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Ryza is back for one last adventure. This time around, she will learn more about the history of the fallen Klint Kingdom, their ties to the Underworld, and the destruction they left behind in their pursuit of knowledge.
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As Ryza and her friends take on new challenges, she’ll apply everything she’s learned about alchemy thus far to find answers and save Kirken Island from new threats. Familiar and new synthesis mechanics are at your disposal this time around, and this guide will show you how to make use of them all like a pro.
The Basics
Whether you are new to the series, or a returning fan, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the alchemy basics before jumping in. Synthesis can be an incredibly fun and rewarding experience, easily making up about half of the nearly 100 hours of gameplay offered. It can also be a lot to digest since there are so many components you’ll need to consider.
Every recipe you can synthesize is made up of Material Loops, each with its own elemental values and requirements. The color of the loop determines whether it is charged with Fire, Ice, Bolt, or Air ingredients, and there are various Loop values to factor in when adding materials. The higher the quality of materials, the more easily they’ll fill up each Material Loop, but you’ll also need to use the right kind of materials in order to access connected loops.
The number of materials you can add when synthesizing is limited, meaning you won’t be able to fill out every loop at first. However, you can increase the number of materials used by spending skill points on the corresponding upgrades in the skill tree. This will be especially important once you unlock more advanced recipes since they will have more loops to complete.
Secret Keys
The newest feature added to the synthesis experience is the Secret Keys. You’ll end up crafting Pristine Keys through synthesis, and then using them to create unique keys at landmarks scattered throughout the world. Each of the unique keys comes with its own effects and properties that when used in synthesis, will add various boosts to your recipe.
To use the Secret Keys in synthesis, you’ll first need to fill out the Core Material Loops. These are the larger loops you’ll fill first when the recipe begins. Once you’ve added at least one material to each loop, the keys will become available. Each key has a variety of effects such as increasing the number of synthesis materials you can use, the quality of the recipe, or even filling out some of the Material Loops of the corresponding elemental value. If you are using a key for the latter effect, just make sure to unlock as many of the loops with that elemental value as possible before using the key as it won’t work on locked loops.
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Link Morph
The last core synthesis feature you’ll gain access to is Link Morph. After reaching at least the first loop level for each of the Core Material Loops, you’ll be able to change the loop’s elemental value by clicking in the left thumbstick and selecting another material of the desired elemental value to apply to it. For example, if you wanted to change a Core Material Loop from a Fire element to an Ice element, you’d select an Ice-type material after initiating Link Morph.
Using Link Morph will have a few different effects. For starters, it will change the effects that will be added to the synthesized item at the end of the process. For example, when changing the loop from Fire to Ice, the core attributes could shift from an Attack stat focus to a Defense stat focus. In addition, using Link Morph will open up new Material Loops that weren’t available at the start of synthesis. This means you’re able to access unique ways to craft the item, like reducing the CC (core charge) point requirements for using Core Items in battle.
Additionally, there are also some recipes that can only be learned by using Link Morph. These are fairly rare, but if you want to craft every available recipe, you’ll need to keep an eye out for these opportunities. To spot them, look for the “+” icon next to an item when choosing what to synthesize from the menu. If you don’t see the new Recipe Loop when first reviewing the item in synthesis, then you’ll need to use Link Morph on one of the Core Material Loops in order to access the new recipe.
Effects And Traits
Now that you understand the basics and more advanced synthesis features, it’s time to get into the finer details. As you are gathering or synthesizing materials, you’ll notice that each of them has a variety of effects and traits. Effects are typically tied to an item’s core stats or basic functions. For example, a Core Item’s effects will determine how much damage it inflicts, the range, or additional debuffs applied. Equipment effects will typically affect base character stats like defense or health, add buffs when using weapons or items, or provide resistance to certain attacks.
Traits have a similar impact on the item but are also stackable and transferable between items during synthesis. For example, if you were to use several materials during synthesis that had an Attack Charge trait, the level of that trait would increase with the addition of each material. If you unlocked trait loops during synthesis, you’ll be able to apply up to three of the traits to the item at the end of the synthesis process. This trait stacking can be further amplified by combining multiple, previously synthesized materials that had leveled-up traits into a new recipe, taking an Attack Charge Lvl 10 to Level 35 when synthesizing the final weapon or item. In addition, there are also rare Super Traits that can be applied to an item. To do so, you’ll need to make sure you fill out the Super Trait Material Loop as well, as it functions separately from the regular traits.
As you become more familiar with each trait, you’ll learn which combinations work best for each item. There are a near-infinite number of ways to synthesize by applying all the principles mentioned above. Don’t be afraid to experiment, and remember above all else to just have fun with it, and you’ll feel like a pro alchemist before you know it.
