Metaphor: ReFantazio's battle system uses turn-based combat with many similarities to other different Atlus titles. Check out how Metaphor: ReFantazio's battle system works so you can maximize your combat proficiency while playing the game!

Metaphor: ReFantazio Battle System Mechanics

• Turn Based Combat Encounters
• Deplete Enemy's Break Gauge
• Guard to Remove Weaknesses
• Front and Back Row Formations
• Synthesis Skills
• Archetype Stats and Weaknesses
• Retry Battles

Turn-Based Combat Encounters

Metaphor: ReFantazio adopts a turn-based combat system, called Squad Battles, where each action uses up a Turn Icon at the top of the screen. Once all Turn Icons have been used up, combat will swap to the opponent's turn.

If you hit an enemy with an attack type that they're weak to, it will only consume half of a Turn Icon, allowing one of your party members to get an extra turn.

Squad Combat Explained

Weakness Rule Also Applies to Your Team

Note that weakness exploitation also applies to your team so make sure that the enemies can't target your weaknesses, otherwise, they will get free turns.

Deplete Enemy's Break Gauge

When you're out in the overworld, you can attack enemies to deplete their Break Gauge and stun them before turn-based Squad Battles begin. If the enemies haven't spotted you yet, you can attack them with a chance to break their entire break gauge in a single hit!

Also, once you've levelled up a lot and are stronger than the enemy, you can defeat them in the overworld without having to start turn-based combat!

Enemies Can Also Initiate Combat

It should be noted that enemies can also attack you to initiate combat. This is really bad since they get to act first and your party can get afflicted with Anxiety when this happens so you want to make sure you don't get hit while depleting their break gauge.

Guard to Remove Weaknesses

Besides the standard "guard to reduce damage", guarding will also prevent enemies from hitting your weaknesses. While they will still take damage, they won't take extra damage and give the opponent an extra turn.

Front and Back Row Formations

Your party formation dictates how much damage they deal and take in combat. Characters in the front row deal more melee damage but take more damage, while characters in the back row deal less melee damage but also take less damage from enemies.

As a general rule of thumb, you'll want to have your tanks and physical attackers in the front row, while your squishier members and spell casters are positioned in the back row.

Formations Assignment Guide

Swap Rows During Combat

It should be noted that you can swap which row a character is in during combat. For example, if you need to keep an important party member on low health alive, you can temporarily swap them to the back row until they're healed back to full.

Synthesis Skills

Synthesis attacks are powerful moves that require specific Archetype combinations. These skills will use up two Turn Icons so make sure that you use this at the right time to maximize the skill's value and so you won't waste any turns.

Synthesis Skills Explained

Archetype Stats and Weaknesses

Depending on the Archetype a character has equipped, their stats, weaknesses, and resistances will change. Also, the effectiveness of certain skills will change with some Archetypes being more proficient at certain skills than others.

All Archetypes and Jobs

Retry Battles

If ever you don't like how the battle is going, or you unnecessarily wasted MP or Items, you have the option to retry the fight and turn back time to right as the combat encounter begins.

Retry Battle Command Guide

Metaphor: ReFantazio Related Guides

Tips and Tricks

All Tips and Tricks Guides

Best Articles

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Gameplay Mechanics

Status Ailment Guides

All Status Ailments and Effects
Poison	Burn
Paralysis	Hex
Frostbite	Daze
Forget	Charm
Rage	Sleep
Anxiety	Stun
Malady

Location Guides

Royal Virtue Guides

Trophy Guides

Post Game Guides