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Skills

Skills work in the exact same way that the skills in Star Ocean 2 did, but they're not as..broad ranged. The skills in Valkyrie Profile are more straight forward and many are much more useful and directly affect how you perform in battles. Not all of them can be used, at once, however.

Skills are learned by spending CP, or Capacity Points on them. Skills levels usually go up to 8, but some skills, like Counter Attack, do not require any more learning to be effective; thus you stop learning them at skill level 1. You can only have 999 CP per character. CP increases with every level up. This amount can be higher, when the Emerald Necklace is equipped to a certain Einherjar. It adds 100 extra CP plus the amount of CP received when the wearer's level goes up. It's useful for learning skills much quicker. Skills are automatically set, but many others have to be found by means of treasure chest hunting, or being awarded by Freya and Odin. Some skills are only accessible if you transmute certain skills that are idling in your item inventory. Try some combinations out, to see what skill can be transmuted into what.

I have noted the amount of CP associated to every skill. The Skills that usually do not require a huge amount of CP to level up and max them out, deemed a Medium from me; the ones that DID require an obscene amount of CP (like Survival) to level up and max them out, deemed a High from me, and the skills like Counter Attack, the only needed 1 level boost to max it out, deemed a Low. Yes, skills like Dark and Trick Step may require 60 CP to level it up, but those skills max out after those 60 CP. So, it's not like you're wasting a whole lot; 60 CP may sound like a big amount of CP, but compared to skills like Tactics, it's not that much.

Please note that the skills marked as archers or mages only can ONLY be used by those types of Einherjar.Un-marked skills such as Splash can be used by fighter-type Einherjar (Valkyrie, Arngrim, Jun, etc) and only by fighter-type Einherjar.

Reaction Skills

Reaction Skills are the A skills, meaning the first skills. They are also your most important. They can be set up in the Skill Set Up Menu, which is done in Memory Camp (Status screen). Go to Skills, and you have a choice of learning (Learn) any skill you have aquired, junctioning any necessary skill in the A1 A2,B, or C categories (Set Up), or raising the Hero Value of a certain Einherjar (Traits). A/Reaction Skills are the ones that you will focus on the most, since it holds the most valuable skills, that you can junction, that will keep you alive. You can junction up to two Reaction Skills (A1 and A2).

Skill
Description and Notes
CP Requirements
Usefulness
First Aid
15% chance of restoring DME when injury occurs. Amount restored depends on skills level. Cannot cure self. This is your first Reaction skill and your most basic. Everyone can use.
Medium.
***
Auto Item outclasses it later on.
Auto Item
Items are used automatically, depending on circumstances. Set usage priorities for each item in skill Set Up menu. In actuality, [Skill Level X 40%] are divided. Everyone can use.
Low
*****
You'll need it for the entire game.
Throw
Gives the ability to hurl a magic blade at your enemy. Accuracy is only fair, so it can't be relied on too much. Mages and archers cannot use.
Medium.
**
Cure Condition
Gives the ability to cure status abnormalities. Abnormalities that can be cured increase with skill level. LVL1=Poison/ 3=Freeze/ 4=Paralyze/
5=Silence/ 6=Curse/ 8=Stone. Everyone can use.
Medium
****
Auto Item outclasses it though
Guts
Keeps you ALIVE when your DME drops to 0. Chances of happening increases with skill level. Everyone can use.
High
*****
It will save your behind several times
Adept Illusion
Gives the ability to create an illusion to avoid attack. Chances of happening increases with skill level. Only mages can use.
Medium.
***
Guts will protect them more
Dancing Sword
If character avoids or blocks an attack, 2 swords materialize in the air and counter attack. Only mages can use.
Low
**
Not worth the chance
Last Trial
When the mage dies, a random spell will be triggered as a last attack. Obviously only for mages.
High
***

Support Skills

Support Skills are the B skills, and secondary skills, and will be your most un-used skills *phew*. There are only a few for every type of fighter, and they are used in battle automatically.

Skill
Description and Notes
CP Requirements
Usefulness
Splash
Extra shock wave attack possible. Shock wave moves in direction of attack, but does not contribute to hit number. N/A for archers/mages.
High
*
Virtually useless...
Reverie
Character's double adds extra attack to foe. Double may disappear if attacked, but can fight again next battle. Double's attack is added to hit number. N/A for archers/mages.
High
*****
Best Support skill. You don't get it till quite later though.
Combo Counter
Normal attack can be repeated from Counter Attack. However, order of repeated Normal Attack is fixed*
Low
***
Good to have, especially when your weapon hits 3x
Noise Arrow
Seals off foe's ability to cast magic. Chances of success increases with skill level. Archers only.
Medium
***
Doesn't seem to trigger, half of the time.
Triple Distress
Reduces foe's ability to avoid, defend and counter-attack. Chances increase with skill level. Archers only.
Medium
***
Same as above, but the results are better.
Steal Magic
Gives the ability to do energy drain. The DME of foes defeated by magic attack is added to your own. Chances of success depend on enemy power and skill level. Mages only.
Medium
**
Ok, but when you use magic to destroy an enemy, chances are, you'll be ending a battle...so the extra DME is kinda pointless (unless you're out of elixers?)
Stun Magic
Adds ability to cause faint with successful magic attack. Chance of causing faint increases with Skill level. Mages only.
Medium
***
Ok, but depending on your power level, when you use your magic, you'll be wiping out the enemy and ending the battle (making faint kinda pointless)
Concentration
Whenever magic Special Attacks are performed, exchanges DME to reduce CT gauge to 2. Necessary DME changes with Skill level. Mages only.
Medium
****
If you use magic clichers a lot, this will REALLY help, so you don't have to wait so long to cast another spell.

*This means that the order of the attacks will not be the order in which you have set on the Ability screen. This means nothing if your weapon can only hit once, however.

Attack Skills

Attack Skills are C skills, and are quite useful. The only downside to them, is learning how to master them, since they can only be triggered with the directional button before the einherjar hits its target. As if you didn't have enough buttons to hit during battle! So these skills can go either way; if you're willing to get the hang of them, they will come in handy, however, you may just totally forget about them while attacking, which means you'll have to plan who attacks first, second, third and last, strategically, so you don't miss the opportunity to let your Attack skills fly. A sword symbol will appear above the attacker's head, signalling when you can use the junctioned skill (I believe this is random, depending on your skill level)

Skill
Description and Notes
CP Requirements
Usefulness
Scarlet Edge
Adds Down Effect to attack. Press button repeatedly to perform. Uses 5% of character's DME. N/A for archers/mages.
Low
***
Good for einherjar who can't seem to knock the enemy to the ground (and therefore miss following attack)
Charge
Fires a blast which causes 1.5x Attack Power damage. Press button repeatedly to perform. Uses 5% of character's DME. N/A for archers/mages.
Low
***
Good to get extra damage in.
Strike Edge
50% chance of causing faint. Press button repeatedly to perform. Uses 5% of character's DME. N/A for archers/mages.
Low
***
Good chance of causing faint to enemies!
Dark
Allows character to attack from rear. Reduces enemy's Perfect Guard chance by 50%.Push directional button left before attack to perform. N/A for archers/mages.
Low
****
Speaks for itself.
Trick Step
Step back just before attacking to make foe counter-attack and miss.Push button left before attack to perform. Effect increases with counter-attack frequency.N/A for archers/mages.
Low
**
Only good if you aren't strong enough to take a hit
Slanting Rain
Attacks all enemies with arrow attack, however, combos become unusable. To perform, push particular button, and then directional left button. Archers only.
Low
***
Dude no combos...but all enemies, so...
Darkness Arrow
Attacks all foes which reduces Avoid %. However, combos become unusable. To perform, push particular button, and then directional left button. Archers only.
Low
**
Not many enemies will avoid enough to cause a problem.
False Arrow
Fire 3 arrows to intentionally make enemy put up their guard. To perform, push particular button, and then directional left button. Archers only.
Low
**
Mental Reaction
Attacks all foes which reduces Avoid %. However, combos become unusable. To perform, push particular button, and then directional left button. Mages only.
Low
**
Not many enemies will avoid enough to cause a problem.
Wait Reaction
Character can attack with Familiar even during Charge Turn. Perform by pressing character button. Familiar's Attack Power depends on skill level. Mages only.
High
*****
Excellent! It adds 10 energy points, helping you charge your Technical Arts Energy.

Status Skills

Your D skills are different in the sense that you will not set/junction them. They more or less affect your stats for the better, though most of them will only be useful to Freya. Yes, nearly half of Status skills only raise INT or nothing at all, but maxing them out are the key to your Einherjar's survival (and your success at the Sacred Phases) when they are sent to Valhalla. Others are much more valuable, raising attributes like DME, but for a hefty price.

Skill
Description and Notes
CP Requirements
Usefulness
Tactics
Warefare knowledge.
Medium
***
Hear Noise
Heightened awareness. Raises AGL [Skill Level x1]
Medium
***
Find Trap
Ability to detect traps.
Medium
***
Survival
Survival ability. Raises maximum DME [Skill Level x200] [Skill Level x1]
High
*****
Gives you lots of DME, but expensive early on.
Identify
item appraisal ability.
Medium
***
Leadership
Leadership ability.
Medium
***
Fight
Fighting spirit. Raises STR, INT, AGL, and DEX [Skill Level x2]
High
*****
Raises a lot of stats, but like Survival it hurts your CP early on
Trick
Knowledge of strategy. Raises INT [Skill level x2]
Medium
***
March
Knowledge of marching and commands. Raises INT [Skill Level x1]
Medium
***
Formation
Knowledge of military formations. Raises INT [Skill Level x1]
Medium
***
Attack Pow
Skill at attacks. Raises STR [Skill Level x30]
High
*****
Defend
Skill at defence. Raises RDM [Skill Level x10]
Medium
*****
Avoid
Skill at evasion. Raises AGL [Skill Level x3]
Medium
****
Hit
Skill at accuracy. Raises DEX [Skill Level x3]
Medium
****
Resist Damage
Skill at damage reduction. Raises RDM [Skill Level x20]
High
*****
Magic Power
Skill at magic attack. Raises INT [Skill Level x30]
High
****
Resist Magic
Skill at magic resist. Raises RST [Skill Level x5]
High
*****
Monster Int
Knowledge about monsters.
Medium
***
Undead Int
Knowledge of the undead.
Medium
***
Demon Int
Knowledge of demons.
Medium
***
Counter
Skill at counter attacking. Press button during evade to perform.
Low
*****
You'll be using this throughout the entire game.



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