The Most Annoying Mechanic You've Ever Seen
If you have ever played a Tales of game—specifically Tales of Destiny 2 or the Vesperia definitive edition—you probably have a specific kind of PTSD. It usually involves a massive, axe-wielding lunatic named Barbatos Goetia. He doesn't just hit hard. He cheats. Or rather, he punishes you for trying to stay alive. Barbatos Tales no items ever is a phrase that has basically become a mantra for frustrated gamers for over two decades now.
Most bosses in RPGs let you chug a potion when your health gets low. Not Barbatos. If you even think about opening your menu to use an Apple Gel, he will literally teleport across the screen and scream his lungs out while obliterating your entire party. It's a "No Items" rule that isn't a suggestion; it’s a death sentence.
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Honestly, it’s kind of a legendary piece of game design. It turns a standard battle into a psychological thriller. You're staring at your low HP bar, you know you have 15 Life Bottles in your bag, but you're too scared to touch them.
Who is the Man Behind the No Items Rule?
Barbatos Goetia isn't your typical sympathetic villain. He’s a former hero of the Destiny era who just... really loves violence. He hates "weaklings" who rely on items or magic. In the Japanese versions, his catchphrase is "Aitemu nazo tsukatten ja nee!" which basically translates to "Don't use items!" but with a much more aggressive, "Get that garbage out of here" vibe.
The Barbatos Tales no items ever mechanic first showed up as a hidden counter. In the PS2 remake of Tales of Destiny, if the AI detected an item use, Barbatos would instantly trigger a Mystic Arte (an ultimate move) called "Item nazo Tsukatten ja nee!"
Why It’s Still a Problem in Modern Gaming
You might think this is just old-school "Nintendo hard" nonsense, but it’s more nuanced than that. It’s about breaking the player's safety net. We are conditioned to think we can always heal. Barbatos says no.
- Interrupt Potential: He doesn't just counter the item; he cancels the effect. You lose the item, you don't get the heal, and you take 5,000 damage.
- The "Item nazo Hirotten ja nee" Variation: In Tales of VS., he even punishes you for picking up items that spawn on the floor.
- The Ghost of Barbatos: Even in games where he isn't the main boss, like Tales of Graces, there is a "Barbatosan" equipment quality that literally prevents the wearer from using items. It’s a curse that follows the franchise.
Fighting Barbatos Without Losing Your Mind
If you're stuck on a fight involving the Barbatos Tales no items ever rule, you have to change your entire playstyle. You can't play defensively. Most people who beat him on higher difficulties (like Unknown or Evil) focus entirely on "Life Up" abilities or rely on pure healing artes from characters like Raine or Estelle. But wait—sometimes he counters magic, too.
In Tales of Destiny 2, he actually has different counters for different "sins."
- Using an item? He kills you.
- Casting a mid-to-high level spell? He counters with a spell of his own.
- Backstepping too much? He might just lunge at you.
It's about respect. He wants a "fair" fistfight, even if he's the one with the giant axe and infinite HP.
The Cultural Legacy of No Items Ever
Why does this still matter? Because it’s one of the few times a developer explicitly told the player "I know how you play, and I'm going to stop you." It’s meta-commentary on the RPG genre itself.
There's a reason why modern games like Genshin Impact (where the Anemo Archon is also named Barbatos) often have fans joking about item restrictions. While Venti is a breezy bard, the "original" Barbatos is a nightmare of pure restriction. The name itself carries weight in the RPG community.
What You Should Do Instead
If you find yourself facing a Barbatos-style challenge—whether in a retro Tales title or a modern "no-item" run—you need a better strategy than "hope I don't die."
First, master the block. In the Tales series, perfect guarding is often the only way to generate the resources you need to stay alive without gels. Second, look for equipment that provides passive HP regeneration. If the game won't let you use an item, let the armor do the work for you. Finally, focus on stagger. A staggered Barbatos can't shout at you.
The Barbatos Tales no items ever mechanic is a relic of a time when games were actively trying to bully you. But honestly? It’s also what makes those victories feel so much better. You didn't win because you had 99 potions; you won because you were actually better than the boss.
Your Next Steps:
- Check your equipment for the "Barbatosan" trait if you suddenly find your item menu locked in Tales of Graces f.
- If playing Tales of Vesperia Definitive Edition, prepare your party's AI to never use items before entering the 200-Man Melee.
- Practice "Flash Guarding" or "Around Steps" to build gauge without relying on recovery items.