Factors are the backbone of every build in Star Ocean: The Second Story R. These special passives give any item an extra ability that sometimes can be the main difference between a broken character or a mere weakling in your team, and you’ll see all of them here.
What Are Factors in Star Ocean Second Story R?
Factors are special effects added in this game version that can be obtained whenever you craft or find a new item. They are indicated by the “+” next to the item’s name and range from simple “STR + 5%” buffs to things like “MP costs are reduced by 50%”, making them one of the most important parts of your characters.
You can add or change an item’s Factor through the Remaking Super Specialty by using a Re-Creation Gem which is sold by merchants. There are three different types of Factors you can get: Buff (Simple stat increases), Support (defensive or offensive passives), and Special (usually a mix of both).
When Remaking, you have to add some items to increase the chances of adding a Factor to 100% because even 90% will fail you a lot in this game for some reason. But reaching 100% is not enough as there’ll be a split chance of getting your desired Factor type, indicated by the bars on the right corner of the screen.
Using different types of items will increase a different bar accordingly, and you must fill the bar you want to the maximum to guarantee a desired Factor type.
The Factor Energy item (also sold at merchants) is perfect for that as it automatically gives you 100% chance of success, assuming your Remaking Super Specialty is at Level 10. After using it, it’s just a matter of adding the appropriate items and start rolling for the Factors you want. Items with the Masterwork Factor will add a significant bonus to the success chance.
Another easy way to fill these bars is by using an item with the High-grade factor attached to it, as it increases the chances of getting a new Factor by 50%.
Some Factors are designed as “Rare,” and they’re drastically stronger but will have a lower chance of appearing. They are bolded in yellow instead of white and are the endgame goals you should be using during the later portions of the game. Using the Masterwork item will do wonders for getting them.
The Plain Omelet food made with the Master Chief Super Specialty (recipe is Eggs and Dairy + Eggs and Dairy) increases your chances of getting Rare factors. The recipe is simple, and Plain Omelet can be Replicated too, so use it whenever going for Factors.
All Star Ocean Second Story R Factors Listed
There’s a total of 82 Factors available in the game. Weapons, Armor, and Accessories have a different Factor list, but some of them are shared between all three types of equipment.
All Star Ocean Second Story R Buff Factors Listed
Buffs are the simplest Factors of them all, but they can be quite helpful regardless of that. The 20% is always the Rare version and the one you should be going for (except for GUTS and STM, which increase by a flat 30 on the Rare Factor due to their different scalings).
Weapon Factors
| Factor Name | Effect |
| ATK UP | Increases ATK by 5%/10%/20% |
| INT UP | Increases ATK by 5%/10%/20% |
| CRT UP | Increases ATK by 5%/10%/20% |
Armor Factors
| Factor Name | Effect |
| DEF UP | Increases DEF by 5%/10%/20% |
| AVD UP | Increases AVD by 5%/10%/20% |
| GUTS UP | Increases GUTS by 10/20/30 |
| STM UP | Increases STM by 10/20/30 |
Accessory Factors
| Factor Name | Effect |
| HP UP | Increases HP by 5%/10%/20% |
| MP UP | Increases MP by 5%/10%/20% |
| HIT UP | Increases HIT by 5%/10%/20% |
To easily fill the Buff bar, use simple swords you get from Level 1 Crafting with Claude. Three of them plus a Factor Energy guarantees a Buff Factor.
All Star Ocean Second Story R Support Factors Listed
Support Factors, on the other hand, are more utility-focused and can be a lifesaver when in a pinch.
Weapon Factors
| Factor Name | Effect |
| Add Dark | Adds dark element to a weapon. |
| Add Earth | Adds earth element to a weapon. |
| Add Fire | Adds fire element to a weapon. |
| Add Light | Adds fire element to a weapon. |
| Add Water | Adds water element to a weapon. |
| Add Wind | Adds wind element to a weapon. |
| Instant Death | Adds a chance to inflict instant death when attacking. |
| HP Drain (Rare) | Converts 20% of damage inflicted to HP. |
| MP Drain (Rare) | Converts 5% of damage inflicted to MP. |
| Paralysis | Adds a chance to inflict paralysis when attacking. |
| Poison | Adds a chance to inflict poison when attacking. |
| Scum Slayer (Rare) | Instantly kills all enemies with “scum” in their name. |
| Silence | Adds a chance to inflict silence when attacking. |
Armor Factors
| Factor Name | Effect |
| CRT Energy | Critical hits restore 1% MP. |
| CRT Heal | Critical hits restore 1% MP. |
| CRT Super Boost (Rare) | Critical hits restore 2% HP/MP. |
| Emergency Measures (Rare) | Restores 10% HP when blocking enemy attacks. |
| Full Reset (Rare) | All negative stats are removed after 10 seconds pass. |
| Metabolism | Poisoned status is removed after 10 seconds pass. |
| Rally | Revive at 20% HP just once when HP reached 0. |
| Super Rally (Rare) | Revive at 40% HP just once when HP reached 0. |
| Quick Fix | Restores 5% HP when blocking enemy attacks. |
Accessory Factors
| Factor Name | Effect |
| Break Up | Increases depletion of enemy shields by 10% |
| Coercion (Rare) | Inflict a random status ailment when breaking an enemy. |
| Fast Reflexes | Extends the perfect counter window by half a second. |
| Fishing Slayer | Deal 150% damage to enemies encountered while fishing. |
| Leader Slayer | Deal 150% damage to enemy leaders. |
| Meditation | Recover 3% MP for every 3 seconds spent motionless in battle. |
| Temporary Measures | Recover 20% HP and MP with each successive battle. |
| Repose | Recover 3% HP for every 3 seconds spent motionless in battle. |
| Spheres Up | Increases chance of getting bonus spheres by 10%. |
To easily fill the Support bar, use armor you drop from regular enemies (like the Chaos Mail) on the map and Replicate them as needed. Two of them plus Factor Energy is enough.
All Star Ocean Second Story R Special Factors Listed
Special is a mix of both, being simultaneously aggressive and defensive. These are factors that can get you out of some nasty situations.
Weapon Factors
| Factor Name | Effect |
| Adversity | ATK, INT and DEF increase as HP gets lower (max 15%). |
| All for One (Rare) | Deal 5% more damage per number of party members other than you. |
| Backstab (Rare) | Guarantees critical hits when attacking from behind. |
| Birds of a Feather | When 3 of the same factor are set, the shields of any enemies damaged will not recover for 5 seconds. |
| Cancel Boost | Special art power increases by 15% when canceling out of a normal attack. |
| Factor Activator (Rare) | All factors on equipment are 1.5x more likely to activate. |
| Fight or Flight | ATK, INT and DEF increase as HP gets lower (max 30%). |
| Gathering Stars (Rare) | When 3 of the same factor are set, ATK, DEF, HIT, AVD, and INT increase by 20%. |
| High-grade | 50% of adding a factor when equipment with this factor is used as extra material. |
| Hurricane Strike | The first attack when Godspeed activates deals 150% damage. |
| Lone Wolf | ATK, DEF, HIT, AVD, INT increase by 15% when fighting alone. |
| Masterwork (Rare) | 10% of adding a rare factor when equipment with this factor is used as extra material. |
| Mental Focus (Rare) | Attacks cost 10MP but always hit the target. |
| Reckless Magic (Rare) | Spend 15% more MP in exchange for INT increasing by 30%. |
| Revenge | The last damage received is added to the next damage inflicted. |
| Steal | Attacks have a 5% chance of stealing the target’s drop item. |
Armor Factors
| Factor Name | Effect |
| Adamantine (Rare) | Negates damage below 10% of max HP. |
| Back from the Brink (Rare) | Become invincible for 5 sec after resuscitation |
| Back Guard | Reduces back attack damage by 15%. |
| Birds of a Feather | When 3 of the same factor are set, the shields of any enemies damaged will not recover for 5 seconds. |
| Blue Dragon | Converts 10% of symbology damage taken to HP. Also converts physical damage if paired with Red Dragon. |
| Cast-iron | Negates damage below 5% of max HP. |
| Defensive Stance (Rare) | 30% chance of the bonus gauge not breaking when missing a perfect counter. |
| Gathering Stars (Rare) | When 3 of the same factor are set, ATK, DEF, HIT, AVD, and INT increase by 20%. |
| High-grade | 50% of adding a factor when equipment with this factor is used as extra material. |
| Lucky Guard | 20% chance to negate damage when taking critical hit from enemies. |
| Masterwork (Rare) | 10% of adding a rare factor when equipment with this factor is used as extra material. |
| Narrow Escape | If reduced to 0 HP by an attack when HP is at 40% or more, survive with 1 HP. |
| Red Dragon | Converts 10% of physical damage taken to MP. Also converts symbology damage if paired with Blue Dragon. |
| Symbology Field | DEF 10% up while casting. |
| Ukemi | 10% chance of the bonus gauge not breaking when missing a perfect counter. |
| Ultra Symbology Field | DEF 20% up while casting. |
Accessory Factors
| Factor Name | Effect |
| Birds of a Feather | When 3 of the same factor are set, the shields of any enemies damaged will not recover for 5 seconds. |
| Bomber (Rare) | Bomb items deal triple damage. |
| Economizer | 15% chance of keeping items upon use. |
| Full Bonus (Rare) | 120% bonus effects when the bonus gauge is full. |
| Fury | When angered after an ally is incapacitated, enemy attacks will no longer cause recoil. |
| Gathering Stars (Rare) | When 3 of the same factor are set, ATK, DEF, HIT, AVD, and INT increase by 20%. |
| High-grade | 50% of adding a factor when equipment with this factor is used as extra material. |
| Item Master (Rare) | 20% chance of negating item cooldowns. |
| Loving Care | 30% chance of halving assault gauge consumption when using Assault. |
| Masterwork (Rare) | 10% of adding a rare factor when equipment with this factor is used as extra material. |
| Morale Booster | Fills the assault gauge of all assault members by 25% when battle starts (does not stack). |
| Righteous Fury | Rage duration is doubled. |
| Press the Advantage | Enemies broken while afflicted with status ailment or debuff stay broken for 30% longer. |
| Steel Will | 50% chance to negate damage, but only when escaping. |
| Uptrend | 150% more bonus spheres appear for 10 seconds when a bonus triggers. |
| War Cry (Rare) | ATK, DEF, HIT, AVD, and INT increase by 5% with each successive battle. |
To easily fill the Special bar, use simple knuckles you get from Level 1 Crafting with Rena. Three of them plus a Factor Energy guarantees a Special.
Getting good Factors can be challenging, but getting the perfect combination is even harder, so get ready to spend some hours doing this stuff. It can be hard to reach that sweet spot with your full party, but it’s more than worth it in the long play.
