SAS Powers Guide

Scarlet Nexus is an action-JRPG from Bandai Namco iset on a post-apocalyptic "brain punk" future where technology and psychic abilities collide. Each character in the game aside from the protagonists Yuito and Kasane have unique SAS powers that you can activate in combat. In this guide, we will discuss what are SAS Powers and how you can use them in combat.

What are SAS Powers?

SAS is a virtual, brain-to-brain connection system that allows Yuito and Kasane to tap into their allies' powers for a limited time, providing various combat effects like imbuing weapons with fire or electricity, providing invulnerability armor, slow down time, teleport etc. While Yuito and Kasane have their signature psychokinesis power, activating their allies’ SAS powers can affect the flow of combat to their favor.

Yuito and Kasane’s combat styles are very different, and the powers of the allies that will join them after going separate ways will complement their powers. Yuito excels in aggressive melee combat, gets access to Gemma’s invulnerability armor, Luka’s teleportation, Tsugumi’s clairvoyance, and Hanabi’s pyrokinesis. These powers allow him to become more aggressive at close range where he can shine.

Kasane on the other hand, excels at mid-range and mid-air attacks with her throwing weapons. Kyoka’s duplication boosts her psychokinesis damage output through additional hurled objects, Arashi’s hypervelocity slows down time, giving Kasane time to get into proper offensive or defensive position, Kagero’s invisibility to sneak towards or away from enemies, and Shiden’s electrokinesis.

Increase Bonds to improve SAS

Your characters’ bond levels will further improve their respective powers. These include higher recharge rate, prolonged active time, enhanced effects, etc. Your allies will also be able to trigger various automatic assist “Vision” actions ranging from automatically blocking an attack for you, providing powerful assist strikes that can knock down enemies, or follow-up attacks dealing high damage.

To increase your bond with your teammates, give them Gifts while in the hideout, especially during standby phases. You also need to make sure that you view their bond episodes. As you and teammates grow closer, more combat-oriented opportunities will become available to you.

How to use SAS Powers

You can set your SAS powers via the SAS tab in the main menu. You can equip up to 4 SAS powers and you can choose which slot you want to assign them. You can only have two party members accompanying you at a time but you can still use the SAS powers of teammates in reserve. You can find the SAS buttons in the lower-right hand corner of the screen.

SAS powers can be found in the lower-right hand corner of the screen, each with their own assigned buttons. After activating a SAS power, its respective gauge will deplete. The rate the gauge depletes will depend on the power. For example, Hanabi’s pyrokinesis and Tsugumi’s Clairvoyance will have a steady depletion rate and will remain active until you manually deactivate their powers or if the gauges are emptied.

“Burst” skills like Luka’s teleportation or Gemma’s Sclerokinesis will deplete much faster compared to the other skills. Sclerokinesis for example, depletes much faster the more amount of damage it blocks for you. Premature deactivation due to the power’s condition will not deplete the gauge.

Normally, you can only activate one SAS power at a time. Learning the first Concurrent SAS Activation skill in the Brain Map will allow you to activate up to two powers at a time. Learning the second skill of the same name will allow you to activate up to 4 powers at once. s

How to Recharge SAS Gauge

After the SAS gauge is depleted or the skill deactivated, the gauge will slowly refill automatically. The SAS power of the teammate that’s currently on the field with you will recharge faster compared to the ones on reserve. The type of power will also affect the recharge speed. If you have learned the skill Brain Crush SAS Restore, you can replenish the SAS gauge of all active powers, further extending the time they’re active.

Finally, you can also use consumables called SAS Refueling Drinks to replenish your party’s SAS gauges instantly. However, I suggest using these sparingly and preferably during tight combat conditions.

Mastering the game’s SAS system will ensure that you’ll be able to perform well in combat. The allies who’ll come along with you will depend on the main protagonist you’ve selected in the beginning so getting along with them and using their abilities to your advantage will be integral to you in the long run.

That concludes our Scarlet Nexus SAS Powers guide. Please check out our other pages related to the game for more Scarlet Nexus content.