The Waker is the newest class added to Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis, and while not a total departure from the game's general class mechanics, it adds its own set of new ones to the mix. Here's a guide on everything we know about the Waker class in Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis.
Playing the Waker is a balancing act. Wielding the Harmonizer as its only weapon, it utilizes a coherent mesh of melee, ranged, and defensive abilities to dominate the battlefront. As a swiss army knife, the Waker has a wide array of tools for every possible situation. But, as a trade-off, the Waker requires a hefty amount of actions per minute, or APM for short, to get the most out of it.
Familiars and Photon Arts
The Waker uses three photonic beings called Familiars to defend themselves and strike out at their foes:
- Fredan: Ranged
- Wulfen: Melee
- Marmelo: Defense
These Familiars are tied to their Photon Arts, or PAs, and are summoned when one is used.
Just like all classes in Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis, the Waker uses four main Photon Arts to decimate their foes. Each PA has a Tap and Hold variant, triggering alternative effects.
Fredran Breath
- Tap - Fredan fires three photon bolts in a cone in front of the Waker.
- Hold - Locks onto enemies and fires a swarm of homing photons at them.
Fredran Riding
- Tap - Fredan fires a swift photon bolt forward.
- Hold - Allows the Waker to ride Fredran and glide. Releasing after a Hold launches Fredran forward, dealing high damage in an area of effect.
Related: How to Enhance Weapons and Armor in Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis
Wulfen Demolition
- Tap - Wulfen fires a short-range shockwave in a cone, then slams the ground, dealing high damage in a radius around the Waker.
- Hold - Charges a second shockwave. After holding for three seconds, releasing deals massive area of effect damage around the Waker.
Wulfen Raid
- Tap - Wulfen dashes forward and delivers a powerful uppercut.
- Hold - Wulfen dashes forward and delivers a continuous series of powerful blows until released.
Note that at the beginning of each PA is the name of a specific Familiar, signifying which Familiar will be summoned once activated.
Core Mechanics
While the PAs are powerful on their own, it is with the support of Waker's core mechanics does the class work in unison.
Harmonizer Focus Gauge
The Waker uses three special gauges to deliver their most powerful attacks. Each gauge is tied to one of the three Familiars and color-coded to match them for ease of use.
- Fredan: Blue Gauge
- Wulfen: Red Gauge
- Marmelo: Yellow Gauge
To use these attacks, the Waker must first fill each gauge. There are several ways to do this, but the primary method is to follow the color coding. Using Fredan to attack enemies will begin to fill the Blue Gauge. Using Wulfen to attack will fill the Red Gauge, and using Marmelo to defend from attacks will fill the Yellow Gauge. You can fill up each separate gauge twice before reaching the maximum amount. This is the Waker's most important mechanic.
Treble Clef Marking
When the Waker attacks an enemy enough, a special sigil will appear over their target's body called a Treble Clef Mark. Enemies marked by this sigil will take increased damage and become easier to knock down.
Treble Clef Ignition
Holding the normal attack button will cause a Treble Clef Mark to explode on the targeted enemy, dealing a burst of damage and activating the Familiar Support mechanic.
Related: All other weapons in Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis
Familiar Support
After a Treble Clef Ignition, a miniature version of the Waker's last summoned Familiar will spawn at their side and begin to deal periodic damage to enemies nearby. Each time this small Familiar deals damage, depending on which type was summoned, the corresponding gauge will begin to fill automatically.
Familiar Harmony
When the Waker has filled at least one Blue Gauge and one Red Gauge, they can empty both and launch a powerful combination attack between Fredran and Wulfen called Familiar Harmony. This attack is extremely powerful and has incredible range. It is the Waker's main damage-dealing ability and should be used as often as possible, especially on a weak point.
Hot Marmelo Parry
By tapping the weapon action button, the Waker can summon Marmelo to defend themselves from enemy attack. As this is a parry, proper timing is required to succeed. A successful parry with fill the Yellow Gauge by one out of the total required two to fill it.
Hot Marmelo Parry Short Cooldown
A cooldown prevents the Waker from gaining Yellow Gauge after a successful Hot Marmelo Parry. However, every successful parry following the parry that triggered the cooldown will reduce it if Hot Marmelo Parry Short Cooldown is trained.
Marmelo Strike
When the Waker has successfully filled the Yellow Gauge, they can unleash the Marmelo Strike. This is the most powerful attack in Waker's arsenal. To use it, hold the weapon action button down until Marmelo doubles in size, then release it to hurl Marmelo at a target. Be sure not to miss!
Linear Drive
Following any used PA, the Waker can teleport a short distance forward or backward, depending on inputs, if the normal attack button is pressed with proper timing. This will require practice, but look for the purple glow that appears right after a PA is finished activating. Linear Drive can be activated twice in a row if Linear Drive Encore is trained.
For more Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis guides, check out How to get and use photon chunks in Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis and How to play with your friends in Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis on Pro Game Guides.
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