Look, let’s be real. If you’re searching for a Tales of Graces walkthrough, you’re probably stuck in the Sandshroud Ruins or wondering why Hubert is suddenly hitting like a wet noodle. It happens. This game is weird. It’s arguably the most "love it or hate it" entry in the long-running Namco series because of its combat and that polarizing child arc. Most guides you find online today are relics from 2012, buried in GameFAQs formatting that looks like it was written on a typewriter. They tell you where to go, sure, but they don't tell you how to actually play the game.
The Childhood Arc: Don't Rush It
Most people hate the opening. You’re playing as kids, the stakes feel low, and the combat is stripped down. You might be tempted to sprint through it. Don't. Honestly, the biggest mistake in any Tales of Graces walkthrough is suggesting that the childhood arc is just "flavor text." This is where you learn the "CC" (Chain Capacity) system without the flashy stuff distracting you.
As young Asaph and Richard, you’re limited. But pay attention to the titles you earn here. Titles in Graces aren't just names; they are your actual stat growth. If you ignore the side quests in Lhant or the Barona Catacombs early on, you’re missing out on fundamental stat boosts that carry over when the "real" game starts seven years later. It’s about the long game. The game doesn't explicitly tell you that your performance in these early, "boring" hours dictates how hard the mid-game wall hits you.
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Combat is Not About Button Mashing
If you try to play Graces like Tales of Symphonia or Vesperia, you will die. Frequently. This isn't a game where you hold "up" and mash the attack button. It’s all about the "Around Step."
Basically, the game rewards you for being a matador. When you dodge an attack perfectly, you regain CC. This allows you to keep your combo going indefinitely. A lot of players complain that they run out of energy and have to stand still. That’s because you’re playing too aggressively. In a proper Tales of Graces walkthrough, the focus should be on the rhythm: strike, dodge, strike, dodge.
Understanding the Dualize System
The Dualize system is the crafting mechanic, and it is honestly a nightmare to understand at first. You take two items, smash them together, and hope for the best. Except it's not random. If you want a weapon that actually scales with your level, you need to be Dualizing constantly.
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Don't save your shards. People hoard them like they’re precious elixirs. Use them. Attach qualities like "Sturdy" or "Keen" to your swords early. When you've upgraded a piece of gear enough, you can "extract" the essence into a Gem. This is how you get those insane buffs you see in high-level YouTube clips. It’s a loop. Upgrade, extract, wear the gem, start over. If your damage feels low during the Fendel arc, it’s not because you’re underleveled. It’s because your gear is "base" and hasn't been touched in five hours.
The Character Tier List Nobody Admits
Every Tales of Graces walkthrough claims every character is viable. While that’s technically true because of the "Accell Mode" in the f (future) version, some characters are objectively better for a first-timer.
- Asbel: The protagonist. He’s the "all-rounder." Good for learning, but his draw-and-sheathe mechanic can be clunky if you don't time it right.
- Sophie: She’s a beast. Seriously. She heals, she punches, and she’s fast. If you’re struggling with a boss, switch to Sophie. Her AI is decent, but a human player can break the game with her.
- Hubert: The glass cannon. He does the most damage but dies if a monster looks at him funny. Only play him if you’ve mastered the Around Step.
- Cheria: The best healer, period. However, her cast times are long. Protect her at all costs.
- Malik: The "magic knight." He’s cool, but his moves have a lot of wind-up.
- Pascal: High risk, high reward. She’s a mage who has to stand close to enemies. It’s a weird playstyle that most people bounce off of.
The Infamous Difficulty Spikes
Let’s talk about the Wallbridge. This is usually where people quit. The bosses here—and later in the Ghardia Shaft—don't care about your feelings. They have "Iron Stance," which means they won't flinch when you hit them.
To break Iron Stance, you need to use specific artes that have "Nova" properties or just hit them really, really hard during a specific window. A good Tales of Graces walkthrough should emphasize checking enemy weaknesses in the menu. It’s not just flavor text; if an enemy is weak to "Beast" and "Paralysis," and you aren't using moves that trigger those, you're making the fight 10x harder for yourself.
The Future Arc (Lineage and Legacies)
If you’re playing the Tales of Graces f version (which you should be), there is an entire extra chapter after the credits roll. Many players think this is just a "bonus" dungeon. It’s not. It contains the actual emotional payoff for the story and introduces Accell Mode.
Accell Mode changes everything. It gives each character a unique "super power." Asbel gets a flame aura, Sophie gets instant teleports, and Cheria basically freezes time. If you stop at the end of the main story, you're missing the best part of the combat system.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Playthrough
- Check your Titles every 30 minutes. If a Title is at Rank 5, equip a new one immediately. You want to farm as many passive stat boosts as possible.
- Abuse the Eleth Pot. Put items in there that cook food mid-battle. "Beef Curry" is a lifesaver because it revives fallen party members automatically.
- Learn to switch characters. Don't just stay as Asbel. Some bosses are much easier to kite with Malik or nuke with Pascal.
- Don't ignore the side quests (Sub-Events). Many of the best weapons and Artes are locked behind specific interactions that disappear if you progress the story too far. Specifically, look for the "Inn Requests." They are the primary way to get rare Dualizing materials.
- Set your AI strategy. By default, the AI is "balanced," which usually means they stand around and die. Set your healers to "Focus on Healing" and your casters to "Stay Away."
Basically, Tales of Graces is a game of systems. It’s not a game of reflexes alone. Once you stop fighting the mechanics and start using the Dualize and Title systems to their full potential, the "impossible" bosses suddenly become manageable. Stop worrying about your level and start worrying about your gear's "Quality." That’s the real secret to beating this game without pulling your hair out.
Mastering the "f" Arc specifically: When you finally reach the Lineage and Legacies content, prioritize Sophie’s titles. Her "Altessia" related quests provide massive boosts to her healing output, which is mandatory for the final super-boss. Also, make sure to keep your Eleth Pot capacity high by consistently using it for item production while running around the world map. A small pot is a dead party in the endgame.