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Metaphor ReFantaziois quite a bit like its ATLUS predecessors, Persona and Shin Megami Tensei. However, the game sets itself apart with a Game of Thrones-related fantasy world and some unique tweaks to the tried-and-tested JRPG model.
Metaphor: ReFantazio Review
It’s more than just fantasy Persona, it’s a JRPG triumph in its own right.
One such tweak is the move from creature taming in the form of Personas to a system more aligned with a classic RPG class system, which the game refers to as Archetypes.
These are unique classes that players can unlock by forming bonds with the various key characters within the game.
However, aside from the initial Archetypes the game gifts the player, the game doesn’t make it abundantly clear how to unlock each Archetype.
So, to help you unlock each of these helpful archetypes as early as possible, we have a list of all the available archetypes in the game and instructions on how to unlock them.
Primary Damage Type
Associated Character
How To Unlock
Via story progression
The first Archetype the player will unlock is the player character’s signature Archetype, Seeker.
This class is suited to players wholike striking fast, making the most of Wind magic, and using more evasive tactics.
This Archetype is unlocked during the first major boss battle against the Human. So, the player doesn’t need to meet any criteria to unlock this Archetype.
Soon after you unlock your first Archetype, you’ll gain access to the Warrior, Strohl’s signature Archetype.
This is unlocked during the battle against the corrupt guard captain in the Nord Mines. So, again, the player will not need to do anything other than follow the main story path to unlock this one.
The Warrior is a powerful Archetype that ismainly used for offensive physical slash attacks.
Fire/Ice/Electric
Grius/Gallica
After the fight against the corrupt guard captain, you will also gain the ability to study the Mage Archetype, which is Gruis' signature.
Unlike the other two Archetypes to this point, you will not be handed this one as standard.You will need to spend some MAG to unlock this one,but this will become available after you wrap up the boss battle in the Nord Mines.
The Mage is, as you would expect, a versatile magic user who can use fire, ice, and lightning magicright out of the gate. The class doesn’t offer much in terms of physical attack or endurance, but this elemental flexibility is a good trade-off.
Once you get to the city, you’ll end up laying low at the Honeybee Inn, and as you settle in for your first night you’ll be prompted to go and spend some time with Maria, Grius' kid.
You’ll want to go and sit down with them and help them read, and if you do, you’ll unlock the Healer Archetype.
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Slaying dragons? This really is a fantasy game, huh!?
This Archetype is a very valuable one to unlock as this allows the player tosit on the back lines and apply buffs and healing to your more offensive party members.
Plus, this Archetypealso has access to Light attacks,which will help a lot when taking on the undead enemies in the Regalith Grand Cathedral.
Hulkenberg
The Knight Archetype is one that you will gain alongside your third party member. You know, after you sadly have to say goodbye to Grius.
At the Catacombs Entrance leading into the Regalith Grand Cathedral, you’ll end up fighting against a reanimated version of Grius with Hulkenberg in your party, and when she learns that the Prince lives, she gets a second wind, unlocking the Knight Archetype.
This Archetype is essentially a tank, allowing the player to take plenty of hits thanks to the strong defensive stats. Plus, you’ll also be able to draw attacks to keep more flimsy Archetypes safe and sound.
Complete Catherina’s Request in The Grand Regalith Cathedral Dungeon
Okay, so now we have the first Archetype that you won’t acquire by simply following the main quest. This one becomes available when you begin the Regalith Grand Cathedral dungeon properly, and on your return to the Catacombs, you’ll meet Catherina, the celebrated bounty hunter.
They’ll be in bad shape when you meet them, and she’ll request that you head into the Cathedral and find one of her friends who has been taken prisoner, beginning the quest ‘A Friend in Need.’
To find them,all you need to do is explore the first floor, find a key in an area near a sleeping guard, and then open the locked door near where you enter.
Sadly, you’ll be too late to save her friend, but she’ll still honor your request and award you 10,000 Reeve. Not to mention, unlock the Brawler Archetype.
This is, in my humble opinion, one of the weaker archetypes, as this is another physical attacker with strong attacks.But with the important caveat that most of their attacks cost HP instead of MP, making this Archetype a glass cannon.
It can be a good emergency option when MP is low. But overall, the Warrior and Knight Archetypes are far superior.
Complete ‘A Bullish Embargo’
The Merchant is an Archetype that is unlocked by completing a particular request for Brigetta, who can be found on Sunlumeo Street. However, this isn’t a quest that players will be able to jump into right away.
You will first need to up your Wisdom stat to 2+.This is best done early in the game by using your spare time to people-watch on a bench near the Igniter Shop on Sunlumeo Street.
Once you earn her trust, you can then head to the Belgea Corridor and complete A Bullish Embargo. Then, after you complete this request, you’ll gain the Merchant Archetype. This will not only give you a new archetype to study and use, but will also give you access to the Igniter Shop.
This Archetype is somewhat like the Brawler Archetype becauseit uses a resource other than MP to allow players to use powerful moves, and moves that use Almighty magic no less.
Almighty Magic has the power to affect all enemies no matter what their resistance or typing is.
However, in this case, you’ll be literally spending your cash to perform skills. It’s a good option in a pinch, especially if you find yourself flush with Reeve. But I would suggest you only use this class sparingly, when MP is completely drained.
Complete ‘Providing A Spark’
Throughout your time in Metaphor, you’ll find that most archetypes on offer become significantly less useful when occupying the back line in your formation.
However, the same cannot be said of the Gunner Archetype,which is a powerful option that can fire status effect projectiles from the back line, serving as the perfect blend of attack and defense.
This Archetype will become available as soon as you reach Martira, as you’ll be able to take on a simple fetch request called ‘Hatching a Plan’ which will reveal a new area of the map called Komero.
Which coincidentally, is an area where you will be able to gain valuable information for Neuras that will allow you to progress their Bond, and complete the quest ‘Providing a Spark’.
If you travel there and ask about an old inventor, and then relay this information to Neuras, you will unlock the Gunner Archetype.
It will have been quite some time by this point since you were given a new party member to add to your ranks, but the wait is more than worth it as you’ll eventually meet Heismay on your travels, the very person you have set out to kill as a Bounty.
But after confronting them, capturing them, and then allowing them to aid you in your assault of Kriegante Castle, they will tap into their noble power during an encounter with Morris, and you’ll be able to unlock and study the Thief Archetype via a chat aboard the Gauntlet Runner soon after.
The Thief archetype is a brilliant one to have on your team, as thisArchetype has access to ‘Steal’which allows you to take valuable loot from enemies during battle.
Not to mention that this Archetypespecializes in Dark magic, making it an excellent option for Kriegante Castle, and beyond.
Fire (Mainly focuses on party buffs)
Complete Bardon’s First Bond Rank (Must finish Kriegante Castle)
It won’t be until you complete the Kriegante Castle dungeon that you gain access to your next Archetype to study, but the good news is that, once you do clear this dungeon, you won’t have to go far out of your way to get the Commander Archetype.
As soon as you are back in Martira after dealing with Morris and Lady Joanna, you’ll see that Bardon will be standing in Thoroughfare Square, and you’ll be able to begin his Bond storyline.
Simply progress through this initial conversation, getting as much MAG for your responses as you can, and come to the end of this discussion, you’ll be able to study the Commander Archetype.
The Commander Archetype is exactly what you would expect.An Archetype that gives orders and doesn’t really get their hands dirty.
What this means is that they canuse MP-expensive skills to apply group buffs to the rest of the party,effectively rallying the troops. But they also can use fire-based attacks in a pinch.
Almighty (Mainly focuses on party buffs)
Complete ‘A Dagger, A Ring, And A Rake’ Request
Before you leave Martira for the port of Brilehaven, you’ll want to make sure you finish all requests available, as one of these requests is directly linked to an optional Archetype. You’ll notice that there is a request available in Thoroughfare Square courtesy of the Pompous Man.
After a scene where Grius’s Memento is stolen, he will offer you a chance to get it back, provided you help him with the ‘A Dagger, A Ring, And A Rake’ request.
This will see you head out to the Abandoned Tomb, whereyou will need to defeat the Trove Imitec to get Malveno’s Ring,then you’re able to return to the Pompous Man, who will reveal himself to be Alonzo and upon progressing his bond, you will unlock the Faker Archetype.
This Archetype acts as a wildcard of sorts, with its main gimmick allowing you to use a very MP-expensive move to effectively roll the dice and either gain turn notches or lose themdepending on whether your luck is in or not.
It’s a valuable archetype for fights where you are only afforded a finite number of turns, but it also has a few other tricks up its sleeve if you spend time nurturing this archetype.
Masked Dancer
Multiple (Depends on Mask)
Complete ‘Save The Mourning Snakes’
Our next two Archetypes are unlocked during the Virga Islands portion of your adventure, and depending on which quests you engage with first, you could acquire either one before the other. However, we would wager that most players will unlock the Masked Dancer first.
This Archetype is a not-so-subtle nod to ATLUS’ other successful JRPG series, Persona, andallows the player to craft and exchange masks to change the elemental powers of the masked dancer as they choose via More in Akedemia.
It’s a very versatile Archetype that can be unlocked by completing a questline that will become available as soon as the deadline begins on the Virga Islands.
Simply speak to Junah to begin the quest and thenhead to Orbwise Path, where you will fight a gargantuan bird enemy called Kokasadors, and if you do this successfully, you will be able to study the Masked Dancer Archetype as you wish.
Varied (Dependent on vessels Equipped)
Complete ‘The Trial of Malnova’ Request
Our penultimate Archetype is the Summoner Archetype, which comes courtesy of the lovable Mustari priestess, Eupha.
To unlock this companion,you will need to clear the Dragon Temple dungeon,which is no mean feat, let me tell you. But if you do, you’ll then be able totake on the Trial of Malnova, a quest that will take you to the Land of Ceremony.
This is a relatively straightforward dungeon by all accounts, with a final boss battle against Homo Pento. If you manage to defeat this Human enemy, you’ll then complete the quest, and by extension, you’ll be able to study the Summoner Archetype freely.
This Archetype is exactly what you would expect:an elementally flexible class that allows you to channel various monsters you have encountered across your journey, calling them into battle to deliver strong elemental attacks.
These summons can be exchanged to customize your Summoner setup by crafting various vessels via the Special Experiments menu in the Akademia.
It’s an Archeype that zaps MP pretty fast, as all moves tend to cost around 20-30MP, but having those hard-hitting attacks to call upon can be a godsend, believe me.
Physical (Varied)
Via Story Progression
Then, lastly, we have the Berserker Archetype, a class that is the signature brand of our final party member, Basilio.The Berserker class lives up to its name, offering a set of aggressive, high MP moves that focus purely on physical attacks.
But unlike the Warrior, Knight and Brawler, this class allows you to mix and match physical attacks, making it a much more versatile class.
The downside, much like the Summoner class, is that this Archetype is very costly to run where MP is concerned, but against enemies that repel elemental attacks, this may be the type of aggression you need to break through their steely defense.
To unlock this Archetype, you will need to first defeat Rella at the Mage’s Academy, and then when the deadline before the fight with Louis starts,head on a trip somewhere in the Gauntlet Runner, and you’ll be able to speak to Basilio to begin their Bondand unlock the Berserker Archetype.
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A Demo that respects your time and effort. Finally!
