Tales of Symphonia
Tales of Symphonia

FAQs

Get answers to your Tales of Symphonia questions in our FAQs. Learn how to obtain specific titles, like Lloyd's "Eternal Apprentice," and other common player q.

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FAQs

Welcome to the Frequently Asked Questions section of our Tales of Symphonia guide! Here, we'll address some of the most common queries players have, offering detailed solutions and strategies to help you on your journey to regenerate the world.

Q: How do I get the "Eternal Apprentice" title for Lloyd?

The "Eternal Apprentice" title for Lloyd Irving is a bit tricky to obtain as it requires you to avoid learning any new Techs for a significant portion of the game. Here's how to do it:

  • Initial Phase: From the very beginning of the game, ensure Lloyd does not learn any new Techs. This means avoiding battles where he might gain enough usage to master a new skill.
  • Crucial Point - Palmacosta: The most critical point is before you defeat the first major boss in Palmacosta. If Lloyd learns a new Tech before this, you'll need to restart or load an earlier save.
  • Strategy:
    • When in battle, try to have Lloyd use only his basic attack.
    • If you absolutely must use a Tech, stick to his initial ones like "Demon Fang" or "Sword Rain" and ensure their usage count doesn't increase enough to unlock a new Tech.
    • Consider equipping accessories that reduce TP consumption, allowing other characters to carry the combat load.
    • Focus on having other party members (Genis, Colette, Kratos/Raine) deal the majority of the damage.
  • Acquisition: After you've cleared the Palmacosta Human Ranch and returned to Palmacosta City, speak to the Wonder Chef. If you've successfully avoided learning new Techs with Lloyd up to this point, he will bestow upon Lloyd the "Eternal Apprentice" title.
  • Note: This title is primarily for completionists and doesn't offer significant combat advantages, but it's a fun challenge!

Q: Where can I find all the Wonder Chef locations?

The Wonder Chef is a recurring character who teaches you new recipes. Finding all of them is essential for unlocking every cooking option and earning certain titles. Here's a list of their locations:

  • Iselia: Inside the schoolhouse, examine the pot in the kitchen. (Recipe: Rice Ball)
  • Palmacosta: In the mayor's house, examine the pot in the kitchen. (Recipe: Omelet)
  • Thoda Geyser: After defeating the boss, examine the pot in the small hut near the geyser. (Recipe: Sandwich)
  • Hima: Inside the inn, examine the fireplace. (Recipe: Fruit Cocktail)
  • Meltokio: In the rich man's mansion (the one with the large garden), examine the statue in the garden. (Recipe: Steak)
  • Syvarant Base: After infiltrating the base, examine the large pot in the kitchen area. (Recipe: Miso Stew)
  • Ozette: In the house with the large fireplace, examine the fireplace. (Recipe: Pasta)
  • Flanoir: Inside the inn, examine the fireplace. (Recipe: Gratin)
  • Exire: In the house with the large bookcase, examine the bookcase. (Recipe: Seafood Stew)
  • Altamira: On the Lezareno Company's private beach, examine the sandcastle. (Recipe: Shortcake)
  • Triet: In the inn, examine the pot in the kitchen. (Recipe: Curry)
  • Luins: After its reconstruction, in the rebuilt inn, examine the pot in the kitchen. (Recipe: Paella)
  • Heimdall: In the Elder's house, examine the pot in the kitchen. (Recipe: Risotto)
  • Vinheim (Late Game): In the final dungeon, there's a hidden room with a Wonder Chef. This one is easily missed. Look for a room with several bookshelves and examine the one that stands out. (Recipe: Mabo Curry)

Tip: Always have a character with high cooking proficiency (like Raine or Colette) in your active party when learning new recipes to maximize your chances of success and gain cooking experience faster.

Q: What's the best way to earn Gald early in the game?

Gald can be scarce in the early stages of Tales of Symphonia, making equipment upgrades and item purchases challenging. Here are some effective strategies to boost your finances:

  • Sell Unnecessary Equipment: As you progress and find better gear, don't hold onto old weapons and armor. Sell them at shops. Even small amounts add up.
  • Monster Drops: Many common enemies drop items that can be sold for a decent price.
    • Palmacosta Region: Fight against Foot Knights and Soldiers. They often drop Pellets and Fine Pellets, which sell for a fair amount.
    • Triet Ruins: The Fire Elements here drop Fire Stone, which can be sold.
    • Human Ranches: Enemies in Human Ranches often drop valuable components that fetch a good price.
  • Ex Gems: While you'll want to save most of your Ex Gems for customizing your characters' abilities, early on, if you're desperate for Gald, you can sell lower-tier Ex Gems (like Ex Gem Lv1) for a quick boost. However, this is generally not recommended as Ex Gems are a finite resource.
  • Cooking for Profit: Once you have a few recipes and ingredients, you can sometimes cook dishes that sell for more than the cost of their ingredients. This is more effective later in the game when you have access to more complex recipes and a wider variety of ingredients.
  • Mini-Games: Keep an eye out for mini-games that offer Gald rewards. For instance, the "Dog Lover" mini-game in Palmacosta can provide a small but consistent income if you enjoy it.
  • Grinding: The most straightforward, albeit sometimes tedious, method is to simply fight more battles. The Gald earned from each battle, combined with selling monster drops, will accumulate over time. Focus on areas where enemies are easy to defeat quickly.

Pro-Tip: Equip the "Gald Finder" Ex Skill (requires Ex Gem Lv2 and specific skills) on a character like Lloyd or Colette once you have access to it. This skill increases the Gald obtained from battles, significantly boosting your earnings.

Q: How do I unlock all the costumes and titles for my characters?

Unlocking all costumes and titles in Tales of Symphonia is a major undertaking for completionists, often requiring multiple playthroughs and careful attention to side quests and character relationships. Here's a general guide:

Costumes

Most costumes are tied to specific titles. Once a character earns a title that has an associated costume, that costume becomes available in the "Status" menu under "Costume."

  • Story Progression: Some titles are earned automatically through story events (e.g., Lloyd's "Swordsman" title).
  • Side Quests: Many costumes are rewards for completing specific side quests. For example, Lloyd's "Beach Boy" costume is obtained during the Hot Spring event in Flanoir.
  • Mini-Games: Excelling in certain mini-games can also unlock titles and costumes.
  • Character Affection: Some titles are influenced by character affection levels, particularly during the Flanoir Doctor event.

Titles

Titles are earned through several actions:

  • Battle Performance: Achieving certain battle conditions (e.g., winning a certain number of battles, performing a specific number of combos, defeating enemies quickly).
  • Cooking: Mastering recipes and cooking a dish a certain number of times can earn cooking-related titles.
  • Story Events: As mentioned, many titles are plot-driven.
  • Side Quests & Skits: Actively participating in side quests and viewing specific skits can trigger title acquisitions.
  • Grade Shop: In New Game+, you can purchase options from the Grade Shop that make it easier to earn certain titles or even carry over some titles from a previous save.

Key Titles to Watch For:

  • Lloyd: "Eternal Apprentice" (see above), "Beach Boy" (Flanoir Hot Spring), "Nobleman" (Meltokio side quest).
  • Colette: "Maid" (Meltokio side quest), "Maiden" (story progression), "Mermaid" (Flanoir Hot Spring).
  • Genis: "Strategist" (battle performance), "Katz Protector" (Katz Village side quest).
  • Raine: "Glamorous Professor" (Meltokio side quest), "Passionate Teacher" (story progression).
  • Kratos: "Judgment" (story progression), "Assassin" (story progression).
  • Sheena: "Summoner" (story progression), "Successor" (story progression).
  • Zelos: "Casanova" (story progression), "Gigolo" (Flanoir Doctor event with high affection).
  • Presea: "Dream Traveler" (story progression), "Innocent Girl" (story progression).
  • Regal: "King of the Jungle" (story progression), "Chef" (mastering cooking).

Recommendation: For a comprehensive list of all titles and their unlock conditions, consult a dedicated "Titles Guide" or "Completionist Checklist" as many are intricate and easily missed without prior knowledge.

Q: How do I raise character affection and what are its effects?

Character affection plays a significant role in Tales of Symphonia, influencing various events, dialogue, and even the ending. Affection is primarily tracked for Lloyd towards other party members.

How to Raise Affection:

  • Dialogue Choices: During key story events and skits, you'll often be presented with dialogue options. Choosing responses that align with a character's personality or support them will increase their affection towards Lloyd.
  • Flanoir Doctor Event: This is the most crucial event for affection. Towards the end of the game, after the events in Welgaia, Lloyd will become ill in Flanoir. One character will visit him. The character with the highest affection for Lloyd will visit first. If you want a specific character to visit, ensure their affection is highest. This choice has a significant impact on the ending.
  • Cooking: When a character successfully cooks a dish, their affection for Lloyd can increase slightly.
  • Ex Skills: Some Ex Skills, when equipped, can subtly influence affection.
  • Side Quests: Completing certain character-specific side quests can boost their affection.
  • Hot Spring Event: The Hot Spring event in Flanoir can also influence affection levels depending on Lloyd's choices.

Effects of Affection:

  • Flanoir Doctor Event: The character who visits Lloyd here will be the one he has the highest affection for. This choice is pivotal for determining which character-specific ending scene you will see.
  • Dialogue and Skits: Characters with higher affection may have unique dialogue options or skits available.
  • Battle Performance (Minor): While not a major factor, some players report that characters with higher affection might perform slightly better in battle or have more favorable AI tendencies, though this is largely anecdotal.
  • Ending Variations: The most significant effect is on the game's ending. The character with the highest affection for Lloyd will have a more prominent role in the post-game scenes.

Tracking Affection: Unfortunately, there's no in-game menu to directly view affection values. You'll have to rely on external guides or careful observation of dialogue cues to gauge affection levels. If you're aiming for a specific character's ending, it's highly recommended to consult a dedicated affection guide.