You’re cruising through the beautiful, often stressful world of Metaphor: ReFantazio, probably on your way to the Forsaken Tower, and suddenly a gauntlet runner pulls up. It’s Lina. She looks cool, her vibe is great, but she wants to knock you out of the tournament. Honestly, it’s a bit of a shock because she’s one of the more likable rivals you’ll meet in the race for the throne.
But don't let the "Machinist" title or the flashy runner fool you. If you’re looking for the Lina the Machinist weakness, you’re in luck because, despite her bravado, she’s actually one of the squishier bosses in the game.
The One Major Lina the Machinist Weakness You Need
If you want to end this fight before it even gets spicy, you need Ice. That’s the big secret. Lina is fundamentally weak to Ice damage (Blizza).
Most players get caught up trying to use physical strikes because she looks like a mechanical-themed pilot, but she actually resists Strike damage and Fire damage. If you go in swinging hammers or casting fireballs, you’re going to have a bad time. You'll see those "Resist" pop-ups, and your turn icons will disappear faster than your interest in a boring side quest.
Why Ice Works So Well
In the Press Turn system that Metaphor uses—inherited from its Shin Megami Tensei ancestors—hitting a weakness is everything.
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- Extra Turns: Every time you hit Lina with an Ice spell, you gain a blinking turn icon.
- Damage Multipliers: She takes significantly more damage from cold-based attacks.
- Stun Potential: If you keep the pressure on, she won't have the "breath" to set up her bigger combos.
Basically, you’ve gotta turn the battlefield into a freezer. If you have the Mage archetype on your protagonist or a teammate, make sure they have Blizza (or better yet, Blizzara if you’ve leveled up enough) ready to go.
Don't Get Caught by Her "Transcendence"
Lina isn't just standing there to be a punching bag. She has a very specific pattern that can actually wipe your party if you're underleveled or unprepared. She likes to use Mage Transcendence. This isn't just a buff; it's a warning.
When she casts this, her next magic attack is going to hurt. A lot.
She usually follows it up with Mage Plasma (Lightning) or Mage Wildfire (Fire). These are "hit-all" spells. If any of your party members are naturally weak to Lightning or Fire—maybe you’ve got a specific archetype equipped that hasn't covered those bases—she will get extra turns. That’s when a "weak" boss becomes a nightmare.
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Optimal Party Setup for the Fight
You don't need a 400 IQ strategy here, but a little bit of planning helps.
- The Protagonist (Mage/Wizard): This is your primary damage dealer. Your job is to spam Ice spells. Period.
- Strohl (Warrior/Swordmaster): Since she resists Strike, don't use blunt weapons. Stick to Slash damage. While she doesn't have a weakness to Slash, she doesn't resist it either.
- Hulkenberg (Knight): Put her in the front row to soak up hits. If Lina decides to use physical attacks (which she rarely does, but it happens), Hulkenberg is your wall.
- Heismay (Thief/Gunner): Heismay is great for his high Agility. If you have him as a Thief, try to steal from her! She carries some decent loot that’s worth the effort before you finish her off.
A Quick Pro Tip on Formation
Keep your casters in the Back Row. It’s a basic Metaphor rule that people forget. Since Magic damage isn't penalized by being in the back, you get a defense boost against her melee swipes without losing any of your Ice-cold power.
Where Do You Actually Find Her?
You won't find Lina just by following the main golden path. She’s part of a side adventure.
Specifically, you’ll likely run into her while heading toward the Forsaken Tower. This area opens up after you talk to the Craftsman in the Port of Brilehaven (usually after July 23rd in-game). You’ll pick up the quest "Superior Scrimshaw," and as you’re navigating the map northeast of the port, her runner will appear.
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It’s an optional encounter, but the rewards are solid:
- 1,250 EXP
- 400 A-EXP
- 1,500 MAG (Super helpful for those expensive late-game archetypes)
- 1,500 Reeve
The Takeaway
Lina the Machinist is a "check" on whether or not you're paying attention to elemental affinities. If you respect the Lina the Machinist weakness by bringing a dedicated Ice user and keeping your Fire-weak characters guarded, she’s a pushover.
She’s actually a pretty noble character in the lore. After the fight, she doesn't hold a grudge. She realizes she’s outclassed and eventually drops out of the tournament. It’s one of those moments that makes the world of Euchronia feel alive—not everyone is a bloodthirsty villain. Some people are just trying to find their way.
Next Steps to Win:
Go to your Archetype menu right now. Check if your main Mage has Blizza inherited or naturally learned. If not, spend the MAG to grab it from the Mage tree. If you're already past the early game, check if you have Ice Blue Liquid items in your inventory; they deal fixed Ice damage and can help you get those extra turns even if your MP is running low. Trust me, you'll want those extra turn icons when she starts charging up her Plasma.