Tales Of The Abyss: Know Your Status pt.2 !!! F. DEF & F. ATK

  

 Tales Of the Abyss: Know your way around F. ATK & F. DEF

Hello Guys! I am back again with more discussion about Tales of the Abyss! YES! You heard me, F. ATK + F. DEF!!

Certainly, all of you Tales series enthusiasts have often dealt even struggled with status attributes for the rest of your gameplay. So, Today's discussion is about two main attributes of Status that you will always care for. Regardless of whichever Tales series installments you play.

Are F.DEF + F.ATK vital to all party members' growth ? 

Basically, let's say F. ATK is your main offense magic asset while F. DEF is your magic barrier before weapons or other equipment bonuses came along. These two tell the characteristic of certain party member as well!!! Is the character able to withstand magic/fonic-based damage or perform constant nuking from distance or simply heal in large quantity ?

In terms of F.ATK, the focus is on fonic casting-generated damage, base / novice / high spells (blessed drops/turbulence/stalagmite/splash/lightning blade/ negative gate), CERTAIN mystic arte damage, healing, temporary status boosting.

As for F.DEF, the focus is on resistance to casted magic damage, and CERTAIN mystic arte.

Although weapons + other attributes play major role in enhancing basic status, your BATTLE COORDINATION is still your main priority (attributes are just tools to SLIGHTLY improve damage, resistance, mobility etc). Otherwise, you will waste your mind, energy, and time only to hustle for GALD on equipments. 

Oh Really, tho ?

Trust me, I only bought weapons, armors, even boots or rings / gloves when I just happen to have a chance to visit new cities for main CASTERS ( Jade / Tear). All you want for both fof them is TOUGH ARMORS, TP-generating Accessories (regrettably only on late game), gloves / rings at least rather than weapons.

How about side caster like Anise ? 

 I rarely focus on Anise despite her superb fonic artes because she is often off and on as an active character. Plus, follow-up levelling feature was not yet added by Bandai Namco. EXAMPLE: Jade - Tear have reached level 45 because they are never removed due to storyline while Anise rejoined party at 30 or 35 due to long period of absence. Case like this may test your patience because you have to boost her level quickly, but her F.ATK + F.DEF are incredible.

The real skill is how you COORDINATE OTHER PARTY MEMBERS' MOVEMENT!!

Why do you mention only Two ? 

Well, these two are mainly what you need to pay attention to when you want to stay on safe side from early to mid game, too. 

Let's say Luke/Guy has low F.ATK & F.DEF to begin with while Jade/Tear's F.ATK & F.DEF tells the opposite. Certainly, you will not force Luke/Guy to rise F ATK, but rise their F.DEF at least. So, have Luke/Guy avoid getting caught by Fonic Damage (blessed drops/turbulence/stalagmite/splash/lightning blade/ negative gate) with wide Area Of Effect. 

AGAIN, damage taken by magic hit is not PHYSICAL ATTACK. So, do not just use REGULAR block.

How can F. ATK & F. DEF be tracked ? 

The standard rule for enhancing your basic stats in Tales series is as universal as other JRPGs which means LEVEL UP. In addition to this, there are still other options on the table such as Capacity Core bonus, Equipments bonus, Herb bonus (just a little). However, the most practical way to boost two-three even all status is via flexible use of Capacity Core. (SAME WITH P.ATK + P.DEF)

Fonic Attack (F. ATK)

Fonic Attack is one of statuses that you want to enhance very first time for better preparation of Nuking purposes. AS CASTERS, You can not just rely on head-on vanguard attacks, you have to keep enemies at bay by staggering them as to allow an opening for FIGHTERS to stun / hit critically.

Plus, it is relatable in everyone's mind to have a character able to stun, stagger even launch critical damage for every spells  casted (enemies taking constant pressure of FONIC ATTACK / spells will definitely reduce their durability over time be it F. DEF or P.DEF). 

Even bosses will signal their stress BY UNLEASHING OVERLIMIT once it is hard for them to counter attack due to constant push from your CASTERS.

How to notice the outcome of F.ATK growth ?

The effect demonstrated by the growth of F. ATK is often obvious, so just focus on raising Fonic Arte Usage until 3 stars at least. Field of Fonon transformation for your spells is just a bonus (no need to bother so much as FOF is a priority for our friends on front). 

The closest thing you can notice is the rising number of damage upon enemies, high rate of staggering animation of your enemies, high probability of stun after 3-5 spells, large amount of HP restoration, longer duration of temporary status boost. 

The point is organize your spell combos considerably (2 base spells + 2 novice spells, 1 base spell + 2 novice spells + 1 high spell, 3 base spells + 1 high spell etc). YOU ARE IN LUCK! spells can be casted from afar, and you can even manage the Area of Effect to take place even enemies would rather focus on vanguard FIGHTERS than you unless they are smart.

CASTING COSTS TIME! note that you have to arrange which spell is the fastest to cast then proceed to the most time-consuming spell. Be smart with your distance from enemy and moment to cast (if lucky, you can set up a permanent rhythm of spell-casting while being unnoticed by enemies).

Levelling up with proper Capacity Core is more than enough, I think. This is because your growth will be more focused, and other status will just follow up (Luke should focus on P. ATK, P. DEF, F. DEF, Jade on P. ATK,F. ATK, F. DEF, Guy on AGILITY, P. ATK, P.DEF, Anise on P. DEF, F. ATK, AGILITY, Tear on P.DEF, F.DEF, F.ATK, Natalia on P. ATK, P. DEF, AGILITY). Otherwise, you will be in dilemma state of having moderate growth, for instance, Jade/ Tear has moderate P. ATK, but average F.ATK while both Jade and Tear are not really that painful to inflict physical pain (pow hammer, banishing sorrow, thunder lance, rending spear).

Fonic Defense (F. DEF )

Having high F.ATK will still mean a compensation of Physical defense and Fonic Defense so that you will not be easily staggered/KO'ed/stunned when targeted with spells by enemies.

If F. ATK gives you higher chance of keeping foes at bay via stun, stagger, critical hit, F. DEF will offer you higher resistance against stun by Counter Fonic Artes, durability against multiple hits of a spell (like prism sword, splash, stalagmite), even FoF-transformed spells (stalagmite >> Ground Dasher). As a note, Vanguard Fighters suffer the most when they get caught in a wide Range spells, so focus carefully, okay ?

If you are keen on Quick Counter Spell-Casting regardless of your position, then F. DEF is one status you have to check on constantly. Consequently, you can win tougher stance when the time is too late to run away from casted spells or MYSTIC ARTES (BIG BANG, INDIGNATION, FRAGMENTED END, PRISM BALLET, ANCIENT REQUIEM, CELESTIAL ELEGY, BRIMSTONE TEMPEST, EVIL LIGHT) by enemies. (My Jade's F.DEF you see here can withstand Nebilim's prism sword / blessed drops at least).

Another way to face casted spells on you is Fonic Block / Magic Block (Triangle button + Down Direction) unlocked at level 3 or 5. This takes lots of practice to master the TIMING, but if you are good at it, multiple hits by spells can be blocked in one Fonic Block while reducing Fonic Damage upon you.

Once you unlock IRON STANCE in your AD SKILLS library, you can even stand greater chance against Six God General encounters *heck* even any magic-based mystic artes. This includes IRON STANCE AGAINST FONIC ATTACK.

Personal Advice

Personally speaking, I frequently use Free Running to avoid taking multiple Fonic damage. Also, Spells do not instantly go off like a bomb, and it still takes time to take place after casting is done.

although FONIC BLOCK IS HELPFUL TO REDUCE DAMAGE UNTIL 1 OR 0 IF PERFECTLY MASTERED (If F.DEF is not HIGH enough, your stance will BREAK). Plus, DURABILITY BE IT F.DEF OR P.DEF serves as Plan B when it is too late to Free Run, not as a show of INVICIBILITY (You are not superhuman tho).

Universe will not always be so kind, and you can still RISK GETTING STUNNED FOR 5-7 SECONDS (CRITICAL LOSS OF MOMENTS), STAGGERED, EVEN KO'ED. TRUST ME! You do not want tiny birds animation on top of your head!!

Performing Counter Spells or Offense Spells is best directed at CASTERS first if AVAILABLE!! Then you can focus on Physical hit-based enemies as this will ensure balance of battle maintained. Just DO NOT MIX UP THE TARGETS, OKAY ?

Thanks for reading my tips and info on the topic of F.ATK + F.DEF !!!

I will make sure to write more what I know about Tales of the Abyss series gameplay based on my very own personal experience. So, stay for more tips and info from me!!