⚡ Photon Arts 101 — How PAs Work in New Genesis
Photon Arts (PAs) are weapon-specific special attacks you use in combat, alongside normal attacks and Weapon Actions. The official manual describes PAs as your main “special attacks” tied to your weapon type.
A few NGS truths to lock in:
- Every weapon has its own PA set. Your class just decides which weapons you can use.
- PAs cost PP, so your damage is always tied to PP management.
- Some PAs have hold/charge variants that change the attack when you hold the button, giving extra hits, travel, or a different finisher.
- Weapon Actions + counters are built into your kit, and many classes get huge value by weaving counters between PAs rather than spamming one move.
- Your PA palette is part of your build. Choosing the right 3–4 PAs for your weapon changes your whole flow.
In short: PAs aren’t just “big attacks.” They’re your toolbox.
🛠️ Tech Arts Customization — Why PAs Feel Different in 2025
In 2025, Photon Arts aren’t static anymore. NGS has Tech Arts Customization, which lets you modify certain PAs and Techniques with alternate effects (speed, PP behavior, damage bias, utility tweaks). You unlock and upgrade these at the Class Counter.
Practical meaning:
- Two players using the same PA might get different performance depending on their customization.
- Old “best PA” lists from years ago aren’t always accurate, because custom variants shift what feels optimal.
- If a PA feels weak for you, check if its customization path is the real power source.
So when I say “best PAs,” I’m talking about best PA roles and best usage patterns, not a frozen damage spreadsheet from 2023.
🎯 How to Decide What PA Is “Best”
Instead of chasing a single “top PA,” think in roles. The Arks-Visiphone Photon Arts list notes that many PAs have different quirks like guard frames, invulnerability, or special follow-ups.
Here’s the simple checklist veterans use:
- Single-target DPS PA
- Your boss killer.
- Usually higher PP cost or longer animation.
- Best during downs or safe windows.
- AoE / mobbing PA
- Wide hits, multi-target, or vacuum style.
- Best for PSE Bursts and sector farming.
- PP-efficient “filler” PA
- Good damage per PP.
- Keeps pressure up between bursts.
- Doesn’t leave you dry.
- Movement / gap-closer PA
- Lets you stick to enemies, reposition, or chase fast targets.
- Utility / safety PA
- Has guard frames, i-frames, or sets up counters.
- Sometimes lower DPS, but massive survivability value.
A good palette usually has one PA from each category. That’s how you look “meta” without even trying.
🟥 Hunter Photon Arts (Sword / Partisan / Wired Lance)
Hunter PAs are built around control, guard windows, and big punish moments. In 2025, Hunter also leans heavily into Arts Avenger timing. The Sword PA page highlights that with Hunter Arts Avenger skills, properly timed PAs gain a big damage boost and PP restore, plus invincibility during the window.
Sword PA roles
Sword is the “classic” Hunter flow:
- Mobbing PA: a wide sweeping PA that cleaves big circles.
- Boss PA: a heavy hitter PA you use during downs or after counters.
- Gap closer PA: a forward-moving slash to stay glued to targets.
- Avenger setup: many sword PAs feel “best” only when you Avenger-counter with them.
How to play Sword “right”:
Don’t spam one PA. Use counters → Avenger PA → filler PA → repeat. Your damage skyrockets when you’re timing Avenger windows instead of face-rolling.
Partisan PA roles
Partisan is more technical:
- Quick thrust PAs for sticking to a boss’ weakpoint.
- A longer reach AoE PA for packs and trial mobs.
- A burst PA that hits hard after a guard or counter.
It’s very good at down factor building and safe poke damage, especially on bosses that move a lot.
Wired Lance PA roles
Wired Lance is the most “mob control” Hunter weapon:
- Pull / vacuum style PAs that gather mobs.
- Spin / slam AoE PAs for PSE Bursts.
- Boss pressure PAs that keep you mobile while staying in range.
If you like farming sectors, Wired Lance palettes are all about gather → spin → finish.
Hunter quick PA loadout idea (per weapon):
- 1 AoE clear PA
- 1 PP-efficient filler PA
- 1 heavy punish PA
- 1 movement PA
- Then build muscle memory around Avenger timing.
🟧 Fighter Photon Arts (Twin Daggers / Double Saber / Knuckles)
Fighter is all about stance pressure, fast cancels, and staying on top of the target. The Fighter class frame notes that several Fighter weapons reward specific timing and follow-ups after PAs.
Also, Fighter got major tuning in 2025, so PA feel is cleaner and more consistent than older versions.
Twin Daggers PA roles
Twin Daggers are air-dominant, chase-heavy.
- Boss PA: rapid multi-hit strings that stay glued to weakpoints.
- Mob PA: spinning or cross-slash PAs that hit wide arcs.
- Movement PA: air dashes / dive PAs to keep tracking.
- Utility: many dagger PAs flow into air normals, which are part of your real DPS loop.
Daggers feel best when you’re constantly re-locking height and distance, not when you land and spam.
Double Saber PA roles
Double Saber is your “blender.”
- AoE PA: big circular hits for packs and bursts.
- Boss PA: a sustained DPS PA that keeps ticking while you move.
- Filler PA: fast, low PP moves to keep your rhythm.
Double Saber is super comfy for PSE Bursts because it keeps you mobile while deleting mobs.
Knuckles PA roles
Knuckles are raw single-target aggression.
- Boss PA: short-range, high DPS punches.
- Filler PA: fast jabs to rebuild PP.
- Gap PA: a forward-rush punch to catch movement.
- Utility: knuckles often reward counter-into-PA loops.
If you like “stick to the face and never stop swinging,” Knuckles are it.
Fighter quick PA loadout idea:
- Daggers: 1 chase PA + 1 air DPS PA + 1 AoE PA
- Saber: 1 AoE blender + 1 sustained DPS + 1 fast filler
- Knuckles: 1 burst punch + 1 filler jab + 1 gap closer
- Then weave counters whenever your weapon action allows.
🟨 Ranger Photon Arts (Assault Rifle / Launcher)
Ranger PAs are designed around precision, range control, and multi-role swapping.
Rifle PA roles
Rifle is the single-target tool.
- Boss PA: a focused PA that rewards weakpoint hits.
- Filler PA: low-PP shots that keep DPS stable.
- Movement PA: slides or lunges to reposition while shooting.
Rifle is usually your “stay safe, keep pressure” weapon.
Launcher PA roles
Launcher is the AoE monster.
- Mobbing PA: huge splash PAs that delete packs.
- Burst PA: one big PP dump that clears trials fast.
- Utility: some launcher PAs keep distance while still hitting hard.
Ranger play in 2025 is basically:
- Rifle for bosses
- Launcher for farming
- Swap smoothly depending on what’s in front of you
🟡 Gunner Photon Arts (Twin Machine Guns)
Gunner PAs are all about close-range aerial pressure and stylish movement. They’re strong for mobbing and bossing, but they demand positioning.
PA roles you want:
- Boss PA: a high-DPS PA that locks you into the target’s face.
- AoE PA: fast spinning or spray style moves for mobs.
- Mobility PA: dashes/teleports that reset distance quickly.
- Filler PA: fast shots that maintain PP and chain into bigger bursts.
If you play Gunner right, you’re basically always in motion, and your best PAs are the ones that let you keep that motion while dealing damage.
🟦 Force Photon Arts & Techniques (Rod / Talis)
Force is the Technique master. You do use a couple weapon PAs, but most of your “best moves” are actually Techs. The Tech Arts Customization system matters a ton here, because it affects your tech performance and some PA behavior.
Rod PA roles
Rod PAs are mostly utility:
- A PA for repositioning or setting up.
- A PA for quick damage when PP feels awkward.
- Some Rod PAs are used to bridge between tech casts.
But your real damage comes from:
- Matching element to enemy weakness
- Using charged/uncharged tech rules correctly
- Cycling bursts during downs
Talis PA roles
Talis leans into:
- AoE zoning for mobs
- Smooth PP flow
- Tech synergy
If you’re new to Force, the simple rule is:
Most of your palette should be Techs, not PAs.
Your PAs are there to help your Tech rhythm.
🟩 Techter Photon Arts (Wand + Support Flow)
Techter is a hybrid of melee wand combat + techniques + buffs.
PA roles look like:
- Mobbing PA: wand swings + a wide PA for packs.
- Boss PA: a heavier wand PA for down windows.
- Utility: PAs that flow into wand normals or help setup.
Techter damage feels best when:
- You’re staying in melee
- You’re using Techs tactically for weakness hits
- You’re leveraging support tools without dropping your DPS loop
🟪 Braver Photon Arts (Katana / Bow)
Braver in 2025 is designed around dual-weapon synergy. Modern Braver guides point out that optimal Braver play uses both Katana and Bow thanks to key skill interactions.
Katana PA roles
Katana is counter-heavy and mobile.
- Boss PA: quick slashes that flow into counters.
- Filler PA: low PP hits to keep uptime.
- Mob PA: wide arcs or multi-hit sweeps.
- Movement PA: dashes to stick to targets.
Katana “best PAs” are the ones that keep your counter windows frequent.
Bow PA roles
Bow is the ranged burst tool.
- Boss PA: charged shots or multi-shot bursts during downs.
- Utility PA: quick uncharged shots to maintain PP rhythm.
- Mob PA: piercing or spread shots for packs.
Your Braver palette should reflect your playstyle:
- Katana-leaning = more counter flow, shorter PAs
- Bow-leaning = more charge management, bigger punish moments
- Real meta = swap when the fight calls for it
🟫 Bouncer Photon Arts (Soaring Blades / Jet Boots)
Bouncer is mobility + tempo.
Game guides highlight Jet Boots in particular having hold-to-release PA variants and strong elemental interactions through Jet Boots Elemental Set skills.
Soaring Blades PA roles
- AoE PA: mid-range sweeps and spins for packs.
- Boss PA: fast multi-hit strings that keep you airborne.
- Utility: PAs that set up Blade finishers or counters.
Jet Boots PA roles
Jet Boots are about:
- Charge/hold PAs for enhanced finishers
- Fluid movement
- Element-infused rotations
Jet Boots feel best when you’re actively using hold variants, not tapping everything.
🟦 Waker Photon Arts (Harmonizer)
Waker is pet-style combat. Your “PAs” are basically commands for familiars.
Waker roles:
- Mobbing commands: wide familiar attacks that clear sectors comfortably.
- Boss commands: focused pet strikes for sustained DPS.
- Utility commands: movement or setup orders that keep pets aligned.
Waker is one of the easiest classes to PA-manage because your kit naturally covers AoE + boss pressure without needing complicated palettes. (Waker is listed among current NGS classes in 2025.)
⬛ Slayer Photon Arts (Gunslash)
Slayer is speed, aggression, and flow.
Your PA roles:
- Boss PA: high-DPS burst moves you dump during downs.
- Filler PA: fast slashes/shots that keep your PP stable.
- Mob PA: sweeping or dash-through attacks for dense packs.
- Movement/utility: Slayer loves PAs that reposition instantly.
Slayer “best PA usage” is mostly about:
- Keeping rhythm
- Using counters cleanly
- Dumping burst PAs at the right time (downs, safe windows)
If your PAs feel “meh,” it’s usually because your timing is off, not because the PAs are bad.
🎮 Easy PA Loadouts — Farming vs Bossing
Here are super simple templates you can copy for any weapon:
Mobbing / PSE Burst palette
- Big AoE PA (your main clear)
- Fast AoE filler (cheap PP)
- Movement PA
- Optional utility/guard PA
Goal: nonstop kills, not fancy burst.
Boss / Single-target palette
- Heavy punish PA (downs only)
- PP-efficient DPS PA (your loop)
- Utility/counter setup PA
- Movement PA
Goal: uptime + safe burst.
If your palette doesn’t have movement or PP-friendly options, your DPS will always feel worse than it should.
⚠️ Common Photon Art Mistakes
Let’s save you pain:
- Spamming one PA forever
- Most weapons want a loop, not a single button.
- Ignoring counters/guard frames
- Especially on Hunter, Fighter, Braver, Bouncer, Slayer. You lose huge damage if you never counter.
- Using boss PAs on trash mobs
- Big PP dump moves are for downs. Use AoE clears for packs.
- Never using hold variants
- Some weapons (Jet Boots, certain melee kits) get massive upgrades from holding a PA.
- Not checking customization options
- Tech Arts Customization can literally flip which PA is “best” for your build.
Fix these and you instantly feel stronger.
❓FAQ
Do I need every PA unlocked?
No. You only need the small set that fits your weapon’s roles. The rest are options you can experiment with later.
Why does my damage feel low even with “good PAs”?
Usually PP management or counter timing. Your PA choice matters, but your flow matters more.
When should I change my PA palette?
Any time you change content type: farming sectors vs bosses vs duels. Palettes are situational.
Are old PA tier lists still valid in 2025?
Not fully, because balance patches and Tech Arts Customization shift PA value over time.
Conclusion
Photon Arts in PSO2 NGS aren’t about finding one secret “best move.” They’re about building a clean toolkit for your weapon:
- AoE PA for mobs
- Heavy punish PA for downs
- PP-friendly filler PA for uptime
- Movement/utility PA for control
- Then weaving counters and customization to make the kit yours
If you follow that logic, you’ll always be using “best PAs” for your situation, even when patch notes shift numbers. And if you ever want to speed up your progression or farm goals, BoostRoom can be a nice optional time-save — but your PA mastery is what makes you dangerous on Halpha.
Now go tune your palette and make your class feel like it’s supposed to. ⚡
