Follower Bonds in Metaphor: ReFantazio
Follower Bonds serve as the equivalent of Social Links in Metaphor: ReFantazio. These event cutscenes provide opportunities for the main character, Will, to connect with his teammates and allies without hastening the overall storyline. This feature not only enriches character development but also unlocks new combat abilities, helps gather additional items, and reduces shop expenses. While bonding is not essential for completing the game, it certainly alleviates a good amount of tension.
In comparison to Social Links in Persona 3 Reload, the Bonds system in Metaphor: ReFantazio offers more leniency. Many of the bonding events occur automatically during the main narrative, featuring fewer time-sensitive engagements. Additionally, the player’s responses do not influence the Bond rank, so failure isn’t an option. Instead, providing the right answers rewards players with Magla (MAG), a resource that can enhance characters or be sold for cash. This incentivizes players to choose their responses wisely to minimize future grinding.
Engaging with Teammates
Once you complete the Regalith Grand Cathedral, the Follower Menu opens the door for conversations with party members and NPCs. A red handshake symbol indicates a character can level up their bond with you. If you see a grey handshake but have reached the designated date, you’ll need to visit a town and speak to the character in question. For assistance in locating characters, consult Gallica, who can provide hints on those available on your free days. If no handshake symbol appears, you must progress the main storyline before you can upgrade that bond.
Raising Follower Bonds
The six primary party members represent the most direct Followers to interact with. They are frequently accessible in towns and provide insights into their Archetypes while fighting, clarifying how they can grow through ranking up.
Maximizing Relationships with Key Characters
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Strohl: On 6/6, players can engage with Strohl, one of the initial Followers. Maximizing this bond allows access to abilities as a Warrior and facilitates the advancement of the Swordmaster and Samurai Archetypes.
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Hulkenberg: Hulkenberg joins on 6/11 after defeating Grius. This provides a chance to cultivate bonds, as he represents the Knight Archetype, supporting further rankings up to the Paladin, Dark Knight, and Magic Knight.
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Heismay: Heismay, who enters the team on 7/4, is a stealth expert whose ability to sneak and ambush makes him a standout character. He belongs to the Thief archetype but can also evolve into an Assassin or Ninja.
- Junah & Eupha: Following the Dragon Temple Dungeon, engage with Junah through the side quest Save the Mourning Snakes to avoid missing out on her bond opportunities. Similarly, Eupha’s bond can be unlocked during interactions on Virga Island, but it requires attention to her The Trial of Malnova quest.
Interactions with Non-Playable Characters (NPCs)
Aside from the playable characters, various NPCs can become non-combat Followers by completing specific side quests throughout various cities. Some are obtained simply by navigating through the main story.
A character of note is Gallica, who automatically gains bond ranks during the storyline. By 9/24, she should achieve the maximum rank of 8, as she embodies the Mage Archetype.
NPCs typically need higher Virtues to improve their bonds. While some require multiple Virtues, they tend to remain in fixed locations, making them easier to approach in settlements.
Additional Tips for Maximizing Bonds
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Different characters may require a minimum level of specific Virtues to progress their bonds, indicating the importance of character development.
- In general, maintaining a balance between engaging in storyline progression and exploring side quests will ensure all potential bonds can be cultivated effectively.
Each character reflects a distinct class archetype, and enhancing their bond rank raises their abilities. While it’s possible to play the game focusing on a limited number of archetypes, forging these bonds can deepen character interactions and lead to more immersive storytelling within Metaphor: ReFantazio*.