The gameplay ofScarlet Nexusis something a lot of players will have to get used to. As they play along with the game, however, they will slowly but surely get the hang of it, making them fully experience the beauty ofthe game’s combat mechanics. While this is the case for most, there will still be a handful of things many players will get wrong.
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Even thoughScarlet Nexusisn’t necessarily the most difficult game out there, it can have its challenging moments. If the player wants to overcome those trials, they’ll need to be at the top of their game, and one way to do that is by avoiding these mistakes while playingScarlet Nexus. On top of that, there are also minute details a handful of players will do while playing this game that will slightly decrease thelevel of immersion.
Updated June 23, 2025 by Mark Sammut:Bandai Namco’s Scarlet Nexus is currently available on Xbox Game Pass, and the2021 title should not be missed by fans of action JRPGs. Packed with plenty of main and side content, Scarlet Nexus will keep players busy for at least 25 hours, and that is only if they play through the campaign with just one of the two protagonists. For the full experience, the JRPG requires more than 50 hours. That is a lot of time to dedicate to any game, but Scarlet Nexus is worth the investment. Although not out of this world difficult, the RPG is nevertheless a challenging game that rewards those who are willing to take advantage of all its mechanics. TheseScarlet Nexus tipsshould help out both new and more experienced players.
12Not Paying Attention To The Dialogue
This is relevant for both inside and outside of combat encounters. The game’s storycan be considerably convoluted. Those who want to get the gist of the entire picture should take the time tolisten to the dialogueor read the subtitles.
Within combat, the other party members will also give out useful information regarding enemy weaknesses and solutions to traversal puzzles, like which SAS ability to use. Therefore, it is important to not ignore the chatter during combat.
11Not Building Bonds
Building bonds with the other characters is one of the most important mechanics inScarlet Nexus.By building bonds, the player is also strengthening the abilities of the other characters, as well as making them more effective in combat for the player.
To build bonds, the player must simply talk to another character during every Standby Phase and choose the “bond episode” option. Another way is to constantly give them gifts, which can be exchanged from Satori the Archivist.
10Neglecting Collectibles
There is a myriad of collectibles the player should stumble upon while navigating each level inScarlet Nexus.Whenever the player finds them, especially the white glowing ones, they should always take the time to collect them.
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These materials are very useful when it comes to exchanging items with Satori the Archivist, the game’s merchant. Exchanging items is so much more cost-efficient than outright purchasing them. This will allow the player to save money for healing items and other plug-ins.
9Using Outdated Weapons And Plug-Ins
To get the most out of the game’s combat, the player must always use the best weapon that’s available in the game. On top of this, they must also equip the best possible plug-ins for the upgrade they require, like health or power.
To do this, the player must constantly return to the game’s merchant to see if the wares have been stocked with upgraded varieties. This will happen after a couple of phases, so whenever the player reaches a Standby Phase, it is good practice to just visit the shop.
8Mishandling Party Line-up
For the most part, the characters the player chooses to join their active party mainly boils down to preference. However, there is one aspect where choosing a specific character as a party member is beneficial.
The player must choose a party member that has the SAS ability they frequently use the most. For example, if the player always uses the Duplication ability, then Kyoka must be an active party member. This will allow the player to use Kyoka’s ability a little bit longer.
7Not Learning The Perfect Dodge Mechanic
The Perfect Dodge mechanic is a passive ability any player ofScarlet Nexusshould master if they want to ace this game. This ability is already pre-unlocked but there are a couple of plug-ins and Brain Map skills that can make the Perfect Dodge more effective.
The Perfect Dodge is activated when the player moves out of the way just before an enemy’s attack makes contact. This will slow time, allowing the player to make a counterattack.
6Not Getting Auto-Heal
Auto-Heal is a skill the player can unlock from the Brain Map. It is absolutely one of the skills that everyone should prioritize early on. By unlocking this, the player’s health will gradually increase while they are outside of combat.
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With the Auto-Heal unlocked, the player won’t need to consume Jellies while outside of enemy encounters, allowing them to save it for actual combat situations. However, it should be noted that this skill doesn’t work on other party members.
5Not Maxing Out Concurrent SAS Activation
The Concurrent SAS Activation skill is unlocked from the Brain Map. There are two variations of this skill, the first one allows the player to use two SAS abilities at the same time, while the second allows them to use four.
Unlocking both skills will make the player incredibly powerful in combat. On top of being able to use their own psychokinesis ability, they will also be able to use four other abilities at the same time.
4Not Experimenting Enough With SAS Combos
In the heat of battle, reflexes tend to kick in when the going gets tough, causing people to stick to what they know. Once every character is available inScarlet Nexus, players will have access to nine SAS powers. Permitting the Concurrent SAS Activation skill has been unlocked, Kasane and Yuito will be able to utilize dozens upon dozens of unique combinations that could make a huge difference in combat.
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Experiment as much as possible, and do not ignore the powers that are not made available until the second half of the campaign. While some are more situational than others, no SAS is pointless, even the ones that have a more supportive role.
Here are some combinations that result in massive damage:
3Relying On Companions To Revive Them
Sooner or later, every player will fall during combat. When that happens, there is achancethat one of the other party members will step in and revive Yuito or Kasane. This happens totally at random. While increasing a Companion’s bond raises the odds of them sparking the player back to life, it is not something that can be relied on.
There might be situations when two revivals happen in a single combat scenario; conversely, Yuito or Kasane might succumb to the Grim Reaper without any of their Companions seemingly noticing. Players should not opt against using healing items in the hope that they will be revived instead. It is a gamble that will frequently not pay off.
