Metaphor: ReFantazio has finally arrived, and it features the Follower system, which will look familiar to any fans of the developer’s Persona games. Followers are your social links, characters who you will want to spend time with to become closer to them, while unlocking benefits for doing so. Unlocking new Followers will open up a new Archetype tree, with the advanced Archetypes coming at higher bond levels. Some of these Followers will come as part of the main story, while others can only be found through side quests.

There are eight ranks to unlock for each Follower, which can become easy to track once you reach the second bond level with your companion Gallica. This unlocks the Followers’ Echoes ability, which lets you open the menu pressing the Y/Triangle button when you have free time and aren’t in a dungeon. This will show who’s available to progress and who isn’t. If someone can’t progress, speaking with them will tell you what’s blocking you from progressing. The blockers could be that a specific Royal Virtue–your social stats–isn’t high enough, or they need to be talked to on the Gauntlet Runner while traveling to a destination.

Followers are listed in roughly the order they are unlocked. Any Followers unlocked as part of the main story and more or less can’t be missed will be noted as story-based with a minimal amount of spoilers, but there will still be some. Each slide will also include some beneficial skills that you should focus on reaching.

Gallica

Gallica is your trusty companion who is with you from the start of your journey. She is unlocked as a Follower early in the game and it is part of the main story and cannot be skipped. She is also the only Follower that’s progression is tied entirely to story progression, so no extra effort is required here.

Strohl

Strohl is your first party member and becomes a Follower shortly after he awakens to his power. His initial bond level is unlocked as a part of the main story, and his bond can be progressed whenever you have free time. He does give you a request that must be completed in order to progress, which requires you to find a merchant in Gran Trad.

More

More is in charge of Akademeia, and your bond with him starts as part of the main story, but increasing that bond requires you to complete tasks for him. These tasks either require you to level a specific Archetype, which can be done by any party member, or he will ask you to study a large number of Archetypes. When asked to study a number of Archetypes, each Archetype is counted once, the first time any party member unlocks it.

Maria

Grius’ daughter Maria is found in Gran Trad at the Hushed Honeybee Inn. You will have the opportunity to spend time with her the night before the assassination attempt, which cannot be missed. After that you will need to return to Gran Trad with pictures from your journey. Not every rank will require a new picture, and you will find more than enough on the main path to reach max rank.

Hulkenburg

Hulkenburg is another party member, and her bond is unlocked automatically as part of the main story. Since she always travels with you, she is regularly available to advance her bond, although she occasionally requires you to speak with her while traveling in the Gauntlet Runner as opposed to in town.

Catherina

Catherina can be found in the first major dungeon, the Catacombs in Gran Trad. Once you get the ability to freely explore the dungeon you will run into her. She asks you to find her friend in her stead. There is a room of survivors found in the first section of the dungeon, you just need to find the key nearby and save them in order to unlock her bond. While this is framed as a side quest, its basically required.

Progression for her bond is staggered and sort of tied to story progression, but you will still need to seek her out. The first couple levels can be unlocked by finding her Gauntlet Runner–which is pink–on various paths in the open section and fighting her. Eventually she can be found in town instead, so keep an eye on your Follower list.

Brigitta

Brigitta can be found outside the Ignitor store on Sunlumeo Street. She can be found there from the beginning of the game, but you can’t get her as a Follower until you reach Wisdom rank 2. Once you rank up that skill, Brigitta can be found at her store in Gran Trad, typically at night. She regularly requires you to have reached certina Royal Virtue stats, but you can always speak with her to see which one you need to rank up.

Neuras

Neuras is your trusty Gauntlet Runner captain and mechanic, joining the team fairly early in the story as you leave Gran Trad for the first time. In order to gain him as a follower you need to complete his request “Providing a Spark,” which asks you to find a relic at a town called Komoro near Martira. Traveling there will get you the relic, which you need to give to Neuras.

After that, you need to find another relic to advance Neuras bond, with one relic getting you one rank. These relics can be found in various tombs and side dungeons in the game, with a notebook full of hints found in the Gauntlet Runner, but you can also check out our Relic Location guide for every location.

Alonzo

Alonzo can be found going under the alias of Cuculus in Martira, offering a request. In order to accept the quest you will need to have Imagination rank 2. After that you will need to travel to the Abandoned Tomb nearby and complete the dungeon. The final boss of the dungeon drops the quest item. Returning it to him unlocks him as a follower. From there he can be found mostly at night, occasionally requiring you to have certain Royal Virtues leveled up.

Heismay

Heismay is another party member and the first rank for his Follower level is unlocked as part of the story. Once unlocked, he can be spoken to whenever you have free time. He has multiple ranks that must be leveled while traveling on the Gauntlet Runner, with the rest of his ranks available at night.

Bardon

Bardon becomes available shortly after reaching the coastal city of Port Brilehaven. After attending the contest at the arena and being granted free time, return to Matira to find Bardon. Towards the end of his ranks you will be given a hunt by him as a side quest. In order to continue increasing his bond level you will need to complete this hunt. He can be found during the day in Martira.

Junah

Junah is another party member, who will join you as part of the main story. However, she won’t become a follower until you complete a side quest for her. The quest is called “Save the Mourning Snakes,” which becomes available on Virga Island once you have your main mission deadline and are given free time. Simply head to the destination and complete the dungeon to unlock Junah as a follower. From here she can typically be found in town at night, but she does have multiple ranks that must be done while the Gauntlet Runner is traveling.

Eupha

Eupha joins your party after completing the main objective on Virga Island. After completing that you will have several days of free time on the island, at which point Eupha will have a request. Her request, “The Trial of Malnova,” requires you to head to a specific island and complete the dungeon there. Like other dungeons, purchasing info from the vendor in the local tavern will inform you about weaknesses and Eupha’s brother can provide help related to the weather on the island, which can make combat more difficult. After that, Eupha can be found during the day typically. Her final rank requires you to be on the Gauntlet Runner heading to a location.

Basilio

Basilio is both your final party member and your final Follower to unlock. His first bond rank can be unlocked once you are given your next major deadline following Basilio joining the party. However, this initial rank must be done on the Gauntlet Runner while traveling to a destination.

Check out GameSpot’s Metaphor: ReFantazio tips guide for more help in this massive RPG.