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Metaphor: ReFantazio Best Stats and Archetype Builds

by Junior Miyai on 12 October, 2024

Metaphor: ReFantazio allows an awful lot of customization for your battle party. Not only can you fully customize your main character stats, but you can also influence what stats your supporting party members get and determine what job they have as well. This customization is relatively open, and allows you to do pretty much whatever it is you want to do. However, near the end of the game, each character has the potential to unlock something known as a Heroic Embodiment, which is a unique custom Archetype that only that character can use. These Heroic Embodiments are extremely powerful, and are considered to be the "best Archetype" for each party member.

While details about these Heroic Embodiments are considered spoilers, we have a non-spoiler version listed at the top for you to use. Scrolling below the non-spoiler checklist will reveal key plot points about the game, so if you are trying to stay spoiler-free, please be careful!

Non-Spoiler Best Stats and Builds

  • Main Character: Strength (or Magic, but primarily Strength)
    • The MC's Heroic Embodiment allows him to use an attack that deals extreme physical Almighty damage and also heavy magical Light damage, so either of these stats will work, but Strength is a clear winner in terms of raw damage output. Nothing beats Almighty, after all. This Heroic Embodiment also has a Synthesis skill that deals severe physical Almighty damage, further leaning towards a need for Strength. Finally, the main reason to use this Heroic Embodiment is the "Resist All" passive, which does exactly what it says on the tin — resists all forms of damage except Almighty. This passive cannot be inherited towards other Archetypes, so if you want it, you have to use the Heroic Embodiment.
  • Strohl: Strength
    • Strohl's Archetype is the Warrior, so it should come as no surprise that their Heroic Embodiment focuses on raw physical damage output. He gains access to Hassou Tobi, which die-hard SMT and Persona fans will recognize as one of the best physical attacks in the game.
  • Hulkenberg: Strength / Endurance
    • Hulkenberg's Archetype is that of the Knight, and while her Heroic Embodiment requires dipping into magic Archetypes a little bit, she ultimately ends up using no magic at all. The Royal Knight Archetype still has the Holy Knight's Proclamation, which taunts most non-boss enemies in the game into attacking only Hulkenberg, but she also gains a Press Turn when she uses it now. She also has a lot of Pierce abilities, so Strength is the way to go to boost your damage.
  • Thief: Agility / Strength
    • The fourth character's Archetype is that of the Thief, and their Heroic Embodiment takes that ideal to the next level with an improved Steal ability (Plunder) and the ability to completely remove the enemies Press Turns if they evade an attack. Both of these require extremely high Agility to function, so outfitting this character with +Agility items and mastering Agility based Archetypes (Thief line, Faker line) is the path to success. Their attacks are Physical based, so Strength as a secondary stat allows for higher damage.
  • Masked Dancer: Magic
    • The fifth character's Archetype is that of the Masked Dancer, a fairly versatile job that allows them to don Persona Masks and take on additional abilities depending on the type of mask. While this allows the character to mold into any team fairly well, it's worth noting that their Heroic Embodiment leans towards Magic damage, including a passive that boosts magic attack by 25% and also restores Press Turns when defeating an enemy using any type of Magic. Dipping into Agility or Luck as a secondary stat isn't a bad choice, however.
  • Summoner: Magic
    • A no-brainer, the sixth character's Archetype revolves around summoning demons of the past, which requires no small amount of magla, and their Heroic Embodiment is no different. You'll want a high Magic stat if you want your Jack Frost summon to deal reasonable damage,after all.
  • Berserker: Strength
    • Also fairly simple, the final character's Archetype is that of the Berserker, which is very much a job centered around breaking things quickly. Their Heroic Embodiment elevates this, with abilities that deal extreme Strike damage and ignores resistances, while also passively boosting Strike damage.

While these Heroic Embodiments are clearly designed to be the be-all, end-all job for each character, it's worth noting that if you have a specific build for your team, there is nothing stopping you from using that. A Main Character specialized in Magic will still be able to make use of the Heroic Embodiment if they wish, but may find better success with a more magic-leaning Archetype, such as Warlock or Elemental Master. Nothing in the game, including the superbosses, require meticulously fine-tuned teams, so you may build however you like.

Full details are below. This is your final warning regarding spoilers!

Heroic Embodiment Details

Main Character: Prince

  • Cooperative Chase (Hero Passive): Support attacks from allies appear more frequently and enemies are stunned more easily in overworld combat.
  • Heroic Slash (25 MP): Heavy physical Slash damage to one enemy. Deals boosted damage to humans.
  • Hero's Proving (50 MP): Increases caster's Atk/Def/Hit by three ranks for three turns.
  • Radiance (42 MP): Deals heavy magical Light damage to all enemies.
  • Morale Boost (Hero Passive): Recovers HP and MP everytime a support attack lands in overworld combat.
  • Hero's Cry (99 MP): Grants four Press Turns (can only be used once per fight.)
  • Resist All (Passive): Resists all damage other then Almighty.
  • Royal Slash (38 MP): Extreme physical Almighty damage to one enemy. Deals boosted damage to humans.

Strohl: Royal Warrior

  • Vorpal Blade (18 MP): Extreme physical Slash damage to all enemies. Decreases their Attack by one rank for three turns.
  • Unwavering Blade (20 MP): Increases caster's Hit/Evasion by three ranks for three turns.
  • Concentrate (20 MP): Increases caster's Attack by three ranks for three turns.
    • It's important to note that this is not the SMT/Persona Concentrate, which multiples your next magic attack by 2.5x.
  • Martial Lore (Passive): Increases basic attack power by 50%.
  • Brave Blade (36 MP): Heavy physical Slash damage to one enemy. High Critical Hit rate.
  • Slash Surge (Passive): Increases Slash Attack by 30%.
  • Hassou Tobi (88 MP): Deals weak physical Slash damage to all enemies eight times.
  • Noble Warrior's Soul (Passive): If Strohl defeats an enemy with a physical attack, no Turn Icon is lost.

Hulkenberg: Royal Knight

  • Holy Knight's Proclamation (8 MP): Taunts all enemies to focus attacks on Hulkenberg. Certain attacks defy this effect.
  • Instant Recovery (Passive): Status effects on Hulkenberg clear after one turn.
  • Thunderstrike Thrust (28 MP): Deals medium physical Electric damage to one enemy. Lowers their Defence by one rank for three turns.
  • Mad Rush (22 MP): Heavy physical Pierce damage to one enemy.
  • Omni-Guard (40 MP): Raises a barrier that nullifies one non-Almighty attack for one ally.
  • Pierce Surge (Passive): Increase Pierce Attack by 30%.
  • Omni-Counter (Passive): Has a passive 15% chance to repel non-Almighty damage.
  • Noble Knight's Soul (Passive): When Hulkenberg uses a Proclamation skill, adds one Press Turn. Does not work if Hulkenberg is incapacitated.

Heismay: Royal Thief

  • Adamant Nightblade (22 MP): Deals heavy physical Dark damage to one enemy. Lowers their Hit/Evasion by one rank for three turns.
  • Illusive Dream (20 MP): Deals weak physical Slash damage to one enemy 1-3 times. Absorbs MP. Low chance to one-hit kill target.
  • Quick-Change Arts (5 MP): Nullfies one Slash/Pierce/Strike attack for caster.
  • Third Eye (Passive): When attacked, halves attacking enemy Hit Rate.
  • Plunder: High chance of stealing rare items from one enemy. Success rate increases with more Agility.
  • Haste Lore (Passive): Greatly increases wielder's Hit/Evasion at the start of battle.
  • Plasma Nightblade: Heavy physical Slash damage to all enemies. Low chance to one-hit kill targets.
  • Noble Thief's Soul (Passive): Depletes all enemy Press Turns if Heismay dodges their attack.

Junah: Royal Masked Dancer

  • Ruin's Flameflower (42 MP): Heavy magic Fire damage to all enemies. Removes enemy buff effects if it hits.
  • Hellfire Dance (26 MP): Inflicts all enemies with a one-time weakness to Fire, ignores resistances.
  • Ice-Blue Dance (26 MP) Inflicts all enemies with a one-time weakness to Ice, ignores resistances.
  • Magic Surge (Passive): Boosts magic attack by 25%.
  • Noble Dancer's Soul (Passive): When Junah defeats an enemy with magic, no Press Turn icon is consumed.

Eupha: Royal Summoner

  • Summon Undead King (25 MP): Severe magic Dark damage to one enemy. Low chance to one-hit kill target.
  • Summon Dragon God (22 MP): Severe magic Fire damage to all enemies and removes buffs from enemies hit.
  • Summon Kishin (16 MP): Thor deals 2-4 medium magic Electric attacks to one enemy.
  • Summon Deity (20 MP): Vishnu deals extreme magic Light damage to all enemies. May inflict Daze.
  • Summon Fairy (Modified): Jack Frost deals heavy magic Ice damage to all enemies. High chance of inflicting Frostbite.
  • Summon Harvest God: Ishtar revives all allies from KO and fully heals everyone.
  • Summon Dragon God (Modified): Extreme magic Fire damage to all enemies. Lowers Attack and Defence by one rank for three turns.
  • Noble Summoner's Soul (Passive): If Eupha defeats an enemy with Summoning magic, no Press Turn icon is lost.

Basilio: Royal Berserker

  • Wanton Destruction (20 MP): Deals extreme physical Strike damage to one enemy. Inflicts a one-time weakness to Strike.
  • Charge (15 MP): Next physical attack damage deals 2.5x damage.
  • Stormbreaker Axe (18 MP): Deals medium physical Electric damage to one enemy. Removes buff effects from target if it hits.
  • Health Vessel (Passive): Increases max HP by 30%.
  • Peerless War Cry: Lowers all enemies Attack and Defense by two ranks for three turns.
  • Systematic Destruction: Extreme physical Strike damage to one enemy. Ignores resistances.
  • Strike Surge (Passive): Increases Strike damage by 30%.
  • Noble Berserker's Soul (Passive): If Basilio lands a critical hit with a physical attack, no Press Turn icon is lost.