Choosing Your Champion: The Best Starting Character in Ni no Kuni

So, you’re about to dive into the enchanting world of Ni no Kuni, a land brimming with wonder, adventure, and a whole lot of strategic combat. One of the first choices you’ll face is which character to start with, and it’s a decision that can significantly impact your early game experience. While ultimately, the “best” character is subjective and depends on your play style, for most players, especially newcomers, the Swordsman stands out as the ideal starting point.

The Swordsman offers a balanced and forgiving introduction to the game’s mechanics. He’s a melee DPS (Damage Per Second) class, meaning he excels at dealing damage up close and personal. This is crucial in the early game, where understanding enemy attack patterns and positioning are vital. He’s also remarkably durable, making him less prone to early game knockouts and teaching you good frontline habits. Think of him as your dependable, damage-dealing tank – not the most damage, and not the most durable, but a solid foundation to build upon.

Why the Swordsman Reigns Supreme for Beginners

Here’s a deeper dive into why the Swordsman is so beginner-friendly:

• Forgiving Playstyle: The Swordsman’s resilience allows you to make mistakes without being severely punished. This is invaluable for learning enemy attack patterns and mastering the game’s combat system. You can be aggressive without constantly worrying about being one-shotted.
• Easy to Understand Mechanics: Unlike some classes with complex skill rotations or resource management, the Swordsman’s abilities are straightforward. This allows you to focus on learning the fundamentals of combat, such as dodging, blocking, and positioning. There’s less to worry about in order to learn the basics.
• Strong Early Game Presence: The Swordsman’s damage output is solid from the get-go, enabling you to breeze through early quests and challenges. This provides a sense of accomplishment and motivates you to continue playing. It helps to feel strong early on!
• Adaptable to Different Content: While the Swordsman is excellent in PvE (Player vs. Environment), especially as a frontline offensive powerhouse, he can also hold his own in PvP (Player vs. Player). He is versatile.
• Staple Class: The Swordsman is the staple frontline offense class in Ni no Kuni, making him ideal for players starting out.

The Other Classes: A Brief Overview

While the Swordsman is an excellent choice for beginners, let’s quickly examine the other classes:

• Witch: A powerful ranged DPS class that deals significant magical damage. However, the Witch can be fragile and requires careful positioning to avoid being targeted by enemies. A good choice if you prefer ranged combat, but she requires more finesse than the Swordsman.
• Rogue: A ranged DPS class focused on team play, boosting allies, and executing ranged attacks. The Rogue needs a good understanding of the game’s mechanics to be truly effective. May not be ideal as a first character.
• Engineer: Another support-oriented class that excels at healing and buffing allies. The Engineer is crucial for team play but may struggle with solo content. Great choice for free-to-play as well.
• Destroyer: A tank class that specializes in absorbing damage and protecting allies. While valuable in group content, the Destroyer’s low damage output can make solo leveling a slow grind.

Familiars: Choosing Your Companions

The world of Ni no Kuni wouldn’t be complete without Familiars. Here’s a short list of good Familiars to get you started:

• Stagthorn: High defenses against combat.
• Bunnybot: Strong and reliable in various situations.
• Shrimpaler: Offers unique support abilities.
• Splisher: Provides strong elemental damage.

Beyond the Swordsman: Finding Your Best

Ultimately, the “best” character is the one you enjoy playing the most. Experiment with different classes, learn their strengths and weaknesses, and find the one that clicks with your play style. Don’t be afraid to try out new things! The great thing about games is that they offer new adventures all of the time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is the Swordsman gender locked?

Yes, in Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds, each class, including the Swordsman, is associated with a specific character and is therefore gender-locked. You can customize their appearance to some extent, but you cannot change their gender.

2. Can I change my character class later in the game?

Yes, you can switch characters at any point in the game.

3. What are the Swordsman’s key strengths?

The Swordsman excels in short-ranged DPS and PVE content. He is a strong frontline offensive class with balanced stats, making him ideal for beginners.

4. What are the Swordsman’s weaknesses?

The Swordsman may not deal as much raw damage as the Witch or be as defensively strong as the Destroyer. However, his balanced nature makes him versatile in various situations.

5. What is the best starter Familiar for the Swordsman?

There isn’t a single “best” starter Familiar, but some good early-game options include those that provide healing, damage buffs, or defensive support, such as Stagthorn or Bunnybot. Experiment with different Familiars to find what works best for your play style.

6. Does Ni no Kuni have romance?

While Ni no Kuni does not have explicit romance, some games in the series hint at potential relationships. For example, at the end of the game you’ll get strong hints about person who will become Evan’s “soul mate”, wife and future Queen.

7. Which class is best for free-to-play players?

The Engineer and Rogue are often recommended for free-to-play players due to their versatility and support-oriented play styles.

8. How long does it take to complete Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch?

Completing the main story of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch takes around 44 hours, while a completionist run can take around 69 hours.

9. Are Ni no Kuni 1 and 2 connected?

While Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom is a sequel, it takes place many generations later, with only thematic and artistic ties to the original. The stories are not directly connected.

10. What is the best weapon for the Swordsman?

The Primordial Sword is considered one of the best swords in the game and can be crafted.

11. When should I evolve my Familiars?

As a general rule, you can perform the first metamorphosis as soon as possible. However, the second metamorphosis should be done when the Familiar is at maximum level to optimize stats.

12. What is the strongest spell in Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch?

Evenstar is the strongest spell that Leander Aristides learns, unlocked with the fourth tier of Spellworks research.

13. Is Ni no Kuni beginner-friendly?

Yes, Ni no Kuni is generally considered beginner-friendly, especially with classes like the Swordsman and Witch, which are well-rounded in both attack and support capabilities.

14. What is the best way to level up quickly in Ni no Kuni?

Focus on completing quests ASAP, exploring the world, and defeating monsters that are weak to your current Familiars. Save often and guard to increase your defense. Adjusting difficulty can also help!

15. Where can I learn more about game-based learning?

You can learn more about game-based learning and the educational potential of games at the GamesLearningSociety.org website. Games Learning Society is a great resource for educators and researchers.