Followers are close companions to the protagonist in Metaphor: ReFantazio. They will teach their class Archetype and associated skills by getting to know them. Followers also have their own professions and duties aboard the Gauntlet Runner. They might serve as trainers, merchants, cooks, or other useful mechanics. You can also turn the combat party members into Followers, giving them more prowess while in a dungeon. With deep enough connections, they might even teach their abilities to the rest of the party.
Remember that being a follower is independent of a character, such as a party member or NPC. This makes it similar to unlocking social links in Persona 3 Reload. You might meet a character early on in the story of Metaphor: ReFantazio, but they may not strongly care about Will just yet. While some characters build a strong Follower Bond through the main story, others have specific requirements. These include leveling up one of the five Royal Virtues or completing a side quest.
Followers Are Separated Into Different Categories
There 14 total Followers in Metaphor: ReFantazio. Some are party members, and others NPCs. There is no direct correlation if they are gained automatically or have a Virtue requirement.
Follower |
Character Type |
Join Date |
Requirement |
---|---|---|---|
Strohl |
Party Member |
6/6 |
Story |
Hulkenberg |
6/11 |
Story |
|
Heismay |
7/4 |
Story |
|
Junah |
8/19 |
Side Quest |
|
Eupha |
8/19 |
Side Quest |
|
Basilio |
9/11 |
Interaction |
|
More |
NPC |
6/5 |
Story |
Gallica |
6/6 |
Story |
|
Maria |
6/10 |
Story |
|
Catherina |
6/12 |
Non-optional Side Quest |
|
Neuras |
6/23 |
Side Quest |
|
Bardon |
7/5-7/15 |
Non-optional Side Quest |
|
Brigitta |
Any time after 6/12 |
Wisdom Virtue, Side Quest |
|
Alonzo |
Any time after 6/12 |
Imagination Virtue, Side Quest |
How To Unlock Story Followers
Some Followers Join On Certain Days
The majority of Followers are acquired automatically during Metaphor: ReFantazio. This may be due to completing a main story event or advancing the calendar date to a specific day or month. As long as you focus on the game’s plot, you will be unable to bypass any of the next eight Followers.
How To Unlock More The Seeker
More the Seeker is the very first Follower you will meet. This will happen during the long tutorial on 6/5. More introduces the concept of character Archetypes in Metaphor: ReFantazio. You will visit him often to upgrade and change Archetypes in the Akademia study. He typically asks you to level up certain Archetypes to gain favor with him.
How To Unlock Gallica The Mage
Gallica is one of the first characters met in Metaphor: ReFantazio. She is Will’s aide but doesn’t form a Follower Bond until 6/6. She ranks up along with the main story events, making it impossible for her to not be the maximum rank of 8. Her Mage Archetype provides consistent elemental damage to exploit enemy weaknesses.
How To Unlock Strohl The Warrior
Strohl is another early party member who fights alongside Will even before learning about Archetypes. Similar to Gallica, he automatically forms a Follower Bond on 6/6. His Warrior Archetype deals heavy damage and can often hit hard enough to fully overcome the defense of enemies.
YouTuber TagTheLegend utilized the Warrior for most of the early game. Instead of sneaking by an early boss, you can gain a mighty Warrior sword by stunning it with ice attacks. Using this weapon can easily make Warrior one of the most reliable Archetypes in Metaphor: ReFantazio.
How To Unlock Maria The Healer
Maria is met near the beginning of the game but only becomes a Follower on 6/10. While gaining her is free, she often requires an advanced Courage Virtue to rank up further. She is a Healer Archetype, making her lineage great for curing status ailments in Metaphor: ReFantazio.
How To Unlock Hulkenberg The Knight
Hulkenberg is another character introduced at the beginning of Metaphor: ReFantazio. However, she is absent until returning on 6/11 and becoming a Follower. For later ranks, she needs Will and increased Wisdom. Her Knight Archetype is mostly a defensive role; she may even jump in front of allies to protect them.
How To Unlock Catherina The Brawler
Catherina is technically unlocked via the side quest A Friend in Need at the Mausoleum. However, this is a requirement to reach 6/13 and is not optional. Head down one level of the mausoleum and grab the key, sitting next to a guard sleeping at a table. Bring it to the main floor to rescue the prisoners locked in a cell, and Catherina becomes a Follower.
Related
Metaphor: ReFantazio – Max Follower Bonds Guide (Social Links)
Metaphor: ReFantazio has the Bonds system similar to Social Links from Persona. These extend to both party members and NPCs, granting 14 in total.
While Catherina represents the Brawler Archetype, she is also about increasing the flow of money. Deeping her bond ups all bounty rewards lowers shop prices, and highlights treasure chests. However, many of these require some kind of challenge, such as dueling her on her own personal Gauntlet Runner.
How To Unlock Bardon The Commander
Bardon is another Follower who is recruited by a “side quest” that is required to move the main plot. On 6/23, you will gain the quest for The Old Castle Town Kidnapper. There isn’t anything you need to do, as once you clear the Sinner’s Dungeon main story on 7/5, the side quest will automatically succeed. However, if you wait until 7/16, you will instantly game over and may need to restart Metaphor: ReFantazio.
How To Unlock Heismay The Thief
Heismay is the final free Follower, gained automatically on 7/4. Due to a misunderstanding, he is rumored to be the kidnapper. But Will and the team find this to be false. He represents the Thief Archetype, which deals extra damage when catching enemies off guard.
How To Unlock Optional Followers
The Remaining Followers Have Side Quests
While many Followers are mandatory, there are still six you must track down in Metaphor: ReFantazio. For the most part, only a handful of them can be completely missed. Most characters either outright give you a side quest or require a small Royal Virtue investment.
How To Unlock Neuras The Gunner
Neuras will introduce his side quest Providing A spark on 6/23. There is no deadline, and you can even wait until the final month of Metaphor: ReFantazio. Go to Martira and speak to Gloomy Youth to travel to Komero. Neuras will become a follower after reaching this location, but to rank up, he may ask you to explore the region further.
How To Unlock Brigitta The Merchant
Brigitta requires Wisdom rank 2 to unlock her quest: A Bullish Embargo that has no deadline. Speak to Brigitta at Sunlumeo Street to gain the hunt. For this, you must travel to Belega Corridor and defeat the Grotesque Guptaruos on the bottom floor. Report back to Brigitta; she will not only become a Follower but also open up her shop called Lycaon Magic Association.
How To Unlock Alonzo The Faker
Alonzo needs Will to have gained Imagination Rank 2 to obtain the quest: A Dagger, A Ring, And A Rake. First, speak to the Pompous Man named Cuculus in Thoroughfare Square to begin the mission. Travel to the Abandoned Tomb, which is several days away from where Cuculus waits.
Because of the extra travel time, be sure to do this quest when there is enough downtime. You don’t want to accidentally wind up in a no-win situation because you reach a certain date in
Metaphor: ReFantazio
.
You must locate the monster, Trove Imitec, inside the dungeon, hiding in a large treasure chest. Upon defeat, it will yield a key. Use this to unlock the door just east of the main entrance. Inside you’ll find Malveno’s Ring. Bring this to Cuculus and reveal that his real name is Alonzo.
How To Unlock Junah The Masked Dancer
While Junah automatically becomes a party member, on 8/19, she will ask you to complete her quest Save the Mourning Snakes while on Virga Island. Head to the optional dungeon Orbwise Path and defeat the boss Kokasadors. This enemy hits extremely hard, making it important to bring the toughest party members in Metaphor: ReFantazio.
While you spend a large portion of time on Virga Island, if you progress the story far enough, it may be impossible to return safely without a game over. This makes it key to finish Junah’s task as soon as it is offered. Otherwise, you may miss out on advancing her Masked Dancer Archetype.
How To Unlock Eupha The Summoner
Like Junah, on 8/19, Eupha grants a side quest called The Trial of Malnova. Head to the dungeon Land of Ceremony and beat the boss Homo Pento. They are weak to the fire element, making both Mages and Summoners a great way of defeating it quickly. Still, aim to increase your team’s defenses against both wind and physical.
How To Unlock Basilio The Berserker
Basilio is the final Follower recruited in Metaphor: ReFantazio. While he joins as a combatant on 9/11, to be promoted as a Follower, you must track him down onboard the Gauntlet Runner while it is in transit. Depending on your progress, this can either be very easy or incredibly dangerous if you have an upcoming deadline. The best option is to travel on the Gauntlet Runner soon after Basilio sides with Will, even if there are remaining side quests.
Source: TagTheLegend/YouTube