BlitzBall! It's the sport that would have been Multiplayer, if Squaresoft would have made FFX a multiplayer game. Though it would have been nice connecting to the internet, and whomping on other human opponents, I'm glad they decided to make the whole RPG element multiplayer in FF11 instead. I mean, if you really have to choose one thing, make it the whole thing.
That is not to say that Blitzball doesn't rock! But just what is it about blitzball? A lot of people don't know how to play! The instructions, I guess, are too incomprehensible. Many don't play too much blitzball. It doesn't affect the outcome of the game too much. But wouldn't it be great to win?! Here's how you win.
First, notice that there are two "Parts" to Blitzball. Offense, which you have the option of controlling, and Defense, which you can't control at all... Or CAN you? I'm going to venture a long one, and say yes, yes you can. They don't tell you HOW you can control it though.
The very first screen you see when you start a blitzball game is how you control your Defense. "Player Selection". How you do that, is you look at the stats of all your players.
Find the one with the highest "Catch", and remember to choose him LAST. First, you should choose the players with the highest "Shot". Then choose the best "Pass", because he is the guy who will be in the middle of everything; he will need to get the ball everywhere in the arena, and he'll be close to anybody who might get into trouble. Finally, choose the two guys with the highest "Strength" as your rear defenders, and for goalie (remember this guy?) Choose the one with the highest "Catch".
When I selected my characters, "Tidus" had a great Shot score, "Letty" had a high "Pass", and "Keepa" was best at "Catch". Keepa, the Goal Keepa. Letty, the guy who Lets everyone else have the ball.
I've heard from some tutorials that Keepa isn't the best goalie in the world, but this starting formation should have you winning a couple games in no time.
Here's a quick rundown sorted by experience gained, of how you can increase your player's levels faster in Blitzball by doing certain techniques... If you don't have these techs, keep an eye out for people to copy them from. (Look at the list of all people in the game (
Here) and skills they're likely to have, and play against those teams often in Exhibition Games)...
Note: You don't gain any experience in Exhibition Games, but neither do the opposing teams. For this reason, you should play Exhibition Games while you are training your characters, and learning all the Tech-Copies you can! Once you've got the system down, and know a few wither/venom moves, play League games and keep the following values in mind;
Normal Tackle = 0 EXP
Normal Shot/Pass = 1 EXP
Special Move: Nap, Wither, Drain, or Venom Tackle = 1 EXP
Special Move: Tackle Slip (lv1 or 2) = 1 EXP
Special Move: Anti Nap, Wither, Drain, or Venom = 1 EXP
Any Successful Shot/Pass = 2 EXP
Goalie Deflecting the ball = 2 EXP
Special Move: Nap, Wither, or Venom Shot/Pass lv1 = 2 EXP
Special Move: Sphere Shot = 2 EXP
Special Move: Nap, Wither, Drain, or Venom Tackle 2 = 2 EXP
Special Move: Super Goalie = 2 EXP
Any Volley Shot (lv1,2,3) = 3 EXP
Any Successful Interception/Tackle = 3 EXP
Special Move: Nap, Wither, or Venom Shot/Pass lv2 = 3 EXP
Special Move: Invisible Shot = 3 EXP
Special Move: Jecht Shot = 3 EXP
Special Move: Nap, Wither, Drain, or Venom Tackle lv3 = 3 EXP
Goalie Catching the ball = 4 EXP
Special Move: Good Morning! = 4 EXP
Special Move: Gamble = 4 EXP
Special Move: Nap, Wither, or Venom Shot/Pass lv3 = 4 EXP
Special Move: Jecht Shot lv2 = 6 EXP
Special Move: Aurochs Spirit = 6 EXP