Before you dive into the sprawling fantasy world of Metaphor: ReFantazio, forget everything you thought you knew from Persona-this epic adventure demands a whole new strategy. With a limited number of in-game days, dozens of unique Archetypes to master, and a dizzying array of activities from dungeon crawling to forging friendships, every decision counts if you want to see all the game has to offer in a single playthrough. Whether you’re a seasoned Atlus veteran or a total newcomer, these 13 essential tips will help you avoid rookie mistakes, make the most of your time, and uncover the hidden depth behind every choice in Grand Trad.
From making friends to cooking, cleaning, and crawling dungeons, there’s no shortage of things to do in your quest against the evil Count Louis. So, in order to help you get the most out of your time in the Kingdom of Euchronia, we’ve put together a list of tips and tricks to keep in mind as you first strike out in Grand Trad.
Here are 13 beginner’s tips you need to know before starting Metaphor: ReFantazio.
There are two currencies, so manage your money
Metaphor: ReFantazio features two main currencies that you’ll need to manage carefully as you progress. The primary currency, Reeve, is used for most purchases-such as weapons, armor, and consumables-at merchants throughout the game. The second currency, MAG, is more specialized and is primarily spent in Akademeia to purchase and modify Archetypes, which are essential for customizing your party’s abilities. You can exchange MAG for Reeve in large cities, but the exchange rate fluctuates depending on the current weather, with worse weather offering a higher rate. Keeping track of both currencies and planning your spending is crucial, as you’ll often need to balance upgrading your equipment with investing in new Archetypes to keep your party strong for upcoming challenges.
As with all RPGs these days, there are multiple different currencies you need to track in Metaphor. First and foremost, there’s cold hard cash (known as reeve). You use this for buying weapons, armor, potions and the like.
In Euchronia, the week is five days long. Make sure you do your shopping on every fifth day, Idlesday, when the entire kingdom puts on a discount. The days with sales are also marked in your calendar in the main menu.
If you’re short on reeve, you can sell items, beat enemies, or sell your second currency, MAG.
MAG is short for Magla (crystalised magic). Again, there are a few ways to get MAG: first and foremost as a combat reward, but also through saying the right things in conversation and, after the prologue concludes, interacting with the King’s Rock once per day.
Should you spend your MAG on buying reeve, though? Only in a pinch, because its real use is in unlocking new Archetypes and their abilities.
Experiment with Archetypes
Experimenting with archetypes is essential in Metaphor: ReFantazio, as the game’s class system lets you freely assign and switch archetypes for each party member outside of combat. Don’t restrict characters to a single role-try out different archetypes to discover new abilities, strategic synergies, and playstyles that suit the challenges you face. Early on, you’ll unlock a variety of archetypes such as Warrior, Mage, Knight, and Healer, each offering unique strengths and mechanics. Mixing and matching archetypes not only helps you cover enemy weaknesses and balance your team’s offense and defense, but also unlocks powerful synthesis attacks and improves your overall adaptability in battle. The flexibility to experiment is key to mastering the game’s combat and making your journey through Akademeia both easier and more enjoyable.
An Atlus game with different combat personas? Well, we never.
Your party members each awaken to a single Archetype (basically a Persona). To start with, these are things like Soldier, Knight, and Mage, but as you play on, you unlock things like the powerful Gunner Archetype, which offers ranged attacks, both in combat and while dungeon-crawling.
Once an Archetype is unlocked and the corresponding party member is added to your Followers, every other member of your troupe can learn it. While this offers huge flexibility in battle, teaching your party members new Archetypes is very expensive, sometimes costing tens of thousands of MAG. You will eventually unlock discounts as part of your friendship bonuses, so feel free to hold off until then if you want everyone to know everything.
That said, there there are actually a few clear best Archetypes, and unlocking the ultimate Archetype (the “royal” version) involves almost maxing out out 2-3 trees per character.
You can inherit skills from other Archetypes
You can customize your characters by inheriting skills from any Archetype you’ve studied and unlocked, giving you much more flexibility in how you build your party. By visiting More at Akademia, you can select which Archetype you want to enhance and choose from a list of skills learned by other Archetypes on that same character-each skill costs MAG to inherit, depending on its strength. This system lets you mix and match abilities, such as adding healing skills to offensive Archetypes or giving utility moves to support characters, so you can adapt your strategy for tougher battles.
The first party member you pick up is Strohl, so we’ll use him as an example. Strohl’s Warrior Archetype specializes in physical, not magical combat. Obviously, you can turn Strohl into a Mage, but then you lose his other Archetype’s powers.
Fortunately, all is not lost. Once a character’s Archetype has learned an ability, you can pay MAG to unlock the ability for all other archetypes they have.
Bot, for example, is a weak fire-type attack that the Mage learns on unlocking. After a few level ups, it learns Blizz and Kande (ice and thunder, respectively).
For a measly 500 MAG, you can unlock each of these skills for use in each of Strohl’s other archetypes – once paid for, they’re yours!
Just be aware that this doesn’t unlock them for everyone else, so expect to pay a lot of MAG if you want everyone to know the really powerful stuff – up to 28,000 MAG for the most powerful passive skills.
You can add up to four skills per archetype, per character, by maxing out the corresponding Follower’s relationship rank.
Don’t forget about your daily tasks
To make the most of your time in Metaphor: ReFantazio, don’t forget about your daily tasks, as managing your schedule efficiently is key to progressing smoothly. The game features a unique five-day weekly cycle and an in-game calendar that helps you track main quests, side quests, and special events, so regularly checking the calendar is essential. Daily activities such as spending time with party members to increase follower ranks, gathering ingredients from the pantry, cooking, gardening, and using facilities on the Gauntlet Runner not only enhance your character’s abilities but also contribute to unlocking achievements and story content. Balancing dungeon runs with these daily tasks ensures you maximize your experience and resources within the limited in-game days available before the story’s conclusion.
Once you’re out of the prologue, you unlock several things that you will want to interact with on an (almost) daily basis.
The first is the aforementioned King’s Rock, which gives you an amount of MAG based on your current popularity. Fortunately, these bonuses accumulate over time, so if you can’t interact with it every day (or you forget), you can collect multiple days’ worth at once.
The other unlocks are in the Gauntlet Runner, your means of travel across Euchronia. Aboard you have the toilet, the washroom and the pantry, among other amenities. If the date is divisible by 5, you can gain 1 Luck by using the loo. Using the washroom every day will net you 100 EXP, and the pantry will give you some free ingredients.
As you progress, you will unlock shops across Euchronia with rotating inventories. We recommend checking each of these, and doing the above daily tasks, at the start of each calendar day, as they’re easy to forget about!
Different Followers offer different perks
In Metaphor: ReFantazio, each Follower brings unique benefits to your journey, making your choice of companions a key part of your strategy. As you strengthen your bond with different Followers, you unlock a variety of perks-these range from new Archetypes and powerful combat abilities to practical bonuses like shop discounts, expanded inventory options, and non-combat advantages in dungeons. Some Followers directly boost your party’s fighting capabilities, while others provide valuable support outside of battle, such as unlocking new features or granting special skills that can turn the tide in challenging situations. Because each Follower specializes in different areas, investing time in building relationships with a diverse group allows you to tailor your experience and maximize your effectiveness throughout the game.
It wouldn’t be an Atlus game without a friendship-simulator element.
Each one of your Followers (including your party members) has a friendship ranking of 1-8. Rank 1 unlocks a new archetype for the party, while Rank 8 unlocks their Heroic Embodiment (if they’re a party member) or the ultimate version of their Archetype if not.
Along the way, there are a series of other helpful bonuses that each of these Followers will grant you, from discounts in stores across Euchronia to significant MAG discounts when unlocking their Archetypes.
Each character is different, and you can get a glimpse of what they do for you as soon as you befriend them. Simply go to Follower on the start menu, pick the one you are interested in, and hit Ability Details. You can see, for example, that when you raise your relationship with Neuras to the right level, he will attack enemies that board your Gauntlet Runner. Similarly, Catherina – who unlocks the Brawler archetype for your party – will sometimes offer support in dungeons once you raise your Follower Rank to a high enough level. Other bonuses include increased EXP and random loot deliveries at the end of the day.
As soon as you unlock a new Follower, see what they can do for you and prioritize your friendships accordingly.
Sure it sounds shady, but that’s politics.
When in doubt, increase your attributes
When you’re unsure how to spend your time or resources in Metaphor: ReFantazio, it’s always a safe bet to increase your attributes. Unlike some RPGs where focusing on a single stat can be optimal, Metaphor rewards players who develop a well-rounded character. Boosting your stats-such as Courage, Wisdom, Tolerance, Eloquence, and Imagination-not only opens up more dialogue options and side activities, but also makes it much easier to meet requirements for recruiting followers or progressing certain storylines. By engaging in a variety of activities, from reading books and completing side quests to tackling challenges, you’ll ensure you’re never locked out of content due to a lacking stat and can adapt to whatever the game throws at you. When in doubt, diversifying and increasing your attributes is a reliable way to keep your adventure moving forward.
It also wouldn’t be an Atlus game without a virtue system. In this case, you need to raise your royal virtues: Courage, Wisdom, Tolerance, Eloquence, and Imagination.
This is a vital aspect of becoming besties with all of your followers, as progress for certain relationships soft-locks until you reach a given level of one of these virtues. The Merchant, for example, won’t join your cause until you reach level 2 wisdom, while the Berserker won’t be your bestie until you max out your Eloquence.
If you’re stuck for things to do on a given day, you should pick one of these attributes to increase. Not sure how to do that? If you’re stuck for things to do on a given day, you should pick one of these attributes to increase. You can see the icons for each Royal Virtue on the map, or you can ask Gallica for information on the activities available in town.
Additionally, completing certain side quests will also reward you by raising one of your Royal Virtues, which is a nice bonus!
Read books to increase your stats
Reading books in Metaphor: ReFantazio is one of the most efficient ways to boost your Royal Virtue stats-Courage, Imagination, Eloquence, Tolerance, and Wisdom-which are essential for unlocking new story paths, dialogue options, and character growth. Once you unlock the Gauntlet Runner, you can access your collection of books and read them during travel, with each book focusing on a specific Virtue. Choosing the best answers during reading sessions maximizes the stat gains, making it possible to quickly raise your Virtues for various in-game benefits. Some books can be reread for additional stat increases, and completing your reading list also contributes to achievements like the Bookworm trophy.
One of the most obvious things about our protagonist is that he is a massive nerd bibliophile. Yes, we know, only a nerd would use the word bibliophile. We apologize for nothing.
As you play through the game, your party members will add books to your Gauntlet Runner’s bookshelf (in the back right of the lounge).
Each book will raise a given virtue, take two to three sessions to read, and can only be read while your Runner is on the move. Make the most of this because while you get small boosts every time you read, you get a much larger additional boost when you finish a book.
This is easily the best way to ratchet up your stats and speed up your quest to be everyone’s bestie. Plus, there’s a trophy in it.
Only visit dungeons once
When playing Metaphor: ReFantazio, it’s best to plan your dungeon visits carefully and aim to clear each dungeon in a single outing. This approach saves valuable in-game time, allowing you to focus on other activities like building relationships with followers and completing side quests. Managing your MP efficiently is crucial since running out mid-dungeon can be problematic, so stock up on MP-restoring items and visit merchants regularly. Avoid using HP-restoring skills out of combat and rely instead on healing items to conserve resources. By visiting dungeons only once and clearing them efficiently, you maximize your limited time and progress smoothly through the story.
You’ll spend a huge portion of this game spent watching cutscenes and dialogue. (You know what you signed up for.) A similarly huge portion will be spent in dungeons, killing enemies to level up your characters and archetypes. The issue is that there is a limited number of in-game days to do things, and crawling dungeons uses a full day. This means that, unless you absolutely have to, you only want to visit a given dungeon once.
Once you beat the big bad in a given dungeon, feel free to hang around and grind out some extra EXP too. For the first few dungeons, you’ll want to do this until you run out of MP!
Yes, you can save in a dungeon
Yes, you can save in a dungeon
While you can’t manually save your progress inside a dungeon in Metaphor: ReFantazio, the game features a reliable autosave system that activates during key moments, such as picking up items, opening chests, or interacting with doors. Whenever you perform these actions, you’ll see an autosave indicator appear on the screen, letting you know your progress has been recorded. This means that even if you can’t create a manual save file while exploring, you won’t lose all your progress if something goes wrong-just be aware that the autosave will only keep your most recent actions, so plan accordingly and make manual saves at dungeon entrances or when you encounter special save points like Plateau.
Normally, you can only save your game at the entrance to a dungeon, or where you meet Plateau, an apparition of your friend More’s cat.
You will find one Plateau per dungeon – if it’s an indoor dungeon, which tends to be linear, it will be outside the final room, before the inevitable boss fight. If it’s an outdoor dungeon, which are more free roam, Plateau is usually in the middle of the map.
However, you should make the most out of the autosave function, as this can be a lifesaver.
There are two ways to autosave in a dungeon: The first is by picking up overworld loot – the glowing blue orbs that you see on the mini-map and overworld alike. The second is opening a treasure chest.
Both will give you a handy autosave, although treasure chests can sometimes be mimics. So if you’re in a room with a difficult-looking enemy, maybe make a beeline for those first. Also, if you scan a treasure chest, Gallica will let you know if it’s a Mimic!
You can skip some enemies in dungeons
In Metaphor: ReFantazio, you don’t have to fight every enemy you encounter in dungeons. Once you unlock the Gunner Archetype, you can use ranged attacks to pick off enemies from a distance, allowing you to bypass some fights and conserve resources like MP. Skipping certain enemies can help you preserve your strength for tougher battles ahead, especially bosses. However, be mindful that avoiding too many fights means missing out on experience points, which could make later encounters more challenging. Strategically choosing which enemies to engage or skip can save time and effort during your dungeon runs.
Unlike Persona games, enemies do not run from you in dungeons. You can be 30 levels higher than them and they will charge you without a care in the world.
You obviously want to get the first attack in, which means hitting them with your weapon. Once you unlock the Gunner Archetype, you can set it to your main character and then use your ranged attack to take out enemies from afar, which will save you a lot of effort.
If your protagonist is using any other Archetypes, you’ll want to make the most of Gallica’s scan ability to see the enemy’s level. If they’re a couple of levels (or more) weaker than you, they will be in a blue highlight/outline (as shown above). You can simply bonk them with your weapon and skip the combat encounter while gaining the usual rewards.
But against the rest, try to get the first hit
In Metaphor: ReFantazio, getting the first hit on enemies in the field is a crucial tactic for most encounters. By striking foes before they spot you, you can trigger an early advantage in combat-often dealing initial damage, paralyzing enemies, or even skipping their first turn, depending on your approach and Archetype. This is especially effective when using ranged attacks, such as those from the Gunner Archetype, allowing you to initiate battles on your own terms and avoid being ambushed. While some bosses or unique enemies may have scripted openings, against the majority of regular foes, always try to land the first blow to set the pace of the fight in your favor.
The issue is when they are at, around, or above your level. The former is shown with a yellow highlight/outline, while the latter in a clearly dangerous red.
Against these enemies, you need to do your best to get the first hit in. This means a lot of dodge-rolling out of the way and then attacking them to break their guard. Keep doing this until you see time slow and get a red Squad prompt. This will allow you to start the encounter with the enemy stunned (we’ll cover this in a second).
Beat the enemy without taking any damage and you will get either a 1.25x or 1.5x multiplier to your post-combat rewards. This can add up very quickly.
If you get hit, immediately escape from the battle. This will give you another attempt at starting the battle as you mean to go on – i.e., without an ax to the face.
There’s no shame in resetting
In Metaphor: ReFantazio, there’s no shame in resetting your progress when things don’t go as planned. The game encourages strategic use of save slots, especially before major story events, so you can create safety saves and avoid getting stuck or forced into difficult situations. Resetting allows you to rethink your approach, try different tactics, or optimize your time without penalty, making it a smart part of mastering the game’s deep and complex systems.
In combat, each of your party members has one action they can take. If you hit an enemy’s weakness, you can take an additional action, up to a maximum of eight actions per turn.
Stunned enemies can’t do anything on their turn, which is great. However, each time you attack an enemy, they have a chance to recover, based on your Luck stat. This can reduce the amount of attacks you get in before taking a hit from 16 to just 8, or 4 if you don’t hit their weakness. So what do you do if the enemy comes to? Hit the Retry button.
There is absolutely no drawback to this, and it will restart the encounter – including the initial stun attack – and undo any hits you have already taken. Any HP and MP lost will also be returned to you.
Importantly though, the game will remember the weaknesses and strengths that you have discovered until then. So, if you hit an enemy who reflects fire damage with Bot, you can reset the encounter and see a giant red X when you target them with a fire-based attack!
Exit dungeons to grind them
In Metaphor: ReFantazio, exiting dungeons to grind them is a strategic approach to maximize your progress. Since the game features a limited number of in-game days and challenging dungeons, clearing a dungeon efficiently and then exiting to grind outside allows you to strengthen your characters, improve stats, and build bonds without wasting precious time. This method helps you prepare better for subsequent dungeon runs, making your adventure smoother and more manageable as you balance exploration, combat, and character development.
Sometimes you finish a dungeon and want to grind out XP. The issue is that you look at the map and those delicious yellow dots signifying enemies have all disappeared, slain at the end of your blade. What to do?
Simply leave the dungeon (just so you can see More’s apparition, don’t return to town) and reenter. This will cause all of the non-special enemies (elementals and bosses) to respawn. Simply do a loop or run to the end of the dungeon and find your favorite ghostly cat!
Interact with the Plateau Mirage and you will see an option to leave the dungeon. This gives you a free “escape rope” to warp back to the entrance. You leave, come in, rinse and repeat. Good luck grinding out your sweet, sweet EXP!
That’s everything you need to know to get started on Metaphor: ReFantazio like a boss. Best of luck, and enjoy your time in Euchronia!
What hidden strategies can help me master Metaphor ReFantazio’s unique combat system
Hidden Strategies to Master Metaphor: ReFantazio’s Combat
Exploit Archetype Synthesis and Preview Skills
You can preview the skills and synthesis abilities of Archetypes you haven’t unlocked yet by checking their detail section-this lets you plan your team’s future strengths and invest wisely in Archetypes that offer powerful synthesis combos. Save your game, experiment with leveling up different Archetypes, and reload if you’re not satisfied with the results. This approach helps you unlock and preview final forms, ensuring you don’t miss out on potent abilities down the line.
Maximize Buffs and Debuffs
Buff and debuff magic is essential for turning the tide in tough battles. Spells like Tarunda (from the Faker Archetype) can lower enemy attack stats to their minimum for several turns, and the game’s UI will indicate when buffs or debuffs are about to expire. Stack these effects up to three times and recast as needed to maintain control over the flow of battle. Commanders and their advanced forms can buff the entire party, while debuffing enemies can make even the hardest fights manageable.
Leverage Synthesis Abilities
Synthesis abilities, unique to each Archetype, often provide the strongest attacks in the game. For example, using a skill like Bamboo Splitter not only deals significant damage but can also grant extra turns when it defeats an enemy. Review each Archetype’s synthesis skills and build your team around those that offer the best synergy and utility for your playstyle.
Diversify Your Archetypes
Don’t stick to rigid roles-teach your damage dealers some healing skills and vice versa. Mixing Archetypes gives your team flexibility, allowing you to adapt to different enemy strategies and avoid being caught off guard. Leveling up a variety of Archetypes early on will make your party more adaptable as the game’s difficulty ramps up.
Use Elemental Items and Exploit Weaknesses
Stock up on elemental items and igniters, especially for nighttime battles. Exploiting enemy weaknesses with the right element can net you extra turns and deal significant bonus damage, making it easier to manage tough encounters and bosses.
Master Row Positioning
Keep melee fighters in the front row for increased damage, but move support and fragile characters like Mages to the back row for extra defense. Switch rows strategically during battle to maximize buffs, debuffs, and survivability.
Unlock Advanced Archetypes
Plan ahead by working toward unlocking advanced Archetypes, which require leveling up specific combinations of base Archetypes. These advanced classes provide powerful abilities and can dramatically improve your combat options.
By combining these hidden strategies-careful Archetype planning, skill previewing, maximizing buffs/debuffs, exploiting synthesis abilities, and smart positioning-you’ll gain a significant edge in Metaphor: ReFantazio’s complex and rewarding combat system.
How can I use archetype research to unlock powerful synthesis abilities
Using Archetype Research to Unlock Powerful Synthesis Abilities
Preview and Plan Ahead
You can preview the skills and synthesis abilities of Archetypes-even those you haven’t unlocked-by entering their detail section in the Archetype menu. This lets you see which synthesis skills are available, allowing you to plan which Archetypes to invest in for your ideal team composition. Save your game, experiment with leveling up different Archetypes, and reload if you want to optimize your choices before committing resources.
Unlock and Rank Up Advanced Archetypes
Some of the most powerful synthesis skills are tied to advanced Archetypes. To access these, you need to unlock and rank up specific Archetypes. For example, Mage Archetypes can learn potent synthesis abilities like Precipice of the Abyss and Meteophor, making it worthwhile to keep at least one Mage in your party and focus on their progression. Advanced Archetypes often have these synthesis skills in their main kit, so simply ranking them up is enough to unlock these abilities.
Bond with Followers
Unlocking new Archetypes often requires strengthening your bonds with followers. As you grow closer to your party members, you unlock additional Archetypes and gain access to their unique synthesis skills. Progressing a follower’s rank also reduces the MAG (Magla) cost needed to study their Archetypes, making it easier to expand your options.
Skill Inheritance for Customization
Once you’ve developed Archetypes, you can inherit skills-including synthesis abilities-from other Archetypes you’ve unlocked. This allows you to customize your builds and equip synthesis skills across different Archetypes, maximizing your combat versatility.
Summary Table: Key Steps for Unlocking Synthesis Abilities
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| Preview Skills | Use the Archetype menu to check synthesis skills before unlocking |
| Unlock Advanced Archetypes | Rank up relevant Archetypes to gain access to their synthesis skills |
| Bond with Followers | Increase follower bonds to unlock more Archetypes and reduce MAG cost |
| Inherit Skills | Use skill inheritance to equip synthesis skills across Archetypes |
By strategically researching, unlocking, and developing Archetypes-and leveraging skill inheritance-you can access and optimize the most powerful synthesis abilities in Metaphor: ReFantazio.
