metaphor refantazio archetypes

Best Archetypes - Metaphor: ReFantazio Guide

By HYTE
May 9, 2025

Best Archetypes - Metaphor: ReFantazio Guide

In Metaphor: ReFantazio, archetypes let you tap into the powers of legendary heroes and kings—basically turning you into a total powerhouse. They boost your abilities, change how you fight, and open up new playstyles.

This guide breaks down the Metaphor: ReFantazio best archetypes you can actually use throughout most of the game—so you’ll know which paths to focus on while climbing your way through Akademeia. Sure, the Royal Archetypes are top-tier, but unlocking them takes serious time. That’s why we’re sticking to Metaphor: ReFantazio archetypes you can grab early and start dominating with.

Metaphor: ReFantazio Archetypes: The Basics

With all their power and influence over your success in the game, choosing the Metaphor: ReFantazio archetypes helps build a strong team and develop an effective strategy. There are 14 Origin Archetypes, and they expand into full trees and lineages, eventually totaling 46 archetypes.

How the Metaphor: ReFantazio Archetypes Work

Archetypes are the game's class system, defining a character's skills, abilities, and playstyle. You can freely switch a party member's archetype outside combat to experiment with different team compositions and strategies as you progress. Strategically combining archetypes can unlock powerful synthesis attacks that capitalize on elemental weaknesses and status effects.

The Metaphor: ReFantazio archetypes are unlocked through story progression, building relationships with followers, and leveling up previous archetypes within a lineage. Each follower is tied to specific archetype lineages, and leveling an archetype increases the character’s skill pool and unlocks new abilities.

Archetypes are divided into several broad categories:

  • Physical
  • Magical
  • Hybrid
  • Support

Royal Archetypes require leveling multiple archetypes within a lineage and meeting other conditions. Early on in Metaphor: ReFantazio, all the archetypes players will encounter are:

  • Seeker
  • Healer
  • Mage
  • Merchant
  • Gunner

So you'll have a bunch of options for support, damage, and utilities, even at the beginning of the game.

Archetype and Party Building

Building a strong party is about balancing offense, defense, and support. Good team synergy comes from:

  • Combining different elemental affinities to cover enemy weaknesses.
  • Mixing archetypes that create effective synthesis attacks.
  • Assigning roles based on mission needs.

Customizing roles for different missions and switching archetypes when needed is the best way to succeed.

Metaphor: ReFantazio Best Archetypes for Beginners

If you're new to Metaphor: ReFantazio, these archetypes work best when learning the ropes without getting overwhelmed.

  • Warrior: Specializes in physical Slash attacks, focusing on single-target sword strikes. Warriors have strong Strength stats but weak magical defense.
  • Mage: The Mage archetype is the best at exploiting elemental weaknesses, like learning Fire, Ice, and Electric spells. While fragile, the Mage is a significant damage dealer and contributor to synthesis combos. Mage and Warrior are automatically unlocked through Gallica on June 6 after the Nord Mines fight.
  • Knight: The Knight archetype specializes in defense, drawing enemy attention, and protecting teammates. Although not a major damage dealer, the Knight shines by setting up synthesis attacks that weaken enemy resistance. Knight is unlocked on June 11 after you leave the mausoleum for the first time.

Each of these Metaphor: ReFantazio archetypes teach core mechanics like targeting weaknesses, positioning, and team synergy, which is why beginners should start with these.

Top Metaphor: ReFantazio Archetypes for Advanced Combat

For players looking to master the more intense side of Metaphor: ReFantazio, here are the best archetypes for doing just that:

  • Assassin: Assassins focus on speed, stealth, and critical hit damage. They can finish battles quickly by striking first and exploiting enemy weaknesses.
  • Dragoon: Dragoons specialize in high-risk, high-reward aerial attacks, delivering devastating blows from above.
  • Sage: Sages can both heal and cripple enemies, making them extremely valuable in drawn-out battles.
  • Devil Summoner: Offers powerful summons for overwhelming damage.
  • Persona Master: Allows manipulation of resistances and weaknesses for tactical advantage.
  • Trickster: Focuses on disrupting enemy actions and forcing them into mistakes.

Some of the other strong Metaphor: ReFantazio archetypes to look out for include Royal Knight (for tanking), Masked Dancer (for versatility), Gunner (for ranged attacks), and Healer (for survivability).

Best Archetypes for Support Roles

Support roles are crucial in tougher missions, so here are some of Metaphor: ReFantazio’s best archetypes for support:

  • Cleric: Keeps your team healthy, removes debuffs, and makes fights manageable.
  • Oracle: Enhance allies with stat boosts and predict enemy movements, allowing better preparation.
  • Healer: Solid healing and light magic attacks.
  • Commander: Buffs party members and boosts damage output.
  • Merchant: Increases party wealth and brings useful skills like Gold Attack.
  • Seeker: Provides defensive and healing skills.
  • Summoner: Supports by calling magical beasts.
  • Faker: Lowers enemy stats and improves status resistance.
  • Masked Dancer: Offers a blend of offense and support with mobility boosts.

Some other powerful support combinations include pairing Healer with Commander or Merchant with Seeker to create flexible, durable teams.

Metaphor: ReFantazio: Best Archetypes for Each Character

Even though each character has a Royal Archetype that’s best for them, like how the Protagonist is the Prince, we’re going to focus on the Origin Archetypes you can use throughout the game. Whether you want a tanky frontline or a spell-slinging support unit, here’s Metaphor: ReFantazio’s best archetypes for each character

  • Protagonist: The Protagonist's flexibility makes them ideal for Seeker, who balances offense and utility, or Mystic, who taps into powerful support and AoE spells.
  • Gallica: Gallica thrives as a magic-focused character, making her your go-to for magical offense or support. The Mage Archetype unlocks high-damage elemental spells, while Oracle boosts healing and status infliction.
  • Hulkenberg: As the tank and protector, Hulkenberg works best with Commander for better aggro control and defensive boosts, or Sentinel, which provides shields and sustain skills ideal for frontline survival.
  • Heismay: Heismay’s is perfect for Trickster, offering evasion and debuff tools, or Gunner, which unleashes high-speed ranged attacks that chip away at enemies from a safe distance.
  • Neuras: With a focus on support and strategy, Neuras excel as a Bard, boosting party stats and morale through musical magic, or as a Sage, combining healing and high-level spellcasting for versatile backline coverage.
  • Moreau: Moreau’s balanced stats shine with Warrior (ideal for melee aggression) or Warden to add a touch of defense without sacrificing offense.
  • Strohl: Strohl has strong 1v1 potential, making Duelist great for critical hits and fast strikes. If you want him to be more balanced, Paladin gives him healing abilities and defense, perfect for a frontline role with a holy flair.
  • Grelle: Grelle’s burst damage potential thrives with Assassin, which prioritizes stealth and deadly crits. Witch also works well for her, giving her access to dark magic and curses.

The Metaphor: ReFantazio archetypes define your combat identity and unlock new ways to interact with the world. Matching the right Archetype to each character ensures you can handle any situation, from boss battles to strategic puzzles. As the game evolves, don’t be afraid to play around with which combinations best suit your playstyle.

Metaphor: ReFantazio Late-Game Archetypes

Late in the game, powerful Metaphor: ReFantazio archetypes become available, drastically improving your options:

  • Archmage: Dominates with high-tier magic attacks.
  • Darkblade: Blends speed and magic for aggressive damage dealing.
  • Paladin: Offers incredible durability and support.

You can prepare for late-game Metaphor: ReFantazio archetypes by leveling up base archetypes early, focusing on follower bonds, and grinding for MAG and the required materials.

Playing Metaphor: ReFantazio

Metaphor: ReFantazio’s best archetypes offer a balance between power, versatility, and team synergy. By mastering archetypes like Warrior, Mage, Knight, Assassin, Cleric, and Sage, you'll be well-prepared to take on the world of Akademeia Kingdom of Euchronia and beyond.

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