Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is Arc System Works' follow-up to the 2020 fighter, published by Cygames and released on 14 December 2023 for PC, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. The launch roster ran to 28 fighters, with Anila, Siegfried, Grimnir and Nier joining the 24 who came across from the first game. The defining change is Bravery Points, a three-point per round defensive resource that Raging Strikes, Brave Counters and Skybound Arts all pull from.
This walkthrough takes you from your first session to endgame content. Each phase has specific goals, priorities, and milestones. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Progression Summary
| Phase | Area | Focus | Role | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Start | Story Mode | Bravery Points basics | Charlotta | 1-2 hours |
| 2. Early | Grand Bruise Legends | Guard Crush mastery | Charlotta | 3-5 hours |
| 3. Mid | Training Mode | Simple and Technical inputs + gear | Gran or Charlotta | 5-10 hours |
| 4. Late | Ranked Match | Build optimization | Gran | 5-10 hours |
| 5. Endgame | Figure Studio | Min-max | Gran or Lancelot | Ongoing |
See our maps guide for detailed area breakdowns.
Phase 1: Getting Started (Story Mode)
Three acts, the first two carried over from the 2020 Granblue Fantasy: Versus and the third written for Rising. The JRPG systems from the original were stripped out, so progression is stage by stage rather than through a party and equipment layer.
Level/Difficulty: New players and returning players Key Rewards: The new third act, plus entries for the in-game notes and collection
What to Do in Story Mode
- Learn Bravery Points. Both players start every round with 3. Spend your first session getting comfortable with this.
- Pick Charlotta as your starting role. See our builds guide for why.
- Watch the opponent's Bravery Point count, not just their health. Both players start each round with 3, and an opponent at zero cannot Brave Counter, which turns your safest pressure sequence into a genuinely free one.
- Acquire your first weapons upgrade: Super Skybound Art or whatever's available.
- Clear all main content before moving on.
Phase 1 Checklist
- Understand Bravery Points fundamentals
- Charlotta selected and functional
- Story Mode main content cleared
- Ready for Grand Bruise Legends
Phase 2: Early Game (Grand Bruise Legends)
A 30-player party mode in a chibi art style, running sets of three minigames covering obstacle courses, team collectathons and survival rounds. It has nothing to do with the fighting game underneath it, which is the point.
Level/Difficulty: Any skill level Key Rewards: A break from ranked, and a lobby activity that non-fighting-game friends will actually join
What to Do in Grand Bruise Legends
- Work on Guard Crush. The state a Raging Strike forces on a blocking opponent, opening them up for a punish. This system becomes critical from here on.
- Farm for Super Skybound Art if you haven't already. It's the key upgrade for this phase.
- Simple inputs deal the same damage and carry the same properties as Technical inputs in Rising, which was not true in the 2020 game. If motion inputs are the thing keeping you from playing, use Simple and spend that practice time on spacing instead.
- Complete all objectives before pushing to Training Mode.
- Consider whether Gran might suit your playstyle better than Charlotta.
Phase 2 Checklist
- Guard Crush integrated into gameplay
- Super Skybound Art acquired
- Grand Bruise Legends fully cleared
- Ready for Training Mode
Phase 3: Mid Game (Training Mode)
One of the more complete training suites in the genre, with frame information, colour-coded displays, character breakdowns, combo practice, situational training and punish training all built in rather than left to community mods.
Level/Difficulty: All levels, essential above Ranked beginner Key Rewards: Frame data, matchup-specific punish drills, combo routes per character
What to Do in Training Mode
- Master Simple and Technical inputs. Rising removed the damage and property gap between one-button Simple inputs and full motion Technical inputs. This unlocks a new layer of gameplay.
- Start working toward Skybound Art. It's the best weapon and becomes accessible around now.
- An Ultimate Skill costs 50 percent of the SBA gauge. Spending two of them in a round means no Skybound Art, so decide early whether the round plan is steady conversions or one large payoff.
- This area is the main skill check. If you can clear it, you're ready for late game.
- Start investing in Rollback netcode and crossplay for the tactical depth you'll need going forward.
Phase 3 Checklist
- Simple and Technical inputs mastered
- Skybound Art acquired or in progress
- Training Mode fully cleared
- Ready for Ranked Match
Phase 4: Late Game (Ranked Match)
Ranked runs on rollback netcode with crossplay across PC, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. Ratings are stored per character, so a second or third pick can be trained in ranked without damaging your main's standing.
Level/Difficulty: After roughly ten hours in Training Mode Key Rewards: Per-character rank, and the only reliable read on whether your gameplan survives real opponents
What to Do in Ranked Match
- Finalize your build. You should be running Gran or Charlotta with optimized gear.
- Skybound Art should be your primary. If you don't have it yet, prioritize getting it.
- Super Skybound Arts only become available below 30 percent health with a full gauge. When your opponent crosses that threshold, stop pressing buttons on their wakeup and start blocking, because the game hands them a comeback tool at exactly that moment.
- Per-character Versus Rank optimization starts here. Small improvements compound into massive advantages.
- Farm this area for the resources needed to push into Figure Studio.
Phase 4 Checklist
- Build fully optimized
- Skybound Art upgraded to max
- Ranked Match fully cleared
- Ready for Figure Studio
Phase 5: Endgame (Figure Studio)
A diorama builder where you pose characters against backgrounds and set pieces. Purely creative, with no bearing on the fighting game, and one of the reasons the game holds a non-competitive audience.
Level/Difficulty: Any Key Rewards: Screenshots, and posing options for every character you own
What to Do in Figure Studio
- Figure Studio tests everything. Come prepared with your best build and gear.
- Brave Counter costs 1 Bravery Point and launches on hit while recovering quickly on block. Hold one point in reserve rather than spending everything on offence, because a defensive option you cannot afford is not an option.
- The endgame loop: run Figure Studio, optimize gear, push harder content.
- Experiment with Lancelot for a fresh take once you've mastered the standard builds.
- This is where Per-character Versus Rank mastery separates good players from great ones. See our tips guide for advanced strategies.
Phase 5 Checklist
- Endgame content on farm
- Best-in-slot gear acquired
- Figure Studio fully cleared
- Ready for challenge content
Common Progression Mistakes
- Learning Technical inputs first because you assume Simple inputs deal less damage, which Rising no longer does
- Burning the whole SBA gauge on Ultimate Skills and having nothing left when the round comes down to one exchange
- Attacking into an opponent below 30 percent health, straight into a Super Skybound Art
- Spending your last Bravery Point on offence and then having no Brave Counter when the pressure comes back
- Blocking as a default plan, which Raging Strike and guard crush exist specifically to punish
Key Tips for Smooth Progression
- Watch the opponent's Bravery Point count, not just their health. Both players start each round with 3, and an opponent at zero cannot Brave Counter, which turns your safest pressure sequence into a genuinely free one.
- Simple inputs deal the same damage and carry the same properties as Technical inputs in Rising, which was not true in the 2020 game. If motion inputs are the thing keeping you from playing, use Simple and spend that practice time on spacing instead.
- An Ultimate Skill costs 50 percent of the SBA gauge. Spending two of them in a round means no Skybound Art, so decide early whether the round plan is steady conversions or one large payoff.
- Super Skybound Arts only become available below 30 percent health with a full gauge. When your opponent crosses that threshold, stop pressing buttons on their wakeup and start blocking, because the game hands them a comeback tool at exactly that moment.
- Brave Counter costs 1 Bravery Point and launches on hit while recovering quickly on block. Hold one point in reserve rather than spending everything on offence, because a defensive option you cannot afford is not an option.
For more advanced strategies, see our tips & tricks guide.
More Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Guides
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Overview
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Best Builds
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Tier List
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Beginner's Guide
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Tips & Tricks
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Weapons Guide
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Combat Guide
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Boss Guide
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Maps & Locations
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Crafting Guide
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Classes & Characters
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