First strike mechanics (luminas + advantage on battle start)

[Aveax]

Both have the same name so lets use:
- LFS (Luminas First Strike)
- AFS (Advantage First Strike) for first strike attack to enter battle with advantage

I did some testing and if you want to use LFS on all characters then dont use AFS to start combat bcs LFS will be ignored.
When using LFS without starting combat with AFS the characters will start first and then the order will be determined based on speed which gives a possibility to play 2 turns before enemies while when starting with AFS all player characters start first and right after them are enemies and then speed is used to determine order.

Scenarios (for the sake of explaining all characters have LFS):
LFS without using AFS:
- if all player characters have more speed than enemies: all characters will play twice before any enemy start their turn
- if all enemies have more speed than player characters then you will play once before enemies (the same as using AFS without any character with LFS so worst case scenario is the same as AFS)
LFS while using AFS: LFS will be ignored and AFS will take over e.g. player characters start first and right after them enemies

*I dont think its a bug, just 2 similar mechanics that could clash with each other so AFS overrides LFS.

Also created a guide for this with more information about combat order https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3471499611

[zefyris]

Good to know, thanks. I just got the LFS picto myself and was wondering how it was working, so perfect timing to read that.

[Aveax]

yup glad to be of help ^^
I always started with AFS as its positive mechanic that was introduced at the beginning and was curious if first strike from luminas is bugged or something bcs nothing changed when I equipped it on characters as I still used AFS :)

[thenameless]

Good to know.

[ForceKin]

Awesome tip, much appreciated!

[scurvy]

Why do you create terms for LFS and AFS without describing what they are? What if some but not all characters have LFS (which I assume means you have the lumina or pictos for first strike)?

I can't tell who my first attack will be... It's not my highest speed, and I have no first strike currently equipped.

[Aveax]

Originally posted by scurvy:

Why do you create terms for LFS and AFS without describing what they are?

how are they not described? you dont know what lumina is? or you dont remember that you can manually attack enemies to enter battle with advantage that game teaches you at the beginning?

post is about mechanics of first strikes and not about the basic terminology of the game that is described in the game (you can just google basic terminology if you dont want to look them up in the game)

Originally posted by scurvy:

What if some but not all characters have LFS?

I would say that "When using LFS without starting combat with AFS the characters will start first and then the order will be determined based on speed" explains it, if only one character have Lumina First Strike then only he will start first and then later turns will be determined based on speed

Originally posted by scurvy:

I can't tell who my first attack will be... It's not my highest speed, and I have no first strike currently equipped.

this post is only about both first strike mechanics as they can clash with each other, if you more detailed info about combat order then check the linked guide as I added more information there (party order) and Im updating it when necessary

[Cyan~]

First Strike (Play First) is on Gustave yet Maelle is always first, any ideas? No she doesnt have it as a lumina

[Aveax]

Originally posted by Cyan~:

First Strike (Play First) is on Gustave yet Maelle is always first, any ideas? No she doesnt have it as a lumina

You probably still use attack to enter battle (AFS) that overrides it as I mentioned in post

[Vendrix]

Im very confused. Im using Sciel/verso/maelle (all 3 lvl 90 if that matters) and I want sciel to act first.
sciel currently has 4154 speed (maelle has 2694 and verso 2235), all 3 have LFS. Party order is sciel/verso/maelle. somehow maelle is still acting first. I tested this with AFS as well, same thing. Do you think its because im using auto death/second chance on sciel/verso?

Edit: yes, it is because of Auto Death. I removed it from sciel and now the order was sciel/maelle/verso. Shame, I really love the auto death/second chance combo with Shielding Death for Powerful Shield xD