- See also Combat link
Description[]
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. Trial Chests will also grant link EXP to their specified characters. Keep in mind that for Mech Battles, the link EXP will go to the active partner at the end of the battle.
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.
Starting Levels[]
By default, every character starts at Link Level 2 (1000 Link EXP) with every other character. Some character pairings will start with a different level:
| Characters | Starting EXP | Characters | Starting EXP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
     (All pairings) |
1750 |  & 
|
2000 | |
  (All pairings) |
1750 | & 
|
4000 | |
 (All pairings) |
1750 |  &
|
4500 | |
  (All other pairings) |
1500 | (With Class VII) |
2000 | |
&  &  &  (Includes Overdrive) |
3000 | & & & &
|
2250 |
Additionally, loading Clear Data from Trails of Cold Steel will increase Rean's link EXP with characters whose final bonding event has been seen: 250 if the trophy/achievement was obtained and another 250 if the character was chosen in the Clear Data playthrough.
In the Reverie Corridor, every pairing's link EXP is raised to a minimum of 2500.
Act 2 Reward[]
At the start of Act 2: "The Awakening Lions", if either Toval, Claire or Sharon have reached Link Level 3 (2000 Link EXP) 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.
| Character | Accessory | Description |
|---|---|---|
|
|
 Quick Caliber S
|
Reduces casting time by a third |
|
|
Cerulean Hearts
|
ACC+100%/Crit+10% |
|
|
Black Virtue
|
Attacks/crafts can cancel arts (90% chance)/Delay+6 |
Final Event[]
On the night of 12/30, Rean can spend time with a particular character if the requirements have been met, except for Toval, Claire and Sharon, earning the corresponding trophy/achievement and 1500 Link EXP. The requirements are as follows:
| Character | Link EXP | Other prerequisite |
|---|---|---|
|
|
6000 (Link LV6) | Bonding event on 12/26, played Blade II or chose as partner for Mech Battle on 12/30 |
|
4500 (Link LV5) | Bonding event on 12/26 |
List of Bonding Events[]
| Date | Characters | Points | Link EXP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/4 |
|
2 | 500 |
| 12/8 |
|
3 | 500 |
| 12/12 | ×2 ×2 ×2
|
7 | 500 |
| 12/18 |
|
5 | 500 |
| 12/22 |
|
5 | 500 |
| 12/26 |
|
6 | 800 |
List of Link EXP Events[]
| Date | Trigger | Characters | Link EXP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Act 1 - Part 1 | |||
| 12/1 | Choose partner for Mech Battle during To Garrelia | (One with Rean) |
100 |
| Act 1 - Part 2 | |||
| 12/5 | Choose partner for Mech Battle during The Watchtower (Must be in the party beforehand) | (One with Rean) |
100 |
| Act 1 - Part 3 | |||
| 12/9 | Choose partner for Mech Battle during The Verdant City (Must be in the party beforehand) | (One with Rean) |
100 |
| Choose in Ymir after completing The Verdant City | (One with Rean) |
600 | |
| Act 2 - Part 1 | |||
| 12/17 | Choose partner for Mech Battle during Rescuing a Hostage | (One with Rean) |
100 |
| Act 2 - Part 2 | |||
| 12/21 | Choose partner for Mech Battle during To Roer | (One with Rean) |
100 |
| Act 2 - Part 3 | |||
| 12/25 | Choose partner for Mech Battle during The Duke's Arrest | (One with Rean) |
100 |
| Act 2 - Part 4 | |||
| 12/30 | Choose partner for Mech Battle during Liberating Trista | (One with Rean) |
800 |
| Complete Liberating Trista | (All pairings) |
1000 | |
List of Trial Chests[]
Trial chests are a type of chest that can only be opened if the required characters are in the player's party. When opened, they trigger an encounter for only those same characters, and if they win they gain 500 link EXP and the ability to go into Overdrive together.
Furthermore, if a trial chest is interacted without the required characters in the party, a chest quote is shown (similar to the ones found in the Liberl and Crossbell arcs).
| Location | Characters | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| East Celdic Highway 3 |
|
Senior Bear Mole, Bear Mole ×4 |
| Machias and Elliot decided to open their own business. Funding was no problem, of course, because they both had a connection to some CAPITAL! | ||
| Garrelia Byroad 1 |
|
Queen Bee, Thunder Bee ×2 |
| Sharon had just set out some ice cream, when Fie snuck in and absconded with the frozen treat. The melted trail she left behind was the only clue about this cold steal. | ||
| Terra Shrine |
|
Giant Amalgam, Dastardly Amalgam ×3 |
| You try to open the trial chest. It claps its hands over its ears and whispers, 'I can't hear you.' | ||
| Nord Highlands - North |
|
Lord Drango, Infant Drango ×7 |
| How is this message like Millium? It's short. | ||
| Nord Highlands - South |
|
Megalon Buffa, Brutal Buffa ×2 |
| You've heard it a Millium times before: nice Gaius finish last. | ||
| Aria Shrine |
|
Emerald Ooze G, Emerald Ooze ×2 |
| Irina Reinford's daughter wasn't ready to purchase her own orbal car, but she was willing to take out A-lisa on one! | ||
| Aqua Shrine |
|
King Crysnetic, Crysnetic ×4 |
| Did you hear Vita Clotilde was accused of impersonating a radio show host? Yup: charged with a Misty-meanor. | ||
| Garrelia Fortress - Ruins |
|
Huge Rat, Dirty Rat ×7 |
| If you want a little beer, get a pint glass. If you want more, a tankard. But if you want to really get smashed, pour it into a Vale-stein. | ||
| Ancient Quarry |
|
Alpha Diglem ×2, Diglem ×4 |
| Who decided to name an academy 'Thors'? Sounds like they were pretty hammered at the time! | ||
| North Kreuzen Highway 3 |
|
Godlinoceros, Enduranoceros ×2 |
| Millium has been doing her best to get Jusis and Machias to come play with her, but sadly, her efforts thus far have been Juseless. | ||
| Twin Dragons Bridge - Garrelia Side |
|
Giga Ashen Pom ×2, Ashen Pom ×6 |
| It's silly that Laura is worried about her weight, right? After all, it doesn't look like she's put on even Le-gram. | ||
| Spina Byroad |
|
Ghost Tomartian, Agonizing Tomartian ×7 |
| It makes sense that Emma was the top scorer on the Thors entrance exam. After all, she really knows how to spell! | ||
| Sachsen Mountain Path 2 |
|
Master Cryon, Bear Mole ×4 |
| How can you tell that Gaius grew up in a pretty extreme environment? His whole family is IN TENTS! | ||
| Nortia Highway 2 |
|
Pudgy Penguin ×2, Mad Penguin ×6 |
| Have you heard Elliot's father published a best-selling book on the Imperial forces? They don't call him 'Craig the Read' for nothing! | ||
| Eisengard Range 3 |
|
Rolling Rock |
| Laura may usually win against Fie in a swimming race, but it's no contest when they're racing on land. After all, Fie's always been fast on her Fiet. | ||
| Terra Shrine - Proving Grounds |
|
Dino Slug, Dissolution Slug ×5 |
| Millium tried to run after Machias caught her sneaking food, but she stopped dead in her tracks when he shouted, 'Don't you move one more milliumeter!' | ||
|
|
Minos Lord, Minos Demon ×2 | |
| It's whispered among jaegers that Class VII will take out anyone...if the price is right. They'll just charge you a little Fie. | ||
| Aqua Shrine - Proving Grounds |
|
Grand Ghastly, Ghastly Frog ×4 |
| Millium was called into Captain Arundel's office after spilling a few secrets. With a frown, he said, 'It's about time someone around here gave you a stern Lechter!' | ||
|
|
Gigantic Sharkodile | |
| Alisa asked Machias if he'd like to ride in an Achtzehn straight off the Reinford assembly lines, but he shook his head, saying, 'No tanks!' | ||
| Ignis Shrine - Proving Grounds |
|
Homuranomikoto, Hinomikoto ×2 |
| Word has it that the Imperial Army has weaponized the karaoke performances of Class VII's instructor into a new type of munition: the Sara-nade. | ||
|
|
Arch Geist, Soul Geist ×4 | |
| Whatever happens, Emma and Machias can always fall back on their bartending skills. You seldom see them without their glasses! | ||
| Aria Shrine - Proving Grounds |
|
Heavy Stalker, Stone Stalker ×7 |
| When Jusis and Rufus decide who will inherit the Albarea lands, will they have to DUKE it out? | ||
|
|
Claydoll Omega, Claydoll ×2 | |
| Fie and Millium are on a waiting list for a new product that will help them grow taller, but it's very in demand. Hopefully they'll get it sometime in the next Millennium. | ||
| Aurochs Canyon Path 2 |
|
Elder Mantis, War Mantis ×4 |
| Have you seen Dorothee's book about Jusis & Machias? It started with a Noble Command, a Treasure Sword was brandished, and it ended with a shotgun wedding. | ||
| North Kreuzen Highway 2 |
|
King Falena ×2, Were Falena ×4 |
| Class VII's been working tirelessly to find a way to stop the civil war, but it's Claire that they're Tovally at a loss on how to do it. Care to Sharon idea or two? |
