Story mission subplots

SPOILER WARNING! This article contains plot-related information which can be considered spoiler material. Continue reading at your own risk!

Various subplots are available in Episode 3, all of which are dependent upon the choices you make as the story progresses. Introduced with the fourth chapter, Farewell to Mother, these subplots can be accessed by clearing this mission and then replaying previous chapters. Upon going back to previous story missions (and provided that the required criteria are met, including having completed all of Episode 2), new event sequences and choices will be presented to you. Please note that the following section does contain story-related spoilers. Continue reading at your own risk!

Despair and Hope

Requirements

• Clear all Episode 2 story missions.
• Clear Farewell to Mother.
• Clear Despair and Hope 1 with a grade of S.

New event

• Following the end of the trial in Despair and Hope 1, your party will come across a deactivated Lou unit in the debris of Old Rozenom City.
• Note that you do not have to complete Despair and Hope 2 in order to fulfill the requirement for Farewell to Mother. You are free to return to GUARDIANS HQ after clearing only the first act.

Restorations

Requirements

• Clear all Episode 2 story missions.
• Defeat Alfort Tylor in Restorations 1.

New event

• Alfort Tylor will present you with his partner card following the ending sequence of Restorations 2.

Will of Light

Requirements

• Clear all Episode 2 story missions.
• Clear Ambition's End.
• Clear Will of Light 2 with a grade of S.

New event

• Following the end of the trial in Will of Light 2, a new event sequence featuring a discussion between Ethan and Lumia will play.

Farewell to Mother

Requirements

• Watch the new event (discovery of the deactivated Lou unit) that follows Despair and Hope 1.
• Clear Farewell to Mother 1 with a grade of S.

New event

• A change in the event that occurs before Farewell to Mother 2 will add the choice to take Lou with you in the second act.

Ambition's End

Requirements

• Watch the new event (conversation between Ethan and Lumia) that follows the trial of Will of Light 2.
• Clear Farewell to Mother 2 after taking Lou with you on the mission.
• Defeat Howzer at the end of Ambition's End 2.

New event

• The ending event of this chapter will change. Depending upon the grade you receive in this trial, there will be even more changes to this event.

Photon Harvest

Subplot 1

Requirements

• Watch the new event (conversation between Ethan and Lumia) that follows the trial of Will of Light 2.
• Clear Photon Harvest 1 with a grade of S.

New event

• At the end of Photon Harvest 1's trial, a new option, "Stay up listening", will appear. Select this to view a new event featuring a conversation between Ethan and Karen. After clearing Photon Harvest 2, Karen Erra will present you with her partner card.

Subplot 2

Requirements

• Watch the first subplot of Photon Harvest.
• Clear Road to Rykros.

New event

• Before the trial of Photon Harvest 2 begins, an additional choice will be added to the event sequence. Select "Tell them what happened" and the content of their conversation will change.
• In the next sequence, select "Go with Hyuga and Maya" to have them join you for the trial.
• After completing these requirements, a new conversation will be added before the trial of A Brighter Day 1.

Road to Rykros

Subplot 1

Requirements

• Clear all Episode 2 story missions.
• Clear Road to Rykros 1 with a grade of S.

New event

• After completing the trial of Road to Rykros 1, an event featuring a conversation between Tonnio and Liina will occur. Complete Road to Rykros 2 and Liina will present you with her partner card.

Subplot 2

Requirements

• Clear all Episode 2 story missions.
• View the subplot for Ambition's End.
• Clear A Brighter Day.

New event

• Additional choices will become available in the event before beginning the trial of Road to Rykros 2.
• Select "She should stay with the doctor" and additional scenes involving Lumia and Dr. Tomrain will be added throughout the act. An extended sequence at the end of the mission will be added as well.
• This specific choice will alter A Brighter Day and significantly change what subplots are available to you for that mission! You will need to repeat this mission if you wish to change it back.

A Brighter Day

Subplot 1

Requirements

• Clear all Episode 2 story missions.
• Clear A Brighter Day.
• To be able to obtain the Vol Bros.' partner cards, Lumia must have returned to the GUARDIANS Colony to assist Lou in your previous run of Road to Rykros. If you replayed Road to Rykros and directed her to stay and guard the professor instead, you must repeat Road to Rykros yet again and choose the correct option.

New event

• Before the trial of A Brighter Day 1, a new option will be added to the team formation scene. Select "The Vol Bros. and I will go to area A," and the Vol Bros. will accompany you on the trial. Complete A Brighter Day 2 and you will receive the partner cards for Hiru Vol, No Vol, and Do Vol.
• Note that you can trigger these scenes regardless of the status of Road to Rykros, but you will only receive partner cards if Lumia returned to the GUARDIANS Colony.

Subplot 2

Requirements

• Receive Alfort Tylor's partner card at the end of Restorations 2.
• View the subplot for Ambition's End.
• Watch both subplots added to Photon Harvest.
• Clear A Brighter Day.
• To be able to complete this subplot, Lumia must have returned to the GUARDIANS Colony to assist Lou in your previous run of Road to Rykros. If you replayed Road to Rykros and directed her to stay and guard the professor instead, you must repeat Road to Rykros yet again and choose the correct option.

New event

• After completing the trial of A Brighter Day 2, a battle against Howzer and Dark Falz (first form) will be added.
• Orson Waber will give you his partner card after completing the mission.
• You can complete both Subplots 1 and 2 simultaneously and receive the three Vol Brothers' and Orson Waber's partner cards all at once.

Subplot 3

Requirements

• Replay Road to Rykros 2 and complete the second subplot, directing Lumia to stay and guard the professor.
• If you have already triggered and completed the fourth subplot on a subsequent replay of this mission, you must not give Lou permission to accompany you to Rykros in the scene before the trial of A Brighter Day 1. (This choice is not available to you on your first playthrough of this subplot.)

New event

• Before the trial of A Brighter Day 1, the existing scenes will be altered slightly.
• After completing the trial of A Brighter Day 2, the mission will be significantly different from previous subplots.
• Following the final battle against Dark Falz, a new ending with Lumia's rescue sequence will be presented.
• If Orson Waber is still alive at this point (Ambition's End subplot), a scene involving a conversation between you and Lumia at GUARDIANS HQ will be added following the staff roll.

Subplot 4

Requirements

• Play Innocent Girl until the special event sequence involving Vivienne's memory occurs.
• Clear The Magashi Plan with a grade of S.
• Clear the third subplot of A Brighter Day 2.
• In your most recent playthrough of Road to Rykros, you must have directed Lumia to stay and guard Professor Tomrain. If you replayed Road to Rykros and directed her to return to the GUARDIANS Colony instead, you must repeat Road to Rykros yet again and choose the correct option.

New event

• Before the trial of A Brighter Day 1, a new scene with Lou will appear following the briefing with Laia. Grant Lou permission to go to Rykros. (Denying her permission will trigger Subplot 3 instead.)
• After the trial of A Brighter Day 2, following the scene with Howzer and Lumia, you will encounter Lou rather than Ethan and Karen again. New scenes will follow.
• The conversation with Lou at headquarters after the staff roll will change with subsequent play of this mission.
• Complete A Brighter Day 2 and Renvolt Magashi will present you with his partner card.