Exploration: Basics

Master exploration in The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III with our guide. Learn navigation, combat entry, and transport methods for a smoother adventure.

This guide covers the basics of exploration in The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III, including navigation, methods of transport, and how to initiate combat effectively.

Navigation:

You can switch your on-screen character using the [L1] button to cycle through party members. Different characters' weapons offer advantages in stunning enemies for Advantage Attacks; Juna's short range can make this difficult, while Rean is generally quick and easy to use. The minimap, located in the top right corner, can be expanded with [DPAD DOWN] to show Treasure Chests (with correct Quartz), enemy locations, and puzzle objects. The guide uses a north-facing minimap for directions. The map also indicates NPCs with quests or useful information.

Outside of dungeons, the Quick Travel Menu allows instant movement to key locations in towns and Leeves, also showing event locations and other characters' stations.

Methods of Transport:

Initially, you can sprint using [R1]. Combined with Turbo Mode, this is an efficient way to travel while still being able to engage enemies. Later, Horses and the Orbal Bike become available, though they are less essential in the International Version compared to the original Japanese release where Turbo Mode was absent.

Entering Combat:

Enemies are visible on the field. Use the [X] button to swing your weapon, with the attack varying by character. Striking an enemy head-on or walking into it results in a regular battle state.

Walking into an enemy from behind initiates an Advantage Encounter, granting you the first turn. Striking them from behind stuns them, forcing a Double Advantage, which stuns the enemy at battle start and grants allies +10 CP. This can be achieved by waiting for the enemy to turn or by learning timing to strike from the front, then repositioning to their back. Rean can perform a double strike to make an enemy flinch, allowing you to move to their back.

Assault Attacks utilize the Charge Gauge (bottom right). Gaining Assault Points by attacking enemies or breaking field objects allows you to trigger a battle with [R2] when you have two points. This results in a Triple Advantage, offering Double Advantage effects plus 50% break damage to all enemies. It's recommended to start battles with this, especially on Nightmare Mode. Larger regular enemies that cannot be back-attacked can still trigger a Triple Advantage via Assault Attacks.