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How To Use The Follower Bonds Menu
How To Raise Party Member Follower Bonds
How To Raise NPC Follower Bonds
Follower Bonds is the Social Link equivalent in Metaphor: ReFantazio. The event cutscenes allow the main character, Will, to learn about his teammates and other allies. It is an excellent way of learning about characters without advancing the plot. Moreover, it unlocks new powers that help in combat, acquire extra items or lower shop costs. Bonds aren’t required to beat the game, but they can help remove a lot of the tension.
Compared to Social Links in Persona 3 Reload, the Bonds system is much more forgiving in Metaphor: ReFantazio. Many of the events happen automatically during the main story, with fewer of them being time-sensitive. Additionally, your answers do not affect the Bond rank and cannot fail. Instead, correct answers grant free Magla (MAG), a resource used to power up characters or can be sold for money. This makes it useful to pick good answers to avoid future grinding.
How To Use The Follower Bonds Menu
You Must Both Pass Certain Dates And Events
After completing Regalith Grand Cathedral, you will be able to have conversations with party members and NPCs via the Follower Menu. Initially, a red handshake symbol will appear on a character’s portrait if they are able to rank up. If the symbol is grey, but you have reached the correct date, visit a town and speak to the character directly. If you can’t find them on your own, speak to Gallica, and she may tell you who is around during a free day. When there is no handshake symbol at all, you must advance the main story to get a new rank up.
Related
Does Metaphor: ReFantazio Have Romance Options?
Metaphor: ReFantazio borrows a lot from Persona, including its Social Link system, renamed Bonds. But do those relationships ever turn romantic?
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Each character represents a class Archetype and improving their rank unlocks new abilities. If you are only concerned about using a few Archetypes for gameplay purposes, then all Bonds aren’t required. Instead, the system brings out the personalities of characters and may provide extra plot elements in Metaphor: ReFantazio.
How To Raise Party Member Follower Bonds
Growing Close With Your Fellow Warriors
The six party members are the most direct Followers to interact with. They are always around, making it simpler to find them within town. As they fight on the field, it is very easy to understand their Archetypes and how they will improve via ranks.
How To Max The Warrior Bond With Strohl
Strohl is one of the first playable Followers you’ll gain access to starting on 6/6. This allows others to gain abilities as a Warrior. At Higher Bonds, it also starts the process of leveling the Swordmaster and Samurai Archetypes in Metaphor: ReFantazio.
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How To Max The Knight Bond With Hulkenberg
Hulkenberg joins you on 6/11 after you have defeated Grius. This means there is no way of Bonding with Grius, as he will always leave the team. Aside from supporting the Knight Archetype, you can also study Paladin, Dark Knight, and Magic Knight in Metaphor: ReFantazio at higher ranks.
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How To Max The Thief Bond With Heismay
Heismay always joins the team on 7/4 and also tends to need the Eloquence Virtue to interact with. Heismay is a master of sneaking and ambushing targets, making him among the best party members in Metaphor: ReFantazio. Along with Thief, they can also study the Assassin and Ninja Archetypes.
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How To Max The Masked Dancer Bond With Junah
After the Dragon Temple Dungeon, complete the side quest, Save the Mourning Snakes at Virga Island. Keep in mind that once you leave the island, it may be impossible to start Junah’s Bond in Metaphor: ReFantazio. This would lock you from the Persona Master Archetype.
YouTuber DismArchus compiled all of Junah’s Follower Bond scenes together. The majority of the starting one occurs directly on Virga Island. It is unknown what happens if you venture too far from this location.
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How To Max The Summoner Bond With Eupha
Similar to Junah, Eupha’s Bonds are unlocked on Virga Island, making it possible to miss them. Speaking to her will start the side quest, The Trial of Malnova. Additionally, you will need to max both the Imagination and Wisdom Virtues to access her later scenes. Eupha allows you to improve the Summoner and Devil Summoner Archetypes.
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How To Max The Berserker Bond With Basilio
Basilio is the final teammate you meet in Metaphor: ReFantazio. His Bonds gimmick is that he can only be ranked up while Gauntlet Runner Walker travels to a location. He initially has the Berserker Archetype but also unlocks Destroyer.
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How To Raise NPC Follower Bonds
Other Characters Are Roaming Around
In addition to the playable characters, other characters will become non-combat Followers in Metaphor: ReFantazio. Most of them are found by completing side quests in various cities. However, a few are also simply gained by going through the main campaign.
The character Gallica gains Bond ranks automatically throughout the story. If you make it to 9/24, she will have the maximum rank of 8. She represents the Mage Archetype.
Compared to the characters played, NPCs tend to require higher Virtues to rank up in a Bond. Some also need several Virtues in total. Thankfully, they tend to stay in the same locations, making it easier to find them in each settlement.
How To Max The Seeker Bond With More
More becomes a Follower while still in the long prologue tutorial on 6/5. Because it is so early, you won’t gain access to his main features until reaching Akademia a little bit later. Aside from Seeker, he also unlocks the Magic Seeker and Soul Hacker Archetypes.
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How To Max The Healer Bond With Maria
Maria’s becomes a Follower on 6/10 of the main storyline. She is very helpful as her Bond increases the amount of experience gained. Also, she unlocks the Healer, Cleric, and Savior Archetypes in Metaphor: ReFantazio.
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How To Max The Brawler Bond With Catherina
During Regalith Grand Cathedral, speak with Catherina to start her side quest, A Friend in Need. Even though it is marked as a side event, the tutorial must still be finished correctly. She provides the Brawler and Martial Artist Archetypes in Metaphor: ReFantazio.
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How To Max The Gunner Bond With Neuras
During the main storyline, Neuras will mention his side quest Providing A Spark. There is no rush to complete it, but doing so is the only way to unlock his Bond. He teaches the Gunner, Sniper, and Dragoon Archetypes in Metaphor: ReFantazio.
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How To Max The Commander Bond With Bardon
Bardon is gained as a Follower during the side quest Old Castle Town Kidnapper. However, just like Catherina, this is semi-fake as the event is required to access the next main story scene in Metaphor: ReFantazio. Bardon provides the Commander and Warlord Archetypes.
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How To Max The Faker Bond With Alonzo
You will need to have an Imagination Virtue rank of 2 or more. Then, on 6/29 or later, speak to Cuculus in Martia Thoroughfare Square to undergo the side quest A Dragger, A Ring, And A Rake. You will meet Alonzo, who provides the Faker and Trickster Archetypes. He also requires high Tolerance and Wisdom to rank up fully.
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How To Max The Merchant Bond With Brigitta
Like Alonzo, you need a minimum Wisdom Virtue of 2. Once this is gained, speak to Brigitta at Grand Trad Sunlumeo Street to start her quest A Bullish Embargo. Completing it will grant access to the Merchant and Tycoon Archetypes in Metaphor: ReFantazio. You will also need high Courage Virtue to finish ranking her Bond.
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Source: DismArchus/YouTube
Metaphor: ReFantazio
- OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Rating:92/100 Critics Recommend:99%
- Platform(s)
- PS4 , PS5 , PC , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
- Released
- October 11, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Studio Zero
- Publisher(s)
- Atlus
- Engine
- GFD
- ESRB
- t
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty