How Delay works: An in depth guide.

Want to make more informed decisions on higher difficulties or just in general? This guide might be for you.

Introduction

The Trails series is a turn based JRPG in which different actions will leave characters waiting for their next turn for different amounts of times. This guide will cover how those times are calculated as well as how fast actions like casting are. This information should help you make more informed, strategic decisions which can make higher difficulty levels both more manageable and more engaging.

The basic formula for calculating this Delay is: Base Delay on the action divided by the user's Speed (SPD) stat when taking that action. This number is then rounded down to the nearest whole number.

For example: If an action has a base Delay of 3000 and the user of that action has 38 Speed (SPD) then the formula (3000 divided by 38 here) results in a number of 78.947. This then rounds down to 78 and the action will have 78 Delay in game.

The Speed stat is only factored into play when the action takes place. Using Speed buffs on a character waiting for their turn to come will NOT help their turn come any faster. Speed buffs only help if they are active while a turn is being taken.

The amount of Delay directly and proportionately affects how long a character must wait for their next turn. For example if one character takes an action that has 20 Delay another character can take two actions that take 10 Delay in the same amount of time.

This makes Speed a very important stat in this series. Do note however that when using in battle Speed buffs that the buffs only go off of that character's base Speed stat for that level before any equipment or orbments are considered. This same rule also applies for other in battle stat buffs.

Here are the following base Delay values for universal actions:

- Attacking: 3000
- Moving: 2000
- Using an Item: 2000
- Chain Crafts: 2000

Crafts and Arts vary quite a bit and the next sections will cover those in more detail but as a general rule:

Crafts are usually around 3000 with some being less and some being more.
S Crafts are usually either 3500 or 4000 with earlier weaker ones being 3500 and stronger later ones being 4000.

Casting time on Arts varies wildly but the Delay after the Art is cast is almost always 2000.
Cast 1 cuts cast time by 40%
Cast 2 cuts cast time by 2/3
Time Gem cuts cast time by a whopping 95%

Note: There will be points in this guide in which "duration" of things is mentioned. Things like in battle stat buffs will have varying durations and the duration numbers mentioned correlate to actual final Delay. The earlier example of a base 3000 Delay action having 78 final Delay on a 38 Speed character for instance would be able to take 5 of those turns under a buff if that buff's duration was 400 (78x5 = 390).

Note: When "STR Modifier" is mentioned this refers to how much a particular Craft changes the user's Strength stat while the Craft is being used. For example: "STR Modifier: +20" means that the Craft increases the user's Strength stat by 20 points when the Craft is being used.

Fun Fact: if you manage to get a character's Speed stat to 0 (possible on New Game + with gear inheritance) then they will have no Delay on any actions and have functionally infinite turns.

Arts Cast times and Delay after.

A quick reminder that Cast 1 cuts cast time by 40%, Cast 2 cuts cast time by 2/3 and the Time Gem cuts cast time by 95%. None of these do anything to decrease the Delay after an Art is cast however; only your Speed stat can help you there.

Cast times here are shown with this format: Base / with Cast 1 / with Cast 2 / with Time Gem

Here's a quick rundown of Delay time on all the arts in the game:

Earth Arts

Stone Hammer, Petrify Breath, Earth Lance, and Earth Guard:
Cast Time: 1000 / 600 / 333 / 50
Delay after: 2000
Total Time: 3000 / 2600 / 2333 / 2050

Crest:
Cast Time: 800 / 480 / 266 / 40
Delay after: 2000
Total Time: 2800 / 2480 / 2266 / 2040

La Crest, Petrosphere:
Cast Time: 1200 / 720 / 400 / 60
Delay after: 2000
Total Time: 3200 / 2720 / 2400 / 2060

Stone Impact:
Cast Time: 1500 / 900 / 500 / 75
Delay after: 2000
Total Time: 3500 / 2900 / 2500 / 2075

Earth Wall, Petrify Cloud, Titanic Roar, Atlas Hammer, Geo Catastrophe:
Cast Time: 2000 / 1200 / 666 / 100
Delay After: 2000
Total Time: 4000 / 3200 / 2666 / 2100

Gaia Shield:
Cast Time: 2800 / 1680 / 933 / 140
Delay After: 3000
Total Time: 5800 / 4680 / 3933 / 3140



Water Arts:
Note: All water arts have 2000 Delay after casting.

Tear:
Cast Time: 300 / 180 / 100 / 15
Total Time: 2300 / 2180 / 2100 / 2015

Teara:
Cast Time: 400 / 240 / 133 / 20
Total Time: 2400 / 2240 / 2133 / 2020

Tearal:
Cast Time: 600 / 360 / 200 / 30
Total Time: 2600 / 2360 / 2200 / 2030

Tear-All:
Cast Time: 800 / 480 / 266 / 40
Total Time: 2800 / 2480 / 2266 / 2040

La Tear, Curia, Thelas:
Cast Time: 500 / 300 / 166 / 25
Total Time: 2500 / 2300 / 2166 / 2025

La Teara:
Cast Time: 700 / 420 / 233 / 35
Total Time: 2700 / 2420 / 2233 / 2035

Aqua Bleed, Blue Impact, La Tearal, La Tear-All, La Curia, Athelas:
Cast Time: 1000 / 600 / 333 / 50
Total Time: 3000 / 2600 / 2333 / 2050

Diamond Dust:
Cast Time: 1500 / 900 / 500 / 75
Total Time: 3500 / 2900 / 2500 / 2075

Blue Ascension, Cocytus:
Cast Time: 2000 / 1200 / 666 / 100
Total Time: 4000 / 3200 / 2666 / 2100



Fire Arts:
Note: All Fire Arts have 2000 Delay after casting.

Fire Bolt, Fire Bolt EX, Flare Arrow:
Cast Time: 1000 / 600 / 333 / 50
Total Time: 3000 / 2600 / 2333 / 2050

Forte:
Cast Time: 800 / 480 / 266 / 40
Total Time: 2800 / 2480 / 2266 / 2040

La Forte:
Cast Time: 1200 / 720 / 400 / 60
Total Time: 3200 / 2720 / 2400 / 2060

Napalm Breath, Spiral Flare:
Cast Time: 1500 / 900 / 500 / 75
Total Time: 3500 / 2900 / 2500 / 2075

Volcanic Rave, Meteo Fall, Arc Prominence:
Cast Time: 2000 / 1200 / 666 / 100
Total Time: 4000 / 3200 / 2666 / 2100

Cyclone Napalm
Cast Time: 2500 / 1500 / 833 / 125
Total Time: 4500 / 3500 / 2833 / 2125



Wind Arts:

Air Strike, Aerial, Slyphen Guard, Slyphen Wing
Cast Time: 1000 / 600 / 333 / 50
Delay after: 2000
Total Time: 3000 / 2600 / 2333 / 2050

Aero Storm, Slypharion:
Cast Time: 1500 / 900 / 500 / 75
Delay after: 2000
Total Time: 3500 / 2900 / 2500 / 2075

Grand Stream
Cast Time: 2000 / 1200 / 666 / 100
Delay After: 2000
Total Time: 4000 / 3200 / 2666 / 2100

Lightning:
Cast Time: 900 / 540 / 300 / 45
Delay after: 2500
Total Time: 3400 / 3040 / 2800 / 2545

Plasma Wave:
Cast Time: 1000 / 600 / 333 / 50
Delay After: 3000
Total Time: 4000 / 3600 / 3333 / 3050

Ragna Blast:
Cast Time: 1100 / 660 / 366 / 55
Delay After: 3500
Total Time: 4600 / 4160 / 3866 / 3555



Time Arts:
Note: All Time arts have 2000 Delay after casting.

Soul Blur, Hell Gate, Shadow Spear, Clock Up, Clock Down, Anti-Sept:
Cast Time: 1000 / 600 / 333 / 50
Total Time: 3000 / 2600 / 2333 / 2050

Anti-Sept All:
Cast Time: 1100 / 660 / 366 / 55
Total Time: 3100 / 2660 / 2366 / 2055

Orbal Down:
Cast Time: 1200 / 720 / 400 / 60
Total Time: 3200 / 2720 / 2400 / 2060

Clock Up EX:
Cast Time: 1400 / 840 / 466 / 70
Total Time: 3400 / 2840 / 2466 / 2070

White Gehenna, Death Scream:
Cast Time: 2000 / 1200 / 666 / 100
Total Time: 4000 / 3200 / 2666 / 2100

Abyss Fall:
Cast Time: 2500 / 1500 / 833 / 125
Total Time: 4500 / 3500 / 2833 / 2125



Space Arts:

Dark Matter:
Cast Time: 1500 / 900 / 500 / 75
Delay After: 2500
Total Time: 4000 / 3400 / 3000 / 2575

Lost Mobius:
Cast Time: 2000 / 1200 / 666 / 100
Delay After: 2500
Total Time: 4500 / 3700 / 3166 / 2600

A-Crest:
Cast Time: 1000 / 600 / 333 / 50
Delay after: 2000
Total Time: 3000 / 2600 / 2333 / 2050



Mirage Arts:

Chaos Brand:
Cast Time: 1000 / 600 / 333 / 50
Delay after: 2000
Total Time: 3000 / 2600 / 2333 / 2050

Phantom Pain:
Cast Time: 1100 / 660 / 366 / 55
Delay After: 2000
Total Time: 3100 / 2660 / 2366 / 2055

Saint:
Cast Time: 1200 / 720 / 400 / 60
Delay after: 2000
Total Time: 3200 / 2720 / 2400 / 2060

Silent Cross:
Cast Time: 800 / 480 / 266 / 40
Delay After: 2500
Total Time: 3300 / 2980 / 2766 / 2540

Zodiac:
Cast Time: 1500 / 900 / 500 / 75
Delay after: 2000
Total Time: 3500 / 2900 / 2500 / 2075

Silver Thorn:
Cast Time: 1300 / 780 / 433 / 65
Delay After: 3000
Total Time: 4300 / 3780 / 3433 / 3065

Character Section (spoiler warning)

This section will cover all of the character Crafts in the game for all playable characters. Because of this there will be at least minor spoilers within so fair warning.

This will be done in the order in which you obtain characters in game as to minimize potential spoilers as well as making it easier to sift through.

Note: Using S breaks does NOT increase the Delay of the S craft at all and your character will get their turn however much Delay the S craft has later. It is therefore possible to use a high Delay Craft then immediately S break a lower Delay S craft to end up with slightly less Delay than simply using that long Delay Craft.

An example of the above would be if you used Agate's Spiral Edge (4000 Delay) then immediately did an S Break with Beat Down (3500 Delay). This would result in Agate simply having 3500 Delay instead of 4000.


With that out of the way here we go:


Estelle Crafts:

Morale:
Buff duration: 300
Delay: 3000

Taunt:
Taunt Duration: 300
Delay: 2500

Hurricane:
STR Modifier: -50
Delay: 3000

True Hurricane:
STR Modifier: -30
Delay: 2200

Comet:
STR Modifier: +20
Delay: 3000

True Comet:
STR Modifier: +66
Delay: 2400

Hard Break:
STR Modifier: +30
Delay: 3000

True Hard Break:
STR Modifier: +100
Delay: 2200

S Crafts:

Pummel:
Delay: 3500

Barrage:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 360~
Delay: 4000

True Pummel:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 810~
Delay: 3500

True Barrage:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 1200-1400~
Delay: 4000

Wheel of Time:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 1800-2200~
Delay: 3500



Anelace Crafts:

Eight Leaf Blitz:
STR Modifier: +80
Delay: 2800

Swordwind Slash: (it's a basic attack but in an area)
STR Modifier: +0
Delay: 3000

Fallen Leaves:
STR Modifier: +0
Delay: 3000
AT Delay inflicted: 2500 (this then divides by the enemy speed)

Petal Dance:
Buff/Debuff duration: 350~
Delay: 2500

S Crafts:

Piercing Wave:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 150~
Delay: 3000

True Piercing Wave:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 750
Delay: 3500



Scherazard Crafts:

Sylphen Whip:
STR Modifier: +10
Delay: 3000

Sylphen Whip 2:
STR Modifier: +33
Delay: 3000

Bind Whip:
STR Modifier: +20
Delay: 3000

Bind Whip 2:
STR Modifier: +100
Delay: 3000

Heaven's Kiss:
Delay: 3000


S Crafts:

Sadist Whip:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 270~
Delay: 3500

Sadist Whip 2:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 720~
Delay: 3500

Judgement Card:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 1200~
Delay: 4500



Agate Crafts:

Wild Rage 2:
Delay: 3000
Note: Yes Agate can die from using this.

Flame Smash:
STR Modifier: +10
Delay: 3000
Pushback +3

Flame Smash 2:
STR Modifier: +25
Delay: 3000
Pushback+3

Draguna Edge:
STR Modifier: +20
Delay: 4000

Draguna Edge 2:
STR Modifier: +57
Delay: 3800

Spiral Edge:
STR Modifier: +30
Delay: 4000
AT Delay inflicted: 3000 (this then divides by the enemy speed like normal base Delay)

Spiral Edge 2:
STR Modifier: +90
Delay: 4000
AT Delay inflicted: 3000 (this then divides by the enemy speed like normal base Delay)

S Crafts:
Beat Down:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 0
Delay: 3500

Final Break:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 270~
Delay: 4000

Beat Down 2:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 1300~
Delay: 3500

Final Break 2:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 1100~
Delay: 4000

Dragon Dive:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 1600~
Delay: 4200



Kevin Crafts:

Crossgear Rage:
STR Modifier: +80
Delay: 2800

Sacrifice Arrow:
Delay: 3200
Note: Earth Guard/Earth Wall being active will stop the pushback from this Craft without consuming the guard.

Sacred Breath:
Delay: 2600

S Craft:

Grail Sphere:
Delay: 3500
Note: Blocks once at 100 Craft Points and twice if used at the full 200.



Olivier Crafts:

Quick Draw:
STR Modifier: +0
Delay: 3000

Quick Draw 2:
STR Modifier: +0
Delay: 3200
Note: slightly larger attack area than Quick Draw.

Sniper Shot:
STR Modifier: +20
Delay: 3000

Sniper Shot 2:
STR Modifier: +60
Delay: 3000

Happy Trigger:
Delay: 2000

Happy Trigger 2:
Delay: 2000


S Crafts:

Howling Bullet:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 0
Delay: 3500

Howling Bullet 2:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 510~
Delay: 3500

Requiem Hearts:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 1170~
Delay: 4000



Kloe Crafts:

Sturm:
STR Modifier: +20
Delay: 3000

Sturm 2:
STR Modifier: +70
Delay: 2800


Kaempfer (Sieg):
Delay: 3000

Kaempfer 2 (Sieg)
Delay: 3200
Debuff duration: 150

S Crafts:

Lichtkreis:
Delay: 3000

Lichtkreis 2:
Delay: 3000
Buff duration at 200 Craft Points: 200

Sanctus Nova:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 570~
Delay: 3000



Tita Crafts:

Note: Tita's normal Crafts will have a smaller or larger attack radius based on the attack radius of her equipped weapon.
Note: Tita's range also effects the range of her normal Crafts.

Smoke Cannon
STR Modifier: +10
Delay: 3000

Smoke Cannon 2:
STR Modifier: +43
Delay: 3000
Blind Duration: 450

Vital Cannon:
Delay: 3000

Vital Cannon 2:
Delay: 2700


S Crafts:

Cannon Impulse:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 0
Delay: 3500

Cannon Impulse 2:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 570~
Delay: 3500

Cannon Impulse F:
Delay: 3500

Satellite Beam:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 1160~
Delay: 4000



Zin Crafts:

Taunt:
Delay: 2500
Taunt Duration: 300
Note: This taunt targets the entire arena unlike the other taunt users in the game.

Distend:
Buff duration: 850~
Delay: 2200

True Distend:
Buff duration: 750
Delay: 2400
Note: This Craft is incredible.

Composure:
Delay: 3000

True Composure:
Delay: 3000

Smite:
STR Modifier: +30
Delay: 3000
Confuse Duration: 250

True Smite:
STR Modifier: +130
Delay: 3000
Confuse Duration: 250

Thunder God Kick:
STR Modifier: +100
Delay: 3000

Bug: This Craft hits as many times as the number of enemies hit by it making it potentially do immense damage.

S Crafts:

Disable:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 0
Delay: 3500

Aural Blast:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 270~
Delay: 4000

True Disable:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 420~
Delay: 3500

True Aural Blast:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 900~
Delay: 4000

Wrath of Genbu:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 1600~
Delay: 4000

Character Section part 2 (spoiler warning)

Julia Crafts:

Lanzenreiter:
STR Modifier: +150
Delay: 3000

Mirageberg:
Delay: 2800

Trinity Kleis:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 900~
Delay: 3000



Joshua Crafts:

Taunt: (it's the same as Estelle's)
Delay: 2500
Taunt Duration: 300

True Dual Strike:
STR Modifier: -20
Delay: 2500

True Flicker:
STR Modifier: +95
Delay: 3000
AT Delay Inflicted: 2200

True Cloak and Dagger:
STR Modifier: +105
Delay: 2000

Evil Eye:
STR Modifier: +20
Delay: 4000

Evil Eye EX:
STR Modifier: +95
Delay: 3500
AT Delay Inflicted: 2600

S Crafts:

Black Fang:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 180~
Delay: 4000

True Sever:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 810
Delay: 7000

Yes you're reading that right: It has 7000 Delay. It's probably some dev oversight. Avoid using this for that reason.

True Black Fang:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 1050~
Delay: 7000

Again 7000 Delay. Use wisely.

Phantom Raid:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 1800~
Delay: 4000



Kurt Crafts:

Fangshu: Steel
Delay: 2800

Fangshu: Whitecaps
Delay: 3000

Fangshu: Renewal
Delay: 3200

Fangshu: Illusion
Delay: 3000
Note: ATS based and same damage and effect as the Shadow Spear art.

Sunset Arts:
STR Modifier: +50~
Delay: 2500

S Craft:
Summon Lightning:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 750~
Delay: 3000



Josette Crafts:

Stampede:
STR Modifier: +0
Delay: 3000
Debuff duration: 300
Note: This is twice the duration of Sieg's debuff.

Anchor Flail:
STR Modifier: +0
Delay: 3000
Faint duration: 200
Note: This is a really strong Faint duration with 100% Faint chance. Very useful against anything not immune to Faint.

S Craft:
Bobcat:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 720~
Delay: 3000



Mueller Crafts:

Ragna Bind:
STR Modifier: +0
Delay: 2500
Faint Duration: 100

Hound Gale:
STR Modifier: +0
Delay: 3000
Basically a more expensive version of Anelace's Swordwind Slash.

Blade Dancer:
STR Modifier: 150
Delay: 3500

Mirage Edge:
Delay: 3500
Mute Duration: 200

S Craft:
Righteous Witness:
Approx extra damage over Pummel: 1500~
Delay: 3500

[Focus]

@mashenshi I have the data but I'll go ahead and make one of these guides for 3rd right now. Look forward to it within a few hours.

[mocha]

Thanks for the guide.

Do you have craft delay data for Sky 3rd?