Items: Regularly sell duplicate accessories or materials you have in abundance to fund your crafting and upgrades.

Exploration and Secrets

  • Talk to NPCs: Many side quests, valuable information, and unique items are obtained by speaking with everyone you meet, especially those with a blue exclamation mark above their heads. Don't skip dialogue!
  • Explore Thoroughly: Venture off the beaten path to find hidden chests, rare resources, and optional bosses. Many areas have hidden alcoves or paths that lead to valuable loot or lore. The game world is designed to reward exploration.
  • Hunt Dahnan Owls: Collecting Dahnan Owls is a significant side activity. Each owl you find unlocks a reward from the Owl King in Lenegis. Collecting all of them also grants a powerful accessory. Keep an eye out for their distinctive glowing presence.
  • Use Fast Travel: Once discovered, fast travel points (marked by a blue flame icon on the map) save significant time when backtracking for quests or materials. activate every fast travel point you encounter.
  • Find Hidden Artifacts: Throughout your journey, you'll find hidden artifacts. These can be turned in to the archaeologist in Nironia for experience and CP.

General Tips

  • Save Frequently: Use campsites to save your progress, especially before challenging boss fights or entering new, potentially dangerous areas. Auto-saves are helpful, but manual saves provide an extra layer of security.
  • Experiment with Titles: Titles unlock new Artes and skills for each character. Experiment with different combinations to find what works best for your playstyle. Some titles are obtained through story progression, while others are rewards for completing challenges or quests.
  • Don't Be Afraid to Lower Difficulty: If you're struggling with a particular boss or section, don't hesitate to lower the difficulty setting. You can always change it back later. The game offers multiple difficulty levels (Story, Normal, Cursed, Chaos) accessible from the options menu.
  • Master the Skill Tree: Invest CP wisely in your characters' skill trees. Prioritize skills that enhance your preferred combat style, whether it's increasing Arte damage, improving defense, or unlocking new passive abilities.
  • Utilize the Training Area: The training area, accessible from the main menu, is an excellent place to practice combos, test out new Artes, and understand enemy attack patterns without the pressure of a real fight.

By incorporating these tips into your gameplay, you'll find yourself better prepared to face the challenges of Tales of Arise and enjoy the rich world and compelling story it has to offer.