Unlocking the Speed Cooking Ability in Metaphor ReFantazio: A Complete Guide

Key Takeaways

1. Speed Cooking is essential to save valuable days in Metaphor ReFantazio’s time-restricted gameplay.
2. Unlocking this ability requires reaching Follower Rank 4 with Maria, your in-game cooking mentor.
3. The ability allows quicker meal prep, granting more flexibility for daily tasks while enhancing party performance.

Metaphor ReFantazio, a strategic RPG from Atlus, introduces a unique cooking system that supports character growth and party performance. However, cooking in the game typically consumes a full in-game day time that’s limited due to the “Days” system where each action counts against a finite number of days. Here, the Speed Cooking ability becomes crucial, reducing time spent on meals and maximizing your daily schedule. In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to unlock and use Speed Cooking to boost your gameplay efficiency.

Why Is Speed Cooking Important?

In Metaphor ReFantazio, cooking isn’t just a minor skill; it’s a foundational aspect of progression. Prepared meals grant beneficial effects to your party, essential for tackling challenging battles. However, without Speed Cooking, each recipe takes up nearly an entire day, restricting other potential activities. Unlocking this ability means you’ll free up time for additional quests, battles, or bonding activities with other characters all while ensuring your party is well-prepared.

Step-by-Step Guide to Unlocking Speed Cooking

Unlocking Speed Cooking isn’t immediately accessible; it’s gated behind building a relationship with a specific character named Maria. Follow these steps to efficiently unlock this vital skill:

1. Progress Through the Storyline Until Day 6/24
   Speed Cooking becomes available only after reaching a critical storyline point, the Tournament for the Throne on Day 6/24. Once you reach this stage, you’ll access the Gauntlet Runner, a feature in the game that grants new areas and quests.
2. Meet Maria and Unlock Cooking Basics
   After obtaining access to the Gauntlet Runner, locate Maria she’s the character responsible for teaching you the fundamentals of cooking. She introduces you to the kitchen, accessible through the second door on the right within the Gauntlet Runner. This area is where all cooking will take place, so familiarize yourself with its layout and requirements.
3. Increase Maria’s Follower Rank to Level 4
   To unlock Speed Cooking, you’ll need to level up Maria’s Follower Rank to level 4. This requires completing various quests and bonding activities with her, which will gradually improve her Follower Rank. Building a relationship with Maria is essential not only for unlocking Speed Cooking but also for accessing advanced recipes and additional in-game benefits.
4. Activate Speed Cooking Ability
   Once you’ve achieved Follower Rank 4 with Maria, Speed Cooking will automatically unlock. This allows you to cook dishes much faster, saving valuable in-game time and allowing you to focus on other tasks.

Using Speed Cooking Effectively

With Speed Cooking unlocked, you’ll still be limited to preparing one meal per day, but the time saved provides significant flexibility in managing daily activities. Here are some tips to maximize your time:

• Plan Ahead: Determine which recipe you’ll need based on upcoming battles. Some dishes offer defensive buffs, while others enhance offensive stats, so match recipes to your current needs.
• Prioritize High-Benefit Recipes: Use Speed Cooking for recipes with the most beneficial effects, maximizing the impact on your party’s performance in critical situations.
• Balance Cooking and Other Activities: While you’ll still need to dedicate time to cooking, Speed Cooking minimizes the impact on your day’s schedule, allowing you to allocate time to quests, training, and story progression.

Cooking System Overview in Metaphor ReFantazio

In Metaphor ReFantazio, cooking serves several key purposes, each integral to character progression and survival in tougher stages of the game. Here’s a closer look at what cooking brings to your gameplay:

1. Strengthens Party Abilities
   Recipes yield powerful buffs, enhancing health, stamina, and other critical attributes. As you encounter more formidable enemies, well-prepared dishes can be the difference between victory and defeat.
2. Grows with Story Progression
   Initially, your recipe options are limited, but as you progress and level up your relationship with Maria, new, more powerful recipes become available.
3. Enhances Game Strategy
   Since the cooking system runs on an in-game day timer, learning when to cook and when to engage in other activities becomes a strategic choice. With Speed Cooking, you’ll have the advantage of preparing meals without sacrificing as much time.

Unlocking Basic Cooking Skills in Metaphor ReFantazio

Before you can utilize Speed Cooking, you’ll need to unlock the basic cooking ability by following these steps:

1. Advance to Day 6/24 (Tournament for the Throne)
   Cooking isn’t accessible in the very early stages of Metaphor ReFantazio. Once you’ve reached Day 6/24, you’ll encounter the Tournament for the Throne and unlock the Gauntlet Runner, marking the start of your journey with cooking.
2. Visit the Kitchen in Gauntlet Runner
   After obtaining the Gauntlet Runner, enter the second door on the right to access the kitchen. Cooking is only possible here, and recipes take a full day to complete without the Speed Cooking ability.
3. Gather Ingredients
   Throughout your journey, you’ll collect a variety of ingredients. Some may initially seem unnecessary, but each item has a purpose within specific recipes, so stockpile ingredients early on.

Advanced Tips for Cooking and Party Preparation

1. Understand Recipe Buffs: Different recipes offer specific bonuses, such as increased defense, healing, or stamina. Tailor your meal choices to the battles or events on the horizon.
2. Track Ingredient Locations: Certain ingredients are rare and may only be found in specific locations or after defeating certain enemies. Make note of these areas for future reference.
3. Prioritize High-Ranking Recipes for Harder Battles: The more difficult recipes will often require rare ingredients but provide stronger buffs, perfect for high-stakes encounters.

FAQs About Speed Cooking in Metaphor ReFantazio

Q1: Why can I only cook one meal per day, even with Speed Cooking?
Despite unlocking Speed Cooking, the game limits players to one meal per day to maintain balance. This design encourages thoughtful planning and forces players to choose recipes wisely.

Q2: Can I unlock cooking earlier in the game?
No, cooking is tied to the storyline progression. You must reach Day 6/24 and gain access to the Gauntlet Runner before cooking becomes available.

Q3: What happens if I don’t unlock Speed Cooking?
Without Speed Cooking, each recipe will take a full day, significantly limiting the time you have to complete other tasks. Speed Cooking is essential for efficient time management, especially in the game’s latter stages.

Q4: How do I raise Maria’s Follower Rank quickly?
To increase Maria’s rank, prioritize quests that involve her and engage in activities that boost your bond. Completing her tasks and spending time with her will accelerate her Follower Rank progress.

Mastering the cooking system in Metaphor ReFantazio unlocks a powerful advantage in gameplay. Speed Cooking not only saves time but enhances your ability to tackle challenges strategically. By following this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to unlock Speed Cooking, make the most of each in-game day, and lead your party to victory with well-prepared, timely meals.