Digimon Story: Time Stranger has a ton of mechanics to learn and Digimon to befriend. But before players can dive into what seems to be the biggest Digimon game ever made, they should learn a thing or two about how the world works and the unwritten rules behind this title.
This guide will cover lots of Beginner Tips and Tricks that will help players have a more enjoyable experience while they explore the Digital World, train and battle Digimon, and complete the Main Quest.
The Basics Of Combat
Digimon Story: Time Stranger has a few distinct characteristics that make it slightly different (yet similar) to other Digimon games. Here's a summary of certain things to keep in mind while trying this Digimon game:
- DigiAttack: Pressing 'E' will send the Agent's Digimon to attack even before enemies can react. If players start the combat this way, they will be granted an advantage and will be able to act first, besides causing severe damage to the enemy Digimon (and maybe even beating it without a fight). It can also be used on the environment to break obstacles and open doors.
- Cross-Arts: Cross-Arts are charged powers unique to the Agent. These will be granted/unlocked throughout the adventure, and charging CP needed to use them can be done by executing attacks and skills during combat.
- Party Setup: Players can have up to six Digimon on their 'Setup,' and will switch between them at any given time during combat.
- Switching and Healing: Switching Digimon or healing/boosting them with support items doesn't consume a combat action.
- Extra Attacks: Sometimes during combat, when Digimon execute a Skill or Attack, a pop-up appears on screen prompting players to press 'Spacebar,' and if executed correctly, this will trigger an Extra attack.
To Evolve or Not Evolve
Digivolution is an important aspect of the game, and players can train their Digimon from their Fresh (Hatchling) stage. Each stage has its own level cap (example: Level 5/25), and each time players evolve their Digimon, they regress to level 1. Digimon can be evolved from the moment they fulfill certain conditions, namely: STATS, Agent Level, or special conditions like the Hope, Bravery, Friendship Digi-Eggs.
But this also means that players can fulfill the conditions for evolving certain Digimon in the Fresh Stage at level 9, and if they do so, it will increase their overall stats based on the amount they had prior to its evolution. If players decide to keep leveling it up before evolving, the result will be a much stronger Digimon with better stats. Ultimately, it is up to the players if they want to Digivolve their partners or not. Besides, Digivolution can be reverted, and players can then choose entirely different evolutionary routes and train their Digimon from scratch.
Stat Distribution and Evolution
As mentioned before, Digivolution requires Digimon to fulfill certain conditions before it becomes enabled. A message will pop-up in the bottom right corner of the screen whenever a Digimon is ready to evolve, but this doesn't mean they have reached the conditions for every evolution on their line.
For example, to evolve Wanyamon into Renamon, players will need to increase its SP to 380 or higher and its INT to 230 or higher before this evolution becomes available. However, Wanyamon can also evolve into Bearmon if it reaches ATK 230 or higher. If conditions are met, each stage will be able to evolve into any of their lines, but beware: Devolving Digimon will suppress some of their stats, so players will need to level them up again if they want to fulfill the conditions again. Also: Digimon cannot be regressed to a form that players haven't previously encountered and registered in their Field Guide.
Digimon Personalities & Skills
Personalities in Digimon Story: Time Stranger affect both the overall stats and how the Digimon acts in combat. It can affect total Stat Value Scores, the Skills they learn, and the Passives they acquire. Digimon can acquire four basic personalities: Valor, Amicability, Philantropy, and Wisdom, and from there, several derivative personalities with their own Stat boosts and potential Passives.
From Valor, Digimon can obtain the following characteristics: Brave, Zealous, Daring, and Reckless. The sub-variants for Amicability are: Compassionate, Sociable, Friendly, and Opportunistic. From Wisdom, they can gain the following traits: Astute, Strategic, Enlightened, and Sly. Finally, from Philanthropy, Digimon will acquire these personality traits: Adoring, Devoted, Tolerant, and Overprotective. Depending on the dialogues players have with their Digimon, their personas will mutate accordingly, so keep this in mind while playing.
Convert All The Data Into Digimon
A specific mechanic that Digimon Story: Time Stranger doesn't communicate all too well is the fact that Data used to create new Digimon through the Convert feature only reaches 200% (The maximum, which results in a better, stronger Digimon) and doesn't accumulate anymore. Meaning that players can only farm up to 200% Data of each Digimon, and all successive data obtained will be lost.
To prevent this, always convert Data into Digimon, and if players are not using those Digimon for training, they can use them to empower other Digimon through the Enhancements Feature. By accessing the Digivice menu (X in PC) and then selecting Load Enhancement, players can select the target Digimon first, then the Digimon used as enhancement materials (which will be lost upon using them). This is a great way to use spare Data acquired from wild Digimon, and the other important feature, which is 'Return To Data,' converts spare Digimon into Data and then into Money that players can use in various stores.
Investigate Areas Thoroughly
Players should use the Analyze function from their Digivice often (Q in PC) to scout in search of Materials, Chests, and hidden loot. It can also reveal breakable walls, fences, and rubble that allow players to use the DigiAttack. Every place has a lot of mats (which respawn after leaving the area) and can be looted time and time again. Chests and obstacles do not respawn, but Mats can be farmed endlessly.
The same can be said about Digimon, which respawn once players move to another area. If players investigate areas thoroughly, they will be able to find more Digimon and Items, and reinforce their teams faster. Also, breakable items and mat farming spots are random, meaning that players can obtain things that are barely valuable or powerful Chips to enhance their Digimon capabilities.
Save Before Evolving One Of Your Main Digimon
There's no shame in save-scumming, and in Digimon Story: Time Stranger this can be done right before tough battles or evolving partner Digimon into their next Stage. That way, if players regret taking certain Digimon into battle or evolving some of their partners into an underired form, they can load their previous save and choose a better approach or another evolution.
Digimon Story: Time Stranger is a game to be enjoyed leisurely. There's no time-pressing deadline forcing players to rush through the content. Train, evolve, and experiment at every step of the road. After all, it's the most complex and biggest of all Digimon games made to date.
Digimon Story: Time Stranger
- Released
- October 3, 2025
- ESRB
- Teen / Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Media.Vision
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, RPG, Creature Collector
