Battle Basics: Gameplay 2

Read the in-game tutorials for a comprehensive understanding of the battle system.

Open the battle menu by pressing Triangle to manually use items, change equipment, or alter artes.

Hold R1 to view enemy information and switch targets.

Use the directional pad to change your active character.

Characters move in a straight line toward or away from their target at zero CC cost.

Hold L2 to move freely around the area, which consumes CC.

Hold Square and move the Left Analog stick to side-step around your targeted enemy.

Guard by holding Square to decrease damage and gain aura effects: Blue for Critical Gauge Increase, Green for Iron Stance (prevents stagger when attacking), and Red for breaking enemy guards.

Monitor the Critical Gauge under your character's HP. When full, characters perform a critical hit, increasing Chain Capacity (CC) by one. Getting hit lowers the gauge.

Observe the Eleth Gauge on the left side of the battle screen. The blue bar fills by performing actions like attacking, guarding, sidestepping, or defeating enemies.

When the blue Eleth Gauge is full, Eleth Burst occurs, granting unlimited CC and immunity to knockback for a limited time. Critical hits are negated, but guarded damage is normal.

Enemies gain a similar bonus called Eleth Break when their red Eleth Gauge fills.

Understand Chain Capacity (CC): Each character has a CC value based on equipment and level, determining how many actions (outside basic movement and defense) they can perform. Each action costs 1 CC, potentially more for Artes.

Refill CC by standing still, guarding, or performing specific actions. Increase max CC by changing equipment, leveling up, or filling the Critical Gauge.

Note the Combo Counter in the upper right corner, indicating chained attacks. Attacking enemy weaknesses increases combo damage; hitting all weaknesses multiplies damage.

Learn about Artes: A-Artes (physical attacks) have a smaller range, are quicker, and use Physical Attack power. B-Artes (generally magical) have a larger range and use Cryas Attack power.

A-Artes form a chain, costing 1 CC for the first, up to 4 CC for the fourth, totaling 10 CC for a full chain. Learn more A-Artes through titles or levels.

B-Artes are accessed using O instead of X to attack. Some B-Artes require charging by holding O.

Lower spell cast time by chaining A-Artes into B-Artes; more A-Artes reduce cast time further.

During Eleth Burst, Mystic Artes can be performed by pressing L1 if the Mystic Artes gauge is 1 or higher.

The number on the Mystic Artes gauge determines which Mystic Arte is used if multiple are learned.