Every monarch needs supporters, and in the game Metaphor: ReFantazio, these supporters are your friends, comrades, and the most important element in the game.
Followers in Metaphor are equivalent to “social links” or “confidants” from Persona games. If you have played those games, you will quickly understand how this system works. The mechanism is simple: gain followers, improve your relationships with them, and increase your power.
If you want to know how to unlock all followers in the game and how to efficiently level them up, this guide will explain what you need to know. It should be noted that the content may contain details that could reveal some parts of the story.
All Followers in Metaphor: ReFantazio
There are fourteen followers that you can add to your circle during the game. The followers list consists of your team members who fight alongside you, as well as important characters who indirectly aid you. Some will join you on your journey, some can be found in specific cities, while others will appear intermittently as the story progresses.
Each follower is associated with a specific archetype. Developing your relationship with each follower will enable you to unlock their unique archetype, allowing you to study and equip them in “Akademia.”
The full list of followers and their respective Archetypes include:
- Gallica – Mage Archetype
- Strohl – Warrior Archetype
- Hulkenberg – Knight Archetype
- Heismay – Thief Archetype
- Junah – Masked Dancer Archetype
- Eupha – Summoner Archetype
- Basilio – Berserker Archetype
- Neuras – Armored Archetype
- Maria – Healer Archetype
- Catherina – Fighter Archetype
- Alonzo – Trickster Archetype
- Bardon – Leader Archetype
- Brigita – Merchant Archetype
- More – Researcher Archetype
Similar to developing relationships with confidants in Persona 5 to enhance your power using “Arcana,” you need to improve your relationship with followers to develop their archetypes and gain powerful features outside battles.
What are the Benefits of Followers in Metaphor: ReFantazio?
Each follower represents a specific archetype, and you cannot add these personal archetypes to your arsenal unless you earn followers. Some characters will join your team with their unique archetypes, but they will remain exclusive until you make them your followers.
Additionally, you can upgrade each archetype into stronger forms, and these upgrades are unlocked by improving your relationship with the respective followers. There are many other benefits to leveling up followers, such as getting discounts in stores, improving experience gains inside and outside battles, and much more.
Acquiring followers and improving your relationships with them is essential in becoming stronger in Metaphor, so you should focus on this as much as possible. When you have time between dungeons, leveling up followers should be one of your priorities.
How to Unlock All Followers in Metaphor: ReFantazio and Level Them Up
The main way to add followers to your list is by progressing in the main story. Most followers are unmissable, and you will interact with most of them naturally as you progress. As long as you explore each area and talk to characters with request icons and complete those requests, you won’t have trouble unlocking all followers.
The biggest hurdle you may face is the Royal Virtue requirements. Sometimes, you may interact with a potential follower but find that you need a higher level of Eloquence or Imagination or another virtue to respond to them correctly. For example, you may need level 2 of Imagination to persuade Alonzo to help you, initiating his task to become your follower. This is why it is crucial to continuously work on improving your Royal Virtues; wisely utilize rest periods and ensure to raise those statistics.
Once a person becomes your follower, you can continue leveling them up by interacting with them. At the start of each afternoon or night period, you may hear a specific follower’s voice, indicating that the next step in your relationship with them is ready. You must then go and speak with them. You may need to complete an event or step in a specific task related to them to level up the follower to the next level.
As long as you continue to improve your virtues, regularly talk to followers, and complete their requests, they will continue to improve and level up if you spend your afternoons or evenings with them. If you want to know specifically what is required to level up a particular follower, you can check the followers list in the pause menu.
Followers who can be leveled up will have a handshake symbol next to their picture in the menu. If the symbol is grayed out, it means there is something you need to do to level them up. You can select them and press X/A to find out what exactly needs to be done. If the symbol is red, it means the next step in their task is ready, and all you have to do is talk to them at the right time to level them up.
After that, we will explain in detail how to unlock and level up each follower individually.
How to Unlock Gallica and Level Her Up
Gallica is the fairy companion who has been with the hero since the beginning of the game. Associated with the Mage Archetype, she grants you the ability to hear followers and analyze monsters.
Since she is part of the main story from the start, you don’t need to do anything extra to make her one of your followers other than following the story in its early stages. There are no specific tasks or requirements to level up Gallica, as her level increases automatically at certain points during the progression of the main story.
How to Unlock Strohl and Level Him Up
You will meet Leon Strohl very early in the main story when the hero joins the guard. Strohl becomes one of your followers in the opening part of the game, awakening the Warrior Archetype.
To level up Strohl, you need to help him deal with refugees from his village. Talk to him in the city and aboard the Gauntlet Runner to progress in the quest. You will also need to level up your Imagination to complete some stages of this quest and help Strohl achieve his parents’ vision for him and his people.
How to Unlock Hulkenberg and Level Her Up
Eiselin Hulkenberg will join the team during the first mission in Grand Trad, shortly after the assassination plot involving Grius. She becomes your follower during this time, once you agree to participate in some training sessions with her. Her archetype is the Knight.
Leveling up Hulkenberg is similar to what you do with Strohl, as you just need to talk to her and develop her side story. This story includes a confrontation with her old rival, a knight named Rhodanthe who has become a ruthless leader. You need to help her confront this authoritarian leader to strengthen your relationship with her to the fullest.
How to Unlock Heismay and Level Him Up
Heismay Noctule is a knight from Eugief, whom you meet during the Martira chapter of the main story. After discovering his innocence in a kidnapping plot, Heismay joins your team with his strong abilities resembling those of a thief, and his archetype is the “Thief” archetype.
To help in Heismay’s side quest, you need to improve your virtues. Heismay lost his son a long time ago and carried a jar containing his son’s bones. You must help him find a place to bury his son peacefully, which will help him become stronger.
How to Unlock Junah and Level Her Up
Junah, whose real name is Junai Cygnus, is the most famous singer in the kingdom and an ally of Louis. During the Brilehaven chapter, you discover that her intentions align with yours, and she joins the group with the “Masked Dancer” archetype.
