Exploring All Affinities in the Metaphor ReFantazio

In Atlus’ latest JRPG, Metaphor ReFantazio, the Affinities feature serves to harmonize the capabilities of various elemental and physical attacks. If you are familiar with titles from the MegaTen franchise—such as Persona or Shin Megami Tensei—you may recognize these concepts. For those new to the genre, think of it as akin to other JRPGs where adversaries exhibit distinct strengths and vulnerabilities. Mastering the timing and selection of the appropriate attacks is crucial for winning battles in this strategic, turn-based gameplay.

One notable aspect of Metaphor ReFantazio is its absence of a reference guide or compendium where players can continuously access information about enemy Affinities as they advance through the game. Although players can Analyze enemies during skirmishes to assess their strengths and weaknesses, there is no equivalent functionality outside of the battles. Nevertheless, understanding this mechanic is essential—here’s a comprehensive look at the basics.

The Role of Affinities in Metaphor ReFantazio

The exclamation mark indicates a target's vulnerability (Image via Atlus) — The exclamation mark indicates a target’s vulnerability (Image via Atlus)

Bosses, such as Homo Avades in Metaphor ReFantazio, each possess specific Affinities that players must contend with. Most enemies will exhibit at least one vulnerability, while some may have multiple weaknesses. Additionally, enemies can resist certain elemental or physical attacks, redirect them, or even absorb damage, which can lead to frustrating situations—imagine wasting mana or HP on an attack that inadvertently heals your foe.

Each skill in Metaphor ReFantazio is marked by a symbol indicating its Affinity. For instance, a flame represents Fire, an ice block denotes Ice, and a cross signifies Holy. When you exploit an enemy’s weakness with a successful attack, it appears as “Weak” next to the respective symbol, guiding you on the most effective actions to take in battle.

During combat, if multiple enemy types appear, you will receive notifications regarding their weaknesses. If you find your team lacking in skills to exploit Affinities, there are options to acquire or steal items that can reflect similar effects. Additionally, certain Archetypes provide the ability to create a momentary weakness against an enemy for a single attack.

For example, while your main character (as a Seeker Archetype) is vulnerable to fire and the boss utilizes numerous fire attacks, it emphasizes the importance of strategy and awareness in your team composition—key lessons for players.

List of Affinities Present in Metaphor ReFantazio

This enemy demonstrates a weakness to Fire (Image via Atlus)

Metaphor ReFantazio features nine primary Affinities, though we consider Almighty to be a tenth due to its significant role. A diverse array of Affinities within your party enhances combat efficacy, as each enemy encountered will have different vulnerabilities. Fostering a multifunctional team is essential for tackling the various challenges posed throughout dungeons.

Here’s a complete list of the available Affinities in the game. You will encounter numerous adversaries with a broad spectrum of strengths and weaknesses. By using the Analyze option during battles, you can identify an enemy’s immunities or weaknesses, depending on whether you’ve faced them previously or utilized specific attacks in the current battle.