Besides the four secret jobs (the Starseer, the Runelord, the Warmaster, the Sorcerer), there are eight main jobs in Octopath Traveler. These include the Cleric, the Scholar, the Merchant, the Warrior, the Dancer, the Apothecary, the Thief, or the Hunter. Each one has its own set of Support Skills.
The Support Skills provide passive effects for the character when equipped. For example, their attributes increase while in combat; or, the player runs into less random encounters; or, the party gets permanent buffs and takes less damage; or, healing skills restore more health. Support Skills unlock more and more as the game progresses, according to how many Skills, in general, each character learns. Also, they may only equip four Support Skills at a time.
10 Fleetfoot
Fleetfoot is a Support Skill for Thief that requires 5 skills learned and 630 JP.
The order of turns in a battle is determined by the characters' and the enemies' speed values. This Support Skill boosts the character's speed by 50 points, straight-up. When setting up power plays, characters that are built for buffing or debuffing enjoy the perks here.
9 Hale And Hearty
Hale and Hearty is a Support Skill for Apothecary that requires 5 skills learned and 630 JP.
If a character's health reaches zero, they die. It is that simple. So, obviously, it is advised that the player keeps their party members alive. This Support Skill increases the character's maximum health by 500 points. Any character that tanks (like Warriors and Warmasters), want as much HP as possible to keep on taking damage.
8 The Show Goes On
The Show Goes On is a Support Skill for Dancer that requires 4 skills learned and 130 JP.
In the game, buffs remain active for a certain period of time (not forever). This Support Skill makes all of them used by the character last for an extra turn. Even though there is a maximum limit of nine turns, it stacks with other benefits. So, Clerics and Apothecaries do well using this Support Skill since they apply loads of buffs in battles.
7 Second Serving
Second Serving is a Support Skill for Hunter that requires 6 skills learned and 1630 JP.
When standardly attacking, the character gets a 50 percent chance to attack again. This is just another standard attack, not affected by boosts but certainly altered by elements. Therefore, Runelords love this Support Skill.
6 Surpassing Power
Surpassing Power is a Support Skill for Warrior that requires 7 skills learned and 4630 JP.
There is a maximum amount of damage a character may inflict on an enemy, and that is 9,999. However, this Support Skill breaks that wall, increasing the cap to 99,999. In the late game, Sorcerers and Runelords absolutely adore abusing this limitation.
5 Saving Grace
Saving Grace is a Support Skill for Cleric that requires 7 skills learned and 4630 JP.
Each character has a maximum amount of hit points (HP). So, of course, when getting healed, they will not go over that number. This Support Skill not only restores health back all the way but adds additional. Apothecaries gravitate towards equipping it because they are able to target the entire party when using skills that heal.
4 Patience
Patience is a Support Skill for Hunter that requires 7 skills learned and 4630 JP.
What's better than getting one turn during a cycle in battle? Two turns! This Support Skill gives the character a 25 percent chance to get another turn to act after the round ends. Literally, every job takes advantage of going again, to no one's surprise, especially those that use lots of BP.
3 Second Wind
Second Wind is a Support Skill for Dancer that requires 6 skills learned and 1630 JP.
When the SP runs dry, the skills stop working. This Support Skill recovers 5 percent of their maximum amount of skill points (SP) after each turn. On top of that, the number goes up with equipment that increases SP regeneration. Clerics and Sorcerers, both of which use lots of SP, like to utilize it.
2 Evasive Maneuvers
Evasive Maneuvers is a Support Skill for Scholar that requires 4 skills learned and 130 JP.
One of the complaints many fans of JRPGs have when playing games like Octopath Traveler is that there are too many random encounters. This Support Skill lowers the fixed rate for those sudden battles, which totally plague the game's momentum and flow. The characters themselves do not benefit from it but the player sure as heck does.
1 Endure And Cover
Endure is a Support Skill for Warrior that requires 6 skills learned and 1630 JP, while Cover is another one that needs 4 and 130.
What is interesting about Endure is that the character's defense goes up when suffering from a status ailment. Both their Physical Defense and Elemental Defense get boosted, equating to double, sometimes triple the reduction in damage taken. Then throw in Cover, which allows the character to jump in front of an incoming attack for their party member who is below Critical HP (less than a third health point left). Any character that is tanking for their party needs both of these.