Tales of Eternia Remastered Reid: Character, Skills, and Story

Who Is Reid Hershel in Tales of Eternia Remastered?

Reid Hershel returns as the fiery protagonist of Tales of Eternia Remastered, reprising the role he first played when the original PlayOne adventure debuted back in 2000. The remaster preserves his rough-around-the-edges personality, his signature weapon flexibility, and the emotional backstory that defines his arc from a self-reliant hunter to the wielder of the Divine Aurora. For newcomers, Reid is the entry point into the conflict between Inferia and Celestia, and the man whose choices determine whether the Grand Fall consumes both worlds.

This guide breaks down everything players need to know about Reid in Tales of Eternia Remastered, including his origins, combat style, notable artes, and recurring roles across the wider franchise.

Reid's Backstory: From Orphaned Hunter to Chosen Hero

Reid grew up in the rural village of Rasheans alongside his two closest companions, Farah Oersted and Keele Zeibel. As a child, he was competitive and quick to tease, often claiming credit for Keele's discoveries during their adventures in the surrounding forest.

The defining tragedy of Reid's life occurs when the trio sneaks into the forbidden Regulus Knoll at Farah's insistence. Inside the sealed cave system, they disturb something ancient and deadly. Monsters swarm Rasheans, and Reid's father, Bitz Hershel, locks him in the basement for safety before organizing the village's defense. Bitz is killed in the fighting, leaving Reid orphaned and largely shunned by villagers who quietly blame him for the catastrophe.

Pulled from that wreckage, Reid learns to survive alone. He becomes a hunter, providing for himself through self-sufficiency and avoiding emotional attachments. Farah retreats to a monastic life at Regulus Dojo to seek redemption, while Keele is forced into intense study at the family estate. For years, Reid lives one day at a time, convinced that true happiness means nothing ever changes.

That belief shatters the day an object from the sky crashes into his favorite wooden lookout tower. He pulls Farah clear just in time, then rescues a mysterious girl with dark skin from a strange machine moments before it explodes. A rainbow light pulses between Reid and the girl, Meredy, marking the beginning of his journey through Inferia and Celestia. Across the remaster, this emotional foundation drives his gradual transformation from a loner content with the status quo into a hero willing to shoulder the fate of two worlds.

Appearance, Personality, and Voice

Reid is recognizable at a glance: a red-haired young man with fountain-blue eyes and an outfit built for movement rather than fashion. His classic look pairs a chetwode lavender sleeveless crop top with cream-and-white trousers, golden lattice armbands, a brown utility belt, and large lavender vambraces strapped over his gloves. He insists the whole ensemble is "all the clothing he has," which has become a long-running joke among fans.

Personality-wise, Reid begins the game as a sarcastic, status-quo-loving country boy who clashes constantly with Keele's academic tendencies and Farah's impulsive decisions. He complains whenever the party must travel further from home, yet he never abandons his friends when they are in danger. By the midpoint of the story, the Trials of Seyfert reshape his worldview, granting him the empathy and resolve needed to wield the Divine Aurora against the Dark Aurora. In short, Reid's arc is about learning that protecting what he loves sometimes means letting go of the peaceful life he once clung to.

Fighting Style and Weapon Mastery in Tales of Eternia Remastered Reid

Reid is a frontline melee brawler whose combat identity revolves around high physical power, raw speed, and aggressive offense. Unlike most protagonists in the franchise, he cannot cast magic. Instead, he compensates with a sprawling arsenal of weapons and a unique ability called Fibrill, granted later in the story to channel the Divine Aurora.

Weapon Versatility

Reid is the only character in the original cast who can wield such a wide variety of weapon types. Each category shapes his damage profile and unlocks new artes as his weapon stats grow.

Because he tracks two weapon statistics (slash and thrust), Reid's arte list expands organically based on which weapons a player chooses to invest in throughout the campaign.

Core Artes and Divine Skills

Reid's moveset leans into elemental infusions and powerful finishers. Several artes that defined his original appearance return in the remaster with refreshed animations.

• Sonic Blade / Rising Phoenix: Fast forward rushes that can chain into more advanced forms. Rising Phoenix remains one of his staple gap closers.
• Burning Phoenix: The advanced Divine Skill version of Rising Phoenix, capable of devastating groups when Reid is staggered appropriately or, in certain ports, freely available.
• Demon Hammer / Demon Lightning: Heavy two-handed strikes that pack serious single-target damage.
• Sword Rain: Alpha / Tempest Strike: Multi-hit combos that shine in prolonged battles.
• Quasi Seal: A mid-range counter and pressure tool that fits his wild fighting style.
• Aurora Wall: His signature Divine Skill from later in the story. It deals area damage and revives fallen allies, making it a defining example of his backing in a clutch moment.

Because Reid cannot use traditional magic, his Fibrill ability becomes essential in boss encounters where the Dark Aurora threatens the party. It functions as a defensive and restorative countermeasure, reinforcing his role as the team's anchor.

Reid's Role in the Story of Tales of Eternia Remastered

Reid's journey begins as a reluctant escort and gradually escalates into a save-the-world mission. The opening section of the campaign is built around his relationship with Farah and Keele, and the early game introduces Meredy, the Celestian girl whose arrival pulls him into a much larger conflict.

Key story beats tied directly to Reid include:

• The Greater Craymels: Reid is the one who proposes approaching Undine, the Greater Craymel of Water, to ask about the Grand Fall. His blunt, "nothing ventured, nothing gained" attitude convinces Farah to back the plan, leading to the battle that wins Undine's favor.
• Travel to Inferia City: Reid argues that gathering all the Greater Craymels is "way out of our league" and that informing the king is the responsible course of action. This decision drives the party toward the royal storyline and the political conflicts that follow.
• Trials of Seyfert: A pivotal character arc that reshapes Reid from a loner into a compassionate leader. His performance in these trials directly unlocks access to the Divine Aurora.
• The Grand Fall: The final confrontation tests everything Reid has learned. His ability to wield Fibrill and stand against the Dark Aurora determines the outcome for both Inferia and Celestia.

Throughout these story segments, Reid's voice lines blend sarcasm with sincerity. He complains loudly about every new detour, then charges into danger the moment his friends are threatened, which is exactly the tonal balance that made him memorable in the original release and remain the team's emotional backbone in the remaster.

Reid Across Crossover Appearances

Reid has shown up in numerous spinoffs and crossover titles, giving fans of Tales of Eternia Remastered Reid plenty of reasons to revisit his older roles.

In the Radiant Mythology games, his appetite becomes a recurring comedic beat, including one skit where he eats Arche Klein's notoriously bad cooking without getting sick, which the cast attributes to his "unique digestive system." The remaster itself is purely a single-player experience focused on the original story, but fans can enjoy this broader history through the franchise's crossover catalogue.

Quick Tips for Playing Reid in Tales of Eternia Remastered

• Build slash and thrust in parallel. Reid's arte list grows with both stats, so diversifying his weapons pays off far more than specializing in a single category.
• Save FP for Fibrill. Because he cannot cast spells, his FP pool is best spent on Fibrill activations during boss phases where the Dark Aura threatens the party.
• Pair him with a caster. Reid's lack of magic means pairing him with Keele or Meredy for elemental coverage keeps the team flexible against a wider range of enemies.
• Use Burning Phoenix strategically. When unlocked, it is one of the strongest area attacks in the game, but in some ports it requires specific setup, so watch for visual cues before committing.
• Experiment with axes and halberds early. Their wide swings and stat bonuses can speed up many early-game encounters compared with swords alone.
• Watch the skits. Reid's sarcastic comments and food jokes are some of the most beloved character moments in the franchise, and the remaster preserves them faithfully.

For players who want a deeper dive into the original game's mechanics, the official Bandai Namco Tales of Eternia Remastered product page includes official system requirements, supported platforms, and additional character profiles for Farah, Keele, and Meredy.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tales of Eternia Remastered Reid

Is Reid playable in Tales of Eternia Remastered? Yes. Reid Hershel is the main protagonist of Tales of Eternia Remastered and is the default party leader from the opening scene onward. Players control him in nearly every combat encounter and story sequence.

What weapons can Reid use in Tales of Eternia Remastered? Reid can wield swords, axes, spears, halberds, daggers, and L-swords. Each weapon type enhances specific arte lists tied to his slash and thrust statistics, giving him more build flexibility than most rest-of-the-franchise leads.

Can Reid cast magic in Tales of Eternia Remastered? No. Reid cannot learn traditional spells, but he unlocks Fibrill later in the story, a Seyfert-granted power that lets him channel the Divine Aurora to counter the Dark Aurora and support his party during boss fights.

Why does Reid refuse to wear more clothes? The famous line, "this is all the clothing I has," is a long-running joke carried over from the original 2000 release. It reflects his laid-back country-boy personality and remains one of the most quoted character traits associated with Reid across the franchise.

Where else can players see Reid outside Tales of Eternia Remastered? Reid appears in Tales of the Abyss as a coliseum opponent, in the Radiant Mythology trilogy as a playable party member, in Tales of Asteria as a chapter protagonist, and in mobile titles like Tales of the Rays and Tales of Crestoria, making him one of the franchise's most enduring heroes.