Best Front and Back Row Formations
☆ How to Unlock All 36 Characters
★ Tier Lists: Best Characters and Best Jobs
☆ Farming Guides: EXP, JP, Money
★ Forbidden Weapon Locations
☆ Battle-Tested Equipment Locations
★ Endings Guide | Post-Game Guide
You should primarily put your attackers in the front row and healers in the back row in Octopath Traveler 0 (Octopath 0). Read on to know what the best front and back row formations are, their differences, and the best time to switch rows!
| Row Switching Guides | |
|---|---|
| Row Switching Guide | How to Attack From the Back Row |
| Best Front and Back Row Formations | |
List of Contents
Best Front Row Characters
| Best Front Row Characters |
|---|
|
|
Main Attackers
Warriors, Hunters, Merchants, and your other main attackers will deal the bulk of your damage from the front. Main DPS and multihit attackers shine here, breaking enemy defenses and building BP quickly.
You can start them in front to maximize early damage, or swap them strategically with tanks to absorb hits mid-battle.
Support
Support characters such as the Dancers, can start in the front row to cast buffs and debuffs immediately at the beginning of the fight, then safely switch to the back row to stay out of harm’s way.
This lets them control the flow of battle early without risking their survival.
Magic DPS
Scholars are powerful, especially when targeting enemy weaknesses. Front row placement lets them deal high damage and break enemy defenses efficiently.
Pair them with a tank in the back row so that when you need to swap rows, the tank can absorb hits and keep your DPS alive longer.
Characters With Front Row Passives
| Skill | Job | Details |
|---|---|---|
 Borrow BP |
 Merchant
|
Borrow insufficient BP for Boost from paired back ally. Neither will restore BP next turn. |
| Encourage |
 Queen
|
When the equipped character moves to the back row, paired ally acts first next turn. |
| Blessing of Restoration |
Merchant
|
When the equipped character is in the front row, grant HP/SP regeneration to paired ally. |
| Stalwart Stance |
 Captain
|
At the start of turn, raise the equipped character's Phys. Def. up to 5 tiers when in the front row. Effect is canceled when in the back row at the start of the turn. |
Some characters gain special benefits while placed in the front row, enhancing their offense or supporting paired allies.
Using these passives strategically can make your frontline more durable, sustain your team longer, and give your attacks extra impact.
Best Back Row Characters
| Best Back Row Characters |
|---|
|
|
Healers
Clerics are safest in the back row, where they can restore HP, SP, and BP, until they're needed. Placing them here from the start ensures they can sustain the party later on while front row characters handle offense.
Tanks
Tanks, or allies with high Phys. and Elem. Def. can start in the back row to stay safe early, then switch into the front row when big hits arrive to let them soak damage for squishier allies while keeping your main attackers and magic DPS protected.
Pairing tanks with front-row attackers in the front maximizes both survival and offensive potential.
Characters With Back Row Passives
| Skill | Job | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Unsung Hero |
 Architect
|
When the equipped character is in the back row, nullify status ailments of paired ally. |
| Back Row Dancer |
 Dancer
|
At the end of turn, slightly fill the ultimate technique gauge of the entire front row when the equipped character is in the back row. |
| Back Row Support |
 Cleric
|
When the equipped character is in the back row, grant HP restoration to paired ally. |
| Encourage |
Queen
|
When the equipped character moves to the back row, paired ally acts first next turn. |
| Vast Energy |
 Warrior
|
When the equipped character is in the back row, they will have a 25% chance to reduce paired ally's BP consumption to 0. |
Back row passives focus on supporting and sustaining front row allies while staying safe.
These abilities make back row characters vital for resource management, survivability, and long fights, letting your front row focus on dealing damage while your back row quietly strengthens and protects the team.
Front Row and Back Row Differences
| Front Row and Back Row Differences |
|---|
|
|
Back Row Cannot Attack
Back row characters can’t launch physical or magical attacks while they remain there.
This makes the back row a defensive position rather than an offensive one, so plan your formations carefully.
Some Skills Allow You to Attack After Moving From the Back Row
You can't directly attack from the back row, which may be confusing since some skills are more potent from the back row. Instead, you will need to switch from the back row to the front during the turn in order to use the skill's effect.
How to Attack From the Back Row
Front Row Receives Damage
Front row characters take the brunt of enemy attacks, meaning they absorb all damage while back row regenerates and this makes positioning critical.
Tanks and high-defense characters should occupy the front row when big hits are expected, while fragile DPS and support can be rotated out or safeguarded with protective skills.
Back Row Recovers HP, SP, and BP Per Turn
Back row placement allows characters to passively regenerate HP, SP, or BP at the end of each turn. This is especially valuable for longer battles, letting front row attackers maintain consistent damage output while back row characters sustain themselves and their allies.
Best Time to Switch Rows
Switch Rows When HP and SP are Running Low
If a character’s HP or SP is getting dangerously low, swap them to the back row to avoid being KO'd or running out of resources mid-battle.
Strategic rotation keeps your team healthy and maintains the fight’s momentum.
Switch Rows Only With the Character In Front of You
Do note that you can only exchange positions with the character directly in front. Plan your moves carefully to avoid wasted turns or leaving a crucial role exposed.
Switch Rows to Save HP From Big Incoming Attacks
When you see a high-damage attack coming, preemptively move fragile characters to the back row.
This lets tanks or high-Def allies take the hit instead, protecting squishier party members and giving you more control over the battle flow.
Best Party and Team Composition
Octopath Traveler 0 (Octopath 0) Related Guides
Beginner Tips for Octopath Traveler 0
All Octopath Traveler 0 Tips and Tricks
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