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EX Skills Guide

by kratos15354

+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
|                                                                 |
|                       Tales of Symphonia                        |
|              EX Skills & Compound EX Skills Guide               |
|                      Version 1.0 (11/6/10)                      |
|                   By Kratos15354(Brian Carr)                    |
|                Email: Kratos15354 @ hotmail.com                 |
|    (Include "[TOS]" in the subject to avoid the junk filter)    |
|                        AIM: Kratos15354                         |
|                                                                 |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+



-=Table of Contents=-

 I.       The basics
 II.      The skills
     a.        Lloyd
     b.        Colette
     c.        Genis
     d.        Kratos/Zelos
     e.        Raine
     f.        Sheena
     g.        Presea
     h.        Regal
 III.     The end



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


-=The Basics=-

Shortly after leaving Iselia, EX Skills and Compound EX Skills are introduced.
These gameplay mechanics can have a huge impact on the usefulness of your char-
acters, but that's usually not until much later in the game.  In the beginning,
they don't do much good.

Each character can equip up to four EX Gems.  These are found in treasure chests
throughout the game, dropped by bosses, or purchased from Gem Katz in Triet,
Palmacosta, Asgard, and Hima.  I highly recommend against purchasing them from
the Katz because they cost precious grade, which is better spent elsewhere.

There are four levels of EX Gems, each offering four EX Skills.  While higher
level EX Gems often have better or more interesting EX Skills, it is very rarely
a good idea to deck someone out with four level four EX Gems.  The reason for
this is Compound EX Skills.

Compound EX Skills are extra effects gained by equipping certain combinations of
EX Skills.  These extra effects can be far better than those of the EX Skills
needed to gain them.  Even though you must complete a battle for the Compound EX
Skill to show up on the EX Skills menu, it will take effect immediately.  To
keep the effect from a Compound EX Skill, you must keep all of its required EX
Skills equipped.

When choosing a set of EX Skills, I suggest that you first look through the
available Compound EX Skills to see if there's something you want.  If you find
one that doesn't need four EX Skills, remember that you can have multiple Com-
pound EX Skills active if they have common shared EX Skills.  If none of the
Compound EX Skills interest you, then start looking at individual EX Skills.

Something else to consider is that each EX Skill is either T type or S type.
Having a majority of one type will cause your T-S meter to slowly point to
the majority end after each battle the character participates in.  The larger
the majority, the bigger the change per battle.  This T-S meter is what decides
whether you'll learn T type techs or S type techs.  Don't worry too much about
this, though, it is quite easy to change your type when it comes time to learn
a new tech.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


-=Lloyd=-

None of Lloyd's Compound EX Skills really jump out at me, so I use Personal (2),
Add Combo (3), Ability Plus (4), and Sky Combo (4).  This combination gets me
Sky Attack, which I don't find all that useful.

 Standard EX Skills:

  Level 1
   Strong (S)            Increases Strength
   Tough (S)             Increases Defense
   Taunt (T)             Press Z during battle to taunt enemies and fill the
                          Unison Bar by a little
   Sharp-eyed (T)        Increases Accuracy

  Level 2
   Vitality (S)          Increases max HP
   Personal (S)          Increases movement speed in towns and dungeons
   Dodge (T)             Increases Evade
   Dash (T)              Increases movement speed in battle

  Level 3
   Eternal (S)           Does nothing on its own, but part of many Compound EX
                          Skills
   Guard Plus (S)        Decreases damage taken while guarding
   Spirit (T)            Increases max TP
   Add Combo (T)         Increases the basic combo from three hits to four

  Level 4
   Immunity (S)          Sometimes avoid getting a status ailment from an
                          enemy attack
   Ability Plus (S)      Able to link two level 1 techs together
   Sky Combo (T)         Able to do three basic attacks in midair
   Follow-up (T)         Increases enemy stagger time
   
 Compound EX Skills:
  NAME                   REQUIRED EX SKILLS       EFFECT
  EX Attack            / Strong (level 1)         Increases damage to guarding
                       \ Tough (level 1)           enemies

  EX Defend            / Dodge (level 2)          Sometimes avoid staggering
                       \ Vitality (level 2)        when hit

  L. Unison            / Taunt (level 1)          Unison bar might stay full
                       \ Personal (level 2)        after a Unison Attack

  Counter              / Guard Plus (level 3)     Quickly attack after guarding
                       \ Follow-up (level 4)

  Phys. Status         / Immunity (level 4)       No physical ailments
                       \ Eternal (level 3)

  Over Limit           / Eternal (level 3)        Over limits last longer
                       \ Personal (level 2)

  R. Arts              / Sharp-eyed (level 1)     Able to attack while in mid-
                       \ Sky Combo (level 4)       air when recovering from
                                                   knockdown

  T. Guard             / Strong (level 1)         Sometimes avoid staggering
                       \ Taunt (level 1)           while taunting

  Life Up              / Vitality (level 2)       Occasionally increase max HP
                       \ Eternal (level 3)         by 0.5% after battle

  Spirit Up            / Spirit (level 3)         Occasionally increase max TP
                       \ Eternal (level 3)         by 0.5% after battle

  T. Cancel            / Dodge (level 2)          Cancel a taunt by guarding
                       \ Taunt (level 1)

  Quick Turn           / Dash (level 2)           Quickly turn around when
                       \ Tough (level 1)           running in battle

  B. Guard             / Dash (level 1)           Sometimes avoid staggering
                       \ Sharp-eyed (level 1)      while backstepping

  Unison Force         / Eternal (level 3)        Unison Attacks do more damage
                       \ Tough (level 1)

  Relax                / Dodge (level 2)          Slowly recover TP during
                       \ Spirit (level 3)          battle if you stand still

  Critical Up          / Strong (level 1)         Increase chances of landing
                       \ Personal (level 2)        a critical hit

  Sky Attack           / Sky Combo (level 4)      Use certain techs in midair
                       \ Ability Plus (level 4)   like O. Tempest and Rising F.

  Run Away!            / Dash (level 2)           Decrease time needed to run
                       \ Taunt (level 1)           away

  Exp Plus             / Taunt (level 1)          Increase experience earned by
                       | Eternal (level 3)         maybe 5%
                       \ Personal (level 2)

  Jump Combo           / Sharp-eyed (level 1)     Can continue a basic combo
                       | Add Combo (level 3)       after landing
                       \ Follow-up (level 4)

  Aerial Guard         / Guard Plus (level 3)     Guard while in the air
                       | Immunity (level 4)
                       \ Sky Combo (level 4)

  Technical            / Spirit (level 3)         Reduce TP consumption by 10%
                       | Add Combo (level 3)
                       \ Follow-up (level 4)

  C. Combo             / Guard Plus (level 3)     Able to link techs to a
                       | Follow-up (level 4)       counter
                       \ Ability Plus (level 4)

  Self Cure            / Immunity (level 4)       Automatically recover from
                       | Tough (level 1)           status effects after a bit
                       \ Vitality (level 2)



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


-=Colette=-

Colette has several good Compound EX Skills.  Item Getter is your best friend
when trying to steal items from enemies and Item Finder helps in getting drops.
Resilience is nice if, for whatever reason, you like to use her angel skills.
I, however, prefer to use Life Up, Spirit Up, Life Thief, and Spirit Thief.  It
keeps her healthy, keeps her TP up, and using her frequently can be a big boost
to max HP and TP.

 Standard EX Skills:

  Level 1
   Strong (S)            Increases Strength
   Tough (S)             Increases Defense
   Taunt (T)             Allows you to taunt with Z to fill the Unison Bar a
                          little bit
   Sharp-eyed (T)        Increases Accuracy

  Level 2
   Vitality (S)          Increases max HP
   Personal (S)          Increases duration of Holy Bottles
   Dodge (T)             Increases Evade
   Magical (T)           Increases Intelligence

  Level 3
   Eternal (S)           Does nothing on its own, but part of many Compound EX
                          Skills
   Resurrect (S)         Might revive automatically when killed
   Spirit (T)            Increases max TP
   Lucky (T)             Increases Luck

  Level 4
   Immunity (S)          Might avoid getting a status ailment from an attack
   Angel Song (S)        Reduces casting time
   Stat Boost (T)        Increases effect of status boosters like Raine's
                          Barrier and Sharpness
   Sky Combo (T)         Able to attack once more while in the air

 Compound EX Skills:
  NAME                   REQUIRED EX SKILLS       EFFECT
  Spirit Up            / Spirit (level 3)         Occasionally increases max TP
                       \ Eternal (level 3)         by 0.5% after battle

  Regenerate           / Strong (level 1)         Slowly recover HP and TP if
                       \ Taunt (level 1)           standing still in battle

  T. Cancel            / Dodge (level 2)          Cancel a taunt by guarding
                       \ Taunt (level 1)

  Item Finder          / Tough (level 1)          Increases chances of getting
                       \ Sharp-eyed (level 1)      items after battle

  Gald Finder          / Dodge (level 2)          Might get more gald from a
                       \ Sharp-eyed (level 1)      battle

  Critical Up          / Strong (level 1)         Increases chances of landing
                       \ Tough (level 1)           a critical hit

  L. Unison            / Taunt (level 1)          Unison Bar might stay full
                       \ Personal (level 2)        after a Unison Attack

  Super Guard          / Resurrect (level 3)      Receive no damage if you use
                       \ Tough (level 1)           Damage Guard and your HP is
                                                   less than 16% its maximum

  Reflect              / Tough (level 1)          Enemies sometimes receive the
                       \ Immunity (level 4)        damage they deal to you

  Nullify              / Vitality (level 2)       Sometimes receive no damage
                       \ Dodge (level 2)           from a hit

  Life Up              / Vitality (level 2)       Occasionally increases max HP
                       \ Eternal (level 3)         by 0.5% after battle

  Exp Plus             / Taunt (level 1)          Increase experience earned by
                       | Eternal (level 3)         5%
                       \ Personal (level 2)

  Life Thief           / Vitality (level 2)       Recover HP proportional to
                       \ Stat Boost (level 4)      your combo

  Spirit Thief         / Spirit (level 3)         Recover TP proportional to
                       \ Stat Boost (level 4)      your combo

  Pow Hammer           / Lucky (level 3)          A Pow Hammer sometimes
                       \ Sharp-eyed (level 1)      appears when attacked

  Over Limit           / Eternal (level 3)        Over limits last longer
                       \ Personal (level 2)

  Phys. Status         / Immunity (level 4)       Prevents physical ailments
                       \ Eternal (level 3)

  C. Counter           / Eternal (level 3)        Increased damage to an enemy
                       \ Strong (level 1)          that is in the process of
                                                   attacking

  Battle Cry           / Personal (level 2)       Get status boosts at the
                       | Stat Boost (level 4)      start of battle
                       \ Sky Combo (level 4)

  Exp Plus A           / Angel Song (level 4)     Increases experience earned
                       | Taunt (level 1)           for the party by 9%.  This
                       | Eternal (level 3)         negates all other Exp Plus
                       \ Personal (level 2)        Compound EX Skills

  Angel's Tear         / Resurrect (level 3)      Automatically revive the
                       | Angel Song (level 4)      first time you die each
                       | Stat Boost (level 4)      battle
                       \ Eternal (level 3)

  S. Guard             / Immunity (level 4)       Nullifies all physical
                       | Eternal (level 3)         ailments
                       | Angel Song (level 4)
                       \ Lucky (level 3)

  Resilience           / Angel Song (level 4)     Cannot be interrupted when
                       | Magical (level 2)         casting
                       \ Resurrect (level 3)

  Item Getter          / Lucky (level 3)          100% steal rate if the enemy
                       | Sharp-eyed (level 1)      has something to steal and
                       | Stat Boost (level 4)      does not block the attack
                       \ Magical (level 2)



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


-=Genis=-

The only Compound EX Skill I use for Genis is Concentrate.  Randomizer can help
in the Meltokio Coliseum.  The lower Genis' luck stat, the more likely it is to
activate.  Simply start casting, cancel, and repeat until your enemies are in a
world of hurt.

 Standard EX Skills:

  Level 1
   Tough (S)             Increases Defense
   Magical (T)           Increases Intelligence
   Taunt (T)             Allows you to increase the Unison Bar a bit by
                          pressing Z
   Dodge (T)             Increases Evade

  Level 2
   Personal (S)          Raises effectiveness of cooking
   Guard Plus (S)        Reduces damage while guarding
   Spirit (T)            Increases max TP
   Dash (T)              Increases movement speed in battle

  Level 3
   Eternal (S)           Does nothing on its own, but used in many Compound EX
                          Skills
   E. Guard (S)          Raises elemental defense
   Add Combo (T)         Increases basic combo by one
   Rhythm (T)            Tap A button to speed up casting process

  Level 4
   Immunity (S)          Might prevent physical ailments from enemy attacks
   Spell Save (S)        Reduces casting time if the same spell was interrupted
                          by an enemy
   Speed Cast (T)        Reduces casting time
   Spell Charge (T)      Allows you to charge a spell that will be released
                         after a physical combo at no TP cost, but reduced
                         damage

 Compound EX Skills:
  NAME                   REQUIRED EX SKILLS       EFFECT
  Magic Boost          / Magical (level 1)        Sometimes make spells more
                       \ Tough (level 1)           powerful

  E. Block             / E. Guard (level 3)       Sometimes avoid staggering
                       \ Guard Plus (level 2)      from elemental attacks

  L. Unison            / Taunt (level 1)          Unison Bar might stay full
                       \ Personal (level 2)        after a Unison Attack

  Mag. Status          / E. Guard (level 3)       Prevents magical ailments
                       \ Immunity (level 4)

  Phys. Status         / Immunity (level 4)       Prevents physical ailments
                       \ Eternal (level 3)

  Over Limit           / Personal (level 2)       Over limits last longer
                       \ Eternal (level 3)

  Hard Hit             / Add Combo (level 3)      Increases stagger from
                       \ Dash (level 2)            physical attacks

  Lucky Soul           / Magical (level 1)        Sometimes recover TP when
                       \ Personal (level 2)        knocked over

  Air Brake            / Add Combo (level 3)      Increases stagger from
                       \ Taunt (level 1)           midair attacks

  Spirit Up            / Spirit (level 2)         Occasionally increases max TP
                       \ Eternal (level 3)         by 0.5% after battle

  T. Cancel            / Dodge (level 1)          Cancel a taunt by guarding
                       \ Taunt (level 1)

  Reducer              / Speed Cast (level 4)     Reduce TP cost if same spell
                       \ Rhythm (level 3)          is used twice in a row

  Technical            / Spirit (level 2)         Reduce TP consumption
                       \ Magical (level 1)

  Randomizer           / Rhythm (level 3)         Sometimes instantly cast a
                       \ Tough (level 1)           spell

  Relax                / Dodge (level 1)          Slowly recover TP if standing
                       \ Spirit (level 2)          still in battle

  Reprise              / Spell Save (level 4)     Reduce casting time if the
                       \ Dash (level 2)            same spell is used twice in
                                                   a row

  Nimble Mage          / Add Combo (level 3)      Able to move sooner after
                       \ Spell Charge (level 4)    casting a spell

  Roll                 / Tough (level 1)          Reduces damage from falling
                       \ Dash (level 2)            down

  Exp Plus             / Taunt (level 1)          Increases experience earned
                       | Eternal (level 3)         by 5%
                       \ Personal (level 2)

  Spell Defense        / Spell Charge (level 4)   Might avoid staggering from
                       | Spell Save (level 4)      an elemental spell while you
                       \ Guard Plus (level 2)      have a spell charged

  Blood Spirit         / Guard Plus (level 2)     Recover TP when you take
                       | E. Guard (level 3)        damage
                       \ Magical (level 1)

  Spell Revenge        / Speed Cast (level 4)     Immediately cast a novice
                       | Spell Charge (level 4)    spell if sent flying
                       \ E. Guard (level 3)

  Self Cure            / Immunity (level 4)       Automatically recover from
                       | Magical (level 1)         status effects after a while
                       \ E. Guard (level 3)

  Concentrate          / Rhythm (level 3)         Can't be interrupted when
                       | Speed Cast (level 4)      casting.  There are some
                       | Spell Save (level 4)      exceptions, but not many
                       \ Spell Charge (level 4)



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


-=Kratos/Zelos=-

Super Chain (3) is my absolute favorite EX Skill.  Fortunately, both of the
best Compound EX Skills for these versatile characters require it.  Super Blast
is a good way of making combos last longer if you prefer melee combat, and
Concentrate works great for healing.  Aerial Spell can make for some interest-
ing combos if you make use of Spell Charge.

 Standard EX Skills:

  Level 1
   Strong (S)            Increases Strength
   Magical (T)           Increases Intelligence
   Taunt (T)             Allows you to taunt with the Z button to fill the
                         Unison Bar a little bit
   Dodge (T)             Increases Evade

  Level 2
   Vitality (S)          Increases max HP
   Personal (S)          Kratos: Recover HP as you move in towns and dungeons
                          Zelos: Receive items from female NPCs when Zelos is
                          the onscreen character. Higher luck gets better stuff
   Spirit (T)            Increases max TP
   Dash (T)              Increases movement speed in battle

  Level 3
   Eternal (S)           Does nothing on its own, but used in many Compound EX
                          Skills
   Guard Plus (S)        Reduce damage while guarding
   Slasher (T)           Able to use six basic attacks, but can't link techs
                          after the fourth hit
   Super Chain (T)       Link techs in any order, i.e. 2-3-1

  Level 4
   Immunity (S)          Sometimes avoid status ailments from enemy attacks
   Speed Cast (T)        Reduce casting time
   Sky Combo (T)         Able to do one more basic attack in midair
   Spell Charge (T)      Can charge a spell to be released after a physical
                          combo for no TP cost, but less power

 Compound EX Skills
  NAME                   REQUIRED EX SKILLS       EFFECT
  B. Guard             / Dash (level 2)           Sometimes avoid staggering
                       \ Spirit (level 2)          when backstepping

  EX Defend            / Dodge (level 1)          Sometimes avoid staggering
                       \ Vitality (level 2)        from physical attacks

  Skill Boost          / Magical (level 1)        Increases spell effect and TP
                       \ Spirit (level 2)          consumption

  Solid Guard          / Guard Plus (level 3)     Decrease damage while guard-
                       \ Dodge (level 1)           ing for a while

  Phys. Status         / Immunity (level 4)       Prevents physical ailments
                       \ Eternal (level 3)

  Over Limit           / Eternal (level 3)        Over limits last longer
                       \ Personal (level 2)

  Spirit Up            / Spirit (level 2)         Occasionally increases max TP
                       \ Eternal (level 3)         by 0.5% after battle

  T. Guard             / Strong (level 1)         Sometimes avoid staggering
                       \ Taunt (level 1)           while taunting

  Life Up              / Vitality (level 2)       Occasionally increases max HP
                       \ Eternal (level 3)         by 0.5% after battle

  Reprise              / Magical (level 1)        Reduce casting time of a
                       \ Personal (level 2)        spell if it's used twice in
                                                   a row

  T. Cancel            / Dodge (level 1)          Cancel a taunt by guarding
                       \ Taunt (level 1)

  Landing              / Super Chain (level 3)    Move sooner after landing
                       \ Sky Combo (level 4)

  Super Blast          / Slasher (level 3)        Able to link techs after the
                       | Super Chain (level 3)     fourth and successive hits
                       \ Eternal (level 3)         from Slasher

  Chivalry             / Slasher (level 3)        Increase stats depending on
                       \ Strong (level 1)          the number of female allies

  Healing              / Guard Plus (level 3)     Slowly recover HP if standing
                       \ Vitality (level 2)        still in battle

  Critical Up          / Strong (level 1)         Increases chances of landing
                       \ Personal (level 2)        a critical hit

  EX Attack            / Personal (level 2)       Increases damage against
                       \ Dash (level 2)            guarding enemies

  Combo Force          / Taunt (level 1)          Combo damage doesn't diminish
                       \ Slasher (level 3)         as much as usual

  Exp Plus             / Taunt (level 1)          Increases experience earned
                       | Eternal (level 3)         by 5%
                       \ Personal (level 2)

  Dash Guard           / Dash (level 2)           Sometimes avoid staggering
                       | Magical (level 1)         while running
                       \ Guard Plus (level 3)

  Aerial Guard         / Guard Plus (level 3)     Guard while in midair
                       | Immunity (level 4)
                       \ Sky Combo (level 4)

  Spell Revenge        / Guard Plus (level 3)     Instantly cast a novice spell
                       | Spell Charge (level 4)    when sent flying
                       \ Speed Cast (level 4)

  Aerial Spell         / Speed Cast (level 4)     Instantly cast a novice
                       | Sky Combo (level 4)       attack spell after a midair
                       \ Spell Charge (level 4)    attack

  Concentrate          / Super Chain (level 3)    Can't be interrupted while
                       | Spell Charge (level 4)    casting.  There are some
                       \ Speed Cast (level 4)      exceptions



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


-=Raine=-

I wouldn't use anything but Concentrate.

 Standard EX Skills:

  Level 1
   Tough (S)             Increases Defense
   Magical (T)           Increases Intelligence
   Taunt (T)             Allows you to taunt with Z, increasing the Unison Bar
                          by a little bit
   Dodge (T)             Increases Evade

  Level 2
   E. Guard (S)          Decreases elemental damage taken
   Personal (S)          Reduce TP consumption to 1 when standing on a memory
                          circle.  Only works out of battle
   Spirit (T)            Increases max TP
   Neutralizer (T)       Sometimes don't receive damage from a hit

  Level 3
   Eternal (S)           Does nothing by itself, but needed for many Compound
                          EX Skills
   Guard Plus (S)        Reduce damage taken while guarding
   Add Combo (T)         Adds one to the number of hits in the basic combo
   Speed Cast (T)        Reduces casting time

  Level 4
   Immunity (S)          Might avoid receiving a status ailment from an enemy
                          attack
   Spell Save (S)        Decreases casting time if you were just interrupted
   Item Pro (T)          Able to move sooner after using an item in battle
   Happiness (T)         Sometimes get extra gald or experience from battle

 Compound EX Skills:
  NAME                   REQUIRED EX SKILLS       EFFECT
  Magic Boost          / Magical (level 1)        Might increase spell effects
                       \ Tough (level 1)

  E. Block             / E. Guard (level 2)       Might not stagger when hit
                       \ Guard Plus (level 3)      by an elemental spell

  L. Unison            / Taunt (level 1)          Unison Bar might stay full
                       \ Personal (level 2)        after a Unison Attack

  Mag. Status          / E. Guard (level 2)       Prevents magical ailments
                       \ Immunity (level 4)

  Phys. Status         / Immunity (level 4)       Prevents physical ailments
                       \ Eternal (level 3)

  Over Limit           / Eternal (level 3)        Over limits last longer
                       \ Personal (level 2)

  Hard Hit             / Speed Cast (level 3)     Increases stagger caused by
                       \ Add Combo (level 3)       your basic combo

  Lucky Soul           / Magical (level 1)        Sometimes recover TP when
                       \ Add Combo (level 3)       knocked over

  Auto Aid             / Item Pro (level 4)       Might automatically cast
                       \ Guard Plus (level 3)      First Aid when hit

  Spirit Up            / Spirit (level 2)         Occasionally increases max TP
                       \ Eternal (level 3)         by 0.5% after battle

  T. Cancel            / Dodge (level 1)          Cancel a taunt by guarding
                       \ Taunt (level 1)

  Anti-Element         / Neutralizer (level 2)    Sometimes cut elemental
                       \ E. Guard (level 2)        damage by half

  Technical            / Spirit (level 2)         Reduces TP consumption in
                       \ Item Pro (level 4)        battle

  Unison Force         / Eternal (level 3)        Increases damage done by
                       \ Tough (level 1)           Unison Attacks

  Relax                / Dodge (level 1)          Slowly recover TP when
                       \ Spirit (level 2)          standing still in battle

  Reducer              / Add Combo (level 3)      Decreases TP consumption if
                       \ Spell Save (level 4)      the same spell is used twice
                                                   in a row

  Nimble Mage          / Speed Cast (level 3)     Able to move sooner after
                       \ Personal (level 2)        casting a spell

  Lucky Magic          / Neutralizer (level 2)    Sometimes spells don't cost
                       \ Happiness (level 4)       any TP

  Exp Plus             / Taunt (level 1)          Increases experience earned
                       | Eternal (level 3)         by 5%
                       \ Personal (level 2)

  Quick Spell          / Neutralizer (level 2)    Spells sometimes instantly
                       | Happiness (level 4)       cast
                       \ Spell Save (level 4)

  Blood Spirit         / Guard Plus (level 3)     Recover TP when damage
                       | E. Guard (level 2)
                       \ Magical (level 1)

  Self Cure            / Immunity (level 4)       Automatically recover from
                       | Tough (level 1)           status ailments after a
                       \ E. Guard (level 2)        while

  Item Master          / Item Pro (level 4)       Items used on Raine have an
                       | Neutralizer (level 2)     increased effect during
                       \ Happiness (level 4)       battle

  Concentrate          / Speed Cast (level 3)     Can't be interrupted while
                       | Item Pro (level 4)        casting a spell.  There are
                       | Spell Save (level 4)      some exceptions
                       \ Happiness (level 4)



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


-=Sheena=-

Like Lloyd, none of Sheena's Compound EX Skills really jump out at me and say
"I'm awesome!"  I settle for Phys. Status, Life Up, and Spirit Up.

 Standard EX Skills:

  Level 1
   Strong (S)            Increases Strength
   Tough (S)             Increases Defense
   Taunt (T)             Allows you to taunt with Z to refill the Unison Bar by
                          a little bit
   Sharp-eyed (T)        Increases Accuracy

  Level 2
   Vitality (S)          Increases max HP
   Personal (S)          Depending on your Luck, might avoid an encounter when
                          touching monsters in dungeons.  A white circle means
                          the ability took effect
   Dodge (T)             Increases Evade
   Dash (T)              Increases movement speed during battle

  Level 3
   Eternal (S)           Does nothing by itself, but needed for many Compound
                          EX Skills
   E. Guard (S)          Decreases damage from elemental attacks
   Prolong (S)           Status effects inflicted by your techs last longer
   Spirit (T)            Increases max TP

  Level 4
   Guard Plus (S)        Reduces damage taken while guarding
   Immunity (S)          Might avoid getting a status ailment from an enemy
                          attack
   Add Combo (T)         Increases the basic combo by one
   Speed Cast (T)        Decreases casting time

 Compound EX Skills:
  NAME                   REQUIRED EX SKILLS       EFFECT
  Critical Up          / Eternal (level 3)        Increases the chances of
                       \ Sharp-eyed (level 1)      landing a critical hit

  EX Defend            / Vitality (level 2)       Sometimes avoid staggering
                       \ Dodge (level 2)           from a physical attack

  L. Unison            / Taunt (level 1)          Unison Bar might stay full
                       \ Personal (level 2)        after a Unison Attack

  M. Guardian          / Guard Plus (level 4)     Increases effectiveness of
                       \ E. Guard (level 3)        your guard tech

  EX Attack            / Strong (level 1)         Increases damage to guarding
                       \ Tough (level 1)           enemies

  Over Limit           / Eternal (level 3)        Over limits last longer
                       \ Personal (level 2)

  Spirit Healer        / Guard Plus (level 4)     Recover more TP after battle
                       \ Spirit (level 3)

  T. Guard             / Strong (level 1)         Might not stagger when hit
                       \ Taunt (level 1)           during taunt

  Life Up              / Vitality (level 2)       Occasionally increases max HP
                       \ Eternal (level 3)         by 0.5% after battle

  Spirit Up            / Spirit (level 3)         Occasionally increases max TP
                       \ Eternal (level 3)         by 0.5% after battle

  T. Cancel            / Dodge (level 2)          Cancel a taunt by guarding
                       \ Taunt (level 1)

  Jump Combo           / Add Combo (level 4)      Able to continue basic combo
                       \ Tough (level 1)           after landing

  Quick Turn           / Speed Cast (level 4)     Turn quickly when running in
                       \ Dash (level 2)            battle

  Unison Force         / Eternal (level 3)        Increased damage done by
                       \ Tough (level 1)           Unison Attacks

  Hard Hit             / Prolong (level 3)        Increases stagger caused by
                       \ Dash (level 2)            the basic combo

  Phys. Status         / Immunity (level 4)       Prevents physical ailments
                       \ Eternal (level 3)

  Combo Force          / Add Combo (level 4)      Combo damage does not
                       \ Dash (level 2)            diminish as much

  Exp Plus             / Taunt (level 1)          Increases earned experience
                       | Eternal (level 3)         by 5%
                       \ Personal (level 2)

  Self Cure            / Immunity (level 4)       Automatically recover from
                       | Tough (level 1)           status effects after a while
                       \ Vitality (level 2)

  Blood Spirit         / Guard Plus (level 4)     Recover TP when damaged
                       | Speed Cast (level 4)
                       \ Prolong (level 3)

  Anti-Element         / Add Combo (level 4)      Sometimes cut elemental
                       | Immunity (level 4)        damage received in half
                       \ E. Guard (level 3)

  Life Drain           / Strong (level 1)         Steal more HP with Life Seal
                       | Vitality (level 2)
                       \ E. Guard (level 3)

  Spirit Drain         / Strong (level 1)         Steal more TP with Spirit
                       | Spirit (level 3)          Seal
                       \ E. Guard (level 3)

  E. Plus              / Speed Cast (level 4)     Increases damage from
                       | Eternal (level 3)         elemental attacks
                       \ E. Guard (level 3)



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


-=Presea=-

While I always use Glory, I never control Presea myself.  If you plan on
playing as her, Over Charge, P. Defense, and G. Breaker make for one mean
little madam.

 Standard EX Skills:

  Level 1
   Strong (S)            Increases Strength
   Tough (S)             Increases Defense
   Taunt (T)             Allows you to taunt with Z to fill the Unison Bar by a
                          little bit
   Sharp-eyed (T)        Increases Accuracy

  Level 2
   Vitality (S)          Increases max HP
   Personal (S)          Randomly find food while walking around in dungeons.
                          A sound and white circle will alert you to success
   Rear Guard (T)        Can guard attacks from behind
   Dash (T)              Increases movement speed in battle

  Level 3
   Eternal (S)           Does nothing by itself, but used in many Compound EX
                          Skills
   Guard Plus (S)        Reduces damage taken while guarding
   Endure (T)            Stagger for a shorter amount of time
   P. Charge (T)         Hold A to briefly raise your Attack

  Level 4
   Immunity (S)          Might not get a status effect from an enemy attack
   Savior (S)            Stats increase when all allies (in battle) are dead
   Heavy Hit (T)         Better chance of stunning enemies
   Revive (T)            Automatically recover some HP when it gets low

 Compound EX Skills:
  NAME                   REQUIRED EX SKILLS       EFFECT
  EX Attack            / Strong (level 1)         Increases damage to guarding
                       \ Dash (level 2)            enemies

  Solid Guard          / Guard Plus (level 3)     Decreases damage taken when
                       \ Rear Guard (level 2)      guarding, even after a while

  L. Unison            / Taunt (level 1)          Unison Bar might stay full
                       \ Personal (level 2)        after a Unison Attack

  Over Charge          / Taunt (level 1)          Increases the effect of P.
                       \ P. Charge (level 3)       Charge, but might fail

  Phys. Status         / Immunity (level 4)       Prevent physical ailments
                       \ Eternal (level 3)

  Over Limit           / Eternal (level 3)        Over limits last longer
                       \ Personal (level 2)

  P. Defense           / Guard Plus (level 3)     Don't stagger when hit by
                       \ P. Charge (level 3)       non-elemental attacks during
                                                   P. Charge

  T. Guard             / Strong (level 1)         Might not stagger when hit
                       \ Taunt (level 1)           during a taunt

  Life Up              / Vitality (level 2)       Occasionally increases max HP
                       \ Eternal (level 3)         by 0.5% after battle

  Hot Shot             / Taunt (level 1)          Recover HP by taunting
                       \ Revive (level 4)

  R. Arts              / Guard Plus (level 3)     Can attack in midair after
                       \ Sharp-eyed (level 1)      recovering from knockdown

  Variable             / Strong (level 1)         Attack changes with HP
                       \ Heavy Hit (level 4)

  Aerial Guard         / Rear Guard (level 2)     Guard in midair
                       \ Sharp-eyed (level 1)

  Unison Force         / Eternal (level 3)        Increases damage caused by
                       \ Tough (level 1)           Unison Attacks

  G. Breaker           / Savior (level 4)         Guard break enemies with P.
                       \ P. Charge (level 3)       Charge

  Critical Up          / Strong (level 1)         Increases chances of landing
                       \ Personal (level 2)        a critical hit

  Healing              / Rear Guard (level 2)     Slowly recover HP if you
                       \ Revive (level 4)          stand still in battle

  Nullify              / Endure (level 3)         Sometimes receive no damage
                       \ Savior (level 4)

  Pain Suppress        / Guard Plus (level 3)     Don't receive damage less
                       | Vitality (level 2)        than some small amount
                       \ Heavy Hit (level 4)

  Exp Plus ST          / Personal (level 2)       Earn increased experience
                       | Endure (level 3)          depending on how much HP
                       \ Revive (level 4)          you have left

  Power Dash           / Dash (level 2)           Sometimes don't stagger while
                       | P. Charge (level 3)       P. Charged and running
                       \ Sharp-eyed (level 1)

  Glory                / Guard Plus (level 3)     Don't stagger.  There are
                       | Endure (level 3)          some exceptions
                       | Revive (level 4)
                       \ Vitality (level 2)

  Self Cure            / Immunity (level 4)       Automatically recover from
                       | Tough (level 1)           status ailments after a
                       \ Vitality (level 2)        while

  Survivor             / Tough (level 1)          HP will never reach 0 when
                       | Endure (level 3)          using a guard tech
                       | Immunity (level 4)
                       \ Savior (level 4)



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


-=Regal=-

Glory is where it's at.  As a bonus, you also get Counter and C. Combo with it.

 Standard EX Skills:

  Level 1
   Strong (S)            Increases Strength
   Tough (S)             Increases Defense
   Taunt (T)             Allows you to taunt with Z to fill the Unison Bar a
                          little bit
   Sharp-eyed (T)        Increases Accuracy

  Level 2
   Vitality (S)          Increases max HP
   Personal (S)          Buy items at 10% less and sell them at 10% more
   Dodge (T)             Increases Evade
   Dasth (T)             Increases movement in battle

  Level 3
   Eternal (S)           Does nothing by itself, but needed for many Compound
                          EX Skills
   Guard Plus (S)        Reduces damage taken while guarding
   Spirit (T)            Increases max TP
   Add Combo (T)         Increases basic combo by one

  Level 4
   Immunity (S)          Might avoid a status ailment caused by an enemy attack
   Guilt (S)             Stats increase if Presea is in the battle
   Sky Combo (T)         Allows one more basic combo in the air
   Flash (T)             Cannot be staggered right after an attack is cancelled

 Compound EX Skills:
  NAME                   REQUIRED EX SKILLS       EFFECT
  EX Attack            / Strong (level 1)         Increases damage to guarding
                       \ Tough (level 1)           enemies

  Armor                / Strong (level 1)         Sometimes cannot be staggered
                       \ Guard Plus (level 3)      during the first hit of the
                                                   basic combo

  T. Cancel            / Taunt (level 1)          Cancel a taunt by guarding
                       \ Dash (level 2)

  HP Recover           / Tough (level 1)          Slowly recover half of the
                       \ Eternal (level 3)         last damage received

  Relax                / Dodge (level 2)          Slowly recovers TP if you
                       \ Spirit (level 3)          stand still during battle

  L. Unison            / Taunt (level 1)          Unison Bar might stay full
                       \ Personal (level 2)        after a Unison Attack

  Quick Turn           / Dash (level 2)           Turn around quickly when
                       \ Tough (level 1)           running

  Jump Combo           / Sharp-eyed (level 1)     Combo from a midair basic
                       \ Sky Combo (level 4)       attack to a ground basic
                                                   attack

  Life Up              / Vitality (level 2)       Occasionally increases max HP
                       \ Eternal (level 3)         by 0.5% after battle

  Healer Taunt         / Taunt (level 1)          Recover HP when taunting
                       \ Guilt (level 4)

  EX Defend            / Vitality (level 2)       Sometimes avoid staggering
                       \ Dodge (level 2)           from physical attacks

  B. Guard             / Guard Plus (level 3)     Sometimes avoid staggering
                       \ Dash (level 2)            while backstepping

  R. Arts              / Guard Plus (level 3)     Able to attack in midair
                       \ Sky Combo (level 4)       after recovering

  Counter              / Vitality (level 2)       Press A immediately after
                       \ Flash (level 4)           guarding to attack right
                                                   away

  Over Limit           / Eternal (level 3)        Over limits last longer
                       \ Personal (level 2)

  Aerial Jump          / Add Combo (level 3)      Do a double jump in midair
                       \ Flash (level 4)

  Combo Force          / Sky Combo (level 4)      Combo damage doesn't decrease
                       \ Flash (level 4)           as much

  Aerial Guard         / Guard Plus (level 3)     Guard in midair
                       | Immunity (level 4)
                       \ Sky Combo (level 4)

  Phys. Status         / Vitality (level 2)       Prevents physical ailments
                       | Immunity (level 4)
                       \ Eternal (level 3)

  Spirit Up            / Spirit (level 3)         Occasionally increases max TP
                       \ Eternal (level 3)         by 0.5% after battle

  Exp Plus             / Taunt (level 1)          Increases experience earned
                       | Eternal (level 3)         by 5%
                       \ Personal (level 2)

  C. Combo             / Vitality (level 2)       Can link techs to counters
                       | Flash (level 4)
                       \ Guilt (level 4)

  M. Guardian          / Guard Plus (level 3)     Increases the effectiveness
                       \ Dodge (level 2)           of your guard tech

  Glory                / Vitality (level 2)       Don't stagger.  There are
                       | Guard Plus (level 3)      some exceptions
                       | Guilt (level 4)
                       \ Flash (level 4)



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-=The end=-