Octopath Traveler is an RPG video game developed by Square Enix and released on the Nintendo Switch in July 2018, PC in June 2019, and Google Stadia in April 2020. It is also releasing on Xbox One in March 2021. The game takes place in the land of Orsterra and follows the journies of eight adventurers, all with different backgrounds and characteristics.
Besides the usual JRPG strategies such as saving whenever possible and keeping the party in tip-top shape, the player should keep more tactics in mind and utilize further methods when it comes to the game. In fact, unlike many other JRPGs, Octopath Traveler is not exactly "simple." The player cannot just mash the same button every turn in combat and breeze through the overworld without paying some attention.
Updated on February 9, 2022, by Ritwik Mitra: Octopath Traveler is one of the best modern JRPGs of all time, embracing its classic roots and allowing players to experience an old-school title that proudly wears its inspirations on its sleeve. The experimental nature of this title's narrative might be somewhat of a mixed bag, but its gameplay more than makes up for this. Octopath Traveler's turn-based combat is excellent, allowing for a level of strategy that makes the bombastic battles in the game quite satisfying indeed.
Players who want to try out the game for themselves should check out the following tips for Octopath Traveler to help them understand and use the mechanics of the game for their own advantage.
10 Choose The Best Starting Character
There are eight characters to choose from in the game and the player needs to make a decision right out the gate. While there is no wrong choice or right one, some characters are just easier to start with than others according to their playstyle. But eventually, the player meets them all.
Olberic is a classic Warrior; hit monster, gain experience. Cyrus is a powerful Scholar; use magic, explode enemies. Tressa is a regular Merchant; restore HP and SP (and Status Ailments), get money. Ophilia is a typical Cleric; heal people, cast holy spells. Primrose is a classy Dancer; buff others, recruit NPCs. Alfyn is a smart Apothecary; find ingredients, make potions. Therion is a clever Thief; steal items, stab opponents. H'aanit is a strong Hunter; tame beasts, shoot foes in the face.
9 Use Those Path Actions
In the game, every character has a unique skill in the overworld called a Path Action. Some are considered "Noble" — skilled but no penalty, and others "Rogue" — novice but penalty if failed. For the most part, they can (and should) be spammed.
Olberic can Challenge (Noble), dueling certain NPCs. Cyrus can Scrutinize (Rogue), interrogating NPCs for information. Tressa can Purchase (Noble), buying items from NPCs. Ophilia can Guide (Noble), escorting NPCs. Primrose can Allure (Rogue), charming NPCs. Alfyn can Inquire (Noble), chatting with NPCs for information. Therion can Steal (Rogue), pilfering items from NPCs. H'aanit can Provoke (Rogue), unleashing beasts on NPCs to trigger combat.
8 Do Not Forget To Fast Travel
The land of Orsterra is huge and sprawling. It will take the player an unnecessarily long amount of time to just walk back and forth everywhere. Fortunately, fast travel exists.
To fast travel, they can open up the menu and select any town on the world map that the player has been to already to teleport there. Only (the entrance to) towns, though. They cannot warp to dungeons or random points in other areas.
7 Break Enemies Down
In the game, each enemy has a certain amount of Shield Points and at least one Vulnerability. If the player exploits one of their Vulnerabilities, they will destroy one of their Shields. When the enemy loses all its Shields, their current turn ends and their next one is canceled.
This status is called "Break." Enemies will take additional 50 percent damage and become Weak to incoming attacks. On the first turn they recover, they act immediately (no matter how fast anyone else is on the battlefield). So, the player must take advantage and time their strikes.
6 Stock Up Them Boosts
Every turn the character acts, they will earn a Boost Point. Up to five Boost Points may be stocked at once. are stocked every turn; and, up to three Boost Points may be used at once. If the character consumes a Boost Point, they enter Boost Mode.
In Boost Mode, attacks are multiplied per each Boost Point consumed (doubled, tripled, or quadrupled). Also, buffs and debuffs last longer (two more turns), and some skills become more efficient such as targeting more enemies. However, no Boost Points are stocked on the turn Boost Mode is used.
5 Do Not Be Afraid To Switch Characters
The player may get attached and use the same four characters in their party throughout the entire game. This is not viable. All eight characters should be ready for combat but generally, it is okay to mix and match since they all have certain strengths and weaknesses (and therefore synchronizations).
Basically, four of the characters are physical (Olberic, Alfyn, Therion, H'aanit) and the other four are elemental (Cyrus, Tressa, Ophilia, Primrose). If the player is lacking physical strength, swap in one of the former choices; vice versa (elemental power) for the latter. Also, generally, they need only to worry about filling the key roles of a healer, a tank, and a damage dealer. The fourth slot is typically up to the player, depending on their preference.
4 Leave No Dungeon Unexplored
There are dungeons in the game and lots of them. Some are mandatory, others optional. But all of them have loot. Plus, the player will likely have to grind eventually so they might as well do so in an environment where they are encountering new monsters and finding valuable treasure.
The optional dungeons in question are Carrion Caves, Derelict Mine, Everhold Tunnels, Loch of the Lost King, Marsalim Catacombs, Maw of the Ice Dragon, Path of Beasts, Refuge Ruins, The Hollow Throne, The Whistlewood, Tomb of the Imperator, Twin Falls, Untouched Sanctum, and Whistling Cavern.
3 Find All The Shrines
Throughout the world of Orsterra, there are 12 Shrines scattered about. Each is dedicated to a god; but more importantly, each unlocks a secondary job (eight). There are also advanced jobs (four) that require the player to defeat the god.
After Chapter 1, they will begin to stumble upon the Starting Job Shrines. They are located somewhere in the areas where Chapters 2 and 3 take place. When discovered, a secondary job will be unlocked; this means a character can take on a sub-job and ultimately become better.
|
Location |
Shrine Name |
Job Unlocked |
|---|---|---|
|
Western Stillsnow Wilds |
Shrine of the Flamebearer |
Cleric |
|
Western Noblecourt Flats |
Shrine of the Sage |
Scholar |
|
Moonstruck Coast |
Shrine of the Trader |
Merchant |
|
North Stonegard Pass |
Shrine of the Thunderblade |
Warrior |
|
Northern Wellspring Sands |
Shrine of the Lady of Grace |
Dancer |
|
East Saintsbridge Traverse |
Shrine of the Healer |
Apothecary |
|
South Quarrycrest Pass |
Shrine of the Prince of Thieves |
Thief |
|
East Victors Hollow Trail |
Shrine of the Huntress |
Hunter |
In the late game, the player can find Advanced Job Shrines to unlock extremely powerful classes... after defeating a rather powerful boss, that is.
|
Location |
Shrine Name |
Boss Encountered |
Job Unlocked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Western Wispermill Flats |
Shrine of the Starseer |
Steorra |
Starseer |
|
West Everhold Pass |
Shrine of the Runeblade |
Balogar |
Runelord |
|
North Riverford Traverse |
Shrine of the Warbringer |
Winnehild |
Warmaster |
|
East Duskbarrow Trail |
Shrine of the Archmagus |
Dreisang |
Sorcerer |
2 Use The Advanced Jobs On Appropriate Characters
The Advanced Jobs present in Octopath Traveler are extremely powerful, to the point where they absolutely dwarf the existing jobs in terms of pure utility. The Warmaster, Runelord, Starseer, and Sorcerer are all amazing jobs that let certain characters unleash a torrent of powerful magic against their enemies.
That being said, players should still be mindful of whom they assign these jobs to. Some characters are objectively better choices for certain Advanced Jobs, with certain criteria determining the same. This ranges from the obvious (giving Starseer and Sorcerer to magic-leaning characters) to the obtuse (giving Runelord to Tressa so that her beneficial abilities can affect the entire party).
1 Make Sure To Prepare Thoroughly Before Facing The True Final Boss
Most people who go through all the individual chapters of Octopath Traveler might find the ending to be rather underwhelming... especially since there really isn't any! All characters just go through their individual quests before fading into the background while the other protagonists get their time to shine.
However, this is because Octopath Traveler actually hides its biggest and toughest challenge behind a bunch of side quests, leading to the true final boss and ending of the game. Most players who find out about this information will jump at the chance of reaching this ending... but the process is nowhere near as simple.
For starters, players need to get through a massive boss rush before even gaining the chance to fight Galdera. Thankfully, these fights aren't exactly all that challenging if players are kitted out properly but the same can't be said for the game's secret boss.
Galdera is an extremely tough opponent that players need to split their party in two to defeat. It's one of the hardest JRPG bosses of all time, and players should prepare accordingly to take this boss down... especially since a loss will boot players back to the start and force them to go through the boss rush once again!
Octopath Traveler was released on July 13th, 2018, and is available for PC, Xbox One, Google Stadia, and Nintendo Switch.