Metaphor: ReFantazio – A Complete Guide to Bonds, Followers and Archetypes
Are you ready to dive into the world of Metaphor: ReFantazio and form powerful connections with your followers? This ultimate guide will take you through everything you need to know to level up your bonds, complete tasks, and unlock incredible Archetypes to maximize your party’s potential.
The Power of Bonds in Metaphor: ReFantazio
In Metaphor: ReFantazio, much like in the Persona games, the relationships you build with characters (known as Followers) play a crucial role in how your adventure unfolds. Strengthening these bonds opens up new abilities, Archetypes, and rewards that will enhance your gameplay and give your party a significant edge in battle. These connections aren’t just surface-level; they’re deeply intertwined with the mechanics of progression and combat in the game.
So, how do you make the most of these bonds? Let’s explore how to increase your relationships, unlock new Archetypes, and what tasks you’ll need to complete to progress through the game seamlessly.
What Are Bonds and Followers?
In Metaphor: ReFantazio, bonds are a key mechanic that allows you to strengthen your relationship with your party members and other key characters. These relationships are built by having meaningful conversations, completing requests, and meeting specific requirements related to your Kingly Virtue stats.
But why are these bonds so important? Building strong bonds with your followers doesn’t just unlock new story content it also grants your party access to new Archetypes, enhancing your characters’ abilities and offering powerful bonuses that are essential as you advance through the game’s challenging dungeons and battles.
How to Increase Bonds with Followers
To build bonds with followers, you’ll need to have conversations with them and often meet specific conditions, like raising your Kingly Virtue stats or completing certain quests. The more you engage with these characters, the more you’ll unlock valuable skills and items.
Each Follower has their own bond rank, and as you increase these ranks, you’ll unlock abilities and Archetypes specific to that Follower. The bond system is not just about gathering allies; it’s about making those allies stronger by investing in your relationships.
Understanding Archetypes: The Key to Customization
Archetypes in Metaphor: ReFantazio are unique character classes or roles that determine the skills and abilities available to each party member. As you progress through the game, you’ll unlock new Archetypes, allowing your characters to switch between different combat roles or specialize in certain skill sets.
There are various Archetypes to discover, each offering different strategic benefits in combat. For example, levelling up the Healer Archetype is essential for providing your party with strong healing abilities, while other Archetypes like Gunner or General provide offensive power or leadership traits.
Meeting More: Unlocking Archetypes and Completing Tasks
After your battle with Homo Gorleo at the Northern Fort Border, you’ll unlock the Archetype System and meet a character named More. More plays a pivotal role in helping you learn about Archetypes and guiding you through their progression. Once you meet More, you’ll be transported to Akademia, a key location where you can study Archetypes, inherit skills, and perform special experiments.
Akademia can be accessed from any city, dungeon, or even while using the Gauntlet Runner, making it a central hub for improving your party’s abilities.
How to Complete More’s Tasks and Unlock Rewards
More will give you tasks that directly relate to levelling up different Archetypes. Each task you complete rewards you with items that increase Imagination and unlock new Archetypes or abilities. For example, early tasks involve levelling up the Healer Archetype or studying the Gunner Archetype, while later tasks require you to master multiple Archetypes across all characters.
These tasks are progressive, meaning that once you complete one, you’ll receive the next task in sequence. However, if you’ve already met the requirements for future tasks, you can complete multiple tasks at once, making your progression smoother.
Detailed Breakdown of More’s Tasks
Here’s a look at some of the key tasks More assigns and the rewards you can expect from completing them:
More’s Task: Forward and Prologue
- Requirement: Level up the Healer Archetype to Rank 10 on any character.
- Reward: Hero’s Incense x3 (Increases Imagination), More Bond Rank 2 unlocked.
More’s Task Chapter One: Ordeal
- Requirement: Study the Gunner Archetype (Unlocked by completing Neuras’s request).
- Reward: Hero’s Fruit x5 (Increases Imagination), More Bond Rank 3 unlocked.
More’s Task Chapter Two: Solitude
- Requirement: Level the Merchant Archetype to Rank 15 on any character.
- Reward: Hero’s Fruit x8 (Increases Imagination), More Bond Rank 4 unlocked.
As you progress through these tasks, you’ll unlock even more powerful Archetypes, including the coveted Elite Archetypes like Soul Hacker, which is the final form of the Seeker Archetype.
Key Archetypes and How to Unlock Them
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most important Archetypes in Metaphor: ReFantazio and how you can unlock them for your party.
1. Healer Archetype
- How to Unlock: Start a bond with Maria, a follower you meet at the Honeybee Inn.
- Abilities: The Healer Archetype grants powerful healing abilities, making it essential for survival in difficult battles.
2. Gunner Archetype
- How to Unlock: Complete Neuras’s first request.
- Abilities: The Gunner Archetype offers long-range attacks and specialized shooting skills that can deal massive damage to enemies from afar.
3. Merchant Archetype
- How to Unlock: Complete Brigitta’s first request.
- Abilities: The Merchant Archetype allows your characters to master skills related to trade and economy, unlocking bonuses that help you acquire rare items and equipment.
4. General Archetype
- How to Unlock: Level up the Commander Archetype to Rank 20 by progressing through Bardon’s quests.
- Abilities: The General Archetype is a leadership role that enhances your party’s coordination in battle, offering buffs that increase damage and defense.
Each Archetype offers a unique playstyle, allowing you to experiment with different strategies and create a party that suits your approach to combat.
Tips for Maximizing Your Bond Progression
Here are some pro tips for leveling up your bonds and Archetypes as efficiently as possible:
1. Focus on Conversations
Make time to regularly talk to your followers. Even brief interactions can lead to significant bond progression.
2. Keep an Eye on Stat Requirements
Certain bonds will only progress if you’ve met specific stat thresholds. Focus on increasing your Kingly Virtue stats to avoid hitting roadblocks.
3. Complete Requests
Many bonds can only be strengthened by completing special requests or side quests. Be proactive in seeking these out, as they often unlock new Archetypes.
4. Multi-task Archetype Progression
Once you’ve unlocked multiple Archetypes, make sure to rotate through them during battles to maximize your party’s growth.
FAQ: Common Questions About Bonds, Followers, and Archetypes
Q: How do I know when a follower has a new request or task?
A: You’ll usually receive notifications or hints in dialogue. Always check in with your followers regularly.
Q: Can I switch Archetypes freely once they are unlocked?
A: Yes! Once an Archetype is unlocked, you can switch between them at will, giving you flexibility to adapt to different combat situations.
Q: What are Kingly Virtue stats, and why do they matter?
A: Kingly Virtue stats are a set of attributes that determine your ability to progress certain bonds. Increasing these stats allows you to unlock new bond levels with followers.
Q: What is the difference between normal Archetypes and Elite Archetypes?
A: Elite Archetypes are the final, most powerful forms of a particular Archetype lineage. They offer the strongest abilities and should be prioritized once unlocked.
Strengthening Your Party, One Bond at a Time
Bonds and Archetypes form the heart of Metaphor: ReFantazio’s gameplay. By investing time in building relationships and unlocking new Archetypes, you’ll create a powerful and versatile team capable of overcoming the toughest challenges the game throws at you. Stay dedicated to your tasks, complete those side quests, and make sure you’re constantly talking to your followers to reap the rewards of deep connections and powerful abilities.
