Support Level tracks how strong the bond is between two characters, and raising it pays off in two concrete ways. Bonds start at 1 and climb to a maximum of 5, with each step adding battlefield perks and, for many pairings, extra story scenes you can watch at the inn.
Quick answer: Raising a pair’s Support Level grants stacking stat buffs when the two units stand next to each other in battle and unlocks Support conversations at Level 2 (C), Level 3 (B), and Level 4 (A). Level 5 is capped at S only for the protagonist, Eshmel.
Combat stat bonuses from Support Level
The first reward is purely mechanical. When two characters with a raised bond are positioned near each other on the field, they hand each other stat increases. The higher the Support Level, the larger the boost, which turns unit placement into an extra layer of strategy.
Because multiple game systems affect stats, support’s contribution can be tricky to distinguish. To check it directly, position a unit beside an allied unit it has a bond with, then choose an enemy as its attack target. Tap “X” and move the cursor over the portrait in the upper-left corner to check the support bonus values before confirming the attack.
Link Attacks during Clashes also build Support, so pairing units who fight together often lets the bonus grow while you play normally.
Support conversations by rank
The second reward is narrative. Reaching certain levels unlocks paired dialogue scenes that flesh out character backstory and relationships. Not every pairing has these, and the number of scenes varies from one relationship to the next.
| Conversation rank | Required Support Level | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| C-Rank | 2 | Most pairings |
| B-Rank | 3 | Most pairings |
| A-Rank | 4 | Most pairings |
| S-Rank | 5 | Eshmel only, later in the game |
Each time a pair crosses into a new rank, an on-screen message announces that a new conversation is ready. If no message appears when the bond rises, that pair simply has no scene for that rank. Maxing a bond can also lead to a special ending between the two characters.
You watch these scenes at the inn. To replay anything you have already seen, travel to the Obelisk Chamber through the Pale Raven, then choose Memories at the Shrine of Causality.
Recruitment tied to Support Level
Support ranks are also the gate on recruitment. Many characters refuse to join until you reach a set bond level with them, often alongside a Renown requirement and sometimes a negotiation check. Building a bond early therefore doubles as recruitment progress, and those levels are worth banking before a character’s availability window closes.
Support levels carry across all four Hero routes, so raising a bond once on your first path keeps it when you switch routes through the Pale Raven’s Perch.
Every way to raise Support Level
Some activities work on any character you have a bond with, while others open up only after you recruit the unit. The table below shows which methods apply in each case.
| Activity | Before recruiting | After recruiting |
|---|---|---|
| Give gifts | Yes | Yes |
| Share a meal at the inn | Yes | Yes |
| Watch a show at the theater | Yes | Yes |
| Fight together in battle | No | Yes |
| Train at the arena | No | Yes |
| Temple Service together | No | Yes |
| Feast at world map locations | No | Yes |
| Act at the theater | No | Yes |
| Bathe at the Thermae | No | Yes |
Gifts are the fastest route. Match a character’s Likes, shown under their Character Info, for the biggest gain. If you have no bond with a unit yet, hand over a cheap gift first to form the bond, since that initial gift does not affect how much Support you earn. Sharing meals, training at the arena, Feasts, plays, and baths each cost gold, motivation, or both, and several facilities unlock at specific Renown levels.
Watch the preference icons
When you pick meals, Temple Service, or a theater role, look for the icon next to each portrait. A star means the character likes that option and gains extra Support, a swirl means they dislike it and gain less, and no icon means they are indifferent and receive the normal amount.
Eshmel during Part 1
Eshmel is an early-game exception: in Part 1, feeding the Pale Raven is the only way to build bonds with other characters, and this can be done just once each in-game week.
Confirming a bond went up
You will know the level rose two ways. In combat, the buff figures appear on the top-left portrait when you press “X” over an adjacent ally before attacking. Outside battle, a message pops up whenever a pair reaches a new conversation rank, and that scene then becomes available to watch at the inn. If either signal shows up, the reward is already active for that pairing.
