You’ve come to the right place! This beginner’s guide covers the first ten or so hours, and covers combat, exploration, and some more general tips up to (but not including) kingdom management.
(Stay tuned to GameSkinny for a comprehensive guide on kingdom management soon!)
Ni No Kuni 2 Combat Tips
Battles are one of the most important aspects of Ni No Kuni 2, and the system is pretty robust. The game will lead you through the basics of fighting, but here are some more tips for efficient combat:
Switch characters mid-fight by pressing up or down on the D-Pad.
You can alternate between characters or just stick to one – there’s no clear advantage to either, so play according to your own preferences.
Use the auto-equip option, but sparingly.
You can auto-equip the strongest equipment available by pressing square in the weapons or equipment tab of each character’s equipment information screen. While this is a useful trick for basic battles, it’s worth taking the time to hand-pick the right equipment for each character.
Picking weapons yourself can give you a strategic advantage by choosing the right elements, the right accessories for the fighting style, and so on. Something else to keep in mind: Since Roland and Evan both use swords, the auto-equip gives whichever one of them you have selected the strongest set of weapons, leaving the other at a disadvantage.
Remember to customize the Tactics Tweaker to suit your location.
The fantastic thing about the Tactics Tweaker (once Lofty unlocks this for you) is that it’s fully customizable and adjustable. Start with the full-party buffs (since these have no disadvantages), and use the sliders to buff your party.
Once you unlock other options within the Tweaker, make sure to switch the settings up depending on where you are and what you’re fighting (like increasing damage against slimy monsters in the earlier areas, where you encounter many creatures of a gooey consistency).
Check your characters’ skills after they level up.
There’s no clear indication when a character learns a new skill, so until you reach the kingdom management aspect of the game, remember to check periodically for new skills.
Use combos, charges, and aerial attacks.
The game doesn’t explicitly explain combos or aerials (though it does mention them), so be sure to experiment for some powerful attacks. Tani, for instance, bursts into a flurry of rotating hits with her spears when you attack in rapid succession. Alternating between light and heavy hits also leads to different types of attacks. Holding down the ranged attack button will charge it using MP (and automatically lock onto an enemy you’re facing). Try different things!
Don’t forget those Higgledies!
The Higgledies can make or break a fight, especially with bosses. Use them! Once you start a kingdom, you’ll be able to upgrade and create new Higgledies, but for now, make use of the ones you have. Higgledies typically have a few supporting attacks and one major skill which must be activated by getting inside the blue circle surrounding them and pressing X. The circle disappears after a bit, so don’t miss your chance! The little elemental critters let you know when they’re ready to attack by letting out a cute cry. Listen out for it.
Exploration Tips
You’ll be doing a lot of exploring on your quest to create a unified kingdom. Here are a few things to keep in mind on your travels:
Use Trap Door waypoints to quickly go between places.
Exploring the overworld is fun, but if you just want to cut to the chase, press “Options” twice to see all the points to which you can teleport. You can warp from anywhere in the world, including inside dungeons, making this an easy way to complete quests and revisit locations. Whenever you encounter a glowing blue spot, make sure to press X inside it so you can easily return to the location at a later time.
Revisit dungeons when you get new skills.
Some dungeons have areas you can only access once you’ve unlocked specific skills. Make note of any suspicious areas on your first run-through, and return to explore further once you unlock the skill you were missing.
Don’t worry about collecting all the items.
Scattered throughout the world and within towns and dungeons are sparkles that indicate items. While it’s a good idea to pick up items in new areas (and especially in the Dreamer’s Maze dungeons), don’t worry about collecting them all: They replenish over time, and you’ll be able to collect items from your kingdom later on anyway.
General Ni No Kuni 2 Tips
And finally, here are a few more things to keep in mind when you’re first starting out in Ni No Kuni 2:
Don’t bother buying any weapons or armor until you get a kingdom.
Once you have access to kingdom management, you’ll also unlock the ability to craft and upgrade your own equipment. Until then, save your guilders – crafting and upgrading can be expensive, so you’ll be glad that you did.
Check the Leafbook for updates and gossip.
The game’s fantasy-world version of Facebook is a good place to see a quick summary of the story thus far (paired with amusing comments), but it’s also great for finding hidden items and monster information. Use the Leafbook to check for tips and gossip, and save potentially interesting posts by “liking” them (you’ll be able to easily filter by liked posts when you need to).
With these tips, you’re ready to take on the world of Ni No Kuni 2! And be on the lookout for more Ni No Kuni 2 info right here on GameSkinny.
