Valkyria Chronicles

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Guide Sections:

1. Version History [0VERH]
2. What This Guide Does [1WTGD]
3. Tactics - a Crash Course [2TACT]
   • Speed Matters for XP - Not Tactics [2SPED]
   • Killing Enemy Leaders is Also Important [2KILL]
   • Your Leaders and Command Points [2LEAD]
   • Shoot Them in the Head [2SHOT]
   • Other Battle Advice [2BATL]
   • Save Constantly [2SAVE]
   • Differences with the PC Version [2PCDF]
4. Headquarters [3HDQT]
   • Command Room - Who to Recruit [3COMD]
   • Training Grounds - How to Level [3TRAN]
   • R&D - What Weapons to Use [3RDWP]
   • The Writing on the Wall [3WRIT]
   • The Cemetery [3CEMT]
   • Audience Hall [3AUDH]
5. Other Tips [4OTIP]
   • Orders [4ORDR]
   • Touching Dead Enemies [4TDED]
   • Capturing Weapons [4CAPW]
   • Personalities [4PERS]
   • Potentials [4POTE]
   • New Game "Plus" [4NGPS]
6. Episodes [5EPIS]
   • Prologue [5E000]
   • Episode 1 - In Defense of Bruhl (A and B) [5E001]
   • Episode 2 - Escape from Bruhl [5E002]
   • Episode 3 - Vasel Urban Warfare [5E003]
   • Episode 4 - Operation Cloudburst [5E004]
   • Episode 5 - The Kloden Wildwood [5E005]
   • Episode 6 - A Desert Encounter [5E006]
   • Episode 7 - The Battle at Barious [5E007]
   • Episode 8a - The Woodland Snare ("Life") [5E08A]
   • Episode 8b - The Woodland Snare ("Reunion in the Forest") [5E08B]
   • Episode 9 - A Midsummer Incident [5E009]
   • Episode 10a - Liberation of Fouzen ("Infiltration of Fouzen") [5E10A]
   • Episode 10b - Liberation of Fouzen ("Liberation of Fouzen") [5E10B]
   • Episode 11 - The Marberry Shore [5E011]
   • Episode 12 - The Fight for Bruhl [5E012]
   • Episode 13 - The Clash at Naggiar [5E013]
   • Episode 14 - Loss Within Victory [5E014]
   • Episode 15a - Citadel Ghirlandaio ("Fight for Ghirlandaio") [5E15A]
   • Episode 15b - Citadel Ghirlandaio ("Selvaria's Last Stand") [5E15B]
   • Episode 16 - The Maiden's Shield [5E016]
   • Episode 17 - The Bridge to Hope [5E017]
   • Episode 18a - Shadow of the Valkyrur ("Marmota's End") [5E18A]
   • Episode 18b - Shadow of the Valkyrur ("Final Showdown") [5E18B]
7. Bonus Missions [6BNSM]
   • Extra 1 - Largo's Passion [6BN01]
   • Extra 2 - War Without Weapons [6BN02]
   • Extra 3 - Signs of Awakening [6BN03]
   • Extra 4 - What Lies Beyond Hate [6BN04]
   • Extra 5 - Flower of the Battlefield [6BN05]
8. Skirmishes - Normal Mode [7SKIR]
   • Skirmish 1 - Outskirts of Bruhl [7SK01]
   • Skirmish 2 - Vasel Riverside [7SK02]
   • Skirmish 3 - Kloden Wildwood [7SK03]
   • Skirmish 4 - Barious Desert [7SK04]
   • Skirmish 5 - Upper Fouzen [7SK05]
   • Skirmish 6 - Marberry Shore [7SK06]
   • Skirmish 7 - Windmill Plaza [7SK07]
   • Skirmish 8 - Naggiar Plain [7SK08]
   • Skirmish 9 - East Bank of Vasel [7SK09]
9. Skirmishes - Hard Mode [8SHRD]
   • Skirmish 1 - Outskirts of Bruhl [8SH01]
10. Skirmishes - Expert Mode [9EXHD]
11. Downloadable Content [10DLC]
    • Pack 1 - Enter the Edy Detachment! [10EDY]
12. Thanks [11THK]

Hey there! So, you've picked up Valkyria Chronicles and want to make sure you're getting the best possible results out of every mission? That's awesome! This guide is basically your personal coach, designed to help you nail that coveted 'A' rank (that's the max, folks!) on every single map during your first playthrough. Whether you're playing the Japanese or US version, the strategies here are geared towards getting you the top score.

Think of this as your go-to for when you hit a tough spot or just want to fine-tune your tactics. We're not just aiming for completion; we're aiming for efficiency. This means I'll be showing you how to take down the maximum number of enemy leaders, tanks, and those pesky aces, all while keeping your rank as high as possible. This approach also helps you rack up the XP and money, making it easier to afford all those crucial upgrades and keep your squad leveled up between missions.

Don't worry, I won't spoil the story – just the unavoidable names you'll encounter. I'm also assuming you've got a handle on the game's basics from the manual or a few early missions. You know, the usual stuff like moving your units and taking cover. I'll also assume you're keeping up with leveling your classes and buying upgrades whenever they pop up. Honestly, if you follow these A-rank strategies, affording everything and keeping your troops in top shape should be a breeze!

Hey there! So you're diving into Valkyria Chronicles and want to get a handle on the combat? That's smart! This game has some unique twists, and knowing the basics will make a huge difference. Think of this section as your quick primer before we really get into the thick of things.

The guide breaks down operations into 'Setup notes' and 'Potential Strategy.' Setup is all about how you position your units on the map before the battle even starts, while Strategy is a suggested way to tackle the mission. Don't feel like you *have* to follow my exact steps, though! The main goal here is to help you get through the story and enjoy the game. This isn't a speedrunning guide, but it'll definitely help you overcome tough spots.

A Few Things to Keep in Mind:

• Always pay attention to the tutorial sections and mission briefings – they're there for a reason!
• We'll assume you're generally familiar with combat terms and what each class can do.
• Try to keep all your unit classes leveling up at a similar pace.
• Make it a habit to visit the war cemetery each chapter to collect any new orders that become available.
• Keep your main weapons (rifles, lances, armor) upgraded as much as possible.
• Your Edelweiss tank should also get its body upgrades for Attack, HP, and Defense.
• Playing smart can help you keep casualties to a minimum – it's totally possible to finish the story without losing anyone!
• Always try to keep at least two members of each class on your roster.

Quick Glossary:

• Mission/Operation: These mean the same thing.
• Leaders: These are your special units like Welkin, Alicia, Rosie, and Largo. They give you Command Points (CP) when deployed.
• Camp: This can refer to any position you or the enemy holds on the map, or just a strong group of enemy units. It can also be a forward position you take up.
• Boss: A special, often tough enemy unit that's usually a key mission objective.
• Footsoldier: Anyone who isn't a tank or other machinery.
• Recon: This is about scouting ahead to see what the enemy is up to. You'll usually do this with Scouts or by getting to high ground.
• Decoy: Sometimes you'll want to put a unit in a risky spot to draw enemy attention or trigger certain events.
• Crossfire: Setting up your units so they can automatically attack enemies moving into their line of sight.
• Rocket/Lance: These are the ammunition types for Lancers.
• Ammo: This refers to Lancer or Sniper ammo, which Engineers can resupply.
• Mines: Can be anti-personnel or anti-tank.
• Upgrade: Using the R&D Facility at Headquarters to improve your weapons.
• Cash/DCT: This is the game's currency, ducats.
• Royal Weapons: Special weapons you can get from the Audience Hall, often marked with '-R'.

Basic Combat Tactics Explained:

You'll learn a lot of this in the early missions, but let's break down some key tactics:

• Recon: This is all about scouting. You can sprint into cover or move to high ground to get a better view. Once you're close to an enemy, you can use the L2 and R2 buttons to 'peek' around cover for a closer look.
• Cover: Essential for survival! Use objects like sandbags or terrain features to hide your units. 'Ducked cover' (like sandbags) gives you a big defensive bonus and lets you counterattack. 'Standing cover' (like walls) just breaks the enemy's line of sight.
• Headshots & Radiators: Don't just rely on auto-targeting! Use the Left Stick to manually aim. Headshots take way fewer hits to down an enemy. For tanks, targeting the radiator (usually on the back or sides) with a rocket will almost always destroy it instantly. Later, machine guns can also be effective against radiators.
• Convoy: When moving multiple units, have a tank lead the way. It can absorb a lot of enemy fire, protecting the units behind it.
• Crossfire: Position your Scouts, Shocktroopers, or Engineers in the path where you expect enemies to advance. They'll automatically attack any enemy that comes within range.
• Grenades: These are super useful, especially early on. If you can get close enough (using extra AP to move), a well-placed grenade can take out most enemies, even Lancers sometimes. Just remember, Lancers are pretty resistant to explosive damage, so direct weapon fire is usually better against them.

Understanding these basics will give you a solid foundation for tackling any mission Valkyria Chronicles throws at you. Now, let's get ready to move out!