This character guide for Hikari serves to highlight his story and his unique functions. This guide will break down actions unique to Hikari including Path Actions and Abilities.
Hikari’s Unique Actions
Hikari’s Unique ActionsEach Traveler has unique abilities specific to them, referred to as Path Actions, which they get two, one for each time of day. These can accomplish a variety of goals from accessing new areas, and information on the world, or providing additional information.
The Path Actions listed below are only available to this character. They must be in your party to perform them while in town..
Day Path Action: Challenge
Challenge allows you to Challenge an NPC to a one-on-one duel. While not all NPC will be a challenge, they all give some form of reward. These rewards always include EXP and money. Rarely they can also reward you with items, either directly via a drop or simply giving you access to a building or another path they are blocking.
New to Octopath Traveler 2, Hikari will also learn abilities used by foes after Challenging them, giving him access to a wider variety of attacks beyond the Warrior job itself. This includes both spells and attacks that aren’t made with Sword or Polearms, giving Hikari excellent potential for Guard Breaking.
A Challenge is considered a noble Path Action, as such failure doesn’t lower your reputation within a town. Instead, it usually leaves the character with 1HP as they retreat from battle.
However, it’s worth keeping in mind this should be one of the last Path Actions you perform on an NPC that has multiple path actions available, as the NPC is rendered unconscious and cannot be interacted with further.
There may be NPCs in the world that can enhance this Path Action, reducing the required level to Challenge certain NPCs.
In some situations, you may also be able to use Hunter’s Path Action ‘Provoke’ in place of Challenge if you’re not at the required level to challenge the NPC. However, Provoke is not considered a noble action and can damage your reputation.
Night Path Action: Bribe
Bribe allows you to pay an NPC for information. This action will always succeed, provided you can afford the price. While this can be costly at times, having a Merchant in the party can also help offset any costs of buying information.
The information you receive can vary from NPC to NPC, but can include the locations of hidden items, provide information for Sidequests, or even improve a variety of Path Actions for himself and the rest of the cast.
While it’s not always true, you can usually determine if the NPC will provide an additional benefit beyond just their background by the cost of the information. Higher amount will usually reveal hidden items, or other useful information with the cost increasing relative to the item being revealed.
There may be NPCs in the world that enhance this Path Action, reducing the cost of bribes.
A bribe is best used in situations where Cleric’s Path Action Coerce isn’t a feasible option for getting information from an NPC at night, either due to low chances or other restrictions.
Hikari’s Unique Battle Actions
Each Traveler has one or more unique abilities specific to their class, as well as a Latent Power that they gain access to as the story progresses.
Talent: Learned Skills
As Hikari uses his Challenge ability, he gains access to additional skills that he can use with the Learned Skills command. Learned Skills can vary widely, ranging from additional Weapon Skills and even Magic. These allow Hikari to take advantage of enemy weaknesses very easily, due to the wide range of skills that are available to learn.
Learned Skills do consume SP to use, but can be used as often as you’d like. However, Hikari can only have five Learned Abilities at any given time. This keeps the relative power of this effect balanced, but highly flexible.
Latent Power: Shadow’s Hold
Latent Powers are a new feature to Octopath Traveler 2, which gives each traveler an ability that’s completely unique to them. These skills are earned by building the Latent Power Gauge by receiving damage and breaking foes. Using a Latent Power expends the gauge to provide its effects and do not require SP.
Hikari’s Latent Power is called Shadow’s Hold. Activating this Latent Power gives Hikari access to three additional attacks that are exceptionally powerful, and can be boosted. These skills are called Tenretsuzan, Hienka, and Sougetsusen.
Tenretsuzan unleashes a highly powerful sword attack on a single foe. This is one of your best options for quickly dealing with a boss, assuming you have your Latent Power available. Fully boosting it dramatically increases the damage potential of the skill, making it the strongest non-Divine Skill accessible to Hikari
Hienka unleashes two sword attacks on a single foe and allows Hikari to act again at the end of the turn. This effect can only provide one additional action. This skill is best used unboosted to get the final hits for a break, as only the damage increases. This can work well with the Warrior’s Bolstering Break passive, allowing Hikari to break and follow up with and additional boosted attack.
Sogetsusen unleashes a single polearm and sword attack on all foes. This can be great as a panic break option if the encounter has multiple foes that are weak to one or both attacks. The only other use of this would just be to quickly clear weaker enemies while grinding.
Hikari’s Warrior Skills
Hikari’s Warrior SkillsHikari’s starting job is Warrior. With that comes a set of active and passive skills that complete the character. Warriors are primarily physical damage dealers but are also able to redirect enemy attacks to themselves and counter physical hits.
For more information on Hikari’s job as a Warrior, check out our Warrior Job Guide. This covers all the skills of the Warrior in-depth as well as any synergies that Hikari and the Warrior job have with the other jobs available in the game.
Hikari’s EX Skills
EX Skills are a new feature of Octopath Traveler 2. Each Traveler has two skills unique to them that the other Travelers cannot get. These are often powerful attacks or skills with powerful utility.
Ultimate Stance
- Skill Type: Buff
- SP Cost: 10
- Effect: Extends the reach of your Attacks to all foes for 3 turns.
- Boost Effect: Increases duration of the effect by 2 turns per BP spent.
Despite its wording sounding impressive, this only applies to basic attacks. The only advantage you really get from this is when you have a ton of BP to spend. It can be great for breaking multiple targets if you don’t have a Learned Skill or another skill to helps do so quickly. It also allows Hikari to benefit more from having additional weapon types.
Where to Unlock Ultimate Stance
Ultimate Stance can be obtained by taking Hikari to the Altar of the Thunderblade. He is required to be in the active party, or he will not receive this skill.
This Altar can be found in the Eastern Sai Sands. It’s just South of the Western exit of the map, reaching through the debris as shown above. Continue South and you’ll make your way into the altar room.
Shinjumonjigiri
- Skill Type: Sword
- SP Cost: 32
- Effect: Unleash a sword attack on all foes, then a powerful sword attack on a single foe.
- Boost Effect: Increases damage per BP spent.
Shinjumonjigiri is an exceptionally strong skill, combining a store attack that hits all foes with a follow-up attack that hits just a single foe. Since you’re able to pick the target of the second attack, you can ensure it will always hit the strongest foe in a group. When fully boosted, its damage can even rival or in some cases best that of Brand’s Blade.
Where to Unlock Shinjumonjigiri
As his Second EX Skill, Shinjumonjigiri is unlocked upon completion of Hikari’s story. He will have access to the skill immediately after the final boss of his final chapter.
Hikari’s Story
This section covers Hikari’s Story in Octopath Traveler 2. As such there are many spoilers below.
Overview
Hikari is the prince of Ku, a nation that expanded its reach and power through ceaseless conflict. The Current King of Ku, King Jigo seeks to determine whether Hikari is fit to be a king, or if it should be left to his brother General Mugen.
General Mugen has other plans, taking the throne by force and branding Hikari as a traitor. Hikari is forced upon his journey, seeking out erstwhile allies to take what was rightfully his.
Chapter 1
Following a war to expand their kingdom, Hikari is appointed as a lord for a district surrounding Ku Castle. Hikari is a kind lord to the citizens of the area, being favored over most other residents of the castle.
Hikari is training and practicing his swordsmanship, when after a short spar with a citizen observing him is asked away to deal with a brawl occurring at the bar. The brawl being started by a rowdy soldier that serves General Mugen.
After taking care of the brawl, he;’s soon approached by Benkei, who requests to speak with him in private. After meeting Benkei, it;s revealed that it was actually his Father, King Jigo, that wished to speak with him.
King Jigo reveals to Hikari that he wishes for Hikari to take the throne, but is worried that his brother may be plotting against his wishes. He has not direct proof of this however, and asks Hikari to look into the matter. Later that night, Hikari bribes a merchant that frequents the castle, who confirm King Jigo suspicions.
Using the information bribed from the merchant Hikari sets off to the Crest of Heroes, in search of General Mugen and a mysterious arms dealer. Instead, he encounters Ritsu, who has sided with General Mugen. As the district Hikari was appointed to is set ablaze by Mugen’s men, he’s made to watch before he fights Ritsu to get him to stand aside.
Upon reaching the district and making his way to the castle, he arrives too late. King Jigo has been struck down by General Mugen and tells Hikari that Mugen is too strong and that he’ll need allies to be able to take him on. As Hikari makes his exit, Benkei arrives to help him by clearing a path for his escape.
After his escape, he arrives in the small town of Ryu, only to find that word has spread falsely claiming him as a traitor. As such, Hikari has no choice but to go on his journey, and return to claim what was right fully his.
The guide is currently being updated. For more of the story bits, please check back later. If you have any questions or recommendations, let us know. Thanks.
Here on VULKK.com we have a selection of guides to help you on your path. From Beginner Guides to get you started, to Character Guides and their unique talents and abilities to the individual Job Guides and which characters and jobs best synergize with each other.
