What’s in the first expansion for STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN?
Trials of the Dragon King adds loads of new content to the action RPG! We take a closer look at what to expect from the expansion!The first expansion for STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN launches July 20, 2022, and it’s called: Trials of the Dragon King.
If you’re a FINAL FANTASY fan, you may already have an inkling as to who that Dragon King may be…
The new expansion adds loads of new content to the game, including new missions, a new weapon type, three spectacular new jobs that use it, deeper equipment and character customization options, and a higher difficulty mode!
Read on and we’ll take a closer look at what’s coming, starting with the story…
WARNING: Please note that Trials of the Dragon King takes place after the main game, so there are spoilers in this article.
The Story
After countless deaths, countless cycles, a man assumed the mantle of the dark god of chaos and seized the very power of creation.
All this was according to plan - a meticulously orchestrated scheme to shatter the shackles that the Lufenians had placed upon the world, and free Cornelia from their grasp.
His first task complete, he sets the wheels of a new design in motion. Across time eternal, he and his allies would nurture and guide heroes worthy of the title of Warriors of Light - just as a friend had once guided him and his comrades.
For in the end, it is only the light that can sever the fetters of the past and lead the world to a brighter dawn.
Characters
There are some new characters in Trials of the Dragon King that… well, let’s just say that you may have heard of them.
Here’s a closer look:
Bahamut
Bahamut is the king that rules over dragonkind. It sets trials for the brave and awards them titles.
It takes an interest in Jack and the others and lends them its counsel and strength.
Warrior of Light
The Warriors of Light appear in Cornelia.
They fight to restore the light to the crystals and save the world.
New Job and Weapon
The first expansion for STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN equips Jack with a new weapon and a new job chain, giving him excitingly fresh new ways to smash his foes into crystal.
New Weapon: Staff
Staves are striking weapons that attack enemies over a wide area by adjusting the length of the weapon.
During a normal combo, you can perform thrust attacks or an upward attack.
A thrust attack closes distance, while an upwards strike increases the distance between you and your enemy. By using the best strike for different situations, you can turn the battle to your advantage.
New job: Pilgrim
Pilgrims can use their job action to perform an assault hook, which changes the length of the staff and grabs an enemy.
This job is all about setting up advantageous situations in battle - depending on how you use the staff you can leap towards the enemy or bring them close to you.
New job: Evoker
With this job, you can use the Job Action Evoke to summon a spirit to aid you in battle. This spirit will automatically attack your foes and can also unleash special abilities on command.
It provides backup as you fight - for example, its blast wave staggers enemies, shackle seals enemy movement, Interrupt delays enemy actions and heal restores the HP of you and nearby allies.
New Job: Summoner
Summoners can use their Job Action - Summon - to call Bahamut into battle!
While the Dragon King is active, your MP and max MP will continually decrease, but you can control Bahamut and its powerful abilities.
Depending on the amount of maximum MP that has been consumed, Bahamut will be able to use megaflare, gigaflare, and exaflare. All of its attacks are extremely powerful, with a wide area of effect, making them highly effective when you’re surrounded by enemies.
You can increase the duration of the summon by attacking enemies to restore your MP.
New mechanics
Trials of the Dragon King adds new features that give you even more options when it comes to customizing your build. These additions are only available when you have completed the original game’s story, and include:
New Equipment Category: Accessories
Accessories are a new type of equipment that can boost stats, grant special abilities and much more.
Some of these special abilities can’t be gotten from weapons or armor, and some even let you use specific abilities like enemy skills!
One accessory can be equipped to each battle set.
Chaos Equipment
Equipment found while playing on HARD or higher difficulty may be imbued with powerful ‘Chaos’ abilities
These are stronger than regular special abilities and grant effects such as increased damage against specific enemies.
The higher the difficulty level, the greater your chance to obtain chaos equipment - but the reward is worth the risk!
Changing Classes
Trials of the Dragon King adds the ability to change classes from the job tree screen. There are two different classes available to choose between: Evocation and Ultima. Each empowers certain job actions in different ways.
Using a “Rat Tail” on the class tree screen will also allow you to learn new abilities.
Changing characters
Want to play as Jed, Ash, Neon and Sophia outside of multiplayer? In the latest update coming to Trials of the Dragon King, you'll now be able to choose whether you fight as Jack or another of his recruited warriors.
Note that the character’s appearance will change in gameplay, but not cutscenes.
Additional missions and difficulty
This first expansion for STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN adds a new difficulty setting: BAHAMUT.
On BAHAMUT difficulty, the Bahamut tab will be added to the game menu. This contains three options:
Trials of the Dragon
During these trials, you’ll be forced to fight under a variety of disadvantageous effects. However, when you complete the test, you’ll earn valuable dragon treasures.
What’s more, raising your trial rank makes it easier to obtain powerful chaos equipment.
Exchange Shop
Dragon treasures earned in trial can be traded for items and equipment at the Exchange Shop.
The Exchange Shop’s stock can be refreshed and clearing a certain number of missions will increase the number of times you can do this.
Conversations with Bahamut
New conversations with Bahamut will be unlocked as you complete dragon king trials. Conversations with Bahamut will unlock new missions and progress the main story.
How to get the Trials of the Dragon King expansion
Trials of the Dragon King is the first expansion for STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN and is included in the game’s Season Pass. It is not available to purchase separately.
The Season Pass will include three expansions in total:
- Trials of the Dragon King (releasing July 20, 2022)
- Wanderer of the Rift (coming soon)
- DIFFERENT FUTURE (coming soon)
The Season Pass is available to purchase from July 20, 2022
We hope you enjoyed this brief look at the Trials of the Dragon King expansion, and that you’re looking forward to grabbing a stave and jumping into the action!
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