Bravely Default 2 is the latest entry in Square Enix's JRPG series that takes players back to the classics. With fast-paced and strategic turn-based combat that pits players up against a variety of foes and hard hitting bosses, it's a perfect game for fans of old school JRPGs looking to play through some seriously intense fights.
The game's Brave and Default system only add more depth to the fantastic combat the game offers. Coupled with its extensive job system and different sorts of items available to buy and use, the game provides all sorts of tools for players to toy with to win battle after battle. With that said, it can be overwhelming when starting the game for the first time, so here are some combat tips that should help any beginner establish their footing in the game.
10 Make Sure To Buy Warding Lights
Bravely Default 2 doesn't have random encounters. The enemies show up on the map, walking around, and if they see your party, they approach them or run away, depending on how strong you are.
This can help you avoid unnecessary fights. However, sometimes you may not want to fight enemies for whatever reason. Warding Lights can help by preventing enemies from seeing you for a limited time, letting you traverse without worrying about running into unwelcome encounters. This can mean the difference between life or death.
9 Use Monster Treats To Level Up Faster
Monster Treats are a new item in Bravely Default 2. They come in a variety of types and attract different types of monsters. If you use them, your party will enter more chain battles with that certain monster type.
It seems strange to want to fight more and more consecutive battles, but there's a very good incentive for using these monster treats. By fighting consecutive battles, players can stack experience and Job Point multipliers, letting them net more and more experience in less time. This saves time and helps players acquire job skills faster, which can make all the difference when facing the game's difficult bosses.
8 Prioritize Levelling Up The White Mage Class
The White Mage class is one of the first classes that players unlock, and while it may seem like it's nothing fancy, it's absolutely crucial that every party member gets at least a few levels in the job. Since players can set main jobs and sub jobs for each party member, it can be very helpful to have a party member with white magic as their sub job, ready to cast Raise to revive party members and lessen the load on the main healer.
What's more, at level 5 of White Mage, characters unlock the Solar Powered passive ability. This lets character regain some MP at the end of each turn when fighting during the daytime, which accumulates over time and lets you save up your Ethers for when you really need them.
7 Level Up Black And White Mage To At Least Level 5
As mentioned earlier, levelling up White Mage is essential to making sure players can tackle the game's many challenging foes without too much trouble. Plus, White Mage gets the Solar Powered passive ability at level 5, which lets MP accumulate over time when the character fights during the daytime. What couples nicely with the Solar Powered ability is Black Mage's level 5 passive, the aptly titled Lunar Powered.
Characters with this skill equipped gain MP in the same way as Solar Powered, but when fighting at night. Getting both skills for each character ensures that characters regain MP no matter what time of day it is in game, making it easier to use combat abilities.
6 Don't Be Afraid To Default
It can be tempting to spend all your Braves the moment a battle begins, letting each party member deal as much damage as they can right out of the gate, but this is very punishing to your party. Spending all your BP right at the start of combat leaves your characters vulnerable to attack for a lot of turns and might even result in some immediate KOs.
Defaulting is a good idea when starting a fight, especially against unfamiliar enemies. It lessens the damage done to your characters and lets you get an idea of the enemy's moves, so you can figure out the best course of action to fight them.
5 Keep Magnifying Glasses And Use The Examine Ability Every Time
When entering a fight, it may seem tempting to jump right in and forgo spending a turn on using either the Freelancer's Examine ability or the Magnifying Glass item just to find the enemy's weaknesses and HP. However, once you get into the habit of doing so, you'll quickly realize that the payoff is worth the investment of your time.
Each time you encounter a new monster and use the ability or item to examine them, you eliminate the need to use trial and error to figure out weaknesses. Plus, the game remembers each enemy type that you've examined, so the next time you encounter the same type, the information is there for you at no extra cost, helping you plan each fight accordingly.
4 Stock Up On Ethers
In previous Bravely games, ethers were pricey. Regular Ether cost a whopping 500pg, and Turbo Ethers would cost 5000pg. It was a big investment that also helped maintain balance, as magic attacks are pretty strong.
In Bravely Default 2, ethers are significantly cheaper, which is more than enough reason to stock up on them while in town. Ethers come in handy during combat when your magic users need to exploit elemental weaknesses. One of the worst things that can happen is being low on MP and being out of ethers while in an intense boss fight, so thinking ahead and investing in them goes a long way in combat.
3 Tents Are Helpful When Exploring Dungeons And The Overworld
Tents may not seem like they're worth spending your hard earned funds on, but they come in handy when you least expect it. Most importantly, they allow your characters to access the amenities of staying a night at the inn for a discounted cost (the price of the tent) and save the time that you might have spent walking back to town.
They're helpful in combat too, in a way that might not seem obvious at first. Instead of burning Ether potions in the middle of a dungeon, it's a better idea to use a warp point or teleport stone to exit the dungeon, spend the night in a tent, and then head back into the dungeon. Plus, it helps avoid potential unwanted run-ins with monsters while heading back to town.
2 Use Monk's Powerful Abilities Carefully
Another early game class is the Monk, and it's a fantastic and powerful class that deals a lot of damage. One of the Monk's coolest skills is the passive, Bare-Knuckle-Brawler, which boosts physical attack by an incredible 80% when the character's hands are empty.
Monk includes an arsenal of abilities focused on dishing out massive amounts of damage per hit. However, most of these abilities cost HP, so relying on these abilities too much can leave your monk vulnerable. It's a good idea to use them sparingly, with lots of healing in between, otherwise you may risk losing your monk in the heat of battle.
1 Use Elemental Immunity Equipment
If you find yourself struggling to beat a boss, keeping their elemental attacks in mind may help, so that the next time your party faces them, you can have equipment ready that makes your character immune to those elements.
These pieces of equipment don't simply reduce damage but completely nullify it, which can be a complete game changer in tough situations, allowing your characters to hold out while the boss rains down on your party with a particularly powerful elemental spell, letting your party recover and prepare to strike back.