Rapport can be described as one of the many currencies in Lost Ark. Some may initially overlook its importance as it is more story than combat based, dealing with relationships rather than weapons and armour. But as with most things in Lost Ark, they're actually directly connected.

Related: Lost Ark: Where To Find Every Mokoko Seed In Totopia

Increasing rapport with NPCs leads to opening up otherwise unavailable quests, as well as giving access to unique items. There are more than 70 of these NPCs scattered across the continents, with many giving valuable collectables or gold. While the best can offer up anything from a Giant’s Heart to unique Adventurer’s Tome requirements.

Which NPCs Accept Rapport Gifts?

More and more Rapport NPCs will become available to you as you work through the game. You’ll recognise them on-screen by the two hearts that float intermittently above their heads, making them easy to spot. They’re also visible on your map. Or for a bigger picture, you can open the Rapport screen (by clicking ‘Adventure’ at the bottom right of your screen, and then ‘Rapport’). This reveals location information, as well as other details we’ll discuss below.

Some Rapport NPCs simply become available to you once you’ve found their location. But the majority will need you to fulfill some sort of requirement before you can interact with them. This is usually completing a quest line, which will cement their feeling about your worthiness as a friend. But you can see what’s required by going into the main Rapport screen and hovering over any blacked-out NPC. These still have an unlock requirement - and a text box will pop up explaining exactly what that is.

How Do You Increase Rapport With An NPC?

Once an NPC has opened up, you will be able to increase your relationship with them by using rapport in several ways:

1. Give gift: You can give out up to 99 rapport gifts to NPCs each day. These can increase Rapport by anything from 300 to 10,000 points. See our Eight Ways To Get Rapport Gifts guide for more detailed information on gifts.
2. Play instrument: You can play songs for Rapport increases five times per day. Each NPC likes to hear at least one piece of sheet music, others more. But only once per day per tune. And you need to have found the specific songs they want to hear. Playing your instrument will give roughly 200-400 Rapport per song.
3. Show emotes: You can also interact via emotes with Rapport NPCs five times per day. They work in the same way as playing your instrument. You need to have found the particular emotes they want to see, and you can do each one once per day with any given NPC. Again, each emote used will earn you around 200-400 rapport with them.
4. Quests: At various points in your relationship, usually when going up a Rapport rank, an NPC may give you a Rapport quest – or a simple chance to chat. Completing and reading these requests can also give you Rapport boosts with them.

It should be noted that various items can give temporary bonuses to these daily limits, including both daily login gifts and pay shop items. The ones noted above are the base levels for all players.

What Are Rapport Ranks And Levels?

Not all Rapport NPCs are as easy to impress as others. The system has five ranks of ‘Trust’ available for each one:

• Disinterested
• Neutral
• Amicable
• Friendly
• Trusted

You’ll find the majority of characters start at Neutral and will top out after Friendly, giving you their best gifts at that stage.

In addition to these base levels, each Rapport NPC will also have levels within the ranks. For example, you may need to work through levels Amicable One, Two, and Three before Reaching Friendly One, and so on. This information can be found by clicking the question mark next to an NPC’s Rapport bar while in dialogue with them.

Finally, the amount of Rapport points needed to go up each level also varies between NPCs and can increase as you go up through the levels. Again, the amount of Rapport XP you need for the next level is shown while in dialogue with the specific NPC. Any Rapport spent that puts you through a level cap will go towards the next level, so it will not be wasted.

It should also be noted here that some Rapport NPCs will require you to reach certain stat levels to continue to advance through Rapport levels, or to take on quests for them. These usually require you to meet certain Virtue Stat requirements in Courage, Kindness etc. before being able to continue. Which can be quite frustrating if you’ve earmarked a particular NPC for maxing out.

Where Are My Rapport Gifts And Are They Valuable?

When you open the Gift dialogue with any Rapport NPC, it will show which gifts you currently have that they will accept. But if you want to look at the bigger picture, open your Inventory, click on the Storage tab, then the Rapport tab.

Here, all your Rapport items are broken down by rarity. And if you hover over each one, it will tell you its Rapport value. Note that some specific Rapport items are favoured by particular NPCs. Unless you’re desperate to max someone out, and you’re low on items, it’s worth trying to hold these back for when you met them. As an example, an item worth 300 rapport to most NPCs may be worth 450 to those who really covet that particular gift.

Related: Lost Ark: Every Rapport NPCs Birthday And Favourite Gifts

Which NPCs Should I Start With?

Which Rapport NPCs you choose to concentrate on is going to depend on several factors, so there isn’t a ‘right’ answer. These are a few that may sway your decision:

• Specific rewards: We’ll mention some specific characters below, but some NPC rewards are a lot better than others.
• Convenience: If you’re a casual player with limited time, and working through a continent, it makes sense to concentrate on the Rapport NPCs that are close by. All will give you something, and ultimately you need them all anyway.
• Adventurer’s Tome: Completing all the Rapport NPCs living on the main storyline continents is a requirement for your Adventurer’s Tome for that area. Finishing some simpler ones may push you over a ten percent completion mark too, which can give some fantastic rewards.

Who Are The Best Rapport NPCs?

Again, there is a certain level of personal choice and current requirements here. But it’s hard to argue with the value of the following gifts:

• Gold: It’s the resource you can never have enough of, and the following Rapport NPCs have plenty to give: Nia, Hariya, Sapiano the Fox, Albion, Berver, Yom.
• Giant’s Heart: A tough-to-gather collectible that can give some great rewards: Beatrice, Sasha, Blue-Eyed Calvasus, Nineveh.
• Adventurer’s Tome: A few Rapport NPCs will give you cooking ingredient gifts required to complete that continent’s Tome: Siera (Rethramis), Thunder (Yudia), Orelda (Rohendel).
• Stat potions: As mentioned above, many Rapport NPCs will stop your progress until you’ve reached specific Virtue Stat levels. But many others will give Virtue Stat Potions as rewards. So, if you’re a little short on a stat, take a look through your Rapport list to see if any you’re talking to might have a handy bonus coming your way.

Next: Lost Ark: Complete Guide And Walkthrough