Game Progression
PGR's level progression can be roughly divided into three sections: the early game (Levels 1-39), the mid game (Levels 40-79) and the end game (Levels 80+). Check out the FAQ section for additional info.
Level 1 - 39
Blasting Through the Story Mode
Players should focus on clearing story stages and reaching Level 35 to unlock weekly content such as Operation Guardians, War Zone, and Phantom Pain Cage. This will allow players to have a reliable source of 
Black Cards used for pulling on characters.
(Side note: the story is pretty enjoyable to read! That said, players can skip it as cutscenes can be rewatched in the Codex)
The following are checkpoints to unlocking more content:
- Clear Stage 1-8 (Normal) to unlock Novice Missions. These missions will provide new players with
Black Cards, an exclusive coating for Nanami: Storm, Gray Feathers, and her 5★ Weapon, 
Lightning Spark
- Clear Stage 2-4 (Normal) to unlock F.O.S Rating Committee. This game mode will go through the basics such as controls and combat techniques. Clearing this game mode will grant a
A-Rank Tank Omniframe Choice Pack, a 
A-Rank Support Omniframe Choice Pack, and 
Weapon Selectors for the respective character types.
- At Levels 30, 40, 61, and 70 the player will unlock more combat tutorials and techniques that provide a small set of rewards when completed.
- Clear Stage 5-7 (Normal) and reach Level 35 to unlock Operation Guardians, War Zone, and Phantom Pain Cage. These are all weeklies that provide you with currency, material, and even EXP!
Players should also gain access to F.O.S Instructor Mentorship. Students are recommended to apply to a Teacher/Mentor, as Mentors are able to provide Cross-check requests, which provides 30 serum once both players activate the node. Mentors are also able to obtain 
Gift for Instructor - Memory, which they can then gift students to help them unlock 5★ memories!
Beginner Missions will also be available to players at this time. These missions include both Story and Level checkpoints and feature numerous rewards such as 
6★ Weapon Choice Pack and 
S-Rank Omniframe Choice Pack.
Check the Limited Missions section for more info!
Team Building
Focus on leveling one team only. The order of priority goes Main DPS (usually Attacker) > Sub-DPS (usually Tank) > Support/Amplifier (some exceptions such as Ayla: Kaleido being the main DPS over Lucia: Plume and Chrome: Glory). Support Characters/Omniframes can be 10-15 levels below the Main and Sub-DPS. For units that are off-field for most of the time, players can level only the Class Skill and QTE to save on materials.
Recommended teams to start with include Dark and Ice team. For the Dark team, Selena: Capriccio is an S-Rank that is acquirable for free while Watanabe: Astral / No.21: XXI are A-Rank Omniframes that can be obtained for free. Kamui: Tenebrion can replace No.21 if chosen from the selector. For the Ice team, Ayla: Kaleido is an S-Rank that can be obtained for free. Bambinata: Vitrum and Ayla: Brilliance are A-Ranks that can also be obtained for free to complete the budget Ice team.
The player's most built team will be used for War Zone (WZ) and the higher levels of Phantom Pain Cage (PPC) until the player has enough material to start building a new team.
New players will also receive a 
S-Rank Omniframe Selector, which can accepted from the mailbox. However, it is recommended to not use it until the player hits the 40-pity on the basic banner. This will help avoid duplicates and help create a stronger starting team.
Joining a Guild
Joining a Guild will allow players to participate in Simulated Siege, a game mode consisting of three stages that rewards 
United Achievement Points when done. This currency can be used to buy Hypertune materials and Uniframe Shards from the Guild Shop. Joining a guild will also provide the ability to use Guild Members' Support Characters in Norman Revival Plan, a game mode unlocked at Level 60, as well as Guild Expedition, a guild based event available on certain patches.
Level 40 - 79
Prioritizing Event Stages
At Level 40, players will unlock the ability to farm the Event Stages and obtain the relevant currency. Event Farming Stages are much more efficient than Resource Stages. It is recommended to only farm from the event rather than the resource stages. By playing the Event Farming stages (currency only stage), players are able to buy a plethora of materials, including, but not limited to, 6★ memories, Overclocking materials, and Equipment Enhancers.
There is usually one to two days of downtime between events in which the Event Farming Stage is closed. Use this time to progress the story and other game modes that cost 
Serum, like Stronghold and Golden Vortex. Do note that story missions from Ayla: Kaleido and onward (as well as Fake Ascension's alternative mode) do not require Serum.
Co-op Weapon Farming
For Free to Play players, it is recommended to farm for weapons from the Co-op mission, which will provide 5★ weapons at a low drop rate as well as 5★ weapon shards. These 5★ weapons should provide a sizeable boost to ATK and CRIT, as well as certain buffs.
Building the Right Memories
Players should start working towards their characters' recommended endgame 6★ Memory Sets by farming in the Event Farming Stage. Lower-ranked (5★ and lower) memories can be used as placeholders, but should not be heavily invested in. Players can put minimal investment needed to progress through content until they have the needed 6★ Memory Sets.
5★ Memories to keep include the limited event-exclusive Memories as well as a 2-piece set of 
Richelieu, 
Samantha, 
Gloria, 
Voltaire, and 
Lantern Festival: Reunion each. They stack with their 6★ counterparts and Lantern Festival is a very powerful buff that can be used situationally.
5★ should be prioritized for Grid slots 1-3, as 6★ Memories have a significantly higher max ATK value and are usually placed in Grid 4-6.
Camu: Crocotta and Uniframes
At Level 52, players will unlock Camu: Crocotta, a Uniframe. Uniframes are a special type of frame designed for speed attacks, parrying, and finishers. They are meant to be used alongside other Uniframes and serve as a strong alternative team.
Norman Revival Plan and CUBs
Players will first unlock Norman Revival Plan, or Norman for short, at Level 60. Players will then be able to choose the Up-to-Standard difficulty (for players under Level 85), allowing players to start obtaining more Materials, Black Cards, and Tantalum ore. Check out the Norman Revival Plan page for more detail.
At Level 61, players will also unlock the CUB system, a system that allows characters to summon pets, each with their own set of buffs and active skills. Yuan Ye will be given to the player for free, a valuable A-Rank CUB that can stun enemies. CUBs can be obtained and evolved using Tantalum Ore obtained from Norman.
Level 80+
Graduating from F.O.S Instructor Mentorship
At Level 80, players stop obtaining weekly missions from the mentorship program, excluding already claimed missions for the week. Players can still participate in the qualification assessment missions. The player can choose to graduate by themselves or stay with their instructors, at which they will auto-graduate at Level 83. It is recommended to stick with the program until auto-graduation in order to finish qualification assessment missions. Try to complete as much as possible before graduating!
Awakening and Building Other Teams
At the endgame, players can start working towards Ultima Awakening their favorite and strongest characters. Players that have finished building one team can move on to building the other teams. Note that Da Vinci sets can be shared, alleviating the resource cost of building another team. It's recommended to build the main DPS of each element's team if possible.
Check out the Ultima Awakening section below for more info!
Limited Missions
Players also permanently unlock missions that provide beneficial rewards such as Black Cards, S-Rank Omniframe Choice Pack, and 
Weapon Selectors. It is recommended to complete these missions as soon as possible to unlock a hefty amount of currency and materials.
Novice Mission
Players first unlock Novice Missions after clearing 1-8 Normal, providing them with a list of missions separated into 7 days. These missions are permanently available and provide the players with a handful of Black Cards, some materials, and an exclusive coating for Nanami: Storm, Gray Feathers.
Total Black Cards: 1850
| Progress Required | Rewards |
|---|---|
 x20
 |
 x1
 01
|
x40
|
 x1
03
|
x60
|
x1
04
|
x80
|
x1
06
|
x100
|
 x1
02
|
x120
|
 x1
01
|
x140
|
 x1
|
x160
|
 x1
|
| Mission | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Complete Normal Story 1-5 |  x50
 x2
 x2
|
| Bind account with Facebook/Google/Apple ID | x100
 x50000
|
| Have any Equipment reach Lv.20 | x50
x10000
x3
|
| Have 3 Constructs reach Lv.15 | x50
x10000
x5
|
| Overclock 5★ Equipment x2 to Lv.30 | x50
 x1
x5
|
| Clear 5 Daily Quests | x50
x1
x5
|
| Recycle 1 piece of 4★ Equipment | x50
x1
x5
|
| Clear all stages in Celica's Class - Basic Battle | x50
x10000
x5
|
| Mission | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Complete Normal Story Chapter 3 | x50
x10000
x5
|
| Overclock ★5 Equipment x6 to Lv.30 | x50
x1
x5
|
| Have 3 Constructs reach Lv.30 | x50
x10000
x5
|
| Complete Interlude - Lucia: Lotus Stage 6 | x50
x1
x5
|
| Clear Stage 2 of Memory Rescue | x50
x10000
x5
|
| Complete 10 Basic Research | x50
x10000
x5
|
| Mission | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Complete Hidden Story Chapter 2 | x50
x1
x5
|
| Complete 6 Interlude Battle Missions | x50
x1
x5
|
| Complete 3 War Zone Stages | x50
x10000
x5
|
| Reach Affection Lv.2 with any Construct | x50
x10000
x5
|
| Complete 1 Bounty Mission | x50
x10000
x5
|
| Clear 3 Military Hardware-AB-2 | x50
x1
x5
|
| Mission | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Clear Phantom Pain Cage (Chaos) | x50
x10000
x5
|
| Reach Commandant Level 40 | x50
x10000
x5
|
| Complete Special Training of Difficulty 2 | x50
x1
x5
|
| Have 4 Constructs reach Elite III | x50
x10000
x5
|
| Modify Dormitory Decor once | x50
 x3
x5
|
| Mission | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Clear Stage 4 of Memory Rescue | x50
x1
x5
|
| Have any Equipment reach Lv.40 | x50
x10000
x5
|
| Reach Commandant Level 45 | x50
x10000
x5
|
| Upgrade any 3 Constructs to Lv.45 | x50
x1
x5
|
| Mission | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Complete Normal Story Chapter 5 | x50
x1
x5
|
| Complete Stage 6 of Memory Rescue | x50
x1
x5
|
| Complete Interlude - Lee: Palefire Stage 5 | x50
x10000
x5
|
| Have any Construct reach 2500 BP | x50
x10000
x5
|
| Mission | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Login for a total of 7 Days | x50
x1
x5
|
| Reach Commandant Level 50 | x50
x1
x5
|
| Have 4 Constructs reach Task Force II | x50
x1
x5
|
Beginner Missions
Players also have access to a number of beginner missions added during Bianca: Stigmata's patch, Across the Ruined Sea. These missions reward players with numerous rewards, including 6★ Weapon Choice Pack and S-Rank Omniframe Choice Pack. These rewards are extremely crucial and is recommended to acquire as soon as possible.
| Progress Required | Rewards |
|---|---|
| 7 |  x1
|
| 14 |  x1
 |
| 21 |  x1
|
| 28 |  x300
|
| 35 |  x1
|
| 42 | x300
|
| 49 |  x1
|
| Mission | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Complete Main Story Normal Story 1-6 | x70
 x1
 01
 x1
02
|
| Complete Main Story Normal Story 2-6 | x70
 x2
x10000
|
| Complete the tutorial stage of any 3 members (not restricted to 1st clear) | x70
 x1
02
x1
05
|
| Research Basic A Member Target 10 times in total | x70
 x1
x10000
|
| Commandant Level reaches Lv.15 | x70
 x3
x10000
|
| Train 3 members (including Uniframes) to Lv.15 | x70
 x5
 x5
|
| Train pieces of equipment (Including Weapon Memories) that have been overclocked to Lv.30 | x70
 x9
x10000
|
| Complete F.O.S Rating Center Elementary Subject C1 | x70
 x5
x5
|
| Mission | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Pass F O.S. Rating Center TC-B License Upgrade Exam | x70
x9
x10000
|
| Complete Main Story Hidden Story 1-6 | x70
 x10
x10000
|
| Clear Resources - BP Training stage 5 times | x70
x3
x10000
|
| Clear Memory Rescue Stage 2 [Einsteina] | x70
x2
x10000
|
| Research Basic A Member Target 20 times in total | x70
x10
x10000
|
| Your members have a total of 16 skills of Lv.3 or above | x70
x5
x5
|
| Train 3 members (including Uniframes) to Elite I | x70
x5
x5
|
| Upgrade 2 weapons to Lv.35 | x70
x2
x10000
|
| Mission | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Complete Main Story Normal Story 3-12 | x70
x2
x10000
|
| Progress of Side Story Interlude - Lucia Lotus: reaches 6 | x70
x2
x10000
|
| Complete 1 Mentorship Guide Mission | x70
x10
x10000
|
| Clear 3 War Zone stages for the first time | x70
x5
x5
|
| Open 1 Supply Crate in Operation Guardians | x70
x9
x10000
|
| Any member reaches Affection 2 (Givable gifts can be obtained from the Dorm) | x70
x3
x10000
|
| Commandant Level reaches Lv.35 | x70
x5
x5
|
| Upgrade 3 members (including Uniframes) to Lv.35 | x70
x10
x10000
|
| Have 10 Memories of Lv.35 or above | x70
 x1
x5
|
| Mission | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Clear Main Story Normal Story 4-12 | x70
 x2
 x2
|
| Complete 4 Mentorship Guide Mission | x70
x10
x10000
|
| Progress of Side Story Interlude - Liv Eclipse: reaches 6 | x70
x3
x10000
|
| Join or create 1 guild | x70
x5
x5
|
| Commandant Level reaches Lv.40 | x70
x2
x2
|
| Upgrade 3 weapons to Lv.45 | x70
x10
x10000
|
| Your members have a total of 24 skills of Lv.8 or above | x70
x5
x5
|
| Complete F.O.S. Rating Center Elementary Subject B1 | x70
 x4
x4
|
| Mission | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Clear Main Story Normal Story 5-12 | x70
x2
x10000
|
| Clear 6 War Zone stages for the first time | x70
x10
x10000
|
| Clear 4 Phantom Pain Cage stages for the first time | x70
x9
x10000
|
| Set 1 Equipment Goal for the Recommended Equipment | x70
x10
x10
|
| Commandant Level reaches Lv.45 | x70
x2
x10000
|
| Have 18 Memories Of L.35 or above | x70
x3
x10000
|
| Train members (including Uniframes) to Task Force I | x70
x2
x2
|
| Clear Memory Rescue Stage 5 [Athmail] | x70
x2
x10000
|
| Mission | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Complete F.O.S. Rating Center Elementary Subject B2 | x70
x4
x4
|
| Clear Main Story Hidden Story 4-6 | x70
x10
x10
|
| Perform a total of 20 operations in Operation Guardians | x70
x10
x10000
|
| Clear 8 Phantom Pain Cage stages for the first time | x70
x10
x10
|
| Daily Mission Activity reaches 100 | x70
x2
x10000
|
| Upgrade 5 members (including Uniframes) to Lv.50 | x70
x10
x10000
|
| Your members have a total of 30 skills of Lv.10 or above | x70
x2
x2
|
| Upgrade 4 weapons to Lv.45 | x70
x10
x10
|
| Mission | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Pass F.O.S. Rating Center TC-A License Upgrade Exam | x70
x3
x10000
|
| Clear Main Story Normal Story 6-12 | x70
x9
x10000
|
| Log in for a total of 7 days | x70
x10
x10
|
| Commandant Level reaches Lv.55 | x70
x2
x10000
|
| Train 5 members (including Uniframes) to Task Force III | x70
x4
x4
|
| Have 24 Memories of Lv.35 or above | x70
x10
x10000
|
| Your members have a total of 40 skills of Lv.11 or above | x70
x2
x2
|
| Clear Memory Rescue Stage 7 [Heisen] | x70
x2
x2
|
F.O.S Rating Committee
F.O.S Rating Committee is the new revamped tutorial for players who wish to learn more about the combat mechanics of Punishing: Gray Raven! There are two tracks for it: the General Course, which teaches the corresponding mechanic, and Battle License, which tests your combat understanding. General Courses provide up to 50 
Achievement Points upon completion, which are used to unlock the Battle License Exams. Due to their level unlock conditions, these courses are geared towards teaching different mechanics at different points of the game, and is to be used in conjunction with other in-game content.
General Course
| Class Name | Unlock Requirement | Description | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 Basic Controls Course | Unlocked by Default | Elementary Course - Includes comprehensive basic controls tutorials. |  x1
x300
|
| C2 Basic Techniques Course | Unlocks at Commandant Lv.30 | Elementary Course - Includes basic combat techniques that can solidify your foundation. |  x1
x300
|
| B1 Coordination Skill Subject | Unlocks at Commandant Lv.40 | Intermediate Course - Includes further coordination combat techniques that will help you take on battles at an even higher difficulty level. |  x1
x300
|
| B2 Uniframe Combat Subject | Unlocks at Commandant Lv.52 | Intermediate Course - Includes basic Uniframe combat tutorials that can get you into the swing of our new mode. |  x1
x300
|
| A1 Advanced Coordination Subject | Unlocks at Commandant Lv.61 | Advanced Course - Includes advanced coordination combat skills that can maximize Constructs' strength in battle. |  x1
x300
|
| A2 Advanced Skill Subject | Unlocks at Commandant Lv.70 | Advanced Course - Includes special combat skills for overcoming arduous battles. | x1
x300
|
License Exam
| Exam Name | Joining Requirements | Exam Subject | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| TC-B License Upgrade Exam | Total Achievement Points reached 80 | Direct Confrontation Priority Target |
 x1
x300
 x1
03
|
| TC-A License Upgrade Exam | Total Achievement Points reached 180
Courses Completed: TC-B License Upgrade Exam |
Dynamic Rhythm Gentle Interruption |
 x1
x300
 x1
02
|
| TC-S License Upgrade Exam | Total Achievement Points reached 280
Courses Completed: TC-B License Upgrade Exam |
Flower and Flame Lethal Combo |
 x1
x300
 x1
01
|
| TC-X License Upgrade Exam | Total Achievement Points reached 300
Courses Completed: TC-S License Upgrade Exam |
Don't Underestimate Your Enemy Sad Beast |
 x1
x300
x2
|
Misc. Guide
Banners and Pulling
Please watch the ULTIMATE Guide to Banners in PGR, made by Gray Raven Radio!
PGR features numerous banners and can become confusing on which to pull. The table below goes into detail what the drop rates are as well as whether the banner is recommended or not.
Construct Banners
| Banner Name | S-Rank Drop Rate | Pull Rate in Pool | Pity | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Themed Event Construct (RECOMMENDED) |
0.50% (1.90% including guaranteed) | 100% | 60 | This is the banner for debut characters and the banner most players will be pulling from due to its 100% target rate and 60 pull pity. The 60 pity means that Free to Play players can afford most characters on debut with enough planning ahead. |
| Fate Themed Event Construct | 1.50% (1.90% including guaranteed) | 100% | ~80 to 100 | This is the banner for debut characters. It features a higher base rate but much higher pity, resulting in roughly the same rate %. As such, this banner is not recommended as it can potentially ruin players' BC planning if the floating pity is close towards 100. |
| Arrival Construct | 0.50% (1.90% including guaranteed) | 70% for target | 60 | This banner features 2-3 predetermined target characters from previous patches and has a 70% target rate. The 30% off-rate will be any other S-Rank Omniframe in the game, excluding Collab characters. If the players gets an off-rate character, the next S-Rank will be guaranteed as the selected character. This banner is only recommended for spenders who want an older unit, and doesn't want to wait for the Anniversary or Wishing Banner. |
| Fate Arrival Construct | 1.50% (1.90% including guaranteed) | 70% for target | ~80 to 100 | This banner is similar to the Arrival Construct Banner, but with both an increased base rate and a higher pity amount. Because of both the 70% target rate and higher pity, it is never recommended to pull on this banner. |
| Wishing Target (RECOMMENDED) |
0.50% (1.90% including guaranteed) | 100% for target | 60 | This banner has a 100% rate for any S-Rank Omniframe up to a certain patch depending on which patch it gets released in. This banner allows any player to obtain old characters without risking or waiting for it in the Arrival Construct Banners, and is recommended for those who want to complete their roster! However, do note that players can only select one character as the target, and it can not be changed afterwards. |
| Fate Wishing Target | 1.50% (1.90% including guaranteed) | 100% for target | ~80 to 100 | This banner features a 100% rate for any S-Rank Omniframe up to a certain patch depending on which patch it gets released in. The target for this banner is not shared with the 60 pity version, meaning players can target two different characters by using both banners. However, due to its floating pity, it's not recommended to pull on this banner. |
| Anniversary (RECOMMENDED) |
0.50% (1.90% including guaranteed) | 100% for target | 60 | The banner featuring a 100% rate for any S-Rank Omniframe up to a certain patch depending on which patch it gets released in. Unlike the Wishing Banner, the Anniversary Banner allows players to target any number of units. This banner allows any player to obtain old characters without risking or waiting for it in the Arrival Construct Banners, and is recommended for those who want to complete their roster. |
| Fate Anniversary Limited | 1.50% (1.90% including guaranteed) | 100% for target | ~80 to 100 | The banner featuring a 100% rate for any S-Rank Omniframe up to a certain patch depending on which patch it gets released in. Because the 60-pity one allows for multiple targets, it's not recommended to pull on this banner. |
| Member Target | 0.50% (1.90% including guaranteed) for S-Ranks / 13.95% for A-Ranks | 80% for target A-Rank (100% on debut) | 60 for S-Rank, 10 for A-Rank | The banner is special in that it uses  Basic Construct R&D Ticket instead of  Event Construct R&D Ticket. Players are able to obtain these tickets for free by participating in Operation Guardian, logging in, as well as occasionally event missions. It is recommended to save these tickets until an A-Rank debuts in order to have a 100% target rate rather than 80%. An exception is if the player is missing A-Rank Omniframes. Players should not use Black Cards to pull from this banner. S-Ranks are pulled from the pool of all currently available Omniframes, excluding Collab characters. The first pity for an S-Rank is 40 instead of the usual 60.
|
| Target Uniframe | 5.00% (12.45% including guaranteed) | 80% for target (100% on debut) | 10 | The banner features only Uniframes and materials, and is the only banner you can get Uniframes from. It has a much higher drop rate and lower pity amount, but due to the restrictions placed on Uniframes, it is only recommended if the player can afford it and/or enjoys the character. Otherwise, this banner can be skipped. |
Equipment Banners
| Banner Name | Signature Pull Rate | Rates in Pool | Pity | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Target Weapon Research | 5.00% for 6★ / 15.00% for 5★ | 80% | 30 | The banner for target weapons. The rate for target is 4.00% / 12.00% while the two off-rate are 0.50% / 1.50% each. Because there is no guarantee for weapons, players might hit the off-rate multiple times in a row. Off-rate signature weapons can be used for resonance. While not recommended, players can also recycle 3 signature weapons to obtain enough shards to obtain any signature weapon of their choice. The banner is only recommended for spenders, as Free to Play players should save BC to spend on the debut character banners instead. |
| Weapon Research | 5.00% for 6★ / 15.00% for 5★ | No target | 30 | Banner that gives random weapons, excluding collab weapons. The banner uses  Basic Weapon R&D Ticket instead, which can be obtained for free every 4 weeks (250 from logging in). It is recommended to only use the free tickets obtained from login rewards.
|
| CUB Target | 5.82% for S-Rank (8.33% including guaranteed) / 14.14% for A-Rank | 80% (100% for debut) | 20 | Banner that specializes in only CUBs. Because  CUB R&D Ticket can be obtained in Norman Revival Plan, Free to Play players can save up enough tickets to guarantee an S-Rank CUB with enough patience. Spending BC on the banner is only recommended for spenders.
|
If a player does not reach pity before the banner expires, the pity will roll over to the next banner of the same name. This means that the Themed Event Construct pity will roll over to the next Themed Event Construct Banner. Fate banners are separate from the 60-pull pity banner. Note that due to the limited nature of Wishing, Anniversary, and Collab banners, it is recommended to have enough BC to guarantee a unit before rolling on those banners.
Memories, Resonance, Ultima Awakening, and Infinitas
Please watch the ULTIMATE Guide to Memories in PGR made by Gray Raven Radio!
Memories are a core part of constructs' equipment, providing a huge boost to character stats as well as set bonuses that can either affect the team or the individual construct. Memories are also tied directly with obtaining Ultima Awakenings as well as Infinitas. To understand memories better, we've divided memory discussion into sections!
How do I choose a memory?
PGR's memory selection depends heavily on the character. Certain characters have a memory set that exclusively buffs them, while others do not have one and instead use a memory set that provides a useful effect (such as Plume using 4-pc Hanna). We recommend checking out the character's page from the Character List for more details on the specific character.
Sets can have a 2-pc bonus, a 4-pc bonus, and even a 6-pc bonus (usually reserved for Uniframe memories). These bonuses make or break the set for characters as they usually serve only one purpose. In global, each character can equip 6 memories. This allows each character to either equip a 4-pc set and a 2-pc set if they are an Omniframe, or a 6-pc set if they are a Uniframe.
General tips include only upgrading 6★ Memories, saving Event Memories, and equipping the right memory for the character. Players that are starting out should grind the Event Farming Stage to buy memories. 5★ Memories should have only minimal investment to help with clearing content, with a situational exception for 
Gloria, 
Voltaire, and 
Lantern Festival: Reunion.
Does memory placement matter?
Memories are currently split into 6 slots, labeled 1 to 6 accordingly. 1 / 2 / 3 is referred to as the Top Row while 4 / 5 / 6 are referred to as the Bottom Row.
Memories placements matter between Top and Bottom Row placement in terms of stats given. Each grid/slot in the same row provide the same stats.
| Row | Stats |
|---|---|
| Top | HP / CRIT |
| Bottom | ATK / DEF |
1 / 2 / 3 are interchangeable with one another in the same row. The same goes for 4 / 5 / 6.
Each slot in their respective row gives the same stats for the same memory. For example, Darwin on slot 1 will give the same stats as Darwin on slot 2. However, because memories differ in stats, certain memories provide more ATK than others in the bottom row, making it more optimal to place in the bottom. Memory placement optimizes for the most possible ATK within the set configuration. However, due to the min-max nature of memory placement, memory placement only matters when chasing the highest possible DMG (and subsequently the best DMG output for timed content). For casual use, it's recommended to keep any already built memories, even if they are not in the right row, as the difference is only about 10 ATK.
One thing to note is if the unit has multiple builds, such as Chrome: Glory and Nanami: Starfarer, both of which has a main damage build and a Da Vinci team-buff build when paired. It's good to plan out your memory sets, especially shared ones, to accommodate for sets.
Can I reuse memories on other characters?
Yes. Players commonly share 
Da Vinci sets between Support characters, as most support characters do not need Ultima Awakening.
Do note that Resonances and Hypertunes are tied to the specific character resonated to, and do not carry over to the other characters.
What is Resonance and Hypertune?
Resonance is a memory-specific upgrade that provides a boost to the character it is resonated to. Resonances are tied to the specific character they are resonated with. While players can reuse the memory on other characters, they will not provide any resonance and hypertune bonuses.
Resonances are indicated by the 
upwards arrow/chevron on the top-right, with each one indicating one resonance. Hypertunes are indicated by slightly more saturated and lighter blue on the same arrow, which can be seen in the example image's bottom row.
Resonances are linked to specific characters and can not be shared. To resonate, a player must click on a memory->train->resonance. The player can resonate using a duplicate of the memory (slot does not matter), which will provide the player a random resonance from a pool depending on the row. They may also choose to use a 
6★ Memory Resonance Material Pick (aka Memory USBs) in order to select which resonance they want.
More details can be found in the Memory Resonance page.
Hypertune is a further upgrade to a memory's stat, increasing either HP/CRIT if it's in the top row or ATK/DEF if it's in the bottom row. To hypertune, the player must first resonate the memory to a character. Then, the player must collect enough 
Hypertune Crystal α and 
Hypertune Crystal β in order to hypertune. Despite needing a resonance to hypertune, hypertunes will remain even when resonating the memory again, allowing players to resonate a memory set to another character without needing to spend additional materials for hypertune again.
What is Ultima Awakening?
Ultima Awakening is a buff obtained by satisfying all 3 conditions:
- Member Lv. 65
- Member reaches 5000 BP
- Equip 6★ Resonance Skills * 12
Characters that are Ultima Awakened are given an additional random set of 3-ping during the start of battle. This set of 3-ping orbs allows players to clear timed content quicker. They can also be used to set up certain conditions for characters, such as Nanami: Starfarer's blue orb and Lee: Hyperreal's core passive bar. Outside of gameplay, the player also obtains a special icon of the character that can used as both the new portrait for the character as well as the user's profile picture. Character that have been Ultima Awakened will gain a cosmetic band, usually around their arm (Exception include No.21 who has it around her leg instead).
The first two conditions are easily satisfied by leveling normally. Upgrading all the memories will allow a reasonably invested character to reach 5000 BP.
The third condition is to fully resonate 12 6★ equipments, including memory and weapon, for a specific character. To fully resonate all the memories, the player needs any combination of Duplicate Memories / Memory Resonance Picks and/or 
6★ Weapon Resonance Material totaling to 12. This can be difficult for new players, and because it only affects the start of the battle, it is recommended to work towards building shared sets/finish the rest of the team before Ultima Awakening.
What is Infinitas and Hypertune bonus?
In Ayla: Kaleido's patch, PGR has added a new awakening: Infinitas. Infinitas allows the player to choose the starting 3-ping from Ultima Awakening, heavily benefiting units that require a certain color (eg. Nanami: Starfarer Blue Orb).
To obtain Infinitas, players must fully hypertune the character, which is a significant investment and should be considered only for characters that need it.
Once the player obtains Infinitas, they can assign certain units to guard nodes in Sequence Pact, providing an Extra DMG bonus to the character. Do note that the character must unlock Infinitas before being able to be assigned to a node. Each hypertune equipped will then provide 1% Extra DMG Bonus, for a total of 12%.
Important Memory Mechanics
Resistance Shred Basics
Shredding enemies' resistances is an important part of maximizing damage output. Besides Tank characters' Class Passive, the resistance-lowering Memories are a vital part of each team's build.
Gloria lowers all Resistances regardless of her user's damage type while 
Einsteina only lowers the corresponding elemental resistance of the damage type dealt.
It is important to take note of the damage type of the 
Einsteina's user, especially on QTE. Einsteina does not lower Resistances if her user inflicts 
Physical damage on QTE, even if their kit contains Elemental damage, like 
Karenina: Blast (
Fire). Einsteina will also not trigger on QTE that do not do damage, even if the character corresponds to the right element type. Please check which type of damage a Character inflicts on QTE before equipping them with Einsteina. If the damage type is mixed ( Physical / 
Elemental) then Einsteina will lower the corresponding Resistance once the elemental portion of the attack hits its target.
Certain resistances can also be reduced through the use of element-related memories such as Chen Jiyuan and Shakespeare. These resistance shred effects are found on their 4-PC set, and can be activated with any damage type. However, prior to Qu: Shukra's patch, Polaris Bond, these memories only have a certain % chance of activating its effect. This % chance is determined per hit, meaning characters with many hits during the QTE have a higher probability of applying it. Examples of characters with a high number of hits in QTE are:
- Lucia: Lotus with 24
- Lucia: Dawn with 19
- Ayla: Brilliance with 12 (and Tank Class Skill)
- Nanami: Storm with 11 (and Tank Class Skill)
After Polaris Bond, these memories get reworked to always apply the resistance shred effect.
Da Vinci ATK Bonus and Additional QTE
Da Vinci's 4-PC set bonus is vital for bursting down targets and is extremely important in maximizing damage output. In global the current 4-PC description is this:
When QTE is triggered, triggers another character's QTE. 8s cooldown. If there are 3 characters on the field, ATK is increased by 20%.
Because Da Vinci's QTE trigger is separate from the other character's trigger, it is possible to do:
QTE Off-Field without Da Vinci -> (timing) -> QTE Off-Field with Da Vinci -> QTE Off-Field without Da Vinci again
This allows you to get extra damage as well as extra duration on buffs/debuffs from the additional QTE activation.
The ATK bonus in Da Vinci's 4-PC is also extremely vital, creating a burst window that allows your character to do the maximum damage output possible. However, there are nuances in how it's used prior to the Polaris Bond patch. The ATK bonus from Da Vinci's 4-PC set bonus only lasts for however long all 3 characters are on-field, disappearing once the condition is no longer satisfied. This applies even in Time Lag Calculation, meaning Da Vinci should be timed on the DMG burst portion of Time Lag Calculation signatures, and likewise for other signatures. This burst window is dependent on how long the character stays on-field for QTE. For example, Lucia: Lotus is regarded as a good QTE unit despite being an attacker due to both her long on-field time and multiple hits. Similarly, Lucia: Dawn and Ayla: Brilliance are great QTE units due to their multiple hits and on-field time.
After Qu: Shukra's patch, Polaris Bond, Da Vinci gets reworked to have a duration of 2 seconds, allowing signature moves with Time Lag Calculation to freeze the buff for its entire animation.
Guinevere/Philip II 4-PC Bonus
Both Guinevere and Philip II summon a healing drone under certain conditions:
A healing drone will be charged when healing is performed. When fully charged, the next time you performing healing will consume all charged energy to summon the healing drone. It will follow an ally with the lowest HP percentage, healing allies in a 5m radius for 2% maximum HP per second and increasing their Physical/Elemental ATK by 15% for 5s. 12s cooldown.
This healing drone can be summoned with only one QTE if the character heals 5 entities with their QTE. This includes your characters, but also notably includes other game entities like clones (like in Lee: Hyperreal's case, No.21: XXI's Twilight Matrices and Co-Bot, etc). Each tick of healing counts as a separate case, meaning units like Liv: Empyrea, Liv: Lux, and Vera: Rozen can accumulate multiple counts towards the healing drone.
Characters that are able to summon in one QTE are:
(Untested: Hanying and Teddy)
This allows the main DPS to be able to use the extra increase in ATK much more effectively, utilizing only one QTE to activate.
During Time Lag Calculation, the healing drone's 5 second duration and 12 second cooldown are not frozen. However, the drone's buff will persist until the end of that time lag calculation even if the drone disappears midway through, as long as the drone is active when time lag calculation activates.
Team Comps and Roles
Why are team comps important?
Team compositions are important in PGR, as they can either make or break a team. Mono-element teams are favored over multi-element teams due to how PGR handles buffs and resistance shred. Within each team, the team roles are usually separated into 1 Attacker, 1 Support/Amplifier, and 1 Tank. The attacker is usually the main DPS while the support/amplifier helps buff the team through QTE and off-field effects. Tanks serve as a sub-DPS, with a couple of exceptions depending on investment, while also providing resistance shred against enemies.
Leader and Starter
Leader and Starter choice is important in maximizing DMG output and for setting up buffs. The leader skill applies a buff to all characters in the team, making it important to choose the ones that give the most benefit. This usually means choosing the leader skill that provides a boost to Elemental DMG and ATK. The Starter of the team usually involves the unit that provides either an important on-field buff/debuff (eg. Nanami: Starfarer) or a unit with a gapcloser (eg. Chrome: Glory) to close the distance for timed events. The Starter is usually rotated out early once they've applied their buff/debuff.
Recommendations can be found in Team Compositons.
What should I level/invest in as a new player?
During the early game, it is recommended to mainly focus on one team first. This allows the player to clear harder content and progress smoothly. The DPS unit should be the focus when leveling up units in the early game, with slight investment to the sub-DPS. Tanks should level their Class Skill to the max, as this benefits during both on-field and off-field. Supports can have minimal investment by only putting points into QTE and Class Skill.
Understanding Meta
What is "Meta"?
Meta is a generally agreed upon strategy within games, and PGR is no exception to meta-gaming. While the game's content can be cleared with any character, leaderboards in Phantom Pain Cage (PPC) and War Zone (WZ) see frequent use of meta teams to secure the highest score possible. Players in Ultimate PPC and Hero/Leader WZ utilize both meta team comps as well as high investment in order to score within the top percentages.
Where can I find the meta teams/investment?
The amount of investment for meta purposes depends entirely on the character's viability at certain ranks. While each character can be played at base rank with no signature/CUB, certain characters benefit heavily with a bit of investment. One example is Karenina Scire. At her base S-Rank, her DMG output is nowhere near Luna's, making her mainly used to apply resistance shred. At SS3 and with her signature weapon however, Scire massively boosts her own DMG in her Core Passive, even matching the damage of SSS Luna.
Team Compositions & Investments contains both the relevant team comps and the recommended investment. This includes the meta team for that element as well as alternatives if players are missing a character.
Should I care about the meta?
While playing around the meta allows players to better clear content and aim for higher scores on the leaderboard, PGR does not require the use of meta gaming in order to obtain Black Cards. Black Cards (BC) instead are earned by participating in the weeklies and events rather than reaching a certain percentage in the leaderboard. This means that players are able to play with their favorite characters without missing out on the weekly BC!
Phantom Pain Scars and 
War Zone Influence are based on ranking, which can be used respectively to upgrade Omniframes to SS and acquire Memory Resonance USBs and Leap/Uniframe materials.
