Editing Chain

[[File:Chain_example.gif|frame|A player using Sabarta on {{Square}} to build a chain, then Gidiga on {{Triangle}} to break a chain for extra damage]]'''Chains''' are the main combat mechanic of ''Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity'', allowing players to do higher [[damage]] with their [[photon arts]] and [[charge shot]]s by repeatedly hitting a [[creatures|creature]] with {{Square}} attacks first. The chain system was introduced in ''Phantasy Star Portable 2'' to incentivise the use of regular {{Square}} attacks, as the mechanics and gameplay of ''Phantasy Star Universe'' and ''Phantasy Star Portable'', the game's predecessors, meant that combat was mostly just pressing the same button over and over again.

Proper use of the chain system is mandatory in later stages of the game, as creature health is balanced around the chain multipliers.
==Overview==
Chains are increased through the usage of repeated {{Square}} attacks on a creature, and then used (or broken, as it is more commonly known) by using any {{Triangle}} attack on the creature with the chain counter built. After a chain is broken, any {{Triangle}} attacks will receive a boost in damage depending on how high the chain was built beforehand. {{Square}} attacks will not receive this damage bonus. This means that all [[skills]], charge shots and [[Technics]] linked to {{Triangle}} can receive extra damage from a chain.

Chains are built on a per-creature basis, and any large creatures with multiple hitboxes will share the same chain counter across all of its hitboxes. Furthermore, chains are also shared between all party members, meaning that players can build chain counters together, and when one player breaks a chain, it will break for all players in the party. Therefore it is crucial to work with your party members to build chains quickly, and not break them too early, as all players will be affected by a break.

Chains can be built to a maximum of 100.
===Chain duration===
After a chain has begun on a creature, there is a set amount of time for players to continue to build the chain or break the chain before it disappears and must be built from zero again. The amount of time the chain counter will last for before disappearing can be calculated with the below formula:

<code>3.3s - (Chain number/30)s</code>

For example, a chain of 10 will disappear after 3 seconds, a chain of 30 will disappear after 2.3 seconds, and a chain of 80 will disappear after 0.63 seconds.

Once a chain has been broken, it will last for a certain amount of time, depending on the chain counter. The amount of time the chain will remain in its broken state before disappearing can be calculated with the below formula:

<code>2s + (Chain number/10)s</code>

For example, a chain of 10 will last for 3 seconds, a chain of 30 will last for 5 seconds, and a chain of 80 will last for 10 seconds.
===Chain damage===
The amount of damage multiplier provided by a chain break depends on whether there is more than one party member (including NPCs, meaning that solo play with only NPCs follows the multiplayer formula) and the number of the chain counter at the time of break.

{| class="wikitable"
!Player amount
!Formula
|-
!1 player
|<code>Regular damage * (2+(0.125*Chain number))</code>
|-
!2-4 players
|<code>Regular damage * (2+(0.075*Chain number))</code>
|}

{{Mechanics}}