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In Suikoden, there are three different ways to do battle. Mastering every style of combat is essential to victory. Below are tips for all three types of battle, including info on Runes and Items used, special Unite Attacks, and Enemies encountered.

Party Battles

In this battle mode, you have several options:

• Fight allows you to select the actions of each of your characters, unless a character is unable to fight due to status abnormalities or a lack of HP.
• Run makes an attempt to flee the battle. This option is not always successful. If all your characters are strong enough, the option may change to Let Go, in which case you will always manage to escape.
• Bribe sacrifices money to the enemy to avoid a fight. This does not always work.
• Free Will lets all your characters simply attack with their weapons, if they are able to.

Selecting the Fight option brings up more choices:

• Attack sets the character to attack with a weapon.
• Defend reduces the amount of damage the character takes.
• Rune uses the character's Rune, if applicable.
• Item allows you to select an Item to use.
• Unite lets you choose from the available Unite Attacks, if any.

At times, you will encounter enemies that are much stronger than the ones you've faced up to that point. These are "boss" enemies, and cannot be defeated by attacks that instantly kill other enemies (found on the Hero's Soul Eater Rune). Since they have no weaknesses, there is no specific strategy you can formulate against them. Two general tips are to conserve your magic and to level up as much as possible first, by defeating weaker enemies.

Runes, when equipped on a character, may have one of several effects. They may grant the bearer the ability to use magic or a special attack, or may bestow some special effect. Please visit the Runes Page for more information on Runes.

There are many items available for use in battle. These items can make the difference between victory and defeat, and should be used wisely. Visit the Items Page for a list of items and their various effects.

Certain combinations of characters bring with them powerful Unite Attacks. Choosing the Unite option for one character automatically selects it for all other characters involved in the special attack. For a list of all known Unites and the characters needed to perform them, visit the Unites Page.

You will encounter many different enemies on your journey. For a partial list of them, as well as their HP, location, and items carried, check out the Enemies Page.

Epic Battles

Charging Attack: Strong against arrow attacks, but weak against magic Bow and Arrow Attack: Strong against magic attacks, but weak against charges Magic Attack: Strong against charges, but weak against arrow attacks
Special:	Strategist: Increases the strength of charging attacks, one turn per each member of this group Dragon Knight: Attack with dragons -- weak against arrow attacks Ninja: Discover the opponents' strategy -- 100% success rate Thief: Discover the opponents' strategy -- 50% success rate Merchant: Bribe some enemy troops to change sides -- 50% success rate

Using your Ninjas is key to discovering the oppenents' next move, and thus, their weakness. If your unable to use Ninjas, Thieves will do, although they are less often successful.

Sometimes, in an epic battle, one of your battle groups may suffer a great blow when facing an attack they are weak against. In such cases, there is a possibility that a member of the group may be "wounded" or even perish. If a character should die in battle, then you will not be able to revive Gremio for the "special" ending.

In the event of such an occurence, your best choice would be to simply reset the game and attempt the battle again. You can also see characters' quotes when they are downed.

All the 108 Stars of Destiny you have recruited up to the point of an Epic Battle are put into pre-arranged groups of three. To see all the Stars of Destiny in their battle formations, visit the Army Groups Page.

One-On-One Duels

• Attack is the best response to Defend. You tick off minor damage.
• Defend is best versus a Desperate Attack. You come out unscathed, while seriously damaging your opponent.
• Desperate Attack is best against an Attack. You take some damage, but deal much more.

The rules change ever so slightly when Pahn faces General Teo! Since Teo is so strong, it is better to Defend against normal Attacks. Basically, Pahn should simply always Defend, but a quicker and more efficient way to win the battle is to check out the Secrets Page.

Created: July 29, 1997
Updated: September 1, 1997

Contact the author of this site at suikoden@spores.net .