Quick Links
Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Keyhas several deep and intricate systems, many of which are vast improvements over its predecessors.Combatis one of the game’s more familiar but significantly enhanced systems and remains just as unique and rewarding as ever.
RELATED:Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist Of The End & The Secret Key - Beginner Tips
However, it is its uniqueness that might make it surprisingly challenging to dive into if you are a newcomer to the series, especially when considering all the legacy systems that are at play that will be second nature to seasoned veterans but may fly past everyone else if they’re not paying attention. Luckily, getting the hang of everything isn’t so bad if you know what you’re looking for.
Use Consumables In Battle
While this may seem obvious, there are many systems at play when you’re in a combat encounter that using theConsumablesyou have crafted may not seem as necessary as trying to build AP and rack up high combos and damage. However, Consumables are one of the most important aspects of any battle, as they will enable you togrant yourself buffs, break your target’s guard, and much more.
To use aConsumable,you must firstassign themto yourCore Itemsin theEquipmentsection found within theBattle Preparationmenu. After doing that, you will need to accumulateCC(Core Charge) in battle before you’re able to use them, but there is much more here at play than you may think. One of the most significant advantages of using Consumables and your Core Charge gauge in combat is its ability to give you afree action,even if your AP meter hasn’t fully charged.While this willcost ten AP,you caninstantly attackyour opponent, potentially interrupting their attack or breaking their guard.
Modifying Core Crystals
Not only that but using Consumables also has another feature you may not be aware of, as it is locked away in theSkill Tree.TheModify Core Crystal Skillis obtained for a whopping1,200 SPbut is well worth the investment. To acquire this Skill, you mustfirst get the Trio Craft Skill,which follows the Onyx Blade one that you automatically get via the story.
After acquiring this Skill, anytime youuse CC in battle,you willobtain Core Shards,which can then beused to enhance your CC actions.This involvesgranting you more CC at the start of an encounter, making CC Items more potent, and much more.These bonuses will encourage you to use more Consumables in combat, which can make a huge difference and help turn the tides in your favor. You canview your CC Modificationsby opening theMain Menuand navigating to theBattle Preparationtab. When here, select your character of choice and choose theModify Core Crystaloption.
While Core Shards are shared with all party members, the upgrades are not, meaning you will have to obtain all Core Crystal Modifications separately for every character. Since it is a shared Core Shard pool, you must accumulate tons of Core Shards to get everyone’s CC Modification Tree maxed out.
Duplicate Powerful Consumables
Remaining on the topic ofConsumablesfor a bit longer, another valuable Skill to obtain is theDuplication Skill,which costs1,000 SP,which is rather steep, especially early on in your adventures. However, much like the Modify Core Crystal Skill, this feature is well worth the asking price. You canDuplicate any item you create,making it one of the best ways to properly equip your party withAccessories, Gear, or Core Items.
It’s also crucial to note thatConsumables are not finite,meaning youcan use them as much as you wantwithout worrying about them running out and being forced to create more. This also means that if youSynthesize a potent Core Item,you canDuplicate it and give it to your other party members,allowing you to save your resources and materials for different items.
Despite Consumables being infinite-use, you must still have the required CC in and outside combat to use them. Furthermore, most Consumables have a specific amount of uses during encounters. So, while they are infinite, they also have limitations you should consider.
Duplication Gems
Duplicating itemsrequires you tobreak down itemsintoGems,which you can then use to Duplicate other items. The more powerful the item, the more Gems it will require to be Duplicated. As such, breaking a powerful item down will also give you lots of Gems,encouraging you toconstantly break down things such as Armor, Accessories, and Gathering Tools whenever you Synthesize newer and better onesas you progress through the story.
While this is one of the best features in the game, especially in the later portions, we suggest not getting too caught up on it in the early goings. Even though you can purposely craft items and immediately scrap them for Gems, we advise against doing so until much later in the game, as you will need every bit of your resources throughout most of your adventure. Werecommend only scrapping gear and equipment you no longer needafter you Synthesize something better to save on materials.
Properly Gear Your Party
Speaking ofequipping your partywith thebest equipment,youshould always craft new and better Armor, Weapons, and Equipmentfor all characters, especially whenever you reach a new region. While you may not have learned a new Alchemy Recipe for gear, you can - and should -remake Armor, Weapons, and Equipment,as thematerials you find later in your journey will be of much higher quality,enabling you to make incredibly strong, durable, and valuable equipment.
Additionally, as you start getting further and further into the game, you should alsoforge new Gathering Survival Tools,which will allow you toacquire more resources that are high quality.As mentioned above, whenever youSynthesize new and better gear,you shouldturn the old ones into Gemsor use them to Reinforce your current equipmentin your Atelier. Many avenues are available to you to enhance your party’s equipment, and you should take advantage of that any chance you get.
Strike First
As you explore the world, you will seemonsters roamingabout. Some will chase you down, and others may be more docile, but bumping into them will ultimatelytrigger a combat encounteragainst them. If you have played the previous Atelier Ryza titles, this won’t be new to you, but for anyone new, this is a crucial feature of the game’s combat system.
But, in addition to that, you’re able to alsoswing your Rod or Gathering Survival Tools at the monstersto kick off the encounter. On the surface, this may seem like a fun, unassuming way tobegin a combat scenario,but there are actuallybenefits to doing it thisway. The benefits, however, depend on various aspects, which you can find in the table below!
Creating And Using Keys Is Crucial
Lastly, let’s focus on one of the primary gimmicks and mechanics of the game, which revolves around theSecret Keythat Ryza gains access to early in her new journey. The Secret Key willenable Ryza to form new Keys out of monsters and Landmarksfound throughout each region, all of whichgrant her additional actions in combat encounters and can even be used with her Alchemyto help enhance your items.
You shouldalways try to forge Keys from enemies in combatand shouldalso use the Keys you already have during encountersas well, as they offer someincredibly powerful and devastating effects.Thestronger the enemy, the better the Key’s effect,which can drastically turn the tides in a tough fight or drastically increase your Alchemy.
If you find yourselfbattling a strong enemy, your focus should shift to turning their power into a Key,as it will be invaluable to you down the road. This mechanic alsoencourages experimentation and exploration,so any enemy that catches your eye should be turned into a Key, whether it be for their elemental type or abilities.Do not underestimate the power of the Keysin this game. They are quite literally the name of the game and are unbelievably powerful.
