Jasmine: Build a Counterattacking Fortress

Save context update (October 30): I have reached Cai's Chapter 12, turn 1. Jasmine's last screenshot-confirmed status is still level 30, Armored Knight, October 29; I have not reported whether she gained additional levels or abilities in Chapter 11. The rest of this build tracker retains the photographed baseline and earlier experiments.

Start here: her new job

Keep: Jasmine's counterattack identity. Change: where she stands, who she protects, and what success looks like. A battle in which the protected mages never take a hit is successful even if Jasmine makes no kill.

Current screenshot: October 29 (level 30 confirmed)

Stat	Level 28 picture	Level 30 picture	Measured change across screenshots
Level	28	30	+2 levels (not individual growth rolls)
HP	42	42	0
Strength	19	19	0
Magic	7	7	0
Speed	8	8	0
Dexterity	24	24	0
Defense	27	29	+2
Resistance	12	13	+1
Luck	15	17	+2
Charm	17	17	0
Attack Speed	0	0	0

Oct 29 actual class: Armored Knight, 4 Movement, 3 Build. Actual equipped weapon: Short Axe 25/25, Attack 28, Hit 89, Crit 20, range 1–2, Protection 29, Resilience 13, Avoid 5. Visible owned items: Iron Axe +1 (25/25), Vulnerary (3/3), Hexlock Shield, Elixir (1/1).

Ability slots in this picture: Raging Counter, Axes Lv. 3, Pursuit Defense, Armored Combat, Defense Formation. Personal Expert Counter; class Combat Arts +1 / Strike-Last Def +3. Arts: Spike, Discerning Blow, Guard Spike, Protective Storm. Great Counter is not in the five equipped slots and has not been confirmed learned by the latest screenshot.

Gear correction: I previously reported purchasing a Da Mina Axe +1, but this screenshot shows an Iron Axe +1 in Jasmine's carried items. That does not prove Da Mina was never bought; check the convoy or another unit. Do not calculate damage as though she currently has that axe equipped.

Team synergy correction: Tialla's Oct 29 individual screenshot confirms Lend Strength+, Lend Defense+ and Lend Magic are already learned. Use her support arts to improve Jasmine's survival or retaliation instead of treating these as future unlocks.

Compare all eight characters from the same Oct 29 session.

Old plan versus the current plan

	Previous: frontline counter tank	Current: rear-guard protector
Position	Push toward the enemy beside Cai	Hold between hostile approaches and the magic line
Problem	Cai and Alexandra outrun her; little combat	Less movement needed; protects units the attackers leave behind
Who she supports	Fast frontline	Sofia, Tialla, Ultand and Peter
Successful turn	Survive enemy-initiated strikes and retaliate	Block an approach, deter a flanker, absorb a hit or preserve a healer
Equipment priority	Maximum armor and hard counterattacks	Protection plus positioning, range-2 retaliation and useful nearby bonuses
Class direction	Armored Knight → Dreadnought → Castle Knight	Same provisional path, reassess if she still cannot contribute

Conceptual battle layouts

The diagrams below provide the same idea in a compact text view for quick reference.

These are unit-position diagrams, not actual map tiles or guaranteed AI routes. Compare against enemy ranges every turn.

Old approach — the problem we observed

             ENEMY FRONT
          ↓      ↓       ↓

       [ CAI ]        [ ALEXANDRA ]
         ↑                  ↑
         Fast flankers rush ahead

                 [ JASMINE ]
                  Too slow to
                  reach the fight

      [ SOFIA ] [ TIALLA ] [ ULTAND ]
             [ PETER ]
             ↑            ↑
       Flank approaches are exposed

New approach — the formation we're testing

             ENEMY FRONT
          ↓      ↓       ↓

       [ CAI ]        [ ALEXANDRA ]
           ↑           ↑
           Mobile strike force

    Flanker → [ JASMINE ] ← Flanker
               🛡
         Screen and counterattack

      [ SOFIA ] [ TIALLA ] [ ULTAND ]
             [ PETER ]
      Heal       Magic        Range

Positioning rule: Jasmine must be a reachable obstacle to the enemy and a useful barrier for the casters. Keeping allies behind her is not sufficient if enemies can attack them from range or walk around her. Put her on the actual access tile or chokepoint; keep casters outside enemy threat ranges.

Team synergy: what each can provide

Source → recipient	Effect	What is confirmed / what to check
Jasmine → Sofia/Tialla/Ultand	Physically blocks an approach; may counter enemies who attack her	Available now as a positioning tactic, not a built-in taunt
Jasmine → adjacent ally	Defensive Formation: +1 Protection	Only if learned and equipped; recheck Jasmine's abilities screen
Jasmine → nearby allies	Counter Order: share Expert Counter's +20 Hit when the enemy initiates, within the art's reported 1–2-tile radius	Future Authority B art; not recorded as learned
Sofia → Jasmine	Healing Knowledge +10 healing and Distant Healing +1 healing reach	Both appeared in Sofia's equipped-ability screenshot; spell used must be learned
Tialla → Jasmine	Emergency healing or possible Lend Defense/Lend Strength/Lend Magic support art	High White and Black Magic rank confirmed; the Lend arts are not verified as learned
Ultand → nearby team	Patch Up and other supporting skills	Shown on Ultand's ability screen; verify each exact trigger and whether equipped
Future Bishop → Jasmine	Barrier: +3 Resistance to adjacent allies	Future class mastery option; not an active bonus now

An important rule: Jasmine's Expert Counter improves her own retaliation. It does not automatically extend to adjacent allies unless a distinct art such as Counter Order is active. No skill on this page is a guarantee enemies will target her.

A practical turn

1. Inspect physical, ranged and magic threat tiles. Let Cai and Alexandra pursue the high-priority target.
2. Move Jasmine to block the safest route into Sofia and Tialla, not to chase the enemy leaders.
3. Keep Sofia within her real healing range but out of the enemy's attack range.
4. Let Tialla deal magical damage or provide a confirmed learned support art where valuable.
5. If enemies attack Jasmine, resolve the counters; heal or rotate positioning next turn. Being doubled does not grant Jasmine a second ordinary counter.

Who Jasmine is and how to recruit her

A pragmatic veteran with a protective streak, Jasmine talks about her lost husband, old companions, money and the things worth protecting. That backstory helps explain why a guardian role feels appropriate; it doesn't create a game-mechanical protection aura by itself.

On Cai's route: recruitable starting Chapter 6 (May 8). Give a gift to unlock negotiation, reach Renown 8 and Support 1 with Cai, then negotiate for 2,000G. Already recruited in my save. On other routes the requirements differ, so do not reuse Cai's numbers universally.

Favorite gifts (loves): Saraminian Sweets, Garum, Rare Spices. Also likes Honey Pastries, Kitten Figurine, Joint-Relief Gloves, Outdoor Cooking Set, Training Weights and several other items. The cheap Mellow Pastries from the Dagsion lower tavern gift merchant (reported 30G) work for the initial support push even though they are not listed among her favorites.

Meals with reported positive reactions: Garlic Seared Scallops (loves), Fish-Sauce Soup, Cheese-Coated Crayfish and Honey-Poached Pear (likes). These meal observations are community-sourced and may depend on menu availability.

My observations and experiments

Tried — original counter-tank concept. I trained her as a heavily armored, slow, enemy-phase counterattacker. The mechanics suit her, but in practice Cai and Alexandra reach and eliminate targets before she can arrive. A mathematically solid defensive build was not creating meaningful turns for this roster.

Investigated — deliberate enemy follow-ups. I considered adding weight so enemies would double her, hoping to gain more retaliation. The regular combat sequence gives one normal counter, then the enemy follow-up, so this is not an extra-counter strategy. Heavy gear is still fine when its defensive or damage value outweighs the incoming second hit.

Now testing — mobile frontline with a protected magic group. Jasmine remains in the center/rear corridor, defending Sofia and Tialla while Cai and Alexandra operate ahead. Proposed, not yet reported as successful in a battle. Record the outcome after trying it.

Latest quest context: Bertrand and Talimun paralogues both completed. Talimun's first attempt failed, and the battle was restarted and then won. This is context, not evidence that the new Jasmine strategy was tested there.

My save: precise baseline, not a prediction

Stat	Level 28 screenshot	Level 29 report
HP	42	Not measured
Strength	19	Not measured
Magic	7	Not measured
Speed	8	Not measured
Dexterity	24	Not measured
Defense	27	Not measured
Resistance	12	Not measured
Luck	15	Not measured
Charm	17	Not measured
Build	3	Not measured
Attack Speed	0	Not measured
Level	28	29

Class at historical level-28 screenshot: Armored Knight, Axe B / Spear B / Heavy Armor B, 5 Movement. Current class at level 29 not reconfirmed. The screenshot shows Iron Axe 21/25, Short Axe 25/25, Vulnerary 3/3, Hexlock Shield and Elixir 1/1 in inventory. Shield-in-inventory does not confirm active equipment weight.

Abilities recorded on the earlier level-28 screenshot (not her current equipped slots): personal Expert Counter, class Counter Arts +1 and Strike-Last Def +3 plus equipped class-derived abilities including Axe Lv. 3, Armored Move, Armored Crush and Dual Resist. Confirm exact current slots on the next photo. The combat-arts list separately showed Spike, Discerning Blow, Wrath Strike, Guard Spike. Do not assume proposed skills like Counter Order or Defensive Formation have been acquired.

Character growth rates (reference, not earned stat changes)

HP	Str	Mag	Spd	Dex	Def	Res	Lck	Cha
50%	40%	20%	30%	45%	45%	25%	40%	45%

These are published character growth probabilities, not the growth she actually received when she leveled from 28 to 29. They do not override the in-game screenshot.

Two future builds: spear counterguard versus four-tile elephant

An axe isn't mandatory because Jasmine started with one. She already had Axe B and Spear B in my level-28 screenshot; both are suitable physical weapon proficiencies. A Da Mina Spear (13 Might, 80 Hit, 7 Weight) can be more accurate and lighter than the Iron Axe (13 Might, 65 Hit, 10 Weight). A Javelin is a potential ranged spear alternative, while the existing Short Axe retains range 1–2 but weighs 12. The actual current shop/convoy supply is not verified.

My near-term experiment: Compare a spear in Jasmine's battle forecast with her current axe and shield. Favor the setup that delivers useful Hit and/or Attack Speed without losing safe enemy-phase survival. Her personal Expert Counter applies when attacked, independently of weapon family.

Approach	Progression	Strengths	Tradeoffs
Spear rearguard / counterguard	Soldier → Armored Knight → Dreadnought → Castle Knight	High Defense, conventional spear/axe counters and later defensive mastery	Slow, heavy equipment reduces Attack Speed, may struggle to engage
Mounted spear protector	Soldier → Light Cavalry → Bardinger	6 Movement, continued spears and more positioning choices; Light Cavalry → Bardinger needs Riding C and Spear B or Sword B at the advanced stage	Changes armor-class abilities, needs a horse and Riding training; not automatically an evasive build
Large physical blockade	Soldier → Armored Knight → Elephant Rider	2 × 2 = four real tiles, incoming attack damage halved while mounted, area-charge tactics	Cannot evade while mounted and cannot equip ordinary axes or spears; no ordinary weapon counters

Elephant Rider specifics: Advanced class, recommended Lv35, Riding C, Elephant License, unlocked in Part III after the first section of The Promised One. This is a future option, not a class available in my current Chapter 10. A Saramis War Elephant is reported through a Part III quest and adds Strength, Dexterity, Defense and Luck. I cannot yet use its mounted no-evade mechanics in Chapter 10. Training Riding can start earlier if I truly want this path.

Avoid, Dodge, Dexterity and Luck are not interchangeable

Attribute	What it changes	Jasmine's development
Avoid (Avo)	Makes normal physical hits miss; mainly Attack Speed plus terrain, abilities and Support	Reduce equipped weight; improve Speed, favorable terrain or explicit +Avoid effects
Dodge (Ddg)	Reduces enemy critical-hit probability	Raise Luck; use +Dodge effects
Dexterity	Increases Jasmine's physical Hit; with Luck also improves critical chance	Good for reliable counters, not a direct normal-Avoid bonus
HP / Defense / Resistance	Survives hits that connect	Better for an elephant, because elephant riders cannot evade

Known snapshot: at level 28, Jasmine had Speed 8, Build 3, Attack Speed 0. Those are old measurements, not her newly reported stats. To become an evasive defender, the biggest obstacle is her extremely low Attack Speed with heavy equipment. Swapping a heavy axe/shield for a lighter spear/loadout may help more immediately than adding Dexterity. In the current snapshot, Luck and Dexterity gains are unknown.

Permanent stat items (only if available to purchase/find)

Item	Permanent effect	Purpose
Seraph Robe	Max HP +4	Most straightforward elephant/tank survivability
Secret Book	Dexterity +2	Reliable conventional counterattacks and Crit
Goddess Icon	Luck +2	Lower enemy crit chance; helps crit formula
Speedwing	Speed +2	May improve Attack Speed/Avoid if weight doesn't erase it

Community equipment listings show these stat boosters as 20,000G items; verify available stock and whether already owned. Mount and class growth bonuses change future level-up probabilities, not previously earned statistics; equipment/class changes can also change temporary displayed stats. Don't enter projected future HP, Dex, Luck, or level increases into the snapshot.

What I'd choose: If the goal is a serious rear-guard combatant now, test a spear and the current armor class. If the eventual goal is literally blocking four squares and protecting the casters with half-damage absorption, train Riding toward C and keep Elephant Rider for Part III. I would not spend resources chasing Avoid for a mounted elephant that cannot evade.

Equipment in order of usefulness

Now, Cai Part I

Item	Job	Status
Iron Axe +1	General melee baseline	Owned at Oct 29; 25/25, not currently equipped
Short Axe	Counter at range 1–2 when enemy positioning requires it	Equipped Oct 29, 25/25
Hexlock Shield	Additional resistance against a threatening mage	Owned; equip deliberately
Da Mina Axe +1	Higher Might if present	Verbally reported purchased; not shown in Oct 29 carried inventory. Check convoy.
Shielding Axe	Enemy-initiated Protection +3 when the forecast benefits	Megaira lead; not recorded as owned
Da Mina Shield	More physical protection, but heavier	Shop lead; not recorded as owned
Giant's Ring	+4 Build but −20 Avoid	Reported trade lead; not recorded as owned

A defensive Shielding Axe may be more useful than maximum Might when she is absorbing attacks for others. Conversely, Short Axe matters whenever range-2 enemies would otherwise attack Jasmine without a counter.

Later, not purchases for Chapter 10

Silver Axe (23 Might, weight 9, Axe B) is an attractive conventional late-game upgrade but its established Dagsion shop listing is Part III. Silver Shield (+5 Defense, weight 4) is a strong eventual physical shield; verify actual shop stock. Velheit is a light Axe-A weapon with a curse and Blaze Gauge penalty. Credna's Mallet and Dagda's Club have greater raw Might, but are much heavier or significantly less reliable.

Rule for shopping: Buy only after checking the current map, available inventory, and whether the combat forecast actually improves. Do not plan a distant detour around an unverified shop stock.

Skill and class roadmap

When	Priority	Why
Now, Lv30 screenshot	Maintain Expert Counter and current armor utility; verify whether Great Counter is mastered	Better enemy-phase offense, without assuming an unequipped mastery works
Current formation	Check Armored Move, Defensive Formation and reach toward Counter Order if its requirements are practical	Position and protect the spellcasters
Around Lv35	Check Dreadnought certification and Raging Counter+	Better defensive counterattacks and extra Crit
After Dreadnought mastery	Focused Counter	More reliable retaliation when attacked
Later, roughly Lv45	Castle Knight and eventually Intercept	Reduce damage while guarding allies

Don't rush promotion merely for its name. Compare movement, equipped armor, and survival against the actual enemies. If the new bodyguard assignment works, Dreadnought → Castle Knight is sensible. If she still does nothing, a mobile class is worth revisiting, with its required proficiency costs honestly accounted for.

Running development log

Recorded	Reported level	What changed	New full-stat screenshot?
Oct 24 baseline	28	Complete character and inventory snapshots recorded above	Yes
Oct 24 evening	29	New level reported; no new HP/Str/Dex/Def measurements	No

| Oct 26 evening | Low 30s (approximate) | New broad team-level estimate only; no exact individual level or stat-screen changes stated | No | | Oct 29 | 30 | Complete new stat + abilities + gear screenshot, including Def29, Res13, Lck17, Raging Counter and Defense Formation equipped | Yes |

Next update protocol: Do not advance Jasmine to level 31 or fill in stat increases unless I explicitly report a new level. When I provide her next screenshot, append a dated row and compare the actual change in stats, equipment, mastered abilities and effectiveness in the new rear-guard role. Preserve prior rows.