Formations give you a limited amount of control over your enemies' target priority inRomancing Saga 2: Revenge Of The Seven, along with some useful stat boosts that can really help a specialized party to shine. You’ll learn the Imperial Cross Formation as soon as you meet up with the rest of Leon’s retinue during the prologue, but after that you’re on your own.

Learning new Formations is a slow process that can take several generations in-game. You won’t be able to learn anything besides Imperial Cross and Free-For-All until you play as Gerard’s successor; here’s how.

How To Unlock New Formations

Once Gerard and his retinue defeat the Vicar at the Canal Fort,140 years will pass, skipping ahead to Imperial Year 1141. When gameplay resumes, you’llselect a new Emperorto take up the crusade against the Seven Heroes. Some things will have changed since Gerard’s time, including theconstruction of the Training Hall inside Avalon Castle.

The Training Hall has two soldiers who can help enhance your team. The one on the right lets youteach party members any registered Techs and Evasions,while the one on the leftdevelops new Formations.

Speaking to the Formation Trainer will unlock a new Formation on one condition;you must be playing as an Emperor of a Class that has never previously spoken to the Trainer.If the Emperor greets the Formation Trainer with a new Class, the Trainer will develop a new Formation on the spot, which you may then use for the rest of the game.

The Formation Trainer has only one Formation per class; there is no additional benefit to speaking to him as an Emperor of the same class but a different gender.

Using Formations In Battle

You canchoose your Formation from the Pause Menu; only one Formation can be equipped, and you can’t change mid-battle, but you’re otherwise free to switch at any time. Most Formations impact your party in the following ways:

It’s important to note that the target priority adjustments from a Formationare not guarantees; a character in the rear can still be targeted, the RNG just favors characters in frontal positions more.

Depending on your Formation, the buff will usually impacta single type of Attack or Defense; Physical, Magical, Melee, and Ranged are all common types. Choose a Formation that complements your party’s strengths.

Formation Broken Penalty

A Formation’s effectsonly apply if there are five active party members.If even one teammate is incapacitated or Petrified, the entire party loses the effects of the Formation until they recover. You also lose your Formation bonus for three rounds at the start of combatif an enemy hits you from behind to initiate a fight.

If a party member dies permanently after dropping to zero LP, you cannot have a valid Formation until you return to a Pub and replace them. Even if you’re near the end of a dungeon, it’s better to turn back if that happens - you don’t want to face a boss at anything less than full strength in this game.