Any Advice?

[yarow12]

Is there anything that's worth being told in advance about regarding the game? (e.g.: invest in this, not that; wait to do this; that section first; those actually don't matter; etc.)

I'd appreciate receiving the information in the least spoiling way possible.

As for the first messenger (tree symbol), does it matter which of the pillars I raise? Am I able to raise all of them instead of just three? Should I?

[AnimaProjectStudio]

There is no difference in the number of pillars that you raise to fight a Messenger. I mean, the fight is the very same and there is no change storywise either in the combat itself. However, later in the game there are differences in both gameplay and story (as well as aditional options to get diferent endings) if you get aditional memories / pillars. Don't worry; you can always raise them later (no need to do it before the Messenger fight).

[prpl_mage]

It's worth investing skill points on the right side of both characters trees, both are filled with the most passives. Also good range attacks.
Upgrade dodge roll if you feel fine with the attacks you have available, you will dodge roll a lot to survive the boss encounters.

As for order, all the different wings are numbered, do them in the order from 1 going up for the best difficulty progression. Nothing is stopping you from doing otherwise of course.

It doesn't matter which pillars you raise, only the number of pillars. Not sure what collecting all the pillars actually did since I have only played through it once but I thnik someone mentioned it being related to the secret boss fight. But there are memories for all 5 in each wing, each give a part of the story. Ironically it's not until the 5th that you actually start disliking the person mentioned.

[blues_proto]

The number of pillars influences only your ability to get certain endings and the possibility of fighting the secret boss. Don't worry too much though, the memories are actually somewhat easy to find (And playing all the Endings actually gives you a much better picture of all the characters... And a good laugh).

As for gameplay wise... Dodge, dodge, dodge. Invest in passives and only invest extra points in those attacks that you find comfortable with. Don't get stressed if you level up something you end up not using, in each run there is an item that will reset your Skill Points. As for playstyle, Ergo is high risk-high reward, and the most useful when the enemy has wide openings, while the Bearer is much more deffensive. One of Ergo's skills heals him while you are the Bearer: that is a must have, and an intelligent use of it and Rafael's Gift with the Bearer really helps with Boss fights.