Bonding (絆) is an event-based system for the main character to bond with a selection of other characters, first introduced in Trails from Zero and further refined in Trails to Azure and throughout Trails of Cold Steel I, II, III, and IV.
Trails from Zero[]
- For details, see /Trails from Zero
Starting in Zero, Lloyd Bannings can earn Bonding Points (絆ポイント) with each member of the Special Support Section: Elie MacDowell, Tio Plato and Randy Orlando on special occasions throughout the game. Some of these will earn character specific points, while others can be earned with all of them or with a character of the player's choice.
As a pseudo-scene, the character that wakes Lloyd up on the fourth day of Chapter 3: "Crossbell Anniversary Festival" is the one that has the most bonding points. At the IBC during The Attack on Crossbell, a Bonding Event (絆イベント) with one of the three characters will be available if Lloyd has at least 65 bonding points with them. If more than one character meets the requirement, only the character with the most bonding points will be available. After watching the event, the Combo Craft between them and Lloyd will be upgraded.
Trails to Azure[]
- For details, see /Trails to Azure
Lloyd Bannings can earn Bonding Points (絆ポイント) with the rest of the SSS: Elie MacDowell, Tio Plato, Randy Orlando, Noel Seeker and Wazy Hemisphere, as well as with Rixia Mao, Alex Dudley, KeA, Fran Seeker, Ilya Platiere, Cecile Neues and Sully Atraid. Points can be earned through viewing optional events, selecting choices, completing requests and obtaining items.
In the Intermission: "A Brief Respite", the SSS member with the most points will fetch Lloyd at night. A special accessory can be purchased for 10000 mira in the Diamante Jewelry Store, earning 2 bonding points and being different for each character.
Before starting the liberation of Crossbell City, each member of the SSS as well as Rixia can ask to meet at the Merkabah's deck if they have enough bonding points. Meeting with them will start the event, and afterwards the Combo Craft between them and Lloyd will be upgraded. Only one character can be met with and have their Combo Craft upgraded.
After entering Crossbell City, if KeA had enough bonding points and she was given a Whitestone during R&R at Mishelam, the 
Divine Zero Orb will be waiting on her desk at the SSS building.
After completing the liberation, the rest of the characters can be spoken to, and if they have enough bonding points, their rewards will be obtained.
Trails of Cold Steel[]
- For details, see /Trails of Cold Steel and Combat link
Rean Schwarzer can earn Link EXP (リンク経験) with the rest of Class VII, Instructor Sara and President Towa by attending bonding events, playing Blade, reading books, etc., in addition to regular link EXP obtained during battles and story events.
On free days, a certain amount of bonding points will allow viewing a bonding event. One point will be consumed each time you view an event, but your bond with that character will be strengthened. On the evening of each free day, after exploring the Old Schoolhouse, the bonding events will change and an additional bonding point will be obtained.
On the night of 10/24, Rean can spend time with a particular character if the requirements have been met, earning the corresponding trophy/achievement.
Trails of Cold Steel II[]
- For details, see /Trails of Cold Steel II and Combat link
Rean Schwarzer can earn Link EXP (リンク経験) with the rest of Class VII (except Crow), Toval Randonneur, Claire Rieveldt, Sharon Kreuger, Instructor Sara, President Towa and Princess Alfin by attending bonding events, choosing them as partners in Mech Battles, etc., in addition to regular link EXP obtained during battles and story events.
On resting days, a certain amount of bonding points will allow viewing a bonding event. One point will be consumed each time you view an event, but your bond with that character will be strengthened.
At the start of Act 2: "The Awakening Lions", if either Toval, Claire or Sharon have reached Link Level 3 with Rean, they will give him a unique accessory. If more than one have reached it, only the character with the highest Link EXP will give the accessory. Blade II will also become available, which earns Link EXP up to 5 times each part.
On the night of 12/30, Rean can spend time with a particular character if the requirements have been met, earning the corresponding trophy/achievement.
Trails of Cold Steel III[]
- For details, see /Trails of Cold Steel III
Unlike in Cold Steel I and II, bonding levels are now separate from link EXP and can only be obtained by watching specific events, attending bonding events, buying gifts, etc. Rean Schwarzer can earn bonding points (好感度) with new and old Class VII, Towa Herschel, Celine Millstein, Claire Rieveldt, Sharon Kreuger, Elise Schwarzer and Princess Alfin.
On free days, a certain amount of bonding event points, not to be confused with the bonding points used to level up bonds, will allow viewing a bonding event. One point will be consumed each time you view an event, but your bond with that character will be strengthened.
On 7/17, Rean can spend a Summer Festival Ticket with a particular character (except Claire, Sharon and Celine). If the bond level is maxed or ends up maxed as a result of the points earned, a special event can be seen that raises the character's and Rean's stats (or grants a unique accessory), and earns the corresponding trophy/achievement. For the other three, speaking with them on the morning of 7/17 with their bond maxed earns a unique accessory and the trophy/achievement.
Trails of Cold Steel IV[]
- For details, see /Trails of Cold Steel IV
Rean Schwarzer can earn bonding points (好感度) with new and old Class VII, Crow Armbrust, Towa Herschel, Elise Schwarzer, Princess Alfin, Celine Millstein and Duvalie by watching specific events, attending bonding events, buying gifts, etc.
On free days, a certain amount of bonding event points, not to be confused with the bonding points used to level up bonds, will allow viewing a bonding event. One point will be consumed each time you view an event, but your bond with that character will be strengthened. Additionally, for female characters (except Celine and Duvalie), certain events will be marked as special memories, marked with a heart. Viewing two of these special memories is necessary to be able to trigger the Eventide event with that character.
On Eventide: "Night of Promises", Rean can spend a MWL Ticket with a particular character. If the bond level is maxed or ends up maxed as a result of the points earned (marked with a heart or star during character selection), a special event can be seen that grants a unique accessory and earns the corresponding trophy/achievement.
Buying gifts for other characters will also earn unique accessories even if no bonding level is available with them.
Game Mechanics
| |
|---|---|
| Basic | Action Time Battle - Combat Mechanics - Craft - Experience - Fishing - Orbal art - Orbment - Septium - Status Effects - Zemurian Ore |
Trails in the Sky FC, SC, and the 3rd 
|
Combat Mechanics - Status Effects | Chain Craft - Memory Doors - Monument - Recluse Cube - Remote Ability |
Trails from Zero and to Azure 
|
Combat Mechanics - Status Effects | Battle Evaluation - Bonding - Burst - Combo Craft - Master Quartz - Support Craft |
Trails of Cold Steel I and II 
|
Combat Mechanics - Status Effects | Combat Link - Weapon Types - EX Orb - Mech Battles - Overdrive - Reverie Corridor |
| Trails of Cold Steel III and IV
|
Combat Mechanics - Status Effects | Brave Order - Break |
Trails into Reverie 
|
Combat Mechanics - Status Effects | United Front - True Reverie Corridor |
Trails through Daybreak, Daybreak II, and beyond the Horizon 
|
Combat Mechanics - Status Effects | SCLM - S-Boost - Holo Core - Arts Plugin - Grendel Battles - Action Mode - Shard Skill |