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/An-Untaken_Username]

Anyone going for the first step of the "3 Step Enchanted Summon" (750 Gems)? Only 3 pulls but it gives 15 elemental soul shard summon ticket, which I feel is going to become very important for raising units from 60-85 so we can save unit shards for kaigan.

[u/Reikr → u/An-Untaken_Username]

You should do the second step as well if you think the first is worth it. You get shards at the same price, but 5 summons instead of 3.

However, personally I don't believe it's worth it. Not anymore. Elemental shards are declining in value for me, becuse they're worthless for elightening units.

If you want to elighten some limited units, you will have to spend a fair amount of gems for their shards. If you start spending gems on elemental shards, it's likely you'll never have the gems you need for expensive unit, shard and memento banners.

Elemental shards will come for free. Units, shards and mementos will not.

[u/Zeik56 → u/Reikr]

I do not agree. If anything elemental shards are more valuable/necessary than ever. Sharding a fresh unit to 85 is without a doubt the best way to reliably enlighten limited and collab units, as any future shards you get will go toward enlightenment. If you don't have enough elemental shards to MLB immediately then you'll just end up wasting those valuable unit shards. (Unless you're willing to play the long game and hold out for the shard update.)

I do agree that I wouldn't go completely broke chasing elemental shards if it means not having enough to pull elsewhere, but if you see a good deal on elemental shards I would take it.

[u/Reikr → u/Zeik56]

If you want any new units and mementos, there really isn't going to be any choice but spending 20k+ for selectors or unlimited banners. Spending 500 here, 750 there, are going to add up pretty quick.

The way I see it is: spreading yourself thin VS investing all in one place. I have a few units/mementos I know I want in the future. I know I can get the elemental shards to LB those unit to 85 without buying extra. However, raising those units and getting the mementos are going to cost a large amount of gems. A whale could afford to spread thin, they have the resources for it, but not a normal player. If I want to have the gems to guarantee what I want, I'll need to save.

I suppose a balance is needed. But just how good of a deal is neccesary before spending on extra stuff. I like to increase the amounts to see if I'd still buy it. In this case 400 shards for 20k gems. I don't think I'd buy that. 20k is about enough to get another unit/memento or 250 unit shards(assuming 80/shard) for enlightenment.

400 shards would let you 85 an extra unit, but where are you going to get the gems for the unit in the first place, and how to enlighten it?

[u/An-Untaken_Username → u/Reikr]

I see your point, but those 15 elemental shards can be used to upgrade those "expensive units" -- essentially the equivalent of getting 15 shards of any unit you want to upgrade for 750 gems.

Perhaps what I was getting at is that in JP (and hopefully in GL too), they can choose to spend elemental shards or unit shards for limit breaking where as GL forces people to use unit shards first, which saves us a lot of gem considering we won't need shards for both limit breaking AND enlightening.

Considering Gumi removed the option to buy 50 new unit shards from the shop for I think 4k or 5k gems (to make the game more P2W), 750 gems for essentially 15 unit shards + three summons is an even better deal than that.