Chapter 2: Battle Basics
Attacking
Basically, you have two kinds of attacks: short range and long range. When it is your character's turn in battle, you can choose a target and then hit triangle to execute a long range attack, or square to execute a short range attack. You can keep attacking as long as you have AP (Action Points), which is indicated in the blue meter near your character's portrait. You may stop attacking by hitting X. Each turn you get 4 AP (Unless you're under the influence of certain items or effects). If you do not use all of your AP in one turn, it will carry over to the next turn. Regular attacks take 2 AP each. Sometimes you may score a critical hit, which does more damage than usual. In a typical turn, you might hit triangle and then square, thus doing two attacks and using all of your 4 AP for that turn. KOS-MOS and Ziggy both have special weapons that can be used by hitting circle when you have 6 AP.
Tech Attacks
If you have enough AP, you can execute a tech attack by doing a regular attack and then hitting O. Check out your tech attack menu to view and edit which attack combinations are associated with which tech attacks. As an example, on one turn you might hit triangle to do a regular, long-range attack, then hit X to stop attacking and let your AP carry over. On the next turn, you might hit square, square, circle, using all
of your 6 AP to unleash a LW Speed Tech attack. If you upgrade a Tech attack to high speed, then it can be used on a turn in which you only have 4 AP, because it can be set to be used after only one regular attack.
Menu
Instead of attacking on your turn, you can hit X to call up the menu. Hit X again to return to the attacks. The battle menu contains the following options:
ETHER
These are your character's "spells". Choose an Ether, then choose a target, if required. This uses 4 AP.
ITEM
This lets you use an item. Choose an item, then choose a target. This uses 3 AP. You can also choose a "W" item with triangle in order to use it on all characters, using up 6 AP and two of the item.
MOVE
You can move to another location on the battlefield. This affects your attack and defense. Characters in the back row will not be able to use, or be hit by, physical attacks. This costs 2 AP.
AGWS
Use this to board your AGWS. You will be prompted for a location where you would like to deploy.
GUARD
This makes your character guard until her next turn. It costs 2 AP.
