Fate/Grand Order is a turn-based RPG in which humanity sits on the brink of extinction. The storyline sees players sucked into an organization's time-travel experiment to try and combat the apocalyptic events.
The game breaks players in with a thorough tutorial, but the many layers and elements are still a lot to take in during a first-time login.
Servant Skills and Attack Types
Getting right into the battle mechanics, players may activate skills before queuing three attacks each turn. Players will want to be tactical when ordering their assaults, because a proper attack chain can grant an additional strike.
Servant Skills
A Servant's Skills are displayed above their HP bar and may be activated before initiating an assault. Skills last for a varying number of turns and require a cooldown. Skills apply all sorts of buffs from standard attack and defense to preventative buffs, boosted attack-type damage, restorative buffs, and more.
There is no limit to the number of skills a player can apply in one turn - just be sure to understand the skill's effects on the battlefield before activating so as not to waste its impact. For instance, a Skill may increase damage when health is low but require a long cooldown. Triggering such an ability at the start of battle would serve no purpose and may not have the chance to regenerate for a second use before the campaign ends.
Attack Types
There are three attack types: Quick, Buster, and Arts. These attacks are color-coded green, red, and blue, respectively. Each attack type has unique effects on the battlefield along with an additional "first attack" bonus if that type leads the attack chain.
Attack Type Bonuses
Quick:
- Critical Rating increased next turn
- First Attack Bonus: Critical Rating greatly increased next turn.
Buster:
- Attack increased the same turn
- First Attack Bonus: Greatly increased attack damage the same turn.
Arts:
- Fills NP gauge required for Noble Phantasms.
- First Attack Bonus: Fills Noble Phantasm gauge more quickly.
Party Setup
The "Formation" tab accesses the party set up, where players can manage their heroic spirit teams and their equipable Craft Essences. Players may build up to ten parties. Each Servant and Craft Essence has a cost. If the total cost of all Servants and Essences in the party exceeds the party cost limit, the player will be unable to proceed into battle.
Every Servant class is effective against and resistant to other types. Keep this in mind when building parties, so that the servants can cover each other's weaknesses. It's important to recall these class affinities when selecting a party to bring to battle against various classes of enemies.
Players can also assign Servants as support for other players to call upon in battle, one for each class. Support positions are not restricted by a cost limit.
Enhancements
Quests consist of multiple battles. Clearing a quest earns currency and enhancement materials, which can be obtained through the Summons Gacha mechanic.
Several enhancements can be made, but the four principal types are a Servant's level, the Servant's Skill level, Crafting Essences, and Noble Phantasms. All enhancements require payment of currency known as Quantum Particles.
Currency
The two pertinent currencies in Fate/Grand Order are Quantum Particles (QP) and Saint Quartz.
Quantum Particles (QP) are the main currency and support many aspects of the game, not least of all the enhancements needed to power up parties. This common currency is awarded by the thousands upon victory in battle.
Saint Quartz is the premium currency and thus awarded much more sparingly. Players will earn one Saint Quartz per quest completion, not per battle. This premium currency is used for Summons, to extract Heroic Spirits and Craft Essences.
Fate/Grand Order has a straightforward playstyle, yet still allows for tactical gameplay and offers a plethora of familiar heroic spirits to customize the player's parties. Additionally, the Google Play mobile title provides an immersive storyline and serves as a great extension to the Fate universe.