Despite playing like a throwback to the first two Star Ocean games, Star Ocean: The Divine Force has a complex approach to leveling up that does away with the simplicity of its predecessors, giving players more flexibility in this sixth entry. Each character has skills and abilities that need to be unlocked using Skill Points or SP.
The choice is vast, and getting characters where they need to be can take time and cost a lot of SP. The party will gain SP in Star Ocean: The Divine Force by leveling up after fighting and completing quests. However. SP only spent in Star Ocean 6's Skill Tree to gain new abilities and stat buffs.
Ways To Get SP
There are several ways the party can increase their chances of gaining more SP to level up their characters. Gaining SP, leveling, up, and upgrading the Skill Tree is time-consuming, but the methods used here will still give the player's party a better chance of increasing the SP more efficiently.
Equip Pawn Accessories
It wouldn't be a JRPG if Star Ocean: The Divine Force didn't have some kind of mini-game for players to participate. Es'owa is the mini-game of choice for Raymond and the party. Playing and winning these board games will reward the party with new pawn pieces used in future games. There are special pawns that represent characters from Star Ocean 6's predecessors. Equipping these pawns in the accessory slot will benefit the party with stat boosts and other advantages. Win enough games, and the party will get rewarded with several Ted and Faize pawns. Equipping a Ted pawn will gain 125% EXP, and a Faize will provide its wearer with a 135% EXP boost.
Unlock Determined Princess
In Star Ocean 6, the player will have access to the Skill Tree, which can improve the party's chances of gaining new items, getting strong, and improving the amount of EXP the party will gain. The first and best method to increase the party's SP is by unlocking the Determined Princess slot on Laeticia's Skill Tree.
At Level 1, the Determined Princess Skill will increase the party's EXP by 135%. The downside is that skill will decrease Laeticia's GUTS and DEF by -50%. However, there is plenty of GUTS and DEF Boosts on the Skill Tree to counter this. It's better to swap out Laeticia for one of the other characters in the meantime. At the max level, the Determined Princess skill will increase the party's EXP gain by 200%.
Combining a maxed-out Determined Princess and having every party member equipped with a Ted or Faize pawn will see the party level up every few battles in Star Ocean 6. Every time the party levels up, they can distribute more SP into their Skill Tree.
Battle Bonuses
Star Ocean: The Divine Force's battle system allows players to hit their enemies with surprise attacks. Initiating a surprise attack will provide the party with a battle bonus that will increase the amount of EXP and Fol earned after defeating an enemy. To surprise an enemy, the player needs to hit their enemy with Star Ocean 6's DUMAS attack for extra damage and speed.
Star Ocean: The Divine Force is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.