Mastering Combat Skills in Star Ocean: The Second Story R

In Star Ocean: The Second Story R, having proficient Combat Skills is essential for ensuring the survival of each character in battle. These skills upgrade various reactions and stats, enhancing their effectiveness during combat.

To assemble an optimal party in the Star Ocean 2 remake, players must not only consider the balance of character types but also prioritize acquiring a diverse range of these crucial skills. The specific skills that are considered the best can vary depending on the character type being developed, but each skill merits further exploration.

All Combat Skills in Star Ocean: The Second Story R

There are a total of fourteen Combat Skills in Square Enix's Star Ocean: The Second Story R, with each skill consisting of ten levels. Although not all of these skills are initially accessible, they become unlocked before Claude or Rena advances too far in the story. These skills include:

- Guardbreak: Has a chance to bypass an enemy's defense when attacking.

Feint: Randomly guarantees attack to land, regardless of hit accuracy.

Power Burst: Randomly boosts attack power.

Qigong: Randomly boosts defense.

Body Control: Reduces daze time.

Sidestep: Randomly evades enemy attacks.

Godspeed: Increases movement speed with each level. Randomly teleports a character into an attack position.

Hasten Speech: Cuts casting time for spells.

Trance: Randomly increases spell damage.

Concentration: Provides a random barrier against enemy attacks that may interrupt spellcasting.

Interrupt: When casting a spell simultaneously with an enemy, there is a possibility that the caster's spell will disrupt the enemy's spell if it would have been cast first.

Backstab: Randomly teleports a character right behind the enemy.

Breaker: Grants a chance of doing increased damage to the enemy's shield.

Accumulation Aid: Grants a chance that a small amount of bonus spheres will remain when the bonus gauge resets.

Best Combat Skills in Star Ocean 2 Remake

Combat Skills are a subsection of the various abilities obtainable by players in Star Ocean: The Second Story R. Undoubtedly, the most exceptional Combat Skill in Star Ocean: The Second Story R is Qigong. Since the AI-controlled party members often struggle to execute proper parrying techniques, it becomes imperative to swiftly and significantly enhance their defensive capabilities. Allocating all available points into this Skill until fully mastered is highly recommended, as the effectiveness of other skills becomes inconsequential if the character is incapacitated.

For players aiming to maximize the performance of their casting DPS characters, such as Celine or Rena, throughout their extensive 40+ hour playthrough of Star Ocean 2, the following Combat Skills should be prioritized:

Qigong

Hasten Speech

Sidestep

Concentration

Godspeed

Trance

Interrupt

And here is the same list but for physical DPS characters, like Dias, Claude, or Chigato:

Qigong

Guardbreak

Sidestep

Feint

Power Burst

Godspeed

Backstab

Star Ocean: The Second Story R is available now for the PC, PS4, PS5, and the Switch.

Editor's P/S

Mastering Combat Skills in Star Ocean: The Second Story R

In the captivating world of Star Ocean: The Second Story R, combat skills play a pivotal role in determining the success and survival of each character on the battlefield. These skills enhance various reactions and stats, providing a significant advantage during intense battles. To forge a formidable party, players must carefully consider not only the balance of character types but also prioritize acquiring a diverse range of combat skills.

Among the fourteen challenging combat skills available, Qigong stands out as the most exceptional. Given that AI-controlled party members often struggle with proper parrying techniques, Qigong becomes indispensable in bolstering their defensive capabilities. By allocating all available points into this skill until it is fully mastered, players can ensure that their characters possess the resilience necessary to withstand the onslaught of enemy attacks. This strategy becomes even more crucial considering that the effectiveness of other skills diminishes if the character is incapacitated.

For players seeking to maximize the potential of their casting DPS characters, such as Celine or Rena, throughout the extensive 40+ hour playthrough of Star Ocean 2, prioritizing skills like Hasten Speech, Sidestep, Concentration, Godspeed, Trance, and Interrupt is vital. These skills synergize well with the strengths of casting-focused characters, enhancing their spellcasting capabilities and providing defensive measures against enemy interruptions.

On the other hand, physical DPS characters like Dias, Claude, or Chigato benefit greatly from combat skills such as Guardbreak, Feint, Power Burst, Sidestep, Godspeed, and Backstab. These skills complement the aggressive playstyle of physical attackers, allowing them to bypass enemy defenses, increase their damage output, and evade incoming attacks with precision and speed.

In conclusion, mastering combat skills in Star Ocean: The Second Story R is an essential aspect of gameplay. By carefully selecting and developing the appropriate skills for each character type, players can unleash their full potential on the battlefield, conquer formidable challenges, and experience the thrill of victory in this beloved RPG classic.