How to Blindside Enemies in Star Ocean Divine Force

If there are two things I can safely say I never expect, it’s the Spanish Inquisition, and a dude flying at me head-first with a jetpack. To say I would be blindsided by such an event would be a major understatement, which is exactly why it’s a tactic you can take advantage of in Star Ocean Divine Force. Here’s how to blindside enemies in Star Ocean Divine Force.

How to Blindside Enemies in Star Ocean Divine Force

Blindsiding is a special status effect you can inflict on enemies in Star Ocean Divine Force through the use of D.U.M.A.’s jetpack function, unlocked a short ways into the game’s campaign. The jetpack is handy for getting around quickly, and for juking and jiving in combat. The ultimate form of that juke-and-jive strategy is the blindside.

Related: Where Does Star Ocean: The Divine Force Occur?

When an enemy is blindsided, not only will they completely lose track of you for a moment, but any damage you deal to them will be boosted for as long as the effect persists. You can tell how long an enemy will be blindsided by the “?!” meter above their heads. Once the meter empties out, they’ll lock back onto you, though you can blindside them again to inflict the effect again. The only rule you need to be aware of is that blindsiding only works on enemies with clearly-defined eyes and ears. If it doesn’t hear and see, it can’t be blindsided.

Didn’t See That One Coming

To blindside an enemy, you need to burn some of your VA gauge to charge at them with your jetpack. This can be done by pressing the R1 button on your controller, or whatever key you have assigned on your keyboard (check your settings). The enemy’s eyes will be focused on you as you charge at them; the trick is to charge again with a directional input right before you hit them. Basically, you want to fly right into their face, then quickly fly to the side.

Not only can you blindside enemies in this way, setting them up for further punishment, but if a bunch of enemies are clumped together, you may even be able to blindside all of them at once. This is helpful for your party members, as it takes some of the heat off of them.

Make use of the blindside in combat to control the rhythm of the fight. You’ll fly so many circles around them, you’ll be a spirograph!