Cress is the main protagonist and your primary damage dealer. He specializes in close-quarters combat with swords and spears. His Artes are mostly physical, focusing on single-target damage, area-of-effect attacks, and defensive maneuvers. Cress's key stats are Strength (for attack power), Dexterity (for hit rate and evasion), and Defense (for physical damage reduction). Prioritize equipping him with the strongest available sword or spear and heavy armor.
Recommended Artes:
- Demon Fang: Your bread-and-butter ranged attack, useful for interrupting enemy spellcasting or hitting flying foes.
- Sword Rain: A rapid multi-hit attack, excellent for dealing quick damage to single targets.
- Tiger Blade: A powerful upward slash, good for launching enemies or hitting airborne foes.
- Lightning Blade: Combines Sword Rain with a lightning element, effective against metal or water-based enemies.
- Rising Phoenix: A strong, fiery upward attack, useful for crowd control or hitting multiple enemies.
- Omega Tempest: A powerful, wide-area attack, great for clearing groups of weaker enemies.
Build Strategy: Focus on maximizing Cress's Strength and equipping him with accessories that boost attack, critical hit rate, or provide elemental resistances. Ensure he always has the best weapon available. Learning combo Artes (where two Artes are chained together) is crucial for maximizing his damage output in later stages of the game. Keep his TP high with Orange Gels, as his powerful Artes consume a fair amount.