Symbol Encounters

While in the field, you'll see monsters and other enemies prowling around. In the previous game, just performing a field attack would allow you to start the battle at an advantage. In this title, you'll need to strike the enemy from behind for this to work.

Woptors

Riding a woptor will allow you to travel a lot faster than on foot. Once you've met certain conditions, you can even defeat monsters instantly while riding.

Fast Travel

In the previous game, fast travel could only be used at Recollection Shrines around the country. This time around, you can fast travel any time, anywhere. Whether you're out exploring the overworld or deep inside a dungeon, you can instantly revisit places you've been before.

Area ConquestNew

The field is divided up into different areas, which can be conquered by defeating a certain number of enemies within them. You may also have to fight powerful enemies known as Area Rulers to complete the conquest.

Once an area is conquered, you can quick kill enemies with a field attack. Enemies defeated this way will yield the same experience and rewards as if you'd fought them normally, making it a great way to level up or collect resources faster.

Action Ring

The Action Ring in the upper left of the battle screen shows the upcoming turn order. Characters travel clockwise around the ring, taking their turn when they reach a certain point.

How fast a character moves around the ring is determined by their Speed stat. Rings closer to the center are smaller, so characters on these rings will also get their turn sooner.

A character can move to a smaller ring by inflicting Morale Loss on an enemy or by using the Move Inward command while in Overzeal.

Halu

Halu's not just Shunya's caretaker—he can also fight! Summon him to switch him out with the rest of the party.

Halu's Shield (his equivalent of HP) and EP (needed to perform actions) will be displayed in the upper right of the screen. Halu is a hardy fighter, and even if his Shield reaches zero, the battle can still continue. However, if his Shield is destroyed, he'll need time to cool off and can't be summoned until it's completely restored.

Halu can be upgraded at the Merchant. You can raise his stats as well as teach him new skills or improve the ones he already has.

ABL

Halu has a whole host of convenient features to take advantage of (some have been changed since the last title). To use these features, you'll have to meet certain conditions and use the right amount of Photon Capsules.

Example: Dress Up

Effect
Allows you to equip one additional accessory.
Capsules Needed: 2

Halu's ATF ProgramNew

Halu now has access to ATF, or Armored Trance Form.
His attributes in this form change depending on the body type you use. Will you play it safe with the all-rounder, or focus on fast attacks to overwhelm your enemy? Experiment and pick whatever's right for the situation!

Combat Skills & Okugi

Combat Skills are more powerful than normal attacks, but require MP to use. Each character has their own selection of skills to fulfill different roles in battle, including attacking, recovery, buffs and debuffs, and summoning. As the story progresses, you'll get access to Okugi skills while in Overzeal. These consume even more MP than Combat Skills, but are powerful enough to turn the tide of a tough battle in your favor if used wisely.

Soulstones

Soulstones are used exclusively by Shunya. While in battle, she'll recover one stone every turn. Soulstones are used to activate Shunya's skills, many of which help power up allies or weaken enemies, making them useful when dealing with tough foes.

Requests

Check the Notice Board while in a town to see if anyone needs your help. You can view a request's content and available rewards on the board, then speak to the client directly to accept it. Completing a request will earn you experience points as well as items, so consider giving them a try when you need that extra bit of experience to level up. You can also visit Yuuri in his room in Oshtor's mansion for extra rewards after completing a certain number of requests. Think of them as a payment from the Imperial Court for keeping Yamato's subjects safe and happy!

Investment and Fortification

Materials can be invested in the Imperial Capital's Equipment Shop to expand its lineup. In this game, investment materials are treated as a different category than materials used to level up Halu. Invest enough in weapons, body armor, or leg armor to improve the quality of wares offered in that category. You can also use sen (money) to fortify your existing equipment. Fortifying will improve a piece of equipment's stats, and may also give it additional effects and abilities.

Recollection Shrines

Mysterious shrines venerating the divine beast Nuko. They can be found throughout the land. Touch one to fully recover your HP and MP. *Recollection Shrines appear in towns, the field, and dungeons.