The DioField Chronicle’s info dump of a battle tutorial and the lack of information for out-of-battle aspects (like shops) can make the first few chapters a little difficult for beginners. But if you're willing to sit down and explore the game more thoroughly, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much more fun it can be if you know how to use the game's mechanics to the fullest.
Still, we've done the work for you to save you the trouble. Below are a couple of tips and tricks for new DioField Chronicle players.
You can disrupt enemy skills
Characters are rarely fast enough to escape the range of an enemy’s skill, especially if it’s a large one. Instead of ordering your units to run away and break formation, use a skill that stops your enemies from moving. This can be as simple as Izelair’s Shield Bash (for Stun) or Waltaquin’s Frostbind (for Freeze).
Always have enough EP to disrupt enemy skills. Be sure that either the main unit or the adjutant has a skill that can cancel skills as well.
Use the Skill Tree to upgrade skills
If you're obsessed with a particular skill, you can increase that skill's attack and decrease its cooldown by investing some SP in your Skill Tree. You can access the Skill Tree on the pre-mission menu or beside the Institute at your base. Same-type units share the same skill tree.
You can usually earn SP by completing the Allow no allies to fall in battle mission and some timed missions on main and sub-quests.
Save Bahamut for bosses
You don’t always have to summon this mighty dragon the moment your TP gauge is full. Save your TPs for the very last enemy (or enemies). This will help you complete those timed missions.
Save your AP
Spending AP on a character can unlock many useful stat upgrades and extra skills. However, the most useful AP upgrades, like Andrias’ Grit, are worth a lot of points. Resist the urge to spend APs the moment you receive them.
Related: All characters and voice actors in The DioField Chronicle
Check weapon skills before purchasing them
Each weapon has a different set of skills. Don’t forget to look at them before you make your purchase. For instance, not all of Waltaquin’s staff has Heal. If occasionally casting Heal is part of your survivability strategy, then you need to make sure her weapon will always have it. Weapons are not cheap!
Don’t be in a hurry to buy equipment
Guld is sparse early game, so you’ll be in a grindfest if you want to equip all of your characters with the best equipment before every main quest. Instead of wasting time like that, only buy equipment if you think you need them or would like to increase the usability of your favorite characters.
For example, as your main damage dealer, Andrias should always have a good weapon. Meanwhile, Fredret needs good armor if you want him to join Izelair on the front lines, as his defenses aren’t as good.
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes in battle
During battles, you can always go back to a certain checkpoint (such as before you siege an enemy's base or before a boss) at any time. There is no cost, and you can do it indefinitely. If your current strategy isn't working, you don't have to exit the map and regroup. Press ZR or R2 mid-battle, then Select Checkpoint to rewind time.
For more help with The DioField Chronicle, look at some of our other posts here at Pro Game Guides.
Bianca Versoza is Pro Game Guides' Weekend Editor. With over three years of experience in gaming journalism, she specializes in anything remotely turn-based and strategic, like Pokémon, Valkyria, and Honkai: Star Rail. Bianca is a huge fan of Square Enix, RPGs, party games, and visual novels, but will play anything with a banger OST. She's a proud early bird.