Beyond the Chain: A Beginner’s Guide to Starting Astral Chain (Switch)
Astral Chain is one of the most inventive action games on the Nintendo Switch, a PlatinumGames title that asks you to control not one, but two characters simultaneously: your human officer and their tethered Legion, a spectral partner that fights alongside you. It is visually stunning, mechanically dense, and initially overwhelming. The game throws a lot at you in its opening hours—combat systems, investigation mechanics, skill trees, and a barrage of Legions to master.
This guide will help you get your bearings without spoiling the story, so you can focus on what matters: learning to fight as a unified pair.
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The First Step: Understanding Your Dual Nature
The core of Astral Chain is the bond between your character and your Legion. You are not playing as a lone hero; you are playing as a team. Your Legion is summoned with ZL, and while it is active, it attacks automatically. Your job is to position it, command it, and combine its abilities with your own attacks.
A crucial tip from experienced players: keeping your Legion out gives you an attack and defense boost, and you can restore Legion energy by landing hits with your character. Do not treat your Legion as a temporary tool you summon only for big moments. It should be a constant presence, an extension of your will.
The Chain that binds you is not just a visual flourish. It is a weapon. You can wrap it around enemies to bind them, and if an enemy is caught between you and your Legion, it will bounce back like a wrestling ring rope. This is your primary tool for controlling crowds and setting up devastating follow-up attacks.
Combat Basics: Beyond Button Mashing
Astral Chain’s combat is flashy, but it rewards precision over panic. Your primary attack is ZR, and you can switch between your X-Baton (melee) and Blaster (ranged) using the D-Pad.
The most important skill to learn early is the Perfect Dodge. Press B just before an enemy strike connects, and you will not only avoid damage but also trigger a follow-up opportunity. If you invest in the right skill, a Perfect Dodge can lead directly into a Sync Attack, one of the most powerful moves in your arsenal.
Sync Attacks are your burst damage. When you see a blue flash while attacking or dodging, pressing ZL at the right moment triggers a synchronized assault between you and your Legion. These are essential for breaking through tougher enemies and dealing massive damage.
A warning about your Legion’s energy: the circular meter on your screen drains as your Legion acts. Pressing R dismisses it and begins restoring that energy. Learning when to recall your Legion and when to send it out is the rhythm of combat.
The Legions: Your Growing Arsenal
You will unlock five Legions over the course of the game, each with a distinct role :
- Sword Legion: Your first and most balanced. Excellent for close-quarters combat and binding enemies.
- Arrow Legion: Long-range specialist. Use it to hit enemies from a distance or target weak points.
- Arm Legion: Medium-range brawler. Devastating against groups.
- Beast Legion: Speed and utility. You can mount it for fast traversal, and its Howl ability can stun enemies repeatedly. It can also track scents during investigations.
- Axe Legion: Defensive powerhouse. Unlocks the Blue Shield ability, which protects you from three hits and is a lifesaver in tough fights.
Each Legion has its own skill tree. You do not need to master them all at once. Focus on the Sword Legion first, then branch out as you unlock new ones and encounter situations that demand their specific skills.
Investigation is Half the Game
Astral Chain is not just a combat game. You are a police officer, and between fights, you will investigate crime scenes, track suspects, and gather evidence.
Use IRIS constantly. Pressing + activates an augmented reality overlay that highlights clues, reveals enemy health bars, and marks interactable objects in yellow. If you are ever stuck or unsure where to go, IRIS is the answer.
Not every mission is marked. Red cases are combat-focused and count toward your rank. Blue cases are investigations and side tasks. Many are hidden, so explore thoroughly and use your Legion’s abilities to find secrets.
Your Legion is a detective too. You can send it to eavesdrop on conversations by holding ZL and pressing A near a target. You can use the Beast Legion to track scents. You can even use the Arrow Legion to hit switches that open hidden paths.
Difficulty and Pacing: Choose Your Playstyle
Astral Chain offers multiple difficulty settings, and you can change them between chapters :
- Unchained: A story-focused mode with automated combat assistance. Perfect if you want to experience the narrative without the challenge.
- Casual: The standard easy mode. You get six revives per file.
- Standard PT: The intended experience. Two revives, and your performance is graded.
- Ultimate PT: Unlocked after completing the game. Zero revives, no guard mode, for veterans only.
Many players recommend starting on Casual or Standard for your first playthrough. The game’s opening hours are slow as you learn the systems, and the difficulty ramps up significantly later. You can always replay chapters on harder settings once you have a fully upgraded Legion.
The Golden Rules
Do not skip the Training Room. It is available at the start of almost every chapter, and it is the best place to learn your combos, practice Perfect Dodges, and understand how each Legion behaves without the pressure of death.
Upgrade your X-Baton early. The skill tree has upgrades that unlock new attack inputs and unique Sync Moves with each Legion. These are not optional flourishes; they are core parts of your combat toolkit.
Do not hunt for every secret on your first run. Some areas and items are inaccessible until you unlock specific Legions or abilities. You can backtrack later. Focus on the main path and the missions you can complete.
Use Field Supplies first. Items with a flower icon are temporary and disappear at the end of each chapter. Use them before consuming your permanent healing items.
A Final Word
Astral Chain is a game that rewards patience. The first few hours are a tutorial in disguise, and the combat will not fully click until you have a few Legions and a handful of skills under your belt. Stick with it. Practice in the Training Room. Experiment with different Legion combinations. Learn to move as one with your spectral partner.
The Chimera are waiting. The Astral Plane is calling. Your chain is ready.
