Battles are turn based and are initiated in the labyrinth either randomly, during an event, or by running into a FOE. The proximity gauge in the bottom right corner of the top screen indicates when you will encounter a shadow. It gradually changes color from blue to red.
Formation[edit]
Your party and the shadows are arranged in a back line and front line. When a front line is eliminated, the back line automatically moves forward. The damage from melee attacks to the back row is reduced. Melee attacks from a back row cannot reach the other back row. Ranged attacks do not have a penalty.
Commands[edit]
At the start of each turn you can pick from the following commands for each character.
- Attack
- Normal attack with character's weapon.
- Skill
- Use a persona's skill.
- Leader Skill (leader only)
- Use a navi skill that costs a certain amount of the party gauge.
- Orgia (Aigis only)
- Deal double damage with Aigis, but suffer cool down after a few turns.
- Item
- Use an item.
- Defend
- Reduce damage and cannot be knocked down.
- Move
- Change position in formation.
- Escape
- Chance to flee battle.
Boost[edit]
If a character exploits a shadow's weakness or performs a critical hit, they will go into a boosted state. The next action will not cost any HP or SP while in a boosted state. When a character is hit or after one turn, they lose their boosted state. The more characters in a boosted state at the end of a turn, the greater chance they may perform an all-out attack. All characters in the party will attack all shadows. Rarely, a character may also perform a follow-up attack.
Affinities[edit]
- Physical
- Cut
- Bash
- Stab
- Elemental
- Fire
- Ice
- Elec
- Wind
- Instant Kill
- Light
- Darkness
- Other
- Almighty
Status Ailments[edit]
Characters may suffer various status ailments during battle. The following are temporary and will end after battle.
- Sleep
- Cannot act and takes increased damage. Once hit will wake up.
- Panic
- Will not follow commands. May attack allies.
- Paralysis
- Chance of not acting. Cannot dodge attacks.
- Poison
- Take damage at end of turn.
- Curse
- Take damage whenever attack.
The following persist after battle.
- KO
- State when character health is 0.
- Petrification
- Cannot move or act. Will take decreased damage.
Binds[edit]
Binds are similar to status ailments. Characters may also suffer from them during battle. These effects are temporary and end after battle.
- Agility Bind
- Unable to escape battle or dodge attacks. Reduces hit rate.
- Magic Bind
- Reduces magic and prevents magic skills.
- Strength Bind
- Reduces normal attack damage and prevents physical skills.
Rewards[edit]
At the end of battle, experience is rewarded to non-KO and non-petrified characters and their equipped personas and any items dropped from shadows is claimed. Depending on your performance in battle, you may also receive a persona.