Battle Mechanics

Leader Skills and Friend Units
The first unit in a party is set as the leader, and the leader skill of the unit will affect the entire party as listed. It is very important to make sure the leader skill affects all or most units, so care should be taken to pick a party for battle that works well with the leader.

On the same note, a friend's leader skill will also affect the party. A friend's party will consist of their top three units, and they will join the battle alongside the player's party and any guests.

Tiles and Links
Five different types of tiles can appear on the battlefield. They are assigned randomly to the nine hero units at the beginning, and will appear on the field as shown in the "Next" display in the top right corner as other tiles are removed.


 * These are the attack tiles, and any links done with them will attack the enemy


 * These tiles will heal the amount shown when activated

The goal is to link as many of the same tiles together as possible for maximum damage (or healing). Tiles are assigned a multiplier to their damage/healing as they are linked together, and all will be added together at the end.


 * 1) 1.0x
 * 2) 1.1x
 * 3) 1.2x
 * 4) 1.3x
 * 5) 1.4x
 * 6) 1.5x
 * 7) 1.6x
 * 8) 1.7x
 * 9) 1.8x

If all nine tiles are linked together as heart tiles, the HP bar will be completely refilled. For all nine attack tiles, an Overlink Arte will activate, multiplying damage by 2x. If the ninth unit has a Mystic Arte, that will be used instead. Depending on the rarity of the Mystic Arte, the damage can be multiplied immensely.

Artes
Artes are activated randomly in battle in most instances, determined by the arte activation percentage of a particular unit. Auras sometimes appear to guarantee the unit will use their arte. Auras can be forced by linking four or more heart tiles together, or by using a unit with an active skill that creates auras.

LC and Active Skills
The first three units in a party, along with a friend unit, will be displayed on the bottom of the screen. When enough LC is built up from linking units (one LC per tile), the unit images will begin to glow. The unit's active skill may then be used at any time the player wishes. Active skills are different for every unit, so choose wisely!

Elements
Every unit in Tales of Link comes with a random elemental affinity. Despite being random, the element is very important, as most enemies also have a specific elemental affinity. Guardians of the same element--regardless of whether they are attack, defense, or support--activate a unit's element. The unit's element determines whether it is strong or weak against another elemental foe, and while the unit may do more damage if it is strong against an element, it will both do less damage and take more damage if it is weak against an element. Weapons may also come with an element and are always active, so choose wisely in a battle! Fortunately, even if a unit will do less damage to an element their weapon is weak against, they will not receive more damage as they would if a guardian is activated.



The basic four elements, fire, water, wind, and earth, all work in a circle against one another. Light and dark have special properties, and because they are both strong and weak against each other, they will always do more damage and take more damage from the opposing element.

Please See Guardians for more information on Guardians!

Status Effects
Sometimes, an enemy's attack may also afflict units with an ailment. Support guardians and armors may sometimes prevent an ailment, but in most cases the only way to deal with them is to wait until the effects clear.

Sleep
 * The unit cannot act until it is attacked or the effect expires

Poison
 * The unit is damaged each turn until the effect expires

Paralysis
 * The unit cannot act until it is sent off-screen or the effect expires

Burned
 * The unit is damaged each turn until the effect expires

Frozen
 * The unit cannot act and is damaged each turn until the effect expires

Petrified
 * The unit cannot act until the effect expires

Arte Seal
 * The unit is unable to use an active skill until the effect expires
 * Note that artes still may activate

Delay
 * This effect is for enemies only, which delays their attack turns by the amount shown