Tips and tricks for Visions of Mana

About to start your journey to the Mana Tree in Visions of Mana? Alm yourself with these tips and tricks to get started.

By Duncan Heaney

Tags: Mana,Mana Series,Visions of Mana

If Visions of Mana proves one thing, it’s that the job of an alm is never easy. Nor is it a cakewalk for their Soul Guard who has the difficult job of getting them to the Mana tree alive.

They - and by extension you - could use a helping hand, and that’s what we’re here to do. We’ve put together some tips for exploration and combat that should help you uncover the world’s many secrets - and give you a leg up over its adorably dangerous denizens!

Before that, just in case you’ve found your way here before picking up the game, Visions of Mana is out now for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Windows, and Steam.

If you’d like to know more about it, check out our guide:

10 things you need to know about Visions of Mana

Now, on with the tips!

Explore everywhere

Val and the team are very mobile characters - they jump quite high and can even dash in the air for a little extra distance. This opens up lots of opportunities to discover items and secrets, from a simple glob of Grizzly Syrup to a chest containing valuable loot.

So, look everywhere. Dig into every nook and cranny, climb to the top of buildings, explore the map thoroughly. Visions of Mana is a game that rewards the inquisitive!

You can air dash multiple times

Here’s something you may not initially realize (because I didn’t) - you can air dash multiple times in a row.

In fact, chaining together air dashes is a great way to cross larger gaps. That said, it’s not something you can abuse because each subsequent dash loses distance, but that extra boost is enormously helpful all the same.

Activate every glowing spot you come across

Scattered around the world are glowing spots of mana that resemble trees, known as ‘the Meridian’. Make sure you activate these spots whenever you can, even if it means diverting from your current objective or destination to do so.

Not only will they let you save your progress, they’ll also act as fast travel points around the world. This is extremely helpful for completing side quests, as you’ll be able to travel the world much more efficiently.

Just bear in mind that for much of the game you can only fast travel within the continent you’re in. If you need to cross the sea, you’ll have to find other means to do so…

Always have a stock of healing items to hand

It may be full of magic and monsters, but one of the most fantastical things about Visions of Mana’s world is that eating candy makes you healthier!

If only, right?

Still, in the game at least it’s in your best interests to have pockets full of candy and chocolate before you take on battles. These let you heal your HP in the heat of battle - very useful if you plan to take on some of the tougher foes in the game, and a potential lifesaver against a boss.

You can find items in chests, or buy them from a merchant - so stock up when you can.

Treasure chests and more are marked on the map

If you check your map, you’ll notice blue circles marked across the map. These indicate points of interest - they may be save points or places where you can use your elemental vessels, but most commonly they’ll be chests.

Seek these out because there’s always something useful inside. It could be lucre (the game’s currency) or handy items, or even equipment and armor to make your heroes even more effective in battle.

Of course, knowing the area where the chest is and getting to it are two different things. Some are sitting out in the open, while others will require some creative traversal or keen observation skills to uncover.

If something seems impossible, come back later

Sometimes you’ll see a chest but no way to get to it. Don’t bash your head against the wall if you encounter one of these situations - just change focus and do something else.

Perhaps the route will become clear when working on other quests, or maybe you don’t have the necessary elemental vessel to get to that location. Either way, that loot isn’t going anywhere, so rest assured you’ll be able come back and grab it later.

If you want to get somewhere fast, call for a travel companion

There are advantages to going around on foot in Visions of Mana. You can fully find items, build your strength through battle, and really poke around every nook and cranny of the world. But if you want to get from A to B quickly, and without distraction, Pikuls are heroes’ best friends.

Remember that you can summon your fuzzy friends through the bell - a process that's faster if you set it to the ring menu or shortcut. Not only is this a quicker way to get around, you can also run into enemies like a battering ram, pushing them aside and potentially avoiding the fight entirely.

Later in the game, you’ll also meet new bestial buddies who let you traverse the seas and sky, which opens up the game considerably!

Search for Li’l Cactus

Early on in the adventure, you’ll meet Li’l Cactus. This spiny superstar is on a journey around the world, and he’s well worth seeking out.

You’ll be able to find the adorable adventurer in many areas of the game, from towns to open fields, and locating him can lead to big rewards, from permanent EXP boosts to discounts in stores.

The trouble is that he’s very good at hiding, so you’ll have to look carefully around the scenery to locate him. Also, don’t forget that once you meet him for the first time, he’ll also be hidden in areas you’ve already been through.

If you need a hint to get you started, try heading back to the Fire Village of Tianeea after you find him in Rime Falls and seek him out. It’ll be like looking for some needles in a haystack… or at least near one.

Prioritize side quests that offer valuable rewards

There are plenty of side quests to complete in Visions of Mana. Some are lengthy, multi-region affairs, but many are quick jobs that ask you to collect some items or take down some foes.

It’s up to you how and when you take on these tasks, but it’s worth prioritizing those that offer valuable rewards, such as Niccolo Coins, which can be exchanged for very powerful Ability Seeds.

Lock onto foes to press your attack

Okay, let’s talk battles!

When you’re out in the world, enemies tend to attack in groups, which means you can dodge and weave between them as the situation allows. However, if you want to focus your attack on a particular foe, you can lock onto them.

This keeps the camera focused on that enemy and allows you to press the attack to finish them quickly. In the heat of battle, it can be all too easy to forget this option, so keep it in mind for when you need it.

Switch between characters

By default, you’ll control Val, but you can also switch between different members of the party, both in combat and when exploring outside towns.

You can change character instantly by pressing up or down on the d-pad (on controller), and we urge you to do so. It’s great fun to explore their different combat styles and classes (mor on that below), and it makes it easier to set up different combinations of attacks to hurt and disrupt your foes.

Switching characters isn’t essential, of course. If you prefer to play the game only as Val, for example, it’s completely viable to do so. However, it’s worth trying as you may find it gives you more of an edge on the opposition.

Take advantage of enemy weaknesses

Enemies in Visions of Mana are weak to different elements, as well as different damage types, such as slashing. Hitting an enemy with their weakness does considerably more damage, allowing you to finish them off quickly. It’s particularly useful when facing bosses or Nemeses, where any edge you have is valuable.

You can review enemy weaknesses in the bestiary. You can also see whether your equipped vessel is strong against a normal enemy (not bosses) through the icons next to their name. A tick means your element’s vessel will mess them up, a triangle means they’re resistant, while a cross means that element will do no damage at all.

Aim for a balanced build

As you play through the game, and unlock more Moves through the Elemental Plot, you’ll naturally discover a playstyle that works for you and be able to spec your characters accordingly.

Early on, however, it can be useful to aim for a balanced build. Make sure a character’s action ring is balanced with at least one throwing weapon that’s different from their main weapon.

For example, combining Morley’s naturally high critical rate with throwing axes can let you do some great long-distance damage.

It can also be worth equipping a healing/buff skill and two different types of elemental magic to exploit enemy weaknesses. Val’s Rune Knight class is particularly great for this, as it allows him to imbue his and the others’ weapons with elemental damage, so these are great skills to learn.

Check your class details in the Elemental Plot

The Elemental Plot is the key to upgrading your characters in Visions of Mana. Once you gain a skill or move, you can use it regardless of whether or not you’re actively using that class.

But don’t just go in and spend your points - take the time to read descriptions of the class and its skills. It will clearly lay out its strengths and weaknesses, which will help you utilize it properly in the heat of battle. For example, Val’s Weapon Master class excels at dealing damage with projectile attacks, which is useful when attacking enemies at a distance or in the air.

Use combos and special attacks

Each class also gives you access to special combos that help you take on hordes of foes. For example, taking a pause mid-combo before you press attack may let you knock an enemy into the air, or holding attack might let you do a spinning attack that hits a whole area.

The combos available depend on the class, but once you’ve paid for them in the Elemental Plot, you can use them with any other class that uses the same weapon type.

Use your elemental vessels

The elemental vessels are powerful artefacts that let you call on the power of the elemental spirits. The effects that they afford you in battle can be incredibly useful, particularly against tougher opponents.

For example, the Sylphid Boomerang can launch enemies and hold them in place - perfect for setting up attacks or if you need a breather. Alternatively, the Luna Globe lets you slow down enemies in an area and also improve your party’s spell casting time if they’re in the zone.

You can use these elemental powers frequently, so there’s no need to hold them back for special occasions. They’re incredibly useful, not to mention fun to use, so go crazy!

Experiment with party composition

Your party setup can have a big effect on battle, because moves and Elemental Vessels can work together for some awesome effects. For example, Sylphid’s Boomerang can spread status effects, so if you trap enemies in bubbles with Undine’s Flask first, you can spread that bubbly badness across a whole hoard of enemies.

Experiment with different combinations of classes and characters. But bear in mind that there’s no ‘right’ party composition - there are loads of different setups and playing with the different options is a big part of the fun.

Also, don’t forget that you can modify your party’s behavior when you’re not in control to make combos easier. Speaking of which…

Set your companions’ battle strategy

In the menu, you can set different strategies for your party when the AI is in control. For example, if you want to take down hordes of standard foes quickly, setting behavior to ‘All-Out Attack’ will make them give all they’ve got to the battle.

Of course, this kind of strategy can be a little risky with bosses or Nemeses. For these, you could try ‘Protection Is Paramount,’ which encourages them to focus on defense rather than assault.

Different situations may call for different options, so take a look at the options and find a setting that works for each.

Use the Ring System to co-ordinate attacks (and take a breather)

The Mana series’ iconic Ring Menu returns in Visions of Mana. By pressing left or right on the d-pad (on controller), you can pause the action and select either items or spells.

As well as your current character, you can also use the Ring Menu to make other characters cast spells and use items. By doing so, you can co-ordinate attacks between members of the party or restore their health if they’re at risk of a KO.

You can also use this to give yourself a breather. If you need time to think, use the Ring Menu to slow down time, giving you a chance to regroup and strategize. This is particularly useful in boss fights or against stronger versions of enemies, so don’t forget it.

Set your shortcuts

While you can take actions through the Ring Menu, you can also set shortcuts. These let you cast spells or heal up instantly, without slowing down the action. You can set four shortcuts, so it’s a good idea to set abilities and items that you commonly use here. That way, you can get to them quickly, and maintain the flow of battle.

For example, quick access to healing spells like Healing Light and Revivifier and moves that buff allies can make a difference in the tougher monster battles.

Change the difficulty settings to your liking

Finally, don’t forget that Visions of Mana offers multiple difficulty settings to suit different players, and that you can change this mid-game if you like.

For example, if you’re an experienced action gamer, you may want to set the difficulty up to Hard. This will make enemies more aggressive, hit harder and give your thumbs much more of a workout.

On the other hand, if you’re struggling with a fight, or care more about the story than the action, then you can drop the game down to an easier difficulty level. Visions of Mana is all about having a good time, so play the way you like.

Hopefully those tips and tricks help you on your journey to the Mana Tree. Those poor rabites won’t know what hit ‘em.

Visions of Mana is out now for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Windows and PC via Steam.

To stay up to date with news and information about the game, be sure to follow us on social media:

MUST READ