As you play through the game, there are many ways to build a bond with each of the playable characters and several critical NPCs. The process of improving this bond is raising the affinity with a character. The most obvious way to increase affinity is through character dialogue choices. These are called out throughout the Walkthrough and listed for every Character Episode. Another more subtle way to increase affinity is by linking with characters during battle.
Way to Increase Affinity
| Method | Affinity Boost |
|---|---|
| Character Episode Clear |
250–750 points |
| Conversation Choices |
0-1000 points |
| Win a Battle While Linked |
10 points |
| Use a Unique Linked Arte |
10 |
| Use a Common Linked Arte |
5 |
| Use a Friendship Item |
500 |
Affinity Max in Chapters/Episodes
| Character | Main Story | Character Stories |
|---|---|---|
| Jude |
3000 |
5200 |
| Milla |
4350 |
4150 |
| Alvin |
1800 |
5700 |
| Elize |
1900 |
5500 |
| Rowen |
1200 |
6300 |
| Leia |
2200 |
4900 |
| Gaius |
2550 |
4300 |
| Muzét |
1800 |
4300 |
Affinity with NPCs
You also achieve affinity with Elle, Julius, and Bisley, and since they are not playable, you only earn it from conversation choices. At the end of Chapter 15, if you’ve build enough affinity with NPC characters Bisley, Julius, and Elle, you’ll receive a unique weapon as a prize in Ludger’s mailbox at his apartment. So when making Ludger’s dialogue choices, you should generally choose the option that builds the most affinity with those three characters. However, getting the weapon from Elle requires so much affinity that it isn’t technically possible to do it on your first pass through the game; you’ll have to carry over your affinity into New Game+ and complete the game a second time to get it! Because of these, you should prioritize raising affinity with Bisley and Julius on your first pass through the game. Pay close attention to the dialogue choices and you can earn some awesome items.
Unique Affinity Items
| Character | Max Affinity | Affinity to Get Weapon | Weapons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elle |
10000 |
8000 |
Pollux Twins |
| Julius |
5500 |
4000 |
Spirius Surrender |
| Bisley |
4650 |
4000 |
Spirius Model-4304 |
Affinity Rewards
The other playable characters will speak to Ludger when their affinity goes up a level, but you aren’t simply increasing the closeness just to be a nice guy. There are very valuable rewards at stake. Also, when you complete the game and challenge the Illusionary Darkness dungeon, you can only use characters that have at least eight hearts of affinity. There is also a special reward if you can max out a character’s affinity.
Rewards from Raising Affinity
| Heart Marks | Affinity | Rewards |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
1000 |
Get a skill item, new post-battle victory pose/line |
|
2 |
2500 |
Triggers a short skit |
|
3 |
4000 |
Get a skill item and title |
|
4 |
6000 |
Triggers a short skit, chromatus gauge fills 5% faster when linked to that character |
|
5 |
8000 |
Get an arte |
|
6 |
10000 |
Get a title, triggers a short skit and a new post-battle victory pose/line |
|
7 |
12500 |
Transformation time increases by five seconds when linked to that character |
|
8 |
15000 |
Can enter the post-game hidden dungeon together |
|
9 |
17500 |
Can use linked mystic arte |
|
10 |
20000 |
Get title, triggers new post-battle victory pose/line, can see new event scene at the end of which you receive a new skill item |
Max Affinity Events
The event you trigger for maxing out your affinity (10 heart marks) can be triggered during any Interval scene. Go to the character and talk to them; they’ll have a green ! over their head. (If they have a Character Episode available, that will trigger first.) As a result of these events, your linked mystic arte may get a new name. These mystic arte name change events can be repeated. Other events involve Ludger getting new costumes. At the end of the event, you get the final skill item from that character.