Now that Final Fantasy 15 is finally out, you’ll want to conquer every nook and cranny of its densely-packed world. While mastering elemancy (the art of magic and spell crafting), obtaining all 13 Royal Arms and power-leveling will help you vastly as you progress through the game, you’ll need to maximize your AP so you can master combat also. Check out our guide to maximize your AP in Final Fantasy XV below.
The key to maximizing AP is to unlock Exploration nodes in Ascension related to things you’ll be doing anyway, like camping, driving in the Regalia and riding Chocobos, so you can reap the rewards for as long as possible. You also want to unlock Magic nodes in Ascension so that you can unleash the most damaging possible magic against almost all enemies in Final Fantasy 15’s first half.
When you finish your first main quest conversations with Cindy at Hammerhead, you have 10 AP. Here’s what you do:
Run straight to Cotisse Haven, absorb the elemental deposits and camp for 1 AP. Choose a recipe that doesn’t need ingredients. Take the “Stirred, Not Shaken” tour with Ignis when he asks you. You’ll get 20 AP.
Go back to Hammerhead, go to the Mini-mart and buy 91 bottles of Sheep Milk for 910 of your 1000 Gil. You already have one bottle of Sheep Milk in your inventory so you should have 92 bottles now.
Go through the main quest and make sure you do the first four strategy tutorials, which will net you 12 AP. Try to defeat at least three enemies using parries, blindsides or warp-strikes (see our combat guide here) for 3 bonus AP. Once you free Dave and hear his request, “do it for a price” to gain 2 AP.
Go to Merrioth Haven, absorb all elemental energy and unlock the Happy Camping Ascension node. Choose to camp (food doesn’t matter) and your party should hit Level 3 for another 26 AP. Use this to unlock Happier Camping.
Go south and fight the Dualhorn, completing the tutorial strategy prompt on blindsides for 3 AP. Use the three Fire spells from your Magic Flasks to defeat it.
Keep going south and east to Criclawe Haven. Absorb the elemental energy, which should max out all three elements. At the haven, train with Gladio and defeat him for 5 AP, camp for 3 AP, run back to Merrioth Haven and camp again for another 3 AP.
Now you have enough AP to learn Powercraft from the Magic Ascension tree. If you need more AP, go back to Criclawe Haven and camp more. Going back and forth between Merrioth and Circlawe to alternate campsites takes four minutes for 6 AP if you want to farm AP that way.
You can now craft 14 “Dualcast: Firaga” spells with a potency of 207 by putting all your fire energy and Sheep Milk in a flask. That’s enough to one-shot the Bloodhorn at the next encounter in the main quest. Vivi who?
Keep going forward, and make sure to complete the “Rise and Shine and Run” tour at Lachyrte Haven for 20 AP on your first visit to Galdin Quay.
Your next choices in Ascension, in any order: Roadrunning, Angler Action, Aftertaste, Appetize, Magic Action, Elementalism and Chocobump. These will increase your AP totals as you travel, camp and do your sidequests.
Roadrunning lets you gain 1 AP for every 1.25 miles you travel in the Regalia. Set up long auto journeys through the day, then camp at a haven when the sun goes down to grind PA.
Use Appetize to gain an extra point of AP whenever you camp while also strengthening your allies, enabling you to level up their techniques quickly.
Use this recipe for magic: 99 units of energy for one element, with 92 bottles of Sheep Milk as a catalyzer.
In Chapter 2, you obtain a third Magic Flask that lets you keep all three elemental spells in stock at one time. Completing hunts will give you Gil rewards you can invest in Sheep Milk so that you can restock your spells once they’re depleted.
You can also choose to unlock Noctis’s second accessory slot and give him some Magic-boosting equipment. You’ll have a big advantage in AP accumulation by having unlocked the Exploration nodes so early. Once you have a bit more AP, you can unlock Elementality and Extra Powercraft to make your spells even more potent.
Got more tips to maximize your AP build? Feel free to let us know in the comments section below. But don’t forget to check out our other Final Fantasy XV guides below:
Justice Monsters Five Rewards List: Every Item To Snag From The Pinball Mini-Game
Combat Guide: Tips & Tricks For Weapons, Blitz Combos, Breaks And Royal Arms To Inflict Maximum Damage In Battle
Favorite Foods List: Complete Recipes, Stat Boosts & Effects For Noctis, Gladiolus, Ignis and Prompto
Magic Guide: Tips And Tricks For How To Use Elemancy And Craft Powerful Spells
Outfits Guide: Attire Stat Bonuses And Buffs For Noctis And Allies’ Gear
How Many Chapters Are in 'Final Fantasy 15'? Tips For Pacing Yourself
Flying Car Guide: Here's How To Get The Regalia Type-F [VIDEO]
- Ascension Tree Tips: 9 Must-Have Skills To Prioritize Early On
How To Fish In 'Final Fantasy 15' Skill Guide: Best Locations, Equipment And Bonuses To Level Fishing Fast
Full List Of Trophies And Achievements [NO SPOILERS]
Wait Mode Explained: How It Works And When To Activate It
Report Card: Finesse, Time, Offense And EXP Bonus Explained
Royal Arms Guide: Tips And Tricks To Master Combat
EXP Guide: How To Power Level Up Fast With Lodgings, Meals And Sidequests
- Engaging main cast of characters
- Fun, fast-paced combat
- A massive, beautiful world to explore
- The Regalia!
- Continuous updates have addressed some shortcomings of the initial release
- Major aspects of the story feel rushed or absent, particularly toward the end of the game
- Stealth sequences feel out of place
