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Just like most action RPGs out there, Scarlet Nexus has its own skill tree. To keep in theme with the psychic and telekinesis power themes, it’s referred to as a Brain Map. Before we get to the skills and each protagonist’s Brain Map, here are some short tips for your early and mid-game:
- If you’re stumped as to who to play as first, go for Yuito first. Both Yuito and Kasane seem similar, but Yuito’s attacks hit a little harder & faster, while Kasane has a better mid-range and AoE fighting style. If you want a slightly better deep dive into the story with a bit of challenge, pick Kasane.
- Don’t sell the data you collected in the game. After 5 hours or so, you’ll unlock the option to exchange items and gifts in the shopkeeper menu. You can exchange items, weapons, and exclusive gifts with the data you collected.
- You can cash out your sidequests anywhere in the game. You don’t have to return to the quest-giver to confirm your quest completion. Just head to the Story tab in the menu and turn in the quest there.
- If you’re having trouble with the game’s combat, just dodge and get the hang of your character’s invincibility frames when evading. The game gives you plenty of options for counterattacking enemies like SAS Clairvoyance/Teleport/Hypervelocity and the skills from the Brain Map.
- Manually save whenever you can. Don’t trust the autosave too much; sometimes it can set you back a lot of minutes progress-wise.
- Once you finish a character’s playthrough, you can replay the game via a New Game Plus mode. You can use that same data and character level progress for the other character’s side of the story to make your progress easier.
How To Unlock Skills
Brain Map features a number of skills that will help Yuito or Kasane in their quest to uphold peace on Earth as an Others Suppression Force soldier. These range from passive buffs to their stats to additional attacks in their respective combo strings and moves. To unlock skills further down the tree, you need to earn enough BP for that specific skill you need. Levelling up will net you a good amount of BP, so kill enemies and complete quests for random folks to get experience points to level up.
RPG grinding-wise, we suggest you play through the game until you reach and finish up the Kikuchiba area, then you can backtrack to previous areas to farm for levels and BP.
Here’s the list. All button maps are based on the Xbox version.
Yuito Brain Map
Best Early Skills For Yuito
Because Yuito’s attack speed and strength are pretty good, the skills he needs are ones that make his enemy-killing abilities easier, especially his Brain Crush finishers.
- Rebound (1BP) – A quick-rise move after getting knocked down is essential, especially with aggressive enemies in the game.
- Overkill (3BP) – Attacking enemies with depleted crush gauge increases EXP bonus. Does not work on strong foes with depleted HP.
- Auto-Heal (6BP) – Regenerate health outside of combat.
- Power Up (3BP) – Increased damage for Psychokinesis Attacks by 5%.
- Perfect Dodge Attack (2BP) – Use X right after a perfect dodge to perform a weapon attack. You will be playing defense quite a bit as enemies are pretty aggressive. This counterattack skill will help you in the early, mid, and late game.
- Additional Plug-In Slot 1 (1BP) – Equipping lots of plug-ins will bolster Yuito’s stats & passive skills.
- Attack Up 2 (3BP) – Increased damage for weapon attacks by 5%.
- Brain Crush Change Expand (4BP) – Time enemies disabled due to crush gauge increased. Perfect if you want to drain crush gauge first.
- Concurrent SAS Activation (4BP) – Allows up to 2 concurrent SAS activations. More SAS skills activated equals a powered-up Yuito.
Expand Tree
- Rebound (1BP) – Use B to recover when knocked away and prevent being knocked down. Best to learn this early if you haven’t; quick get-ups after getting knocked down is great.
- Charge Attack (2BP) – Hold Y to charge power and release Y to perform a powered-up weapon attack in a large area.
- Item Attraction (2BP) – Automatically picks up nearby items.
- Double Jump (3BP) – Can perform an additional jump by using A while mid-air.
- Perfect Dodge Psychokinesis Restore (3BP) – Charge a small amount of psychokinesis gauge after a perfect dodge.
- Perfect Dodge Attack (2BP) – Use X right after a perfect dodge to perform a weapon attack.
- Aerial Dash (3BP) – Can perform an aerial dash by using B while mid-air.
- Follow-Up Attack Expand 1 (3BP) – Can perform three consecutive psychokinesis follow-up attacks and rush follow-up attacks.
- Perfect Dodge Psychokinesis Restore (3BP) – Charge a small amount of psychokinesis gauge after a perfect dodge.
- Slam Attack (3BP) – Hold Y while mid-air to perform a downward weapon attack.
Enhance Tree
- Attack Up 1 (1BP) – Attack +5%. Increases damage for weapon attacks.
- Attack Up 2 (3BP) – Increases damage for weapon attacks by +5%.
- Follow-Up Attack (2BP) – Increases damage dealt to enemies that are knocked down.
- Max Psy. Gauge Boost (4BP) – Learning this skill will increase the psychokinesis gauge maximum by 50%; learning the second of the same name will increase it by 100%.
- Revive Speed Up (3BP) – Increases speed at which allies are revived.
Support Tree
- Additional Plug-in Equip Slot 1 (1BP) – Increases plug-in capacity at the equip screen by one.
- Shorten Item Usage Cooldown (2BP) – Shortens cooldown after item usage.
- Overkill (3BP) – Hitting enemies stunned by a depleted crush gauge increases the EXP bonus. However, this doesn’t work against strong foes whose HP has been depleted.
- Brain Crush SAS Restore (3BP) – Defeating enemies with brain crush while SAS is active slightly restores the gauge of the SAS being used.
- Concurrent SAS Activation (4BP) – Learning this skill will allow up to 2 concurrent SAS activations. Learning the second of the same name will allow up to 4. *SAS Electro and Pyrokinesis cannot be used concurrently.
Brain Drive Tree
- Brain Drive Gauge Charge Rate Up (1BP) – Brain Drive Gauge Accumulation +20%. Specific actions like defeating enemies or receiving damage will increase the rate.
- Brain Drive: Auto-Heal (3BP) – Health gradually recovers while brain drive is active.
- Brain Drive: Status Up (3BP) – While Brain Drive is active, +10% to power, defense, and attack.
- Brain Drive: SAS Gauge Restore (4BP) – Activating brain drive completely restores all SAS gauges.
- Mid-Air Attack Charge Rate up (4BP) – Increases Psychokinesis Gauge charge rate from aerial attacks. Does not include A+X rising slash attack.
Brain Field Tree
- Brain Field: Time Extension 1 (2BP) — Prolong brain field active time by five seconds.
- Brain Field: Overkill (2BP) – While Brain Field is activated, hitting enemies with a depleted crush gauge increases the EXP bonus.
- Brain Field: Launch Level Up 1 (2BP) – Increase the number of objects thrown with RT in X,X,RT or X,X,X,RT combos while you have Brain Field activated.
- Brain Field: Charge Drop Level Up (2BP) – Increases the number of objects that are gathered when holding LT and the damage the dropped objects deal when brain field is active.
- Brain Field: Swing Level Up (2BP) – Increases the number of objects that can be swung with X and expands teh area of effect when Brain Field is active.
- Brain Field: Launch Level Up 2 (3BP) – Further increase the number of objects thrown with RT in X,X,X,RT while you have Brain Field active.
- Brain Field: Reduce Damage (4BP) – While Brain Field is active, you will receive less damage. Learning the first reduce damage skill will halve damage; learning the second will negate it completely.
- Brain Field: Time Extension 2 (4BP) – Prolong Brain Field active time by five seconds more.
- Brain Field: Reduce Damage (5BP) – While Brain Field is active, you will receive less damage. Learning the first reduce damage skill will halve damage; learning the second will negate it completely.
- Brain Field: Free Drive Charge (4BP) – If there is a Brain Field ready icon displayed, Brain Field can be activated without consuming a charge when activated during Brain Drive.
Kasane Brain Map
Best Early Skills For Kasane
She is slightly weaker than Yuito, so some survivability passives and skills will do her good early in the game.
- Rebound (1BP) – A quick-rise move after getting knocked down is essential, especially with aggressive enemies in the game.
- Auto-Heal (6BP) – Regenerate health outside of combat.
- Brain Crush SAS Restore (3BP) – Using Brain Crush with SAS active restores SAS gauge.
- Shorten Item Usage Cooldown (4BP) – Shorter cooldown when using items.
- Brain Crush Money Bonus (4BP) – Using Brain Crush increases money rewards. Great for money farming.
- Attack Up (3BP) – Increases weapon attacks by 5%.
- Psychokinesis Crush Effect Up 1 (3BP) – Drains crush gauge when using Psychokinesis Attacks. Base increase by 5%.
Expand Tree
- Double Jump (1BP) – Can perform an additional jump by using A while mid-air.
- Rebound (2BP) – Use B to recover when knocked away and prevent being knocked down.
- Psychokinesis Finish (3BP) – Use RT on a knocked-down enemy to perform a psychokinesis attack slam.
- Aerial Follow-Up Attack (3BP) – Execute an aerial follow-up attack by using RT while performing an aerial weapon combo.
- Perfect Dodge Psychokinesis Restore (3BP) – Charge a small amount of psychokinesis gauge after a perfect dodge.
- Mid-Air Dash Attack (5BP) – Use X while aerial dashing to perform a forward weapon attack.
- Aerial Follow-Up Attack Expand (6BP) – Can perform two consecutive aerial follow-up attacks.
- Expand Back-step Attack (5BP) – Can perform the Back-step attack twice during a single combo.
- Aerial Dash (Learned) – Can perform an aerial dash by using B while mid-air.
- Mid-Air Attack Charge Rate Up – Increases Psychokinesis Gauge charge rate from aerial attacks.
Support Tree
- Latent Power (1BP) – When health is 30% or below, increases damage dealt by 20% and reduces damage received by 20%.
- Additional Plug-in Equip Slot 1 (2BP) – Increases plug-in capacity at the equip screen by one.
- Shorter Item Usage Cooldown (4BP) – Shortens cooldown after item usage.
- Brain Crush SAS Restore (3BP) – Defeating enemies with brain crush while SAS is active slightly restores the gauge of the SAS being used.
- Concurrent SAS Activation (4BP) – Learning this skill will allow up to 2 concurrent activations. Learning the second skill of the same name will allow up to 4.
- Additional Plug-In Equip Slot 2 (5BP) – Increases the plug-in capacity at the equip screen by one.
- Concurrent SAS Activation (5BP) – Learning this skill will allow up to 2 concurrent activations. Learning the second skill of the same name will allow up to 4.
- Overkill (4BP) – Hitting enemies stunned by a depleted crush gauge increases the EXP bonus.
- Brain Crush Chance Expand (4BP) – After reducing an enemy’s crush gauge to 0, the time enemies are disabled is increased.
- Brain Crush Money Bonus (4BP) – Defeating enemies with brain crush will increase the amount of money received after the battle.
- Brain Crush EXP Bonus (4BP) – Defeating enemies with brain crush will increase EXP gained.
- Auto-Heal (6BP) – Gradually recovers health outside of combat.
Enhance Tree
- Attack Up 1 (1BP) – Attack +5%. Increases damage for weapon attacks.
- Attack Up 2 (3BP) – Attack +5%; increase damage for weapon attacks.
- Power Up (1BP) – Attack +5%. Increases damage for psychokinesis attacks.
- Power Up 2 (5BP) – Attack +5%. Increases damage for psychokinesis attacks.
- Weapon Crush Effect Up (5BP) – Weapon attacks can drain crush gauge by a great amount. Increase base by 5%.
- Perfect Dodge Attack (3BP) – Use X right after a perfect dodge to perform a weapon attack.
- Psychokinesis Crush Effect Up 1 (3BP) – Psychokinesis attacks can drain crush gauge by a great amount. Increase base by 5%.
- Psychokinesis Crush Effect Up 2 (4BP) – Psychokinesis attacks can drain crush gauge by a great amount.
- Revive Speed Up (5BP) – Increases speed at which allies are revived.
- Follow-Up Attack (3BP) – Increases damage dealt to enemies that are knocked down.
- Mid-Air Attack Charge Rate Up (3BP) – Increases Psychokinesis Gauge charge rate from aerial attacks.
- Max Psy. Gauge Boost (3BP) – Increases the Psychokinesis Gauge by 50%.
- Max Psy. Gauge Boost (5BP) – Increases the Psychokinesis Gauge by 50%.
Brain Drive Tree
- Brain Drive Gauge Charge Rate Up (2BP) – Brain Drive Gauge accumulation +20%. Actions like defeating enemies or receiving damage will increase accumulation rate.
- Brain Drive: Status Up (3BP) – While Brain Drive is active, +10% to power, defense, and attack.
- Brain Drive: Restore Brain Drive 1 (3BP) – Defeating enemies with brain crush while brain drive is active slightly restores the brain drive gauge.
- Brain Drive: Status Ailment Recovery (3BP) – Restores status ailments when brain drive is activated.
- Brain Drive: Restore Brain Drive 1 (3BP) – Defeating enemies with brain crush while brain drive is active slightly restores the brain drive gauge.
- Brain Drive: SAS Gauge Restore (4BP) – Activating brain drive completely restores all SAS gauges.
- Brain Drive: Auto Heal (3BP) – Health gradually recovers while brain drive is active.
- Brain Drive: Bonus Multiplier Up (3BP) – Increases the EXP bonus multiplier gain while brain drive is active.
- Brain Drive: Consecutive Assault Vision (4BP) – Assault Visions will be consecutively activated while the Brain Drive is active. Assault Visions will be activated when the Bond Level increases.
- Brain Drive: Restore Brain Drive 2 (5BP) – Defeating enemies with brain crush while Brain Drive is active slightly restores the Brain Drive gauge.
Brain Field Tree
- Brain Field: Time Extension 1 (2BP) — Prolong brain field active time by five seconds.
- Brain Field: Overkill (2BP) – While Brain Field is activated, hitting enemies with a depleted crush gauge increases the EXP bonus.
- Brain Field: Launch Level Up 1 (2BP) – Increase the number of objects thrown with RT in X,X,RT or X,X,X,RT combos while you have Brain Field activated.
- Brain Field: Charge Drop Level Up (2BP) – Increases the number of objects that are gathered when holding LT and the damage the dropped objects deal when brain field is active.
- Brain Field: Swing Level Up (2BP) – Increases the number of objects that can be swung with X and expands teh area of effect when Brain Field is active.
- Brain Field: Launch Level Up 2 (3BP) – Further increase the number of objects thrown with RT in X,X,X,RT while you have Brain Field active.
- Brain Field: Reduce Damage (4BP) – While Brain Field is active, you will receive less damage. Learning the first reduce damage skill will halve damage; learning the second will negate it completely.
- Brain Field: Time Extension 2 (4BP) – Prolong Brain Field active time by five seconds more.
- Brain Field: Reduce Damage (5BP) – While Brain Field is active, you will receive less damage. Learning the first reduce damage skill will halve damage; learning the second will negate it completely.
- Brain Field: Free Drive Charge (4BP) – If there is a Brain Field ready icon displayed, Brain Field can be activated without consuming a charge when activated during Brain Drive.
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