Newcomers to Phantasy Star Online 2 may get surprised to see a sci-fi MMO with quite the radical take towards the fantasy adventure trope. As with other Phantasy Star games, players become ARKS Operators. Their mission: protect the galaxy from various extraterrestrial threats. Operatives can specialize in various roles — all sci-fi versions of fantasy RPG Classes.
The game's flexible progression system also gives players a swath of options to build their own playstyle. While all of these seem overwhelming, the right direction may help beginners have a more enjoyable experience with the game.
10 Note The Free Customization Changes
As with any huge MMOs, newcomers getting into PSO2 will likely want to "get everything right" the first time. Seeing their first few hours of investments go out the window can definitely ruin their playthrough. Thankfully, a lot of major character choices come with handy reversible options. However, some changes don't always come for free.
- Class Changes come for free. Class progression remains a huge component in any Phantasy Star game. In PSO2, characters get a starting Class, yes, but this is something they can change at any point through the Class Counter.
- Skill Respecs are paid. Unlike Classes, players can't change their Skill settings for free. So while the Class change pushes through, the set Skills remain the same. Players should decide on an overall playstyle before choosing build elements.
- Mag Stat Respecs are paid. Mags level up and improve stats based on items they eat, but respeccing undesired stats cost a bit of money to push through.
- Ark Ship changes are paid. Players who want to move into a new Ark Ship (or a server) will need to pay extra for the changes. In turn, players who want to play with friends should decide on their final Ark Ship before they make a character.
9 Afin And Cofy Get Through The Fundamentals
When newcomers venture into PSO2 for the first time, it's easy to get overwhelmed with a ton of options available. First-timers will likely have the urge to just Google every new concept they come across. Players tempted to give in to the temptation should probably just go with the flow until they're instructed to talk to Afin and Cofy.
- Afin is the blond Newman located in the ARKS Lobby as soon as players spawn. Among the Lobby NPCs offering Client Orders (side quests), Afin's quests help players go through fundamental mechanics.
- Cofy is the velvet-haired administrator players will notice in the Lobby. Her Client Orders focus on unlocking new features for players to tinker with. It's Cofy that gives players access to the Mag (a pet) and eventual Subclasses.
8 Classes Form The Core Progression System
The main gimmick of PSO2 lies in its vastly customizable Class System. ARKS Operatives can become any Class they wish. As they progress, players can come up with a character that's uniquely their own simply by their Class dynamics.
- Progression for all Classes. Players can select a Main Class and level it up to the max should they want to.
- Select a Sub Class. Eventually, players can select a Sub Class to accommodate their Main Class. This Sub Class will always be a few levels lower than the Main Class and carry over certain skills and properties.
- Select a Scion Class. By the time players reach certain levels with certain Classes, they unlock Scion Classes. These are beefed-up Classes that offer vastly new gameplay options.
7 Think Of Combat As A Rhythm Game
Unlike other MMOs, PSO2 is more or less a mixture of action elements with point-and-click gameplay. Essentially, rotations aren't just about button-mashing keymaps as soon as their CDs restart. Rather, PSO2 combat needs players to follow a "rhythm" in order to maximize damage.
- Various attack options. Most MMOs just have "Auto Attack" and "Skills" that players balance in rotations. In PSO2, players can have typical Attacks alongside special actions such as Photon Arts (think martial arts) and Technics (think spells).
- Attack bonuses come with timing. Characters will have a red circle around them as they launch attacks. Players who time their attacks with these red circles will get awesome attack boosts.
- Mobility options vary. Depending on the Class, some players will be able to block and dodge attacks.
6 Gear Depends On Class, Stats
Players might realize that loot in PSO2 also remains heavily dependent on Class. In fact, Classes can only equip very specific Weapons and gear, so not all loot will fit a particular character. Players need to take some things into considerations as well:
- Gears also rely on stats. Even if a player can equip a Weapon for their Class, some gear remains unwearable until characters reach certain stats.
- Players can plan for gear. Some Classes do overlap when it comes to weapon choices. Players might want to choose a Main/Sub Class pairing that matches their favorite weapons.
5 The Mag Is A Living Buff
Players should remember that their Mag isn't just a cute pet they carry with them. They should actively take care of their Mag as this creature can provide a ton of benefits that could greatly benefit a player's overall experience.
- Mags can boost specific stats. When properly fed, Mags actually affect stats in different ways. Thanks to specific food, Mags can provide various decreases/increases in stats that can greatly affect a player's performance - especially when players begin taking their builds more seriously.
- Mags change in appearance as they evolve. Mags also change their appearance by the time they reach certain levels. These changes reflect their growth patterns acting as a testament to the way players have treated them throughout the entire journey.
4 Keep Daily Orders In Check
As with other MMOs, PSO2 does have a daily quest system. By the time players unlock their Daily Orders, they can get various daily quests that act like secondary objectives throughout various missions. Players shouldn't ignore them as completing these objectives gives them useful benefits:
- Stacking experience boosts. When completed, a Daily Order can give a 5-percent bonus to rare item drops and experience. This experience stacks until a 50% boost. This greatly helps players who love spamming high-level encounters for farming.
- The boost degrades over time. However, players should also remember that these bonuses degrade over time. Meaning, players can keep on stacking on these boosters to keep their farming much easier.
3 Consider The Smurf Characters
Anyone who plays PSO2 that's come from another MMO will understand the idea of smurf characters. After all, why settle for a single character when players can explore different playstyles with multiple ones, right? In PSO2, the game also encourages playing with multiple characters in the same account.
Even without paying extra, players can use three character slots for free for individual characters. Some specific perks these provide would be:
- Two different kinds of storage. Individual characters have specific storage spaces, but the account also has shared storage that everyone could use.
- Finish work for all characters. Players pursuing a farming quest should get requirements for all their characters. Before completing the quest, that character can store the leftovers in the account storage. That way, the smurfs can take the same quest and finish faster.
2 Multiplayer Benefits The Farming Experience
PSO2 newcomers can play solo to fully immerse themselves in the game world. However, PSO2 also heavily encourages multiplayer experience. For instance, partying with other characters actually provides buffs for all participants.
Parties who do the same quest or missions receive a boost to both experience and item drops. Players who want to farm levels quickly could do so through raids even on early levels. Players can get into the active raiding component of PSO2 much earlier without waiting to get into the endgame.
1 Consider The Alliance
Aside from partying with other people, players should consider joining an Alliance for the benefit of their players. PSO2's Alliances act as the counterpart of a guild in the game. Aside from having new playmates, players can gain some other benefits when joining these groups:
- Fancy cosmetics. Alliances give players a fancy icon next to their name, acting as a representation of their membership. Likewise, they get access to the Alliance Quarters, where they can mingle with other Alliance members.
- Photon Tree. Alliances give players access to a unique Photon Tree, which has unlockable buffs that benefit players in their playthrough. These buffs include boosts in item drops and EXP.