Even in 2026, when indie RPGs are everywhere, Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling still feels like a love letter to classic Paper Mario. I picked it up expecting nostalgia and got a combat system that kicked my antennae. It is turn-based, badge-driven, and full of timing-based action commands. But it also hides rules that the game never explains well. Here are the ten pro tips I wish I had known before my first boss wipe.
10. Leveling Takes Awhile
I learned quickly that Bug Fables does not hand out early levels like candy. You do not start at level one and shoot up to level ten in an hour. Instead, you collect exploration points from defeated enemies. Once you hit one hundred exploration points, you rank up. In practice, that can take around eight enemies per rank. And it gets slower. Each time you rank up, nearby enemies give fewer medals, so you need more medals for the next level. If you are used to fast progression, pace yourself. This is a marathon, not a sprint.
9. Only One Stat Increases at Once
When you finally rank up, you get three choices. You can increase one stat: the game's special-move resource, one point of additional health, or more medal points. That is it. You cannot spread the love. I made the mistake of dumping everything into HP early, then wondering why my skills felt weak. The smarter play is to balance. If you ignore Medal Points, you cannot equip the badges that make your team shine. If you ignore special points, your best moves run dry. If you ignore HP, one bad block ends your run. So treat every rank-up as a long-term investment.
| Choice | What it gives | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| HP | +1 max health | Keeps your bugs alive, but only just |
| Special resource | +1 for skills | Lets you use team moves and utility |
| Medal Points | +1 for badges | Unlocks powerful badge builds |
8. Medals are a Must
Medals are this game's badges, and they are not optional. You find them in the overworld, inside dungeons, and sometimes for a hefty price from shops. Equipping medals can help or harm your character, which is actually a clever way to control difficulty. Some medals give you extra attack, defense, or special effects. Others come with drawbacks. Each medal costs a certain amount of badge points, and you can only equip so many. I like to carry a mix of offensive and defensive medals. Experiment. A build that works for Vi may be terrible for Kabbu or Leif.
7. Flying Enemies are Common
Flying enemies are a rite of passage. Only Vi can hit them while they are in the air. That means your first move against an airborne foe is almost always Vi. Once you knock it to the ground, you can use another party member to hit it. Later in the game, enemies will fly back up after being hit once while grounded. So you need to plan turn order. I cannot count how many times I wasted Kabbu's turn on a wasp that was still buzzing above his horn. Learn the rhythm, and flying foes become manageable.
6. You Need Items
Because you only gain one health point per selected level, your health is extremely limited. That is not a typo. You will not have a huge HP pool. So items are not a crutch; they are a necessity. Pick up items that remove status effects, heal HP, and restore special points. I also recommend carrying a magic seed for reviving fallen party members. Without items, some bosses feel impossible. With them, you can recover from a bad turn and keep fighting. Do not sell everything for berries. Stock up.
5. Blocking is Essential
Blocking is the action command that saves runs. When an enemy initiates an attack, press the corresponding button at the right moment to decrease the damage. Do it perfectly, and you might take almost nothing. Miss it, and your squishy bug may lose half their health. I treated blocking as optional at first. That was a mistake. The game naturally teaches you the rhythm as you play, but you should practice early. A blocked hit can be the difference between a clean win and a total party wipe.
4. First Strike is Complicated
Unlike Paper Mario, first strikes are a bit complicated. Enemies can easily attack you first, but to get a first strike on them, you must hit them with a special ability and then walk into them. Hitting them with the boomerang from long distance will not initiate the battle. I learned that the hard way after a dozen failed sneak attacks. Once you do hit them and enter battle, the first character gets two turns instead of one. That is a huge advantage, so practice your field moves. It is worth the extra effort.
3. Switching in Battle
Luckily, you can easily switch between characters in battle. The very first turn for each round allows you to switch between attackers. After the first party member has attacked, though, you must use turn relay to switch. Turn relay gives your selected party member the turn, but their attack may be reduced. The attack is reduced only if they have already attacked once. I use this to set up combos. For example, let Vi knock a flying enemy down, then relay to Kabbu for a heavy hit. Just remember the damage penalty if you relay after a character has already acted.
2. You Will Have Plenty of Berries
You will not need to grind for money. Berries are the currency, and the game gives them out in large amounts for completing chapters and simply defeating enemies. You can also sell items or do side quests to rank up more money. That means you can afford healing items, inn stays, and medals without turning the game into a second job. I appreciate that Bug Fables respects your time. If you are short on berries, sell some old medals or take a side quest. But do not worry about farming the same enemy for hours.
1. You Can Retry Battles
One of the best features is the ability to retry battles. If you die, you get a few choices: retry the battle, quit the game, or load from your last save point. This is perfect for players who want to save time and have memorized the boss's attack patterns. You will not be forced to redo entire sections of the game over again if you fall in battle. In 2026, more RPGs should steal this idea. It makes tough fights feel like puzzles instead of punishments.
Final Thoughts
Bug Fables may look cute, but its combat has teeth. The game rewards planning, timing, and a willingness to experiment with medals. My advice? Balance your stats, hoard useful items, practice blocking, and use turn relay to control the battlefield. If you are playing in 2026 for the first time, these ten tips will save you from a lot of unnecessary wipes. Now go show those wasps who is boss. 🐞⚔️