Do you have the power to change fate itself?
In Metaphor: Refantazio, you have a mission. The Prince, your best friend, is ailing, struck down by an evil curse and unable to wake. And it’s not just for his sake that you need to heal him: his father has been killed, and with the Prince believed dead, there’s a race to the throne. It’s imperative that you save the rightful heir to the throne before a tyrant inherits the kingdom…or before monsters overrun the world.
However, you can’t do it alone. Connections, support, and a strong network of friends and fighters are the key to success and survival. The game actually teaches you this right from the very beginning—you are constantly trying to win favour with the masses, and the King’s Statue (along with the creepy Majora’s Mask moon face in the sky) is a constant presence, reminding you who’s in first place in the competition to become king. You need to connect with others and win the will of the people to succeed.
That’s where your Followers come in. Much like in the Persona series, speaking to your friends and allies, helping them with their problems, and becoming each other’s ride-or-die, are so important for your playthrough.
There’s only so much time to jump off a cliff in a fit of insanity, soak in hot baths, or listen to weird stories in dingy pubs about fairies. Chat to your friends! Touch grass! Help your furry bodyguard kill their former abused friend who’s gone insane after years of being experimented on! It’s the little things.
Who are the best Followers to level up? I’m here to help!
Spoilers abound for gameplay. Some plot spoilers where relevant.
#6: Maria: Healer
“People don’t know what you’re thinking and feeling if you don’t tell them.”
Grius, the battle-hardened, former mercenary, is the first tragedy we have in Metaphor. But perhaps an even greater tragedy is that he leaves behind his daughter, sweet Maria.
When Grius is killed, she stays behind in the Hushed Honeybee Inn with Fabienne, who was in a common-law marriage with Grius. Of course, this gives Maria somewhat of an abandonment complex, causing her to worry that Fabienne may not want her unless she is helpful around the inn, or that you may not come home either. It’s heartbreaking to learn that Maria thinks she needs to work for her keep, or that she isn’t worthy enough to be wanted. She even starts to believe that the church isn’t working, as her prayers go unanswered. You help her realise that she is loved, wanted, and valued.
Once Maria learns that Miss Fabienne loves her no matter what, and that you will always return with pictures of places you’ve been to for her to hang on the Inn’s wall, the story impactfully turns into a reflection of the game and your journey.
Maria is also half Rhoag, half Ishika. This is particularly obvious due to her little wings, which isn’t great in a world where discrimination is rife, and some tribes are deemed lower than others. Maria’s story taught me that “changing society” and “everyone coming together” begins at childhood.
A simple and honest moment of connection can help a child break the cycle of fear, discrimination, and racism, and we see this in Maria. She doesn’t understand why she can’t be friends with a homeless boy, and her actions (encouraged by you) convince Fabienne to give food to the needy and start connecting with those everyone else ignores. Maria hasn’t yet learned to ignore the poor or give up on others. She is the epitome of what Metaphor is all about.
Additionally, by unlocking Maria, you unlock the Healer Archetype. Not only does this Archetype provide crucial heals and buffs for your party, making its moves a fantastic choice for any of your fighters, but she also improves your ability to cook on the Gauntlet Runner. I hadn’t even tried cooking before Maria’s Rank 4, which turned out to be a great idea, as this unlocks Speed Cooking. This means that time won’t elapse while cooking. Later on, cooking yields 2 dishes instead of 1. And, levelling her up increases post-battle EXP, which is absolutely crucial for getting stronger.
She’s cute, she’s empathetic, and she’s the embodiment of Metaphor‘s message. That’s why Maria is such a fantastic Follower.
#5: Eupha: Summoner
“I simply say that such belief in God’s salvation is no reason to abstain from saving yourself. I beseech you, before you fold your hands in prayer, stretch them out to the people around you. Cherish one another.”
I’m not sure what initially won me over about Eupha. She has such an odd introduction to the team: she’s the priestess of Virga Island, who has been told all her life that she’ll be sacrificed to the Dragon God to appease its wrath. To be fair, I do love a mind control/overcoming your beliefs to grow trope, so perhaps her journey from indoctrination to finding her true strength was particularly appealing to me.
And this is not only the point of Eupha, but to an extent, the point of Metaphor: ReFantazio itself. Her views may seem odd to us, but Eupha and Virga Island represent a cultural otherness that our band of already diverse characters finds alien. As the team rescues her, and as she interacts with them and goes out into the world beyond the island, she learns about different cultures and perspectives. She broadens her horizons—literally—and ultimately fosters a deeper understanding and connection between herself and the wider world. Much like what we are trying to do by becoming king and reducing animosity between the tribes and kingdoms.
Eupha is also used to dive even deeper into the religion of this world. We already know that the Sanctist Church led by Sanctor Forden is corrupt. We know that something weird is happening with the ignitors and crime, led by the church. So it’s incredibly impactful to have someone with such a vastly different perspective help a church leader and his followers gain a different perspective themselves. I personally love deep introspection into ethics, morality and religion (philosophy graduates unite), so this was a fascinating Follower bond for me.
Additionally, she’s a powerful magic user. As a Summoner, she can utilise special experiments to call upon powerful forces and knowledge to deal powerful damage to enemies from a wide range of elements. From Vishnu and Thor to the icy Frost family, it’s fun to see familiar faces from the Megami Tensei family. The attacks are also MP-heavy but often very strong, making her a fantastic damage dealer from the get-go.
But all this might not have given Eupha the title of “best girl” in Metaphor without her sincere fascination with the protagonist. It’s evident that she’s the canon love interest for our future king:
Rank 8 is particularly charged, with a handshake clearly meaning more to her than it does to you; her brother Edeni, chieftain of Virga Island, warns you to not plant false expectations in Eupha’s mind; and Eupha gives you a rippling shell that wives traditionally give to their husbands when they head out to sea. Her earnest, sweet self is a fantastic love interest for someone who wants to unite the tribes and help everyone understand each other greater, no matter their differences.
#4: Heismay: Thief
“I will carry my son with me, and we will change this burden of oppression against our people. Until that day comes, when we change this world for the better… I will fight with my son at my side, and in my heart.”
Usually, when you have an animal party member, they’re used as comic relief, considered somewhat annoying, or seem a bit one-note: think Morgana from Persona 5 or Kimahri from Final Fantasy X (though I actually love both of these examples). Metaphor managed to create a character with just as much of a respectable and noble backstory as any other race—in fact, perhaps more so.
Heismay Noctule is a former knight of the eugief tribe, which is characterised by their bat-like appearance. As such, he experiences intense discrimination, shown when he is suspected of a series of kidnappings in Martira. Of course, his infamy as a master assassin and a recluse only serves to add fuel to the fire. Once you add him to the party, however, you really get to know him.
I didn’t expect to love Heismay as much as I do. I was deeply engrossed in his ultimate journey to find the perfect place bury his dead son. Along the way, we learn that this middle-aged, somewhat jaded man is wise, serious, and humble. I truly saw him as the sage of the group, desperately wanting to get to know him to connect with his lonely, regretful soul, and to give him purpose again in a world that had failed him and his son. Ultimately, he learns to view the protagonist as a surrogate son. What a fantastic peak of a harrowing story that made me really respect Heismay for what he’s gone through in his long life.
He also becomes a surprising MVP by the end of the game. It takes a sheer amount of time and effort to level Heismay up to Royal Thief, but this is balanced by how absolutely dominating the skills are. He’s a master of stealth and speed, allowing him to dodge attacks with a high Agility stat. This is compounded by skills like Adamant Nightblade, which deals heavy physical Dark damage to an enemy whilst decreasing their Hit/Evasion, and Third Eye, which halves the attacking enemy’s Hit Rate when Heismay is attacked.
But the best skill to acquire is Noble Thief’s Soul. In the late game, bosses tend to have multiple turn icons, meaning that you can be taken out very quickly if you’re not careful. Noble Thief’s Soul means that, if Heismay dodges their attack, it depletes all of an enemy’s Turn Icons. At his peak, Heismay can dodge 80% of attacks, making him an absolute necessity in your end game line-up.
Heismay is the dark horse of the group, in my opinion. He starts off as a jaded outsider with little battle utility, and ends as one of the most empathetic characters in the whole game.
#3: Strohl: Warrior
“Hope is one step behind a clear conscience. Keep moving forward, and do what you know is just. I’ll always be one step behind you. Look back, and see hope.”
If we were going by connection alone, Leon Strohl da Haliaetus would be firmly in my #1 spot. Strohl is one of the first party members you meet, and as such, I really feel like I went on a long, arduous journey with him at my side.
Strohl of the clemar tribe was born into the fallen noble family of Halia. His village suffered a human attack and was burnt to the ground, and Strohl’s parents died while trying to evacuate citizens. This, as well as joining forces with the protagonist to take down Count Louis Guiabern and save the world, moulded this witty and warm companion into a competent and clever man with a strong sense of justice.
Strohl’s character development throughout the game is rich and engaging. He grapples with themes of nobility, revenge, and personal growth, taking him from a traumatised young man looking for vengeance to a compassionate leader who understands that a noble must support his people, rather than the other round. He’s more than the typical “best friend” archetype. He’s mature, providing a nuanced portrayal that really resonated with me. If I could romance anyone in this game, it would certainly be him.
The fact that I fell in love with him made Strohl’s integral role in the narrative that much more engrossing. His personal quest intertwines with the overarching plot, particularly in the pursuit of Louis. I was super motivated to take him down of course, but without much to go on regarding your character’s backstory, Strohl’s past made the narrative even more personal.
Developing a strong bond with Strohl also yields tangible benefits in combat. As a Warrior Archetype, Strohl is a formidable fighter with a high strength stat that helps you hits heavy when you need to. He’s a fantastic option to spec into some support roles too, like Commander, meaning that on the battlefield or off it, he’s got your back. I really did always “look back and see hope” when I looked at him, making him an absolute must to level up throughout the game.
#2: Alonzo: Fake
“No man or woman is completely honest. Fiction has its role to play in supporting people…It all comes back to weakness. But it’s weakness… that makes people interesting. I find it endearing. Should you ever have need of deception, you can rely on me. I’ll be at your service, no matter where or when.”
Any of the top 4 could have taken my number 1 spot. But something about beautiful, deceptive Alonzo nearly tops the board for me.
Alonzo Crotalus is a nidia, adopted by a woman from the paripus tribe who found him abandoned on the street. First known to us as “Pompous Man”, he is adept at deceiving others, swindling the corrupt wealthy out of their riches. He has a silver tongue, and at first, we think he’s a a no-good trickster that we need to be wary of. Beautiful blue hair or no.
As the story unfolds, however, Alonzo grapples with the consequences of his deceptive lifestyle, especially after a personal tragedy involving his mother. Major spoilers here: his decision to fake his own death was heartbreaking when I first experienced it. His further choice to redistribute his wealth to his village just made me like him more. It really brought emotional depth to his character and highlighted his story’s themes of redemption and self-sacrifice.
It’s this concoction of empathy, tragedy, and selflessness, mixed with his hilarious wit and swaggering confidence, that made me fall in love with Alonzo. He’s Baldur’s Gate 3’s Astarian by another name, and perhaps that’s another reason for my affection. But he really made me remember that appearances can be deceiving, and that what people end up doing is often explained by their circumstances.
One thing that brings Alonzo down is his lack of combat or other advantages outside of his story. The Faker Archetype skills were useful for buffs and debuffs, but once a few of these were learned, it was more useful to just give to other classes than to main a Faker. The discounts and purchasing of rare items at magic shops was nice, but by the time I got them, I rarely found use for magic items anyway.
Even so, he’s a fantastic Follower for our protagonist, who needs to learn that fiction can sometimes also mean deception…and maybe that’s not always a bad thing.
#1: Brigitta: Merchant
“I built igniters into a shell around my life. On the inside, I figured I had nothing, I was nothing. Just a hollow parody of a person…Thanks to you, I’ve come to know hope again. So I’ll believe in that hope, and try to live my life to the fullest… That’s my decision, and I’ll stick by it. Thank you…For giving me the courage to live again.”
As I thought of my journey with Brigitta, it was hard to put her anywhere but at the top spot. There are so many advantages to levelling her up, from her compelling story and game utility to the very powerful Merchant Archetype.
Plus, she’s hot. So, that’s fun.
Brigitta Lycaon owns an igniter shop in Grand Trad, but she wasn’t always successful. She lived in poverty, watching her friends die on the streets one by one, without any help from the Sanctist Church. She decided to take matters into her own hands, gaining money and status to keep herself safe. As an igniter merchant, she is essentially an arms dealer, making her a controversial figure in the city…and one of the most morally grey Followers in the game.
Once you unlock your bond with Brigitta, she hires you to look after her newly acquired puppy. While she seems uncaring, it’s clear that she cares deeply for it. She swears you to secrecy, believing that her enemies may harm it to get to her. Once it goes missing, the gloves are off. Introducing a dog vengeance storyline is a sneaky way to get me to like someone—she’s hot, powerful, and basically this realm’s version of John Wick. She’s told that a nearby eugief settlement stole her puppy, and Brigitta plans to raze the village to the ground. However, once she learns (through your help) that the village is innocent, and that the church wanted to frame her for the atrocity, she turns a corner. She strives to become an ethical arms dealer, leaving the world a better place through her work, which is heartwarming and truly fantastic.
(At one point, I was worried we wouldn’t find out what happened to the puppy. But we do, and it’s
okay. 10/10)
Brigitta’s Merchant Archetype is one of the most valuable in the whole game. It’s a unique class that utilises money instead of MP for its powerful Almighty attacks—crucial in a game where MP management is difficult and vital. As enemies have no resistance to Almighty, inheriting Merchant skills is a valuable strategy.
Finally, Brigitta gives you shop discounts as you deepen your bond. At Rank 5, you receive significant discounts at weapon, armour, and igniter shops. Additionally, her passive skill grants a chance to earn money with each enemy stun or defeat, providing a steady income stream during battles.
Wrap up
With so many well thought out and unique social links in Atlus games, it was hard to whittle Metaphor: Refantazio‘s Followers down to just 6. Whichever you choose to interact with, it really makes the world of the game feel that much more alive—and worthwhile to save. Which are your favourite Followers? Let us know via our Zatu socials!
