Aura Gate
Aura Gate is a gameplay mode in Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2.
Overview
Aura Gate is a first-person dungeon-crawling gamemode, taking place in Aura Gate 1 or Aura Gate: Hollow World. Some events also feature an Aura Gate SP, which has different mechanics and is independent of the prior two.
Traversing the Aura Gates requires Action Points. Each step consumes an Action Point, and they are replenished at a rate of 1 per minute, up to the Action Point Cap. The Action Point Cap starts at 100, and can be increased by collecting Action Point Cap Increases, which are rewards for completing specific floors. Action Points can also be restored by collecting items in the Aura Gate or by increasing Player Level; these can bypass the Action Point Cap, but the interface will only display up to 9999 Action Points. Once the player runs out of Action Points, they are forced to exit the dungeon.
Before entering an Aura Gate, the player must form two parties. The player can swap between these parties at any point, including mid-battle, except during Gatekeeper fights. HP is preserved between battles, but is replenished if the player leaves and re-enters the Aura Gate, though they will be at the start of the floor. The player can also activate Boost Mode, which increases all Magnetite gained by 100%, but also doubles Action Point usage.
Inside an Aura Gate, the player is given controls to move along the tile-based dungeon and a map showing the position of the entrance to the next floor and tiles they have stepped on. The player can also activate and configure Auto Move, which lets them autonomously move through the dungeon. Moving through the dungeon has a chance of triggering a random encounter, which may be a single Mitama in some areas. While exploring, the player can go to any previously visited floor, exit the Aura Gate, or pause exploration. The latter option saves their current position, but the player is restricted from doing any other activities until they return to the Aura Gate or until it closes, in the case of Aura Gate 1.
There are three types of tiles common to Aura Gate 1 and Hollow World: Damage Panels, which inflict damage on the active party when stepped on; Dark Zones, which require more Action Points to step onto and hide the map while inside them; and item tiles, which grant an item, Magnetite or Action Points when stepped onto. Some doors contain Springs, which fully restore the party's HP and 50 Action Points; they can only be used once an hour across all Springs in either Aura Gate. One door contains the entrance to the next floor, which is guarded by a boss. Bosses, once killed, respawn at the start of an hour.
The player can occasionally find Gravestones in Aura Gate 1 and Hollow World. These are locations where another player's party was defeated, marked by the name of one of the Demons in that party. If the player approaches the Gravestone, they may choose to repeat that fight with that defeated player's party at full HP, but without items and their Dx2 will be the protagonist. Winning the fight will reward them with Souls for the Gravestone Demon, Fame and Magnetite, though they will not gain experience.
Aura Gates are noted as a significant source of Magnetite. In addition to the aforementioned item tiles, all encounters drop Magnetite, bosses drop large amounts of Magnetite, and Aura Gate 1 and Hollow World contain MAG Chests. When a MAG Chest is encountered, the player will be prompted to select a number from 1 to 30 to open it. One of these numbers is a "jackpot", which grants a large amount of Magnetite; another is a "dud", which consumes a tenth of the player's Action Points; and all other numbers simply give a small amount of Magnetite. The player can open up to 10 MAG Chests per day.
Aura Gate 1 and Hollow World are affected by the Moon Phase: Experience is increased by 100% on a New Moon, and Magnetite is increased by 100% on a Full Moon. These increases are additive to similar bonuses (for instance, using Boost Mode during a Full Moon results in a 200% increase to Magnetite gains).
Aura Gate Power Week
The Aura Gate Power Week is a recurring event. During the event, Aura Gates have Magnetite drops from battles increased by 100% (additive to similar bonuses), increased Mitama encounter rates and increased Mitama Extract drops. During the first half of the week, Aura Gate enemies may drop Yasaka Magatama 1★. During the second half of the week, all Brand drops will be of the "Divine" set and more frequent.
Gallery
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A screenshot of Aura Gate 1.
Nomenclature
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
 English
|
Aura Gate | |
 Japanese
|
アウラゲート Auragēto | Aura gate |
   Traditional Chinese
|
靈氣之門 | Aura Gate |