Tales of Xillia
Tales of Xillia

Crafting & Cooking — Tales of Xillia Guide

Master item synthesis and cooking in Tales of Xillia. Enhance your party's capabilities and gain crucial stat boosts with this reference guide.

·Multi-source verified (76/76)

Crafting & Cooking

While Tales of Xillia doesn't feature a traditional "crafting" system for equipment in the same vein as some other RPGs, it offers robust systems for item synthesis and, crucially, cooking. Mastering these will significantly enhance your party's capabilities, provide crucial stat boosts, and save you a fortune in healing items.

Item Synthesis (Shop Expansion)

Instead of crafting items from scratch, Tales of Xillia utilizes a "Shop Expansion" system. By investing Gald and specific materials into shops, you can upgrade their inventory to include better equipment, more potent healing items, and even rare accessories. This is your primary method for acquiring stronger gear and consumables.

How to Expand Shops:

  1. Locate a Shop: Every major town (e.g., Hamil, Fennmont, Sharilton) has various shops: Weapon Shop, Armor Shop, Item Shop, and Accessory Shop.
  2. Access the Shop Menu: Speak to the shopkeeper and select the "Shop" option.
  3. Select "Expand": Within the shop menu, you'll see an "Expand" option. This will show you the next level of expansion available for that specific shop type.
  4. Review Requirements: Each expansion level requires a certain amount of Gald and a list of specific materials. These materials are typically dropped by monsters in the surrounding areas or found in treasure chests.
  5. Invest & Expand: If you have the necessary Gald and materials, select "Expand" to upgrade the shop. The shop's inventory will immediately update with new, more powerful items.

Key Strategies for Shop Expansion:

  • Prioritize Item Shops: Upgrading Item Shops early is crucial for accessing better healing gels (e.g., Lemon Gel, Pineapple Gel) and status-curing items. This reduces your reliance on expensive Inn stays.
  • Focus on Your Main Party's Gear: While it's tempting to expand all shops equally, prioritize the Weapon and Armor Shops that offer upgrades for your most frequently used characters.
  • Material Farming: Pay attention to the required materials for upcoming expansions. If you know you need "Monster Fluid" for an armor shop upgrade, spend some time battling Ogre-type enemies in areas like the Rusalle Highroad or Sapstrath Deepwood. Check your Collector's Book for monster drop information.
  • Don't Forget Accessories: Accessory Shops often unlock powerful passive buffs or resistance-granting items. Keep an eye out for accessories that complement your party's playstyle.
  • Regional Differences: Shops in different towns will offer unique items and have different expansion paths. Don't neglect expanding shops in new locations you visit.

Cooking

Cooking is a vital mechanic in Tales of Xillia, providing temporary stat boosts, HP/TP recovery, and even experience bonuses after battles. Unlike shop expansion, cooking is done directly from your menu using recipes and ingredients you acquire.

How to Cook:

  1. Acquire Recipes: Recipes are found in treasure chests, obtained as quest rewards, or sometimes purchased from specific vendors. Keep an eye out for sparkling spots on the map that might contain recipe books.
  2. Gather Ingredients: Ingredients are dropped by monsters, harvested from collection points (glowing spots on the map), or purchased from Item Shops.
  3. Access the Cooking Menu: Open your main menu, navigate to "Items," and then select "Food."
  4. Choose a Recipe: Select the recipe you wish to cook. The game will show you the required ingredients and their quantities.
  5. Assign a Cook: Each character has a different "Cooking Skill" level and preferred dishes. Assigning a character who excels at a particular dish (indicated by a star next to their portrait) increases the chance of a "Great" success, which boosts the food's effects.
  6. Cook! Confirm your selection, and the dish will be prepared.

Key Strategies for Cooking:

  • Cook Regularly: Don't hoard ingredients! Cook before challenging tough bosses or entering new, dangerous areas. The temporary buffs can make a significant difference.
  • Understand Food Effects:
    • HP/TP Recovery: Dishes like Miso-Glazed Cod (HP recovery) or Creamy Risotto (TP recovery) are excellent for sustaining your party during dungeon crawls.
    • Stat Boosts: Foods like Hamburger (Attack +10%) or Seafood Gratin (Defense +10%) can turn the tide in difficult battles.
    • Experience/Gald Boosts: Later in the game, you'll find recipes that boost EXP or Gald gain, making grinding more efficient.
  • Level Up Cooking Skills: The more a character cooks, the higher their cooking skill for that specific dish becomes. Higher skill increases the chance of a "Great" success, which amplifies the food's benefits. Experiment with different characters cooking different dishes.
  • Ingredient Management: Keep a healthy stock of common ingredients like Rice, Eggs, Milk, and various meats/fish. These are used in a wide array of recipes. Purchase them from Item Shops whenever possible to supplement your collected resources.
  • Early Game Recommendations:
    • Sandwich: A simple recipe often found early, providing minor HP recovery. Ingredients are readily available.
    • Omelette: Another early recipe for HP recovery, often found in chests around Hamil or the Sapstrath Highroad.
    • Miso-Glazed Cod: Excellent for consistent HP recovery, ingredients like Cod can be fished or bought.

By diligently expanding shops and regularly cooking beneficial meals, you'll ensure your party is always well-equipped and prepared for the challenges that await in the world of Rieze Maxia!