The Trails of Cold Steel series has long been a favorite among RPG enthusiasts, known for its intricate plots, rich character development, and engaging combat mechanics. With the release of Trails of Cold Steel:NW, players are invited to explore a new chapter set between the events of Trails of Cold Steel II and III. This mobile RPG follows Lavi and her comrades on a mission within the Erebonian Empire, offering a blend of strategic combat and immersive storytelling that fans of the series will love.

For those new to the game or looking to enhance their experience, this beginner’s guide will help you get started. From understanding hero types and party composition to maximizing rewards and completing daily quests, we’ve got you covered. Let’s explore the essential tips and tricks to ensure you have the best gaming experience in Trails of Cold Steel:NW.

Getting the Best Experience on PC with BlueStacks

Playing Trails of Cold Steel:NW on BlueStacks brings numerous advantages that significantly enhance your gaming experience. BlueStacks allows you to enjoy the game on a larger screen with superior graphics and smooth performance, eliminating the constraints of mobile hardware. The intuitive controls using keyboard and mouse or a game controller provide a more precise and responsive gameplay experience, making it easier to navigate the game’s complex mechanics and execute strategic moves in combat.

In addition to these inherent benefits, BlueStacks offers a plethora of features designed to give you a competitive edge. The Multi-Instance Manager lets you run multiple games or accounts simultaneously, while the Macro Recorder allows you to automate repetitive tasks, saving time and effort. Enhanced graphics settings, keymapping tools, and high FPS capabilities ensure you get the most out of your game. For detailed instructions on how to get started, check out our PC setup guide for Trails of Cold Steel:NW. With BlueStacks, you’re not just playing the game—you’re experiencing it at its fullest potential.

Learn About Hero Jobs and Composition

In Trails of Cold Steel: Northern War, understanding the different hero jobs and how to compose your party effectively is key to success. Each hero has a specific job type that determines their role in battle.

• Warrior: Versatile frontline fighters who balance attack and defense, capable of both taking and dealing significant damage.
• Tank: Built around defense, designed to draw enemy attention and protect their teammates from harm.
• Ranger: Ranged DPS specialists, excelling in dealing high damage either through powerful single-target attacks or wide-ranging AoE skills.
• Caster: Spellcasters who wield powerful magic to control the battlefield, either by subduing groups of enemies or dealing massive AoE damage.
• Supporter: Essential for maintaining your team’s health and performance, providing crucial buffs and healing to allies, while debuffing enemies to tilt the battle in your favor.

Creating a balanced party typically involves having a mix of these jobs to cover all aspects of combat. However, you can also experiment with specialized compositions, such as focusing on high DPS with Rangers and Casters, or creating a resilient team with multiple Tanks and Supporters. Playing around with different hero combinations allows you to adapt to various challenges and find the strategy that works best for your playstyle.

Character Upgrades are Crucial for Success

Upgrading your characters is vital for achieving success, especially in the early stages of the game. By leveling up your heroes and equipping them with better gear, you significantly enhance their combat capabilities, making it easier to tackle tougher challenges and progress through the story. Early investment in character upgrades can dramatically improve your party’s overall performance, giving you a solid foundation to build upon.

As you advance in the game, you’ll unlock additional methods to enhance your roster, such as unlocking new skills, improving equipment through crafting, and acquiring powerful artifacts. These upgrades not only boost your heroes’ stats but also provide strategic advantages in battle. Ignoring these enhancements can severely impact your party’s effectiveness, potentially hindering your progress. Therefore, make it a priority to regularly upgrade your characters to ensure your team remains strong and capable of overcoming any obstacles that come your way.

Learn About Attribute Matchups

Attributes play a crucial role in combat, like elemental systems in other RPGs. Each character and enemy are associated with a specific attribute, and understanding how these attributes interact can give you a significant advantage in battle. Attacking an enemy with an attribute advantage allows you to deal an extra 25% damage, but it’s important to be aware that enemies can exploit your weaknesses in the same way.

Here are the six attributes in the game:

• Earth defeats Water,
• Water defeats Fire,
• Fire defeats Wind,
• Wind defeats Earth,
• Time and Space are outside this interaction and instead deal additional damage to each other.

Mastering these matchups is essential for optimizing your team’s effectiveness in combat. Always consider your enemies’ attributes when forming your party and choosing your attacks. This strategic approach will help you maximize your damage output and minimize the risk of taking increased damage from enemy attacks.

Activate Buffs with the Right Party Composition

Now that we’ve covered attributes, another key aspect to optimize your team in Trails of Cold Steel:NW is leveraging party composition bonuses. By stacking characters of specific attributes, you can activate several powerful buffs that enhance your team’s performance. Here’s how these bonuses work:

• 3 heroes of the same attribute: ATK and HP +10%
• 3 heroes of the same attribute along with two heroes of different attributes: ATK and HP +15%
• 4 heroes of the same attribute: ATK +15%, HP +20%
• 5 heroes of the same attribute: ATK and HP +25%

Space heroes act as wildcards, fitting into any attribute combination to help activate these bonuses. Time characters, however, have their unique set of bonuses and do not interact with other attributes in the same way:

• 1 Time character: DEF +30%
• 2 Time characters: DEF +30%, +3 CP when attacked
• 3 Time characters: DEF +30%, +3 CP when attacked, Crit rate +15
• 4 Time characters: DEF +30%, +3 CP when attacked, Crit rate +15, Crit damage +30
• 5 Time characters: DEF +30%, +3 CP when attacked, Crit rate +15, Crit damage +30, Speed +15

Utilizing these composition bonuses can provide a significant boost to your team’s stats, making it crucial to carefully consider your party setup. Whether you aim for a balanced mix or a specialized team, activating the right buffs will give you an edge in both offense and defense, ensuring your party is well-prepared for any challenge.

Claim Those AFK Rewards

The AFK grinding system is a fantastic feature in Trails of Cold Steel:NW that allows you to continuously accumulate resources even when you’re not actively playing the game. This system ensures that your progress doesn’t stall while you’re offline, providing a steady flow of rewards to enhance your heroes and advance through the game.

However, it’s essential to check in periodically to claim these resources. If left unclaimed, the rewards will eventually cap out and stop accumulating, potentially slowing down your progress. Make it a habit to log in regularly, collect your AFK rewards, and keep your resources flowing. This simple routine can make a significant difference in maintaining a strong and competitive team.

Don’t Forget the Daily and Weekly Quests

Like many other mobile RPGs, Trails of Cold Steel:NW offers a series of daily and weekly quests that yield fantastic rewards. These missions are designed to be completed regularly and provide essential materials and resources that are crucial for your development. By consistently completing these quests, you can accumulate the materials needed to upgrade your heroes, enhance your gear, and even pull for new characters in the gacha system.

Routinely engaging with these quests is key to your success in the game. The rewards they offer can significantly boost your progress, helping you to build a stronger, more competitive team. Make it a priority to check and complete your daily and weekly missions to ensure you’re maximizing your potential and staying ahead in the game. These quests are not just an added bonus—they are an integral part of your journey in Trails of Cold Steel:NW.