Steam app 1056640 now carries the title Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis. Sega put the original PSO2 on Steam on 5 August 2020 and launched New Genesis inside the same client on 9 June 2021, so one install gives you both the older ship blocks and the open field planet Halpha. New Genesis is where the population actually plays, across four regions named Aelio, Retem, Kvaris and Stia, all traversed on foot with Photon Dash and Photon Glide rather than through loading screens. Everything below describes New Genesis unless it says otherwise.
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 | Build | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Start | Central City | Main class and subclass pairing basics | Fighter | 1-2 hours |
| 2. Early | Aelio | Battle Power gating mastery | Fighter | 3-5 hours |
| 3. Mid | Retem | Multi-Weapon crafting + gear | Hunter or Fighter | 5-10 hours |
| 4. Late | Kvaris | Build optimization | Hunter | 5-10 hours |
| 5. Endgame | Stia | Min-max | Hunter or Braver | Ongoing |
See our maps guide for detailed area breakdowns.
Phase 1: Getting Started (Central City)
The town area for the Aelio region and the main social hub, where you change class, take quests and access shops. Everything administrative happens here, so it is the place you return to between field trips.
Level/Difficulty: Any level, safe hub Key Rewards: Class changes, shops, quest counters, player shops
What to Do in Central City
- Learn Main class and subclass pairing. You pick a main class and a subclass, and the subclass contributes a reduced share of its stats plus most of its passive skill tree. Spend your first session getting comfortable with this.
- Pick Fighter as your starting build. See our builds guide for why.
- Level more than one class on the same character, because class changes are free at the counter and there is no benefit to keeping a separate alt.
- Acquire your first equipment upgrade: Twin Daggers or whatever's available.
- Clear all main content before moving on.
Phase 1 Checklist
- Understand Main class and subclass pairing fundamentals
- Fighter selected and functional
- Central City main content cleared
- Ready for Aelio
Phase 2: Early Game (Aelio)
The first of the four sectors of Halpha and where every character starts, with the gentlest enemies and the tutorial story chapter. Its cocoons and towers are the first permanent stat boosts you will collect.
Level/Difficulty: Starting region, first story chapter Key Rewards: Region mags, cocoons, towers, starter gear
What to Do in Aelio
- Work on Battle Power gating. Battle Power is a single number combining your level, weapon, armour units and augments, and quests state a recommended figure before you queue. This system becomes critical from here on.
- Farm for Twin Daggers if you haven't already. It's the key upgrade for this phase.
- Track Battle Power rather than character level, since quests state a recommended BP and augments plus weapon enhancement move it far more than levelling does.
- Complete all objectives before pushing to Retem.
- Consider whether Hunter might suit your playstyle better than Fighter.
Phase 2 Checklist
- Battle Power gating integrated into gameplay
- Twin Daggers acquired
- Aelio fully cleared
- Ready for Retem
Phase 3: Mid Game (Retem)
The desert region, unlocked after clearing chapter one of the Aelio story. Enemy density and level both rise, and it is the first place a badly matched Battle Power becomes obvious.
Level/Difficulty: After Aelio chapter 1 Key Rewards: Higher tier gear, Retem region exploration rewards
What to Do in Retem
- Master Multi-Weapon crafting. Multi-Weapon merges two weapons of different categories into one item, letting a single equipped weapon use both movesets. This unlocks a new layer of gameplay.
- Start working toward Sword. It's the best equipment and becomes accessible around now.
- Clear cocoons and towers in each region as you pass them, because they hand out permanent stat increases that carry across every class you play.
- This area is the main skill check. If you can clear it, you're ready for late game.
- Start investing in Photon Dash and Photon Glide traversal for the tactical depth you'll need going forward.
Phase 3 Checklist
- Multi-Weapon crafting mastered
- Sword acquired or in progress
- Retem fully cleared
- Ready for Kvaris
Phase 4: Late Game (Kvaris)
The snow region, unlocked by clearing the To Kvaris Region chapter. It introduced its own story arc and a step up in gear tier when it launched.
Level/Difficulty: After the To Kvaris Region chapter Key Rewards: Kvaris tier weapons and units, exploration collectibles
What to Do in Kvaris
- Finalize your build. You should be running Hunter or Fighter with optimized gear.
- Sword should be your primary. If you don't have it yet, prioritize getting it.
- Build a Multi-Weapon before you start endgame content, especially on Braver, where merging Katana and Bullet Bow removes the need to swap weapons mid fight.
- Urgent Quests and Dark Falz fights optimization starts here. Small improvements compound into massive advantages.
- Farm this area for the resources needed to push into Stia.
Phase 4 Checklist
- Build fully optimized
- Sword upgraded to max
- Kvaris fully cleared
- Ready for Stia
Phase 5: Endgame (Stia)
The fourth region on Halpha and the late destination in the progression chain from Aelio through Retem and Kvaris. Expect the highest Battle Power requirements on the planet here.
Level/Difficulty: Late region, fourth on Halpha Key Rewards: Endgame gear tiers, high level field bosses
What to Do in Stia
- Stia tests everything. Come prepared with your best build and gear.
- Major Target Suppression Quests run four players, fifteen minutes and five incapacitations, so a party that keeps dying will fail on the incapacitation limit before the timer.
- The endgame loop: run Stia, optimize gear, push harder content.
- Experiment with Braver for a fresh take once you've mastered the standard builds.
- This is where Urgent Quests and Dark Falz fights 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
- Stia fully cleared
- Ready for challenge content
Common Progression Mistakes
- Creating a new character for each class, when class changes are free at the counter and progress on one character is shared.
- Queueing for content while well below the recommended Battle Power, then blaming the party for a failure the gear check predicted.
- Skipping cocoons and towers during early exploration, which permanently leaves stat points on the table for every class you later play.
- Merging a Multi-Weapon out of gear you plan to replace, since the merge consumes the second weapon.
- Assuming New Genesis and the original PSO2 are separate purchases, when app 1056640 carries both inside one client.
Key Tips for Smooth Progression
- Level more than one class on the same character, because class changes are free at the counter and there is no benefit to keeping a separate alt.
- Track Battle Power rather than character level, since quests state a recommended BP and augments plus weapon enhancement move it far more than levelling does.
- Clear cocoons and towers in each region as you pass them, because they hand out permanent stat increases that carry across every class you play.
- Build a Multi-Weapon before you start endgame content, especially on Braver, where merging Katana and Bullet Bow removes the need to swap weapons mid fight.
- Major Target Suppression Quests run four players, fifteen minutes and five incapacitations, so a party that keeps dying will fail on the incapacitation limit before the timer.
For more advanced strategies, see our tips & tricks guide.
More Phantasy Star Online 2 Guides
- Phantasy Star Online 2 Phantasy Star Online 2 Overview
- Phantasy Star Online 2 Best Builds
- Phantasy Star Online 2 Tier List
- Phantasy Star Online 2 Beginner's Guide
- Phantasy Star Online 2 Tips & Tricks
- Phantasy Star Online 2 Weapons Guide
- Phantasy Star Online 2 Combat Guide
- Phantasy Star Online 2 Boss Guide
- Phantasy Star Online 2 Maps & Locations
- Phantasy Star Online 2 Crafting Guide
- Phantasy Star Online 2 Classes & Characters
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