Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter Quartz Guide: Best Setup & Locations

Master your combat orbment with this complete Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter quartz guide. Find locations, stats, and optimal builds for SC.

Understanding the Quartz System in Trails in the Sky SC

If you're diving into Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter quartz mechanics for the first time, you're in for a treat. The orbment system in SC builds on what First Chapter established, giving you more granular control over your party's stats through elemental quartz. Whether you're optimizing Estelle for tanking or turning Kevin into an arts powerhouse, understanding every Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter quartz option available is essential for tackling the game's toughest bosses.

The combat orbment in SC features seven element lines — Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Time, Space, and Mirage — and each quartz you slot into your characters' orbments modifies specific stats, sometimes with trade-offs. Let's break down everything you need to know.

Complete Quartz Breakdown by Element

Every quartz in the game falls under one of seven elemental categories. Each category corresponds to a specific stat focus, and higher-tier quartz require more Sepith to synthesize. Here's the full rundown of what's available:

Earth Quartz: Physical Defense

Quartz Name	Effect	Elemental Value	Synthesis Cost	Location
Defense 1	DEF+3% / STR-1%	Earth×1	Earth×20	Orbal Factories
Defense 2	DEF+6% / STR-3%	Earth×3	Earth×100	Orbal Factories (Ch. 2+)

Earth quartz is your go-to for frontline fighters who need to absorb physical hits. The trade-off of reduced STR is usually worth it for characters like Agate or Estelle when you're facing bosses that hit hard with physical attacks.

Water Quartz: Maximum HP

Quartz Name	Effect	Elemental Value	Synthesis Cost	Location
HP 1	Max HP+3%	Water×1	Water×20	Orbal Factories
HP 2	Max HP+6%	Water×3	Water×100	Orbal Factories (Ch. 2+)

Water quartz provides a straightforward HP boost with no downsides. This makes it one of the safest options for any character, especially early on when survival matters more than optimization.

Fire Quartz: Physical Attack

Quartz Name	Effect	Elemental Value	Synthesis Cost	Location
Attack 1	STR+3% / DEF-1%	Fire×1	Fire×50	Orbal Factories, Balstar Channel chest
Attack 2	STR+6% / DEF-3%	Fire×3	Fire×100	Orbal Factories (Ch. 2+), Jenis Old Schoolhouse chest

Fire quartz is ideal for your physical damage dealers. The DEF penalty is a real consideration, but characters like Agate or Joshua can afford to sacrifice some defense for the extra damage output.

Wind Quartz: Arts Defense

Quartz Name	Effect	Elemental Value	Synthesis Cost	Location
Shield 1	ADF+30 / ATS-1%	Wind×1	Wind×20	Orbal Factories (Ch. 1+ except 2), Jenis Old Schoolhouse chest
Shield 2	ADF+40 / ATS-3%	Wind×3	Wind×100	Orbal Factories (Ch. 3+)

Wind quartz boosts your resistance to arts while slightly reducing your own arts damage. This is crucial for characters who need to survive enemy casters without contributing much to arts damage themselves.

Time Quartz: Speed

Quartz Name	Effect	Elemental Value	Synthesis Cost	Location
Action 1	SPD+10%	Time×1	Time×100	Orbal Factories
Action 2	SPD+20%	Time×3	Time×200	Orbal Factories (Ch. 2+), Carnelia Tower chest

Speed is arguably the most important stat in the Action Time Battle system. Time quartz has no penalties, making it universally valuable. Community reports consistently recommend prioritizing SPD on at least one party member per fight.

Space Quartz: Movement

Quartz Name	Effect	Elemental Value	Synthesis Cost	Location
Move 1	MOV+1	Space×1	Space×100	Orbal Factories (Ch. 3+)
Move 2	MOV+2	Space×3	Space×200	Orbal Factories (Ch. 3+)

Space quartz increases how far a character can move each turn. While it doesn't directly affect combat stats, the positional advantage can be significant for reaching enemies or escaping dangerous areas.

Mirage Quartz: EP Capacity

Quartz Name	Effect	Elemental Value	Synthesis Cost	Location
EP 1	Max EP+3%	Mirage×2, Time×1, Space×1	Mirage×30, Time×1, Space×10	Orbal Factories (Ch. 1+), Grimsel Fortress chest
EP 2	Max EP+6%	Mirage×3, Time×1, Space×2	Mirage×100, Time×1, Space×50	Orbal Factories (Ch. 2+), Jabba/Ruan drop

Mirage quartz is essential for characters who rely heavily on crafts and arts. The synthesis cost requires Sepith from multiple elements, so plan your farming accordingly.

Where to Find Every Quartz in SC

Knowing where to acquire each Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter quartz saves you hours of backtracking. Here's a location summary:

Location	Quartz Available	Notes
Orbal Factories	All basic quartz	Available from start; higher tiers unlock in later chapters
Balstar Channel	Attack 1	Treasure chest
Jenis Old Schoolhouse	Attack 2, Shield 1	Treasure chests
Grimsel Fortress	EP 1	Treasure chest
Carnelia Tower	Action 2	Treasure chest
Jabba/Ruan (Ruan)	EP 2	Enemy drop

The Orbal Factories in Grancel are your primary source for synthesis. As you progress through chapters, higher-tier quartz become available for purchase there.

Optimal Quartz Builds by Character Role

Different party members benefit from different quartz setups. Here are recommended configurations based on community-tested strategies:

Physical Damage Dealer (Agate, Joshua)

Priority	Quartz	Reason
1	Attack 2	Maximize STR for crafts and S-Crafts
2	Action 2	Higher SPD means more turns
3	HP 2	Stay alive while dealing damage
4	Move 2	Close distance to enemies faster

Arts Caster (Kloe, Olivier)

Priority	Quartz	Reason
1	EP 2	More EP for casting arts repeatedly
2	Action 2	Cast more frequently
3	HP 2	Survive enemy attacks while casting
4	Shield 2	Boost ADF for survivability

Tank/Support (Estelle, Kevin)

Priority	Quartz	Reason
1	Defense 2	Maximize physical damage reduction
2	HP 2	Increase overall survivability
3	Shield 2	Protect against arts damage
4	Action 2	Act sooner to heal or support

Synthesis Cost Planning

Farming Sepith efficiently is key to building your ideal orbment setup. Here's what you'll need for a full loadout of tier-2 quartz:

Quartz	Earth	Water	Fire	Wind	Time	Space	Mirage
Defense 2	100	—	—	—	—	—	—
HP 2	—	100	—	—	—	—	—
Attack 2	—	—	100	—	—	—	—
Shield 2	—	—	—	100	—	—	—
Action 2	—	—	—	—	200	—	—
Move 2	—	—	—	—	—	200	—
EP 2	—	—	—	—	1	50	100

Time and Space Sepith are the most contested resources since multiple quartz types require them. Prioritize farming these from enemies in the Liber Ark during the endgame for the best drop rates.

Pro Tips for Quartz Management

Don't ignore slot upgrades. Upgrading your orbment slots at the Bracer Guild increases the elemental value you can place, unlocking higher-tier quartz effects.
Swap quartz between fights. There's no penalty for changing your setup, so adapt to each boss's elemental weaknesses and attack patterns.
Save before synthesis. If you're low on Sepith, consider whether you really need that second tier-2 quartz or if a tier-1 will suffice for now.
The Time Gem quartz was added in the PSP release and included in all English versions — it's a unique addition worth seeking out for its SPD benefits.

For more detailed information on the full orbment system and how quartz interact with crafts, check out the official Falcom website for developer insights.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter quartz for beginners? For new players, HP 1 and HP 2 are the safest choices since they provide survivability with no penalties. Pair these with Action 1 or Action 2 to ensure your characters act sooner in battle.

Where can I farm Sepith quickly in SC? The Liber Ark dungeons during the final chapter offer the best Sepith drop rates across all elements. Enemies there drop significantly more Sepith than anything found in earlier chapters.

Should I use Attack quartz on every character? No. Characters who primarily use arts (like Kloe or Olivier) benefit more from EP and ATS-boosting options. Reserve Attack quartz for physical damage dealers like Agate and Joshua.

How does the elemental value system work with quartz? Each quartz has an elemental value that contributes to your orbment's total for that element. Reaching certain thresholds unlocks higher-tier quartz slots, allowing you to equip more powerful options.