Welcome to my comprehensive guide for Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten.
Initially concieved as a specialized Guide instructing players on the most
efficient areas and methods for power-leveling, it has since evolved into
a completely comprehensive guide detailing every aspect of the game. This
guide is intended to be the ultimate reference tool for both veteran
Disgaea gamers, as well as those new to the series who might otherwise find
the sheer scale of Disgaea 4 overwhelming.

I have done my best to assembe all of the information in this guide in as
logical and concise a manner as possible, and have attempted to craft the
language so that everything you may n eed is both easy to find and easy
to read. It is my greatest hope that all of these efforts prove equal to
the task, so that this Guide may be sufficiently worthy to be used as a
one-stop reference.

Furthermore, it is my desire that this Guide be sufficiently helpful so
that everyone--EVERYONE--will be able to use it to derive as much fun and
amusement from Disgaea 4 as I have been able to.

Current Guide Status:
	The Guide is now 100% complete. It has been thoroughly re-written
	and re-formatted since its initial inception, and is now in its
	most "complete" form. I will, however, most likely continue to add
	and revise the contents of this guide in the future.

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 \    \\    \\     ~ Guide Information                                      \
  \    \\    \\                                                   [D-01A]    \
   \____\\____\\______________________________________________________________\

This Guide is intended solely as a reference tool. It is written with the
expectation that you are already aware of the basic, fundamental mechanics
of the game (and of gaming in general). It is not here to hold your hand as
you play the game, nor to tell you exactly how to complete each specific
map. Rather, it is designed to advice and instruct players in the skills
and tactics that are most beneficial for continued gameplay.

The guide is divided into ten numbered section, marked D-01, D-02, D-03, etc.
Each section is further divided into specific subsections (sometimes referred
to as chapters). Each subsection is assigned a consecutive letter: D-01A,
D-01B, D-01C, etc. Each section and subsection is tagged to allow for easy
navigation.

The "heart" of this guide is the Level Up!! Guide (see Section 5 [D-05]). This
Disgaea games have a somewhat unwarranted reputation for being grind-heavy.
This reputation is partially true, and partially false. Disgaea titles
do indeed emphasize grinding, but not in the traditional sense. In most
games, "grinding" is a term used to describe repeating the exact same
process to the exact same effect, for dozens or hundreds of hours on end.

In Disgaea, grinding requires a more active mind, capable of picking
and choosing the best maps, discerning the most effect strategies to attain
the most rewards in the least amount of time. Clever preparation to
spread out those rewards among those party members who need them most. In
short, if you know what you're doing, you can grind your way up 100
levels in 10 minutes... but if you don't know what you're doing, it
could take you 10 hours to accumulate the same number of levels. The Level Up!!
Guide is dedicated solely toward instructing players toward the proper tactics
and areas to be taken advantage of to climb up through the levels with
the maximum efficiency--investing the least amount of time to reap the
maximum rewards.

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 \    \\    \\     ~ Contact Information                                    \
  \    \\    \\                                                   [D-01B]    \
   \____\\____\\______________________________________________________________\

If you have any questions, comments, concerns (or suggestions for additions)
regarding this FAQ, you can generally reach me via email
(mwulf.0079@gmail.com) or on the GameFAQs/Gamespot Disgaea 4 message board,
where I appear under the moniker "redphoenix" (or "Mwulf" to the
gamespotters).

If you are a fellow GameFAQs FAQ-writer, and wish to use anything in here
for your Guide, please feel free to use whatever you like. If you are
part of a 3rd Party website, please do not host this Guide on your own
without emailing me for permission in advance.

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  / \ | | \\ \ |           ~ General Information ~            | / // | | / \
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Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten was released in Japan in February 2011,
and in North America half a year later, in early September. Despite being
an enormous fan of the Disgaea series (and, indeed, every Nippon Ichi game),
until Disgaea 4, I had always considered the lengthy, mandatory grinding
element to be an annoyance at best, and utterly insufferable at worst.

That's right: I was one of those quiet few: the Disgaea fans who played for
the ambiance, the setting, and the narrative. (Yes, we do exist!)

But there was something different about Disgaea 4. Something indescribable
that took hold of me almost from the very beginning: suddenly, I didn't care
about progressing the story. An odd feeling: for, from the very beginning,
I thought to myself that Disgaea 4's story was far more interesting (and
its cast of characters far more amusing) than any of the previous sequels.

But I couldn't stop diving into the Item World. I couldn't stop grinding for
mana, customizing characters, playing around with weapons and skills and
abilities--some new to the franchise, others old, which I had never before
taken much notice of.

And then Desco said something about transforming 4 times to defeat the hero,
and I thought to myself: this is it. What I need to do here is simple:
Valvatorez must become a super saiyajin!

And thus began my long road of grinding, climbing ever-higher, ever-faster.
Exploring every nook, every aspect of this massive game. Delving ever-deeper
into the marvelous world of Hades and its fascinating cast of characters.
And so I took it upon myself to write this guide, in order to help other
players along this magnificent journey. And, before we begin, I have one
small thing to say to you all:

Saving is for cowards.

Now: let us begin.

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 \    \\    \\     ~ How to Use this Guide                                  \
  \    \\    \\                                                   [D-02A]    \
   \____\\____\\______________________________________________________________\

As stated earlier, this guide is intended to be used as a reference tool--not
a babysitter. If you want a document to very carefully tell you how to
navigate each menu... or specific instructions on how and where to move each
character during each turn in each battle--look elsewhere. This guide is
constructed as a point-by-point reference, designed to be used sparingly.

Think of it as a friendly encyclopedia, built to help players determine the
best strategies and tactics for battle, or to find out detailed information on
items, skills, or more esoteric gameplay elements that are insufficiently
explained in Disgaea 4's own in-game tutorials. It is filled to the brim
(and somewhat overflowing) with indexes and tables enough to satiate even
the most obsessive of minds.

This Guide contains--or aspires to contain--every concievable piece of
information a player (of any skill level) might require. Whether you simply
need a little help on your way through the story maps, or need a handy
reference for a long night of Item World diving and Innoncents subduing, this
guide aims to be the one and only reference tool you need.

A word to Disgaea veterans:

If you spot any inaccuracies or omissions in this guide, please let me know
about them (mwulf.0079@gmail.com) so that I may correct or add whatever is
needed.

A word to all my readers:

If there is information you wish to be included in this guide, or additional
sections/subsections, please let me know as well (mwulf.0079@gmail.com).
So long as I am able, I shall endeavor to please everyone.

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 \    \\    \\     ~ About Disgaea 4                                        \
  \    \\    \\                                                   [D-02B]    \
   \____\\____\\______________________________________________________________\

Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten (Makai Senki Disugaia 4) is a strategic
role-playing game developed for the Playstation 3 console and released in
2011. The game was first released in Japan on February 24, then in North
America on September 6, then in Europe on October 28, and finally in
Australia on November 3, 2011.

It is the fourth game in the popular Disgaea series, which first launched
with Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness on the Playstation 2. The Disgaea
series has has been translated to many different languages and ported to
many different consoles, including the Nintendo DS, Playstation Portable
and Playstation Vita. Disgaea 4 is the second Disgaea title to be released
on the Playstation 3, and the first game in the series to feature high
resolution sprites.

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 \    \\    \\     ~ Gameplay Tips                                          \
  \    \\    \\                                                   [D-02C]    \
   \____\\____\\______________________________________________________________\

Disgaea 4 is a game with a lot of depth, and so much so that new players can
very quickly feel overwhelmed. If you're new to the franchise, here are a
few basic tips for the game that should make that initial learning curve
a bit more gentle.

<> When you purchase items from a shop, your customer rank increases. Once
   you "level up" your customer rank, you will be able to hold a vote for
   more expensive (and/or additional) items in the Senate. More expensives
   items are higher-quality items, so hold each vote as soon as you are able.

<> Bonus Guage rewards (Mana and Experience prizes) are dealt out to every
   active character on the map--so if you've filled up the Bonus Guage, make
   sure to empty out your base panel before ending the turn so that as
   many characters as possible will be able to take advantage of as many
   bonuses as possible.

<> Don't be afraid to play with Magichange and Fusion! Many new players are
   nervous about the time-limit with magichange, for example--don't be
   afraid! These skills are incredibly helpful, and can easily shift the
   tide of a losing battle back into your favor.

<> When dealing with magic-users, it's tempting to focus solely on offensive
   spells and healing spells. Don't underestimate buffs! Spells that increase
   attack/defense/etc. increase those stats a great deal--they're absolutely
   indispensable for combat against higher-level enemies.

<> Don't get too attached to the default generic characters the game gives
   you--get rid of them, and make your own party of characters--one that
   suits your own intended style of play. Just don't make too many characters.
   When you're first starting out, you should NOT have any more than 5 generic
   characters in your party, or else you will find it very difficult to
   properly manage experience and grinding.

<> Don't be stingy! Money can be tight early on, but after a few hours your
   treasure will contain obscene amounts of HL that will never seem to
   diminish. Buy that new sword! Money is no object.

<> Defensive items are... well, not worthless, but certainly worth less than
   offensive items. Don't bother with armor--focus on finding and developing
   the best weapons--and the best emblems.

<> The Item World and Chara World are random dungeons that you can only exit
   with a Mr. Gency Exit item in your inventory. You cannot access the
   warehouse while in these worlds, so make certain you've got at least one in
   your inventory before diving in--and always save before doing so.

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 \    \\    \\     ~ Party Formation                                        \
  \    \\    \\                                                   [D-02D]    \
   \____\\____\\______________________________________________________________\

For much of the game, you will most likely want to use story characters as
much as possible. However, in order to maintain a well-balance party, you will
need to branch out. At least 3 unique characters are necessary to your
party.

1. An offensive magic-user
	The choice here is between Skulls and Mages. Mages have higher base
	INT scores, so I would go with a mage. Their area-of-effect magic
	is an absolute necessity if you want to do any kind of power
	leveling Remember to focus on ONE skill line--don't buy/boost
	every offensive spell you get, focus on just one--either Fire, Ice
	or Wind. When you reincarnate to Star Mage, switch your focus to
	the Star spells.

2. A defensive magic-user
	While many characters can use healing spells, you'll want a Healer
	character to provide you with the ~best~ healing spells, as well as
	various buffing spells. Staves aren't really necessary for healers,
	so I'd suggest equipping her with a bow, which allows the healer to
	deal a moderate amount of damage. Keep in mind that magic-users
	earn experience simply through the casting of magic, so keep 'em
	well-defended.

*Remember to equip your magic-users with the best Orbs you can find—you
want to raise the SP and INT stats as high as you can to maximize their
effectiveness.

3. A supporting melee character
	Basically... spears. You want a character who is good with spears.
	Spear techniques allow you to attack "over" friendly characters, have
	a longer range (2 panels) attack than normal melee weapons, and the
	spear skills work very well to support your primary attackers, as
	they can attack “over” ally and enemy characters alike. You'll
	want another powerful melee character to complement Valvatorez and
	Fenrich, and you'd be hard-pressed to find one better than a spear
	wielder.

I would also HIGHLY recommend a good ranged character if you plan to do much
in the Item or Chara worlds--specifically, a good ranged character wielding
a good gun. Guns may not be the most versatile weapon, but they have nice
attack ranges AND some truly indispensable long-range area-of-effect skills
that make clearing random maps in the Item and Chara worlds a much less
tedious process.

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 \    \\    \\     ~ Basic Power-Leveling Tips                              \
  \    \\    \\                                                   [D-02E]    \
   \____\\____\\______________________________________________________________\

Before you start power-leveling, before you even begin to start, the absolute
first thing you need to do is to go into settings and disable all of the
animations. (Options 2-4 on the list) Also set the Combat SPD and Player SPD
to the fastest setting. Doing so will GREATLY decrease the amount of time
you spend grinding. Beyond that, there are a number of basic power-leveling
tips to keep in mind:

<> Team attacks divide experience equally between all characters involved.
   If you kill a monster that gives 100xp with a 2 person team attack, each
   character earns 50 experience. Kill that same monster with a 3 person
   team attack, each one earns 33 experience, etc.

<> Team attacks can be triggered with characters who have not yet
   received commands for a turn. This means you can move a characters
   into support positions (with the hope of them triggering a team attack)
   Execute, and then cancel the move order.

<> Tower attacks, like team attacks, equally distribute experience among
   all characters in the tower. Thus, a viable tactic for increasing
   the level of weak characters it to place them on top of a strong
   character, and then attack a high-level enemy.

<> At the RosenQueen Item Shop (and at various item shops found in the
   Innocent Towns in both the Item World and Chara World) you can purchase
   potions to grant small amounts of mana or experience to a specific
   character, but these items can only be used in-battle (and are
   typically far less effective than grinding).

<> Valvatorez' has an Evility called "Absorption" which can be purchased
   for 1500 mana. It allows him to absorb a percentage of the stats of
   every enemy he defeats--making it incredibly effective for maps with
   large numbers of enemies, or maps you want to solo with Valvatorez.

<> Many maps, particularly those on Mount Ordeal, have high experience
   rewards on the bonus gauge. Fill the bonus gauge up by creating geo
   chains, team attacks, etc. to fill up the gauge--just remember to take
   your low-level characters out of the base panel before killing the last
   enemy, because characters inside the base panel will not receive any of
   the bonus gauge's experience bonus.

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\    \\    \\                                                              \
 \    \\    \\     ~ Advanced Power-Leveling Tips                           \
  \    \\    \\                                                   [D-02F]    \
   \____\\____\\______________________________________________________________\

Advanced power-leveling can be a bit tricky, and usually involves taking
on much stronger enemies capable of killing your characters--or even your
entire party--in a single turn. As is usually the case, when combating
vastly superior foes, caution should always be kept in mind.

<> Try to focus on creating one or two heavy damage dealers. The enemies
   in Disgaea are not guided by a singular super-intelligence (analogous
   to the human player). Instead, the A.I. performs attacks and movement
   on an individual basis, determined by whichever priorities each specific
   enemy has on each specific map. Some are inclined toward defense, others
   toward offense. Defensive enemies are fairly common, and very easy to
   deal with--if none of your characters are close enough for the
   defense-minded enemy to move to and attack in a single turn, he or she
   (or it) will not move at all. If you can determine this range (through
   trial-and-error) you can move characters just barely in range and attack,
   and then use lift and throw commands to pull them away, allowing you to
   deal damage to the enemy without the enemy moving so much as a single
   tile.

<> when creating characters and equipping items, the two most overlooked
   stats are HIT and SPD. HIT is basically your accuracy stat--if you want
   to go up against stronger enemies, you need high HIT, or else most
   (if not all) of your attacks will miss. Conversely, the SPD stat effects
   your own evasion--get it high enough, and those strong enemies may
   be able to kill you in a single hit--but they won't be able to hit you.

<> Reincarnate, Reincarnate, Reincarnate! Levels may be important when you
   first start out, but at the end of the day, it's all about stats.
   Generic characters require twice the normal amount of mana for each
   additional reincarnation--so only reincarnate them when you unlock the
   next tier ([D-04B]). With story characters, like Valvatorez and Fenrich,
   however, there is no such penalty. Try to reincarnate as "Skilled" or
   "Genius" in order to retain as many of your stats as you can.

<> Don't neglect the Chara World and Item World! You won't level up
   your party as quickly here as elsewhere, but the enhancements your
   characters and items can attain make leveling elsewhere much, much
   easier. Powerful weapons and emblems, greater movement speed, etc.
   will make earning levels 1000+ a helluva lot easier.

<> Learn the Big Bang skill on as many characters as soon as you can.
   It will make power-levelling much, much easier for you thanks to
   the layout of MO-4. (See Tier 5 of the Level Up!! Guide for details).