How to Win Battles in Baten Kaitos Origins

Baten Kaitos Origins is the prequel to the very popular Baten Kaitos: Lost Ocean and Eternal Wings. Like the first game, Baten Kaitos Origins replaces standard RPG turn-based combat with an innovative card-battle mechanic. However, almost everything else about the battle system is unlike the first game, so if you think you know what to do from playing the first game, think again.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Build your Deck

1. Acclimate yourself to the new rules of combat. You can only play cards that are higher than the last one you played. No descending straights, and no pairs. Build your deck with this in mind.

2. Put plenty of ones in your deck, and slightly fewer twos and threes. Remember that you'll want to be able to play one of each number in a row to create a run.

3. Add special attack cards to the deck for each character. Unlike the original Baten Kaitos, in Baten Kaitos Origins all characters share the same deck, so you'll want to have a few attacks in the deck for each character.

4. Add a few weapons to the deck. Try to focus on weapons like the Hermit's Staff that can be used by any character.

Combat

5. Always run through a straight if you can, going from one to two to three to any special attacks (fours and higher) that you may have.

6. If a character-specific weapon is available, start by selecting that weapon before proceeding to the next lowest card. This will both empower the current character, and get a useless card out of the way for the next character.

7. Chain a few attacks in a row by using ones. After a strong straight (one, two, three, four, and possibly more), if the next character is ready to attack with a one, it will flash "Relay" on the one. Immediately select the one, and then continue another straight. It is possible to chain all three characters together, for an extra-strong series of attacks.

8. Discard chaff. If a character has nothing useful to play because your hand is mostly bad cards, discard them with the B-button.

Tips & Warnings

• Keeping your deck small increases the chances your favorite cards will pop up, and reduces randomness.
• Don't forget that you can't lead right off with a special attack; you need to have a few hits first.