At long last after years of waiting NA fans of Phantasy Star Online 2 AKA PSO2 are going to get an official taste of what’s to come later this year when the long-running online RPG releases on the Xbox One. If you’re jumping into the closed beta blind, allow us to break down a few of the basics that you should be aware of.
Keep in mind that, obviously, this information is based primarily on the versions of the game that have existed prior to the NA version since, well, it’s not out yet. So the below information is subject to change. However, we keep it pretty focused on just the most simple and basic information just so you at least have some idea of what’s going on as you start playing your first character.
Stats & Important PSO2 Terms
Before we dive into classes, races, and what each of them offer in terms of strengths and weaknesses, it’s worth explaining a few of the important stats and other just general important terminology you should be aware of going into the Phantasy Star Online 2 Closed Beta this weekend.
There’s a lot going on in PSO2 and you don’t want to be completely overwhelmed or in the dark as you try and find a race/class combination that appeals to you. So let’s start by breaking down the most important base stats.
Note: In addition to the effects listed below, certain weapons, techs, etc. will require a certain base amount of one or more of these stats in order to be equipped.
Character Stats in Phantasy Star Online 2:
- HP: Determines the number of Health Points you have.
- PP: Determines how many Photon Points you have which are used to use photon arts and techniques/spells/techs.
- S-Attack (S-ATK): Higher S-Attack will increase the damage of your melee attacks and related striking Photon Arts (we’ll explain that below).
- R-Attack (R-ATK): Higher R-Attack will increase the damage of your ranged attacks and related Photon Arts.
- T-Attack (T-ATK): Higher Tech will increase the damage of spells (AKA techs) utilized by certain classes.
- S-Defense (S-DEF): Higher S-Defense will reduce the damage you take from melee attacks.
- R-Defense (R-DEF): Higher R-Defense will reduce the damage you take from ranged attacks.
- T-Defense (T-DEF): Higher T-Defense will reduce the damage you take from technique.
- Dexterity (DEX): Dexterity improves the minimum damage of all your attacks regardless of type (S,R,T) and reduces the maximum damage of enemy attacks regardless of type (S,R,T)
Some Other Important PSO2 Terminology:
- Ships: Phantasy Star Online 2’s term for servers.
- Meseta: Currency aka money.
- Team: Phantasy Star Online 2’s’s word for clans.
- Subclass: A class that can be joined to your main class to provide you additional stat boosts and some photon arts.
- ARKS Mission Menu: Where you can find main story missions to progress the game and daily missions that you can repeat for rewards.
- MAG: Support NPCs that provide various boosts to your character in battle. Can be powered up by feeding. Try to look up what you should feed your MAG for the character you are trying to build before feeding it just anything as the effects are permanent until you reset which is not easy to do.
- Skill Trees: Where you can map out your character’s build. Like MAGs, try to avoid mapping these out without looking up some ideas from experienced players first as these are permanent.
There is a lot more to learn, but we just want to provide you the bare-bones basic terms so you’re not too overwhelmed ahead of the beta and eventual day 1 full release.
The Races Of Phantasy Star Online 2
There are four races in Phantasy Star Online 2: Human, Newman, Cast and Deuman. Each of them look different and have various stat bonuses over one another.
Unlike say, Final Fantasy XIV, the races and genders in PSO2 do have a noticeable effect on your stats. That said, it is not significant enough that you should feel like you have to stress over which race to pick.
Any race can excel in any class in PSO2 even at the end game, and race is primarily chosen for aesthetic reasons by lots of players.
However, if you are the type of player that only cares about min/maxing stats and don’t really care what you look like, then consider the following differences:
- Humans: Look the most, well, like us. Has average and normal stat growth across all stats. Humans neither excel, or are deficient in any particular stat. Pick Human if you’re really not sure what you want to do long term and don’t care about how you look all that much.
- Newmans: These are your “elf” looking characters in PSO2. They specialize primarily on T-ATK and R-ATK, but struggle in HP and S-ATK.
- CAST: Highly customizable (aesthetic) robot characters. They specialize primarily on R-ATK and HP but struggle more with T-ATK and T-DEF.
- Deuman: Deuman are demon-like characters. They have very high S-ATK and decent R-ATK as well but have lower HP and DEF overall.
Once again before we move on. While yes, certain races and genders do have advantages and disadvantages they aren’t close to the most important factor for clearing content. Feel free to pick what you like, or go for a perfect build if you want to see your numbers be as high as possible. It’s up to you.
The Classes in PSO2 Explained
There are a total of twelve classes in Phantasy Star Online 2. For most content (for the most part) any class can be successful provided you build its skill tree right and pick a subclass that supports your play style, although some are particularly better than others in certain content at the end game.
Below is a very brief overview of all the classes in PSO2, just so you at least have an idea of what you want to try out first in the beta and eventually the full release. You can change classes at any time in PSO2 at the class counter and you can also always just make a new character if you want.
Note: Successor classes can only be unlocked once you have fulfilled special requirements after getting two other classes to 75 and some or all of them may or may not be available at NA release.
- Hunter: A balanced melee attacking class that has proficiency in a variety of striking weapons and solid survivability.
- Fighter: A pure attacking melee class that uses more advanced weaponry for high-risk, high-reward type of damage
- Ranger: Basic ranged attack class that is able to use a variety of ranged weapons to deal damage while also supporting allies from a safe distance.
- Gunner: A specialized ranged attack class that uses advanced weaponry to do high, raw DPS.
- Force: Powerful spell caster that uses techniques to deal damage.
- Techer: Specialized spell caster that can weave both melee and technique together for powerful attacks while also supporting and healing allies.
- Braver: A versatile fighter that can use both ranged attacks and striking melee attacks.
- Bouncer: A melee fighter that can mix in techniques in addition to powerful attacking combinations both on the ground and even in the air with Jet Boots.
- Summoner: A pet class that is capable of summoning various creatures to fight in battle.
- Hero (Successor): The Hero is a master attacking class that can use weaponry that take advantage of S, R, or T type attacks.
- Phantom (Successor): A versatile successor class that can use a variety of unique weaponry while also inflicting debuffs onto enemies to support the team.
- Etoile (Successor): A powerful melee-focused class that has extremely high survivability.
Important Information About the First Closed Beta
The first Phantasy Star Online 2 Xbox One closed beta is going to start Friday, Feb 7 at 5:00PM P.T. and will end on Saturday, Feb 8 at 11:59PM P.T., so you have a limited time to be able to play and also complete a few special objectives for some bonus content. So don’t dilly dally if you’re going to participate.
There are a total of four urgent quests that you will be able to complete during the closed beta to earn some permanent rewards for your character.
Here’s the full schedule according to Xbox Wire:
- February 7th Urgent Quests
- 8 to 8:30 p.m. PST – Cradle of Darkness
- 10 to 10:30 p.m. PST – Giant Automata: The Awakening
- February 8th Urgent Quests
- 7 to 7:30 a.m. PST – Cradle of Darkness
- 1 to 1:30 p.m. PST – Giant Automata: The Awakening
- 5 to 5:30 p.m. PST – Cradle of Darkness
- 8:30 to 9 p.m. PST – The Raging Obsidian Arm
- 9 to 9:30 p.m. PST – Elder of the Unfathomable Abyss
As you complete each one you’ll earn cosmetic and character boosts item that you’ll be able to use in the full game including: Photon Halo C, Photon Halo A, Mag Dreamcast, Coated Edge weapon camo, and Triboosts. You’ll need to complete all four in order to get all of the bonuses.
In addition, by logging in at least once you’ll receive a Photon Halo B, Beauty Salon Free Pass and logging in Friday and Saturday/Sunday you’ll get various EXP, Metseta, Rare Drop, Triboosts, and Casino Coin Passes.
Finally, it is worth noting that your progress will carry over until the main game. So feel free to grind as hard as you want to save yourself some time later.
Differences Between NA and JP Versions
Until Phantasy Star Online 2 is fully released, no one really knows right now exactly what the content differences will be between the North American and Japanese versions of the game.
It’s likely that the NA version of the game will be a bit behind on what the JP version of the game currently has, but exactly how has not been confirmed.
There may be a lag in content, balance updates, and more depending on just how far behind (or not) the NA version is.
So make sure when you’re looking up guides and any other content to supplement your gameplay that you keep in mind that what you’re reading could be outdated or not appropriate for the NA version of PSO2.
Our guides once we get some more hands-on time with Xbox One version of Phantasy Star Online 2, will be based solely. on our experience on that platform, and any other future NA platforms. So once the beta and the full release happens, check back with us to get the most up to date and relevant guides.
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