From Le Locle training to the academy route
Begin with Estelle’s return home and training alongside Anelace, clear Balstar Channel, investigate the Jaeger assault and finish Grimsel Fortress. Chapter 1 then takes Estelle from Grancel to Ruan and the White Shadow investigation.
Before heading into training
- At a new-game start, watch the optional recap to refresh the preceding adventure. If you have 1st Chapter clear data, use it to carry over prior play information and receive Estelle and Joshua’s Classic Style SC Costumes plus items based on Estelle’s final level.
- Use the 160 save files to preserve checkpoints. Save before bosses, powerful quest monsters and bonus-BP choices; complete Short requests promptly because story progression can make them fail.
- Prepare fresh Quartz at Le Locle. Kurt gives Estelle new Tactical Orbments, rendering her previous Quartz unusable. Synthesize Mind 1 for Estelle and Shield 1 for Anelace.
Le Locle and Balstar Channel
- After the scenes at Estelle’s home, training begins with Anelace. Following the sparring scene and lunch, go upstairs, collect Estelle’s belongings, return downstairs and sit opposite Kurt.
- Review the tutorials, then talk to Phyllis for cooking and supplies and Robert for Orbment services. Equip Mind 1 on Estelle and Shield 1 on Anelace.
- Meet Kurt on the path outside and select Balstar Channel from fast travel. Work through the mandatory tutorial fights.
- Use the healing crystal at the start of the final corridor before approaching Kurt. Defeat him to return with Anelace to the training lounge.
The night attack and Saint-Croix Forest
- Finish shopping with Robert, then rest in Estelle’s upstairs bed. When gunfire interrupts the night, select “Wake Up” for +2 BP.
- Go downstairs to the attacked facility and defeat the Jaeger for +2 BP. If you lose, choose to retry: proceeding after defeat forfeits that victory bonus.
- A Female Jaeger throws a smoke bomb. After waking in Saint-Croix Forest, answer that the Jaeger assailants brought you there for +2 BP. Inspect the nearby tent and work toward the exit.
- Heal at the crystal before the marked encounter. Level 30 is a useful preparation target; you can step away from the Female Jaeger to gain more experience before fighting.
- Keep Estelle and Anelace apart so a grenade does not hit both. After winning, use the nearby exit to fast travel to the Training Lounge.
Investigate the lounge and finish Grimsel Fortress
- Inspect the broken glass, Kurt’s broken spear and blood, the broken communicator, empty food barrels and torn Liberl map. Once all clues are checked, tell Anelace the Jaeger Corps moved to a new base for +3 BP.
- Use Robert’s Quartz and slot-upgrade services. Rest in Estelle’s or Anelace’s bed to heal, then head to Grimsel Fortress.
- Follow the staircases to the second floor and its healing crystal, then continue to the stairs leading to 3F. Use the ID unit on the control panel to open the final-area gate.
- At the Jaeger leader’s bluff prompt, choose “Call? There’s no need.” for +2 BP. The smoke-signal answer gives no BP.
- Fight the Jaeger boss with Estelle and Anelace healing each other and keeping HP above half. If the rage phase gives you trouble, use Anelace’s Petal Dance, attack and heal her when her HP drops.
Grancel to Ruan: the White Shadow
- After training, Chapter 1: A Looming Shadow begins with Estelle and Anelace at Grancel’s guild. Choose Agate or Scherazard as the next travel partner. Once you receive the tickets, confirm boarding with the airliner receptionist.
- In Ruan, Jean briefs you on three witnesses. Side-missions now unlock on guild boards, and Orbal Factories offer equipment and Quartz upgrades. Talk to all three witnesses, then return to the guild to report, where Nial and Dorothy are waiting.
- For the testimony comparison, choose “The direction the white shadow disappeared in,” the second option, for +3 BP. The first option gives only +1 BP.
- The clues lead to Jenis Royal Academy. Olivier joins the party and Dorothy becomes an escort; protect her, because her fainting causes game over. Travel north from Ruan, then east toward the academy.
Quest deadlines and difficult fights
For local Monster Quests, such as Vista Forest Rd Monster, wait until at least three party members are available.
Once Olivier joins, accept Sunday Scholar and Drawbridge Defect at the guild board. Sunday Scholar starts with Sister Frieda at the church; Drawbridge Defect starts with Chief Portos at Aqua Rossa Bar. Complete both before visiting Jenis Royal Academy. Later, finish the requests that unlock after Chapter 1’s main events while still in Ruan, before departing for Zeiss.
Spread the party against attacks that cover only part of the battlefield. Equip status-resistant accessories for the boss and focus enemies one at a time to avoid triggering several Rage Boosts together. Many bosses activate Rage Boost on their first turn after reaching half HP. Survive that burst of attacks, then use the following turns to heal and counterattack.