Tips & Secrets · The Second Story R (2023 remake only)

Star Ocean: The Second Story R

The most profitable early decisions are made in the IC/Specialty menu—not in battle. This guide focuses strictly on the 2023 remake; the original PlayStation and PSP releases differ.

12 researched tips · 2 before-you-start tips · View full game page →

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Check the fast-travel map for Private Actions after major eventsPrivate Actions and sub-events can disappear as the story advances; the remake makes them easier to spot on the map.

How to do it

  1. Open the fast-travel list after important story scenes and after recruitment.
  2. Look for Private Action/Sub-Event markers and visit the town before pushing the story onward.
Research sources: RPG Site ↗
Choose Claude or Rena with recruitment in mindYour lead character affects scenes and which party members can be recruited. There is no way to collect every recruit on one playthrough.

How to do it

  1. Decide whether you care most about Claude's or Rena's perspective before starting.
  2. Check recruitment routes before accepting mutually exclusive characters; use a second playthrough for the other side.
Research sources: RPG Site ↗
Max Determination before spending heavily on other skillsDetermination reduces the SP cost of improving other IC/Specialty skills, so buying expensive skills first wastes points.

How to do it

  1. Open Improve → IC/Specialty Skills when the system becomes available.
  2. Raise Determination toward level 10 before investing deeply elsewhere; upgrade it across characters you actively develop.
Research sources: GameFAQs 1 ↗ · GameFAQs 2 ↗
Duplicate an expensive item, sell the copies, keep oneReplication can convert consumable Magic Film into high-value sellable duplicates, provided the output is worth more than the materials.

How to do it

  1. Unlock Replication by developing Imitation, then buy the Magic Camera and Magic Film from Linga's campus shop; a RIRICA camera crafted later via Machinist improves success rates.
  2. Duplicate a valuable eligible item such as a Forged Bill, sell the successful copies and keep the original for another batch.
  3. Improve Imitation to reduce failed attempts; compare sale prices against Magic Film cost.

Important: Replication is probabilistic, and profitability depends on success rate, sale value and input costs.

Research sources: RPG Site 1 ↗ · Prima Games 2 ↗
Farm weak green enemies automatically with BodyguardBodyguard can instantly defeat weaker green enemy symbols on the field for EXP and Fol without entering combat.

How to do it

  1. Raise Scouting to level 4 on two party members and Train to level 1 on one member to unlock the super specialty.
  2. Activate Bodyguard in the IC/Super Specialty menu and move around areas with green enemy symbols.

Important: Automatic defeats do not give the extra rewards of manual battle chains. It works on sufficiently weak enemies, not strong ones.

Research sources: RPG Site 1 ↗ · Neoseeker 2 ↗
Link enemy groups and use EXP-boosting formationsField encounters can be chained into consecutive battles, and the Free Form formation has an EXP bonus.

How to do it

  1. Check available formations for Free Form and its EXP benefit.
  2. Approach clusters of nearby enemies to trigger linked fights, but avoid taking on more than your party can safely beat.
Research sources: finalweapon.net ↗
Turn skill points into Fol with PurityUnlike ordinary skill upgrades, each Purity level grants a one-time Fol reward. This is an unusually strong early cash injection.

How to do it

  1. After raising Determination, find Purity under IC/Specialty Skills.
  2. Spend remaining SP on Purity on several characters; each character receives their own reward.
Stack Item Knowledge and Group Appraising before sellingGroup Appraising can improve your selling return, and Item Knowledge further raises the money obtained from items.

How to do it

  1. Collect the valuables you intend to sell and check Item Knowledge on the seller.
  2. Use Group Appraising for the sale, then sell valuable replicated goods during the benefit window.
Research sources: Prima Games ↗
Use Writing books to raise Imitation without overspending SPA high-level writer can create skill books that raise Imitation, improving the Replication success rate with less direct SP expenditure.

How to do it

  1. Train a character in Writing/Penmanship and obtain the required writing materials.
  2. Create the Imitation-training book, use it on your designated replicator, then attempt valuable Replication targets.
Research sources: Prima Games ↗
Set up Pickpocketing before key NPC opportunities passPickpocketing needs the Thief's Glove and the right skills; an early target is the 40,000-Fol glove in Harley.

How to do it

  1. Obtain Thief's Glove from Harley's antique shop; Purity can help fund it.
  2. Raise Courage and Poker Face, and use Pickpocketing selectively when important NPC items are available.

Important: Stealing can affect character relationships. Save before experimenting, and check item availability in your specific route.

Try Art to open the Goodie Box route to powerful equipmentArt at an appropriate level can create a Goodie Box using Magic Clay, creating a route to powerful gear earlier than expected.

How to do it

  1. Invest in Art on a dedicated crafter and acquire Magic Clay.
  2. Create a Goodie Box when available; save first if you want to compare the random contents.

Important: Contents are random; this is an optional power-gaming trick rather than required progression.

Research sources: GameFAQs ↗
Use Remaking for powerful equipment factorsRemaking adds or changes factors on weapons, armor and accessories and can dramatically reshape an optimized build.

How to do it

  1. Unlock the Remaking super specialty using two characters with level 4 Replication and one with level 1 Customization.
  2. Experiment on spare gear before replacing factors on a rare favourite; higher levels improve rare-factor chances.

Important: Existing factors are overwritten. Check the resulting factor before committing valuable equipment.

Research sources: RPG Site ↗
Edition and accuracy: The Second Story R (2023 remake only) only. Research checked 2026-11-05. External sources are credited for mechanics and routes; individual playthroughs, updates, difficulty and randomness can change results. Suggest a correction or more tips →