Saint Seiya EX Beginner's Guide – Master the Core Gameplay Mechanics and Progress more Efficiently
Saint Seiya EX builds on the massively popular Saint Seiya IP, providing a strategic card-based gameplay. If you’re a fan of Saint Seiya, then you are in for a surprise as the game not only features all the original characters from the anime but also shares a unique storyline which gradually unfolds with every quest completion. In this beginner-oriented guide, we have explained some of the core gameplay mechanics and game modes that every new player should be aware about in order to maximize their progression in the early game. Let’s check them all out!
Understanding the Gameplay Flow of Saint Seiya EX
At the core, Saint Seiya EX features a card-based gameplay wrapped in a 3D open-world. Players can take up quests, talk to NPCs, and partake in co-op activities, much like any MMO. However, the combat takes place in a separate environment where strategy and tactics trump any p2w (pay-to-win) mechanics. You will first start off as a saint novice who gradually sharpens their combat acumen by taking up quests, levelling up the account, and unlocking new game features and modes. For instance, the ability to recruit new heroes is locked behind reaching account level 7.
The early game will majorly see you complete all of the main quests, located on the top left-hand side. The good thing is that Saint Seiya EX supports auto-questing, which means players can simply tap on the quest to directly go towards the target location. The game also features a ton of storyline and cut-scenes which you can choose to skip or indulge in.
Mastering the Combat Mechanics of Saint Seiya EX
The combat system of Saint Seiya EX is quite easy to learn if you have played Idle or AFK stylized games before. Firstly, you will need to craft a team of 5 heroes. This team formation can be customized according to your preference. Ideally, you should place the tankier heroes in the frontline, while keeping your squishy DPS heroes in the backline. This formation can change depending on your whims and strategy.
Next, the actual combat is actually very automated, and players need not pay heed to the gameplay manually. Your character’s health is shown in the green coloured bar next to their portrait icons located at the bottom of the screen. The yellow-bar denotes the energy or rage bar that gradually fills up each time you do damage, take damage, and defeat enemies.
Upon full rage bar, your character portrait will light up, indicating that the hero’s ultimate ability is ready to be released. The combat mechanics can get further strategic as more buffs/debuffs take place. Using the ultimate ability at the right time can also turn the tide of the battles in your favour. Saint Seiya EX features a ton of quality-of-life additions for combat such as 2X battle speed, auto battle, and skip battle. The latter 2 features unlock as you progress farther down the main questline.
Heroes in Saint Seiya EX
Heroes, amicably called “Saints” officially, form the core backbone of your team in Saint Seiya EX. These characters can be added to your formations, and primarily used in combat scenarios. Each hero in the game is divided based on rarity, class, and element. Further, each hero has a unique set of active and passive abilities which can be used in combat. Players can get new heroes by summoning in the recruit system that unlocks when you reach Level 6. You can also get certain heroes via events and pre-registration rewards.
Saint Seiya EX shares many of the tropes seen in RPG games, such as empowering your owned heroes via different processes. The core method is simply leveling up your heroes. This can be done via injecting EXP potions of differing rarities. You can also increase the star value of your heroes by using duplicates of them. This can be a complex and difficult process, especially for higher rarity heroes but the stat increases are definitely worth it.
The Recruit System in Saint Seiya EX
The recruitment system of Saint Seiya EX unlocks when you reach account level 7. Players can get different rarities of Saints at differing rates via the gacha mechanics embedded within the system. There are also different types of summoning banners which require different currencies to summon on. Each banner has a hard pity, wherein an SSR hero is guaranteed to be summoned. The base summon rates are as follows:
- SSR saints – 1% probability of being summoned
- SR saints – 7% probability of being summoned
- R saints – 92% probability of being summoned
Players can enjoy playing Saint Seiya EX on a bigger screen of their PC or Laptop via BlueStacks along with your keyboard and mouse.
Keep progressing in Saint Seiya EX with our other in-depth guides.
