Metaphor's calendar is its real difficulty. Every action costs time, and dungeons have deadlines, so the players who thrive are the ones who plan their days — clearing dungeons early and pouring the freed time into bonds and Royal Virtues that compound into power.
Budgeting your days
- Clear the mainline dungeon a few days before its deadline, then bank the rest.
- Spend freed days on Follower bonds and Royal Virtue activities — both feed your combat power.
- Keep the Royal Virtue a bond needs rising in parallel so it never stalls at a threshold.
- Use travel days on the Gauntlet Runner for activities so no time is truly idle.
Priorities each day
❤️ Bonds first
Follower ranks unlock Archetypes and Royal Archetypes — the biggest long-term payoff.
👑 Virtues in parallel
Raise the Virtue your next bond needs so days aren't wasted waiting on a gate.
🗡️ Bounties & requests
Quick MAG and gear that also advance bonds — great filler on a spare afternoon.
😴 Rest sparingly
Recover when you must, but an idle day with no gain is the calendar's real cost.
Deadline discipline
- Note each main dungeon's deadline the moment it appears and back-plan from it.
- Aim to finish the dungeon with several days to spare for bonds and Virtues.
- Don't gamble a deadline on side content — clear the story dungeon first, then explore.
- A wasted, gainless day is the single biggest cost in the whole game.
💬 Community Strategies & Discussion
Did you find a hidden chest? Struggling with a boss? Share your tips and questions with other mercenaries below!