What's the point of this guide?

To act as a reference for any player who wants to platinum Suikoden I in a single playthrough. I've noted down every annoyance they'll want to avoid. But I'll give no hints as to what can be accomplished without a deadline looming.

Do I need to beat the game on the hardest difficulty?

Yes. When prompted on starting a new game, choose the hardest difficulty. You cannot change the difficulty setting afterwards. The difficulty in Suikoden is not the combat. In fact this is a breezy RPG at only 15 hours in length. Hard mode only gives enemies a 20% buff to their hit-points. The actual challenge is in reaching the deadline with all 108 stars intact. Stars can die permanently in War Battles, or be outright missed.

What else is needed for the Platinum?

For Suikoden I you will need to:

• Finish the campaign. Obviously.
  
• Complete Ivanov's painting. A scavenger hunt. Nothing missable.
  
• Recruit all 108 stars before the final dungeon. Very missable.

When does my fortress upgrade?

The fortress upgrades when the number of Stars you've recruited hits a certain threshold.

Level 2: 25 Stars.
Level 3: 45 Stars.
Level 4: 90 Stars.

Keep in mind that while you unlock fast-travel in the middle of the game, the cutscene that heralds the fortress hitting a new level only triggers when you physically enter the place by boat.

Anything else?

There are a number of unique items that can be missed that aren't tied to any achievements. I'll list them in italics as they appear in chronological order. I won't be listing any common items found in one-time areas.

Easter Egg: Fortune Orb or Prosperity Orb.

After leaving Gregminster palace our hero, that this guide will call "Tir", is prompted to return home. Inside he'll be joined by an ally called Ted, and then the other three members of his retinue.

However, there is a bonus item you can acquire if you leave Gregminster before that point and head west. By crossing a bridge and climbing a mountain, you'll find the town of Sarady. If Tir is by himself, he can speak to an old man there and be awarded a Fortune Orb. When equipped it doubles the experience gained by that character. If Tir speaks to the old man with just Ted in tow, he'll be awarded with a Prosperity Orb. This doubles the amount of Potch (currency) received after battle. For story reasons Tir himself cannot equip any orbs.

Both of these orbs can be freely acquired later in the game. Neither orb is necessary to acquire early. EXP earned from defeated enemies quickly diminishes when you out-level them. A player can also max out their Potch thanks to a dice-game unlocked later inside the fortress.

Gregminster: Armour Shop

Be sure to look at the inventory of this shop at the first opportunity. You don't need to buy anything.

Octopus Pots & Celadon Urns

These items are rarely dropped by the Bon Bon enemies found in the Gregminster area. They must be appraised before they can be sold. They serve no purpose unless you wish to display them in the fortress bath-house unlocked later. These items are no longer available after entering Fortress Kwaba.

STR Rune Piece

This unique item cannot be obtained after defeating the Zombie Dragon. As this dungeon is a linear path, you will almost certainly find it beforehand.

Kraze's Fate

The player will be given a choice to decide the fate of Kraze at the end of this storyline. Neither outcome will affect any achievements.

Village of the Elves: Armour Shop

Be sure to look at the inventory of this shop at the first opportunity. You don't need to buy anything.

Rare Boss Drop

The boss of this area has a slight chance of dropping a Goldlet accessory. Only one other Goldlet can be found in a treasure chest in a later area.

From this point onward there will be War Battles where Stars can die!

My advice is simple:

• Save beforehand.
  
• Keep multiple save files.
  
• If a Star dies in battle, reload.
  
• If a Star is injured in battle, they're fine
  
• Check the tablet found in 3F of the fortress after a battle if you're unsure as to their status.
  
• Send out the Ninjas first if you have them.
  
• Then send out the thieves.
  
• There's no trickery here. This is just a game of Rock-Paper-Scissors.

Q: How many War Battles are in Suikoden I?

A: There are nine War Battles total.

Q: Can a Star die outside of War Battles?

A: Yes. There will be one Star who will unavoidably die over the course of the story. Keep playing.

Missable Star Alert!

Win the duel against the boss of this dungeon, but do not kill in them in the following dialogue-option!

Q: How do Duels work?

A: They function as Rock-Paper-Scissor matches like the War Battles. Do note that the participant's stats are taken into account regarding damage inflicted and damage mitigated. The opponent's dialogue hints as to what action they will take next.

Q: How many Duels are in Suikoden I?

A: There are just three Duels total.

Missable Star Alert!

At the end of this short dungeon, you'll again be given the opportunity to kill another enemy commander though a dialogue-option. Don't kill them!

Missable Star Alert!

The next War Battle is called "Battle with Teo." You'll be forced into it as soon as you speak to the newcomer in the War Room.

Before engaging, you must make sure a certain Star already recruited is properly leveled and equipped. Why? Because they will take part in a Duel after the battle. If they lose the Duel the story will continue, but the Star will be dead. It's not enough to merely win a Rock-Paper-Scissors match as their stats are taken into account. The Star's name is Pahn.

• If the Star is under-leveled, just train them in the last area the story visited. This should take no time at all, thanks to the game's generous catch-up mechanic.
  
• If you lack funds to buy better gear for them, then play the dice-game in 1F of your fortress. The game is biased in the player's favour and a save-point is conveniently in the same room.

Yardstick, Salt, Soy Sauce, Soap

Extra copies of these items can only be acquired during a trading-sequence you undertake to recruit a Star here. Afterwards these items serve no other purpose and can be safely discarded.

Champion's Orb & Boar Orb

Completing the dungeon called "Cave of the Past" will bring you to this one-time area. You'll be prompted to leave via a portal after witnessing the scenes here. But before then you should pick up these two valuable items found lying in plain sight. Neither are technically missable, only expensive and rare. The Champion's Orb can be bought in a shop. The Boar Orb is dropped by a common enemy.

Missable Star Alert!

Your castle should hit level 4 provided you recruited every possible recruit before Neclord. Otherwise you will have to wait until after Seek Valley.

This Star is among the worst to recruit, as it requires your strategist Mathiu Silverberg to not be currently be engaged with the next War Battle. We are coming up close to the 108 Star deadline, so it's strongly advised to recruit this Star now.

In short you must:

• Have recruited 90 Stars. This is the earliest point that's possible.
  
• Witness the cutscene of your fortress reaching Level 4.
  
• Speak to the Star inside a house in Kalekka until he comments on your progress.
  
• Speak to Mathiu Silverberg until he writes a letter.
  
• Speak to the Star in Kalekka again until he joins you.

Missable Star Alert!

As soon as your business is wrapped up here, you will head back to the fortress. Only to the immediately return, this time with all four blacksmiths in your party. Their names are:

• Mose
  
• Moose
  
• Meese
  
• Maas

Speak with the fifth blacksmith found here. The deadline is even closer, giving you little time to recruit this Star.

A reminder that now is also a good time to recruit the above mentioned Star in Kalekka, Your castle may not have hit Level 4 until now, due to numerous Stars gallivanting around.

Missable Stars Alert!

This encounter is not timed. When returning to this checkpoint you will meet two Stars who offer to join you. Do not turn down their request!

Missable Star Alert!

As soon as you return, you'll be prompted to visit the War Room. Don't do this!

Instead head to the BF and speak with the new Star currently inside a prison cell. This Star isn't technically missable, but they're first recruited mere moments before the story hits the 108 Star deadline.

I don't need to tell you where the climax takes place, as it will be obvious by that point. What I will tell is what carries over when you transfer your save over to the sequel. Characters who return in that game will incur a bonus to their level and weapon if they are playable. But here are the three major factors you should take note of.

If you transfer a save file at all, you will unlock a cool side-quest found late in Suikoden II.

If you hit the deadline with all 108 Stars on that save file, then you will unlock a unique collectable that's still frustratingly missable in that game too.

There's a piece of equipment you'll want to equip to a Star here who's playable in the sequel. Said equipment is the best armour-piece in Suikoden I, found here in the final dungeon. When this Star returns midway in II, their armour slot will be locked. This is the only means to have them wear something better.

The armour in question is the Windspun Armour.

It should go to the Star called Humphrey

This short guide should help you find the easily missed stuff that can negate achievements. If you have any further questions, or there are additions to be made, then please comment below.

Please don't lift the written content of this guide without crediting the proper source, or host it on another page entirely. But I just know it will be that same bum-wipe as always.