You will receive a Battle Results Rating at the end of every battle of somewhere between 0 to 5 stars depending on how the battle went. This score is entirely determined by how quickly you are able to finish the battle compared to the predetermined “Target Time” shown in the results screen. Hitting the “Target Time” will result in a 3-Star rating while beating the time will increase the rating and going over the limit will decrease your rating.
The “Target Time” shown in the results screen will fluctuate based on a number of conditions including the strength of your party, both in terms of the weapons and accessories that they have equipped, but also in terms of how far along in their Crystariums they have progressed. In other words, the time limit will go down as your party gets more powerful, meaning you will need to defeat weaker enemies much quicker in order to still attain a 5-Star rating.
Your Battle Results Rating will directly impact a number of things, including the likelihood of spoils dropping, the likelihood of Shrouds dropping, and the rate at which your Technique Points (TP) will recover at the end of battle.
Rating | Spoil Drops | Shroud Drops* | TP Earned |
---|---|---|---|
0 Stars | x0 (None) | x8 | x0.125 |
1 Stars | x0 (None) | x4 | x0.25 |
2 Stars | x0 (None) | x2 | x0.5 |
3 Stars | x1 (Normal) | x1 (Normal) | x1 (Normal) |
4 Stars | x3 | x1 (Normal) | x3 |
5 Stars | x5 | x1 (Normal) | x8 |
*Shrouds have a higher chance of dropping from enemies if you have a lower Battle Star Rating (as this is intended to help out players who are struggling with battles).
The biggest thing you can do to improve your Battle Results Rating are to a) read through strategies ahead of any battles so you can preemptively deal with any challenges, b) practice, practice, practice or c) obtain a Gold Watch which is an item you receive as a reward for completing Mission 64 - The Doomherald.
This is a reward you receive for completing the very last Mission of the game, but it can be helpful if you’re seeking to obtain all of the achievements / trophies in the game, namely the l’Cie Paragon Achievement / Trophy which requires you to go back and obtain a 5-Star rating for all of the Missions.