Unlocking Sword Surfer in Metaphor: ReFantazio: A Comprehensive Guide
Key Takeaways:
- Focus on Continuous Blade Riding: For the Sword Surfer achievement, persistently blade-ride throughout the game, especially in high-distance areas.
- Understand Bug Fixes: Restarting your console and game may resolve issues if the achievement doesn’t unlock after prolonged blade-riding.
- Optimize Locations: Certain game locations allow for easier, uninterrupted blade-riding to help achieve the distance goal faster.
If you’re exploring the mystical world of Metaphor: ReFantazio and striving for the elusive Sword Surfer achievement, you know it can be challenging due to its vague requirements and potential technical issues. Here’s a breakdown of how to tackle this achievement and what to do if it doesn’t unlock.
What Is the Sword Surfer Achievement?
The Sword Surfer achievement focuses on traveling a significant distance while “blade riding,” a special form of movement in Metaphor: ReFantazio where your character rides a sword instead of walking. This skill is available after you unlock blade riding in the early stages of the game, specifically once you reach the first period of free time in Grand Trad.
While many players may accumulate distance naturally, the achievement can still be a grind, and there’s no in-game tracker for distance. Worse, a known bug may prevent progress entirely, leaving players wondering how much more they need to blade ride.
How to Unlock Blade Riding and Begin Sword Surfing
Blade riding unlocks automatically as part of the main story on June 12 in the game’s timeline. Once available, you can blade ride in various towns and cities, including:
- Grand Trad
- Martira
- Port Brilehaven
- Virga Island
- Altabury Heights
To start blade riding, press Circle on PlayStation, B on Xbox, or V on PC. To go faster, use the dash button, just as you would while running.
Overcoming the Sword Surfer Achievement Bug
If you find yourself near the end of the game without unlocking Sword Surfer despite frequent blade-riding, it’s likely due to a bug. Currently, the exact cause of this bug remains unknown, and there’s no official fix. However, some players have found that restarting the game and console can help.
Steps to Fix the Sword Surfer Achievement Bug
- Save your game progress.
- Fully power down your console or PC (not just a quick restart).
- Turn the console or PC back on, then reload Metaphor: ReFantazio.
- Start blade riding again.
For many, this approach has led to the achievement unlocking within a short time of blade-riding after restarting, though it may not work for everyone.
Best Locations for Efficient Blade Riding
If you want to maximize your blade-riding distance quickly, two spots in Metaphor: ReFantazio are particularly well-suited:
1. Grand Trad – Regalith Grand Cathedral
This spacious plaza in the city center has minimal foot traffic, making it ideal for uninterrupted sword surfing. You can circle the area continuously to accumulate distance quickly, minimizing stops and obstacles.
2. Brilehaven – Merchant’s Bazaar
This section of Brilehaven has a straight path through the Merchant’s Bazaar to the podium, which is also relatively empty. You can loop back and forth without frequent interruptions, allowing you to cover significant ground in a shorter time.
The Rubber Band Trick
For players looking to hit the distance goal without constantly monitoring their progress, the “rubber band” trick is a useful workaround. Simply wrap a rubber band around your controller’s thumbsticks to press them together, forcing your character to move in a circle automatically. Letting this run can build up distance passively while you tend to other tasks.
Note: If you haven’t been blade-riding throughout the game, this method may take about 40 minutes to trigger the achievement.
FAQs
Why hasn’t the Sword Surfer achievement unlocked?
If you’ve ridden your sword extensively without the achievement unlocking, it could be due to insufficient distance or a bug. Try restarting your game and system to see if it resolves the issue.
How can I tell how much distance I’ve covered?
Unfortunately, there’s no in-game progress tracker for this achievement. The best approach is to blade ride consistently throughout the game, especially in the recommended areas.
How long does it usually take to unlock Sword Surfer?
For players blade-riding sporadically, it can take several hours of cumulative distance. However, focusing on distance in high-traffic areas and using the rubber band trick may significantly reduce the time.
Does restarting the game guarantee the achievement will unlock?
Not necessarily, but many players have reported success after a full system reboot. If it doesn’t work, continue blade-riding as the achievement may still unlock with additional distance.
