You're standing in the middle of Martira, the sun is beating down, and honestly, you just want to get on with saving the world. But then you run into him. The "Gambling Man." Or, more accurately, the Metaphor ReFantazio gambling man who is about to make you question your own sanity and your luck. This isn't just some throwaway NPC interaction. It’s a test of patience.
Most players stumble into this while trying to raise their Royal Virtues, specifically Imagination. Metaphor: ReFantazio, the latest masterclass from Studio Zero and Atlus, loves to tie character growth to these seemingly mundane social interactions. But this guy? He’s different. He’s a gatekeeper of sorts. If you don't know the trick, you’ll end up wasting precious in-game days—and in a game where the calendar is your biggest enemy, that’s a disaster.
Who Exactly is the Gambling Man?
Found near the thoroughfare in Martira, the Gambling Man is an NPC who offers a high-stakes "game." It’s basically a coin toss or a prediction game, depending on how you look at it. He asks you to guess the outcome of a specific event. If you win, your Imagination gets a massive boost. If you lose? You’ve wasted time you could have spent bonding with Hulkenberg or Strohl.
The game is deceptively simple. He asks if the next person to walk across the bridge will be a man or a woman. Or sometimes it's about the weather or a specific traveler. The catch is that it feels completely random. It feels like the game is cheating. Honestly, it kind of is, unless you’ve been paying attention to the rumors swirling around town.
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Martira is a city built on secrets and social tension. The "Gambling Man" isn't just an isolated mini-game; he’s a reflection of the town’s atmosphere. You can’t just walk up to him on Day 1 and expect to sweep the rewards. You need a bit of "street smarts"—which in this game translates to the Information Broker.
The Secret to Beating the Gambling Man
Don't just guess. Seriously. If you’re just clicking buttons hoping for the best, you’re playing it wrong. The trick to the Metaphor ReFantazio gambling man encounter lies in the "Information" tab.
Before you even talk to him, head over to the local tavern. Look for the Information Broker. In Metaphor: ReFantazio, these NPCs are the MVPs of your playthrough. For a small fee of Reeve, they will sell you "tips." One of these tips specifically mentions the gambler in Martira. Once you buy this information, the "random" guess becomes a fixed certainty.
It’s a classic Atlus move. They reward the player for being thorough rather than lucky.
- Go to the tavern in Martira.
- Buy the "Tips for the Gambler" from the Informant.
- Return to the Gambling Man.
- Choose the option that matches the tip.
Suddenly, you’re not gambling anymore. You’re just collecting a reward. This gives you a significant boost to your Imagination virtue, which is essential for unlocking specific follower ranks and passing mid-game dialogue checks. If you try to brute-force this without the info, you might get lucky, but the odds are heavily stacked against you.
Why Imagination Matters So Much Here
You might be wondering why you should even bother with this guy. Can’t you just read a book on the Gauntlet Runner? Well, sure. But the Gambling Man provides one of the biggest single-chunk increases to Imagination in the early-to-mid game.
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Imagination is the "weird" stat. It’s what allows the protagonist to envision new Archetypes and connect with the more eccentric members of the party. Without high Imagination, you'll find yourself locked out of Heismay's deeper bond levels or unable to pursue certain side quests in the later cities like Brilehaven. It's the difference between a "good" build and a "broken" one.
Common Mistakes Players Make in Martira
The biggest mistake is the "Save Scum" trap. You think, I'll just save my game, guess 'Woman,' and if I'm wrong, I'll reload. Metaphor: ReFantazio handles its RNG a bit differently than Persona. Sometimes, the seed for an event is planted before you even initiate the conversation. If you haven't bought the information, the game might keep you in a losing loop or simply give you a much lower reward even if you guess correctly by pure fluke. It’s always better to spend the 200 or 500 Reeve on the info than to waste twenty minutes reloading a save file.
Another issue is timing. Martira is a high-pressure zone. You have the main dungeon—the Giant Sandworm's belly—and several side bounties. It’s easy to forget the Gambling Man exists until the final day before the deadline. Don't do that. Do him early. Get that Imagination boost out of the way so you can spend your travel time on the Gauntlet Runner focusing on other stats like Wisdom or Tolerance.
The Lore Connection: Is He More Than an NPC?
There’s some fan speculation that the Gambling Man is a nod to the "Gambler" archetype found in older Megami Tensei titles. While Metaphor is a brand-new IP, the DNA is there. He represents the uncertainty of the "United Kingdom of Euchronia." People are desperate. They’re looking for any way to strike it rich or find some excitement in a world that’s literally falling apart due to the "Human" monsters.
Talking to him gives you a tiny window into the lives of the commoners. While your party is worried about the throne and the sanctified magic, this guy is just trying to see who crosses a bridge. It adds a layer of "lived-in" texture to the world that makes the stakes feel real.
Strategic Roadmap for Martira
If you’re currently in Martira and looking at that Gambling Man, follow this flow to maximize your efficiency:
- Day 1-2: Focus on the main dungeon. You want to clear the primary threat as fast as possible to open up your schedule.
- After the Dungeon: Visit the Informant. Buy everything he has. Not just the gambler tip, but the tips for the local bounties too.
- The Interaction: Approach the Gambling Man during the "Day" phase. Nighttime activities are better spent at the tavern or with followers.
- The Payoff: Use the Imagination boost to hit Rank 2 or 3. This will immediately unlock new dialogue options with your party members back on the runner.
It’s all about the "Social Link" (or "Bond") economy. Every action has an opportunity cost. Using the Metaphor ReFantazio gambling man correctly means you’ve basically "bought" an extra afternoon of free time later in the game.
Final Actionable Steps for the Player
To wrap this up and get you back into the game, here is exactly what you should do right now if you're stuck on this NPC or just arrived in Martira.
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Stop guessing. It's a waste of your time. Walk over to the Visca Alba tavern. Talk to the man with the speech bubble icon that indicates he's an Informant. Buy the "Gambler's Secret" or whatever variation the local translation calls it.
Once you have that, the Gambling Man becomes a literal stepping stone to greatness. Use the boost to reach the next tier of Imagination. This will allow you to purify higher-level gear at the church and unlock the more advanced "Seeker" or "Mage" lineages that require high mental stats.
Check your map for the "blue" icons frequently. In Martira, the Gambling Man is just one of several NPCs that offer "hidden" virtue boosts. Look for the storyteller near the gate and the preacher in the square. Combine these with the gambler’s reward, and you’ll leave the desert city with a protagonist who is significantly more capable than when they arrived.
Don't let the RNG discourage you. In the world of Metaphor, knowledge truly is power. Go get that Imagination boost and get back to the race for the throne.