“Combat Link” is a system that offers various benefits during battle by setting two party members to “link” together. As its main effect, when you attack the enemy and make them lose their balance, you can perform an additional attack in the form of a “Link Attack.” Each party member has different attack attributes, and by hitting the enemy with their weakness, you can make them lose balance. There are also Link Abilities to assist linked partners.
Losing Balance
Attacking with a weapon attribute that matches the enemy’s weakness will result in the enemy “losing balance,” which has a fixed chance of occurring when the attack lands.
Link Attack
Immediately following an enemy losing their posture, you can trigger various derivative attacks such as “Pursuit,” “Rush,” and “Burst” by pressing the button within the time limit. Pursuit can be selected at any time, but Rush and Burst can only be triggered when your BP is above a certain amount. Rush and Burst have a cost, but are excellent in power and attack range, so be sure to make active use of them against strong enemies.
—Pursuit
Linked party members will automatically pursue the enemy that lost its balance.
—Rush
A cooperative attack by two linked party members. While Rush increases the number of attacks performed, it also throws enemies within a certain range of the targeted enemy into the attack. Rush attacks only consumes a small amount of BP, so they are beneficial in that you can use it easily.
—Burst
A powerful attack in which all four party members attack every enemy at once. You can trigger this action when your BP is above a certain amount. Since many bosses often have a number of small-fry enemies that accompany them, this ability should prove useful in those times.
Attack Affinities
Slash – An affinity unleashed through swords, daggers, axes, and such. It is effective against plant-type and soft-bodied enemies.
Pierce – An affinity that pierces through vital areas with sharp weapons such as the point of a sword. It is effective against large beasts and fish-type enemies.
Thrust – An affinity that shoots at enemies with guns, bow and arrows, and such. It is effective against seizing fast-moving enemies, and piercing the weaknesses of flying- and insect-type enemies.
Strike – An affinity that specializes in shocking enemies through hits and attacks. It is effective against insects with hard shells and large beasts.
Equippable weapons and attack affinities are fixed for each character. Their suitability for each affinity is rated in five stages: SS > S > A > B > C. Some party members aren’t suited to a single attribute, while others aren’t suited to multiple. Also, Juna Crawford has the ability to switch between Gunner and Striker modes, so her attack affinity is different for each mode.
Rean
Altina
Kurt
Juna
Musse
Ash
Gunner
Striker
Slash
SS
B
A
—
—
C
A
Pierce
—
—
S
—
A
C
A
Thrust
—
—
—
S
—
S
—
Strike
—
S
—
—
A
C
A
■ Field Attacks
By pressing the attack button on the field, you can perform a “Field Attack.” By using this and attacking enemy symbols, you can start the battle with advantageous effects such as “Double Advantage” or “Triple Advantage.”
In the field, you can change the character you’re currently controlling. Depending on who uses a Field Attack, the reach and attack sped will also change. Choose which character to use based on your distance from the enemy symbol and their speed of movement.
Assault Attacks
AP will accumulate after a certain amount of time passes on the field, or when you destroy objects. By spending AP, you can use an “Assault Attack” that will guarantee a Triple Advantage when attacking enemy symbols.
Breaking Objects
Additionally, you can use the attack button to destroy objects on the fields. In addition to obtaining IP, you can also restore the entire party’s CP, find items within them, or use the feature for mechanics in the dungeons.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III is due out for PlayStation 4 on September 28 in Japan.
