BlazBlue Entropy Effect is a 2D action roguelite from 91Act, and it is not a fighting game, which is the first thing most people get wrong about it. It borrows the BlazBlue cast but plays as a side-scrolling run-based action game: Early Access opened on 15 August 2023 and version 1.0 landed on 14 February 2024, with the Steam page listing sixteen playable characters. A run is called Mind Training and moves through five fixed stages: Night City, the Laboratory, the Ruins, Sakura City, and Space Omega.
This guide covers everything you need: core mechanics, the best builds, equipment worth investing in, location progression, and the tips that actually make a difference.
Core Mechanics
Mind Training stage order
Official patch notes describe Mind Training as five phases in a fixed order: Night City, Laboratory, Ruins, Sakura City, and Space Omega. Each stage rolls one of two possible bosses, so the route is fixed but the fights are not.
Tactic Codex slots
Upgrades slot into the Tactic Codex, and community guides describe five families: attack, skill, dodge, legacy, and summon. Once a slot commits to a family you only receive upgrades for that family, which is what turns a run into a build rather than a pile of buffs.
Evotype abilities
Each playable Prototype has an Evotype Ability plus an unlockable Evotype Talent that reshapes how their kit works. Talents such as bonus damage for attacking from behind change your positioning goals for the whole run.
Prototype Analyzers
New characters are unlocked with Prototype Analyzers rather than by random drop. You earn them from Training Objectives, and CL-1's shop sells them for 5000 AP each, so a bad run still moves you toward a new character.
Legacy skills between runs
Progress carries between runs through character legacy skills, which is why the game rewards rotating the roster instead of mastering one Prototype. Patch notes have also added run modifiers such as Black Market and Event rooms.
For a deeper dive into how these systems interact, see our BlazBlue Entropy Effect combat guide.
Builds Overview
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ragna the Bloodedge | A | Versatile approach | Balanced stats |
| Hakumen | A | Versatile approach | Balanced stats |
| Noel Vermillion | A | Versatile approach | Balanced stats |
| Es | A | Versatile approach | Balanced stats |
| Taokaka | A | Versatile approach | Balanced stats |
For full build breakdowns with gear and stat priorities, see our BlazBlue Entropy Effect builds guide. For rankings, check the tier list.
Equipment Guide
| Equipment | Why It Matters | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Attack tactics | The family that upgrades your basic offense. | Ragna, Hakumen, and anyone comfortable fighting at close range |
| Skill tactics | Upgrades to special moves and their cooldowns. | Noel and other characters who fight from a distance |
| Dodge tactics | Turns evasion into an offensive tool through cancels and follow-ups. | Combo characters such as Es and Taokaka |
| Legacy tactics | Tied to the legacy skills that persist between runs and reward playing more than one Prototype. | Players building long-term account progress |
| Summon tactics | Adds allied damage that fights alongside you. | Runs where you drew weak offensive options early |
Attack tactics: The family that upgrades your basic offense. Community guides describe slots as locking to one family, so committing a slot here means every later upgrade for that slot is an attack upgrade.
Skill tactics: Upgrades to special moves and their cooldowns. Stronger for ranged Prototypes and for boss fights where windows are short and you need one big cooldown to land.
Dodge tactics: Turns evasion into an offensive tool through cancels and follow-ups. Undervalued by new players who treat dodging as purely defensive.
Legacy tactics: Tied to the legacy skills that persist between runs and reward playing more than one Prototype. This is the family that makes roster rotation pay off rather than being a distraction.
Summon tactics: Adds allied damage that fights alongside you. Useful when your Prototype struggles to hold pressure alone, and it covers gaps while cooldowns are down.
Full breakdowns in our BlazBlue Entropy Effect weapons guide.
Location Progression
| Location | Level Range | Key Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Night City | Run phase 1 of 5 | First tactic slots, early Potentials, AP toward a Prototype Analyzer |
| Laboratory | Run phase 2 of 5 | Additional tactic upgrades, Evotype Talent opportunities |
| Ruins | Run phase 3 of 5 | Mid-run Potentials, stronger tactic tiers |
| Sakura City | Run phase 4 of 5 | Late tactic upgrades, Black Market purchases |
| Space Omega | Run phase 5 of 5 | Extra Potentials from bonus bosses, run completion, Susano'o achievements |
Night City: The first phase of Mind Training. Community wikis list the Watcher and the Sweeper as the two possible bosses here, and the stage rolls one of them at random.
Laboratory: The second phase in the fixed order given by official patch notes. Community listings put the Sand Serpent and the Tree of Origin as the stage's boss pair.
Ruins: The third phase, and the point where a run with scattered tactic families starts falling behind. Community wikis name the Defiling Eye and Arakune as the bosses here.
Sakura City: The fourth phase. Official patch notes confirm NAN-FIRE BITE as a Sakura City boss, and community listings pair it with Oread. Black Market and Event rooms were added to the run pool by later patches.
Space Omega: The final phase, a randomly generated labyrinth ending at Susano'o. Defeating Elite Enemies found along the way applies a debilitating effect to Susano'o, so clearing them first makes the final fight noticeably easier.
See our maps & locations guide for detailed area breakdowns and our walkthrough for the optimal progression path.
Tips That Actually Matter
- Understand what you bought: this is a run-based action roguelite from 91Act, not a versus fighting game. The BlazBlue cast is here, but there is no traditional matchmaking ladder or fighting-game training mode.
- Tactic Codex slots lock to a family once filled. Deciding early whether a slot is attack, skill, dodge, legacy, or summon is more important than any single upgrade you pick up.
- Hakumen is the community's standard first unlock because of his parry and super armor, which forgive the reaction errors that end early runs.
- Prototype Analyzers come from Training Objectives and from CL-1's shop at 5000 AP each. A failed run still earns AP, so treat unlocks as guaranteed progress rather than luck.
- In Space Omega, hunt the Elite Enemies before heading to Susano'o. Each one you beat applies an effect that weakens him, and the labyrinth layout is random so sweep it deliberately.
- Legacy skills carry between runs and are tied to playing multiple Prototypes, so rotating characters is progress rather than a detour from mastering one.
- Each stage rolls one of two bosses, which means you will not see every fight in a single run. Losing to an unfamiliar boss is normal on your first encounter with it.
- Evotype Talents change positioning goals. A talent that pays out for hitting enemies from behind rewires how you approach every fight, so read it before assuming your usual pattern still applies.
- Later patches added Black Market and Event room types to runs. If you have an older guide open, its room list is out of date.
- The game shipped guest characters, including ICEY and The Prisoner from Dead Cells, alongside the BlazBlue roster. If a guide names a character you cannot find, check whether it is DLC or from a later version.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying it expecting a BlazBlue versus fighting game.
- Spreading tactic slots across every family and ending with a run that does nothing well.
- Hoarding AP instead of buying a 5000 AP Prototype Analyzer.
- Rushing to Susano'o in Space Omega without clearing Elite Enemies first.
- Sticking to one character and missing the legacy skill progression entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a BlazBlue fighting game?
No. It is a 2D action roguelite. It uses the BlazBlue cast and borrows fighting-game combo structure, but the game is built around procedurally varied runs, upgrades, and boss fights, not versus matches.
How many characters are there?
The Steam page lists sixteen playable characters. Coverage from launch described thirteen Prototypes in the base roster, with guests and later additions on top, including ICEY and The Prisoner from Dead Cells.
How do I unlock new characters?
With Prototype Analyzers. You get them from Training Objectives and can buy them from CL-1 for 5000 AP each. Paid DLC characters are the exception and are bought separately.
What is the run structure?
Mind Training runs through five fixed phases: Night City, Laboratory, Ruins, Sakura City, and Space Omega. Each phase rolls one of two possible bosses, and Space Omega ends at Susano'o.
Do I need to know BlazBlue lore?
No. The characters are reconstructions inside a simulation rather than the fighting games' continuity, so the story stands on its own. Series fans will recognize names such as Ragna, Hakumen, and Arakune without needing the earlier games.
More BlazBlue Entropy Effect Guides
- BlazBlue Entropy Effect Best Builds
- BlazBlue Entropy Effect Tier List
- BlazBlue Entropy Effect Walkthrough
- BlazBlue Entropy Effect Beginner's Guide
- BlazBlue Entropy Effect Tips & Tricks
- BlazBlue Entropy Effect Weapons Guide
- BlazBlue Entropy Effect Combat Guide
- BlazBlue Entropy Effect Boss Guide
- BlazBlue Entropy Effect Maps & Locations
- BlazBlue Entropy Effect Crafting Guide
- BlazBlue Entropy Effect Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy BlazBlue Entropy Effect, check out these related guides:
- Risk of Rain 2 Guide: roguelike game with similar mechanics
- Hades Guide: roguelike game with similar mechanics
- Darkest Dungeon Guide: roguelike game with similar mechanics
