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Your first true test of skill inMetaphor: ReFantaziooccurs shortly after the protagonist has successfully infiltrated Grand Tran’s rank-and-file. You’ll be properly introduced to the young man named Strohl, and it’ll soon become apparent that the two of you will need to band together to survive.
Many monsters stand between the heroes and the man you’ve been sent to find. This will be a pretty quick jaunt, but there are a handful of secrets to uncover, and we’ve got a couple of tips for you along the way. Our guide will get you through the Northern Border Fort in one piece.
Into The Fort
Once you’ve gained control,interact with the door up aheadto trigger a brief cutscene. The multiplepiles of dead soldiersin this gruesome first area can each be investigated, though there are no rewards for doing so, and the dialogue simply repeats.
From the entrance,proceed into the next room,taking the first available right turn to acquire a Medicinewhich restores 50 HP when used. Once you’ve taken a few more steps into this second room,you’ll come face-to-face withthe first battle in the game.
While Strohl will be fighting alongside the protagonist at the Northern Border Fort, you’ll not be controlling Strohl yourself, so focus on the fundamentals while the young noble proves his mettle through automatic actions.
Do as the tutorial suggests,pressing the button on your controller or keyboard which prompts the protagonist to slash his sword. Striking this enemy,Homo Oppo, roughly three times before pressing the button toinitiate the squad battle will leave the foe stunned.
This is going to be your aim in plenty of fights moving forward -get a few hits in, and then initiate the squad battle before your enemy can strike first.Success will render the enemy stunned,preventing them from attacking in the first round.
After you’ve defeated the Homo Oppo, pull up your map, and you’ll see thatyou can exit this room through the northern or eastern paths. For now,head east. You’ll descend a staircase and arrive in an area withseveral prison cells.
There is a locked door down here which cannot be opened at this time, butthe door below it contains a Revival Medicine, which can resurrect a downed ally in battle. There’s nothing more to see down here, so head back upstairs, and this time,exit north.
Up The Tower
You’ll emerge into a room with a short staircase andanother Homo Oppo. You don’t actuallyneedto sneak up on it as the tutorial pop-up suggests, but to get the jump on it,wait until it’s looking at the wall, and then run up and slash.
Be sure to start a squad battle immediately thereafter, or you’ll lose the element of surprise. Fetch thethree-pack of Medicinal Herbsjust past the Homo Oppo’s location before moving upthe next two flights of stairs.
None of the enemies in the Northern Border Fort should be cause for much concern, but you cankill the Homo Tentas faster by not casting Mage Fire, as they’re resistant to it. TheFeral Hundoswill oftengo down in one hit when that spell is cast on them.
Speak with the dying soldier,then head right toascend the winding staircase. Don’t open the door yet near the last of these ill-fated men, lest you miss themedicineat the peak of the tower. Since this is a dead end, retrace your steps to that door, swing it open, and watch the scene.
The tower you’ve exited from is positioned at the north edge of this area’s map.Go southwest, past the barrels alongside the ramparts, to dispatch a single Feral Hundo and acquire aBroken Igniter.
Unless you found something we didn’t,the Broken Igniter will be the first item in Metaphor: ReFantazio that is intended to be sold to merchants. Its sole purpose is to make you richer, soremember to pawn it off when you’re at a shop.
Over The Wall
Your destination is across the small wooden bridge to the east and into the second tower, due east of your starting position from the first tower.
But before you cross over,enter the storage room,where you’ll find a ton of barrels - and, more importantly -another medicine. Take care not to get ambushed by theHomo Tenta here lurking among the barrels. And no, there are no items within any of these barrels. Alas.
Now that you’ve seen everything there is to see up here,descend the staircase to the right of the wooden bridgeand fetch theOld Coinwhile you’re at it. Make your way through the room down here, and grab theMagla Pillthat’s up ahead.
Magla Pillsrestore MP,making them highly valuable. Be sure to hang on to them until they’re necessary!
You’ve gotten the items down here, soreturn up the stairs.Butbe sure to heal up before opening the door.As soon as it’s been opened, you’ll come face-to-face withthe first boss in Metaphor Re: Fantazio, Homo Gorleo.
Boss Fight: Homo Gorleo
Homo Gorleo is essentially a scripted battle. As such, you really can’t go wrong - but we’ll still cover each stage of the fight below.
Start out byhitting Homo Gorleo a few times with regular attacks. There’s no point in wasting MP with Mage Fire. Your attacks will do pitiful single-digit damage, andStrohl will soon fall unconscious.
Once he’s down for the count,the protagonist gains newfound power. Use theWind-elemental spell, Cyc, on the Wing and Legbody parts. Once they’re destroyed,Homo Gorleo will heal itself. Do some damage to the apple in the following turns.
Although this battle is remarkably straightforward,you’ll likely need to heal at least once. Fortunately,your new form includes a cure spell as well.
Accept Gallica’s offer to grab Homo Gorleo’s apples, and from thereon out, it’s a matter ofbrute-forcing it to death with repeated Cyc spells. Once it’s dead,you’ll have cleared the Northern Border Fort dungeon!
