Turn order: faster characters act more often. The bar shows who moves next. KK's Weird Talk can pull an ally's turn forward.
Wok-Wok's next move is always shown. With Fern in the party you can see one move further.
Break gauge: only hits on a weakness chip it away (ultimates chip it regardless). Empty it and Wok-Wok is broken: it skips its next action, spits out anyone inside, and drops any lock or charge. It takes ×1.6 damage while broken. Save your ultimates for this.
Weaknesses start as question marks. Hit one once to reveal it, or have Fern analyze. Wok-Wok's weaknesses change when it turns red-hot at half HP.
Protect Lili: Lili is on the field and can't act. Wok-Wok's charges and locks only go after her (unless she's inside the wok). Stew and Big Stew hit everyone. If she gets pancaked, you lose. Anyone can choose "Guard Lili": until their next turn, they take single-target hits and swallows meant for her at 30% less damage, and she only takes half from group attacks.
When Wok-Wok says "Gourd detected," it has locked on and will swallow on its next action. Counter it by breaking it first, throwing the clearance squash (you only get one), having KK taunt (KK takes the hit), or having Wawa nod to steal the lock (he slips out on his own).
Swallowed gourds get burned every time Wok-Wok acts and are spat out after two actions, covered in soot: no sugar regen and slower.
When KK's stress maxes out, they involuntarily turn into a Mope Gourd and can't act for two turns. Once human again, they can use "Office Drone Revival" once. A Mope Gourd is still a gourd, so Wok-Wok will try to eat it.
Quest 2: Wok-Wok must be in the party. Char is fast and slippery, and his evasion is shown on him; a dodged attack only grazes him for 30%. Getting him wet (Bobo's water, Wok-Wok's hot soup) lowers his evasion and speed. Wok-Wok's "Gourd Detected" pins him so he can't dodge or steal sugar. Fern's analysis makes everyone more accurate. The action KK boosts with Weird Talk always hits.
Quest 3: in the factory, every step you take is one tick of time, and the guards take a step too. Tiles lit by a guard's flashlight glow; stand on a lit tile and you're spotted, unless you're hiding in a cardboard box, steel drum, plastic crate or hawthorn basket. Get spotted and you'll have to fight the guard. HP doesn't refill between fights.
Char always thinks in the same order: someone has lots of sugar → steal it › someone is about to drop → Precise Throw › someone's ultimate is ready → Feint to push them back › nobody is dusty → Dust Cloud › otherwise, Throw Everything.
Arrow keys / WASD to move, Space to wait a beat, tap a name above to switch leader