SWORD ART ONLINE Fractured Daydream – Beginners Guide

New Player’s Guide

By Jelly.

EXP Efficiency

• Rank Milestone 15: After clearing all T1 Co-op Quests available, unlocks Skull Reaper Boss Raid. This will be the fastest consistent EXP/hr until Rank 35.
• Rank Milestone 35: After clearing all T2 Co-op Quests available, unlocks SBC Trommel Boss Raid. This will be the fastest consistent EXP/hr until Rank 55.
• Rank Milestone 55: T3-2 now provides better EXP/hr until Rank 70 (Depends on the number of players available).
• Rank Milestone 70: T3-3 now provides better EXP/hr until Rank 100. (Depends on the number of players available).
• Rank Milestone 85: After clearing all T3 Co-op Quests available, unlocks T3 Boss Raid. T3-3 is still the fastest consistent EXP/hr until Rank 100.

Rank 70 Notes:

• Once you hit Rank 70, clear T3-3 a few times to get some Rank 69+ equipment/accessories.
• Go to every single character and select Optimize Equipment. Make sure every character has is at least equipped with Rank 68+ full set, then change to Quest Reward Bonus bracelets if any.
• Start to convert some Epic/Legendary equipment passives to Effect Spheres.
• From 70 to 85, keep a look out for any new Epic/Legendary that has level 4 or 5 passives to convert. Keep all [Quest Reward Bonus] Legendary bracelets regardless of Rank.
• Priority would be to replace all other lines on the Quest Reward Bonus bracelet with either Max HP UP, Resistance or Nullify/Halves Status Effects.

Example of QRB Bracelet:

With regards to crafting optimal equipment, the Rank of the equipment only matters for base ATK/HP. Feel free to farm T1s for Passives.

Characters Recommended for Leveling

• Yuna – Easy set up, burst AOE. Yuna is easy to pick up and has a high skill ceiling, along with global buffs for the team. (Note: Yuna does not have a wind weapon.)
• Heathcliff – He is a solid tank and is able to deal big AOE damage. He can buff the team’s defenses while giving himself good offensive buffs. (Note: Heathcliff does not have a wind weapon.)
• Eugeo – His skillset is fairly easy to use. Along with his character passive, he is able to control areas like tower consoles with freeze. (Note: Eugeo does not have a fire weapon.)
• Fukaziroh – Big consistent AOE, very safe and fun to use. Also has the ability to swap elements to handle multiple content.
• Alice – Well-rounded kit, one of the easier characters to use. Has a decent health pool and can deal AOE. (Note: Alice does not have a water weapon.)
• Eiji – Simple to use, has a simple playstyle while being able to keep up in DPS. His passive is also one of the best passives in the game. (Note: Eiji does not have a wind weapon.)

Equipment Priorities for Leveling

• Weapon – Always prioritize Weapon Rank, as well as the Element of the weapon. (Elemental Weakness is roughly = 10 Ranks of damage).
• Ring – Elemental Weakness Damage UP / ATK UP / Advanced Skill Damage UP
• Bracelet – Quest Reward Bonus / Nullifies Roar Stun / Nullifies Stun / Resistance to All Elements / Max HP UP (Quest Reward Bonus is a unique legendary line)
• Necklace – Advanced Skill Instant Cooldown (Max 1) / Faster Advanced Skill Cooldown

Note: Do not dismantle any Epics or Legendaries (especially those with Lv4/Lv5 lines) unless you know what you are doing.

Gear Progression Milestones

• Rank 01-50 – Weapon Enhancement to +4 is easily achievable. (Do not enhance accessories)
• Rank 50-70 – Weapon Enhancements should be around +6 to easily clear the T3 Co-op content. (Do not enhance accessories)
• Rank 70-98 – Weapon Enhancements should be around +8 to tackle the T3 Raid Bosses. (Do not enhance accessories yet, relax)
• Rank 99+ – Take BIS Equipment to +10. (You can enhance those accessories now)

Post 85 End-Game Equipment

From this point on, new equipment gotten should be replaced by its Epic/Legendary counterparts. Try to aim for a full loadout of Epic at least, to fill up all the passive slots. T3 Raids are the literal End-game content. So it is fine to use your Effect Spheres to swap out some unused passives or even change out the 3/4 lines completely.

To be on the safer side, I recommend avoiding Legendary weapons until 90+. The Base HP loss on equipping lower level accessories is negligible at this point. The plus side of using Epics over Legendaries is the fact that you can change out all 4 lines to fit whatever build you are going for (e.g. 4x crit ring). Legendaries on the other hand, depend on how often you find yourself in particular scenarios but are very strong should you meet those requirements.

Thoughts on QRB in the end-game: It’s still fine to use the reward bonus at a cost of HP. The game ultimately isn’t very hard as long as there are enough players in the room. If you are struggling to clear the quest due to insufficient players, consider replacing that slot for a better bracelet.

Which Equipment / Passives to Sphere?

Important: Make sure you already have your characters equipped with equipment (stats) appropriate to your hardest content before making Effect Spheres!

Target all equipment that are 10 or more Ranks below your current Rank. Sphere all Level 4-5 passives. (Halves count as Lv.3, Nullifies count as Lv.4) If there are multiple of the highest level, pick whichever you like.

Keep any Legendaries that provide utility for Supports/Tanks or Quest Reward Bonus. Any other Epics/Legendaries with no 4s or 5s can be dismantled.

Boss Raid

Priority Quests

Player Rank: 01 to 20

Priority Quests:

Clear Story

• You will reach Rank ~20 from completing the story.

Clear each T1 Co-op Quest once to unlock Boss Raids

Player Rank: 20 to 35

Priority Quests:

Jade Maze (Light / Resists Dark) (Co-op Quest T1)

• Light Build
• Drops Light Element Weapons at a higher chance.

Skull Reaper (Light / Resists Dark) (Boss Raid T1)

• Light Build
• Drops Light Weakness Accessories at a higher chance.
• Drops Dark Resist Accessories at a higher chance.

Player Rank: 35 to 55

Priority Quests:

Woods of Recollection (Electric / Resists Wind) – Jade Maze (Light / Resists Dark) (Co-op Quest T3)

• Electric / Light Build (Rec. Rank 25+ Weapon)
• Drops Electric Element Weapons at a higher chance.
• Drops Light Element Weapons at a higher chance.

SBC Trommel (Electric / Resists Wind) (Boss Raid T2)

• Electric Build (Rec. Rank 25+ Weapon & Acc).
• Drops Electric Weakness Accessories at a higher chance.
• Drops Electric Resist Accessories at a higher chance.

Player Rank: 55 to 70

Priority Quests:

Woodland of Vitality (Water / Resists Fire) – Abandoned Factory (Fire / Resists Water) (Co-op Quest T3)

• Water / Fire Build (Rec. Rank 45+ Weapon & Acc)
• Drops Water Element Weapons at a higher chance.
• Drops Fire Element Weapons at a higher chance.

Player Rank: 70* to 85

Priority Quests:

Amber Maze (Dark / Resists Light) – Ruins of Truth and Lies (Wind / Resists Electric) (Co-op Quest T3)

• Dark / Wind Build (Rec. Rank 60+ Weapon & Acc)
• Drops Dark Element Weapons at a higher chance.
• Drops Wind Element Weapons at a higher chance.

Player Rank: 85 to 100

Priority Quests:

Boss Raid T3

• Slowly transition to full Epic/Legendaries, following any Elemental Weakness if applicable.
• Drops the respective Element Accessories at a higher chance.