Phantasy Star Online Techniques Guide v0.5

This is my first FAQ ever, and I'm really excited. I love PSO, but more
importantly, I love the techniques in the game! Used mostly by forces,
techniques can be very, very powerful. Unlike weapons or armor, they stay
with you: you can't forget or drop them.

In this guide, I will talk about what each technique does, their
limitations and how each should be used to their max effect. Also, which
techniques to use against bosses.

If you have any questions about this FAQ or want to submit anything to me,
my email is macman@accessv.com. I especially need some ASCII art, and more
info on MST requirement progression.

Version History:
v0.1 - First release.
v0.2 - Fixing a few errors of MST requirements, added credits.
v0.5 - All techniques are listed with descriptions.

--------------------------------------
Table of Contents
--------------------------------------
0. General Notes about techniques

1. Light Attacks
   1.1 Foie
   1.2 Zonde
   1.3 Barta

2. Normal Attacks
   2.1 Gifoie
   2.2 Gizonde
   2.3 Gibarta

3. Hard Attacks
   3.1 Rafoie
   3.2 Rabarta
   3.3 Razonde
   3.4 Grants
   3.5 Megid

4. Heal
   4.1 Resta
   4.2 Anti
   4.3 Reverser

5. Support
   5.1 Shifta
   5.2 Deband
   5.3 Jellen
   5.4 Zalure
   5.5 Ryuker

6. Techniques to use on bosses

7. Thanks
--------------------------------------

0. General Notes about techniques
---

You get techniques from disks. You can find disks or buy them from the
tools shop on the pioneer. They each have a required MST to use, for
example, Rabarta LV.1 requires 106, meaning at the time you read the disk
you must have at least 106 MST. You can equip items to up your MST to the
requirement, then unequip them afterwards and retain the technique. This is
most effective when you use angel/mind or priest/mind slot items.

Some classes can only use healing techniques and others no techniques at
all. If the technique in the store or in your items list is in bright
white, you can use it to gain that technique at that level, and it is
possible to skip levels, so make sure you archive disks that you can't use
yet in order to use them later!

And also remember, the higher the level of technique, the more TP that it
will cost. For every three levels of the technique you gain, it costs one
more TP to use. I find that is WELL worth it.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Light attacks
---

Quick attacks that are light on MP usage. Good for starters.

---
1.1 Foie (light fire attack)
    Base TP usage: 4
    Base MST required: 40
    Special Effect: None

    A quick, fireball that does the most damage of the light attacks.
Forces begin with this great spell, however this moves in a straight line,
which means if a wall or other enemy gets in the way, you will not hit your
target.

    MST Requirement Progression
    Level 2: 60
    Level 3: 80
    Level 4: 100
    For each level afterward, +20 MST/level
-------------------------------------------------------------------

1.2 Zonde (light lightning attack)
    Base TP usage: 5
    Base MST required: 44
    Special Effect: None

    Target your opponent and let it rip! Does less damage than Foie but
always hits the target. Make sure the enemy is targeted or the technique
doesn't work.

    MST Requirement Progression
    Level 2: 68
    Level 3: 92
    Level 4: 116
    For each level afterward, +24 MST/level
-------------------------------------------------------------------

1.3 Barta (light ice attack)
    Base TP usage: 6
    Base MST required: 35
    Special Effect: Overrun

    Try to get the opponents to line up for this one, a stream of ice moves
along the ground damaging anything in it's path slightly. Not too good
unless there's a lot of enemies.

    MST Requirement Progression
    Level 2: 60
    Level 3: 85
    Level 4: 110
    For each level afterward, +25 MST/level

-------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Normal Attacks
---

Pretty pricey on TP. These techniques start at 21 TP each. They have cool
effects though, and are quite damaging.

---
2.1 Gifoie (normal fire attack)
    Base TP usage: 21
    Base MST required: ??
    Special Effect: None

   Cool fireballs encircle you and hurt enemies a lot. This is good if you
are surrounded.

   MST Requirement Progression
   Level 2: 125
   Level 3: 150
   Level 4: 175
   For each level afterward, +25 MST/level

-------------------------------------------------------------------

2.2 Gizonde (normal lightning attack)
    Base TP usage: 21
    Base MST required: 106
    Special Effect: Lightning Arc, paralyze

   Target an opponent and watch lightning arc between your foes. Any enemy
with a red arrow atop their head is affected, also a stylish way to open
treasure boxes! It can also paralyze, but I've only gotten that to work on
machine-type enemies.

   MST Requirement Progression
   Level 2: 125
   Level 3: 150
   Level 4: 175
   For each level afterward, +25 MST/level
-------------------------------------------------------------------

2.3 Gibarta (normal ice attack)
    Base TP usage: 21
    Base MST required: 100
    Special Effect: Overrun

   A spread out ice blast attacks foes in front of you. Better damage than
Barta.

   MST Requirement Progression
   Level 2: 124
   Level 3: 148
   Level 4: 172
   For each level afterward, +24 MST/level

-------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Hard Attacks
---

Only a little more expensive on TP than normal attacks. These techniques
start at 30 TP each. They are well worth the cost, though.

---
3.1 Rafoie (hard fire attack)
    Base TP usage: 30
    Base MST required: 133
    Special Effect: Explosion area

   A huge blast of fire explodes on impact, causing immense damage.

   MST Requirement Progression
   Level 2: 161
   Level 3: 189
   Level 3: 217
   For each level afterward, +28 MST/level

-------------------------------------------------------------------

3.2 Razonde (hard lightning attack)
    Base TP usage: 30
    Base MST required: 134
    Special Effect: Lightning Arc, paralyze

   Much like Gizonde except more damage and more enemies are hit with it.
Still a stylish way to open treasure boxes!

   MST Requirement Progression
   Level 2: 164
   Level 3: 194
   Level 4: 224
   For each level afterward, +30 MST/level

-------------------------------------------------------------------

3.3 Rabarta (hard ice attack)
    Base TP usage: 30
    Base MST required: 106
    Special Effect: Overrun, paralyze

   A freezing attack hits all enemies standing around you. Better damage
than Gibarta. At higher levels can freeze opponents still.

   MST Requirement Progression
   Level 2: 136
   Level 3: 166
   Level 4: 196
   For each level afterward, +30 MST/level

-------------------------------------------------------------------

3.4 Grants (light power)
    Base TP usage: 30
    Base MST required: 160
    Special Effect: None

   Arrows of light fall from the sky causing major damage to one enemy.
This is a light attack, and works very well on some enemies and poorly on
others,

   MST Requirement Progression
   Level 2: 188
   Level 3: 216
   Level 4: 244
   For each level afterward, +28 MST/level

-------------------------------------------------------------------

3.5 Megid (cursed power)
    Base TP usage: 30
    Base MST required: 160
    Special Effect: Instant Kill, Overrun

	  A powerful dark energy eminates from you, which has a chance to
kill an opponent. The higher the level, the higher the chance, does not
work on bosses, so don't bother trying... =)

   MST Requirement Progression
   (coming soon)

-------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Heal
---

Restores life and status ailments, including being dead.

---
4.1 Resta (life restore)
    Base TP usage: 15
    Base MST required: 50
    Special Effect: None

   Standard life restore technique. At level 3, you gain the ability to
heal others as well as yourself (at the same time).

   MST Requirement Progression
   Level 2: 80
   Level 3: 110
   Level 4: 140
   For each level afterward, +30 MST/level

-------------------------------------------------------------------

4.2 Anti (status restore)
    Base TP usage: 11
    Base MST required: 85
    Special Effect: None

   Status repair technique. At level 3, you gain the ability to heal others
as well as yourself. Level this up to remove more ailments.

   MST Requirement Progression
   Level 2: 111
   Level 3: 137
   Level 4: 163
   For each level afterward, +26 MST/level

-------------------------------------------------------------------

4.3 Reverser (revive dead player)
    Base TP usage: 20
    Base MST required: 150
    Special Effect: None

   Revives a single character, but it has a limited range. Restores their
life and TP to full, as well. Is the same as a moon atomizer.

   MST Requirement Progression
   None.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Support
---

A wide variety of effects, is really just a miscellaneous category.

5.1 Shifta (increase ATP)
    Base TP usage: 10
    Base MST required: 60
    Special Effect: None

   Increases your ATP. At level 3, can also affect teammates.

   MST Requirement Progression
   Level 2: 88
   Level 3: 116
   Level 4: 144
   For each level afterward, +28 MST/level

-------------------------------------------------------------------
5.2 Deband (increase DFP)
    Base TP usage: 10
    Base MST required: 60
    Special Effect: None

   Increases your DFP. At level 3, can also affect teammates.

   MST Requirement Progression
   Level 2: 88
   Level 3: 116
   Level 4: 144
   For each level afterward, +28 MST/level

-------------------------------------------------------------------
5.3 Jellen (decrease enemy ATP)
    Base TP usage: 10
    Base MST required: 60
    Special Effect: None

   Decreases enemy ATP. Great to take away the punch of some bosses.

   MST Requirement Progression
   Level 2: 88
   Level 3: 116
   Level 4: 144
   For each level afterward, +28 MST/level

-------------------------------------------------------------------
5.4 Zalure (decrease enemy DFP)
    Base TP usage: 10
    Base MST required: 60
    Special Effect: None

   Decreases enemy DFP. Great to defeat bosses faster.

   MST Requirement Progression
   Level 2: 88
   Level 3: 116
   Level 4: 144
   For each level afterward, +28 MST/level

-------------------------------------------------------------------

5.5 Ryuker (create portal)
    Base TP usage: 10
    Base MST required: 150
    Special Effect: None

   Creates a portal back to the pioneer 2. Acts the same as telepipe.

   MST Requirement Progression
   None.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Techniques to use on bosses
---

  Each boss is weak to a different technique. I have only fought the first
two bosses, but a good way to beat them is to start by using Jellen on them
to take away their offensive power, then hitting them with the technique of
your choice.

  Red Dragon - Boss
  Hit this guy with Gibartas or Bartas, it seems to do the most damage to
him, it also knocks him down which is a plus.

  Water Worm - Boss
  Use Gizonde on this enemy. The lightning will arc between is many coils
causing massive damage. It will kill him quickly, but watch for spikes
which will hit you if you stand around using techniques too much.

  More soon!

-------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Thanks
---
  Thanks to GameFAQs for hosting this document, and to all of you who read
it. Thanks to Sherwin Tam for help on some descriptions and aj for boss
info.

This document Copyright 2001 John Kadonoff