Overview Introduction
Welcome to the beginners tutorial for Reverse 1999, catered for F2P players. We will go over the key things you need to know when playing this game without spending real money to progress your account quicker and more efficiently.
Re-rolling as F2P?
For me personally, I won’t re-roll and just go with what I get. However, re-rolling will give you a much better start if you are able to pull certain characters. So if you want a very good account, you will most likely want to spend some time getting a good start (pulling Regulus etc.)
The only way to start fresh is to reinstall the whole game. If you’re re-rolling on your phone, there’s a Guest Account system, but it takes a 15 days to delete, and clearing your phone’s memory cache doesn’t remove it. Even reinstalling the game or changing settings on your phone doesn’t work too well. So, the best way to start over on your phone is to use something called the Salt Method.
Here’s how this method works:
- When making a new account, you can use a special trick with your Gmail.
- If your Gmail is myname@gmail.com, for rerolling, you can use myname+[insert whatever]@gmail.com.
- The part after the + can be anything, but it’s helpful to use numbers.
- For example, myname+1@gmail.com.
- Emails sent to this specific address will go to your regular email and get the code to confirm your account
After re-rolling, you can connect your account to Google or Facebook so you don’t need to use the special email to log in. For iPhone users, we’re not sure if reinstalling the game removes the guest account, so it is always better to re-roll on an Android device or a computer first and then play on your iPhone.
If you’re using an emulator on your computer, you can run multiple instances of the game at the same time, making it easier to start over quickly. It takes about 10 minutes to reach the re-roll point, you can keep everything in sync without getting too frustrated.
Game Basics, Combat and Mechanics
When it comes to understanding game basics, follow the beginners tutorial. If you want to watch a video, I suggest this well made video by Liriell:
The game is turn based, with each character being able to move and make plays.
Next, here are some game mechanics you will want to understand:
AP (Action Points) – Every round, you have a set number of Action Points to use or move cards. The AP amount is linked to the number of characters on the field; typically, it’s 3 AP per round. Having two characters reduces it to 2 AP and 1 character equals 1 AP. It is crucial to not let your characters die. Special scenarios like boss battles and duel stages exist, but the general rule is that the AP count matches the number of characters in battle.
Tuning Skills – These are skills found at the bottom left corner of the screen during combat. You get 2 sets of them early on, the “First Melody” and “Grand Orchestra”. Tuning Skills do not consume AP.
Moxie – Represented by dots below the HP bar of each character, Moxie can be gained by using, merging, or moving cards. Some characters have their own ways of gaining or giving Moxie to allies.
Afflatus: This term refers to the “Elements” in Reverse:1999, consisting of six types. They are Star, Mineral, Beast, Plant, Spirit, and Intellect. Elements will counter each other. Here is an image below.
- Beast > Plant > Star > Mineral > Beast
- Spirit >< Intellect
Basically Spirit and Intellect will deal bonus to each other.
I0, I1, I2, iI3 – This tells you character’s Insight level, also known as “Inheritance”. Characters of lower rarity can reach up to i2, while 5 star and 6 star characters can attain I3. Each Insight level unlocks a passive ability, which will benefit the character and your overall team strength upon unlocking them.
Resonance – Resonance upgrades will increase character stats. A character is at “I2 L50 R7” equals “Insight 2, Level 50, Resonance level 7.” Resonance is as important as the character’s core level because they raise specific stats that the character needs for them to shine.
Reality DMG and Mental DMG: These are pretty much “Physical” and “Magical” damage respectively. Reality and Mental damage have their corresponding defenses. Meanwhile, “Genesis damage” bypasses all defenses, similar to “True damage” in most games.
Substitute: In most stages, you can choose up to four characters, with only three on the field. The fourth one waits at the suitcase, labeled as a “substitute.” If one of the active characters dies, the Substitute takes their place.
Psychube – This is the equivalent of gear or equipment in the game. Psychubes cannot be obtained through banners and are only available through gameplay. You will get 1 free 6 star psychube that you can choose early on.
You won’t have too many options for psychubes early game, so just stick with the ones you are given and put them on your team.
Battle Mechanics
Card and Upgrades – Each characters uses cards to make a move. Upgrading a card requires 2 similar cards placed next to each other.
When you or your enemies attack, they will have specific icons on their head. Here are the explanation.
When playing manual, you will also want to make use of your tuning skills to get an advantage. The first two given to you allows you to upgrade cards or re-shuffle cards if you get a bad hand. You gain tuning points each time you use a card. The max number of tuning points is 99. Make sure to use some before it caps out.
Sonetto, the free 5 star unit given early on, can buff your team and also disarm physical attacks (Reality DMG) after upgrading her card to level 2. She is a very good F2P character and is going to be on the majority of many F2P accounts, since you will be given free dupes while progressing through the story.
Special Attacks – Once you have gained 5 moxie, you will be able to unleash the special attack of that character. Some have AoE attacks, while some have single target. Some will have life leech, debuffs or buffs built into their specials.
Early Game Progression for F2P
Here is what to expect when you start the game. The tutorial concludes upon reaching 1-1, granting access to 2x speed in combat.
Following completion of stage 1-6, Traces are unlocked, and interacting with a Trace on the map allows you to obtain Leilani.
Clearing 1-11 reveals Dust Farming stages for experience materials. Upon reaching stage 1-12, you can acquire Eagle by interacting with a Trace on the map.
At 1-14, the Tuning Skill Set “First Melody” is unlocked. To obtain the Tuning Skill Set “Grand Orchestra,” clear all training stages accessible from any main story map by clicking the notepad icon at the top right of the screen.
Unlocking chapter 2 gives you access to Wilderness, which is an island based resource collecting area where you can get more resources and improve your character bonds. I highly recommending focusing on experience and gold resources early on.
Progressing to stage 2-6 unlocks Hard Mode, while stage 2-8 opens Insight stages.
Upon reaching stage 2-10, Psychubes and Pneuma Analysis (Psychubes farm stages) become available.
Finally, stage 3-2 unveils the Resonance system and the Artificial Somnambulism game mode.
With this done, you will have unlocked all the modes in the game, allowing to focus on building a team and collect and farm resources required to get them to appropriate levels to progress in the story.
Here are the puzzle answers from chapter 1 to 4, as you will need them, especially if you are like me, who does not read stories. 🙂
Chapter 1 Answers
Stage 1-7 – Sotheby’s mansion has thousands of artifacts. What is the thing with one horn hung high above her hall that always gazes at people?
Answer: Quiet Ravenheart
Stage 1-10 – Matilda’s School Report: […] So what is Matilda Bouanich’s score?
Answer: 86
Stage 1-12 – Item needed: Truth Serum
You can get it from a Trace after clearing stage 1-11.
Stage 1-15 – How many older sisters does Schneider have?
Answer: 12
Chapter 2 Answers
Stage 2-3 – Item needed: Tiny Key
Obtained by clearing 2-15.
Stage 2-4 Puzzle
Stage 2-6 – Item needed: Garden Key
Obtainable by clearing 2-12.
Chapter 3 Answers
Stage 3-5 – Item needed: Tiny Acorn
Obtained by answering the puzzle at 3-15.
Stage 3-7 – Where are the fish and chips? / Where is the peas puree?
Answers: Basket / Cabinet
Stage 3-12 Puzzle
Stage 3-15 – George the Oak is already 800 years old. Which animals in the tree hole listened to that song with you?
Answer: Red squirrels and woodpeckers
Chapter 4 Answers
Stage 4-6
Stage 4-10
For this one, move the bar until the paper looks like a boat.
Once the first 4 chapters are fully completed with normal and hard mode finished plus all side quests and puzzles done, you will have collected a lot of resources.
Beginning of the Tale Missions
These missions serve as an intuitive guide, offering shortcuts to navigate through the essential aspects of the game, allowing you to understand its mechanics and flow while earning rewarding incentives.
Competing these missions gives the option to reclaim resources by leveling and promoting four free characters to Insight 1, specifically Sonetto, APPLe, Leilani, and Eagle. Of the 4 characters, Sonetto and Eagle are worth adding to your starter team, which I will explain in the next section.
Additionally, completing Act 3 rewards players with “The Footloose,” a decent 5 star Psychube applicable to any Damage Dealer.
Act 5 completion grants “Laughter and Laughter,” another 5 star Psychube beneficial for any Healer.
Act 6 achievement results in acquiring Sonetto’s “Parade Anthem” skin. This one is more for aesthetics and doesn’t affect gameplay much.
Free to Play Team Building To Late Game
As for building a F2P friendly team, it is quite easy. You will want to use the free characters, which I recommend you include them:
- Sonetto (5 Star) – Buffer, AoE, Disarm
- Eagle (4 Star) – DPS
- Dikke (5 Star) – Single Target DPS, Team Healer
- Any Starter 6 Star DPS of your choice (I chose Regulus)
Generally this will give you a good free team that to progress through story and you can replace them once you have more resources and know who you need on your team. It is also recommended to have 4-5 units max so you can funnel your resources to only the main team.
Recommended
Sonetto (5★ Mineral)
Great buffer that you will need. I highly recommend having her as F2P. She will have disarm, which you need to stop physical (Reality DMG). However, disarm doesn’t work on some elite bosses. Her special is a strong AoE attack that hits all enemies. Overall, she brings stability to your team and with the extra duplicates (Portray) given when progressing story, you cannot go wrong having her.
Eagle (4★ Plant)
Eagle is 4 stars and cannot be upgraded to Insight 3. However, for early game, she does good DPS and is your only Plant attacker if you did not pull much from the gacha. Eagle enhances a team’s performance when paired with a debuffer, allowing them to capitalize on the benefits of her initial skill, “Old Pocket Watch.” Given her emphasis on critical hits, it is recommended to equip her with psychubes and prioritize stats that enhance critical capabilities. Her also passive lowers enemy reality defense and crit defense, which is very good early on.
You can choose to replace her later on once you pull a higher rarity Plant DPS.
Dikke (5★ Beast)
Dikke is given to you for free on the 8th day of playing. She can deal single target damage, team heal and provide decent DPS. Her healing is based on her attack, so having psychubes that boost attack bonus will improve her healing capabilities.
Her special attack cleanses all debuffs on her, allowing her to do max damage. Always use it first before using any of her other skills if you have a debuff on. She works well in any team and can function as the only Beast DPS early on.
Starter 6 Stars Pick
These starters are up to you. They are all good, so no need to over think this.
Regulus (6★ Star)
I picked Regulus because that was what I pulled. She has a strong AoE special attack that provides 1 turn of dodge against reality damage. Do keep in mind you always want to place her special attack last. The reason being if your ally moves after this, they will lose the dodge buff. This works best when fighting enemies and they have physical attacks (Reality DMG) coming up on the next turn.
Try to get her to Insight 1 asap. Her passive ability, “Restless Heart,” grants a +50% crit rate when she doesn’t make a move for a turn, and any surplus crit rate is converted into crit damage. That means having the option for a one-turn downtime to strategize Regulus’s cards and prepare for a burst damage window.
Her skill “Challenge for the Eyes” reduces moxie of the enemy at level 2 when she crits, so it is a very good utility skill, particularly against elite. bosses.
Regulus doesn’t have leech unfortunately, so she will need a healer on the team to keep her healthy.
Lilya (6★ Star)
Out of the 3 starters, Lilya is the easiest to use. She doesn’t convert surplus crit rate into crit damage though. Lilya needs Insight 2 to start shining, where her base stats and resonance level get significant stat buffs. She does need a decent team to unlock her potential. Her special attack also gives her some leech, so she can sustain herself against elite bosses.
Eternity (6★ Mineral)
Eternity is also another good option. You will need to raise Eternity to at least Insight 1. This grants her immunity to [Bleed], [Corrode], and [Poison] statuses. After each round, she accumulates a stack of her passive, [Blood of Longevity], reaching up to +15% DMG dealt and +15% DMG Heal.
However, Eternity sacrifices 10% of her HP whenever she uses a skill, so it is best paired with a healer such as Dikke to keep her healthy. Her special attack does grant her some leech to get some health back, but against bosses, this may not be enough.
Not Recommended
AAPLe (4★ Star)
Given APPLe’s passive healing ability, it’s advisable to conserve his skill, “Equal Amount of Light,” allowing it to merge for increased effectiveness as a reliable healing source during critical moments.
However, he is a single target healer and only prioritizes the one with the lowest HP. Using 6 star psychubes like “Her Second Life” or 5 star psychube “Laughter and Laughter” to improve his healing power can be an option.
I personally think he doesn’t heal enough to warrant a team in the spot, especially when Dikke will be given for free on day 8.
Matilda (5★ Star)
As a pre-registration 5 star character, she is not really needed on the team. Her kit needs her to always have buffs on her for the best potential. You are welcome to use her on your team if you really like her.
Leilani (3★ Beast)
Leilani grants Moxie to allies upon entering battle or when using her special attack when you get her to Insight 1. In terms of gameplay, one of her skills, “A Greeting!” inflicts bonus damage when the enemy is under a Control or Negative status, making her an ideal pairing with a debuffer.
Her second skill, “Check Carefully,” deals increased damage when the enemy is below 50% HP, making it a strategic choice for the final attack of the round.
However, due to her being 3 star, it is not worth to invest in her.
Earning Resources and Daily/Weekly Routine
Early on, you will be given enough resources to raise your first 2 characters to Insight 1 and 2 easily. After that, you will start running into material issues. I suggest doing Artificial Somnambulism once unlocked to get extra resonance resources for resonance upgrade as it is one of the key ways to improve your character stats outside of normal leveling. Get as far as you can, then grind more levels from your main team and keep going. Each week, you will get bonus Oneiric Fluid, which you use to buy extra materials.
For insight materials, only do them when you need to upgrade your character to the next tier. The majority of your stamina (activity points) will go to farming dust and sharpdonty, which you will need a lot of it to advance your characters to Insight 3.
Also, events give a lot of resources to help you upgrade your characters, so do not skip them.
Always finish your daily as you get 60 clear drops a day. Each week, you get an additional 100 clear drops and “Track of the Lost” from weeklies, which you use to buy valuable items such as Unilog (summon ticket) and Polarization materials used for advancing your Psychubes.
So for F2P player, you can expect about 2200 free clear drops every month, which is about 12 free summons. This is excluding event rewards. On average, expect about 20-30 pulls monthly for F2P.
How To Spend Your Resources as F2P
Early on before your entire team gets to Insight 2 Level 50, I would recommend spending 3 refills daily on activity. This gives you faster progress in story mode, where you can get more clear drops, in turn getting you to mid game a lot quicker.
I would avoid spending too much on summoning. Once you get the first 6 star starter, you are good to go with your F2P team. Then, I would recommend only pulling once you understand the end game mechanics well and know what you need.
I also understand that not everyone wants to play this way, but for F2P, it is the best way to be able to afford some of the best characters later on, which happens in all gacha games…power creep.
Pulling Characters as F2P in Reverse 1999
Since you only have limited resources, you will want to plan your pulls accordingly. The general advice is to only pull on limited banners, since you will get a strong limited unit and some surprise 6 stars along the way. You don’t need 6 star characters to clear the story mode, so this is just mostly for your own enjoyment or preference.
The video above showcases china server’s first limited banner (Jiu Nang Zhi – who is very powerful), which will show up at global at some point. If you are patient enough to wait, you will be rewarded heavily. Otherwise, it is fine to pull on banners or characters you like.
