s ▁party ▁can ▁start ▁the ▁battle ▁at ▁an ▁advantage . ▁A ctions ▁are ▁chosen ▁through ▁a ▁menu , ▁with ▁commands ▁such ▁as ▁" att ack " ▁and ▁" support ". ▁If ▁certain ▁requirements ▁are ▁met , ▁the ▁player ▁can ▁perform ▁co oper ative ▁moves , ▁where ▁the ▁powers ▁of ▁the ▁characters ▁in ▁their ▁party ▁are ▁linked , ▁resulting ▁in ▁a ▁much ▁more ▁effective ▁attack ▁than ▁regular ▁attacks . ▁During ▁each ▁turn , ▁the ▁player ▁can ▁choose ▁to ▁charge ▁up ▁their ▁ ether ; ▁they ▁can ▁consume ▁this ▁when ▁recover ing ▁or ▁guard ing ▁to ▁improve ▁those ▁actions ' ▁effects . ▁Un like ▁other ▁commands , ▁these ▁two ▁are ▁done ▁in ▁real - time ▁before ▁the ▁player ▁characters ▁or ▁the ▁enemies ▁perform ▁an ▁action , ▁by ▁pressing ▁a ▁button ▁at ▁the ▁right ▁time . ▁In ▁the ▁real ▁world , ▁the ▁player ▁sometimes ▁enc oun ters ▁powerful ▁enemies ▁called ▁" P ure ▁Bre eds ", ▁which ▁are ▁capable ▁of ▁defe ating ▁a ▁party ▁member ▁in ▁one ▁blow . ▁During ▁these ▁batt les , ▁the ▁player ▁can ▁receive ▁support ▁from ▁the ▁player ▁character ' s ▁school m ates , ▁who ▁all ▁have ▁different ▁support ▁ab ilities ; ▁to ▁do ▁this , ▁the ▁player ▁needs ▁to ▁choose ▁up ▁to ▁four ▁support ▁characters ▁per ▁party ▁member ▁while ▁outside ▁combat . ▁The ▁player ' s ▁" guard " ▁action ▁also ▁changes ▁during ▁these ▁batt les , ▁to ▁" reflect ", ▁through ▁which ▁the ▁player ▁can ▁reflect ▁the ▁P ure ▁Bre eds ' ▁attacks ▁against ▁themselves , ▁dealing ▁a ▁large