Things We Wish We Knew Sooner – Metaphor: ReFantazio Guide

Pay attention to lines early

As a change from Persona's combat, Metaphor features a line system not unlike the classic Final Fantasies. If allies remain in the front row, their melee damage increases but their defense decreases, and vice versa for the back row. As you progress, certain abilities can only be used in the front or back row, and archetypes like Commander and General can even move party members between rows to give them certain buffs. Before you attack, use an ability, item or guard, always remember that your turn is important as it can make the difference between victory and defeat against formidable enemies. It gets more complicated over time, so deal with it early.

You should fight the dragon in the Nord Mines

The characters tell you to try to sneak past him, but it's worth fighting the dragon early on in the Nord Mines. He guards a very powerful sword for warrior archetypes, which can later be purified in the church to deal fire damage with each attack. To defeat the dragon, take advantage of its ice weakness by turning the protagonist into a mage archetype and leveling him up to rank 2 so he can cast Blizz and purchasing ice chunks from the merchant. Your default archetype is the Seeker, which is weak at firing, so you shouldn't bring him into battle to face him.

See Should you fight the dragon in the Nord Mines? for even more detailed instructions!

There are very efficient ways to spend the first few days

If you're looking for a Royal Virtue to elevate first thing after letting loose in the Grand Trad, you can get Wisdom to Level 2 by the second morning of your free time by simply visiting Sunlumeo Street. On your first day, take on the plaza task of helping Fabienne cook, then spend time on the bench near the shore picking up some wisdom.

Help Fabienne at the Resting Honeybee Inn at night (which also increases your tolerance as a bonus) and you can turn in the quest first thing in the morning. Between the bench and the quest reward, you reach Wisdom Level 2 and unlock two different things: weapon and armor cleaning from the church and a quest from Brigitta, the detonator shop owner, which leads to our next tip.