In an attempt to make the Suikoden II 108 Stars Walkthrough easier to navigate while playing, I’ve listed characters based on how early you can recruit them. Questions / Comments down below.

1 – Riou – Hero from Kyaro.Absurdly good in battle in every category – prime healer once acquiring Bright Shield Rune.

$ – Jowy – Not a star, because of an event that happens.

But his Black Sword Rune is one of the most powerful runes in any Suikoden – watch Jowy wreak havoc in the Sindar Ruins. Much later you will see the level 4 Black Sword Rune ability – very destructive.

2 – Nanami – Hero’s sister Nanami. They live together in Kyaro with Genkaku. Fast with a high critical attack, but lacking in attack power, defense and magic. With Spark Rune she will boost up the entire party’s agility.

3 – Gengen – First you meet Gengen the Kobold at Viktor’s Fort. Gengen goes to get Flour at Ryube with you. He later joins automatically. Not a fan of Gengen in battle – strength and defense are average at best for a front line fighter, and his technique is awful. No magical ability. I’ll end on a good note though -  I think he has a unite with Gabocha.

4- Mukumuku – The first optional recruit, and one of the hardest recruits in the game if not the hardest. Though there are two times when you can recruit Mukumuku. The first time to recruit Mukumuku is when you get to Kyaro with Jowy. Jowy heads to his head and you can do the same (northwest part of Kyaro). But as you take that screen out of town near your house. Head north (east of your house) to see a large tree. Search it three times and Hero will walk around, and Mukumuku comes out. Mukumuku has been recruited.

If you miss Mukumuku here, you can recruit Mukumuku later in the game (After liberating Greenhill I believe). Along the path from Greenhill – Muse, you can walk around that stone path with only the Hero (or at least an open spot) and eventually Mukumuku will join you. He is actually a fine warrior in battle – lacking in HP, but his defense stands up for a short time and his attack is quick, powerful and gets critical hits somewhat regularly. You could do worse.

5 – Rikimaru – Interesting character.You find him passed out at Ryube once you are able to wander around and recruit characters. Talk to him and pay the 3000 potch to the Innkeeper for all he ate.

Seems like he would be good, but really only excels with total hit points. Attack is average for a front line fighter and his defense is poor (but as stated before, his high HP makes up for it). No magical ability and gets carved up with his magic defense. His only real use in battle for you would be if you randomly have him in your party for the Sindar Ruins event (when you leave Viktor’s Fort and your force is randomly determined). He is actually a decent candidate, if you end up with him.

6 – Millie – Another subpar Ryube character. You meet her early on, and once you are able to ‘recruit’ characters for Viktor, talk to her at Ryube. She is closer to the northeast forest exit. Agree to go with her to find her pet Bonaparte. Head east in the forest to find Bonaparte, which turns into a monster. This can be a volatile battle, with all your weak under-leveled characters. But use your best abilities, Bonaparte does not have a lot of HP. Millie joins afterwards.

Millie is a middle ranged character, but her attack is feeble. She is not much more capable magically either, though if you are going to use her it will probably have to be as a low-level rune user. Her one saving grace is that her Bonaparte Rune actually takes off 3X damage but once a battle. Still not worth justifying using her in battle, and if you end up with her in your party for the Sindar Ruins sidequest, you’ll be pissed.

7 – Shiro – One of the best early characters, and definitely a personal favorite in battles. You recruit Shiro as you recruit Kinnison. During your first recruiting trip in Ryube, you will talk to Millie and go off to the forest for her sidequest. Well, take the north path first instead of east towards Millie’s pet. Go near the bird, and put the bird back in the nest. This is essential. After finishing the fight with Bonaparte for Millie, return back to that screen to see Kinnison and Shiro looking over that bird’s nest. Take credit for helping the bird, and they will sense you are peaceful and are recruited.

Shiro is a great high-risk high-reward character. His speed is very high and he counterattacks often – he’s a wolf after all. And he gets critical hits often too. However, Shiro has a vulnerable defense, and his HP is not that high. Not to mention he gets carved up by magic. Still, he is one of the most powerful early characters for you. You will be very happy to get him for the Sindar Ruins side quest.

Note that early on, you may run into a Double-Beat Rune. If so, equip this on Shiro immediately to make him an absolute juggernaut.

8 – Kinnison – The master of Shiro. To recruit, see above. Kinnison in battle is not a pretty sight. Another weak long-range attacker, with little to no magical ability. Kinnison’s use comes down to his unite with Shiro – it does 1.5 damage to a front line enemy, and 0.5 damage to the enemy in the back row. This is somewhat useful, but if you have the Double-Beat Rune for Shiro, you are probably better served to have him do two regular attacks anyway (since that’d be more damage, though the unite is at least a 100% hit).

9 – Zamza – One of the first recruits, but you find him at Toto as you are checking out recruits for Viktor. You must bring Nanami with you. They will talk for a while and not get along – just go along with Zamza and have him join. Note that if you don’t get him here, you can get him later at South Window.

Another one of my early favorites along with Shiro. This guy is versatile. His attacks are decent – granted he is slow and has a poor technique, so it’s not quite the best option. And he has a powerful yet self-destructive rune to use. But the thing that makes Zamza valuable is his astounding magical ability for a front line character. Later on in the game you may even wish to have him act as a back-row character, exclusively for magic (the Luca Blight battle comes to mind). Try a Lightning Rune on him to see what I’m talking about – he gets lots of high powered magic spells and by the time you fight Luca Blight, he has a level 4 Lightning Rune spell. Along with Shiro and Anita, he is one of the best options for the Sindar Ruins.

10 – Hanna – Talk to her after Toto goes down (as you enter from the southeast, look to the side to see her and recruit her).

Groan…She looks like a tank, but really doesn’t have the skills to provide anything other than being a meatshield. Her defense is good, HP is good, and attack is average. Combined with Oulan, she can at least do more damage. But there are better characters to use at that point. One big advantage worth mentioning is her ability to equip shields, and especially the heavy armor that characters like Humphrey can equip. So if you put the potch into her defensive equipment, she can be tough to penetrate. Also, Hanna is a +3 in war battles so she is a useful chip for making a unit more powerful.

11 – Apple – Automatic recruit. She appears after the Toto incident and joins along with the storyline. She is not used in battle but acts as the one to prepare your War Battle characters later on.

12 – Viktor – Joins automatically as well. You will meet him early on, being saved and ending up at Viktor’s Fort.

Viktor is much more powerful than in Suikoden I. I actually didn’t like him much in Suiko 1, since you have to use him all the time yet his Clone Rune attacks weren’t that great. Suikoden II is a different story though, since we can buy things like a Fury Rune and / or a Warrior Rune. Viktor has one of the highest base strengths in the entire game, so if you do that extra work you’ll see how beastly he can become. Many boast about the thousands of damage points he racks up per hit.

13 – Flik – Joins automatically along with Viktor.

The Flik in Suikoden II is not too different from the Suikoden I Flik. He is still good at attacking and a great Lightning Rune user. Skilled overall. When using him in battle, you should have no problem utilizing his many abilities based on the situation. In War Battles, Flik acts as a Bow-Cavalry unit.

14 – Tsai – Automatic recruit, after Flik and Viktor have you go get him. He is in the Ryube Forest.

Tsai is the Fire Spear engineer, and can use these valuable weapons in War Battles. They can shoot up to 3 enemies in front of you – War Battle damage is unpredictable, so attacking multiple targets at least gives you more chances to succeed. This is a powerful tactic early on. In regular battles, Tsai is not quite as powerful. His technique is high so he will rarely miss, but his defense is poor, his attack is close to poor, and he has no magical ability. Hard to justify using in battle.

15 – Tuta – Young boy who runs around with Doctor Huan. Also will go with you and Gengen to get Flour. When you get to Muse later on, go to the building north of the Inn – you will see Tuta walking around outside. Talk to him, and then a scene inside with Doctor Huan. Huan allows Tuta to join your army.

Tuta is terrible in battle. Long range weapon, but extremely weak. Very little magic ability. Tuta’s main ability is the Medicine Rune, which supposedly uses Medicine but I don’t quite understand how it works.

16 – Anita – Powerful lady you meet at Muse (once you get in after Sindar Ruins). She is at the Inn / Bar. Recruiting her takes some of your time and patience. First of all, bring Antitoxin. You need to do 3 or 4 different things for her and this is one of them. To get her to prompt you to do something for her…you have to talk to her a lot. However, once you do one thing for her, you have to leave the town of Muse and re-enter. Talk to her again upon re-entering and she will ask you to do something else. After you have done 3 things, she will offer to join you. Note that if you miss her here, you can recruit her much later at Banner Village. Just get her at Muse.

Anita is a powerful warrior. Those who have played Suikoden I remember her Falcon Rune from Valeria. She is similar to Valeria in that respect, though the Falcon Rune has been toned down (both in regards to the amount of damage done, and the fact that she misses quite often in this one when doing it). Anita does have a brilliant Unite Attack with Valeria for later on in the game, if you happen to get her. Statistically speaking though, Anita is a powerful front-line fighter – strong, decent defense, no magical ability but her Rune has potential.

17 – Templton – Templton returns from Suikoden I. Your first chance at recruiting her is after you are given the mission from Jess to check out Highland rations. Once you get that mission, head through Toto and to the Mercenary Fortress. You will get there in time to see Templton being shown the door. Next, go back to Toto and travel north through the village, taking the second left to see Templton again. She will join you and give you the Suiko Map.

If you miss her at this point, you should be able to go east through Radat after you reach that part of Lake Dunan. You can then go to Mercenary Fortress / Toto through that route.

18 – Gilbert – A guy who is hard to recruit, because a lot of it comes down to luck. Make sure to have a separate Save once you enter Muse with Alex’s pass.

Once you are in Muse for a while, you hear that the Highland Army is attacking. Annabelle will ask Viktor to stall the Highland Army for a few days. This is the battle you want to save before. Spend all of your time attacking Gilbert, using a Fire Spear and anything you can on him. The idea is to damage him (he has two damage points in War Battle, you just need one). After this, he will switch sides (and hope he doesn’t lose his unit / die in battle). If you do not do damage to him, you cannot recruit Gilbert. This is why you need to save before this battle – it is likely you will damage Gilbert if you have everyone attack him, but there is still the possibility that you don’t take off any damage. So don’t miss him. He is not used in regular battles, but will act as a Commander for you in War Battles.

19 – Eilie – 1 / 3rd of the traveling performers. She joins you on your way to Kyaro but her entourage does not officially join until you meet again at Coronet and need to escape the area. She joins automatically.

Eilie in battle is a bit of a mixed bag. Her attack is usable, and so is her magical ability. But she’s not great at any one thing, which can leave an unspectacular feeling in your mouth. Still can be useful especially early on when you don’t have many great choices.

20 – Bolgan – The goofyball of the performers. Joins with Rina and Eilie at Coronet.

In battle, Bolgan is frustrating to use. His attack is decent, defense is below average. But the worst part is his technique is so awful, he probably misses 50%+ of his regular attacks. If he gets countered, even worse. This can be salvaged by using his Unite attack, but then you’re forcing Eilie and Rina into using their turn up to do a three-way unite that isn’t all that powerful. So basically, the hoops you have to jump through to make Bolgan useful just aren’t worth your time to do – enjoy his efforts at North Sparrow Pass, but his usefulness ends there pretty much.

21 – Rina – Ah Rina, the true prize of the Performers. She is weak physically, with HP, and defense. But Rina is one of the elite magicians. Not quite Luc-elite, but on that second tier. She reaches 100+ magic power real early in the game, making her a great candidate to spam Lightning Magic on Lord Luca Blight. May also want to give her a Pale Gate Rune, or a Wizard Rune to make her magic attack even more powerful. Keep her in your rotation – she is worth using all the way to the end of the game if you wish, and is so much more effective than her two circus friends.

22 – Freed Y – Wow. South Window vassal, he joins after the incident with Lord Granmeyer as you just enter the area and take North Window Castle. Has a significant story role.

Just a putrid character in battle, and the worst part is you are forced to use him a few times (including a long journey to Gregminster, ugh). By that time, Freed Y is an embarrassment. He starts off with a Lightning Rune attached to his weapon, which sadly is the best thing about him. For a front-line fighter, you probably couldn’t pick out a worse character. His attack is inept, his defense not much better. No magical ability to speak of. Really, he can’t provide much for us – just a waste of a front line spot, a spot in the lineup that generally provides a lot of punch. As I said, it’s just a shame we are forced to use him on more than one occasion.

23 – Shu – Brilliant but aloof pupil from Mathiu’s school. Friends with Apple and joins with the storyline events at Radat. Supports Hero as the strategist in Suikoden II. In War Battles, Shu has a +3 attack – for a protip, let’s just say I like to pair Shu with Luc’s magic unit.

24 – Leona – One of the older classics who you meet at Viktor’s Mercenary Fortress. She acts as the one to change in party members and takes care of Pilika.

25 – Barbara – She takes care of your item depot. Joins automatically.

26 – Huan – You will first meet Huan at Muse City as he is there with Tuta. Huan is recruited automatically once you acquire the castle. Huan acts as one of the best Healing options in War Battles.

27 – Luc – Luc shows up with Leknaat and the 108 Stars of Destiny Tablet. Luc was always an underrated magician in Suikoden 1 I felt, once it was realized he couldn’t survive in the front line. Same thing with Suikoden II, except now he can equip 3 runes very early on. Get rid of that Pixie Rune and Wind Rune. Utilize his magic total for several high-level Lightning Rune spells. Grabbing a Wizard Rune for him at Two River would be a wise choice. And when you get the Blue Gate Rune, you will want to give this to Luc to put on his head. The level 4 spell is dangerous, but that’s fine, save those for the Lightning Rune level 4 spell. But the Level 3 Blue Gate Rune does great damage, and the level 2 can instant-kill enemies. Stick him in the back row and have him cast high level magic all day long. He is arguably the best magician in the game, rivaled by a hermit-like Wizard you get much later.

If that wasn’t enough, he’s generally the backbone of my army in War Battles. I generally stick Shu and his +3 attack in Luc’s group, and put in someone else like Hanna with +2. Though he cannot move fast, you can have Luc slowly come to the front lines with your other forces guarding him, and have Luc focus on attacking. Attacking from afar, he will only get counter-attacked by other magicians (who you should have your other units take out). Luc’s high regular attack can consistently tear up front-line fighters, and is one of the only units that is going to penetrate the absolute best enemy commander units (Yuber, Kiba, Luca, etc). Sets Luc up well for that other game he is involved in…

28 – Alex – The adventurous guy you met going to the Sindar Ruins. After your retreat and eventual taking over of North Window, go to South Window when you get a chance. Check out the 2nd floor of the Inn to see Hilda and Alex. They both gladly join you and act as your innkeeper and item shop owner respectively.

29 – Hilda – See Alex above.

30 – Tai Ho – My favorite from Suikoden I, but they screwed these guys. You meet him at Coronet, and you have to win 5000 potch in his game. Save before doing this to ensure you don’t lose money. They take you to Kuskus, but later on you are asked to look for someone who can man a ship. Then go to the Kuskus Port to recruit Tai Ho and Yam Koo.

Tai Ho is still very powerful and with a Killer Rune his crit-rate makes him useful as an attacker. But he does little else for us, with no magic ability and is not a strong defensive character. Plus I miss his Unite with Yam Koo that blew any enemy away. A talented character but his overall ability is clearly lacking without his companion.

31 – Yam Koo – One of the rare things Suikoden II did wrong was take away Yam Koo from battles. Wow, why? Would it have been that hard to give him a spear, a generic name for it, and stats similar to but weaker to Tai Ho? They could have kept the unite attack going. Instead, Yam Koo just fishes with you. To be fair, S2 was clearly trying to tone down some of the Unite Attacks that got out of hand in S1. Which is a big reason magicians are so dominant in Suikoden II.

32 – Amada – You have to duel Amada at Radat to shut the sluice gate. Not a tough duel, probably not worth panicking if you didn’t save beforehand. Later on, you are told to look for a person to act as captain of your ship. Amada can be one of those guys (along with Tai Ho). Just recruit them both, but you have to duel Amada and kick his ass one more time to convince him.

Amada is Rikimaru-like in that his only significantly relevant statistic is his high HP total. His attack power growth is maybe slightly above average. His defense is okay but if left in the front line, his high HP can still go down quick.

33 – Richmond – Another Radat citizen. You meet him earlier on, as he helps you recruit Shu. After you have Headquarters at North Window, head over to Radat. Talk to Richmond in the south part of town, by the appraisal shop. If you guess the right one (heads or tails) with his coin flip, he will join. But you cannot win this. Instead, talk to him a lose. Then go to the Bar in the northwest part of town. Take to the guy just west as you enter. He gives you a special coin. Return to Richmond with the special coin, and you then recruit Richmond. He does not serve much purpose, but he does check up on all 108 Stars of Destiny, finding out secret information. Can be neat.

34 – Yoshino – This is Freed Y’s wife. She must be proud of her husband’s battle-tested ways. Anyway, she is in Radat. Put Freed Y in your party, and go to the south part of town, then east past the fence. You will see clothes hanging on the line. Yoshino should be here too. Talk to her and she will force herself into your army so she can stay with Freed Y.

Yoshino is a character I rarely use. She lacks magical ability and can only fight in the back row – albeit with a weak weapon. She seems to be skilled as far as technique but she has little else in her favor.

35 – Adlai – Strange inventor in South Window. You should find him a tad east and north of the Trader’s Shop. Now you need a few things to recruit Adlai. Fortunately, two of them can be found at South Window. Buy a Wooden Shield at the Armory and a Wind Crystal at the rune shop (if you don’t have those items already). Now you also need a Sacrificial Jizo – Bolgan has one of these in one of his item slots. Take one if you wish, or maybe Alex’s item shop at HQ has one. Bring all of those things to Adlai – he will first ask for a Sacrificial Jizo, so give that to him. Then give him the Wooden Shield. Next, you have the option to throw the Wind Crystal at him, so do so. Adlai then joins you. He runs the elevator at your place. The only problem with recruiting him would be if Bolgan’s Sacrificial Jizo is used up – then you may have to wait a bit until you run across a Sacrificial Jizo.Well, actually the next character has one too…

In War Battles, Adlai has an Invention ability he can use. His attack / defense is +0 / +0, but this Invention ability can cause damage to all surrounding enemies including his own unit!

36 – Oulan – Oulan can be found at Kuskus if you have a party full of females (along with Hero, of course). If you talk to the old lady to the left as you enter Kuskus, she will tell of the jerks who attack people with women. So with this full group of females, go to the left part of town over the bridge, and you will get jumped. But Oulan saves you.

Oulan is the bodyguard literally and figuratively. Her defense is stout as she can equip a shield and heavy armor, not to mention her magic defense is solid. Obviously cannot perform magic but as a front liner, she is blessed statistically. Oulan and Hanna also have a Unite attack if you happen to have both of them on the front. Oulan’s Bodyguard ability in War Battles protects characters in Oulan’s group from death, I believe.

37 – Taki – The old lady at Lakewest Village. You can go west of your base to Lakewest after you get a ship captain. She is in the northwest house. Just talk to her 3 times and after that, she will just join you. She’s like Onil in Suikoden I, so you can talk to her at your base for the latest gossip.

38 – Clive – Clive is a special character in Suikoden II. He has his own ongoing quest of chasing Elza around. You have to help him along the way, but have strict time limits as far as bringing Clive to Elza at certain places.

Anyway, to recruit Clive we just have to run into Elza at Muse City early on, in the northeast part of town. Help her out by taking what she gives you, then leave the town. Clive will come out and confront Elza, while Elza holds up Hero as a hostage. Clive shoots, misses, and Elza runs off. Clive chases her. You HAVE to have seen this scene to continue the quest with Clive. Next, you will see him at South Window, just south of the entrance. He needs a way to Lakewest, but you don’t have a means of getting there for a while. However, once you go to Lakewest (need Amada or Tai Ho) you can go back to South Window and tell Clive you have a way there. He will join your party.

Now the rest of Clives quest with Elza probably warrants it’s own page, so we’ll save that for another time. But suffice to say, it’s not a bad thing having to bring Clive around to Elza with how he is in battle. Clive has a very high technique ability, and if you put some money into his weapon and give him a Warrior Rune / Fury Rune, he will be extremely powerful. Clive already has a high critical-attack rate, and his attack power is higher than most long-range allies. He has no magical ability so he is kind of a one trick pony, staying in the back row shooting enemies, but nonetheless it’s a role he plays probably better than anyone else in Suikoden II.

39 – Hans – Hans is the armorer. His armor is comprised of the armors you see at other armor shops around the world. You will see Hans on the 2nd floor of the Two River Inn. You can recruit him immediately, or if you want some big time potch and don’t mind waiting, you can ask for money so he can open a shop. If you don’t mind being an ass I’d recommend it, since you don’t really need him this minute, but getting a large sum of Potch is helpful considering how easy it is to burn through sharpening weapons and buying Fury Runes / Wizard Runes / Warrior Runes.

40 – Fitcher – A vassal of Muse, he flees the city and you meet him as he is working for Makai of Two Rivers. After chasing back Klaus and Kiba, Fitcher is fired by Makai and joins you automatically. Can’t be used in battle, he is just a storyline personality.

41 – Ridley – Leader of the Two River Kobolds. Ridley joins automatically after aiding them to drive back Highland.

Ridley cannot be used in normal battle, but he is one of the top generals in War Battles. His unit is very high in attack naturally and with some good units he can be an absolute beast on the front lines. Ridley’s Critical Attacks are satisfying to watch.

42 – Chaco – Annoying Winger who joins automatically after repelling Highland.

Chaco is a decent if not unspectacular ally in battle. He is fast, good enough technique, and a decent attack. But that’s about it. He offers little with magic. In War Battles, Chaco allows you to fly around the battlefield. I think he provides just a +0 Attack +1 Defense but his ability to cruise will likely warrant a spot under some general.

43 – Gabocha – Admirer of the great Gengen. Gabocha is at the Two River Kobold District, in the first house you see. Bring Gengen there after defending Two Rivers from Highland. Gabocha will want to join and follow with Gengen.

Note that if you wait until you get the Greenhill mission, you will not be able to recruit Gabocha until after Greenhill. Gabocha will not be in the house if your Greenhill party is assembled.

In battle, Gabocha has a weak long-range attack. He has a Kobold Attack with Gengen but I think it takes off 1x damage (so pointless, besides the fact it’ll hit 100%).

44 – Tetsu – Go to the Kobold District of Two Rivers and buy some Fried Tacos. A couple sets actually, and equip them on your characters. Go into battle and use the Fried Tacos on Riou, until he starts smoking. He is now ‘toasty’. Bring him to Lakewest, and check out the house in the northwest (not Taki’s house, the one to the right of it). Tetsu is in here, and he will appreciate how Toasty you are. Tetsu is then recruited to make baths at your castle.

45 – Shilo – The white trash looking guy at Lakewest Inn (once you defend Two River). You need to win 5000 potch from him in Chinchirorin, the game you play with Tai Ho. Just save before you do it to ensure you win and recruit Shilo. I actually had to go to HQ and then back to Lakewest to get Shilo to challenge me.

Shilo is not very useful in battle. Typical high-technique but weak long range character with no magical ability to compensate.

46 – Hai Yo – The cook. After returning from Two River, go to the northeast part of the castle and explore a bit. Once outside, you will see Hai Yo speaking with a guy, and you can then let Hai Yo be your cook. The area transforms with plush seating and Hai Yo’s custom kitchen. Not sure why anyone would use him in battle, but if you want to experiment then by all means. Not at all unlike Antonio and Lester in Suiko I.

47 – Sid – A winger in the sewer below the Winger section of Two River. You may have stumbled upon this earlier and after a creepy encounter, automatically left the room. If you have not found the room yet, look next to a ladder about halfway through the sewer. If you go left of this ladder you will go through the hole in the wall to Sid’s room. You need to have Chaco in your party, as Sid will mess with him for a bit. Then Sid just joins you so he can harass Chaco all day. You can recruit Sid before you go off to Greenhill, but you have to do it right after liberating Two River – if you get your Greenhill mission, you cannot recruit any optional characters until it’s finished.

Very similar to Chaco in battle, accept maybe a little slower but more attack. Sid unfortunately has a Waking Rune which causes him to be asleep starting a battle, but in Fury Mode when woken up.

48 – Stallion – This guy is running around Radat, and you’ve probably talked to him already. You need to run from 50 battles in order to beat him in a race. You can then recruit Stallion.

Always one of my favorite characters, because I love the added speed on the World Map. Especially useful if you’re trying to save time doing the Clive / Elza quest. Anyway, Stallion is mediocre in battle. Very fast, decent technique, but with a weak attack and no magic support. Since I like his World Map speed effect I try to salvage his spot in the 6-man battle roster by giving him a Warrior Rune or Fury Rune, something to augment his attacking ability.

49 – Wakaba – An interesting personality, wise about martial arts. Just find her to the east as you enter Forest Village – She’s actually available to recruit after Two Rivers is defended. You may need to return to HQ and go back to Forest Village (that is, without taking on the Greenhill mission).

Wakaba is a talent in battle. Not a brute as far as strength, and her defense is weak, but some of her other stats are amazing. Really high technique, speed and hit points.

50 – Tony – Check out the mayor’s house at Forest Village. The northeast house. Inside, you see Tony in the bedroom to the southeast. Keep asking him to come be the farmer at your castle, and the mayor will allow him. Just like Wakaba above, you can recruit Tony after Two Rivers but you may need to return to HQ and then go back to Forest Village.

Tony lets you play whack a mole. Fun, actually. And you can give him crops. Find him in the field to the northeast at Headquarters.

51 – Emilia – She shows you around when you initially go to Greenhill as students. Later on, you can find her behind the desk. You can even ask her questions about Shin, which will make her get suspicious. Just choose to explain yourselves, she is a trustworthy ally. At North Window, she acts as your librarian so give her your Old Book Volumes.

52 – Shin – Protector of Teresa, mayor of Greenhill. He joins automatically as you escape the city.

Shin looks pretty cool and has a 3x damage rune on his side, but he has some weaknesses that are exposed often as a front line character. Moderate HP, and a terrible defense. Between that and his 1-time-per-battle Spider Slay Rune, hopefully the battles end early.

53 – Teresa – Acting mayor of Greenhill, wanted by Highland. She is hiding out at Greenhill and the City-State wants to rescue her from the clutches of the Highlanders. Once you complete the sidequest in Greenhill as students, you can then recruit Teresa.

Teresa is not active in battle, and primarily is involved in storyline matters. But Teresa is actually a commander of a unit in War Battles, oddly enough. Her unit is always very weak, a base of 5-6 attack and 6-7 defense. I think it’s actually 5 / 6. So she’s weak, and you probably won’t want to waste your strong War generals making her attack go from terrible to marginal. Instead, stick healers or magicians in her unit. But Teresa does have a Bombard ability that allows you to attack a unit from a long distance. So this can actually prove useful against a weaker defensive foe like a magician unit, getting a quick damage point from way far away. That said, her attack is so weak you can’t expect too much.

54 – Nina – Crazy girl who chases Flik around at the Greenhill Academy. Eventually you find out she is involved with Teresa, and Nina eventually joins you.

Nina actually has some value as a decent magician in the Luca Blight battle at least. You can level her up to the high 30’s and get her over 100 for magic, netting her a few level 3 lightning rune spells and a valuable level 4 lightning rune spell. Other than that, I don’t use her at all. She’s a good magician, but there are many who are better. And her attack is putrid and not worth sharpening her weapon for.

55 – Meg – Classic Suikoden I character. You can find Meg at the Greenhill / Muse border, messing around with the guards. She can’t get through, so let her join your army.

Meg is pretty bad in this one, too. Mediocre magician, I guess maybe you could find some value sticking her with a Water Rune or something. Weak attack, but has a serviceable unite with Gadget. Who actually is pretty good…

56 – Gadget – Joins with Meg – see above.

Gadget has some value in battle. When built up, his defense is absurd. Stick him in the Luca Blight battle as a meatshield, and just watch and see what happens if Luca does a regular attack (without the fire). Luca takes off like 10 damage total. Gadget’s attacks are powerful, but he’ll miss a fair share. Again, he does have that unite with Meg, but that means you have to keep one subpar character (meg) and one average character (gadget) in your party. But Gadget should definitely be considered for the battle with Luca, with his high defense.

57 – Jeane – Jeane is at Two Rivers after fleeing Greenhill. You want to visit this rune shop often anyway since Warrior Runes / Wizard Runes will pop up from time to time. But let Jeane join your army, and she will be your runemaster. Of course, her inventory is stocked with everything you have seen in other stores, and she has no Rare Finds.

Jeane is a useful unit in War Battles. She has a Lightning Rune option that is definitely worth using – dare I say is one of the most likely-to-damage abilities in the entire game.

58 – Viki – Along the way to Matilda, you will run into Viki. Just have her join you – if you ask her to come with, she will teleport all of you to Headquarters.

Always one of the best characters, since she can send you anywhere you’ve been, saving you a lot of time. She’s actually a good mage too. Despite the fact that sometimes her spells backfire. But she has the Blinking Rune, which has a nice level 2 attack all spell. And she is a useful Lightning Rune user in the Luca Battle too, easily over 100 magic in the high 30 levels.

59 – Futch – Complete the Futch / Humphrey sidequest at Highway Village. It’s actually a hard side quest, with a tough Harpy boss and lots of strong foes along the way at Rakutei Mountain.

I’m not a fan of Futch in battle. He can equip some nice armor, but is pretty weak in terms of attack. Not to mention has no magical ability. I just have a hard time using these mediocre attack medium-ranged characters that can’t provide any sort of value either offensively or as a support magician.

60 – Humphrey – Joins with Futch after the sidequest. It starts when you see some scenes and Humphrey himself at Highway Village.

Just like the Humphrey from Suikoden I, he is a stalwart on the front lines. Great attack, decent enough technique, and an impregnable defense. Even better, if you equip a Windspun Armor on Humphrey in Suikoden I, it will transfer over to him in Suikoden II. This would be very nice as it’s a top heavy armor, making him absurdly strong defensively early on. Definitely use Humphrey in your battle against Luca.

61 – Miklotov – Joins automatically after the Matilda and then Muse events.

Miklotov is one of the best front line fighters you’ll find, both offensively and defensively. Terrible using or defending against magic, but that’s to be expected. Also has a good unite with the weaker Camus.

62 – Camus – Joins automatically with Miklotov.

Definitely the weaker of the two head Matilda Knights but also the more versatile one. He’s not great at magic, but he’s decent. Plus he has a Rage Rune, which is good. But I still don’t like to use him much.

63 – Kiba – After returning from Matilda, you will hear Radat is taken by Highland. It is Kiba and Klaus. After a few battles and Ridley’s fake retreat, you will have captured Kiba and Klaus. Say that they are too useful to execute and then recruit them.

Kiba cannot be used in normal battle, but is a staunch defender as a War Battle leader. Something like 7 attack / 12 defense are his base stats. Thus, he is a very useful front line unit.

64 – Klaus – Joins with Kiba above, if you spare them.

Klaus cannot be used in battle either, and mostly acts as a supporting tactician. In War Battles though, few are as valuable as Klaus. +0 attack but a whopping +3 defense. And he adds Cavalry and Evade.

65 – Kasumi / Valeria – You automatically get to choose one of these Suikoden I ladies to join your army, once you reach Gregminster. If you want the specifics on which to choose, read below.

It basically boils down to – Valeria is a powerful tank in battle, definitely more valuable than Kasumi in that regard. Will do more damage, have a higher defense, and when paired with Anita the two have one of the best unites in the game. Meanwhile, Kasumi has a weak attack and a terrible defense, and has to be stuck on the front line. It’s really a struggle having her in battle.

But recruiting Kasumi allows you to enter Rokkaku much earlier and to recruit two ninja characters there. A lot of people will choose her on this basis alone. So if you are racing against time doing the Clive quest, you probably want Kasumi. That said, it’s not fatal to your chances of completing the Clive quest and 108 Stars in 20 hours if you choose Valeria. Ultimately it just takes you a little longer to expand the castle and recruit the final characters.

66 – Sheena – Lepant’s son. As the head of the Toran Republic, Lepant orders Sheena to join your army.

Sheena actually isn’t too bad. Not great, but solid overall. Decent attacker. Not the highest defense or speed or technique, but again not too bad. Plus, he has decent magic power. For that reason, you may find yourself using him on the front lines against Luca. Not for his defense or physical prowess of course, but as another Lightning Rune user.

Note – many of the next recruits can be recruited much earlier, but I choose to wait until I have the Blinking Mirror from Lepant so that they can be done quicker. Especially the Hix quest.

67 – Lebrante – He wants a Celadon Urn. You may remember these from Suikoden I. Well, you can buy one at Gregminster trade shop. So do so, and return to Radat. You can then recruit Lebrante, even though he is an expensive appraisal option.

68 – Yuzu – Little girl at Kobold Village (the one south of Two River). You will see her after the Greenhill events I believe. She is with her sheep as you travel north through town. Offer to help her, and you appear in the forested area north of the village (by the big tree, where you see the unicorn). Collect the sheep around here, some may be hiding behind the tree (by some treasures). You can give Yuzu animals that you find throughout the world, she is by the field in the northeastern part of your base.

69 – Hix – You first meet this little brat at the Lakewest Inn. Talk to him here, and then go to Kobold Village to the south to continue his quest (again, I always wait until I have the Blinking Mirror to do this). Anyway, at Kobold Village Tengaar will fake getting sick to make up some retrieval quest for Hix to do. It consists of teleporting around to various places (Wind Cave, Two River sewer, South Window item shop) and retrieving items. After you get all three, a unicorn takes Tengaar away. Travel through the forest at Kobold Village, until you get to the far east side by the big tree. The unicorn is here, but doesn’t harm Tengaar. Afterwards, Hix and Tengaar join.

I hate Hix. Ever since Suikoden I, when the game forces you to have Hix on your front line against Neclord! This game at least doesn’t force you to use him, but the above quest is annoying enough. Hix has a subpar attack and defense. He is technically sound, but again, you’re going to want someone with a higher defense or the ability to shell out more damage. He has a unite with Tengaar, but don’t bother.

70 – Tengaar – Tengaar though has no problem being effective in battle. Her attack isn’t so bad for a long range attacker, but her value is in her magical ability. She is not great, but she is maybe one of those third-tier magicians that are good enough to reach 100 magic power by the high 30’s in level. Meaning she’s another great Lightning Rune candidate against Luca.

71 – Badeaux – Now that you have a bit more recruits, you can go to the Forest Path (path to Matilda) and talk to Badeaux. However, you need Shiro in your unit, and he will sense the kindred spirit and join you. Badeaux also gives you two very valuable Listening Crystals for recruiting animal-type allies later on.

Not much to say about Badeaux in battle. Can’t say I’ve used him much, but enough to see he has mediocre stats. He does have a Howling Rune which seems to work well with animals. To what extent, I don’t know (inform me in the comments below if you do).

72 – Feather – You need to have recruited Badeaux and his Listening Crystals for this recruit to be available. Anyway, in Forest Village (northwest of Greenhill), you should see a scene to the north as you walk into town. Choose to save that griffin, so fight the bad ones. They are not hard to dispatch. Then use a Listening Crystal to talk to the kind bird, and you will recruit Feather. Note that if you are going for all 108 Stars, you have to use a Listening Crystal on Feather so that you can recruit Ayda too.

If you are going to bother with two slots using a beast, Feather isn’t a bad one to choose. His Shining Wind Rune is decent against all foes, but it is his dominant regular attack that you should be using.

73 – Ayda – Joins along with Feather, assuming you use a Listening Crystal to recruit Feather.

Typical archer. Nothing that sets her apart in battle really. She has a high speed, but most archers do. Mediocre Magical and Attack ability. Ayda also is a War Battle unit leader, strangely enough. She has Forest Walk, which allows her to burn through forests at rapid speeds. Having Repair Self doesn’t hurt either. But her weak attack and defense make her similar to Teresa’s unit.

74 – Connell – An easy recruit. Just bring a Sound Setting to him – he can be found in the second or third house on the left as you enter Forest Village. I think one early Sound Set you  can find is in the Rare Finds at the Radat item shop. Just give all your Sound Settings to him, if you wish to change them.

75 – Tomo – Sometime before the events with Luca Blight attacking, Tsai will come by and ask you to bring him to his house at Ryube. Bring Tsai there, and you will see Tomo. She will join you.

Tomo has a unite attack with Tsai which does 2x damage to the front row. Her stats are similar to Tsai’s, except she’s probably a bit faster.

76 – Simone – You need to check the Rare Finds at Banner Village Item Shop often. You are looking for a Rose Brooch. Buy it once you see it. If you have the Rose Brooch and enough recruits, you should see Simone near the docks at Radat. Check the left side of the docks to the south and he should be there, where you entered to look for the Shu coin.

Not that great in battle though. Mediocre attack and defense, with a high technique. Can be used in the back row at least, and is a serviceable magician. Nothing great though.

77 – Sasuke – You can recruit Sasuke and Mondo early if you chose Kasumi. Otherwise you have to wait until your castle is the biggest it gets (something like 95-100 recruits). Anyway, if you chose Kasumi, just put her in your party and head towards Gregminster along that path. After you climb the ladders at the mountain, continue along the path, hugging the south part of the trees. You will eventually go through the trees to the Ninja Village of Rokkaku. Within, Hanzo will have Mondo and Sasuke join your army.

Not a fan really. A long range attacker, but a weak one. The speed and technique ensure he’ll at least connect, but the lack of power usually means he doesn’t get use from me.

78 – Mondo – The other ninja that joins after you visit Hanzo at Rokkaku. Again, you can get him much earlier if you recruited Kasumi instead of Valeria.

Mondo is a ninja that makes his way on the front lines. He’s not the strongest, not the fastest, but overall he provides a little of everything. Well, besides magic.

79 – Lorelai – Lorelai is at Gregminster. I think you need 60 or more recruits to get Lorelai to join.

She’s an interesting character though. Decent attack and defense, but a high technique and great with magic. She can even equip a Blue Gate Rune on her head. Not an elite magician but one of the few really physically gifted magicians.

80 – Gordon – The trade shop guy at Gregminster. You probably saw him as you were buying a Celadon Urn for Lebrante. Anyway, you need to have a 50,000 potch profit from trading to get Gordon to join. And yes, the profit can be made before starting the bet up with Gordon at Gregminster. Buying cheap Ancient Texts at Gregminster or Kobold Village is a good way to make trading money. Or Crystal Balls at Forest Village and sell them at Kobold Village.

81 – Sigfried – The unicorn you met during the Hix and Tengaar quest. If you return to that big tree in the forest with Listening Crystals and a maiden (female), Sigfried will come out. Accept what he says and he will join you.

Takes up two slots like the other monsters, but doesn’t seem to be quite as powerful overall as Feather. Does have the White Saint Rune which does decent damage to a number of enemies.

82 – Hoi – One of the many characters who appear after the Luca Blight night raid. Hoi is at Radat City, at the bar. So go to the bar to see him impersonating Riou, acting like he was the one who took out Luca Blight. Bail him out and take his side – afterwards, you’ll get beat up, but Hoi will join you.

Hoi has a unite attack with the Hero, but it’s not that great. You shouldn’t use him anyway. He is weak, and even his high points (speed / technique) are not that great. You can do better..

83 – Karen – Another character that springs up after Jowy takes over. You find Karen in Kuskus Village, she is a dancer. This is more complicated than Suikoden I with Mina, where you just put on a pair of Toe Shoes. With Karen, you actually have to do button-combo dancing. Not that hard, but if you’re having trouble you can write the sequences down quick.

Karen is a subpar character as well. She is weak physically, but at least is medium-ranged so she can be in the back row. She cannot really deal much for damage though, even as a magician she is average at best.

84 – Max – After defeating Luca, check out South Window to see Max. Just as you enter, he will find you. Of course let him join.

Max cannot be used in normal battles, but is a War Battle unit leader. He is not quite as formidable as he was in Suikoden I when he was the best attacking general, in fact his unit is quite poor. I think his base stats are +6 attack +7 defense, along with Cavalry. If anything, just be conscious of not losing his unit in battle so as to screw up the 108 Stars of Destiny.

85 – Annallee – A quiet songstress. You find her at the South Window Inn after Luca goes down. She will get kicked out of the Inn, and then leave. Follow her to the northeast part of South Window, but the imperial palace. Look east as you walk up to the palace, to see Annallee on the grass. Speak with her and keep asking her to sing. She will then join. Note that in order to get her other two musician friends, you have to recruit Annallee first. Another strange thing is that when she ’sings’ for you…you don’t hear anything. Hmm.

Can’t be used in battle. Talk to her at your HQ and she will perform music from the game.

86 – Killey – A strange man, in search of Syndar things. You find him at South Window. After talking to him, mention Alex at your HQ who knows about the Syndar. Killey will say ‘oh yea, that’s right’, and then go off. Return to your HQ, by the Inn / Item Shop. Killey will confront Alex about the Syndar, but Alex doesn’t have much to say. After this event, go back to South Window and talk to Killey. Just keep asking him to join and he will.

Not as good as you would think. He does attack twice like the Hero, so his low attack-power is salvaged in this way. However he is quite average, though he’s maybe a tad faster / tougher defensively than most. Still, you come away expecting more.

87 – Bob – You surely have seen Bob plenty of times at the Two River Kobold Section. He talks about how awesome he is, but you can tell when you are getting closer to recruiting him. You need something like 75-80 recruits, so you should be able to recruit Bob sometime after the Luca Blight battle.

Yet another character who seems weaker than he should be. He is decent in human form, but decent doesn’t really cut it at this point in the game. Using the Rabid Fang Rune is nice since it turns him into a powerful Werewolf, but it does take a turn to use. Even then, he’s not that great. Fortunately he is a medium-ranged character, so if you are going to use him he won’t get carved up on the front line.

88 – Koyu – Little Lampdragon Bandit that comes to HQ after the Jowston Hilltop scene with Jowy / Pilika / Riou. You find him at the entrance to your castle as he joins automatically.

A fast little bugger. Comes with a Gale Rune. Too weak to be using in battle though.

89 – L.C. Chan – As you get past Tigermouth Village, travel west to Crom. Then return to your HQ and put Wakaba in your party. Return to Crom, and go to the Inn. Before you can enter, LC Chan runs out.

Pretty much an upgraded version of Wakaba. A bit more of a brute, but the same fast / high technique type. Not elite power, but lots of HP too.

90 – Raura – Find her at Tinto, up the first few sets of stairs and just to the east of Gustav’s dwelling. Just ask her to join and once she hears you know Jeane, she will join.

Not much point to Raura, besides the lovely scrolls she creates.

91 – Tenkou – Tenkou is at Crom. To recruit Tenkou, we need a Window Setting. The problem is, chances are, you don’t have a Window Setting when you first get to Crom. Unless you were lucky and got a dropped Window Setting 1 from a Tiger. The first Window Setting you should come across is Window Setting 5 in the cave on the way to Tinto.

Once recruited, you can find Tenkou by Connell on the second floor southern exterior, changing your window settings.

92 – Kahn – I’m a big fan. Not that I think he’s overly powerful, just a good, functional character with a cool gimmick. You first get Kahn early on at North Window when you first see Neclord. Naturally, as you run into Neclord again later at Tinto, Kahn comes along. To be precise, you find Kahn after everyone retreats to Crom. Kahn joins automatically and brings you to Sierra.

Kahn is a versatile character. A good enough attack for the back row, and he’s blessed with a lot of HP. But his Resurrection Rune is nice, especially early with Abomination. Probably will want to give him another rune in addition if you use him going through the Tinto Mines to defeat Neclord.

93 – Sierra – Another personal favorite, she joins at Tigermouth Village after Kahn suggests checking the place out. As you enter, villagers will be harassing her. Eventually, you fight her to prove you are strong enough to defeat Neclord. Her magic is strong, but stay healed – she does not have much MP, so spam your best magic attacks.

Sierra can be put in your party right after joining. I suggest doing so. Her Darkness Rune provides quality attack spells level 2-4, and she gets a lot of them. Her drawback is that she is forced to be in the front row. Her attack is serviceable, but her defense is weak. I like to give her a Blue Ribbon so she doesn’t get targetted with physical attacks.

94 – Lo Wen – Save her from Neclord at Tinto. She joins afterwards.

One of the brute-type long range attackers. Nothing really special to say about her – she lacks the magic power to make any kind of difference. She is a +2 attack in War Battles.

95 – Gijimu – Joins after the Neclord events.

Powerful Lampdragon Bandit. Gijimu is one of the more powerful medium ranged characters available. Plus he attacks twice. Of course he’s not worth a damn with magic, but at least his strength makes him relevant.Gijimu is also a +2 attack in War Battles, utilize him.

96 – Marlowe – Joins after the Neclord events. His role is minimal – he gets your bed ready when you get to Tinto, that’s about it.

97 – Hauser – Joins after the Neclord events.

Overall, a powerful front line fighter. He can’t use magic much, but in terms of skill, defensive ability, hp, and attack, he is one of the more well-rounded characters available to you. It’s just too bad he joins so late. Hauser is also in control of his own War Battle unit, 9 strength 7 defense.

98 – Jess – Be sure to forgive Jess after the Neclord events. Jess will then join if you choose to ‘fight with him’.

Everyone’s favorite ass in Suikoden II. He’s worth having if for no other reason than his +2 attack and evade ability in War Battles.

99 – Georg Prime – If you have all the recruits by the time you finish the Tinto / Neclord events, you should be able to recruit Georg on the walk back to the castle. Through the Tigermouth Village path and stick to the lower path as you go east. You will reach a cliff, an area that was empty before, but Georg Prime is there now. To recruit Georg Prime, just talk to him and tell him you won’t give up.

Georg is the first crazy good end-game character you run across. His strength and defense are astounding – rivaled only by Viktor, Pesmerga, and animal-types that don’t wield weapons. Great technique and speed even – just don’t bother with magic. But who cares? Stick this guy on the front lines if you want one of the very best. If that is not enough, he has the best base attack out of any War Battle leader (11 attack 8 defense with critical ability). Sets him up well for that one game, oh yea, the Suikoden V Walkthrough.

100 – Gantetsu – Gantetsu – A great priest! He is available as soon as you get back from Neclord’s Quest – not sure if it’s completing that, or just the amount of recruits you get that triggers Gantetsu’s recruit speech. He is always at South Window. When you are ready to recruit him, you’ll be able to get in a ‘pushing’ contest with him, which basically gauges your group’s attack power. If you fail just bring in Gadget, Shiro, and other high attack characters.

This guy has potential, too bad you get him so late. There are better options at this point, but Gantetsu is a statistical rarity. He actually has a good defense for a magician. Which helps, since he has to be in the front row. That said, as a magician, he is more of a C+ / B- type, so there is only so much value with this guy.

101 – Pico – You must liberate Greenhill. And you must have Annallee in your party – the shy songstress you met at South Window Inn. If all of these conditions are met, go to the Greenhill Inn. Look west to find Pico. He joins.

102 – Alberto – The third musician. He is at Tinto, but you cannot recruit him when you first get there. You first need to liberate Greenhill, and then recruit Pico at Greenhill. Once you have Annallee and Pico, go to the Armor Shop at Tinto and recruit Alberto. Like Pico, he doesn’t really serve much purpose once recruited.

103 – Jude – Another character to recruit after liberating Greenhill. Go to the Blacksmith area of the Greenhill School – first of all, the blacksmith there should give you the Silver Hammer which you need, and then talk to the guy in the northeast part of the room – this is Jude. He seems to be missing something – Clay. Hmm, well Forest Village is close to here, so use the Blinking Mirror and then have Viki teleport you there. At Forest Village, go to the north part of town by the forest where you saw the Fake Elza. Then look for a path east and southeast to talk to a man – this guy knows where the Clay is. Return to Jude, give him the clay, and Jude is recruited.

The only purpose Jude serves is to create the Guardian Deity with the Rabbit / Turtle / Dragon / Unicorn Plans.

104 – Tessai – The blacksmith you hear about in Kuskus. Eventually, after Tinto, he returns to Kuskus. Bring Viktor to him, and he will join in amazement at the opportunity to work on the Star Dragon Sword. Tessai acts as your Castle Blacksmith, and as you bring him better hammers he can level up your weapons to higher levels.

For what it’s worth, you’re only going to need two Hammers. The Silver Hammer (to level 15) from the Blacksmith student at Greenhill, and the Golden Hammer (up to max level 16) which can be found in Sajah, a highland village. It randomly shops up in the Sajay Item Shop Rare Finds.

105 – Genshu – Odd fellow in his own little world over at the Coronet Port, surely he has caught your eye at some point. You need to have Tessai and that Silver Hammer to get Hero’s weapon at Level 15. When you have a level 15 weapon, you can then go recruit Genshu.

Genshu is a lot like Shin, meaning he’s not as good as you would think he is. Maybe a tad above average statistically, and while he’s vulnerable defensively he seems to at least be more resilient than Shin.They have an interesting but hardly efficient Unite Attack – 0.5 damage to all enemies plus 20% chance of Instant Death. Could be useful against a pack of 5-6 highland soldiers, I suppose.

106 – Vincent De Boule – Only available after you have about 100+ recruits, and you must have Simone earlier. Vincent is at the same location that you found Simone at – the eastern part of Radat, by the docks. Take the first south path to see him, but you must have Simone in your party. You can then recruit Vincent De Boule.

You couldn’t use Vincent De Boule in battle in Suikoden I, but you can in this one. He is much like Simone, physically weak but with some magical power. And he has a Unite with Simone, but I can’t imagine anyone seriously using both of them in battle lest it be experimentation.

107 – Mazus – The elite wizard of Suikoden II. Much like his counterpart, Suikoden I Wizard Crowley. You will need over 100 characters recruited and the castle to be at it’s full size – you can see Mazus earlier, but he won’t join until then. To find him, go through that Tinto Mine Cave again. Bring an Escapipe for this adventure, because you have to go nearly all the way to the end. Remember those gray slides in the last room before the Rock Golem? Take the east slide a few times to get to that central area in the room, and then go south and west to see a slide and Mazus. The slide up prevents you from going there easily, but just go slide south and work your way west and north to recruit Mazus.

This guy and Luc have to be considered the elite magicians in the game. Mazus might even be better than Luc, as he is permanently affixed with a Blue Gate Rune (which Luc already has) and a valuable Thunder Rune. Pair those two with a Wizard Rune and watch Mazus becomes the ultimate magician, able to tear through many enemies with Level 2 and Level 3 Blue Gate Rune Magic, and having multiple high level Thunder Rune spells to use. Oh, not to mention he has his own sweet War Battle unit. +9 attack +6 defense with Fire Magic attacks.

108 – Pesmerga – Why not save Pesmerga for last? Any of the above 5-6 characters can be recruited in any order after taking Greenhill (and ultimately the ‘fake’ battle at Muse since that’s immediately after). Anyway, we all know from Suikoden I that Pesmerga is looking for Yuber. For some reason though, he is at the top of the Cave of Wind. You don’t need anything special besides having your castle at the max size and 100+ recruits.

Pesmerga is just ridiculous. In regular battles and war battles. His attack is extremely high, plus he has a Rage Rune embedded on his weapon. Defensively he’s covered since he is permanently equipped with a Horned Helmet, Guard Ring, Chaos Shield and Knight Armor. Oh, in war battles he has a +3 attack +0 defense and Cavalry ability. You get him late, but you can still make use of this guy.

Thus concludes the Suikoden II 108 Stars of Destiny Walkthrough. For help finding a character, use CTRL F. Characters are listed in order of when they are able to be recruited. If you have further questions about characters or a comment, feel free to do so below.

Further Reading:

• Suikoden II 2 Walkthrough Radat Shu Kuskus
• Suikoden II Kyaro Muse Jowy Riou
• How to recruit 108 Stars of Destiny in Suikoden V 5
• Suikoden I 1 PS1 108 Stars of Destiny Walkthrough Guide
• Suikoden III Chapter 4; Flame Champion True Rune

North Window HQ

Now that Tinto is on your side go back and you’ll see Sheena by the elevator. Go to Shu and he’ll suggest taking Greenhill back to the city state side. Rest up in your room and at night go down the stairs and talk to Chaco. You can talk to the circus people downstairs too if you wish. Return to your room and an assassin, Lucia, will attack you. She can be defeated, but your friends will rush in before too long.

Back at headquarters you’ll have to deploy against Greenhill and put an army near Muse to stop the highlanders from helping. Riou can join either one or he can watch. You should have the idea with wars by now. The Yuber battle (taking Greenhill) is a bit more difficult and takes longer while the other one is quite simple.

Greenhill

After you win either battle you’ll end up here. Continue to go north up the trail and stick to the right to grab the Cape of Darkness and the Dream Robe. Go west all the way for a Stone of Skill and then the middle path to continue. Push past the highlanders that come past. You’ll be at a familiar area now, when you escaped Greenhill. Soon you’ll see Lucia and a bunch of Karayan. Assuming you brought most of your best characters, this shouldn’t be a problem. You have to fight another boss but you can rest beforehand so dump everything on Lucia. 33,000 Potch and another precious Blue Gate Rune are acquired from her.

Do hurry along as Teresa suggests. As you path through the school you can rest with the girl on your right and save with the guy on your left. Two more highlander fights and then you’ll see Yuber. Great. He summons Bone Dragon. This is not an easy fight. Your lightning Runes are worthless here, your fire runes almost are. But, your Resurrection Runes are great. Kahn will do about 1250 per Charm Arrow. Careful though as Bone Dragon has spells that absolutely maul your party. Luckily he goes once per turn. Still, 9,000 HP takes a while to kill. You get 100,000 potch!

North Window Headquarters and Muse

Apple will want to attack Muse right away, after hearing that Gorudo and Matilda surrendered to Highland. You’ll end up in Greenhill and will be running around with Nanami, you’ll see Lucia as soon as you leave the dorm. Follow her north and through the forest to Jowy. After some talking you’ll have to run back to Apple and then start the war.

Just go ahead and slaughter the Karayans. Once Lucia is gone the war is over and you can go in Muse. Choose a party that can handle a boss, and go in the city council building. You’ll have to fight a Golden Wolf. Leave and Luc will say it is the Beast Rune. The highlanders then tried to surround you but you get away and are to rest. Before that, some recruits.

Greenhill City

Since you’ve recruited Annallee in South Window, go talk to Pico in the Inn. He’ll join you once you tell him about Annallee. Go to Jude at the blacksmith part of the academy, and he’ll need some Clay. Teleport to the Forest Village and go to the northeast part (where the fake Elza was) and you’ll see a green robed guy who can get you some Clay. Bring this back to Jude and he is recruited.

Teleport to Tinto and you can recruit Alberto at the Armor Shop. Put Viktor in your party and go to the blacksmith in Kuskus, and you can recruit Tessai. Make your way through Banner Village and eventually to Toran. Lorelai will definitely join you at this point, and then try to recruit Gordon. You’ll need to do all sorts of trading (50,000 potch worth of profits). First of all, buy all the Ancient Texts he has and sell them off at the Forest Village. Do the same for Kobold Village Ancient Texts that you find, bring them to Forest Village. This should do the bulk of it. Otherwise, get Wide Urns from Forest Village / Kobold Village and sell them off at Crom. Or get Crystal Balls from Forest Village / Crom and sell them at the Kobold Village. Basically, you only have a few trading places open to you right now so figure out what is expensive / cheap where (or read above) and you’ll make 50,000 in no time. Go back to Gordon to recruit him.

On your way back, you should have enough characters to recruit Mondo and Sasuke from Rokkaku, even if you didn’t pick Kasumi. If you picked her you could have gotten them much earlier.

In Radat, bring Simone along and go to where you found him (her?). Vincent De Boule is there and he is recruited automatically thank god.

Check the top of the Cave of Wind again and you’ll find Pesmurga, who is still looking for Yuber. He joins you in this hunt.

Go to the Greenhill Academy blacksmith, near where you got Judo. Get the Silver Hammer from the student and give it to Tessai at your base. Now, sharpen Riou’s weapon to level 15 and then sale from your North Window HQ to Coronet. Recruit Genshu now that you have a level 15 weapon.

Last but certainly not least, go to the Tinto Mines and travel through to Mazus. He should be your last recruit, the top magician. That should be all 108 Stars of Destiny for Suikoden II.

North Windows Headquarters

Go to Shu’s room and he’ll be talking with Kiba. After this, talk to Shu yourself and assemble in the meeting room. If you got all 108 Stars, Leknaat will come and break the level 4 seal on the Bright Shield Rune. Now it is time for war.

Kiba takes a small attachment to the Mercenery Fortress so see him out and then prepare yourself. You have powerful new characters so utilize them in these wars. Gorudo and Matilda are separated from Jowy and the others. Culgan will ambush you after a few turns. Continue to hang in there and use your runes if you need to heal. After a few more turns you have reinforcements of your own that show up and cause the enemy to flee. The reinforcements are.. Barbara, Leona, Alex and Hilda.

You’ll be back at Greenhill, resting. Choose your party and then say that you’re ready to go. As you split up you hear that Kiba and Leon were mortally hurt.

Rockaxe

You are in Rockaxe now and the enemy is going the other way. Enter this secret entryway. There are tough enemies around here, just to warn you. Go west for a Stone of Speed and then up the stairs. East for an Escape Talisman and west to continue up. When you get to a door, go up for a Stone of Defense and Crimson Cape. Back down and down the ladder, and then north through the door and north through another door and up a ladder.

Go east when you can and then north and east again. Grab the Earth Shield, and then go back west and down the ladder. Take the south route for Power Gloves and then back north and then east. You’ll go through a few doors and will be outside.

Go in through the main gates, and then enter the room that is north and then west a little. Kill the Matilda Knights for a Mega Medicine and the room over has a Gold Necklace. North of this is a Flame Helmet. Return south of the two rooms and then go west and north for a Matilda Knight battle, leading to the stairs.

Go right on the second floor and then south to fight some Matilda Knights. Enter this room for Dragon Plans 4 and Unicorn Plans 4. Go up the stairs and save, hopefully making two saves because coming up is a very very important part.

Out on the balcony you’ll be fighting more Matilda Knights, continue left and then you’ll be at another stairway where your party will split up. Only Riou and Nanami will go to burn the flags. As you do this, you see Jowy. They talk for a while, and then Gorudo sneaks up on them with archers. Nanami fights them off but she gets hit eventually. If you hit one of the options for Riou within half a second, Nanami will get hit still but will be alive later with the best ending. If you didn’t know whether you got that off in time, then that’s why you should make separate saves. Either way it’s Jowy and Riou against Gorudo and five matilda knights. An easy, easy battle. Use Jowy’s level 4 Black Sword Rune spell, its a nice one, that Hungry Friend. You get 125,000 Potch and Knight Armor for this battle. Gorudo dies after this battle. Nanami passes out also. Shu comes along and dispatches someone else to burn the flag. The highland flag is burnt and replaced with a state flag.

It seems Huan can’t save Nanami. He does ask to speak with Shu about the matter in private (this is if you succeed in saving her). After this you wake up in your bed. Go to Shu and proclaim that it is time to attack highland at L’Renouille. As you leave Riou will pass out and Freed Y will see him. Jowy passes out during a ceremony of his own.

At night when you gain control, go to the third floor to see Apple and Shu talk. Go back to your room and rest. Another gathering in the meeting room and your army will be marching out in full force to L Renouille.

L’Renouille War Battle

Your party splits up and Viktor is the protector of Shu it seems. Now it is a battle with Shu and Viktor’s unit against Seed, Culgan and Leon. They rush Shu, but he burns the forest that he is sitting in. He has highland flanked now. Apple thinks Shu is dead, but Shu and Viktor turn up.

You can rest with Hilda and save. Re-arrange your units if you want and then it’s time to take L Renouille. The computer just rests on it’s laurels here so move your units as close as you’d like, picking away with your high-attack magician units.

As you get near L Renouille, Yuber will flee since he doesn’t really care what happens. Luc and Mazus can just pick off the Karayan’s and weak highland units. Once you open up a path, all you have to do is move any unit inside L’Renouille. You can continue to kill the enemy generals but it’s a waste of your time, really. After the war is over, choose your party and you can go inside. Pick Clive as one of your members (as long as you are under 20 hours). and bring him to Muse City. Elza is at the Jowston Hilltop. Storm still won’t shoot for Clive. Teleport to L Renouille and then travel northwest of there to Sajah Village. One more showdown with Clive and Elza. Elza gives Clive the choice of guild trust (Stern / Star) or guild betrayal (Mond / Moon). He chooses trust in the guild, and he kills Elza. After all of this, he gets sad and wishes he didn’t kill her. If you did this sidequest and recruited all 108 Characters of Destiny then good for you, it’s probably the hardest Suikoden sidequest you can do. Most importantly you don’t have to race everywhere you go or be 100% efficient with your time.

Before L’Renouille

If you go back to Muse, you can get some things. For example, a Silver Armor from the armor shop clerk, the Old Book Vol. 12 from an inn habitant, and a Flowing Rune from the rune shop resident.

The Crom village elder has a Sunbeam Crystal. In Tinto you can get the Dragon and Unicorn Plans #3 in the southeast section of town. Gustav has a Mother Earth Rune, and then he and Lilly say untranslated things to you.

In Rokkaku you can get Sound Setting #6 and a Piglet in the Trade Center. There is a guy with a Blinking Crystal outside Hanzo’s hamlet.

Gregminster has a Copper Hammer and Old Book Vol 7 in the first castle area.

L’Renouille

Rest and save and enter L’Renouille. I generally take Flik, Viktor, Mazus, Luc and Rina along with here. That’s entirely up to you and that party just listed makes it a little too easy.

Enter and you will fight a battle against Lucia by herself, and she spams fire rune on you (3 attacks per round). 50,000 potch is your reward. Lucia will try to kill Teresa, but Teresa’s trust in Lucia makes Lucia not do this and Lucia stands down.

If you take the left path and then up, you’ll reach a side route that leads to a Fury Crystal. Grab this and return back to the original area and go to the right side and do this and there will be a Bolt of Wrath and a Robe of Mist. Go north after either of these side paths. Expect highlanders around these parts, but you’re fighting them in random battles anyways.

You’ll eventually circle around and meet up with Han, Genkaku’s old buddy. This is your last duel, and with a powered up Riou it tends to be an easy one. Continue your way north a bit and then wrap around south for a while.

The west path is blocked here. Take the east path and if you go north eventually you’ll get to some stairs and a floor with green tiles which lead to a storage room north that has a Stone of Power and Stone of Defense. If you take a left at this T split you’ll get some more highlanders and then a larger room with the Champion’s Crystal and Wind Amulet.

Back at that fourway after Han, go south a screen.

Continue south until you get to some highlanders and then work your way west and north, further in LRenouille. There are only a few doors around here that are open so it’s more linear than you’d think. You have to keep going north until you see stairs.

When you get to the green tile and lighter colored walls, work your way inside. There are a lot of deadend rooms but eventually to the southwest is an exit to the outside. More locked doors so just continue the way that you can and fight the highlanders. You’ll get to an area with some open doors,one leading to a save crystal. The other is an Escape Talisman, and then if you continue that way and then south through another courtyard type area, you’ll get a Goldlet. North from here now and then it wraps around south, so grab the Window Set #7. If you go south when you get the chance as you go west, you’ll go to the sacrifice area. Nothing is here so go north for a save crystal that heals you.

Seed and Culgan greet you here. This is a tough boss battle. They each have around 4000 HP so gang up on one until that one is gone. Expend all of your spells, there is the healing save crystal behind you. Forgiver Sign, Thor Shot, Thunder Storm, Shining Wind, and more rune spells like that. Seed can use the Water Rune spell to stop magic for a few turns so prepare to attack and heal with items if that’s the case.

You’ll see a scene with Pilika, Jillia and Jowy Blight. It’s not too late to run back and Save.

Beast Rune – Leon Silverburg

If you continue past the save point you’ll reach Leon Silverburg. He cuts himself on the Beast Rune, provoking it. This is your last battle.

Good luck. You’ll want to work on the legs first. The Beast Rune will attack several times per round, likely three. It’ll use a weirdThe right leg can revive and the left can use status ailments on you. Because of this, they should be your first targets.

Lightning Magic is pretty poor against this enemy. Blue Gate Rune might be your best bet. If you have Mazus and Luc you can use the third level Blue Gate spell to do massive damage. You’ll need a few characters with healing ready, hopefully with a Flowing Rune and Bright Shield Rune. With the Blue Gate Rune strategy, the heads and rune should die at about the same time while your physical attackers were spending time on Beast Rune legs.

After the battle you gain several levels, to the mid-60’s, 200,000 potch and then it’s over. Go to the throne room, but it’ll be empty and you are forced to flee as L’Renouille is about to be destroyed.

North Window HQ

What ending you get depends on what you do here. You can go to the main hall and accept your leadership position, or you can turn it down. Remember Jowy saying to go back to the pass where you two left your mark on the stone? Teleport to Kyaro Town and walk northwest to Tenzan Pass. You’ll recognize this place. Just head west, and you’ll see where the old unicorn brigade camp was. Then you’ll see Jowy by the spot you two promised to meet.

Choose the second option when you’re given one. A duel ensues. You can defeat him if you want or just defend for three turns and Jowy will talk some more, choose the first answer. Another duel, just keep defending. If you continue to defend and then say you won’t take the rune from him, eventually he falls down and is about to die.

Leknaat teleports in and heals him with the power of the rune. Jowy and Riou decide to go on a journey and start over. As they leave, Shu comes by. He’s sad Riou is leaving but understands, and lets him know the truth about the Nanami incident (assuming you saved her!). Jowy and Riou then go off to Kyaro and see Nanami at Genkaku’s house. The three then go on a journey, stopping by to see Jillia Blight and Pilika in Harmonia. This is the toughest but probably most rewarding ending.

You then see the fate of the 108 Stars of Destiny and then the Suikoden II 2 Credits.

Further Reading:

• Suikoden II 2 Walkthrough Radat Shu Kuskus
• Suikoden II Kyaro Muse Jowy Riou
• Suikoden II 2 recruiting 108 Stars of Destiny list
• Suikoden II 2 Matilda Tinto Neclord Walkthrough

Matilda

Bring Clive along with since his next stop is Matilda. You must get here under 14 hours, a pretty easy task. Since I haven’t recruited Sid or Gabocha, I brought Chaco and Gengen along respectively to recruit them. Along your way to Two Rivers, stop in the sewers and go through that path that leads west and into a room where somebody sleeps. You’ve seen this before but were scared off, if you have Chaco with you’ll recruit Sid here.

In the Kobold Village, go in the first east hut with Gengen and you will recruit Gabocha. Out of the Kobold district and northeast to see Meg and Gadget being blocked by highlanders. Choose the first option a few times to recruit them, and then go to the north checkpoint.

Matilda – Greenhill Border

Go north past the guards and ‘talk’ to Badeaux. Can’t recruit him yet so go east and north for a Guard Ring and then continue on north. Watch out for the Do Re Mi Elves around here. After a few screens north you’ll see a hidden path with a treasure, with is a Mega Medicine. Take the upper right path when you get a choice for a Dragon Armor, saving the southeast path for after that. This leads to Viki, and if you ask her to come with she’ll teleport you to your North Window Castle. If you choose not to go with her, just skip two paragraphs ahead.

Now that you have Viki it will be more convenient for you to get recruits.

Teleport to Radat and try to outrace Stallion. You’ve probably ran from enough enemies at this point to beat him. If you are doing the Clive / Elza sidequest, he can be a huge benefit for you.

Back to the Forest Path after you found the Dragon Armor and Viki, you’ll be near the exit. As you pass the Matilda guards, Miklotov of the Blue Knights is here to greet you. He escorts you to the castle of Rockaxe.

Rockaxe

Go north and talk to Gorudo. He treats you like a nobody. You can choose to take it or yell back at him. Choose to rest and at night Leknaat will visit Riou. The next day, Miklotov will be in a rush to Gorudo. He’ll tell of highlanders near Matilda border, pursuing Muse refugees. You can join this battle but you might as well just watch the slaughtering as Gorudo does nothing.

After you will see a furious Miklotov, and then Camus asks you to follow him to Muse to protect him. Go south through town and you’ll see Miklotov leaving.

First though, some important matters. Head to the Inn with Clive and he’ll learn that Elza is in Radat Town now. Since it hasn’t been taken over by highland yet, you might as well run there with Stallion to reduce time, and she’ll be there for a shootoff with Clive. Clive’s gun Storm fails and he gets shot. You appear back at HQ with Huan looking over Clive. He’s okay thankfully, but you can’t continue this story until you re-take the city of Muse.

You can go to Muse now (if so, skip down to Muse below) or get some recruits. If you want recruits, keep reading.

Highway Village

Southeast of Rockaxe is the Highway Village. Go inside the inn and Futch will run past you. Go north and talk to Humphrey. More scenes follow. After this talk with Humphrey he pays for your Inn stay. As you leave you’ll see Kent run off to Rakutei Mountain, so go talk to Humphrey and say to go. Stay another night at the Inn and the next day you hear Kent didn’t return. Take out two members and Humphrey and Futch will join as you are to go to Mt. Rakutei.

Mt. Rakutei

Go north and the Bright Shield Rune clears the fog. North for a few screens and then west for a Fur Cape. Back to the far east for a Thunder Runner and north to exit. Another east / west split, so go east for a Thunder Amulet, and then back west a few screens to the split and northwest to exit. Yet another split, so grab the Stone of Power to the west and east to exit.

A bigger, more open area now. Take the north path and then directly east for 2000 Potch. Go north and west first for the Dragon Plans 2. Go south from here until you reach a wall and then go east and southeast to get the Unicorn Plans 2. Now work your way to a northeastern path for a Medicine Crystal. Before you go further northeast towards the boss, go back south from the Medicine Crystal and then east for a Skill Ring. Now go northeast towards the boss. Also there is a chance the Hawkman in the area drop the Turtle Plans 3. As you go north veer off to the west when you can, so that you can save quick.

The boss is a Harpy. It has around 7500 hit points. Hopefully you saved most of your best rune spells. It will attack twice, mostly with physical attacks that make you unbalanced. Most generally have Nanami with Riou, so that leaves two open slots. Good magicians like Luc and Rina can just cast high level Lightning Spells until this thing is dead, while the front row characters absorb the punishment. Not a tough battle, but a long, grueling one. Enjoy the 40,000 Potch. A screen north and you see the dragon Bright find a new master, Futch.

Muse

Bring Miklotov here now. Some strange things are going on around Muse. You see visions of the Beast Rune. Jowy seems indifferent towards Luca’s perverse ways. The Muse people are going sacrificed at the hands of Luca so as to provoke the Beast Rune. Go northwest when you get in Muse to go to the Jowston Hilltop. You’ll be stopped by highlanders and a muse citizen will tell you of the sacrifices. Fight a highland soldier battle and then retreat back to Matilda.

Gorudo won’t go along with Miklotov’s feelings. Miklotov and Camus then abandon Gorudo and Matilda and join the Conewalk army. So do their soldiers. Camus stays behind and brings a ton of matilda friends with. Shu is here also. You appear at your North Windows Headquarters.

North Window Headquarters

Back at HQ you are told go get some rest. Go to your room and Pilika is there.

At nighttime Luca is plotting with Jowy, and Jowy brings along Leon Silverburg. The next morning in the meeting room you learn Kiba took Radat (this is why you brought Clive here before that). Viktor wants to check it out, so put Stallion in your party and teleport to Radat. Agree to go in and then you’ll have a scene with Klaus if you’re patient enough. Run back to headquarters.

Save and go tell Shu it’s time for war. This is your first true battle so hopefully you’ve aligned your units usefully. I generally have Luc with the best attack bonus characters and have him dominate. For this particular battle though, Ridley will be upset that the kobolds are on the front line. After about three turns his troops will flee and Rowd will be more aggressive. As long as you didn’t spread yourself too thin after Ridley leaves, you should be able to survive this. A few turns and your City State army flees, defeated because of Ridley fleeing.

Back to your room to rest after a talk with Shu. Meanwhile, you’ll see Agares Blight for the first and last time in Suikoden II. He is poisoned, as Jowy goes along with it and poisons himself to make the plan work. Luca tries to reason to Jillia about killing Agares but she has none of it.

Shilo wakes you up the next day, and at the meeting area it’ll be time for battle against Kiba again. They’ll be charging you, as they expect an ambush but just plan on pushing through it anyway. Rowd stays back and continues to stay back in this battle. Your ambush parties are sprung rather early, but just start doing damage when they come out.

The highland army will continue to push and it’ll look as though you’re in trouble. Ridley and his kobolds will appear behind Kiba and will allow you to have them covered on both sides. It’ll be easy to destroy Kiba’s sidekicks but his unit has a 16 defense. He takes three hits to defeat. Jeane’s Lighting Rune can do one pretty easily, and then Ridley and Luc could probably do some damage too. Leon comes in after Kiba wonders about Rowd and the Fourth Company, and Leon tells Rowd to flee! Kiba is abandoned by Luca and you capture him and Klaus.

After the battle make sure you choose the second option three times. After the third time, a city state soldier runs in to hand off a letter. Seems that Agares has been murdered by Luca, according to Klaus. They now know it’s time to join you. Kiba and Klaus are great war additions.

Attempt to leave the North Window HQ and you’ll bump into Sheena. Go back to the meeting room and you’ll be talking for a while, and Sheena comes in and talks about how his dad Lepant is the king of the Toran Republic. It is decided that Sheena and Freed Y will join you along the way.

Banner Village

This is where you must go to get to Toran. Freed Y wants to go to South Window first, so go to the northeast part and he has some memories of Granmeyer. Now go to Radat and talk to the guy in the southeast part of the port and you’ll be on a boat south to Banner Village.

Buy a Rose Brooch if you see one in the rare section of the item shop. Otherwise, rest up and go north. Take the northwest path first for a Mega Medicine and east to exit. Next for you get to, go east for a Full Helmet and south to continue onwards.

You’ll see some ladders as you work your way north. Get the Stone of Luck from the left ladder and go up the right one for two more ladders. Go up the left one for yet two more. Go up the center one for a Wing Ornament and the left ladder for a Magic Ring. Backtrack now and take the far east ladder for a Poison Crystal and another ladder.

You’re in a new area, where you should work your way east. It is a pretty straightforward route from the ladder until you reach a Save Point. Take the top path for a Silver Shield, the bottom for a Silverlet and the middle path to continue on.

You will see the boss Worm ahead. It is rather tough depending on who you have with. High level spells are a quick way to whittle Worm’s 4500 or so HP down. 35,000 Potch is your reward.

Gregminster

Further north and east until you reach one of my favorite Suikoden I characters, Varkas. He is the border patrol and he brings you into Gregminster. You are to meet in the waiting room, the same waiting room that Teo and Tir McDohl waited in long ago. The maid will come get you soon.

The talk with Lepant is kind of funny. Your first choice is “Forging an State with you..”. Choose that of course. You now have an option of taking Valeria or Kasumi. I choose Kasumi because you can recruit the other ninjas faster. Valeria though is a better fighter. Lepant also gives you Sheena, and the most important item on the game, the Blinking Mirror! You can now teleport anywhere with Viki and use the Blinking Mirror to return to her, making character recruitment much faster.

You’ll be back on that path to Banner Village. Re-enter Greminster though as there are things to do. Go to the second floor of the Inn and get the Cyclone Rune from Suikoden I Sara. Lorelai is around town but you cannot recruit her at this point. Buy a Flowing Rune from the rare buy’s at the rune shop. Their defensive gear is also pretty good. The trading shop probably has a Celadon Urn, and you need one of these to recruit Lebrante in Radat.

As you return from Gregminster and make your way to Banner Village, you’ll be stopped by Ridley and Apple. Highland is on the attack, specifically Luca Blight and the White Wolves. You’ll be back at base and told to go to the strategy room.

North Window Headquarters

Things sound bleak there. Rest and then talk to Nanami, and then go back to your bed. The next day in the meeting room, Ridley has been ambushed. Try your best to get him out of this, it’ll be tough. You need to move one of your units next to him to get him out.

In the meeting room, you’ll be plotting with Shu. Go back to your room to rest and Tsai will run up and ask you to go to his house. Bring him with to Ryube and his daughter Tomo will join at his house. Return back to your room and sleep.

Ridley will be getting bitched at by Luca this night. Leon has a bright, young general that he has enlisted.

The next day, save and talk to Shu to start the war.

Kiba will draw Luca in and you’ll get a shot. Your troops appear, but shortly after Sasarai and Yuber appear as well. Luc will come in to use a powerful wind spell to hurt most of their reinforcements and cause Sasarai to retreat. Do your best to inflict damage on Luca, but it’s tough. If you cause some damage to him he’ll go insane and the battle will end, and if you don’t do any damage you’ll be forced to withdraw.

Ridley will be back thanks to Chaco (or the Rokkaku Ninjas if you have them). He has a note from Leon (if Ridley isn’t around, Leon delivers it by himself). Turns out Luca will have a night raid tonight.

Don’t deploy unless you have several characters (I mean about 15-18) that are ready to deliver a high amount of damage. As many 100 + magic lightning Rune users that you can find. Banner Village is probably the best level up place you can find, up to the high 30’s. For magicians, the obvious are Luc, Viki and Rina. Other lesser knowns but still close to 100 in magic at level 38, are Zamza, Nina, Millie and Flik. The Valeria / Anita combination is pretty good as well. Keep in mind you can still sharpen your weapons to level 11 at Kuskus.

Save and tell Shu it’s time to go.

Choose your parties (Riou is last to fight him, Flik is 1st and Viktor is 2nd).

Luca Blight

The battles with Luca start soon. He is pretty much a monster. His defense and magic defense basically halve all of your attacks. He goes three times per round with devastating moves, whether they are the fire based ones or just a regular attack. Since Luca is bound to cut through your defenses so quickly don’t be afraid to use your top level spells. You only need to do about 2000-3000 damage per party, and then he’ll flee to the next group. If he kills you, it’ll all be up to your later groups to make up for the HP you didn’t take off on Luca. So the better you do earlier the easier for Riou later! Just keep dishing out high level Lightning rune magic and other rune magic, and he’ll eventually go down.

After these three party battles, you’ll follow Luca. Make sure Riou is healed up and has the best armor around for right now. You have to fight two groups of highlanders. As you continue north and see Luca, he opens a card and Pyreflies emerge, revealing Luca’s position to the archers. He is shot down and so are his soldiers. However he manages to muster enough strength to get near enough to duel you, and I guess your other army members are just watching?

Anyway Luca is a monster here as well regardless of the fact that he has about 1/5th of his HP, if that. He’s actually kind of hard to gauge as he sounds crazy with all of his quotes, so I tend to be overly passive against him and we had a few defend – defend exchanges this time around. All you need is one good Wild Attack on him or one of his to fail and he should be gone. If he hits you once though it’s easy to panic and lose the whole damn thing.

After Riou cuts Luca Blight down, Jowy and Leon seem pleased. Afterwards Riou passes out at the North Window HQ. Jowy and Jillia are married meanwhile, as Jowy has played the entire Blight family and they’re now out of power in Highland.

Kuskus

The next day, leave with Nanami out of the castle and she wants to go to Kuskus. Teleport there and go to the port to get Culgan. Bring him back to your castle, the meeting room. He has a formal request from Jowy for peace negotiations, and that they are to be conducted at the Jowston Hilltop. Bring a party and ship over to Coronet and then Muse.

Of course it’s a trap and Jowy has archers on Riou. Viktor busts in and Pilika runs in also. She can talk now, and she stops Jowy from having Riou shot. Run down the hill and leave Muse. Back at home Shu will talk to you and Nanami quick and then you’re on your own.

If you got a Rose Brooch from Banner Village by now, go to the southwest shore of the Radat port to recruit Simone. At the bar is some guy named Hoi impersonating Riou. You’ll get beat up when you stick up for him but he is recruited.

Karen in Kuskus Inn will join you after a short dance routine. You have to memorize 8 buttons basically. Go to South Window now and Max will join you just as you walk in. Go to the Inn and you’ll see Annallee get banished. Now go to the northeast part where the city hall is and you’ll see Annallee on the grass. Listen to her sing and then say you want to listen to her again. She will be recruited. See the red guy by the trade shop? That’s Killey and if you tell him that Alex knows about the Sindar he’ll walk off.

Go back to the Inn / Item Shop at your North Window HQ and Killey will be there. Return back to South Window to recruit Killey.

Go to the Forest Path with Shiro. Talk to Badeaux and this time he’ll hear a voice and will join you. He also gives you two listening crystals.

At the Forest Village go to the second house on the left with a sound set and Connell will join you. Further north is Ayda and Feather. You’ll have to fight three Griffin to save the two of them. An easy battle and they join afterwards. Talk to Wakaba in the south before you leave to get him to join you after you prove you are strong to him.

In Lakewest talk to Hix and Tengaar. This quest is easy to do now. When they leave go south to Kobold Village and then to the chief’s hut. After some talk it’ll be night time and the next day it seems Tengaar has a curse of the unicorn. You have to get a Blue Stone at the South Window Item Shop so go there and do that. Back to the Kobold Village and deliver it, but you need the Red Flower at the Cave of Wind. Return that and then last you need to go to the sewers to get the Green Bell. After this is returned you learn that Tengaar has been kidnapped and is in the Unicorn Woods. Go north to enter and take the west path first, and then hold east. The north path going east is a Necklace and the lower one leads to a big tree. Everyone is here, and then a Unicorn pops out. Hix protects Tengaar against it, and it disappears. Hix and Tengaar join you now.

Talk to Yuzu who is now in town and she needs her sheep. After agreeing to help, go north and get the Mangosh hidden by the tree branch. Catch all three sheep, one may be hiding by the tree also. Tell her to come to your place and you will recruit Yuzu. Return back to the forest and get the lamb on the way back to that single tree. When you get to the tree use a listening crystal, your last one. Sigfried the unicorn appears and you can recruit it if you have a maiden (I had Wakaba).

You can probably recruit Bob in the kobold part of Two Rivers so try to do so. If not you’re getting close so check back soon.

That’s enough recruiting so go to the front of your castle. Koyu is here and you’ll talk here and then in the meeting room.

To Tinto you go, with Koyu and Viktor and Nanami along.

Drakemouth Village

This is a quiet village. Just go to the guard and you’ll get past with Koyu’s help. Go west along the path and then northeast when Koyu tells you to. You’ll get to a west / east fork, so take the west one for the exit and the east for a Master Robe. After some talking with Gijimi you are to go to Tinto to ally with Gustav.

For now go further down the path west and you’ll reach Tigermouth Village. Get out of here and then go west to Crom Village quick, and to the northeast house here. Tenkou is inside and if you have a Window Setting he will join you.

Tinto

Rest up and go up the stairs to the state building. Talk to Raura outside to recruit her and then go in. You’ll meet Gustav personally. After some talking you’ll fight together and then be shown your room. Take a nap and rest. The next morning you’ll see Klaus and Ridley, and then Lilly says the monsters are here.

Sure enough it’s Neclord and his zombies. They’re just here for a quick scare, and then they leave. Jess and Hauser are here and Jess claims Riou killed Anabelle. Those two leave and say they’re going to take care of the zombies themselves. Talk to Gustav some more about your strategy and it’ll be night. Go to bed after the scene with Jess.

Leknaat wakes you up tonight. Now you talk to Nanami. At this point you can ‘quit’ and get an alternate ending. Just choose the first option and the game goes on. The next day Jess and Hauser are going to war with the muse troops. You won’t be able to leave Tinto so go to the northeast part where the mine is.

Go east when you can for a Cape of Darkness and then north for Neclord. He can handle you easily but the Bright Shield Rune protects you and allows you to escape. As you get out, Riou passes out and Nanami carries him away. Meanwhile, Jowy passes out. Pilika runs in and calls him Joei.

Crom Village

You wake up in Crom. Talk to Leona and put Wakaba in your party and then go to the Inn and a scene with L.C. Chan occurs. LC Chan then runs off and hides behind the item shop, so talk to him here and he joins. Try to leave Crom and you’ll run into your old buddy Kahn.

Tigermouth Village

You have to meet Kahn’s old buddy here. It’s the weird girl Sierra that was sleeping in the inn. She’s being ridiculed right in the middle of town but she pulls out some magic. Challenge her to a fight and use your best stuff, she joins afterwards. She has a new rune, a great rune especially for a powerful magician like herself.

Back in Crom Klaus and Sierra have a scene. Go to bed for the night and the next morning it’ll be time to go to the mines to the east. You are to sneak into Tinto this way. Conserve your MP, I’ll say that right away.

Tinto Mines

Continue along and go right at the first intersection to a new screen, and then stay north at the next intersection. At a T go right for some Dancing Flames and west for a long route that will span a few screen lengths. A stone bridge in the middle of a water area, go east before you cross for a Full Helmet and Magic-Def Stone, and then take the upper left path to move on. Take the north path again when you get a chance and then stay north as it wraps northeast. Get the Master Garb and slide down. Further east and then you’ll wrap north to a new screen.

Go left at the next T for a path that acts as a bridge and then wraps underneath two bridges going north for a Window Setting 5 and Old Book Volume 9. Go south, east and north up the ramp and along the bridge. Head right a few screens until you are allowed south.

Grab the Silver Necklace and Mega Medicine. Go back up and right, and then fall down the far slide. Down the far right slide again and then all the way south down a slide for a Double-Strike Crystal. Go left now and you’ll meet Mazus. You can’t get him until you have about 100 characters so remember that he’s one of the last.

Go back to the northeast and up a few ramps to a Save Point. Fall down the far right slide for a Wind Hat, and then up and down a slide for a Star Earrings. Now go to the Save Point, Save, and slide down the middle slide to a new area. Push the crate in the crevace above and then go west, north and east across the crate and north until you reach a boss.

It’s the Stone Golem. Use some of your best magic but not all of it – you still have another boss to fight with this amount of magic.

It has 7000 HP but is weak against Thunder. 50,000 Potch is your reward, and keep going along now. The path is pretty linear just don’t beat yourself up too much as you make your way to the elevators. Soon you’ll be back in Tinto.

Tinto

Go south and take the elevator when you are in town. Fight the group of Zombies by the blacksmith and then go up the stairs, past the city council area and further north to the church.

You will be asked if you want to go in. Confirm yes, as you can’t leave Tinto right now. Inside is Neclord, Lilly and Lo Wen. Kahn and Sierra will have set Neclord up so that he can’t use his powerful magic. Now it’s just time to kill him. Use the best magic you have – he only has 4500 HP so his survival is gauged on whether or not you burnt all your magic out on the way here (like on the Stone Golem). Once his 4500 HP are up enjoy the show, as Viktor cuts him up for good after Neclord gives his Night Rune back to Sierra. You get 70,000 potch and The Shredding for your efforts.

Before returning back to North Window HQ, go to the Tigermouth Path and take that southern path leading east as you enter. You’ll meet Georg Prime and he’ll join you since you liberated Tinto.

Back at HQ, put in a bunch of strong characters and teleport to South Window. Talk to Gantetsu, you’ve seen him before, but now you can push him far and recruit him.

I left Tetsu in Lakewest for now. You need to be toasty to recruit him. Buy some Fried Tacos from the kobold settlement in Two Rivers, and then equip them on someone. Use them on Riou in battle until he starts smoking (or becomes toasty) and then Tetsu will join.

Further Reading:

• Suikoden II 2 Walkthrough Radat Shu Kuskus
• Suikoden II 2 Re-taking Greenhill L Renouille

Coronet

You meet the circus people after you go to the port and return to the top part of the Inn. Then go to the southeast part of town to a hut where Sheena bursts out. Go in and agree to gamble playing dice with Tai Ho while Yam Koo looks on. Go to the bottom part of the Inn to get the circus people. Sheena misses the trip to Kuskus.

You’ll see ship travel, how exciting right? In Kuskus you can upgrade your weapons to level six but not much else to do so go straight south to South Window.

South Window

Go here and Viktor will see you immediately. After speaking with him, go left and talk to the shrouded figure, Clive, but he needs a way to Lakewest. Go to the Inn and get Flik and Viktor to join, and then go northeast to the South Window City Hall.

Lord Granmeyer of South Window wants you to go to North Window with Freed Y and investigate. North Window is northwest of South Window, so go to the Inn and it’ll be you, Nanami, Viktor, Freed Y and Eilie.

North Window

You’ll meet a familiar face as you get here. Neclord is alive and well, and if you fight him he’ll wipe you out. You’ll need to get the Star Dragon Sword from the Cave of Wind to the south.

Cave of the Wind

Save and Viktor destroys the boulders. Just go north and follow east as it wraps around to the second area. In the next area continue to the northeast to exit out. Follow the third area to the east and then it’ll go north and wrap around with several ways to go. Take the northwestern most for a small area with a Sun Badge, then take the southwest exit to continue west for a screen or so.

You’ll be at another east / west split. Take the west path for a Fish Badge and then the east one through a few areas. Continue east and then take the northwest path first that leads to a Fire Wall item. Go back east and then northeast until you get to some boulders, which you should push aside so you can go west. Here you’ll see you’ll have to push boulders to block the air that pushes you into the pit. Do this simply in the first room.

It’s a little harder in the second room but not too difficult. In the third try to get to the very northwest part with 3000 potch, Medicine and the valuable Blue Gate Rune as three treasures. Talk to the old guy if you want to go back, but refuse his offer.

Let the wind take you south and then held left so that you can get in the lower west alcove. You’ll get to a split as you go southwest so take the lower path and then take the west path that gets to a three way. Take the west for a Half Helmet. The south has a Stone of Defense and the northwest leads to an area with Kahn, a crafty fighter and good mage with his Resurrection Rune.

Just continue to take this path north and east. You’ll get to the Star Dragon Sword, but you’ll have to fight it! Use Kahn’s Charm Arrow for heavy damage but otherwise attack and use your Family Attack. With Riou’s Bright Shield Rune you should have enough healing methods, and I usually give Nanami a water rune early on for healing purposes as well.

You’ll gain a few levels but gain nothing from this battle other than the sword itself for Viktor.

North Window

You may wish to go to South Window to rest and then go here. Go all the way north to enter a building and hear vampiric organ music. Go east and grab the Fire Rune, then go west at that split. Go west a bit and you’ll be at a much bigger room, go south and grab the Magic Def Stone. Continue west until you get to a boulder room.

First, go to the left boulder that is on the floor switch. Move it off the switch, and the center room opens – go through for a valuable Darkness Rune. Now return and push the boulder on the obvious spot on the floor in the center, and take the exit to another room with torchs.

From the top, you will see three lit candles, an unlit one, and then a lit one (going left to right). Copy this same exact sequence on the bottom row of candles, and go through the center door that opened for a Blue Ribbon. Return and light the one in the row that isn’t lit on the top to continue. You’ll end up going east to a new building and then up a pair of stairs. Don’t go up the next pair but go east for a Necklace and Chain Mail, then go north up the stairs.

You’ll make your way to Neclord. He’s not ready to die so he brings ‘daisy’ alive to taunt viktor. Neclord leaves you with Abomination. Use your best magic on him, he is weak against Holy magic so the Resurrection Rune and especially Charm Arrow can hurt this guy bad. Use Kahn’s Scolding tactics after that. He does have a lot of HP and his magic attacks can be brutal. It is much better if he just does physical attacks on you. You get 10,000 Potch for your work.

Go south out of North Window and your fellow army members will come up. Seems that South Window has been taken over by highland and Lord Granmeyer’s head has been taken by Solon Jhee. Choose ‘there must be a way’, and then Apple talks about Shu from Radat, a pupil of Mathiu’s that is adept at strategy. Choose your party and you are on your way.

Save on your way out. Radat is to the far east, east of South Window even.

Radat

Oh, if you missed Templton earlier, you can recruit her now too. Just walk all the way east through Radat. On the world map, go northeast to the Mercenary Fortress where Templton will be getting kicked out. Now leave and go to Toto and go north past the first house and west to recruit Templton. Templton gives you the Suiko Map. Return to Radat now.

Go west past the bridge and grassy area and then go north to Shu’s House. He is stubborn and won’t join. Leave and go to the bar. Talk to the owner up at the top for Recipe # 14 and then leave, as Shu will bump into you. He still won’t join you.

Go south out of the bar and talk to Richmond. He can help you, he says. Give him 1500 Potch and go to the Inn to rest. He’ll return and say Shu will be at the port tomorrow night, so you’ll plan to meet him then. When you do meet Shu he’ll throw a gold coin in the lake and you’ll have to find it to get him to join.

First, save at the Inn and then talk to the guy by the Sluice Gate on the bridge. Ask him to close it and he’ll get Amada to come out and he wants to duel you. It’s not a hard duel, just make sure you save beforehand in case. After the defeat he’ll close the sluice gate. Go down and then east to the dock to start searching. It’ll seem hopeless until Richmond throws an identical coin into the lake and Riou finds it. Shu is there watching and he joins. After seeing the coin he also see’s Riou’s Rune and knows that the City State has a chance to win the war. Time to defend against Solon Jhee.

North Window

Back here, go save and then go to the conference room south of the Save Crystal. Shu shows up and is cocky about defeating Highland. He asks Riou to be the leading unit against Solon Jhee.

War Battle – Solon Jhee in North Window

Solon Jhee clearly underestimates your army. After a turn Riou’s unit will appear and you should work your way towards Solon Jhee of course. Once you attack him the South Window units will betray Highland and join you. Just keep attacking Solon and you should be able to take him down a bit, if he gets a hit on you be sure to Repair Self or use the Bright Shield Rune to heal. After six or seven turns Solon Jhee will turn and retreat!Riou returns to North Window with celebrity status. Shu just goes out and says that with that Bright Shield Rune and the relation to Genkaku, Riou must be the leader that takes over the City-State. You don’t have to decide now, and soon it’ll be night time.

Go to the bar to listen to Viktor’s story about Genkaku and his past with the City State. The next morning go to the meeting room to tell Shu you will be the leader. After some talking Huan comes in and you recruit Huan the doctor. Then you get to name the castle. Leknaat appears and entrusts Luc to you. He was a weak character in the first Suikoden but he is an absolutely brilliant magician in this one.

When you regain control go to the southeast part of the castle as if you were leaving. You’ll bump into Fitcher who is looking for Riou but doesn’t believe you. Go to the meeting room and it turns out he wants you to ally with the Two River City. Can’t get there without out a boat. Actually you have boats, you just need someone to command one. Bring Freed Y. Then go to Radat.

Radat

With Freed Y you can recruit Yoshino in the southeast part of town. Talk to Richmond to play the coin game with him, but you can’t win. Go to the tavern and talk to the guy directly to your west who gives you a coin, and then return to Richmond.This time you can recruit Richmond. You’ll notice Lebrante in the appraisal shop. If you find a Celadon Urn in battle or at a trader’s market, you can give it to him and he will join you. For now you probably don’t have one so just go to Amada by the bridge.

Another duel with Amada. He was very aggressive with me, using Wild Attacks each time. Either way, he’s rather predictable and afterwards he joins you. Leave towards South Window.

South Window

Go to the Inn and to the second floor. Alex and Hilda will join, being item shop salesman and Inn mistress respectively. Adlai is here, in the building north of the Armor Shop. He’ll join you if you give him a Sacrificial Jizo, Wooden Shield, and the throw a Wind Crystal at him. He is the elevator guy. If you don’t have Bolgan’s Sacrifical Jizo it may take a while to recruit Adlai.

Kuskus

Go to the northeast part to speak with Tai Ho and Yam Koo. You’ll have to win 5000 Potch from Tai Ho in Chinchinorin. Make sure you save before you do this so he doesn’t steal tons of potch from you. Tai Ho and Yam Koo are recruited and you have two characters who can man a boat now.

Back at North Window bring one of the boat characters. You can now go to Lakewest so go to the basement and follow the anchor sign. As you go northwest to Lakewest, Fitcher will depart and give you his Reference Letter. Go to the northwest hut and talk to Taki four times and she can be recruited. If you lost Bolgan’s Sacrificial Jizo then you can buy one at the item shop here.

Kuskus

Bring a party full of females with Riou. Nanami, Yoshino, Millie, Anita, and Rina would work. If you have talked to the old lady just to the left as you enter town, she will have mentioned scoundrels around Kuskus. Well, with that party full of females head to the west part of Kuskus to see a group of guys. They knock Riou out. But Oulan saves you. She’s a bodyguard type and you’ll be glad to have her on your side.

South Window

Talk to Clive. You can take him to Lakewest now. Talk to Adlai with the Sacrificial Jizo if you haven’t already (Clive has one). Then buy a Wooden Shield south in the armor shop and talk to him. Then bring a Wind Crystal from the Rune Shop and throw it at him and he will join. You will be teleported back to North Window and he’ll show you the elevators.

Bring Clive to Lakewest. Go to the Inn and talk to the green clad guy by the Innkeeper. He’s got a letter from Elza, saying she’s in the Forest Village west of Greenhill. We’ll deal with this later, you might want to keep using Clive since he’s a good shooter. Shilo here won’t join you so go west to Two Rivers.

Two Rivers City

As you enter Two Rivers, Chaco will steal Riou’s wallet. Talk to Hans on the top floor of the Inn and you can make him give you money to join. The more money the longer it takes but I usually ask for the highest amount and get him later on. Leave and try to enter the main building, but Chaco stole your wallet with the reference letter inside so they won’t let you in. You’ll see Chaco running west of you so follow him.

What an annoying little bastard. Chase him around but to no avail, he’ll fly off. Return to Two Rivers and you’ll see Ridley about to whip Fitcher. Riou will run in and show his bright shield rune, and then you’ll talk to Ridley and Makai of two rivers. Go to the New Leaf Inn now.

Talk to the Innkeeper and Fitcher will leave. Go upstairs and you’ll see Chaco, who flies away. Go to the meeting hall in Two Rivers and Ridley seems to be perturbed. Leave and go talk to Ridley at the kobold settlement. To get there, go northwest of Chaco’s winged creature village. The kobold’s won’t let you in and when you leave, Chaco will rob Fitcher.

Two Rivers Sewer

Chase Chaco into the sewer. Go east across the bridge at the fork and then grab the Head Gear you see. Then go east and north for a Resurrection Rune and southwest to continue. You can go west through a waterfall type area, after you climb down the ladder, but this leads to a character you can’t do anything with right now. Continue south instead for a long while until you see a Healing Wind treasure. Go west and you’ll be at an intersection, go north for a Stone of Defense and a valuable Fire Emblem (strength+15!). Follow the straight forward path west and then north to exit out to the next area.

Save when you see it, rest up, and head inside the door. You will see a big hedge hog, a Pest Rat in fact. Use your best magic spells on it. What you use depends on who you brought with but use Riou’s Bright Shield Rune to heal and Nanami’s Water Rune for the same reason. The Pest Rat has regular physical attacks that are easily dodgeable, but he attacks twice per round. He also has a boulder attack that does 100 on everyone. He gives 10,000 potch and a Poison Crystal.

You’ll end up in the Kobold section of Two Rivers. Ridley catches you and bitches you out, and then you are to leave the kobold area. Back in the human part of Two Rivers, Kiba and Klaus will be visiting Lord Makai of Two Rivers. A peace treaty it seems? Go to the city hall and Makai will talk of the peace treaty. Fitcher says he’s getting reinforcements, and then Chaco speaks with you. Go to the main hut in his village and talk to Susu quick, and then Chaco taunts you again.

Go to the New Leaf Inn and rest. The next morning, Kiba and Klaus of the highland army will have lied and are attacking Two River. It seems Makai is another gullible and incompetent city-state governor. Fight a battle and then agree to talk to Ridley. Fitcher tries to convince him to fight, but the winged fighters join the fight in the mean time. Chaco wants to protect the town. Ridley eventually gives in and all three forces of Two Rivers have joined to fight Highland! You’ll have to fight another highland battle and then the highlanders will retreat and concede defeat, as you have reinforcements coming.

Meanwhile, Luca Blight will be pissed at this defeat. He sends Solon Jhee off to his execution, much to the dismay of the others around. Jowy steps up and takes the task of taking Greenhill for highland.

The next day, go to the city hall. Lord Makai and Ridley agree to aid your army, with Ridley joining the 108 Stars of destiny. Fitcher is fired by Makai, but so that he can join your army as well. Leave, and Chaco will be waiting. He joins and gives you your wallet and money back, but not Fitcher’s. They run off together. If you have Gengen along you can recruit Gabocha in the first hut in the kobold section of Two Rivers.

Forest Village

With Clive along you can go northwest of Two Rivers until you reach Forest Village. He says Elza is here so head due north past the Trader’s Shop and you’ll see her – or a girl that looks like Elza. Note that you have to get here within 12 hours. Seems Elza is in Matilda, we will check back on that later.

Go to the building just south of that to meet Tony the farmer. You can recruit Tony by asking him to come to the castle.You should be able to recruit Wakaba by the Armor Shop in the southeast part of the village as well. For both of these characters, you may need to return to HQ and come back to Forest Village. I did at least (and I don’t mean going back to HQ and reporting to Shu and taking on the Greenhill mission – just go back to HQ and rest and return).

In Lakewest before you go back, talk to Shilo. He’ll challenge you to 5000 potch of Chinchirorin. Of course save before this to make sure you don’t lose much. You can do the Hix / Tengaar sidequest but I save that until I have the Blinking Mirror and Viki.

North Window Headquarters

Return to North Window HQ. Go to the eastern part of it and then outside to meet Hai Yo. He’s the cook, you may have to search a bit if you aren’t familiar with the castle.

Go up to the meeting room and Shu will tell you to rest. The next day, return to the meeting room and Shu says that Jowy took Greenhill. You are to sneak in as students thus you can only bring along young characters. Choose your best (take Luc!).

Greenhill

Greenhill is northwest of Two Rivers and southeast of Forest Village. You’ll sneak in successfully and then go north to see Nina. Continue north and talk to the desk clerk, Emilia. She will go north, so follow her and talk to her and you’ll see a scene with Shin.

Return back to the desk and talk to Emilia and answer the first choice each time and she’ll be recruited. Leave and Flik will be taken away by Nina. Go west to the dorms and talk to the center clerk to get your rooms. Go upstairs and east and south to your rooms to rest for the night.

The next morning leave and Flik will be hounded by Nina. Go east and south to talk to Emilia and then go south into town. Go to the entrance and then west to the Inn to see a ruckus. The highlanders are looking for Teresa also. Rowd seems to be here as well. Follow Shin back northeast to the academy after he disappears. Go back to your room and sleep.

The next day go to the main academy and go west at the entrance to see Nina. Go south to get Flik and further south into town for another scene. Fitcher will be getting hounded by the citizens so Flik saves him. Back north at the academy, Nina chases Flik down and then you are to rest in your rooms.

At night you hear some spooky stuff. Go to the top floor and move around, and it’ll go to the second floor. Move around and it’ll go to the first floor, and then to the basement. Search the light fixture on the north wall to open a path. Follow this and then go west when you can, and you’ll see the shadow. Your party rushes it, and it’s Flik.

Go west and north and search the statue to open a path into the forest. Go right at the first fork you come across for Protect Mist, and then left to continue. You’ll be going northwest a ways until you reach a house. Shin will prepare to fight you but Teresa and Pilika stop him.

Teresa explains what happened to Greenhill, with the dwindling provisions. Teresa still won’t join you, and you’ll wake up the next day ready to leave Greenhill. Rowd is out offering a 200,000 potch reward and highland citizenship for capturing Teresa. Jowy comes out, and then Pilika rushes him.

The highlanders are after you, as you go north towards the academy and Teresa’s. Use the secret path and fight the highlanders as you go. When you get to Teresa’s House you’ll see her, Shin and Nina. She won’t come with but instead goes to highland to surrender. Hurry back to the academy and in front she is about to surrender, but Shin and your party doesn’t let her. Fight a few highland battles and then you’ll regain control with Teresa in your party.

Continue to go north through the forest. Shin will stop Rowd and the highlanders. Go north into the new area and then east, taking the lower path for Toe Shoes. Northeast from there is a Silver Hat and then you’ll be heading south. Grab the Chimera Crystal you easily see and then continue south. Soon you’ll be out, but not before seeing Jowy.

Jowy lets you by and then Rowd confronts him. Seed and Culgan back up Jowy so Rowd is forced to be a lacky and return to Greenhill to quell the rebellion.

North Window Castle

Go to Two Rivers Rune Shop first to recruit Jeane. Return back to North Window Castle and the meeting spot to report to Shu. Shin and Nina and Fitcher will be following you. Go to bed at night and a scene will commence.

Jowy asks Luca Blight for his reward to be marriage between him and Jillia. Back in the meeting room Shu and Viktor propose going to Matilda to forge an alliance.

Further Reading:

• Suikoden II 2 recruiting 108 Stars of Destiny list
• Suikoden II Kyaro Muse Jowy Riou
• Suikoden II 2 Re-taking Greenhill L Renouille
• How to recruit 108 Stars of Destiny in Suikoden V 5
• Suikoden II 2 Matilda Tinto Neclord Walkthrough

Highland Youth Brigade

As you start off with your friend Jowy you will be prompted to go out, but you might as well just go to bed. You will be ambushed at night, run east and then you’ll consult with Jowy and decide to go back to camp. Back there you’ll see Rowd your leader with Luca Blight.

Just run north and you’ll be at a meeting spot you’ll remember much later. A battle ensues with Rowd and some highland soldiers but just use Riou and Jowy’s unite attack to win the battle and then jump off the cliff to escape.

Viktor’s Warriors Fort

You’ll be saved by Viktor and Flik of the state arm. You’ll recognize them if you’ve played Suikoden I. Now you have to do some chores for them while you’re here, like pushing boxes against a while and picking up Rope. Then this guy who is telling you to do this stuff, Pohl, will ask you to get some Flint, Boots and Flour. Get 3 Flint and 3 Boots and then try to go upstairs and get the Flour but there won’t be any. Return to Pohl and he’ll talk to Leona. Afterwards you can go upstairs and talk to her to get Gengen and Tuta in your party to go to Ryube and get that flour.

Ryube

It’s a short walk northeast, you shouldn’t have a problem getting there and to the item shop. Ask for Flour and take it back to Pohl.

The next day at the Warrior’s Camp you’ll be wiping up oil spills. There are a few on the first level and then one on each floor above, but also another in Flik’s room of command. After talk to Pohl and another night passes.

Jowy comes to save you but you two can’t make it out, and end up having to tell about how highland faked the attack on the state. Viktor and Flik are curious about this news to say the least. At night Jowy uses a spoon to get out of your cell. Jowy then uses the flint to light the rag on fire to divert the guards, and then run up the stairs and south to the balcony area outside. The rope gets you down and you can leave. The two decide to go to Kyaro Town.

First go to Ryube Town and see the circus show. You can move or not during it, will not matter much. Rina, Eilie and Bolgan join you for a bit afterwards.

North Sparrow Pass

Go north of Ryube Town to find North Sparrow Pass. Rina will perform a favor for the guards that wouldn’t let you past previously. The battles around here can be difficult at first. Use your unite to dominate any enemy group. Take the left path as you head north for a Flaming Wall treasure and an HP / MP bath. Head east to continue of course.

Take the east fork again for an Escape Talisman and then north to go to the next screen. Here you’ll have another east / west fork, with the east leading to a Brass Armor and the west having the path that leads to the next screen. The enemies around here get tougher, with Bees and Bandits.

In the next screen you’ll be at your first Journeyman’s Crystal so save and heal up. Up north is the Mist Shade. Use your unites when you can, and then Rina’s Flaming Arrow fire rune magic. You’ll also probably have some available attack items at your disposal should this get even harder. Kindness Drops are dropped by Mist Shade. Afterwards return back and save and then continue north, taking the east exit for a Feathered Hat and the opposite path out of the North Sparrow Pass.

Kyaro

In Kyaro town you’ll split up with Eilie, Rina and Bolgan. Seems you are being looked for so go to your house to the west. Actually first take the north path leading to the big tree by itself. Search it as you face up three times and Riou will walk around the tree and Mukumuku will be recruited. Most people forget to recruit mukumuku but he is a valuable addition. Now go to your house to the west, and then go left and south upon entering. Search the desk for ? book and then north to exit and for some scenes with Nanami your sister.

As Riou and Nanami leave your house, the house of Genkaku, you are taken away by Rowd your former commander. Then a scene with Jowy being disowned by his dad. More scenes as you and Jowy are saved from death by Viktor and Flik, and then you all go save Mukumuku and Nanami. Run out and town and through North Sparrow Pass back to Viktor’s Fort. You can then get recruits.

Ryube

Talk to Rikimaru and pay for his Inn tab of 3000 Potch. That’s expensive right now. Talk to the frantic girl in the northeast, Millie, and agree to help her find Bonaparte in the forest.

First go northwest and put the baby bird in the nest. Then go south and work your way east. This boss battle against Bonaparte can be hard. Just use attacks, thats all you have probably. After Millie is recruited go west back to where the bird was and Shiro and Kinnison will be here. Allow them to join, they have a unite and Shiro is great.

Toto

That’s the end of the recruits for Ryube so go north and then veer west instead of east towards North Sparrow Mountain. This will lead to a new village, Toto. Enter the Inn to recruit Zamza assuming Nanami is with. Get that ? book appraised to see it is the Old Book Volume 1. You can try to visit the north house, this is where Pilika lives but she isn’t home. Sometimes she’s here already but if not go to the Warrior’s Fort and rest and then come back, that should do it.

Pilika and her family took Jowy in when he fell off the cliff. Pilika now wants to get a Wooden Amulet. Go west out of Toto and then northwest to Muse City. This city is huge, you may want to use the rune shop. West in Muse leads to the item shop with the Wooden Amulet for 500 potch. Buy it and return to Toto to see it is burned down.

Pilika will be the only one alive, crying for a bit. Then Apple walks in, the same Apple from Suikoden I. You’ll exit Toto but go right back in to recruit Hanna. Hurry back to Viktor’s Fortress. Apple, Flik and Viktor reunite and talk about Matthiu from Suikoden I and the Toran Republic.

After that scene Jowy and Riou will be downstairs with Pilika pondering the future. Leona requests their presence above. Flik and Viktor want you to go to the forest in Ryube and recruit Tsai to use the fire spears and you’re given 2000 potch for this.

Ryube

In ryube go to the forest and take the northwest path through where you got Shiro and Kinnison. Take the left fork for a Gauntlet and Leather Cape and east to Tsai’s place. After talking he’ll help you for free and then you can leave.

Back in Ryube, highland will be slaughtering the villagers. Luca Blight is a pretty sick guy.

Viktor’s Fort

Return to Viktor’s Fort and challenge Flik to a duel so that you can fight along side them. You don’t need to defeat him, just hit him a few times to show you are a formidable opponent.

Downstairs you’ll be talking to Jowy about the company name, so choose one. Pohl will start screaming shortly after and highland is here. Outside for some talking and then a battle commences. Just use the Fire Spear here in your first battle, against Solon Jhee, Seed and Culgan. Should be an easy victory and they will retreat. Unfortunately Kiba and Solon Jhee are here to battle you. Luca Blight will send his army right afterwards and you will be in a bad way. Inside the fortress Jowy and Riou will want to find Pilika. So go inside through the front and go upstairs into the main room, using the Buddy Attack on the highlands to get by. Watch in the command room at Pohl gets sliced by Luca, and then some scenes with Pilika and Luca saying some things that turn out to be ironic much later on. You are saved by Flik and Viktor and then are to go to Muse.

Your party is comprised of a random assortment of the characters you’ve recruited so far. If you get a grouping you don’t like, you can keep reset and reloading your quest (save before the 2nd fight at Viktor’s Fort).  (Millie, Gengen and Kinnison are particularly pathetic, while some of the more desirable characters include Shiro (especially with a Double Beat Rune), Zamza (for his magic ability) and Mukumuku (a personal favorite with decent attack power).

Head to Toto and you’ll be in a shrine. Leknaat appears and Jowy and Riou acquired the Black Sword Rune and Bright Shield Rune respectively. You can go to Coronet to get level 5 weapons or to Muse to find out you can’t get in. Backtrack to the White Deer Inn.

White Deer Inn

You’ve probably seen this before, southeast of Muse. Go inside for some scenes with Alex and Hilda, and then the next morning Alex makes a proposal and you can go in Muse afterwards. First you must help him hunt down Sindar Treasure.

Go east and north to get there after he joins, he’ll open it all up for you.

Sindar Ruins

Go west at the fork for a Stone of Magic and Mega Medicine, and then take the other path and go north. The enemies here are tough just for reference, you’ll soon find out yourself. Take the first east path and then south for an Angry Blow spell. Return back and go north and east to continue onward. Take the north path for a Gauntlet and then south, west, and north under the bridge into a new area.

You’ll see a door you can’t open so go past it and move the statue into it’s proper place. This opens a door leading to a Shoulder Pads and a Round iron plate. Use the Round plate at the door you saw that was closed and it’ll open. You are now in a room with a two headed snake statue. Go left all the way across the bridge to get to a half shut door that you can walk through, leading to a Fire Lizard Crystal. Return back to the previous chamber and go north to get the Triangle Plate.

Return to the central area with the snake and go north and then east to put the Triangle Plate in. You just stopped the water. Go straight north from the previous intersection and you’ll get a Chain Mail. Return south a little and go west and south now that the path is opened up. Go south all the way until you see a treasure on a ramp to your left. It is a Water Rune. Return north and take the next west for the square plate! Return back and go all the way north as the other west paths lead to dead ends. Return to the first snake statue and go east to get a bunch of goodies. Actually just Old Book Volume 2 and the Magic Drain crystal.

Go back to the first snake statue and go north and then west to get to the Save Point. Rest up and equip the best stuff you have, a boss battle looms.

The Double Head is not easy. Use the Black Sword Rune specifically Piercing One. Continue to use your best spells and hopefully you equipped healing items. Great Blessing does a good job of this too. Just keep at it and Double Head will go down and you can continue north for your ‘treasure’. A Spark Rune is your reward for the battle. Use an Escape Talisman to get out, if you have one. Alex will discard the healing herb from sindar ruins.

Back at the White Deer Inn, Hilda will be sick. When you get a chance go get the Healing Herbs Alex discarded and this will heal Hilda. All is well now and you get Alex’s Muse pass.

Muse

As you go to Muse you’ll have to make up a story to get in. It doesn’t work. But you are bailed out but your buddies Flik and Viktor. At least you got in Muse.

Go to Leona to dump off Pilika and then go to the northeast to meet Elza. She’ll give you two packages and then Clive comes by. Tell him you haven’t seen her and then return to the front of Muse to give her the packages back, and she gives you Sound Set #1. They run out of there and there isn’t anything you can do with them for later. The Clive / Elza sidequest needs to be completed within 20 hours, which means you basically have to beat the game in 20 hours by speeding through everything. More on this quest later.

Go to the town hall now so Viktor can show you to Anabelle. Go east and north to talk to Jess afterwards about sneaking into highland. Search the northeast shelf for ? book and then go to the bar.

Buy some antitoxin and come back. Anita is here and she wants you to do random things for her. After you do one thing you have to exit Muse and come back to do another. After three or four she’ll join you. You can do this now or much later, so just get this out of the way now, she’s pretty good. Tuta is outside and north of the Inn, talk to him to recruit him and meet Huan. Talk to Huan a few times to get recipe 3.

Note that at this point, you can go through Toto and back to Viktor’s Mercenary Fort for another recruit. You will see Templton being ushered out of Viktor’s Fort, and then go to Toto. As you head north through the village take the second left to see Templeton looking at a burned down house. Templton joins your army and hands you the Suiko Map.

Leave and go north to the Muse / Matilda gate and then you’ll get to go east through the forest. Generally you head north to get to the enemy camp but if you go directly east for a while you’ll get a Circuret. Before camp Jowy and Riou change to highland clothes. Go to the northeast to look at the provisions, and then when Rowd sees you go get the Fire Sealing Crystal to the east and then run into Jillia’s tent. After some scenes you’ll leave but Rowd will have been waiting. Just keeping killing highlanders until Jowy tells you to run, so do so. You’ll have to fight more battles with your other party members, so do that and keep running.

Back in Muse go to the north building to see Jess but he’s busy so go to the Inn. Back to Jess and Anabelle’s building and Viktor breaks in and confronts Jess. Back at the Inn Nanami chooses to wait outside. Go talk to her and then go back to the Inn. Jowy will come back at night time. Strange.

The next day go to the Jowston Hilltop Conference and Flik gets you in. You’ll meet all the big shots from the City State like Gorudo from Matilda, Teresa from Greenhill, Makai from Two Rivers and a few more. They are all in disagreement but they’ll hear that highland is coming to attack Muse right this minute.

Muse War Battle

Anabelle asks Viktor to spare a few days to hold the highlanders back. Talk to Viktor and the battle starts. Do some damage to Gilbert and he’ll join you (it’s likely Flik will do it with Fire Spear). This battle will go on for quite a while, and you’ll get Miklotov’s help until Camus tells him to retreat.

Talk to Nanami at night and Jowy will be talking to Kage in the other room. The next day go to Anabelle. Talk to her for a sec and then return to the Inn. Speak with Nanami and then go to the city building to see Jowy and Kage talking outside. Talk to Jowy about it and then it’ll be nighttime.

Viktor and Anabelle will share a drink for a bit. When you regain control take Nanami and Riou to Anabelle’s but you’ll find Jowy beat you to the punch. You’re going to see something…interesting here, with Jowy and Anabelle. After these dramatic scenes go to the Inn to get Pilika. Get Pilika there and Leona will tell you to go south to Coronet and eventually South Window.

Coronet

You’ll be very close to this town. Go to the southwest part of it to try to get on a boat, to no avail. Return to the top part of the Inn to meet Rina, Eilie and Bolgan again.

Further Reading:

• Suikoden II 2 Walkthrough Radat Shu Kuskus
• Suikoden II 2 recruiting 108 Stars of Destiny list
• Suikoden II 2 Re-taking Greenhill L Renouille
• How to recruit 108 Stars of Destiny in Suikoden V 5
• Suikoden Tierkreis Trade Guide Walkthrough FAQ