Metaphor: ReFantaziofollows in the footsteps of previous games from ATLUS, providing players with a deep and meaningful story filled with complex characters, as well as an intuitive turn-based combat system.
During combat, players and party members can transform into large fighters known as Archetypes, who have powerful, unique abilities.
Each Archetype represents a different class and will level up as players use them, much like normal skills. Within each class,Archetypes contain a Tree of different tiers, with Elite Archetypes representing the pinnacle of each class.
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Though they all serve their own special purposes, some Archetypes are certainly more powerful than others, and which can be considered generally more useful throughout the game.
Archetypes can also be swapped between characters, butkeep the character’s base skills in mind when assigning them an Archetypeto ensure that itmaximizes each party member’s existing strengths.
16Martial Artist
Brawler Lineage
Requirements:
Pugilist (Rank 20)
Character Unlocked From:
Brawlers might not seem like the most useful Archetype ina world where mages and heavily-armed combatants also exist, but they do have several characteristics which can be useful when used properly.
The Brawler’s role is to engage the enemy from close range, combining powerful punches with life-draining abilities and passive healing to ensure that they can be a damage sponge.
The Battle Master skill is a great example of this, providing Martial Artists with complete resistance to Poison, Malady, Paralysis, Hex, Burn and Frostbite damage.
In terms of Synthesis skills, Martial Artists and indeed the entire Brawler Lineage as a whole fall shortwhen compared with some of their counterparts. With that said, the Bodhisattva’s Palm is still a very powerful attack which can be used to target a single opponent.
Warrior Lineage
- Swordmaster (Rank 20)
- General (Rank 10)
The Samurai Archetype can be unlocked as the highest tier of the Warrior Lineage, and is best used in an attacking role.
The Barge Past passive skill will enable players to move past enemies withouttriggering turn-based combateven when struck, which can be especially useful for getting back through dungeons you have already cleared or passed through before.
Most of the Samurai’s best skills are, unsurprisingly, related to combat. With several passive skills to regenerate health and increase Attack, the Samurai makes an excellent team member, and also has a number of support abilities.
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Samurai may not have as many Synthesis skills as some other classes, but the ones they do have are very powerful. Wind Blade in particular, which can be used in combination with Seekers, Knights or Commanders, will cause strong wind damage to all enemies.
While there are certainly more powerful Archetypes than the Warrior, it can be an easy Lineage tolevel through fast with Strohlas he is an early-game follower. When leveled to its maximum potential, the Samurai is certainly a formidable Archetype.
Thief Lineage
- Assassin (Rank 20)
- Sniper (Rank 10)
What’s better than a highly-leveled Assassin? That’s right, a Ninja! Ninjas specialize in stunning and weakening enemies, as well as stealing items from them, too.
Along with their unique Pickpocket ability, Ninjas can also help out during battles with several skill moves. The Agitator’s Art will cause the Rage effect on all enemies, making them susceptible to more damage though slightlyincreasing their attack power in the process.
The Ninja’s only Synthesis skill is the Ice Art ability, which can apply heavy Ice damage to one opponent when combined with a Seeker, Mage or Healer.
Overall, Ninjas are a relatively weak Archetype for the Elite level, even though they do possess the unique Pickpocket ability.
Healer Lineage
- Cleric (Rank 20)
The Savior is the Elite Archetype of the Healer lineage, and is best used as a Rear Rank defender, providing power and healing to allies. The Support Recovery passive skill will regenerate health in the overworld wheneveran attack is landed by a party member.
Healers will only be effective in a supporting role, and won’t be suited to combat, but their regenerative abilities can be extremely useful in fights, enabling stronger combat Archetypes to remain in the fight for considerably longer than they would otherwise be able to.
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Saviors have several important and powerful skills related to healing, but the most powerful by far is the Godly Blessing skill. This can be triggered when a Mage, Summoner, or Masked Dancer is also present and will revive all KO’d allies.
As the most advanced type of Healer, Saviors can be invaluable when facing off againstsome of the game’s harder bosses. Maria is the follower most suited to the Archetype, and she will initially unlock it after talking to her at the Hushed Honeybee Inn.
Merchant Lineage
- Merchant (Rank 20)
- Commander (Rank 10)
- Brigitta
Tycoons are the Elite Archetype of the Merchant Lineage, giving players better prices, more power and item effectiveness, along with better battle rewards following combat. This Archetype can bevery valuable when trying to level up, or for providing an extra edge to powerful items during battles.
Most of the Tycoon’s abilities are passive effects, such as Luckier Find and Item Connoisseur, which will increase the likelihood of finding rare items and multiply their effectiveness.
Saviors can be especially powerful with regard to their Synthesis skills. Acting almost like mages, their abilities like All Reset and Golden Soldier can be devastating to entire groups of enemies at once.
The most benefits can be gained from Tycoons when it comes to increasing overall income and making use of items. Brigitte is the most adept to take on this role, asshe is also the character who introduces the Merchant Archetype.
11Destroyer
Berserker Lineage
- Berserker (Rank 20)
Destroyers are a specialized combat Archetype whoexcel at exploiting enemy weaknesses, as well as dealing out plenty of punishment themselves. They also have a range of Synthesis skills which can be used in combination with many other Archetypes.
Individual attacks are nothing special, especially when compared with some of the more powerful Archetypes, but the Destroyer’s Radiant Crusher and Revenge Seeker abilities can certainly still be useful.
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As for its Synthesis abilities, the Destroyer’s Wild Bore and Wanton Destruction attacks can weaken enemies for several turns. The Battlecry Tackle is also useful for applying blanket damage to groups of enemies.
In general, the Destroyer is a strong Elite Archetype, but can be surpassed by some others when it comes to both dealing damage and protecting allies. The Archetype is best suited to Basilio, who canprogress through the Berserker Lineage most easily.
10Soul Hacker
Seeker Lineage
- Magic Seeker (Rank 20)
The Soul Hacker Archetype is the pinnacle of the Seeker lineage, and operates primarily in a supporting role for other attacking Archetypes. The Soul Hacker’s passive skill, Chase Support, will allow allies to attack more easily during overworld encounters.
Soul Hackers have a number of powerful abilities to call upon, such as Seeker’s Flame and Emerald Vortex, both of which will launch powerful attacks, damaging all enemies.
For this reason, Soul Hackers make an excellent support Archetype, as they can beplaced on the Rear Row of a Formationand still offer reasonable damage output.
Additionally, Soul Hackers can use several powerful Synthesis skills. In combination with Warriors, the Winning Horse ability will deal a severe physical attack towards one targeted enemy, while synthesizing with Healers can enable Soul Hackers to use Trial of the Seeker against all enemies.
Overall, the Soul Hacker Archetype is a very useful one, especially as itcan be unlocked relatively earlycompared with some others.
It isbest assigned to the Protagonist, as most other followers already have powerful specializations suited to other Archetypes.
Mage Lineage
- Wizard (Rank 20)
- Assassin (Rank 10)
The Warlock is the highestElite Archetype for the Mage Lineage, specializing in a range of magic that can both help allies and hinder enemies equally. The Warlock can also recharge the Magic Points of allies, ensuring that they can use their own Archetype and Synthesis abilities for longer.
Warlocks don’t have a huge number of Archetype abilities, since their main strength lies in their Synthesis skills. Nonetheless, Magic Reversion and Magic Vessel are two powerful passive abilities that regenerate MP after an enemy is defeated.
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Warlocks' synthesis abilities are where they can generate the most amount of damage to opponents. Child of Death willdeal extreme Dark damage to one enemy, while Netherworld Tree can be used to deal Dark damage to all enemies.
Overall, Warlocks make for an excellent support class, particularly when combined with the Masked Dancer Archetype.
Knight Lineage
- Magic Knight (Rank 20)
- Hulkenberg
When it comes to the Knight lineage, there aretwo paths players can choose from. The Paladin Elite Archetype offers a range of strong defensive abilities, along with devastating attacks to both individual and groups of enemies.
Paladins have a total of 7 Archetype skills to use in combat, which is more than most Elite Archetypes offer. Out of these, Protect Guard and Holy Knight’s Proclamation offer the most tactical advantage, drawing in enemy attacks and offering additional protection to a chosen ally.
Paladins aren’t short of powerful Synthesis skills either. The Hammer of Justice can be used to cause heavy Piercing damage, and will ignore any resistances to it. Peerless Sanctity is also a strong ability which targets entire groups and deals physical Light damage while simultaneously lowering their Attack/Defense stats.
The Paladin is a strong Elite Archetype and its range of abilities certainly make it useful, but it is more ofa jack-of-all-trades Archetype rather than a specialistin any given area.
7Dark Knight
- Wizard (Rank 10)
The Dark Knight is an alternative Elite Archetype to the Paladin, which both come from the Knight Lineage. While Paladins have more of a balanced skill-set in both Attack and Defense, Dark Knights are focussed more on dealing out Dark physical damage.
Dark Knights have many passive skills, which is one of their greatest attributes. These all stack upto make Dark Knight’s extremely powerful fighters, with Pierce Boost and Instant Recovery being among the best.
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Though Dark Knights don’t have a tonne of Synthesis skills, they do have some pretty strong ones. Peerless Shadow is the strongest, dealing severe Dark physical damage to all opponents and lowering their Attack/Defense for 3 turns.
In general, it is a slightly stronger Archetype than its counterpart, the Paladin, but it all depends on how either one is used within a given group.
