Octopath Traveler 0: Your First Big Choices Aren't Just Fluff, Mate – Here's What Actually Matters
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Dive into Octopath Traveler 0 with confidence as we decode your crucial starting choices, revealing why a double-hitting Attack Skill, a physical attack-boosting dish, and the invaluable Nourishing Nut (plus some rare items) are your best bets for a strong start.
Right, so you've just booted up Octopath Traveler 0, all ready to dive into a sprawling, beautiful world, and what happens? The game slaps you with a bunch of crucial decisions before you've even had a chance to properly sniff the digital air of Wishvale. Talk about being thrown in the deep end, eh? It's like a wizard's first spell, where you're just hoping it doesn't turn you into a newt instead of, say, opening a portal to a better starting build.
Fair dinkum, choosing your initial skill, favourite dish, and starting belongings can feel a bit like reading ancient, dusty scrolls in a language you only half-understand. Do you go for an attack boost or recovery? A 'nourishing nut' (charming, that) or some rare key that promises untold future adventures? It's tough without knowing the full lay of the land, and frankly, a lot of us just pick whatever sounds good, only to regret it later when the difficulty curve gets steeper than a dragon's back. But what if we could peel back the curtain, eh? What if we could peek behind the wizard's spellbook to see what these early choices *actually* mean for your journey through Octopath Traveler 0?
I’ve been tinkering with this conundrum, poring over the options like a mad alchemist, and bloody hell, it’s wilder than it first appeared. Let's break down those initial choices, shall we, and make sure you're not accidentally equipping yourself with a cursed spoon.
### The Learned Skill: To Heal or to Hit Twice?
First up, you're presented with a trio of 'Learned Skills': an **Attack skill** that hits twice, a **Recovery skill** for HP and SP regen, and an **Enfeebling skill** to debuff foes. Now, your gut might scream 'Recovery!' because, well, healing is always good, right? It's the comfort blanket of any RPG. But here’s the rub, mate:
* **Recovery Skill:** Sounds brilliant, but your very first companion in Octopath Traveler 0 usually comes packing their own healing kit. Plus, you’ll likely stumble into an 'ultimate' ability with HP restoration not long after. So, while it’s tempting, it’s a bit like taking an extra umbrella when you’ve already got two. Overkill, and you could be using that slot for something more impactful.
* **Enfeebling Skill:** This one lowers enemy physical attack and defense for eight turns. Not bad, honestly, especially since early companions often lack decent debuffing abilities. It’s certainly more unique than the recovery option for the early game.
* **Attack Skill:** Ah, the humble double-hitter. This might seem bog-standard, but here’s where the clever design of Octopath Traveler 0 (and its predecessors) truly shines. See, enemies in this game have these pesky 'shields' you need to break a certain number of times to stun them and unleash big damage. Hitting twice in one turn, especially in the early game when your options are limited, is an absolute godsend for busting those shields. It's like having a miniature, personal wrecking ball ready to go. You won't have many other ways to deplete more than one shield stack per turn early on, making this skill far more valuable for accelerating combat and managing tricky encounters. Trust me, it’s the arcane secret sauce you didn’t know you needed.
**The Verdict:** Go for the **Attack Skill**. Its double-hit capability is invaluable for shield breaking, giving you a serious leg up in early battles.
### Your Favourite Dish: Naming Fun vs. Actual Utility
Next, you get to pick a 'favourite dish.' Not only do you get a single stack of it, but you also get to rename it! This is prime territory for some casual irreverence. You could call it 'Grandma's Mystery Meat' or 'The Goblin's Last Supper.' And honestly, that renaming part is arguably the most important, purely for the chuckle it gives you. Why? Because you only get one, and you can make more later.
This dish, once consumed, grants you +10% max HP/SP for 15 turns, plus a tiny +5% boost to another stat like Speed, Physical Attack, or Accuracy. Since you're just starting, you won't have a developed playstyle yet. So, which minor boost is least likely to go to waste?
* **Physical Attack Dish (Grilled Beef):** This one. You'll be doing a lot of hacking and slashing in those first few hours, so a physical attack buff will almost certainly see some action. It's the safe, sensible choice when you're still figuring out if you're a spell-slinging sorcerer or a beefy brawler.
**The Verdict:** Pick the **physical attack dish** (the grilled beef in the top left). Name it something ridiculous, obviously. It’ll give you a reliable damage buff for those crucial early fights.
### Your Belongings: The Long Game or Immediate Power?
Now, for the really chewy bit: choosing three starting items from a list of intriguing possibilities. This is where a lot of players get stuck, because you're weighing instant gratification against potential long-term benefits. Here's what's on offer:
* **Promise Charm:** Elemental attack +10% * **Fighter’s Wristband:** Physical attack +10% * **Sacred Flame Charm:** Physical and elemental defense +10% * **Crested Key:** A rare item, promises *something*. * **Letter Fragment:** Another rare item. * **Ratatouille:** A powerful dish with multiple defensive boosts. * **Nourishing Nut:** Greatly increases max HP. * **Embershroom Bed:** A mushroom bed that yields mushrooms later.
Okay, forget everything else for a moment and listen up: your absolute top priority should be the **Nourishing Nut**. I cannot stress this enough, mate. This little beauty isn't just a temporary buff; it *permanently* increases your max HP by a whopping 150 points, instantly bumping your starting HP from 300 to 450. That’s an immediate, tangible, and lasting boost to your survivability that none of the other items can match. Think of it as an instant level-up for your health bar. You *will* find more of these later, but getting one right at the start is an unparalleled advantage for tackling the early game's nasties.
After that, you've got two more slots. While the equipment pieces (charms, wristband) offer immediate, albeit small, stat boosts, they're generally quite easy to come by later. The same goes for dishes like Ratatouille – potent, but replaceable. This is where our wizardly observation skills come in handy: look for what's *hardest* to get.
That leaves the **Crested Key** and the **Letter Fragment**. These are explicitly labeled 'rare items' for a reason. While they don't give you instant power, they often unlock side quests, lore, or even companions later in the game. And that, my friend, is a much smarter play for long-term value than a temporary stat stick you'll swap out in an hour.
Specifically, the Crested Key is a cracking choice because, as the rumour mill (and eventually, the game itself) tells you, it immediately helps you recruit a companion named Viator. Just show it to the green-hatted chap in Valore’s tavern, and hey presto, new party member! That's excellent bang for your buck, adding a whole new character and their abilities to your roster much earlier than you might otherwise. The Letter Fragment is also good for its rarity, hinting at deeper mysteries to uncover.
**The Verdict:** Grab the **Nourishing Nut** first, no questions asked. Then, pick the **Crested Key** (to snag Viator early) and the **Letter Fragment** for that delicious long-term rare item satisfaction. Immediate power from equipment is easily replaced, but permanent HP and rare unlocks are golden.
### Wielding Your Wisdom
So there you have it, a quick dive into the arcane art of starting strong in Octopath Traveler 0. These aren't just arbitrary choices; they lay a subtle groundwork for your early game experience, making those first few hours a bit smoother, a bit more strategic. Going in with this knowledge is like having a map to a hidden treasure chest right from the get-go. No accidental newt transformations today, mate! Just pure, unadulterated RPG adventuring, powered by smart choices.
Go forth, explore Wishvale, and may your critical hits be plentiful and your HP bars robust!
Tags: Octopath Traveler, RPG, Gaming Guide, Strategy, JRPG
Original article: Polygon