The Trails series is a long-running JRPG with a history of localization issues. As a result, Trails from Zero, a game from 2010, only managed to see a western official release just last week. The Trails series puts together a long plotline running through each game, so the release of Trails from Zero and its follow-up Trails to Azure adds the missing puzzle pieces to this legendary tale.
Trails has a lot of unique mechanics, chief among them being the quartz that grants characters various buffs and effects. Quartz are important for progressing through the game, but some of them are clearly better than others. Here are the best quartz in the game and how to get them.
10 Detection
Hunting for treasure chests is an important part of any RPG since it's a great way to find useful items and equipment. Trails from Zero is the same, but it can be easy to miss them. The Detection quartz solves this problem by making them show up on the mini-map as long as the equipped character is in front.
The Detection quartz can be obtained early on during one of the many sidequests in Trails from Zero. Most players will likely only need one, but in a pinch, more can be obtained at the exchange shop by giving up a Heaven's Eye and Mind 2.
9 EP Cut Series
Casting Arts is a big part of combat in Trails, and EP is necessary to cast them. However, Art costs can get high very quickly, and it can be costly to keep upgrading orbments in order to keep up. The EP Cut series can make it easier to conserve EP, as it reduces how much EP is necessary to cast Arts. The highest level quartz EP Cut 3 can reduce EP cost by 15%.
The EP Cut quartzes can be obtained in a variety of ways. They can be crafted using time, space, and mirage sepith, as well as exchanged for in the exchange shop. They can also be found in chests while progressing through the story.
8 Libra Gem
The Libra gem is one of several unique "constellation" quartz available in Trails from Zero. The Libra gem is one of the earliest of these quartzes obtained in the game, as a reward for the "Enigma Combat Test" support request that appears in Chapter 2.
The Libra gem allows its user to absorb 1% of all magic damage dealt as EP. While this quartz is great for any magic caster, it's especially potent on Tio, as her normal attacks also count as magic attacks, allowing her to recover EP even without casting arts.
7 Heaven's Eye
While many players might focus on quartz that boost stats and provide effects in battle, utility effects are often more important. Information is a vital quartz that allows the user to see all information on an enemy without scanning it, while Eagle Eye is a great quartz that shows enemies' positions on the mini-map.
Heaven's Eye is an incredible quartz that combines both effects into one quartz. It can be obtained by exchanging both Eagle Eye and Information at the exchange shop, or it can be found in a chest on the East Crossbell Highway.
6 Ingenuity
Ingenuity is yet another utility quartz focused around conserving EP. Ingenuity allows the user to recover EP while walking on the field. The recovery rate is fairly slow, but it can go a long way towards keeping EP reserves up while adventuring.
Ingenuity is a fairly rare quartz that can only be obtained in a few ways. One is given to the player as a reward for reaching 7th Rank Detective, while another can be obtained by feeding Coppe, the rat on the rooftop a Salmon.
5 Invigorate
Aside from EP, players must also manage CP, which is needed to use Crafts, which are personal skills that can perform a variety of effects and attacks. With enough CP, players can also use powerful S-Crafts, which can deal a large amount of damage at once.
There are a variety of ways to maintain CP, and the rare Invigorate quartz helps by allowing the user to recover CP whenever they strike an enemy on the field. Invigorate can be obtained by completing the "Where Is The Engagement Ring?" hidden support request in Chapter 3. It can also be obtained by feeding Coppe a Gold Salmon.
4 Evade Series
Evasion is an often under-utilized mechanic in most JRPGs. Having a chance to completely dodge an attack sounds fun, but the inconsistency makes it feel risky compared to having reliable damage reduction. Trails from Zero boosts the benefits of evasion by granting a chance to counterattack whenever they dodge an attack.
One of the best ways to increase evasion is to equip the Evade series of quartzes. The highest level quartz boosts evasion by 15%, a considerable number. The Evade quartzes are easily obtained and can be synthesized with wind sepith, exchanged for in the exchange shop, or found in chests.
3 Action Series
There are a variety of stats and abilities in Trails, and one very important stat is speed (SPD). SPD determines how quickly a character's turn comes up, as well as how early they act in battle. The Action series of quartz is one of the best ways to boost SPD, with Action 3 boosting SPD by 30%.
The Action quartzes are easily obtained, as they can be crafted using time quartz and exchanged for in the exchange shop. Despite being easily obtained, Action is a very important quartz, and most party members should consider dedicating a slot to one.
2 Cast/Gemini Gem
Arts are powerful, but they are also costly. Not only do they need EP to cast, they often need casting time, with gives enemies the chance to cancel the character's casting time. The Cast gem lowers casting time by 25%, while the Gemini Gem cuts it by 50%.
The Cast gem can be obtained in a chest near Stargazer's Tower or exchanged for using all three Action quartz (1, 2, 3). The Gemini Gem is a late-game rare quartz that can only be obtained if Coppe is fed every chapter.
1 Septium Vein
One of the most important resources in Trails is sepith. Sepith is necessary in order to create quartz, as well as upgrade orbment slots. Sepith can also be exchanged for mira, the currency used in Trails games. As a result, Septium Vein is a fairly vital quartz, since it boosts all sepith gain by 1-2, so long as the user lands the killing blow.
Septium Vein is a necessity for sepith grinding, which is why it's a fairly rare quartz. One can be obtained by reaching 11th Rank Detective, while another can be obtained when Noel temporarily joins your party in Chapter 2.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero is currently available on PC, PS4, and Switch.