Weapons gain the affinities of the enemies they are most commonly used to attack armor gains the affinities of attacks it receives. There are six 'creature type' affinities and eight 'elemental' affinities. Weapons fall into one of three main damage types: the familiar RPG classes of blunt, piercing, and edged.Įach gem, armor, and weapon piece has additional 'affinities'. Most weapons have a hilt, weapon (or blade) component, and a slot for gems. Weapons can be broken down into components for storage and put back together in the same or different combination. In designated 'workshop' areas, players can customize and create weapons and armor pieces that have different ranges, strengths, and statistics.

Gems can be added or switched out of weapons and shields. The simplest customization can be done in any place at any point, even in battle. Vagrant Story has an in depth weapons and armor customization system. A ranking will be given to assess the player's performance in solving puzzles. When the player returns to any room containing a completed block puzzle, a time-attack mode called 'Evolve or Die' will begin, requiring the player to solve the puzzle and reach the end of the room in the shortest time possible. The player will run into a variety of block puzzles that require solving to continue the story. In addition to fighting, Ashley can run, jump, and push a variety of crates and cubes to get around impassable obstacles, adding a minor puzzle and platforming element to gameplay. Lastly there are the Break Arts-not unlike Limit Breaks in concept-which are powerful attacks that drain Ashley's hit points. A variety of spells can be used to attack, heal, buff, and debuff. Defense Abilities allow Ashley to reduce or reflect damage or to avoid status ailments. This lowers his accuracy but increases critical hits, but at a certain point it becomes virtually impossible to hit anything. The longer Ashley fights, the more his Risk raises, making it harder for him to concentrate. The player can target different areas of the body, and damage is done according to the part of body attacked and the affinity of the weapon used by Ashley. In this way, combat almost resembles a rhythm game, as not all attacks have the same timing. This is done by pressing buttons in timely succession. The battle system involves chaining different attacks known as Chain Abilities to achieve combos and deal damage to the enemy. Along his chase he is forced to battle numerous foul beasts, goblins, phantoms, and the undead infesting the corridors below. The main character, riskbreaker Ashley Riot, does combat with the Crimson Blade knights who patrol the streets above Leá Monde, hunting for a mysterious man called Sydney Losstarot.

Vagrant Story is a solo dungeon crawl, featuring a focus on weapon modification and creation where the player hacks and slashes their way through the caverns and catacombs beneath the ruined city of Leá Monde.

Vagrant story maps