Dark Cloud 2, or Dark Chronicle as it is known overseas, released for the PlayStation 2 in 2003 as a spiritual successor to Dark Cloud. The game was positively received worldwide and won multiple awards. For those who missed out on it the first time around, the game was ported to PlayStation 4 as a digital title in 2016.

One of the main aspects is inventing; combining three ideas in the Idea Book to come up with a brand new recipe. Inventions require “Scoops,” an idea obtained from a photograph. Additionally, some items can only be obtained via inventing. There is a whole range available to players, but not all of them are worth the time.

10 Best: Gift Capsule

Monica uses Monster Badges to be able to transform into certain monsters and the best way to get these badges is by using the Gift Capsule. You add three items that the monster likes into the Capsule and then throw it at your target, once the music note appears above their head, you can kill them and collect their medal.

The Gift Capsule can be made using the following ingredients: x12 Unknown Bone and x15 Sticky Clay. It can be invented by combining the following ideas: Bone, Letter, and Pot. It can be made from Chapter One onwards, though badges can’t be collected until you obtain the Floral Badge in Chapter Two.

9 Worst: Lure Rod

The Lure Rod has a better chance of landing bigger fish and is required to catch the Baron Garayan when used with the Fork Lure. However, the Bait Rod is arguably better as although it catches smaller fish, it can catch them a lot faster as there is less time wasted jiggling the rod about. Ultimately, you can catch more fish at the same time with the Bait Rod, meaning more points.

The Lure Rod can be made with x10 Rolling Log, x10 Scrap of Metal, and x3 Sea Dragon Crystal. It can be invented by combining the following ideas: Fish, Lafrescia Stem, and River. It can be crafted from Chapter Two onwards.

8 Best: Resurrection Powder

Resurrection Powder is a pretty useful item, it prevents you from dying/going unconscious when equipped, or can be used to raise a party member. The downside is you can only carry three and it’s hugely expensive to make. There’s a small chance you can win one as a reward from Spheda, or as a high tier prize from the Fishing Contest or Finny Frenzy.

Resurrection Powder can be made with the following ingredients: x50 Life Element, x5 Holy Stone, and x2 Stamina Drink. It can be invented by combining Fruit, Hot Springs Spirit, and Lotus Flower. It can be crafted from Chapter Seven onwards.

7 Worst: Level-Up Powder

Level-Up Powder instantly upgrades a weapon to the next level, but it’s rare to find and super expensive to make. Ultimately, it’s not worth your time as it’s far easier to upgrade your weapons by getting them to level five and then synching them onto your main weapon that you want to level up.

Level-Up Powder can be made using x1 Diamond, x1 Experience Coin, and x1 Final Bomb. It can be invented by combining the following ideas: Sun Chair, Sun Table, and The Sun. It can be crafted from Chapter Seven onwards.

6 Best: Nova Cannon II

The Nova Cannon is a useful Ridepod arm part that acts as a ranged weapon. It is the strongest Ridepod weapon in the game and is highly recommended. It has four different versions, but it’s suggested to skip crafting the first version as it requires a rare Sun Stone and you’ll later be given one for free by Osmond.

The Nova Cannon II is made with the following ingredients: x12 Sticky Clay, x50 Holy Element, and x20 Fire Element. It can be invented by combining Fire Gem Altar, Streetlight, and The Sun. It is available from Chapter Seven onwards.

5 Worst: Bread

Bread is an item used to recover a small portion of your health. Though the cost of making bread is insignificant in the grand scheme, there’s an easier way to get some for free. You can recruit Polly fairly easily by completing some tasks, after which she has the party ability to produce up to five loaves of bread at no cost until she needs to recharge her skill points.

Bread is made with x3 Flour, x1 Water Element, and x1 Fire Element. It is invented by combining the following ideas: Fireplace, Polly’s Bakery Sign, and Wheat Flour.

4 Best: Aquarium

Making the Aquarium is a requirement of Chapter Four, but it can be made in Chapter One and is super useful. It can hold live fish indefinitely, as well as being used to breed fish, and is also needed for fishing competitions. The items to make it are easy to acquire too.

The Aquarium is made with the following ingredients: x5 Rolling Log, x4 Glass Material, and x15 Water Element. It is invented by combining the following ideas: Fountain, Window, and Wooden Box.

3 Worst: Ridepod Fuel

The Ridepod is a mech-like vehicle that Max can use, as well as being upgradable with various parts. The Ridepod requires fuel to work, with its fuel meter slowly draining from use as well as when attacked. You can create Ridepod Fuel later in the game, but it’s costly and only stacks in five, whereas most items stack in twenty. Additionally, you can simply have Cedric refuel your Ridepod for free by speaking to him. Also, in levels with Ridepod medals, you can sometimes find Ridepod Fuel by throwing the crates and rocks you find.

Ridepod Fuel can be made with the following ingredients: x20 Poison, x5 Improved Bomb, x5 Stamina Drink. It is invented by combining the following ideas: Luna Stone Shards, Mud, and Stardust Pond. It cannot be crafted until Chapter Seven.

2 Best: Knight Boots

The Knight Boots are one of the best inventions in the game, but not for the reason you may think. It’s not that the item itself is especially great, but because they’re an easy source for gaining attack tributes. Simply spectrumize them to get an easier, cheaper way to increase attack rather than Power Crystals.

Knight Boots are made with  x2 Thick Hide and x1 Sturdy Cloth. They are invented by combining Belt, Shield, and The Moon and can be crafted as early as Chapter One.

1 Worst: Treasure Chest Key

Throughout the game, you will come across locked chests that hold rarer loot than their unlocked counterparts. They can either be opened safely with a key, or forced open, which will result in a trap being triggered. Due to the expensive cost of crafting your own keys, you’re better off just buying them from Donny for 500 Gilda each.

Treasure chest keys are made with the following ingredients: x1 Gold Bar, x 5 Silver Ball, and x10 Hunk of Copper. They are invented combining Golden Door, Labyrinth Door, and Sun Chamber Gate Keeper, but cannot be crafted until Chapter Seven.

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