Phantasy Star Online is a fairly deep game, all things considered. It completely immerses its players in a fantastic, futuristic world of danger and adventure. One optional portion of PSO is more-or-less a virtual pet system. These virtual pets, specifically referred to as MAGs, must be fed on a regular basis if they are to grow. And they grow and grow and grow. They take many sizes and shapes and do many things as they evolve. Whether or not they grow well is up to you, its master. Feed it well and it will be your best companion.

This guide has been created to assist those who need to get their foot in the door when it comes to raising MAGs. This guide's recommendations are based more on opinion than fact. Study the information given to learn from it, then devise what works best for you in different situations.

• Red: Red or Orange
• Blue: Blue or Light Blue
• Yellow: Yellow or Brown
• Green: Green or Cyan
• Purple: Purple or Magenta
• Black: Black or Gray
• White: White

• MAG: Easy enough, every character has one after being created. They can be found in the Mine on any difficulty from random boxes. And a simple way to acquire more MAGs is to create a junk character and swipe the MAG from it.
• Plan: You'll want a plan of attack for what you're going to raise the MAG to be. Devote a little bit of time to decide what final stats you want and which PBs you'd like it to have. Figure out how to best feed the MAG to aquire the PBs first and worry about feeding towards the final stats after level 50. You'll have 150 levels remaining to raise the MAG as needed.
• Money: Raising a MAG is a spendy procedure, particularly if it's going to be fed higher-end foods. Make sure you have either a big bank account or a steady income from selling junk found on Ragol.
• Experience: Your character will need to be a minimum of level 11 in order to buy Dimates and Difluids from the shop, as well as randomly find Trimates, Trifluids, Sol Atoms, and Star Atoms for sale.
• Time: It will literally take dozens of hours to completely raise just one MAG. It's a good idea to go down to Ragol to fight and collect junk to sell while you're raising a MAG.

Photon Blasts are an added bonus of having a MAG. As MAGs evolve, they will learn up to three different PBs. As a MAG takes damage or its master deals out damage to enemies, it will store photon energy. When this energy has been charged to 100%, the MAG can unleash a PB. Each PB has a different offensive or supportive result (see glossary for in-depth details). Keep in mind that you can use the offline multi-player (or someone you trust online if you're more daring) to pass around MAGs and feed them with specific classes and IDs.

PB recommendations

• Estlla: Recommended as the level 10 evolution PB. A strong multi-hit PB that follows a linear attack pattern.
• Farlla: Only recommended as a weaker replacement for Estlla or Pilla.
• Golla: Not recommended since it only strikes one target.
• Leilla: Not recommended since most character already have Resta.
• Mylla & Youlla: Recommended as the level 50 evolution PB. Arguably the most useful of all PBs, it casts Shifta & Deband.
• Pilla: Recommended as the level 35 evolution PB. Arguably the most useful offensive PB; it hits everything hard within a circular area.

Earning recommended PBs

• Estlla: Feed your MAG with a RAnger to level 10 and it will automatically acquire Estlla.
• Pilla: Feed your MAG with any class to level 35, making sure that the stat order is DEX>POW/MIND.
• Mylla & Youlla: Feed your MAG to level 50, making sure that one of the following situations apply: POW>DEX>MIND (B/R), POW>MIND>DEX (B/R, B/F), DEX>POW>MIND (A/H, B/R), MIND>POW>DEX (A/H, A/F), or MIND>DEX>POW (B/F)

When a MAG gets hungry it can take up to three food items. A MAG gets hungry approximately three minutes and forty seconds after either a game session begins, a team has been entered (online only), a quest begins (off or online), a quest ends (offline only), the MAG is pulled out of the check room, or the MAG has been fed once on the current round of hunger. Teleporting between levels and Pioneer 2 stalls this time.

Each stat has a percentage (%) scale. Each time a MAG is fed a specific stat scale % will rise depending on the food and MAG evolution. Whenever a scale reaches 100% the corresponding stat will gain a level.

What you feed your MAG makes a rather notable difference on how it will develop in the long run. It pays to be picky about what you feed a MAG, as the wrong food can spell disaster if there is a plan for specific stats. As a solid warning, it is IMPOSSIBLE to feed a basic MAG to level 35 without adding at least some DEF and/or DEX levels. Also be aware that all basic MAGs begin at level 5 with 5 DEF.

• Monomate: Always raises POW %. Generally only fed to baby, level 10, and level 35 evolution MAGs needing POW. Can be used to reduce MIND % in later evolutions.
• Dimate: Always raises POW %. Generally can be fed to any MAG needing POW. Can be used to reduce MIND % in later evolutions.
• Trimate: Always raises DEF and POW %. Generally can be fed to any MAG needing POW, but be wary of the added DEF %. Can be used to reduce MIND % in later evolutions.
• Monofluid: Always raises MIND %. Generally only fed to baby, level 10, and level 35 evolution MAGs needing MIND. Can be used to reduce POW % in later evolutions.
• Difluid: Always raises MIND %. Generally can be fed to any MAG needing MIND. Can be used to reduce POW % in later evolutions.
• Trifluid: Always raises DEF and MIND %. Generally can be fed to any MAG needing MIND, but be wary of the added DEF %. Can be used to reduce POW % in later evolutions.
• Antidote: Tends to raise DEX %. Depending on the evolution and type of MAG intended, this often makes a well-rounded food.
• Antiparalysis: Tends to raise DEX %. Depending on the evolution and type of MAG intended, this often makes a well-rounded food.
• Sol Atomizer: Tends to raise DEF and/or DEX %. Depending on the evolution and type of MAG intended, this often makes a well-rounded food.
• Moon Atomizer: Tends to raise DEF and/or DEX %. Depending on the evolution and type of MAG intended, this often makes a well-rounded food.
• Star Atomizer: Tends to raise all stat %. Best used on baby MAGs that need all stats raised. Also best for raising both Synchro and IQ.

For specific feeding regiments, please view the original MAG guides and galleries. Time willing, feeding regiments will be added to this guide later. Keep in mind that feeding more than one MAG at a time can help to speed things up, but only if each MAG is designated its own specific food. Since you can only carry a maximum of ten units of each food, feeding more than one MAG the same food requires more trips to the shop on Pioneer 2 to buy food. This will slow down a character's progress quite noticably.

DEF - This is a MAG's defensive rating. For each level of DEF a MAG has, its master will gain 1 point of DFP.

DEX - This is a MAG's dexterity rating. For each level of DEX a MAG has, its master will gain 0.5 points of ATA.

IQ - This rates how powerful a MAG is when performing actions and PBs. The maximum is 200.

Level - This is how advanced a MAG has become. With each rating point a MAG gains on a stat, its level will rise in unison. MAGs have a maximum level of 200. Feed wisely to raise a MAG with the desired stats.

MAG - If you're a part of the Hunter's Guild on Pioneer 2, you are officially granted a companion to assist you in your adventures. A MAG can boost your stats, cast Shifta & Deband, Resta and Reverser, grant its master temporary invincibility, and attack enemies with powerful Photon Blasts. Though technically MAG doesn't stand for anything, it seems a fitting acronym for Morphing Android Guardian.

MIND - This is a MAG's mind rating. For each level of MIND a MAG has, its master will gain 2 points of MST. Has no effect on androids.

PB - Photon Blast. When a MAG charges up enough photon energy it can release a powerful Photon Blast that can either attack enemies or assist its master and companions.

PB Boost - When a character unleashes a PB the other members of the party can opt to boost said PB by pressing the Y button before the PB animations begin. Each boost costs 10% photon energy. By boosting another character's PB one can receive experience from enemies killed as well as gain the benefits of Resta and Shifta & Deband. Boosting isn't as effective as using combos (see below).

PB Combo - Multiple PBs can be generated into a combo of up to four PBs. Each PB must be cast within seconds of each other and two successive PBs cannot be identical. Combos effectively boost damage done to enemies and increase Resta and Shifta & Deband effects exponentially. All enemy kills will be counted for all characters who took part in the PB combo. Also, all effects of Resta and Shifta & Deband will be cast upon all characters who took part in the PB combo.

PB: Estlla - A dolphin-like creature that attacks in a linear motion in the direction the character is facing. Damage is exceptionally high and range is about that of a handgun bullet.

PB: Farlla - A serpentine creature that attacks in a circular diameter around the character. Damage is moderate and radius is about that of a mechgun burst.

PB: Golla - An elk-like creature that attacks a single target. Damage is the highest of all offensive PBs, but only one target will be attacked.

PB: Leilla - A mermaid-like creature that casts Resta. Gives better restoration of HP at maximum Synchro and IQ.

PB: Mylla & Youlla - A pair of bumbling twins that cast Shifta & Deband. The techniques are roughly the equivallent of level 25 with maximum Synchro and IQ.

PB: Pilla - A celestial creature that attacks in a circular diameter around the character. Damage is exceptional on most enemies (some enemies have resistance to it) and radius is about that of a mechgun burst.

POW - This is a MAG's power rating. For each level of POW a MAG has, its master will gain 2 points of ATP.

Synchro - This rates how well a MAG responds to its master. Higher Synchro results in faster photon energy charging and better odds that the MAG will perform an action.

> - Greater than. For example: if the stat order reads MIND>POW>DEX, then the stat order is MIND greater than POW greater than DEX.

/ - And. For example, if the stat order reads DEX>POW/MIND, then the stat order is DEX greater than POW and MIND.

(A or B/H, R or F) - ID/class. ID group A includes: Purplenum, Redria, Skyly, Viridia, and Yellowboze. ID group B includes: Bluefull, Greennill, Oran, Pinkal, and Whitill. H refers to Hunters. R refers to Rangers. F refers to Forces. For example: if the ID/class reads (B/R), then it requires a group B Ranger.

(45/F) - DEF 45+ Force evolution. If the MAG has 45 or higher DEF and is fed by a Force, it will aquire a special evolution based on the highest stat between POW, DEX, and MIND.

(100/A, B or C/MH, FH, MR, FR, MF or FF) - Level 100+ evolution. If the MAG has level 100+ and meets stat requirements, it may achieve a permanent evolution on levels multiple of 10 based on who feeds it. The A, B or C refers to the group in which the level 100+ evolution falls under. Group A includes: Bluefull, Redria, Viridia, and Whitill. Group B includes: Greennill, Oran, and Purplenum. Group C includes: Pinkal, Skyly, and Yellowboze. HM is Hunter male. HF is Hunter female. RM is Ranger male. RF is Ranger female. FM is Force male. FF is Force female. For example: if the MAG reads (100/C/HF), then it requires a group C Hunter female.

This guide was created solely for the website PSO World found at http://www.pso-world.com/ and should only be found there and at the author's website. Please Email the PSO World staff if you find this guide at any other location.

You are granted the rights to read and print out this guide to use the information to assist in your Phantasy Star Online experience. You do not have the right to copy, reproduce or plagiarize in part or in whole, or financially gain from this document.

Be aware that this guide is based solely on my experience with raising MAGs throughout my PSO career. It weighs heavily on my opinions and, therefore, is not set in stone. I'm a bit anal when it comes to the stats I give my MAGs (notice how well rounded they wind up - no odd, jagged numbers). This guide is only meant to give ideas on what works well. In the end, the final decisions on what you do with your MAGs rests solely in your own hands.