Summary
Unicorn Overlordis finally here, and it’s bringing with it an incredibly addictive strategy RPG gameplay system, a stunning visual style, and a gigantic cast of characters who players can meet and recruit along their exciting journey. Though these sorts of RPG and strategy hybrids have been seen before with the likes ofTactics Ogreand theFire Emblemseries,Unicorn Overlorddoes a few things very differently from its competitors, which helps it stand out. However, it also means that there can be a lot to learn.
It might not havethe ever-stressful perma-death mechanic, but making simple mistakes inUnicorn Overlordcan still prove to be very costly, not just during the turn-based battles, but also while exploring the vast overworld. To make the experience as easy to understand and enjoyable for players as possible, these are the biggest beginner mistakes that players should try to avoid to help make the early game much more manageable and far less stressful than it otherwise could be without any hints or tips.
1Try Not To Kill Every Enemy In Sight
The Game Will Indicate When A Specific Enemy Unit Can Be Recruited
Of course, taking down enemy troops is a core part of the battle system inUnicorn Overworld, but now and again, players will be given the option to spare or forgive one of their enemies rather than cutting them down. There will also be a few scenarios where an ally will ask whether they can talk to an enemy soldier, such as during the first Drakenhold stage where Primm will ask whether she can go and talk to Aramis.
Though this can initially seem like some sort of deadly trap, these instances give the player the option to recruit new soldiers to their army, which is an incredibly important part of thegameplay loop, since having as many different class types as possible will be essential for some of the tougher encounters. Therefore, whenever there is an option given to spare an enemy in some way or another, it’s most probably because they can be recruited, so it’s always advised to take this opportunity whenever it arises.
2Don’t Ignore The Pause System
Pausing Can Give Players Time To Analyze The Situation And Plan Their Next Attack
Because every battle has a time limit inUnicorn Overworld,it means that battles can get very intense, which can cause some players to make rash and silly decisions without really thinking about any kind of strategy. Rather than trying to finish up a battle as quickly as possible though, it’s a much better idea to instead make use of the Pause system, which will give players all the time in the world to plan out their next move rather than just charging in blindly.
There’s also a pretty handy option in the options menu called Auto-Pause which will immediately pause a battle as soon as it begins, ensuring that the enemy forces don’t get a head start. Being able to check on every unit’s status while also setting out a plan of attack can be very difficult when in the middle of a hectic battle, so players are always heavily advised to make good use of the Pause feature to help make the gameplay a little more forgiving.
3Avoid Being Too Offensive
Leaving The Command Post Defenseless Is An Easy Way To Fail An Entire Battle
At the beginning of every battle, the players' forces will spawn in front of the Command Post, which essentially acts as a central HQ. For most levels in the game, if the enemy captures this command post, it will result in a Game Over screen, and though this initially can seem pretty easy to remember, it can also become much harder to defend this part of the map when every unit is getting stuck into the thick of the action.
The clever AI inUnicorn Overlordmeans that enemy forces are always looking for an opportunity to flank and outsmart friendly units, so rather than sending everyone out at once, it’s a much safer option to at least keep some soldiers back to defend the Command Post. This ensures that something doesn’t go horribly wrong during an encounter, since there’s nothing more annoying than almost finishing a battle, only for it to fail after a sneaky enemy unit catches up to the Command Post from behind.
4Don’t Take Stamina For Granted
Units Can Run Out Of Stamina Very Easily, And If They Do, They’ll Be A Sitting Duck
Almost every action a unit takes inUnicorn Overlordwill use up stamina. For example, attacking an enemy will use up 1 stamina point, which might seem pretty inconsequential at first, but this can quickly rack up the longer a battle goes on, and if it drains completely, it will leave that unit completely defenseless and wide open to receive an enemy attack. Not paying attention to stamina is one of the easiest ways to completely fumble a battle, but thankfully, there are a few ways that it can be restored, though these methods can often be hazardous.
The most common method is by using the “Wait” command, which will allow the unit to gradually restore a few stamina points, but they will still need to be defended while doing this since they won’t have the ability to defend themselves while waiting on the field. This is also why it’s so crucially important to keep battalions close to one another rather than spreading out so that they can come to each other’s aid if one ends up using a little too much stamina during a fiery bout with the enemy.
5Never Skip Over Sigil’s Trials
Sigil’s Trials Provide Bonus EXP And Resources For Players To Acquire In Between Story Missions
Just like in theFire Emblemseries,Unicorn Overlordencourages players togrind out extra EXPoutside the main battles so that they can earn precious resources such as War Funds, Honor, and Renown. This can be done by interacting with the Sigil’s Trials, which will start popping up across the map in the first few hours of the story. After players interact with these Trials, they will open up an “Auxiliary Quest” which are essentially optional battles that can be completed over and over again to earn EXP and resources.
These battles often tend to be very short and pretty straightforward, and most of them will include specific gimmicks that can help players clear the battlefield much faster, such as by providing siege weapons to annihilate anyone that gets too close. Considering how quickly the story moves inUnicorn Overlord, and how much fun it is to learn more about the world and its factions, these trials definitely shouldn’t be glossed over as it can result in a ton of EXP being lost as a result.
6Try Not To Arrange Grid Placements Randomly
Certain Character Classes Excel In Specific Grid Positions
One of the biggest differences betweenUnicorn Overlord’score gameplay from other games in the genre is how the units work. Rather than ordering a single character one by one, the player’s forces will instead be made up of small battalions with multiple characters placed on a grid. Initially, this might seem like nothing more than a stylish way to bunch all these characters together, but there’s quite a bit of strategy that goes into these grid placements, which relates to the classes of each character.
For example, bulkier units such as knights and thieves will excel at being at the front of their grid since they can soak up damage or even avoid it entirely if they’re fast enough, whileranged and support characterswill be more effective when hanging back. Taking the time to properly set up these grid placements can make a huge difference in battle, so it’s advised to work on it as soon as possible to be better prepared for future encounters.
7Don’t Forget About Using Valor Skills
The Immensely Powerful Valor Skills Can Immediately Turn The Tides Of An Intense Battle
Valor Skills inUnicorn Overworldare essentially special abilities that are unique to each class in the game. Many of these skills can be incredibly helpful during a battle, but considering the sheer amount of systems and mechanics that are already thrown into the game, it can admittedly be a little easy to completely forget about them. Learning about these skills and getting into the habit of using them at the right time can turn the tides of an otherwise tricky encounter, so it’s always a good idea to keep them in mind for when a battle starts getting a little hairy.
These skills will requireValor Pointsfor them to be used, but these can be acquired quite easily by simply defeating enemies. Other easy ways to restore Valor Points include using a Hallowed Corn Ash or withdrawing deployed units, which can be a little risky but can also prove to be a good call if a character has a particularly effective Valor Skill that would work wonders given the situation.
