Techniques and Technique Points: opening the fight right to win before your first turn
30-second summary: A Technique is a skill you press OUTSIDE of combat, while still on the map. Each press costs 1 Technique Point (a few cost more), and the whole party SHARES one pool, capped at 5, rising as you level Equilibrium. Two kinds exist: attack Techniques that open the fight with a hit so you strike first and act first, and buff/control Techniques that trigger 'at the start of the next battle'. To win before your turn: just STRIKE FIRST with an attack Technique (hit the enemy from any direction, even head-on) and your team acts first; stack opening buffs before a boss. Refill points by smashing purple destructible objects (+2) or using Technique-Point items — points do NOT regenerate over time.
What is a Technique, what is a Technique Point?
A Technique is each character's special move that you press WHILE WALKING ON THE MAP, before combat starts. Think of it as a 'pre-emptive move' before the real fight. Each press costs 1 Technique Point. Technique Points are a shared jar: all four party members drink from the same jar, not one each. So if one character spends them all, the others have nothing left. The jar caps at 5 points; early on the cap is lower and rises toward 5 as you level Equilibrium (your account's overall power tier). Important: Techniques do NOT cost Energy (the bar for Ultimates) — those are separate systems. To see what each character's Technique does, open GameVika's Character List; every page spells out the Technique description.
Two kinds of Technique: opening attacks and buffs/control
Techniques fall into two families. The first is attack Techniques: you press, charge the enemy, and as combat opens you deal damage. If that enemy has a WEAKNESS matching the Technique's Element (type), the hit also chips some Toughness (the enemy's yellow bar — break it to make them take extra damage); if the weakness doesn't match, it mostly just deals damage and won't reliably crack the yellow bar. Some hit the whole pack, some freeze, some apply poison. The second is buff or control Techniques: you press but do NOT strike immediately; instead they create an effect that triggers 'at the start of the next battle' — like raising the team's attack, putting up a shield, slowing enemies, or going stealth to sneak. Not sure which family a character's Technique is? Read the description in GameVika's Character List before you build a team.
Opening right: strike first to act first
This is the heart of the title. In this game, whoever acts first often wins half the fight. The rule is actually simple: as long as YOU hit the monster on the map FIRST (a lock-on marker means you connected) — from ANY direction, even straight to its face — your team gets to act first AND lands free damage the moment combat starts. This is a 'surprise attack'. Conversely, if you let the monster touch you FIRST, IT acts first and your team is pushed to act later (the game flashes 'Ambushed!' here) — a real loss. So circling to the enemy's back is NOT because 'you must hit the back'; it is only to keep the monster from spotting and touching you first. With stealth characters, just go invisible and walk up to strike — the monster can't see you, so it's easier to hit first. Easy rule: see an enemy, hit it first and you act first — don't let it touch you first.
- 1Spot an enemy on the mapLoop behind so it doesn't touch you first
- 2Hit it FIRSTThe lock-on icon means you connected
- 3You get to act firstYour team moves first with an opening hit
Where to refill points? Don't waste them
Technique Points do NOT regenerate over time — many newcomers wrongly wait for them to refill. There are two main ways. One: smash PURPLE destructible objects on the map (crates, jars…); each returns 2 points — this is your main refill while grinding. Two: use consumables that restore Technique Points. There isn't just one: the game has a whole group of Technique-Point-restoring items, mostly food cooked at the Omni-Synthesizer — for example 'Strange Snack' restores 2 points, and many others give different amounts. Since the pool is shared and the cap is low, don't waste Techniques on easy loose mobs. Save points for the fights that matter: before a boss door, before a big wave, or when you need to freeze/control a dangerous enemy. As you travel, break purple objects to keep the jar full before reaching a hard fight.
Building teams around Techniques: who should open
Because the whole team shares one small pool, before each fight you usually open only one or two Techniques. So choose your OPENER wisely. General rule: for an important fight, prioritize the Technique that gives the whole team the biggest edge — someone who shields on open, buffs the team's attack, or hard-controls the dangerous enemy. For quickly clearing normal mobs, use a character with a wide attack Technique to strike first and sweep, saving turns. Don't let your support waste points clearing loose trash. When assembling a squad, check GameVika's Team suggestions to see who should sensibly hold the opening Technique in each team, and which type to open for each kind of fight.
FAQ
Do Technique Points regenerate over time?
No. Technique Points do not refill on their own over time. You must smash purple destructible objects on the map (+2 each) or use Technique-Point-restoring items. A whole group of items does this, mostly cooked at the Omni-Synthesizer — for example Strange Snack (+2), plus many others giving different amounts.
Does each character have their own Technique Points?
No. Technique Points are a single shared pool for the whole four-person party, not one per character. If one person spends a lot, others have none left, so you must share them sensibly.
What is the max Technique Points and how do I raise it?
The cap is 5 points. You raise the cap by leveling up Equilibrium (your account's overall power tier). Early on the cap is lower, and it climbs toward 5 as you clear Equilibrium tiers.
Does using a Technique cost Energy (the Ultimate bar)?
No. Techniques only cost Technique Points, not the Energy used for Ultimates. In fact, a few Techniques even restore some Energy for the character when combat begins.
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