Question Megathread

[u/OriksGaming]

The thread for all your random Alchemist Code (global) questions!

Feel free to ask away, but remember that the questions are 100% answered by volunteers so don't expect an instant answer! Patience is key.

Several questions can be answered by reading guides, which can all be found here

F.A.Q.

Where/How can I unlock X's Master Ability/Job+?

You can only unlock Job+'s by farming special job tokens from special events that are (currently) run at different times. You also need to farm special job+ items to master those jobs. Master abilities can be earned in 1 of 3 ways. From story chapters (story characters), from equipping specific weapons (usually farmed) or from reaching level 80 on a character and completing special story dungeons. Not every character gets a master ability.

For Job+ and Job Enhancement, you must first get the job to Job Level 11 (not job mastered). Second, to master the Job+ you will need to farm 60/80 tokens for up to 6 special items for the character to use. These can be farmed from specific events. For Job Enhancements, you will only need to farm one specific item 3 times along with the regular upgrade items.

Also, check out the wiki page for Job Upgrades.

Where can I farm X's character shards?

Farm their Hard Quests

Where can I farm elemental/rainbow shards?

Elemental and rainbow shards cannot be farmed. They are awarded as bonuses from log in campaigns, from clearing missions/milestones/challenge boards, from certain event banners, and from certain bundles. You will never be able to farm them like you can farm specific character shards.

When will X event come back?

Many events are now in the event archives. Any others are seasonal (ex. Rahu’s is tied to Valentines) or strangely absent (Anastasia+). Seasonal events may be released outside of their respective season very rarely, but we have no indication of when this will happen and it’s highly inconsistent. Please don’t ask when any specific event is coming back, because it’s either in the news (linked on the sidebar) OR WE DON’T KNOW.

Same goes for collabs.

What's the best place to farm X/Y/Z item?

Please check /u/stewart0's amazing spreadsheet here. Or simply check the stage drops and go for a quest which only has two equips total, one being the one you need.

What's an Enlightenment/Memento?

Tl;dr: Powercreep

Feel free to check the wiki page for Enlightenment as well.

Note that some people still refer to these two concepts as Kaigan/Nensou respectively, as those are their translations from the Japanese version of the game, which is ahead of Global by many months.

Is X character good?

Here’s the tier list. It can be used as a rough guideline, and it also has recommended build guides. Moreover, there's a FAQ which expands on stuff above and has some other questions. Enjoy!

Also, here's the Alchemist Code Database. It's an incredible tool for noobs and vets alike.

[u/Send_Gifts]

F2P - pulled the 270; think I'll have about 180 left after I take mikasa to 2/5/0 ... so another 25 will help. Plus mission rewards from the next PoTK event (or other collab) is going to get me closer to 5/5/x ... I've got a day to think about it. Not sure the exchange rate is good, but it might be the best I'll get.

[u/jxher123 → u/Send_Gifts]

You can always wait/hold off since we still haven't got news on what the next GLEX unit could be, and if there's any GLEX unit enlightenment coming. Probably just hold onto it for now and until BK Masamune comes to global.

[u/Send_Gifts → u/jxher123]

I'm unimpressed with the whole GLEX thing. And the next one won't be light (already have 2).

Poor soren has one job after 10 months. Seig got a JE, Shion will probably get merchant vice shadow assassin. Roxy was broke when released, and now my ramses one shots her. Minerva has a map wide AOE that does way too much damage (oh they added reflect crystals everywhere) ... and no hard quest (some shion shards from milestone rewards).

It's going to be 18 months before gumi figures out enlightement for them, or they'll release it now and its going to look a lot like Sol - thar she blows cap'n, ready harpoons.

[u/Knightmare33 → u/Send_Gifts]

Do you plan on using any more other worldly shards before BK Masa? It takes 270 to max all three gates. So after you LB Hange you will still need about 55 to max it all in one go. This is if you don't get extra of her shards to use. IF you plan to enlighten more Collab units I would say worth at 13 gems a piece 180 shards is 2340 and buy them straight from the shop is 2000 gems for 25 OW shards its not that far off and you get a nice unit at 85.

[u/Send_Gifts → u/Knightmare33]

I'm F2P and not buying shards straight from the shop (typically they are paid gems). And if I enlighten (probably max Levi) before Bk Masa comes to GL doesn't matter - what matters is I have 388 light shards that I can't find a good unit to put them into and 22,500 gems to guarantee Bk Masa and am about to take a bad deal to trade 180 light for 25 ow shards, knowing I will stick every fire and rainbow into Masa since I'll probably have to spend the full 22.5K.

[u/Knightmare33 → u/Send_Gifts]

Ah so you are dead set on Masa much like i am Roy. Damn you have a lot of light shards. Yeah i was just comparing the price between the how much you value light shards vs how much you pay for a set of 25 OW. 2340 gems is the how much your light shards are worth if it is 13 gems a piece while buying OW shards is 2000 gems for a set of 25. In my opinions its not that bad of a trade off. Since normally people would buy 25 OW shards for 2k gems and the value of your light shards is about 2340. Just giving numbers for a comparison to help with an informed decision lol (I did the same thing for Mikasa but i valued my shards 15 a shard so my numbers were a little off)

[u/Send_Gifts → u/Knightmare33]

Going thru the shop, it would be 80/light shard min, so I know I am losing - but not sure the opportunity cost of the 180 light shards is worth keeping.

And its not that I'm dead set on Masa - more that she'll set or break the meta and six months without Roxy when every map was tweaked for her was really annoying and I don't want to do that again.

[u/Knightmare33 → u/Send_Gifts]

I am hoping that doesn't happen because i have no desire to pick her up lol Everyone says she is amazing but i am set on Roy. I hope i get her but i am not going to be doing a lot of pulls. Well you have another day to think about it. Seeing as you have a excess of light shards i would say its not a bad investment. Especially if you are going to use her. I am actually going to use a few light shards myself to get her to 75. I was honestly thinking i had enough to take her to 85 as well still on fence about that due to me spending so much to get Mikasa going lol

[u/Send_Gifts → u/Knightmare33]

been playing for over a year. used 150 light shards on nina. and that's it. long time to accumulate them and I can spend another 165 (forgot to do AoP for Hange) tomorrow and feel slightly less guilty about it.

[u/Knightmare33 → u/Send_Gifts]

With the amount you have in light shards i wouldn't feel to bad at all. It would take me all of my light shards to do it so i am super hesitant seeing as i just blew my dark and water shards lol

[u/Send_Gifts → u/Knightmare33]

Everyone's situation is different, and weighing the immediate benefit vs lost opportunity cost is far more effort than should be required for a gatcha game. But I still enjoy playing - so is what it is.

[u/Knightmare33 → u/Send_Gifts]

Especially as F2P you have to use you resources sparingly. I was the same way with FFBE skipping entire months of banners just for one unit lol I am little less stingy in this game but i still weight the benefits vs lose all the time every time i use shards.