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1 A New Adventure Begins 1 2 3 4 0 Gameplay differences The party gauge Visions Other changes Some elements of this new adventure are [System:Color name=arts_sp ]very different from the adventure so far[/System:Color]. The most major points will be introduced on the following pages. As you progress through the adventure, instead of Chain Attacks, you will unlock an [System:Color name=arts_sp ]all-new system for performing all-out attacks[/System:Color]. You'll still require a segment of the gauge to revive fallen allies. In the new adventure, [System:Color name=arts_sp ]Shulk has lost his power to see visions[/System:Color]. This calls for more caution than before when it comes to your enemies' most powerful attacks. ・Some allies will [System:Color name=arts_sp ]battle in ways not present before[/System:Color]. ・The Skill Tree system has been removed. There are further changes, so keep an eye out for them as you play.
2 Assembling Ponspectors 1 2 3 4 0 Ponspector-enabled special attacks Finding the Ponspectors Recruiting the Ponspectors Checking member information The Ponspectors are an elite band of surveyors from Frontier Village, split between red, blue and yellow teams. If you can [System:Color name=arts_sp ]befriend members from all three teams[/System:Color], Shulk and his friends will [System:Color name=arts_sp ]gain access to a new kind of special attack[/System:Color], so try to seek them out wherever possible! The full Ponspector brigade numbers [System:Color name=arts_sp ]12 members[/System:Color]. When you recruit one, they may tip you off to [System:Color name=arts_sp ]the location of others[/System:Color]. Locations you've heard of are marked on the map with a [ML:icon icon=map01 ]. Ponspectors on the Bionis' Shoulder have [System:Color name=arts_sp ]issues [/System:Color]they struggle with. Resolve those issues for them to gain their help in your quest. In the Collectables section of the main menu, you can access the [System:Color name=arts_sp ]Ponspector Report [/System:Color]to learn more about the Ponspectors you have befriended up until that point.
3 Using Ponspectors in Battle 1 2 3 4 0 Ponspector assistance Team colours High Ponspector tension 1 High Ponspector tension 2 In battle against enemies, Ponspectors will jump in to help Shulk and his friends on their own initiative. Each Ponspector has a [System:Color name=arts_sp ]signature move[/System:Color], healing the party, debuffing the enemies, and so on. Red Team have an [System:Color name=arts_sp ]offensive [/System:Color]signature move. Blue Team mostly have a [System:Color name=arts_sp ]healing [/System:Color]signature move, but not all of them. Yellow Team have a [System:Color name=arts_sp ]debuffing [/System:Color]signature move. If you perform well in Battle Start Affinity, Burst Affinity, etc. by pressing [ML:icon icon=btn_b ] at the right time, the Ponspectors may enter a state of [System:Color name=arts_sp ]High Tension[/System:Color]. Ponspectors in a state of [System:Color name=arts_sp ]High Tension [/System:Color]will join in the battle with all their strength, and with no slacking off. High Tension will wear off with time, returning to the usual state.
4 Ponspector Union Strikes 1 2 3 4 5 Union Strikes Union Strikes and extra effects Increasing Union Strike intensity Extra Chances 1 Extra Chances 2 By befriending Ponspectors from all three teams, you have unlocked the ability to perform a special [System:Color name=arts_sp ]coordinated attack [/System:Color]- the [System:Color name=arts_sp ]Union Strike[/System:Color]. Doing so requires spending three bars of the Party Gauge, but it deals damage to enemies in a wide area and has [System:Color name=arts_sp ]extra effects[/System:Color]. There are three variations to choose from, each with extra effects: Red Comet - deals [System:Color name=arts_sp ]major damage [/System:Color]to one enemy Blue Caress - [System:Color name=arts_sp ]heal [/System:Color]and grant [System:Color name=arts_sp ]Regen.[/System:Color] ([ML:icon icon=enh06 ]) and [System:Color name=arts_sp ]Debuff Immu.[/System:Color] ([ML:icon icon=enh14 ]) to allies Yellow Chaos - [System:Color name=arts_sp ]force Daze[/System:Color] ([ML:icon icon=enh39 ]) and [System:Color name=arts_sp ]Str. Down[/System:Color] ([ML:icon icon=enh27 ]) on enemies in area The more Ponspectors you're able to befriend, [System:Color name=arts_sp ]the more powerful their Union Strike will become[/System:Color]. When you use a Union Strike while all three allies are capable of acting freely, an [System:Color name=arts_sp ]Extra Chance [/System:Color]may sometimes occur. An Extra Chance lets you [System:Color name=arts_sp ]perform another Union Strike [/System:Color]without using the Party Gauge. (You cannot choose the same extra effect.) The probability of an Extra Chance occurring is higher [System:Color name=arts_sp ]the more Ponspectors are in a state of High Tension[/System:Color]. After a Union Strike, the party's tension will go up, while all Ponspectors in a state of High Tension will revert to normal.
5 Fogbeasts 1 2 0 0 0 Fogbeast surges Rioting monsters Fogbeasts are more powerful than their regular monster equivalents. In addition to that, they also spread a [System:Color name=arts_sp ]riot surge [/System:Color]in a set radius around themselves, drawing in nearby monsters. Enemies who come under the effects of the surge will become aggressive towards Shulk and the party. Additionally, these enemies will be affected by the [System:Color name=arts_sp ]Riot [/System:Color]Aura ([ML:icon icon=enh35 ]), [System:Color name=arts_sp ]increasing their level [/System:Color]based on the strength of the Fogbeast.
6 Dealing with Fogbeasts 1 1 2 3 0 0 Riot Aura effects Aura removal through Art effects Aura removal through Daze The [System:Color name=arts_sp ]Riot [/System:Color]Aura ([ML:icon icon=enh35 ]) granted to enemies by Fogbeasts can be removed in the same way as any other Aura ([ML:icon icon=enh35 ]). Doing so will remove the Riot Aura's ([ML:icon icon=enh35 ]) level-up effect, making it crucial in an emergency. Arts like Shulk's [System:Color name=arts_sp ]Monado Purge[/System:Color] or Melia's [System:Color name=arts_sp ]Mind Blast[/System:Color] have the effect of removing Auras ([ML:icon icon=enh35 ]) from enemies, making them extremely useful in fighting Fogbeasts. You can also remove an enemy's Aura effect ([ML:icon icon=enh35 ]) by [System:Color name=arts_sp ]Dazing[/System:Color] ([ML:icon icon=enh39 ]) them.
7 Dealing with Fogbeasts 2 1 0 0 0 0 Aura removal through Union Strikes When numerous enemies are under the effects of the Riot Aura ([ML:icon icon=enh35 ]), the [System:Color name=arts_sp ]Yellow Chaos[/System:Color] Union Strike is a very efficient means of removing it. It allows you to force Daze ([ML:icon icon=enh39 ]) on enemies in a wide area, removing their Auras ([ML:icon icon=enh35 ]) in the process.
8 Arts Manual Shop 1 2 3 0 0 A shop selling Arts Manuals has opened! Obtaining Arts Coins What about the coins I already earned? In the Arts Manual Shop, you can exchange [System:Color name=arts_sp ]Arts Coins[/System:Color] for Arts Manuals to level up your favourite Arts. You may obtain Arts Coins when [System:Color name=arts_sp ]defeating unique monsters and Fogbeasts[/System:Color]. (Defeating a given monster for the first time will always grant an Arts Coin.) Arts Coins received for unique monsters and Fogbeasts you defeat before the shop opens should [System:Color name=arts_sp ]already be in your possession[/System:Color]. You can check the coins you own at the Arts Manual Shop.
9 Quiet Moments 1 2 0 0 0 Get to know each other in the Quiet Moments Checking the Quiet Moment list Investigate a [ML:icon icon=map02 ] icon to view the corresponding [System:Color name=arts_sp ]Quiet Moment[/System:Color]. If you don't already meet the conditions for viewing a given scene, feel free to come back to it when you do! Any Quiet Moments you've investigated will be added to a list found under [System:Color name=arts_sp ]Quiet Moments [/System:Color]in the main menu's Collectables section. You can also use it to check the conditions for viewing each event.
10 Ether Deposits 1 2 0 0 0 Obtaining gems from ether deposits Powering up the Ether Pick On the Bionis' Shoulder, you can use a tool called an [System:Color name=arts_sp ]Ether Pick[/System:Color] to [System:Color name=arts_sp ]mine actual gems[/System:Color] from ether deposits, not just crystals. If you exhaust a given deposit, check back after a while! As you progress through the story, you may be able to obtain [System:Color name=arts_sp ]a more efficient Ether Pick[/System:Color]. With a better Ether Pick, you could mine gems of higher rank!
11 Congratulations! 1 0 0 0 0 New game elements have been unlocked ・Shulk's weapon's look can be changed in "Future Connected" ・The 8th challenge in the main game's Time Attack is unlocked ・[System:Color name=arts_sp ]Master-level Arts Manuals[/System:Color] have been added to the main game's Time Attack item exchange, letting you improve Arts up to level XII
12 Expert Mode 1 2 3 4 5 Reserve EXP Enabling Expert mode Adjusting levels 1 Adjusting levels 2 Adjusting levels 3 [System:Color name=arts_sp ]Expert mode[/System:Color] lets you store a portion of earned EXP for later use, rather than being granted to a character immediately. You can enable it by opening the System menu with [ML:icon icon=btn_plus ], going to [System:Color name=arts_sp ]Expert Mode [/System:Color]and toggling the option. The option is [System:Color name=arts_sp ]disabled by default[/System:Color]. When Expert mode is enabled with [ML:icon icon=btn_r_stick_on ], all further experience gained through completing quests, discovering Landmarks and Locations etc. will be stored as reserve EXP. The [System:Color name=arts_sp ]Expert Mode[/System:Color] section of the System menu ([ML:icon icon=btn_plus ]) lets you manually adjust party characters' levels. Increasing a character's level will cost reserve EXP. Reducing a character's level will convert excess experience points back into reserve EXP. Level adjustment is performed individually for each character. Select your desired character with [ML:icon icon=btn_a ], then pick the desired level using [ML:icon icon=btn_left ] and [ML:icon icon=btn_right ], and then confirm it with [ML:icon icon=btn_a ]. While levelling up, the maximum level available with your current EXP stockpile will be shown. You cannot lower a character's level beyond the level they were first introduced at.
13 Casual Mode 1 0 0 0 0 If enemies feel a bit too strong... Switching to [System:Color name=arts_sp ]Casual mode[/System:Color] lets you lower the difficulty of battles. Simply open the System menu with [ML:icon icon=btn_plus ] and go to [System:Color name=arts_sp ]Options[/System:Color], followed by Game Settings, then set Casual Mode to on or off. When a prompt is shown recommending the switch, press [ML:icon icon=btn_minus ] to see the options.
14 Event Theatre 1 2 0 0 0 Event Theatre 1 Event Theatre 2 The [System:Color name=arts_sp ]Event Theatre[/System:Color] has been added to the title screen. There you can view any event cutscenes you've previously seen. You can change the following options when viewing an event: ・The weather and time of day (not for all events) ・Character appearance (already-acquired looks only)
15 Interacting with People 1 2 0 0 0 Visiting the shops Accepting Quests You can buy weapons and armour in shops to help your journey go smoother. In this chapter of your adventure, you will not find armour among the spoils for defeating monsters, but you may find weapons that differ from what shops have on offer. There's no lack of people having problems on the Bionis' Shoulder. Through completing the quests they give you, you'll obtain rewards such as money and equipment in new colour variations, suitable for use as cosmetics.