Final Fantasy 15 Guide: How To Use Wait Mode

For those unaccustomed to the Final Fantasy 15's frantic, real-time battles, there's a new Wait Mode available to help ease gamers in - and here's how to use it.

After a decade of waiting, Final Fantasy 15 is finally here and there's no doubt that players around the world are diving headfirst into the latest installment of the long-running RPG franchise. It's still early days yet, but reviews have so far been very positive, with particular praise going towards the game's new dynamic combat system. While new fans are in for a treat when it comes to battling monsters, some long-time fans may initially be thrown off by the new combat system.

In a departure from the usual turn-based battle system that the time-honored series has so frequently used, Final Fantasy 15's combat redefines the formula by having battles take place in real-time and at a frantic pace – not unlike the system seen in Kingdom Hearts. Needless to say, some fans will need a little time to ease into this new battle system, but Final Fantasy 15 has a second combat mode available to those who need a bit of a helping hand in adjusting to the quick-paced, chain-centric attack cycles required for battle. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Wait Mode.

Here's a breakdown on what Wait Mode is and how to use it.

What is Wait Mode?

Putting it simply, Wait Mode affects how time operates during battle.

When players are moving around and attacking, time will flow normally. But when the player is standing still, Wait Mode will activate and the battle essentially pauses. At this point, players will have a chance to adjust to their surroundings, plot their next move, and have greater overall control over the battle. It is important to note that Wait Mode doesn't last forever (more on this below); this isn't a window for players to walk away from that long, drawn-out battle with the Adamantoise. When Wait Mode is activated, a timer will come up at the bottom of the screen (its duration varies depending on the difficulty setting), and once that timer hits zero, the battle resumes.

While Wait Mode won't bring the combat back to the turn-based battle system used by previous Final Fantasy games, it will give players time to catch their breath and plot their next move. It should be noted that since Wait Mode only kicks in when Noctis is stationary, players who are constantly moving around anyway won't feel much difference in the combat.

How to activate Wait Mode

Activating Wait Mode is simple – simply pause the game, go to the Options menu, go to Combat, and toggle from Active to Wait. Players don't need to be in a fight to do this, and can swap back and forth between combat modes whenever they want.

When to use Wait Mode

Wait Mode is best used when players want to approach battles in a more tactical manner, or when a little extra time is needed to plan out attacks rather than spontaneously making decisions on the fly. Essentially, players will want to use Wait Mode for things like:

Scanning enemy weaknesses using Libra.
Checking who is attacking who – blue lines indicate who your party is attacking; red lines indicate who the enemy are targeting.
Figuring out where the best recovery point-warp location is mid-battle.
Pinpointing specific targets more easily.
Carefully plotting out each specific move when outmatched and/or outnumbered.
Adjusting the target of an area-of-effect spell more precisely (and avoid accidentally hurting allies).
Locating any hidden enemies and snipers who are lurking on the fringes of the battle.

The aim of Wait Mode is to be a helpful tool for players, so it doesn't hurt to have it on most of the time. While players most likely don't need it for Final Fantasy 15's 200 side-quests or for grinding, Wait Mode is definitely helpful when facing hordes of enemies that are of a higher level or major bosses.

Wait Mode Ascension Tree abilities

For those who plan on using Wait Mode extensively, there's an entire Ascension Tree dedicated to enhancing some of the mode's perks and skills. It is here where it is possible to remove the timer from Wait Mode – thus making it possible to have a 72 hour-long battle with an Admantoise – but it will cost a hefty 159 AP to do so.

Here are all the Wait Mode skills players can unlock on the Ascension Tree:

Time Restore: Wait Timer recovery every time you defeat an enemy.
Time Freeze: Unlimited Wait Timer.
Presto Libra: Reduced time to reveal a target’s weaknesses with Libra.
Sage: Increased damage inflicted by the party based on the number of enemies in Libra state.
Elementalist: Increased damage inflicted by a scanned elemental weakness.
Warp Punish: Increased damage with Warp-Strikes when targeting enemies with 50% HP or less.
Warp Ambush: Increased breakage odds with Warp-Strikes when targeting enemies attacking other party members.

And on that note, that just about wraps it up on all there is to know about Wait Mode. With a wealth of side-quests and a 50-hour long story campaign, players will be doing a considerable amount of fighting in Final Fantasy 15. For those wanting to really get a handle on the combat system or who need a few tips and tricks to get started, be sure to check out Game Rant's Final Fantasy 15 Combat Guide and our guide on Beginner Tips and Tricks.