Summary

  • Buddies like Chakpo, Taylor, and Sophie can enhance gameplay in Fantasy Life with unique skills and stat boosts.
  • Recruiting helpful Strangelings improves crafting abilities and speeds up actions in the game.
  • Having allies like Teruha, Orlando, Duglas, and Kunugi can make fishing, woodcutting, mining, and carpentry easier and more efficient in the game.

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time isn't a game that players will be experiencing entirely alone. Apart from the co-op, players will also encounter NPCs known as Strangelings that they can recruit not only onto their island but also onto their team to help them with a variety of lives.

which life (job) should you choose in fantasy life i
Which Life (Job) Should You Choose First In Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time

Choosing a Life is the first step players will make on the Mysterious Island in Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time.

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Like the player themselves, each Strangeling has their own life they have mastered, which the player can then make the most of when trying to complete similar tasks as they explore this new Fantasy Life world. From having a hand when mining, to being supported by a fellow Blacksmith, with 49 Strangelings available to find and recruit, these are by far the best Strangelings, ranked.

8 Chakpo

A Battlefield Chef For Better Meals

  • Found as the Cook O'Lantern in Viridia Plateau.

Starting off strong, one of the best Strangelings players should be sure to recruit as soon as possible in Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a Cook. Out of the three Cooks that can be found in this Fantasy Life title, Chakpo isn't only one of the easiest to get, but also one of the best.

After finding the Cook O'Lantern at the Viridia Plateau in Ginormosia, players can transform this Strangeling into a buddy that is great for any player who loves to cook. Firstly, having this assistance can allow the player to make better quality meals, which have a higher benefit when consumed. By befriending Chakpo through cooking, giving fits, and adventuring with them, players will not only increase their base cooking stat but also improve all the stews and vegetable dishes they create.

One Heart

+20 Cooking

Two Hearts

Chakpo automatically completes three cooking actions with their Special Skill.

Three Hearts

Improves ability to cook both stews and vegetables.

Four Hearts

+30 Cooking

Five Hearts

The Spin Power Action can be completed 50% quicker.

7 Taylor

The Talkative Tailor That Helps With Sewing

  • The Wholesome Yarn Basket randomly drops from enemies or materials marked with a crown.

Having buddies readily available for every crafting life is essential for those who wish to make better quality items. The Tailor life is no different, with players recruiting the likes of Taylor to help them better their chances of putting buffs on the clothing they stitch together. This Strangeling is a random drop from bosses, and therefore players should hope they get lucky after taking on a foe that is displayed with a crown.

Transforming the Wholesome Yarn Basket back into Taylor will give players the perfect ally for the Tailor life. Besides any Tailor being perfect for increasing the player's base Sewing skill, Taylor is especially useful for making the Hold Power Action of crafting much quicker, which is arguably one of the slowest actions in the mini-game.

One Heart

+20 Sewing

Two Hearts

Taylor automatically completes three tailoring actions with their Special Skill.

Three Hearts

Improves ability to craft carpets.

Four Hearts

+30 Sewing

Five Hearts

The Hold Power Action can be completed 50% quicker.

6 Sophie

Every Player Needs An Alchemist

  • The Secretive Mask randomly drops from enemies or materials marked with a crown.

Besides cooking, another way players can make consumables is through the Alchemist life. Players aren't only making potions that buff various stats or replenish their SP, as Alchemists are also in control of making the charms and accessories the player can equip for extra improvements to their character that may not be possible with armor.

A grid of a player and some activities in Fantasy Life I: The Girl Who Steals Time
Beginner Tips For Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time

Before starting a life in Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, here's what beginners should keep in mind for the smoothest experience.

Sophie is one of many fellow Alchemists the player can obtain in Fantasy Life I: The Girl Who Steals Time, with her also being randomly dropped after defeating an enemy or a material that was marked with a crown. Sophie is especially useful for players wanting to improve their Alchemy stat further, as getting her Affinity to three hearts will improve the flasks the player creates. This flask is what is needed to craft other things during the Alchemist life.

One Heart

+20 Alchemy

Two Hearts

Sophie automatically completes three alchemy actions with their Special Skill.

Three Hearts

Improves ability to craft flasks.

Four Hearts

+30 Alchemy

Five Hearts

The Spin Power Action can be completed 50% quicker.

5 Ian

Buddies For The Forge Are Crucial

  • The Fresh-Faced Helm randomly drops from enemies or materials marked with a crown.

Continuing with Strangelings that randomly drop from crown-marked enemies and materials, Ian is a Blacksmith who is just as useful as the likes of Taylor, Sophie, and the other Crafting life buddies of Fantasy Life i.

Blacksmithing is another high-ranking life in the new Fantasy Life game, as many of the other lives will also rely on their tools being made through the Blacksmithing life. With the aid of Ian, players not only increase their base Smithing skills, but he is also a great choice for those playing a melee combat life, due to Ian improving the player's ability to craft metal armor.

One Heart

+20 Smithing

Two Hearts

Ian automatically completes three alchemy actions with their Special Skill.

Three Hearts

Improves ability to smith metal armor.

Four Hearts

+30 Smithing

Five Hearts

The Tap Power Action can be completed 50% quicker.

4 Teruha

The Fantastic Fishing Maiden

  • Found as the Graceful Carp Banner on an island in Drakeseye Valley.

Moving away from crafting lives for a time, another crucial Strangeling that players should be sure to search for in Ginormosia is an Angler friend. Out of the three Anglers available, one of the easiest to recruit is the Graceful Carp Banner, which can be transformed into Teruha.

As an Angler, players should be sure to have Teruha in their party when they plan to go out fishing. Once the player starts to try and catch a fish, Teruha will happily give the player a hand to make the battle against the waters less of a problem. If players recruit more Anglers to their team, Teruha will also boost their SP regeneration, as well as being a great aid to Anglers when taking on both sea and river fish.

One Heart

+20 Fishing

Two Hearts

Teruha naturally boosts the SP regeneration for Anglers in the party.

Three Hearts

Boosts the damage to sea and river fish per the number of buddies fishing.

Four Hearts

+30 Fishing

Five Hearts

20% more damage when fishing in rivers.

3 Orlando

A Lumberjack Who Was Swept To Sea

  • Found as the Country Wood Pot at the Southern Campfire in Drakesnout Range.

Out of all the resources in Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, players will be constantly in need of wood, which will see them chopping down every tree they pass. However, some larger trees can be quite difficult to cut down alone. That's where buddies such as Orlando come in handy, as this fellow Woodcutter will stand side-by-side with the player to aid them in chopping down both common and rare trees.

Choosing the Mercenary Life in Fantasy Life I: The Girl Who Steals Time
Fantasy Life i: Complete Trophy/Achievement Guide

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a completionist's dream, but some trophies/achievements are quite difficult to unlock.

Besides boosting the player's Woodcutting skill when raising his affinity, players will also be able to boost their damage to certain types of trees, such as Broadleaf and Conifer, depending on the number of allies cutting down the tree. This damage is buffed in general for Broadleaf trees in particular.

One Heart

+20 Woodcutting

Two Hearts

Orlando naturally boosts the SP regeneration for Woodcutters in the party.

Three Hearts

Boosts the damage to Broadleaf and Conifer trees per the number of buddies woodcutting.

Four Hearts

+30 Woodcutting

Five Hearts

20% more damage when cutting Broadleaf trees.

2 Duglas

Have An Easier Time Mining With Others

  • Players find the Sturdy Wheelbarrow near the end of Chapter 3.

By far the best gathering buddy a player could ask for is a Strangeling that players will unlock by progressing the story in Fantasy Life i. Duglas may at first look to be a wheelbarrow, but this Strangeling can be transformed into a whole Miner that will be perfect for any player that is on the lookout for both gems and ore.

Players will be in constant need of ore like they are with wood, as many of the blacksmithing recipes require players to have ore so they can craft weapons, tools, and armor. Besides giving the player a hand in collecting these minerals in general, Duglas is especially useful when mining for Gemstones and Metals, which are both crucial for crafting.

One Heart

+20 Mining

Two Hearts

Duglas naturally boosts the SP regeneration for Miners in the party.

Three Hearts

Boosts the damage to gemstones and metals per the number of buddies mining.

Four Hearts

+30 Mining

Five Hearts

20% more damage when mining gemstones.

1 Kunugi

The First And Best Buddy Around

  • The Odd Dresser is found during Chapter 3.

Out of the 49 Strangelings for the player to collect in Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, by far the best buddy the player can obtain is also conveniently the first Strangeling they encounter during the main story. Kunugi, whom the player first meets as the Odd Dresser, is a Carpenter.

While the gathering lives may be great due to players taking them on their adventures, Kunugi is perfect for any player that not only has chosen a combat life, such as the Hunter or Magician, but also for players who are looking to decorate. Having Kunugi assist the player during their carpentry will see their wooden weapons improve greatly once they have reached affinity three with her. Plus, since she's the first found, she'll always have a special place on the island for players.

One Heart

+20 Carpentry

Two Hearts

Kunugi automatically completes three carpentry actions with their Special Skill.

Three Hearts

Improves the player's ability to make wooden weapons.

Four Hearts

+30 Carpentry

Five Hearts

Tap Power Action is 50% faster.

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Life Simulation
RPG
Adventure
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Systems
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Top Critic Avg: 85 /100 Critics Rec: 96%
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Released
May 21, 2025
ESRB
E For Everyone // Mild Fantays Violence
Developer(s)
Level 5
Publisher(s)
Level 5
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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