[Octopath Travelers 0]Complete manual for early stage strategy | Boost experience points, JP, and drops with food buff optimization, strongest job route, and city reconstruction priority route

Octopath Travelers 0 (hereinafter referred to as Octopath 0) is a full-fledged RPG that allows you to freely replace the 8-person team and adds town building elements. If you make a mistake in the early stages, you will be forced to struggle due to lack of experience points and job points (JP), but if you follow the correct route, the game will progress surprisingly smoothly. This guide comprehensively explains how to make full use of the meal system, reveal all routes for obtaining ingredients, optimal city reconstruction priorities, detailed steps for the strongest job route, and combat techniques. Even if you are a beginner, if you follow these steps, you will have a comfortable beginning with no regrets.

1. Basics of the meal system and the importance of early-stage priority buffs

The food buff that can be prepared at the bar will dramatically improve Octra 0's combat efficiency. By eating a meal before battle, powerful effects such as increased experience points (EXP), JP, and item drop rate will last for 20 turns. As a result, your level will rise rapidly just by hunting small enemies, and the opening of job abilities will be accelerated. Especially in the early stages, the number of battles is limited, so it is extremely inefficient without food.

First, let's get the basics down. Cooking will be available once the Wishvale Tavern is unlocked. “Grape Juice” (EXP +25%, Ingredients: Grapes x 1) can be used as an initial recipe, and this alone will increase the leveling speed by 1.25 times. Furthermore, if you obtain “Grape Ice” (acquired JP +25%, materials: grapes x 2 + milk x 1), you will be able to earn JP faster. By constantly maintaining these buffs, you can complete the main character's job change at an early stage.

In addition, “Good Luck Fried Egg” (item drop rate +10%, material: egg x 1), which increases the drop rate, is also required in the early stages. By combining this, the acquisition of equipment and materials will be stabilized, and financial measures will proceed at the same time. Meal effects do not overlap, so switch between giving priority to EXP or JP depending on the situation. For example, choose grape juice when leveling up, and grape ice when upgrading your job. If you also use dishes that have an automatic recovery effect after the battle (e.g. Yakitori, physical attack +5% + HP 10% recovery), you can use them repeatedly with less consumption.

2. All routes to obtain ingredients in the early stages and the secret of automatic production

Ingredients can be obtained through field commands (begging, asking, stealing), or automatically produced in fields and pastures through town reconstruction. Automation is key because manual acquisition alone cannot keep up. Below is a detailed summary of the routes limited to the early stages.

• Grape seeds are obtained by begging from an old woman watching over Valore's main street. Automatic harvesting is possible by planting this in the field.
• Broccoli seeds can be obtained by asking a girl in Syatopolis. It will be used to expand field production.
• Milk and beef can be produced by purchasing a cow from Gragspia Slums and then setting up a farm.
• Eggs are automatically obtained at the farm after securing chickens during town reconstruction.

Get the Valore recipe from the bartender on the main street and unlock the grape ice cream. The recipe for Cyatopolis food is obtained from an old man who wants to see a cheerful play, and a fried egg of good luck is released. In Ember Glow, you can get Ember Glow recipes from a girl waiting for her mother to return. With this, you can also add auxiliary buffs such as tomato salad (defense +10%).

If you prioritize cows and chickens on the farm, milk, eggs, and beef will be available every day, and you will not run out of ingredients for grape ice cream and lucky fried eggs. Plant grapes and broccoli seeds in the field and increase production by upgrading. In this way, an endless loop of food supply is realized.

3. Optimal priority and explosive benefits for city reconstruction (those who light the torch)

The biggest mistake in the early stages is to postpone the torch bearer (Wishveil restoration story). If you progress to Chapter 2 with this as your top priority, fields, ranches, and shops will be unlocked, and automatic food production and cooking recipes will increase at once. The recommended level is low and can be cleared by an early party.

priority

1. Torchbearer The basic facilities will be unlocked in Chapter 1.
2. Upgrade your fields and ranches and start producing ingredients.
3. Set up a shop and purchase attraction ribbons to increase encounters.
4. Place residents to improve production efficiency.

This will increase your EXP/JP by 25% per battle and strengthen your equipment with dropped materials. Maximize your rewards by clearing substories in parallel. As reconstruction progresses, it will be possible to secure chickens and cows, and with a stable supply of eggs and milk, the buff will be constantly on. There is no need to raise your level excessively, and it is realistic to reach level 20 just by taking this route.

4. Strongest job route: All steps to instantly turn the protagonist into a merchant

Changing the main character's job is a turning point in the early stages. We will provide you with the best support through the following routes.

1. Change the main character to a thief and learn the secrets of stealing.
2. Equip Thief Secret and collect materials.
3. Change the main character to a merchant and transfer the secret of stealing.
4. Unlock merchant skills to obtain BP Passer (ally BP +1), Critical Spear, Lucky Arrow (damage proportional JP acquisition), and Money Collection (money strategy).

Merchants are the key to supplying BP and earning JP, and if you fire lucky arrows repeatedly, your JP will increase dramatically in small fry battles. Infinite rotation is possible when combined with a companion who has an SP passer (such as Steer). Add swordsmen and scholars as subs to stabilize weak point attacks.

With this route, you can solve the early JP shortage and assign powerful abilities to everyone. Please be careful not to forget the secret set and check the menu frequently.

5. Perfect operation of 8-person formation strategy and increase in encounters

The highlight of Octra 0 is the 8-person formation, which has unlimited replacement. At the time of the break, we will concentrate on bringing in high-firepower characters and aim for immediate subjugation. Manage your actions with Merchant BP Passer and wipe out Catlin with Hunter's Critical Attack.

To increase the number of encounters, purchase the “Ribbon of Attraction” from the cattle merchant in the Gragspia slums, and in addition, acquire the ability by winning “Battered Man”. One is enough (no duplication). With this, Catlin hunting will be stable, and EXP, JP, and money strategy will proceed at the same time. Organize weaknesses-revealing abilities to increase search efficiency.

Tactical example

• Place the tank in the front row.
• Place all scholar magic in the back row.
• Pass BP from the merchant to the attacker by switching after the break.
• Ensure durability with food buffs.

6. Simultaneous optimization technique for money policy and level increase

Dropped money will increase when collecting money (merchant) and lucky fried eggs. Mass produce Yakitori (physical attack +5%) with beef production and sell it. Lump-sum cash schemes are also effective in arenas and sub-quests. To raise the level, increase encounters + use grape juice to go around Catlyn. Gather at least 4 friends and use field commands to collect items.

For your favorite dish, choose either “grilled beef” (physical attack +5%) or “light snack” (physical defense +5%). Physical reinforcement in the early stages is a great benefit.

7. Practical example: Ideal state reached in 1 hour

Proceed to Torch Chapter 1 from the start, obtain Valore ingredients and create grape juice. Next, start the merchant route and increase the encounters to hunt 100 catlins. In this way, you will achieve level 15, JP200, and full ingredients stock. Don't forget to search for treasure chests and update your equipment.

8. Summary: If you follow this guide, you will be unrivaled in the early stages of Octora 0.

If you focus on prioritizing the torch, constant food buffs, merchant job routes, and increasing encounters, experience points, JP, and drops will increase dramatically, making it a perfect bridge to the mid-game. Make use of field commands and sub-quests and keep unlocking abilities. Your party will quickly become the strongest group. Enjoy the magnificent world of Octra 0 to the fullest on this route.