The New Genesis update of Phantasy Star Online 2 offers a completely revamped experience for new and seasoned players alike. This update to the hit Phantasy Star MMO boasts a massive upgrade to visuals and more dynamic gameplay — a welcome change in today's action-driven MMO space. Befitting this change, the update involves a complete change of scenery, with New Genesis set 1,000 years after the Oracle's journey in PSO2.
Although New Genesis runs concurrently with PSO2, the new setting may tempt both franchise newcomers and long-time fans. Despite the overwhelming nature of the update's opening hours, it's easy to get fully immersed with its new offerings.
10 Get Through The Tutorial
When new players enter New Genesis, they might notice the absurd lack of things they can access. Opening the menu, they won't be able to access System Settings, Personal Settings, Sub-Palettes, and Gear, among other things. This situation stems from the fact that players need to finish the tutorial in the Aelio Town Ruins. Sadly, the Tutorial is a requirement for everyone, regardless of PSO2 experience.
The Tutorial should give players a basic grasp of everything they need to know when navigating the world of New Genesis. Players know they're done with the tutorial once they head to Central City.
9 Unlock Base Features Through The Main Quest
Upon reaching Central City, players might notice a surprising lack of fellow players in the area. This situation once again is a result of more "tutorial" missions for players to accomplish. Thankfully for players, all of these advanced tutorials become integrated within the Main Quest. Once players complete certain Main Quests, they unlock other essential features in the game.
Whereas the main Tutorial unlocks base features of the game, the Main Quest will begin unlocking integral growth features. These include unlocking Subclasses, as well Daily and Weekly Quests — both of which are key to advance to higher levels.
8 Get Better Weapons Early Through Class Trainers
Once players complete the current slate of Main Quests and Side Quests, they might start noticing new Quests locked behind Combat Levels. A new feature in New Genesis, Combat Power approximates a character's combat competency based on their Level, Skill Points, and especially Gear. In Central City, the Main Storyline will usually stop players on their tracks with a quest that requires them to gain 950 Combat Power.
One step players can do to achieve this is to finish the quests of Class Trainers, located behind the Ryuker Stones/Devices when teleporting to Central City. Their Quests should give players access to Tier-2 Weapons, which are significantly more powerful early-game weapons.
7 Take Note Of Dailies, Weeklies
By the time players complete the current slate of Main Quests, they gain access to a more updated Task List. Aside from the Main and Side Quests, they now get access to Daily and Weekly Tasks, as well as Limited Time Tasks. Players should pay particular attention to Dailies and Weeklies, as they function precisely like their counterparts in other MMOs.
Accomplishing Dailies and Weeklies will net rewards, especially N-Masetta. The latter, in particular, remains an essential part of the grinding process since players need them to purchase and enhance better gear. As with other MMOs, it's recommended that players take on both Dailies and Weeklies at the same time within a zone.
6 Grind Early In Mt. Magnus
While multiple combat locations exist near Central City, it's Mt. Magnus that perhaps serves as the most practical choice for grinding. Aside from its location just southeast of Central City, the mobs there also drop Tier-2 and Tier-3 Weapons. The approach in Mt. Magnus should be the following:
- Time it with the Tasks. Players should ideally head to Mount Magnus when their Dailies and Weeklies align with more combat-intensive stuff. This is particularly useful with quests that need PSE Bursts, since Mt. Magnus is one of the few areas that allow PSE Bursts to occur.
- Get better Gear. As mentioned, mobs in Mount Magnus yield higher probability to drop Tier-2 and Tier-3 weapons. Ideally, newcomers should grind until they get a set of Tier-3 Weapons they like.
- Grind to Level 10. Coinciding with their Task farming, players should use Mt. Magnus as a stepping stone for their leveling process. By the time they reach Level 10 in their Main Class, leveling will drop significantly. To counteract this, players can switch Subclass into their Main Class to enjoy the benefits until they hit Level 10 with that Class.
5 Start Enhancing The Best Gear So Far
By the time players hit Level 10 at Mt. Magnus, they will have gathered a ton of Gear in their inventory. Of course, players can sell unwanted items on the fly by highlighting them and converting them to cash via right-click. However, early grinders might want to return to Central City and use unwanted Gear to enhance rarer weapons instead.
Players can do this by talking to Larona, the Item Lab Enhancement Technician. When they open the Enhancement Menu, players can select up to five items to convert into Enhancement EXP that can potentially level-up a desired Gear.
- Enhancement Cost: The process costs N-Masetta and N-Grinders, so players should only Enhance the Gear they like the most.
- Enhance Attack: When a Weapon is Enhanced, it gains higher Attack depending on the levels gained in the process.
- Raises Combat Power: Enhanced Gear can raise the player's Combat Power once equipped.
4 Complete Cocoons & Tower Whenever Possible
Players who explore the massive open world of New Genesis will encounter various structures in the map. They should try to interact with these objects as often as possible, as they unlock special waypoints and fast-travel options in the world map. Among these are Cocoons and Towers, which are important for character progression. Here's a brief overview of these locations.
- Ryuker Devices: These pillars with glowing green light on top serve as waypoints that give players access to fast travel across the region.
- Cocoons: These hexagonal structures are special locations where players complete combat and gameplay challenges in exchange for Class Skill Points. Some Tasks will need players to accomplish Cocoon challenges, while players can look for more Cocoons as they explore the map.
- Towers: These structures serve as tougher versions of Cocoons. Due to their difficulty, they give 4 Skill Points after a first clear.
3 Secure Skill Points
When players finish Cocoons and Towers, they can obtain a ton of Skill Points. They can use these to progress through their Class Skill Trees, which gives them access to more features for their Class. Players who get Skill Points should try spending them as soon as they find a build ideal for their character, particularly on Photon Arts and Technics, and other combat interactions.
Remember, Combat Power relies on a player's progression through a Skill Tree. Thankfully, New Genesis does allow players to spend the same Skill Point total across all Classes. Theoretically, a player can unlock advanced Skills in a Class even if they haven't leveled up that Class, making grinding much easier.
2 Take Care Of Regional Mags
Players who boot New Genesis for the first time will get a free Mag, the iconic Pet of the series that can evolve and give characters various benefits. However, New Genesis also introduces Regional Mags. These are essentially larger Mags that "oversee" the growth of various Regions. Regional Mags act like most other Mags — they need good ol' TLC.
When players feed Regional Mags, they can trigger a buff that can affect them throughout the region. For instance, the South Aeolin Mag offers players a 10% EXP Gain buff when fed. Capitalize on buffs to make the most out of grinding sessions.
1 Get The Exclusive Boxes
Being a full open world, New Genesis offers players a ton of reasons to explore the world map. Aside from the stunning views and the stunning visuals, players can also find random Boxes scattered around the game world. As the in-game text throughout the Tutorial will explain, these Boxes contain special rewards to players who break them. However, players should take note of the following:
- Green Boxes: These Boxes contain various mid-tier rewards and respawn often.
- Gold Boxes: These Boxes are much rarer, and contain special rewards. These also respawn.
- Red Boxes: These Boxes are the rarest to find, containing awesome rewards. Guides exist that give their approximate locations. However, players should be careful as Red Boxes don't respawn once activated. Moreover, they're account-bound, so only one character can open a particular Red Box. Their rewards are worth it, though, ranging from Armor Pieces to Star Platinum (a premium currency).