Character Shards

Character shards can be used to limit break units. Limit breaks will allow a unit to increase their maximum level and combo rate as well as access additional jobs and gear slots. You can also transmute a unit you don't own with character shards, although the cost rises with the unit rarity and this is rarely efficient for any unit above 2 star rarity unless they are a free event unit. In addition to character specific shards, there are also elemental shards that can be used as replacements for them.

Summonable Units

For units acquired through summoning, there are a few primary ways to acquire character shards.

Summoning Duplicate Units/Soul Summon

This will provide a quantity of character shards relative to the rarity of the unit. You receive 25 shards for a 5 star unit, 20 for 4, 15 for 3. Unit shards which are 1 or 2 star can be acquired via the normal summon. In addition, sometimes some summon banners provide shard selector or random shard tickets for specific units as bonus rewards for certain steps.

Farming Character Shards

Most non-limited units and a few limited ones are available for farming via hard versions of story quests that drop their shards. Each quest can be repeated up to 3 times a day and you receive one shard for that specific unit each time you complete it.

To see a list of units which are currently farmable, you can go to the hard section of the story quests and click "Select by Unit" or you can check the Farmable Character Shards list. Alternatively, you can go to a unit's limit break screen and if there is a quest available to farm their shards, you will see it listed there.

Over time, almost all non-collaboration units are expected to receive a permanent hard quest for farming shards (based on the JP version of the game).

In most cases, you not have to have a unit to farm their shards, and if you have spare AP, it might be a good choice to farm some of the better unit shards prior to obtaining them so you will be able to limit break them further once you obtain them. It is also possible to transmute a unit from farmed shards, but it is typically not a good idea for any unit above 2 stars as the amount of shards required is so high.

Event Shard Farming

Magni Historia and Sacred Stone Memories units periodically receive special temporary shard farming events. Sometimes new units will also receive a temporary farming event. For the Magni Historia units, you must have the unit to complete the farm quest.

Purchasing Character Shards

There are some character shards available for purchase via zeni or gems in the Normal Shop and sometimes the Secret Shop. In addition, some 1 and 2 star unit shards can be purchased via the Multi Coin Exchange. It is not generally recommended to buy unit shards with gems, but in some cases it might make sense for limited units if you can spare the gems.

Soul Exchange Shop

You can purchase 3 shards of older 4 or 5 star units via the Soul Coin Exchange shop if you have soul coins. These soul coins are only obtained by trading in excess shards for units you have already reached maximum limit break on, so this is typically only an option once you have been playing for more than a few months.

Other Coin Exchange Shops

In addition to the permanent coin exchange shops, there are often temporary event specific coin exchange shops which may make some unit shards available for purchase via those coins.

The Advent of Phantoms

The Advent of Phantoms event quest has different unit shards available each day through a very difficult quest. If all missions are completed successfully you can obtain 15 shards. You can repeat the quest, but you can only get the shards from each mission reward once, even on reruns.

Collaboration Units

Units acquired from collaboration events do not receive permanent unit shard farming, but some do receive temporary shard farming during their events (for example, the Final Fantasy XV collaboration provides a hard quest during the event to acquire tickets to summon unit shards). Collaborations also often provide bonus shards via other sources, such as login bonuses, special coin shops and challenge board rewards. Their shards can also sometimes be obtained via The Advent of Phantoms.

Free Event Units

For free units acquired via special events, you typically will receive enough shards to transmute the unit from the first stage of the event. Additional shards for the unit can typically be acquired via milestone rewards, drops within the event quests, or occasionally from mission challenge rewards. Typically free event units can be raised to maximum level (85) via the shards available in their events, although some events make the shards easier to acquire than others. Some special cases are not farmable but do give shards through milestones or other rewards and don't yet have enough shards available via the milestones to raise to 85, such as Soren from Magni Historia who can currently only be raised to 70.

Arena Coin Units

There are currently two units, Lotiyah and Yuan, which can only be acquired via the Arena Coin Exchange.

Elemental Shards

In addition to shards that are specific to a unit, there are also generic shards that are specific to an element which can replace a character shard for any unit of that element. In addition there are rainbow shards which can be used to replace a character shard for a unit of any element. These shards are not plentiful and can't be farmed in quantity, but they can be acquired from the more difficult event quests and occasionally from other sources. It is recommended that you save these shards for very good units which are limited (not part of the general summon pool), especially in the case of rainbow shards.

Note: Elemental shards can be used to limit break units but can't be used for Enlightenment, which means that for limited units without permanent shard farms, it is sometimes advisable to save the character shards for enlightening and use elemental shards to get the unit to 85.

Login Bonus

If you log in every day, you will receive 5 elemental shards of each color, including rainbow every 30 days from the login bonus. In addition there are sometimes elemental shards rewarded as special event login bonuses.

EX Coin Exchange

The EX Coin exchange has 5 elemental shards of a random element available for 500 EX Coins every time the shop is refreshed (typically every 2 weeks).

Mystic Tower Veda

The Mystic Tower Veda event returns roughly monthly and has elemental shard rewards for completing some floors for the first time. From clearing all 100 floors you can gain 75 rainbow shards and 75 of each element shards.

Event Summons

Some events such as Godless Revolution have event bosses that you can beat to acquire event summon coins. Those coins can be used for event summons which give a variety of rewards, including elemental shards.

Raids

During Raids there are often rewards for clearing areas or laps that give elemental shard rewards, and there are often elemental shards rewarded from the alchemia port rewards as well.

Event Quest Rewards

Some harder event quests (primarily EX but not always) provide elemental shards as rewards from mission challenges or occasionally from milestone rewards. Most of these events are only available for a short time (typically 2 weeks) but some are permanently available.

Permanent Event Quest Elemental Shard Rewards

Event	Quest	Reward	Type	Requirement for Reward
Blue Flame & Scarlet Blood Tide	Episode 5	Light Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear without mercenary
Nightmare Memories	Episode 5	Dark Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear without mercenary
Young Sweeper	Episode 5	Thunder Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Kill all foes
Everlasting Love and Small Adventures	Episode 5	Water Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear without mercenary
The Entrusted Land, The Winds of Departure	Episode 5	Wind Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear without mercenary
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 1	Entrusted Justice [EX]	Rainbow Soul Shard x 15	Mission Challenge	Clear without continues
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 1	Entrusted Justice [EX]	Fire Soul Shard x 20	Mission Challenge	Max 30 skills used
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 1	Entrusted Justice [EX]	Light Soul Shard x 20	Mission Challenge	No deaths
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 2	Demonic Spearman [EX]	Fire Soul Shard x 20	Mission Challenge	Clear without mercenary
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 2	Demonic Spearman [EX]	Dark Soul Shard x 20	Mission Challenge	No items used
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 2	Demonic Spearman [EX+]	Rainbow Soul Shard x 15	Mission Challenge	Clear before reinforcements
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 3	Arrow of Destiny [EX]	Wind Soul Shard x 10	Mission Challenge	No deaths
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 3	Arrow of Destiny [EX]	Thunder Soul Shard x 10	Mission Challenge	Clear without continues
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 3	Arrow of Destiny [Bonus Rewards] [EX]	Rainbow Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	No deaths
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 3	Arrow of Destiny [Bonus Rewards] [EX]	Rainbow Soul Shard x 10	Mission Challenge	Kill 3+ foes in one blow
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 4	Inherited Cause [EX]	Rainbow Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Kill all foes
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 4	Inherited Cause [EX]	Water Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear with only Water type units
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 4	Inherited Cause [EX+]	Rainbow Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Kill all foes
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 4	Inherited Cause [EX+]	Water Soul Shard x 10	Mission Challenge	Clear with only Water type units
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 5	Fallen Sun [EX]	Rainbow Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Kill 3+ foes in one blow
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 5	Fallen Sun [EX]	Water Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Max 15 skills used
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 5	Fallen Sun [EX+]	Rainbow Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Kill 3+ foes in one blow
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 5	Fallen Sun [EX+]	Water Soul Shard x 10	Mission Challenge	Clear without mercenary
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 6	Two Swords, Two Wills [EX]	Water Soul Shard x 10	Mission Challenge	Clear with max 4 units
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 6	Two Swords, Two Wills [EX]	Rainbow Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear without mercenary
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 7	Laws of a Fluctuating World [EX]	Rainbow Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	No deaths
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 7	Laws of a Fluctuating World [EX]	Dark Soul Shard x 10	Mission Challenge	Kill 4+ foes in one blow
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 8	Lion Monarch's Charge [EX]	Thunder Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear with max 4 units
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 8	Lion Monarch's Charge [EX]	Wind Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	No deaths
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 8	Lion Monarch's Charge [EX]	Rainbow Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Kill 3+ foes in one blow
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 9	The Destiny Harbored by the Lion Monarch [EX]	Dark Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear with max 4 units
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 9	The Destiny Harbored by the Lion Monarch [EX]	Fire Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	No deaths
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 9	The Destiny Harbored by the Lion Monarch [EX]	Light Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Kill 3+ foes in one blow
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 10	After the Deep Blue Sky [EX]	Water Soul Shard x 10	Mission Challenge	Clear while killing the last foe with Kagura
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 10	After the Deep Blue Sky [EX]	Rainbow Soul Shard x 10	Mission Challenge	Complete all quest mission conditions in a single try
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 11 Part One	A Wish that Transcends Space and Time (Part One) [EX]	Dark Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear while using Chloe as a main member
Sacred Stone Memories - Chapter 11 Part Two	A Wish that Transcends Space and Time (Part Two) [EX+]	Thunder Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Kill 4+ foes in one blow
Shadow Plane Karma - Little Serpent Princess	Little Serpent Princess [Extreme Hell]	Rainbow Soul Shard x 10	Mission Challenge	Clear while keeping Undead Familiar alive
Sweet Aspirations	Sweet Aspirations - Episode 3	Wind Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	No deaths
Sweet Aspirations	Sweet Aspirations [EX]	Rainbow Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear without continues
Sweet Aspirations	Sweet Aspirations [EX]	Water Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear with max 4 units
Sweet Aspirations	Sweet Aspirations [EX+]	Thunder Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear with only Thunder type units
Sunrays Beyond Reach	Sunrays Beyond Reach - Episode 3	Light Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Kill 3+ foes in one blow
Sunrays Beyond Reach	Sunrays Beyond Reach [EX]	Light Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Kill 3+ foes in one blow
Sunrays Beyond Reach	Sunrays Beyond Reach [EX]	Wind Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear without continues
The Desert Merchant	The Desert Merchant - Episode 3	Water Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	No deaths
The Desert Merchant	The Desert Merchant [EX]	Wind Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	No deaths
Forest Protector	Forest Protector Episode 3	Fire Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Take Yuto along to clear
Forest Protector	Forest Protector [EX]	Wind Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear without continues
Beyond Life or Death	Beyond Life or Death [EX]	Light Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear before reinforcements
Beyond Life or Death	Beyond Life or Death [EX+]	Dark Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear with max 4 units
Return to the Underworld	Episode 5 Saving Darkness	Dark Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear without continues
Return to the Underworld	Return to the Underworld [EX]	Fire Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear without continues
Justin's Justice	Justin's Justice Ep 3	Thunder Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Take Justin along to clear
Justin's Justice	[EX Wind] Justin's Justice	Fire Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear with only Fire type units
Justin's Justice	[EX Fire] Justin's Justice	Water Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear with only Water type units
Justin's Justice	[EX Thunder] Justin's Justice	Wind Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear with only Wind type units
Justin's Justice	[EX Water] Justin's Justice	Thunder Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear with only Thunder type units
Justin's Justice	[EX Darkness] Justin's Justice	Light Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear with only Light type units
Justin's Justice	[EX Light] Justin's Justice	Dark Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear with only Dark type units
Justin's Justice	Justin's Justice [EX+]	Rainbow Soul Shard x 10	Mission Challenge	Clear with max 4 units
Crystal-Shot Heart	Crystal-Shot Heart [EX Thunder/Light]	Thunder Soul Shard x 5 Light Soul Shard x 5	Milestone	Clear Crystal-Shot Heart [EX - Thunder/Light] 3x
Crystal-Shot Heart	Crystal-Shot Heart [EX Water/Dark]	Water Soul Shard x 5 Dark Soul Shard x 5	Milestone	Clear Crystal-Shot Heart [EX - Water/Dark] 3x
Crystal-Shot Heart	Crystal-Shot Heart [EX Fire/Wind]	Fire Soul Shard x 5 Wind Soul Shard x 5	Milestone	Clear Crystal-Shot Heart [EX - Fire/Wind] 3x
Crystal-Shot Heart	Evolve Celliers	Light Soul Shard x 5	Milestone	Evolve Celliers to 5★
Crystal-Shot Heart	Crystal-Shot Heart Episode 3	Light Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear with max 3 units
Encounters, Fate, and the Sound of Pipa	Evolve Fayrene	Wind Soul Shard x 5	Milestone	Evolve Fayrene to 5★
Encounters, Fate, and the Sound of Pipa	Encounters, Fate, and the Sound of Pipa [EX+]	Rainbow Soul Shard x 5	Milestone	Clear Encounters, Fate, and the Sound of Pipa [EX+]
Encounters, Fate, and the Sound of Pipa	Encounters, Fate, and the Sound of Pipa Episode 3	Wind Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear with max 3 units
Encounters, Fate, and the Sound of Pipa	Encounters, Fate, and the Sound of Pipa [EX+]	Fire Soul Shard x 10	Mission Challenge	No deaths
Stairway to Heaven	Stairway to Heaven - Ep 3	Water Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Kill 6+ foes in one blow
Stairway to Heaven	Stairway to Heaven [EX]	Water Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Kill 4+ foes in one blow
Stairway to Heaven	Stairway to Heaven [EX+]	Water Soul Shard x 10	Mission Challenge	Kill 3+ foes in one blow
Stairway to Heaven	Stairway to Heaven [EX - Hell]	Water Soul Shard x 10	Mission Challenge	Clear while killing the last foe with D'Artagnan
Sandy Journey Under Stars	Sandy Journey under Stars - Ep 3	Thunder Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear with max 3 units
Sandy Journey Under Stars	Sandy Journey under Stars [EX]	Thunder Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear with max 4 units
Sandy Journey Under Stars	Sandy Journey under Stars [EX]	Rainbow Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Complete all quest mission conditions in a single try
Lizards of the Lost Kingdom	Lizards of the Lost Kingdom [EX]	Rainbow Soul Shard x 15	Mission Challenge	Clear without continues
Lizards of the Lost Kingdom	Lizards of the Lost Kingdom [EX]	Dark Soul Shard x 10	Mission Challenge	No deaths
Sound of the Bells	Sound of the Bells [EX+]	Fire Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear with only Fire type units
Hourglass of Life and Death	Hourglass of Life and Death - Ep 5	Wind Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear without continues
Hourglass of Life and Death	Hourglass of Life and Death [EX]	Wind Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear with only Wind type units
Hourglass of Life and Death	Hourglass of Life and Death [EX+]	Rainbow Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	No deaths
Hourglass of Life and Death	Hourglass of Life and Death [EX+]	Thunder Soul Shard x 10	Mission Challenge	Clear with only Thunder type units
Hourglass of Life and Death	Hourglass of Life and Death [EX+]	Wind Soul Shard x 10	Mission Challenge	Clear with only Wind type units
Reaching the Gates of Sin by Dawn	Reaching the Gates of Sin by Dawn [EX]	Fire Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear with only Fire type units
Babel Chronicles - Red Sparks of Iron	Normal mode quests 1-10	Fire Soul Shard x 10	Milestone	Complete all Quest Missions for [Babel Chronicles] Red Sparks of Iron [5/5]
Babel Chronicles - Dazzling Black Veins	Normal mode quests 1-10	Dark Soul Shard x 10	Milestone	Complete all Quest Missions for [Babel Chronicles] Dazzling Black Veins [5/5]
Babel Chronicles - Green Prayers in Drought	Normal mode quests 1-10	Wind Soul Shard x 10	Milestone	Complete all Quest Missions for [Babel Chronicles] Green Prayers in Drought [5/5]
Reclaiming the Scarlet	Reclaiming the Scarlet [EX]	Light Soul Shard x 5	Mission Challenge	Clear with max 3 units

Other Sources

In addition to the more reliable sources of elemental shards, you can sometimes get them from alternative sources, such as bonus rewards from certain steps of summon banners, bundles, or for gems or special coins from event specific shops.