Game FAQ

How Do I Progress?

For the early game:

Read the Story. If you get stuck and your girls aren't fully leveled, take your squad to Arena and set up low power auto arena. Then close your game and go outside to touch some grass. Maybe you should sleep or study. Maybe you can just eat some dinner. YES you close your game. The Auto Battle is server side you can close it, even on your phone. When you come back your squad would have gained some levels and earned you GP to buy boosters and chips from Mari's shop. You will also earn memoria upgrade material you can use to upgrade your memoria. If they are fully leveled and booster/chipped, you may need to get some gear from flashback battles or craft some.

What is Heaven Burns Red

Should I play Heaven Burns Red?

Heaven Burns Red is a niche visual novel gacha mobile game written by Jun Maeda, the writer of Angel Beats. If you know anything about Jun Maeda and Key you know to expect a light hearted day to day story with tear jerking moments weaved in between. From my experience, the story telling, the characters, and the music made me keep playing the game when I first just decided to download the game because of some stupid youtube ad I saw. To this day, I don't regret being bored and trying out the game. Though some of the jokes and banter feel repetitive, Key has created a world that feels alive with a unique cast of characters. As someone who has read many mobile game stories, I personally like HBR the most and recommend anyone to join the experience. Take your time with the story and let the music and cast immerse you in the world filled with cancer.

Is Heaven Burns Red pay to win?

HBR is a solo game experience, but like most gacha games, it is pay to win. Is it incredibly pay to win? Without PvP, I personally believe it isn't extremely pay to win. The story can be beaten without spending a single dime. The EN server is also getting a version of the game that has nerfed story battles and the increased character levels QoLs. You should have no trouble advancing through the story. The pay to win aspect will start to show when aiming to clear rotating content (Score Attack) or certain farming content (Dungeon). Those who have every style or high limit breaks will have an easier time gathering more rewards from this content than those who are free to play and unlucky. For those who are not spending or only paying for the monthly pass, it is highly recommended to hoard your pulling resources. Styles that are recommended to pull on this project are aimed to help you choose which styles you would need in your box in order to have the tools to clear the maximum rewards in end game content. Without the recommended styles it may be a lot more difficult or impossible to claim the maximum rewards.

Even without spending any currency to pull, many free pull events are scattered around each couple of months. On average, one can expect to get 1-3 SS every 3-4 months without even pulling due to the amount of free pulls and random Guaranteed SS tickets that are provided.

Common Generic Questions

Does the game have a guild or friend system?

No.

Can I beat the game without the gacha?

No.

Do I need the best memorias to clear story?

No. The story is very easy compared to clearing all end game rotating content.

Why is Byakko?

Yes. She is lovely and beautiful.

Reroll, Free Ruka, Elements

How good is the free Ruka SS?

The free Ruka is a glorified S memoria. She will most likely carry you for most of the story content but will quickly fall out of favor as you gain more memorias for your collection. This main reason she is considered a glorified S instead of a SS is that at max limit break Ruka will have maximum lvl of 140 instead of the normal 160 a normal max limit broken SS memoria will provide. She also doesn't receive any notable passives like +1 SP while in the vanguard.

Should I reroll?

Though the dev team provides a good amount of random guaranteed SS tickets and free pulls, you still need to be lucky to get desirable memorias.

As very few memorias are limited, most of the cast is fair game. HBR is a heavy collection based Visual Novel game that will raise benefits the more memoria you own. Rerolling is highly recommended to start off with a strong foundation with at least 1 strong general offensive buffer to start your journey with the Seraph to tackle on the cancers. A strong general buffer will go a long way in providing support to any SS memoria that will join you on your squad in the future.

How do I reroll?

Just get lucky and get all the memoria you need in 1 try. I did not reroll in JP.

A good guide YouTube guide for rerolling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi5jhhmcvds

Are there any limited memoria?

In JP there are currently 8 limited memorias. The first Angel Beats Collab brought 2 limited memorias. The 2nd Angel Beats Collab brought 3 more limited memorias.

There are only 3 non-collab limited memorias called "Unison" memorias. They only started appearing after the 2nd anniversary of the game.

Who should I select on the 12 memoria selector?

There are 2 meta options. Tama SS1 or Seika SS1. Pick Seika SS1 if you plan to reroll until you have the perfect account (0.001% chance). You will be able to have a chance to get Tama SS1 in the launch banner. Choose Tama SS1 If you do not plan on rerolling or don't want to reroll for too long.

Pick Tama SS1 if Launch Banner is no longer available.

If you are not rerolling you may also opt to roll only on the step up.

Which element should I focus on?

Personally, I would not work on any element if you're starting out. If you focus on building your core general supports, you will clear more content than anyone who focuses on a certain element. This is because general supports can be used in any team as they provide support to any team member and not just 1 element. As you gain the elemental supports, you can slowly phase out some of the general supports. Still, even most optimized elemental teams use 2-3 general supports.

The first element to have the weakness apply debuff is Thunder. So it wouldn't be wrong to try to invest into Thunder. Thunder in current JP is still one of the strongest elements to date as you can play both fast or tank and spank slow.

Do elements matter?

Elements are extremely important in HBR. After the release of Irene SS1, WFS decided she was too strong and released null (no elemental) resistant enemies. Elements will be extremely important so that your attacks are not resisted.

Elemental supports in HBR are extremely important for elemental teams, but has the obvious drawback of only supporting the 1 element they are designed to assist. If you have a light elemental supporter but do not own a light element dmg dealer, it is like not having the supporter memoria on your account. Due to this, it is HIGHLY recommended you build up your general support list first and only level elemental teams after. In the future of HBR, there are supports that can make enemies weak to their element, so you can invest highly into those elements to clear all content. However, further in the future it becomes more cost efficient to go with the "Irene" meta where certain null element memorias have built in 400% multipliers and automatically hit weakness and critically strikes. Until the release of those memorias, elemental weakness is highly important.

Memoria Information

What are memorias? What are styles?

Memorias are what you pull from the gacha. Think of them like costumes of a character with skills attached to it. Each SS memoria comes with 2 types of skills:

• EX skill (exclusive skill/ultimate; cannot be shared between memoria unless it is a SS1 EX skill and has undergone generalization)
• Common skill (shared across all memorias of that character).

You can't have two of the same character on the same squad, and each will use one memoria at a time. In JP, memorias are called styles.

Are S memorias viable?

There are a few usable S memoria. There is 1 S memoria in JP that is still used often by free to play and whales. At launch Yunyun (Yingxia), Shiki, Aina, and any healer are strong enough for your team by fulfilling important roles in a team.

Yunyun and Shiki have a unique passives at limit break 3 (not present in any SS), which increases the rearguard's SP by +1 per turn as long as Yunyun or Shiki are the in vanguard. This is extremely useful when lacking limit break 1 on SS memorias for the +1 SP/turn while in vanguard passive. In JP Yunyun S is still used to this day due to this passive.

Aina S is one of the most powerful debuffers at launch and continues to be one of the a powerful S debuffers in JP. If you lack SS memorias that can fulfill her job, you will most likely want to have her in your squad.

At the beginning it is viable to use any S healer, but prioritize Tama S or Muua S. Later during the Angel Beats Collab an extremely powerful defender, Irie, will be the welfare memoria. During the early JP days, she was often used as a healer, even over SS healers.

My skill levels are at 3/10, how do I raise them further?

There are 3 methods to raise your skill levels once you finish leveling them up on the memoria board:

• using a memoria with the skill equipped
• using the "Skill Guide" item

Bringing a memoria with the skill equipped will grant a chance for a level up after every victory (less than 1% chance). Weaker enemies have a lower chance. Skills will not level up in the Arena (AFK farm), but can level up in story mode dungeons without using life stones. Skills roll level ups separately so there is no point in removing unused skills.

Skill Guides are items that increase skill level by 1. You can get at least 5 per month. You earn them from reaching mile stones in score attack and clearing weekly hard mode battles.

How much do skill levels matter?

Skill levels don't matter very much until end game from my experience. However, if all skills are at low levels, it will greatly impact your total dmg. Each skill level will only increase 1 aspect of the skill. If a skill does multiple things, a skill level will only affect 1 aspect. If the skill provides dmg or healing they will be prioritized. Skill levels are most important for non-damaging and non-healing skills that buff and debuff as the buff/debuff will be affected. Each increase in level will increase your buff/debuff/heal/dmg by 2%. At level 10 you will have a 20% increase is effectiveness.

To see more detailed information about skill level up stats, see the Seraph Database.

How do I get more skill slots?

To gain more skill slots, a character will need to be reverted. To revert a character it will require 3 different bells (in JP they have combined the bell and require 3 rainbow bells) and level 90. Each reversion will decrease a character's experience (the amount of experience from lvl 1-90). So make sure you don't accidentally revert a character right when they hit lvl 90. A character will have an increase in skill slots at reversion 1/5/10/20. Currently in JP there are a few other methods to gain skill slots (daphne and mastery 10). You can gain bells from events, score attack, and from other content. It is highly recommended to only use them when you need the character to have an extra skill slot. Gaining a skill slot through reversion will provide the extra skill slot to the character no matter which memoria you are using for that character.

Why would I want to undo a reversion?

To move the reversion to another unit.

What does SS1 or SS2 or SS3 even mean?

The SS1 is the first SS released of a character (the default memoria). The SS2 is the second SS released of the character and so on.

How do you raise a character's maximum level?

The maximum level of a character depends on the number of limit breaks and rarity of their memoria. The level range is the following:

A: 100-120 (Each limit break increases max level by 1)

S: 110-130 (Each limit break increases max level by 2)

SS:120-160 (Each limit break increases max level by 10)

For example, a character with a max limit broken S memoria and a 0 limit broken SS memoria will have the maximum character level of 130. Even if the maximum level of the SS memoria should be 120, the maximum level of the S memoria is 130, so the character's maximum level is 130.

How important are Limit Breaks?

Limit breaks of a memoria will increase the maximum character level as stated above. Each SS limit break will increase your 6 main stats (not HP or DP) by 10% of your base stats for the memoria. The stats are important for limit break 1, but have dimishing returns after that. Passives unique to the memoria are learned at certain limit breaks. Most SS memoria have a passive at limit break 1 and 3 (and in the future 0). The most important part of limit breaking SS memoria is the limit break 1 passive. Most SS memoria (not free Ruka or Aoi SS4) provide +1 SP/turn if in the vanguard. This is incredibly important, and should be prioritized for healers and buffers as they require the most amount of SP. 95% or more of the memorias will not require limit break 3 to perform their job; it is mostly a luxury that provides very small boost to the memoria. Overall, it is recommended to upgrade memorias you use to limit break 1, but it is not important to push for limit break 3 unless you are a high spender.

Is there a method to limit break without dupes?

Memorias can be limit broken using shards. Depending on the limit break, it will require different amounts of shards. For SS memoria the following amount of shards (cumulative) are required from limit break 0:

LB1: 10 SS shards

LB2: 20 SS shards

LB3: 40 SS shards

LB4: 60 SS shards

You will receive about 3-4 SS shards per month from events and Score Attack. If you buy the platinum card you can get an extra 4 per month. If you buy the 3 month bundle platinum card, you will earn 3 SS shards immediately (1 per month).

You can also limit break SS memoria through your weeklies. By completing weeklies you will fill up a bar. It takes about 3 months to fill it to 100%. At 100% you may consume the bar to increase the limit break of any SS memoria that is currently limit break 0-1 (to LB1-2). It will require 200% bar to increase the limit break of a limit break 2 or 3 (to LB3-4).

Who should I limit break first?

Limit break 1 priorities are: buffer > healer/defender > breaker/attacker ≥ debuffer

Buffers, healers, and defenders will require the highest amount of SP, and they will also be in the vanguard more often than debuffers and damage dealers, so they require more defensive stats to survive.

Story Questions

Does clearing story require life stones (Stamina)?

No.

Can I redo/reread story to pick other dialogue options?

You can replay at any time without spending stamina.

Do the dialogue choices matter?

Dialogue choices do not matter 99% of the time. The other 1% will occur in early in the story. However, the dialogue choices you make will affect Ruka's future interactions, as characters may recall previous dialogue choice events. Some CGs are locked behind dialogue choices as well.

Additionally, some dialogue choices will increase Personality Trait levels. You can always replay the story to get all the Personality Trait levels.

I can't talk to anyone during free time? Why is that?

If you cannot read bond stories of a character during free time, this is because you have either not read the previous bond story, or you lack the Personality Trait parameter required to interact with the character.

How do I increase my personality traits? How do I increase the "Eccentricity" parameter?

You can increase personality traits through free time and dialogue choices. If you go back in the story to gain personality traits through free time, it will consume 1 life stone to increase the parameter. Eccentricity is the only personality trait that is not available every free time, as it is leveled at the movie theater on Flavor Street, which is only available to visit on Sundays (in game).

Events

Are the event stories limited?

Only collab event stories are limited.

What order should I do the events?

Events should be cleared in release order, or follow this guide.

Stamina and farming

Where should I be using my life stones (stamina)?

Early game you should be using your life stones in flashback prism. Later, when dungeon and prism gem battles are available, you will want to use life stones there. When they release, orb battles will be available to learn orb skills.

When do other farming nodes open?

Dungeon opens mid Ch3. Gem Battle opens Ch3 day 20. Orb battles open Ch 4.1 day 6. Clock Tower open after clearing Ch 3.

Should I refresh my life stones (stamina) using quartz (rolling currency)?

Please. For the love of God. NEVER REFRESH LIFE STONES WITH QUARTZ.

Is using 3 life stones the only daily?

Yes. That's it.

What are the dailies/weeklies/monthlies that aren't in the missions tab?

There are no dailies that aren't in the mission tab.

There are weeklies that are not in the mission tabs. These include: Score Attack, Hard mode, and other rotating content.

Score Attack will last for 2-3 weeks and have weekly missions. You will get a ticket every week to clear hard mode. You will need to visit the hard mode page to claim the ticket. Ticket claiming can stack (max 10?). Other rotating content appear at unscheduled times.

There are a couple of monthly resetting shops: Hard mode shop and pity shop.

Does Arena/Hyperbolic Time Arena use up life stones or end my free time?

No, arena will not end free time, and neither use stones.

What does account level do?

Account level will increase the maximum length of time that auto arena will run. In early levels, there are milestone levels (decreased in EN) that allow you to use more life stones at the same time per fight. Once you can use 5 life stones per battle, account level does nothing for you.

How do you raise account level?

Bond stories, bond memories, and clearing flashback prism, event, or gem battles will increase your account level. Orb battles do not increase account level.

Do I need to leave auto arena on?

When you auto arena on low power mode, you can close the game. On mobile there will be no button telling you to close the game, but you can close the app and the auto arena will continue. The auto arena is server side.

Is this game autoable?

For the first few chapters, you might be able to auto it. It is not possible to auto end game content. You will notice you deal thousand times more if you manually play due to the mechanics of this game. You will need to set up your damage dealer to have 2 sets of every buff, build up overdrive, use overdrive to stack 1-2 turn debuffs and then unleash your damage in one shot. If you don't get the stars to align your dmg will be extremely small. On auto you can choose which skills you want on or off. If multiple skills are on, the game will use a skill the moment there is enough SP to perform the skill.

Gameplay

Why can't I beat this boss?

There could be many different reasons why you are stuck on a boss. The following can be your issue:

1. Character levels are too low
2. Gear is unoptimized
3. Team composition is garbage just like this project
4. Skill Issue

How important is it to reach the maximum reward in Score Attack?

It is not important to get the maximum reward in Score Attack, as it is just a trophy. You will want to reach the milestone that provides everything that aren't the trophies for all the important mats or pulls.

What gear should I be using?

See the Gear Guide.

What is this missing piece of gear?

The missing piece of gear is most likely the orb. Up to three of each orb can be collected through orb bosses to use and master orb skills. For more info please see the Gear Guide.

Misc.

What packs are worth buying?

The monthly pass is the most cost efficient thing you can ever buy. The Gold pass is the most cost efficient $/quartz. The Platinum pass is less efficient $/quartz, however, you will gain SS shards (one of the most important resources in the game).

Outside the monthly passes, the most cost efficient packs are the packs that come with 10 SS shards. This is because you can choose who you are limit breaking, making it incredibly efficient as it is like buying a selector, but you have to have owned the memoria.

When is daily reset?

0:00 UTC-7

How often are the main story updates?

Every 9-11 months.............

How often are there new event stories?

There is a new event story every month.

How much powercreep is there?

From my experience, the meta shifts slightly every 1-2 months. The shift isn't strong enough to make your current "meta" teams obsolete. About every 3-5 months an extremely strong support tends to powercreep any supports that are considered strong. Still, there are supports that are widely used even after a long time (i.e. Yingxia SS1, Aoi SS1, Tama SS5).

Yingxia SS1 is still widely used in nearly every team 2 years after debut.

How do I use SS1 EX skill on other memoria?

The SS1 of a character can have their EX skill generalized to be used on all other memorias of that style, including A and S memorias. To generalize you will need the character lvl to reach 90 and the memoria upgrading crystal for damage type and light crystal. Light crystals can be earned through score attack and hard mode fights.