Not long after the party’s arrival in Martira, the chance for a new Archetype unlocks inMetaphor: ReFantazio. It’s the Faker Archetype, and while its immediate applications upon acquisition might not seem apparent, the Faker’s skillset contains some choice ways to make many of Metaphor’s hardest fights more manageable.

Not unlike theMerchant Archetypebefore it, the Faker - and the follower, Alonzo, whom you will gain along the way - involves a Kingly Virtue skill check, a full-blown dungeon dive, and more. We break down everything you’ll need to know to add it to your arsenal while snagging every treasure along the way.

The Pompous Man, Alonzo, in Metaphor: ReFantazio

How To Unlock ‘A Dagger, A Ring, And A Rake’

As soon as you’re given the chance to exploreMartira, the Old Castle Town, you should survey your surroundings inThoroughfare Way. This is the area with the tavern, the recruitment centre - you know, basically everything of present importance for the story.

Specially marked on the map, andwith striking blue hair, is a character designated as’Pompous Man'. Initiate dialogue with the man (well, technically, something else happens - you’ll see) to watch a scene. After the unfortunate incident,speak with him again.

The protagonist speaking with the knowledgeable man in Metaphor Refantazio.

In order to begin’A Dagger, a Ring, and a Rake', you must have achievedRank 2 in Imagination, or’Inspired'. If you’re not quite there yet - we weren’t! - spend time with theNostalgic Elderhere in Martira, which will increase your Imagination points.

The dialogue choice you need to pick is"Consider it a kingly investment.“So long as your Imagination is where it needs to be, the quest will unlock, andthe Abandoned Tomb dungeon will be added to your map.

Goborn stats in Metaphor Refantazio.

Quest Prep

Although you’re able totravel to the Abandoned Tombpretty quickly,we recommend waiting until you have gained your fourth party member.

Now that “Cuculus” has us on the trail ofMalveno’s Ring- and we have gained that fourth party member - it’s time to gear up for a deadly expedition.

The Abandoned Tomb is marked on the party’s world map in Metaphor: ReFantazio.

First,make sure you have unlocked theMerchant Archetype, via Brigitta. We specifically want tohave Heismay’s Thief Archetype inherit the Gold Attack skill, as it will be invaluable in a certain battle.

You’ll not find any vendors in the Abandoned Tomb, sobring plenty of restoratives. If you’re aching for cash, but there’s a powerful weapon or piece of armor for sale that’ll eat up your funds, our advice is togo ahead and buy it. Having an edge in this dungeon is important.

Ascending a ladder inside Metaphor ReFantazio’s Abandoned Tomb.

Notes

Pyrite Imitec

Springs from certain treasure chests. Weak to Wind. You can steal Blessed Water from them.

Can hit pretty hard with Skull Cracker, so use Gold Attack to lower their number of actions per turn.

The protagonist stands before an ominously large treasure chest in Metaphor: ReFantazio’s Abandoned Tomb dungeon.

Bow Noble Malmorta

Resists Slash and Pierce. Weak to Dark. You can steal Damascus Bow from them. Can cast the

Wind-elemental Cyclo.

Sword Noble Malmorta

Resists Slash and Pierce. Weak to Dark. Can cast Marakunda to lower party’s stats.

Spear Noble Malmorta

Resists Slash and Pierce. Weak to Dark. Worth using the synthesis Mamudo when you encounter

a group with three of more of these various Malmorta-type foes.

Malveno’s Ring is obtained in Metaphor: ReFantazio.

Kadablich

Repels Pierce. Weak to Light. Can steal Sanctor’s Vigour from them. Uses Life Steal to absorb some HP.

Casts Curse Chant to inflict party-wide Hex ailment. Casts Mudoon, which deals Dark damage and may

The crawlsplace in Metaphor: ReFantazio’s Abandoned Tomb which leads to central treasure chests.

Abandoned Tomb Walkthrough

The Entrance

To your left on your way in, talk with the NPC, who finds there’s something off about a nearby wall. Predictably, there is.Attempt to interact with the wall, but alas, it won’t budge. If that looks like a switch, by the way, it is -we’ll come back here later.

Just past the strange wall,take a left toward a treasure chest. But be prepared fora battle with an enemy when you open it. This is aPyrite Imitec, and its Achilles' heel isGold Attack. Use this skill to distract it, lowering its turn actions until it’s more manageable.

Alonzo praises the protagonist for acquiring Malveno’s Ring in Metaphor: ReFantazio.

The chest forks over anEnigmatic Accessoryafter the Imitec’s defeat, which isappraisable.

Don’t head back to the entryway. Instead,crawl through the space near the chest, jumping down to face some foes. The chest down here contains theSpiked Glovesfor the Brawler Archetype.

There’s another crawlspace to the left, so climb out through it. Jump down at the end of this short passage. The chest down here isanother Pyrite Imitec; the treasure is just someScrap Metalto sell. Meh.

The East Chamber

Ascend the ladder past the chest. The blue item to the south is aGritty Scented Bagto appraise later.Crawl through the spaceto reach a chest with the excellentTwinkling Crystal, whichraises the wielder’s stats by two.

Crawl back through that corridor that led you here, andcontinue down this horizontal corridor to a chest with another Imitec. Your prize is aMagla Injectionwhich restores 100 MP.

This is something of an aside, but oftentimes,when you scan your surroundings with Gallica, she’ll comment that something is “movable.“This is sort of a stock statement of hers when anything remotely close is interactive. Don’t let it drive you bonkers.

Past the chest with the Magla Injection isa chamber with a ton of weak enemiesto mow down. Ignore that ladder at the south corner for the moment. Grab the blue item,Blessed Water, and keep north a bit.

When the chamber’s cleared of enemies,find the crawlspace on the left side of the wall,about midway up, which leads to a blue item withGraced Water.Ascend the ladderhere.

That big enemy here is the toughKadablich, who is weak toLight.

Past him is a chest with aNoble Sun Hat. Return to the ladder now; back through the crawlspace; and when you’ve reached that enemy-filled chamber again,head northwest to find an NPC.

He’ll tell us something we already know, but hey.Open the nearby chest for an Apprentice’s Abacusfor the Merchant Archetype.

Turn back aroundfrom here rather than continue north. verify you’re healed, and head up thenortheast side of the chamber, where anotherKadablich prowls. Open the chest past the Kadablich for aRejuvenation Bell.Talkative Tooth, to the left.

Once you’re done with that,grab the Superior Gritty Light Armornear the Talkative Tooth, and we’ll finally move on from this area. Past the chest with theApprentice’s Abacus, you’ll findPlateau,so save your game!

The Suspiciously Large Chest

Just past Plateau, to his left, isa very large treasure chest. This isn’t where we’ll find Galvato’s Ring -the ring is marked with the red icon back near the entrance. Instead,it’s the way we’ll acquire a key toreachGalvato’s Ring.

The battle will be waged againstTrove Imitec, a far more powerful version of the Imitecs that you have faced up to this point. Since it requires some serious strategizing,consult our Trove Imitec boss battle guidefor the lowdown.

The Ring

When you’re finished with Trove Imitec,climb the ladder to Plateau’s right. Up here,follow the path westward to a second ladder.Drop down, and pick up the blue item, a tastyHero’s Fruit.Southeast from here,open the chest for… another tastyHero’s Fruit.

Now, proceedsouthwest. The blue item’s a sellableScintillating Marble. Note theexclamation mark iconhere; there’s aswitch to interact with.Thenearby wall opens upto a place we’ve already been, but this bodes well for the near future.

Return to thebig side chamberfrom our earlier section. Now,use the ladder at the southeast corner of the room.

Explore this new area, headingnorthfor a blue item,Gritty Polearm, thendown the south ladderfor aGold Beetle.

By now, if you open up the Abandoned Tomb’s map, you should see thatthe only remaining unexplored locationsare the room withthe red blinking quest icon,and a conspicuous room withthree treasure chests.

Backtrack all the wayto the entryway with the wall blocking access to the quest icon. Using the key we’ve worked hard to obtain, you’ll be able to getMalveno’s Ringat last.

The Central Chamber

Head northfrom the room with the ring, passing the first left turn tocross through the crawlspaceat the second left turn. After that,head north again, keeping an eye out for one last crawlspace on the right.

The crawlspace in question is locatedjust east of the lower portion of the central roomwith those treasure chests we’re after.

This last blue item’s got appraisableSuperior Gritty Armor.With the key from the Trove Imitec, this wall barring access to the chests will open!

The left chest houses aSandsilk Blouse. The middle chest’s got a niceSage’s Staff. The right chest has some purifiableCrimson Fangs.

With that out of the way,we’re finished with the Abandoned Tomb!

How To Complete The Quest

When you’re back inMartiraagain -and you’re willing to spend some timewith Cuculus - ‘A Dagger, a Ring, and a Rake’ wraps up.Grius’s Mementois back in the party’s possession as “Cuculus” promised. (He now reveals his true name, Alonzo.)

A bond is forged with Alonzo, andhe’s unlocked as a follower. Just as pivotally,the Faker Archetype is now yours. Quick suggestion:learn Tarunda. No matter which Archetype you transfer it over to,lowering an enemy’s Attack stat is never not useful!