Beginner Tips
Every in-game beginner tip in Echoes of Aincrad — the loading-screen hints that teach downing enemies, dodging Danger Attacks, activating Safe Areas and exploring dead ends, grouped for combat and exploration.
These are the game's own loading-screen hints — the tips Echoes of Aincrad surfaces as you play, collected here in one place. They're ordered roughly the way the game introduces them (early game first) and grouped so you can jump to combat or exploration advice at a glance.
Combat & Enemies8
Consecutive Sword Skills
Sword Skills can leave you vulnerable to attack after they are used—yet chaining multiple in succession can cancel out that opening, allowing for a continuous string of attacks.
Downing Enemies
If you keep attacking an enemy, they may drop to their knees; this means they have been downed, and is a great time to inflict massive damage. A Crush Attack with a sword, or normal attacks from maces and two-handed axes, ensure opponents are swiftly downed.
Danger Attacks
Some enemy attacks are preempted by a yellow glow before activation. These are Danger Attacks, and cannot be guarded against.
Enemy Counterattacks
If an enemy's behavior changes, and it suddenly stops reacting to attacks, it may be a sign that it's about to counterattack. Watch out!
Warning Indicators
During combat, red arrows will appear around your character, pointing toward enemies that are about to attack. Keep an eye out for these warning indicators to avoid any off-screen surprises.
Stubborn Enemies
It's important to run away if you feel like you're in danger, but enemies will typically pursue you wherever you go. Instead of fighting and fleeing, try picking off enemy stragglers one by one while you have the numerical advantage.
Enemy Spawns
Enemies spawn in waves. If you keep fighting with all your might, the spawn rate of enemies will decrease. However, should you choose a more passive approach, and habitually run from enemies, this spawn rate will increase. Be careful—like life's responsibilities, avoidance will lead to a hard lesson down the line.
Howling Enemies
Certain enemies may hinder nearby players with their piercing howls. Try to put yourself out of the range of these attacks by rolling or using other dodging techniques.
Exploration & the World9
Active Safe Areas
You won't be attacked by enemies while in a Safe Area you have activated. Bear this in mind whenever you need a break during a quest.
Traversing Unexplored Lands I
The mini-map will not be displayed in areas where a Safe Area has not yet been activated. Look for a pillar of blue light, the telltale sign of a dormant Safe Area. Upon activation, you will be rewarded with a map of your surroundings.
Traversing Unexplored Lands II
You'll need to rely on your sense of direction and know-how when exploring new areas without a mini-map. Use paths and roads to navigate your route. After all, they're bound to lead somewhere.
Gifts from the Association
As you walk through the world, you may encounter Survey Flags marked with a magnifying glass. Investigating these will register a variety of information into the world database. Doing so will earn you rewards from the Adventurer's Association, so be sure to look in every nook and cranny!
Dead End
A dead end on a map is usually much more than it appears. Explore these areas for treasure chests, survey flags, and side quest items. It pays to be thorough.
Shallow Water Terrain
You can cross shallow water that reaches up to your knees. Even if a river or a pond looks deep at first glance, there may be a shallow area you can wade through—and who knows what treasures await on the other side? Be sure to take a dip every once in a while.
Outdoor Quest Areas
When questing out in the world map, you will be placed within a designated quest area, ensuring you remain close to your objective. Leaving this area will force you to return to it.
The Guardian's Blockade
Arks are littered all throughout the world map. Defeating the Guardian sealed away inside an Ark will release the barrier seal connected to it, opening passageways previously closed to you.
Light Before a Valley
When traveling, a yellow light will occasionally appear in front of an impassable valley or chasm. These spaces can be traversed with a Blink Talisman, which allows you to teleport past many such obstacles.
Gear & Progression2
Leveling up your Partner
As your character levels up, your Partner will, too. This process is automatic, and will see their attributes increase in tandem with your own.
Weapon Crafting
You can create weapons using Craft, but you're better off focusing on enemy drops. Remember: once you have all the weapons you need, you can use Craft to supplement any upgrade materials you might be missing.