Beginner's Guide for Octopath Traveler 0

Octopath Traveler 0, the newest entry from Square-Enix's stunning HD-2D line of games, is finally here. Set in the land of Osterra, the location from the very first game, Octopath Traveler 0 is a sort of console port of the 2023 mobile game Champions of the Continent.

It's not just a straight-up sequel or prequel, but rather, an examination of all the parts of the Octopath Traveler series in a single game. That being said, if you're new to the Octopath series, this latest entry could be a bit overwhelming.

There's a lot to unpack here. Town building, complex battle and upgrade systems, as well as being a somewhat challenging experience.

Octopath Traveler 0 is a rich, complex JRPG that will take up a lot of your time. In order to get the most out of it, our guide will help you get started with everything you need to know.

Make Use Of Enemy Weaknesses

Octopath Traveler 0's battle system is very similar to the first two games, where using weaknesses is key to surviving in combat. If you're not making use of weaknesses, these battles are going to play out in a much more frustrating way.

As you hit an enemy with an attack, it will label it as a weakness, then slot it down in the row underneath the enemy. These symbols correlate to a weapon or attack, which you can switch to with the d-pad during combat.

Weaknesses also default to a set order, going from physical attacks to elemental attacks. Using all you have at your disposal to find enemy weaknesses quickly and efficiently is important.

Once those weaknesses are sorted, you can use them to break an enemy's shield. Doing so will stun them, so now is the time to use all your stored-up attacks with the game's Boost system.

This will store up to four turns into one single attack, which can deal massive amounts of damage. It is a deadly, insanely fun system that you'll need to make use of in order to survive.

Get As Much JP As Possible

JP is short for Job Points. This is used to unlock Job Skills, which in turn are used to unlock new jobs.

The job system has been a part of Square-Enix JRPGs for a while now, and Octopath Traveler 0 continues that trend. It's also far more flexible than ever.

The game offers numerous ways to gain JP, including Support Skills like the appropriately named Extra JP. You can also earn JP regularly from battles.

Defeating enemies regularly will grant JP, but there's also another way. Defeating enemies in one turn will grant even more, so there are quite a number of ways to get JP rather fast.

Choices Matter, But Freedom Reigns

After completing the prologue, you'll be granted a rather important looking choice. Choosing between Wealth, Power and Fame can seem rather daunting, but don't worry about it too much.

While what you choose can have some minor impacts, ultimately you can change course at any time. The game is very keen to allow you to do what you want, when you want.

If you're not feeling the main story, don't sweat it. Exploring the world and uncovering materials to rebuild Wishvale is going to give you a lot of experience and items to work with.

Explore Side Paths

As you progress through each chapter, making your way through areas, you'll notice that the world of Osterra has a lot of side paths. It's important not to ignore these.

While the game may be pointing you to a specific location to progress on a quest, taking a moment to explore the alternate path is something you should do every single time.

Often, this will lead to chests that contain money, JP, weapons, and special items. You can always return to the main path after, but make sure you don't ignore these crucial detours.

This is especially important in the early part of the game. Some of the side paths will contain useful items for rebuilding Wishvale, as well as much-needed JP. which will be hugely beneficial early on.

Collect Materials Any Time You Can

A main part of the game is rebuilding Wishvale, the quaint town that the protagonist and their friends come from. After starting the quest to rebuild Wishvale, you'll be able to collect materials to get the job done.

These are always marked as shiny green orbs on the field. Be sure to collect them any time you can, as you'll need as much as you can.

Materials like wood, metal, cloth and more are going to be very important to one of the game's main systems. So, whenever you see a sparkling green orb, be sure to investigate it.

Reputation Means Everything

In Octopath Traveler 0, your reputation dictates a lot of what happens to you. This is handled in a few different ways, not the least of which is your interactions with NPCs.

When you approach an NPC, pressing Y will open up a new menu. These skill checks will allow you to perform a multitude of actions.

From inviting people to come to Wishvale, to bargaining, you have a lot of options. Failing one of these checks will diminish your reputation, as well as that of Wishvale.

It's important to approach each one cautiously, as reputation does a great deal for you throughout the game. Keeping a high reputation is important to making the most of your time with the game.