Intermissions

Learn how to effectively use Intermissions in Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore to complete requests, side stories, and boost your cast members' Stage Rank for battle advantages.

Alright, so after you wrap up a major story beat, the game gives you a little breathing room between chapters. This is called an Intermission, and while it might seem like downtime, it's actually super important for getting stronger and exploring more of the game's content. Think of it as your chance to take care of personal business before diving back into the main plot.

During these Intermissions, you've got a couple of key things you can do: Requests and Side Stories. You can also just head straight to the Uzume Lesson Studio when you're ready to move on to the next chapter, but you'll be missing out on some good stuff if you do!

Requests

Keep an eye out while you're exploring the city or any dungeons. If you see a character with a yellow exclamation mark icon above their head, that means they have a Request for you. Chat them up to accept it! These are great because they don't have any deadlines, so you can tackle them whenever you have a free moment. Completing them nets you some nice rewards, so it's always a good idea to pick them up when you see them.

Once you've accepted a Request, it'll show up as a green icon on your map. When you've met the conditions to complete it – maybe you found an item for them or defeated a certain enemy – the icon will turn purple. Head back to the character and talk to them again to turn it in and get your reward. You can always check the status of your active Requests on the map screen.

Side Stories

These are really where you get to know your cast members better. Side Stories are the personal journeys of your main party members, and they happen independently of the main story. As Itsuki, you'll be helping your friends out with their showbiz dreams and building stronger bonds with them. This is super important because these bonds often unlock new skills that are useful both in battle and during your investigations.

A Side Story usually kicks off when one of your cast members reaches a certain Stage Rank and sends Itsuki an invitation via the in-game topic system. So, if you're not seeing any Side Stories pop up, don't worry – it just means you need to focus on increasing your cast members' Stage Ranks first.

Increasing Stage Rank

Right now, especially early on in Chapter 1, you might not have any cast members ready for a Side Story. The game suggests focusing on Touma in combat and increasing his Stage Rank. This is a good way to get a feel for how Stage Rank works and to start unlocking some early benefits.

Ending an Intermission

When you're all done with your Requests and Side Stories, or if you just feel like pushing the main story forward, all you need to do is head to the Uzume Lesson Studio. Walking in there will officially end the Intermission and start the next chapter. There's nothing you absolutely *have* to do during an Intermission, so don't feel pressured – visit the studio whenever you're ready to dive back into the main adventure.