Tips and tricks for FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition

Setting off on your adventures in the multiplayer world of FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES? Let us help you get started with these handy hints.
By Duncan Heaney

So you’ve joined a caravan and are about to venture out into the world in search of Myrrh.

The world of FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition is vast and dangerous, so we thought you budding adventurers may benefit from a few tips and explainers about the game.

From the differences between the tribes to mastering magic, here are some of the key things to know:

Choose your tribe carefully

FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition features four tribes, each with different strengths and weaknesses. Think of them as ‘classes’ - the one you choose will have a big effect on how you play the game.

That means it’s helpful to understand the ins and outs of each one:


Clavats

In many ways, Clavats are the consummate all-rounders. They don’t excel in any particular area, but nor do they have any major weaknesses - and that makes them supremely flexible.

For example, they’re adept at both magic and physical attacks, so you can take either an offensive or support role depending on the situation. I’d argue that it’s also a great starter class for learning the fundamentals of the game as there aren’t many scenarios where a Clavat won’t be able to hold their own.


Lilties

Don’t be fooled by their lack of stature - these little heroes are the most resilient in the game. Their high defense and attack power makes them capable of dealing out major damage up close with physical attacks - while soaking up the inevitable hits from the enemy.

That beefiness comes with a cost though - they’re undoubtedly the weakest tribe when it comes to magic, so prospective black mages should steer clear…


Yukes

…and instead look to the Yukes.

These armor-clad heroes are expert magic users, but this mystical mastery comes at the expense of strength and defense. You can do incredible spell damage with a Yuke, and when you have one equipped with high level magic, you can dominate the battlefield.

Even so, playing as a Yuke means you have to watch your position because they can’t take a lot of hits. If you’re playing with a team, make sure you keep back and let the tougher tribes act as your protection. Or as meat shields if you’re feeling uncharitable.


Selkies

At first glance, the strengths of the Selkie may not be immediately obvious. But when you start playing as one, you’ll soon see where the tribe excels: speed. For example, they can launch their focus attacks faster than other tribes - properly utilized this alone can make them capable of taking out enemies in a very short time frame.

Although they have high strength, they also have relatively low defense stats, so it may take some practice to utilize them to their full potential.


Knowing how each tribe behaves can help you devise the most effective ways to play them. And remember - the game doesn’t force you to stick to a single character. If you don’t get on with one tribe, you can always try another.

Stay in touch with the folks at home

When you start a game, you’ll be asked to choose what profession your parents have. These Home Jobs offer features and advantages that can help you greatly during your adventure.

For example, the Merchant will let you buy items on the cheap, while the Blacksmith lets you craft powerful gear.

All these jobs are useful, but whichever you pick, make sure that you improve your relationship over the course of the game. This will improve the bonuses they offer or features they offer to you.

After each dungeon, you’ll have the opportunity to send a letter home, and include a present within. Try to match the gift to the particular trade of the recipient - they’ll like it a lot more.

Another pro tip: FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition lets you create up to eight characters on a save file. When you create a new hero, you’ll choose a different job - once created, all those trades will be accessible in your home village. So making a few different caravanners can be helpful.

Team composition matters

If you’re playing with fellow caravanners, it’s worth thinking about the makeup of your team. While it’s possible to play and complete dungeons with any party, it will be a lot easier if you create a balanced team that can use both physical and magical attacks.

There’s an element of resource management in FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition - for example, you’ll have to collect magicite in each dungeon to equip and fuse spells. That means that a team entirely composed of Yukes, for instance, would find their abilities spread a little thin - it’d take a while to get everyone up to fighting strength.

But a balanced team of both melee specialists and spell casters means that you have a lot more options in how you tackle challenges. Fewer magic users means that you can get them up to maximum strength more quickly and some frontline fighters mean your team is deadly at up close as well as at range.

All that said, that there’s no one perfect set-up - you and your pals should be able to play how you want to. But if you find you’re struggling on a particular dungeon, consider changing up the party to see if it makes a difference.

Listen to Stiltzkin!

In the very first area of the game, you’ll encounter a very well-travelled (and super-cute) moogle called Stiltzkin. Take a moment to listen to the fluffy fellow because he knows his stuff.

He essentially acts as a tutorial - and yes, I know ‘do the tutorial’ isn’t the most profound tip in the world. But seriously - do the tutorial!

It might be tempting to skip through and rush ahead to the action - particularly if you’ve played the game before - but there’s a lot of information to learn here that will help you make the most of the game’s mechanics.

You’ll be walked through everything, from moving the Crystal Chalice and basic combat, to how to fuse and maximize your magic potential. If you want to truly master the ins and outs of the game, you’ll need to have a clear understanding of the fundamentals.

Also, it means more time spent with Stiltzkin - possibly the wisest and most awesome Moogle in the entire FINAL FANTASY series (although Dungeon Hero X from Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon EVERY BUDDY! might have a thing or two to say about that).

Develop a chalice strategy

The Crystal Chalice protects your team from the murderous effects of Miasma - the noxious, and presumably quite smelly, gas that permeates the world of FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES.

It’s a big ol’ cup though, which means that someone has to carry it. If you’re playing with friends, it’s worth discussing how you go about that.

Whoever carries the Chalice is vulnerable - they won’t be able to fight back against enemies without dropping it. That means it’s on the rest of the team to protect them. For that reason, it’s often a good idea for the physically weaker characters, such as Yukes, to pick up the cup - the more resilient members can crowd around to keep them safe from unexpected dangers.

That’s only a suggestion - different teams will find their own ways to manage the Chalice, so try different things out. As a general rule though, it can be helpful - or at least more efficient - for everyone to know their roles when in a dungeon.

Don’t button mash

If you’re playing as a melee character, don’t just spam the attack button to attack enemies. Button timing actually plays a role in the game - pressing attack in time with the animations can lead to a three hit combo, which is a much more efficient way of taking down enemies.

Also, don’t forget to utilize your Focus Attacks. The effects and timings of these will vary depending on the tribe and weapon you have, but they’re generally great for getting in close for a big hit.

Practice spell fusion and magic strikes

Fusing spells with those of your friends is one of the most effective battle techniques in FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition. By casting certain spells on top of each other, or Focus Attacks and spells, a team can create a much stronger effect.

This is easier said than done of course. To start, you must lay your target rings on top of each other. Once one player releases the spell, the others must release when the bar on-screen timer hits the colored segment. If everyone successfully lets go at the right time, you’ll get a massively powerful spell or attack. It also feels wonderful.

Getting the hang of this mechanic is invaluable, particularly in some of the more difficult dungeons that have been added for this Remastered Edition. The timing requires precision, so if you’re playing with a team of friends, practice. You’ll likely fail more than once, but persevere because the pay-off is so worth it.

Choose artifacts carefully

Artifacts can be found throughout the world and give your characters permanent upgrades - if it helps, think of them as a way to level up.

At the end of a dungeon, your team will be awarded with a number of artifacts to choose from.

In multiplayer, whoever has the highest score within that dungeon gets to pick first. Remember though that FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition is a team game. You don’t always have to take the strongest artifact for yourself - if you know another member of the caravan could benefit from it more than you, leave it for them. It’ll strengthen your team overall - and make them like you a lot more too!

If you’re playing solo, work around Mog’s limitations

If you’re playing the game solo, you’ll be accompanied by a Moogle helper called Mog.

Mog is the best - not only is your fluffy friend heart-achingly adorable, he’ll also carry the Crystal Chalice, boost your spell power and more. You couldn’t ask for a better friend - at least not without playing with real life chums online.

Unfortunately though, Mog has some limitations. For example, if you make him carry for chalice for too long, he’ll get tired and start moving really slowly. If that happens, you’ll have to take over for a while - at least it’s good for the biceps.

There are ways around this though. Firstly, make sure you get Mog to drop the chalice every now and then. A short break does him the world of good, and he’ll soon recover his energy.

You can also increase his energy at a Moogle Nest by playing Moogle Paint. Giving Mog a haircut increases his endurance and makes him able to carry the chalice for longer.

Remember: a tidy Moogle is a happy Moogle.


Those were just some general tips for getting started with FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition. We’re sure that as you play, you’ll learn many more of your own - feel free to share them with the team on social media:

If you’ve yet to try the game, FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition is out now for PS4, Switch, iOS and Android devices:

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