[GUIDE] Suikoden I&II HD Remaster – Missable Characters and How to Recruit Them

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Welcome to the ultimate recruitment guide for the 108 Stars of Destiny in Suikoden I&II HD Remaster. If you’ve ever felt the crushing disappointment of learning you’ve permanently missed a character in Suikoden I&II HD Remaster, you’re not alone. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the treacherous recruitment paths of both games, ensuring you’ll never again miss that elusive character needed for the true ending.

Whether you’re a veteran returning to these classics or experiencing them for the first time in HD, this guide will be your lifeline through the complex web of time-sensitive recruitments.

Suikoden I

The first Suikoden game is particularly unforgiving when it comes to missable characters. Here are the essential strategies to ensure you don’t miss anyone:

Save and use all the save slots before doing a major plotpoint.
Explore and talk to everyone every time you get into a new area.
A warrior must be leveled up and well-equipped before a crucial duel.
Several characters must be spared after battles to be recruitable.
A strategist must be recruited as soon as possible before story events progress.
A knight and his companion must be recruited immediately upon meeting them.
A blacksmith master requires all other blacksmiths to be recruited first.
A commander must be spoken to after a major battle to join.

Suikoden II

While Suikoden II is generally more forgiving, several characters still require specific conditions:

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Save and use all the save slots before doing a major plotpoint.
Explore and talk to everyone every time you get into a new area.
A gunslinger’s quest must be triggered early to unlock recruitment later.
A girl and her pet must be helped in a simple side event.
A hunter and his wolf must be found in a forest after interacting with nature.
A wandering swordsman must be rescued and fed before joining.
A nature-loving archer can only be recruited after a specific Beast is obtained.
Legendary beast is part of a branching choice, where only two out of three creatures can be recruited.
A mystical unicorn requires specific characters in the party to be recruited.

Suikoden Remaster Guide — Image Credit: KONAMI

Suikoden II players should be aware that obtaining all 108 Stars is easier than in the first game. However, there’s an intentional design choice where you can only recruit two out of three specific characters: Abizboah, Feather, and Sigfried. This is not a flaw—it’s by design. Feather is the priority recruit as this character is required to unlock others.

By following these guidelines and maintaining multiple save files, you’ll unlock the richest narrative experience these beloved RPGs have to offer. The effort is well worth it for the enhanced endings and additional content you’ll discover as the leader of the complete 108 Stars of Destiny.

Suikoden I
Character	How to Recruit
Pahn	When he comeback, do your best to level him up to at least level 30, equip him with the best armor, and upgrade his weapon to as high as possible (Level 12). You need to make sure he survives his duel with Teo McDohl, or he will be gone forever.
Kwanda Rosman	After defeating him in a duel, make sure to choose options that do not lead to executing him.
Milich Oppenheimer	After conquering Scarleticia Castle, make sure to choose options that do not lead to executing him.
Leon Silverberg	At Castle level 4, he becomes available after liberating the Greenhill region and you can meet him at Kalekka. You need to get Mathiu’s Letter to be able to recruit him. Because Mathiu is often not available due to story progression, getting his letter ASAP is crucial.
Maximillian	After conquering Moravia Castle and at Castle Level 3, you can meet him at Northern Checkpoint, and he will ask to join the Libration Army, recruit him. DON’T DECLINE OR HE WILL BE GONE FOREVER.
Sancho	Sancho will join your Army after you recruit Maximilian.
Mace	The master blacksmith requires all four subordinate blacksmiths (Maas, Meese, Mose, and Moose) to be recruited first. Missing any of them means Mace won't join.
Sonya Shulen	After defeating her in Shasarazade and returning, speak to her in Jail Cell area, ask her to join no matter what.
Suikoden II
Character	How to Recruit
Clive	Once you get to Muse City, you need to find Elza and finish her quest. Later you can speak to Clive in South Window to recruit him.
Millie	Help her find her cute pet Bonaparte.
Shiro	Find a fallen Bird’s Nest in Ryube Forest and fix it, after a short time you can return and will see Shiro and Kinnison below the bird nest, you can recruit them.
Kinnison	Find a fallen Bird’s Nest in Ryube Forest and fix it, after a short time you can return and will see Shiro and Kinnison below the bird nest, you can recruit them.
Rikimaru	Rescue him in Ryube Village and pay for his meal.
Ayda	After recruiting Badeaux, you can go to Forest Village and fight a Griffin there to save another Griffin named Feather. Use Badeaux’s Listening Crystal to Feather and both Feather and Ayda will join. TO GET HER, DON’T SKIP GETTING FEATHER.
Feather	After recruiting Badeaux, you can go to Forest Village and fight a Griffin there to save another Griffin named Feather. Use Badeaux’s Listening Crystal to Feather and both Feather and Ayda will join. FEATHER IS A MUST RECRUIT SO YOU CAN RECRUIT AYDA
Abizboah	With Badeaux Listening Crystal you can find Abizboah at Tinto Mine and talk to it.
Sigfried	When you already recruit Hix and Tengaar, you can bring Badeaux Listening Crystal and a pure maiden, any young females (like Nanami, Nina, or Ellie), to meet Sigfried at Kobold Forest. Avoid bringing Sierra when attempting to recruit Sigfried, as it will trigger a unique scene preventing his recruitment. If you still want to see the scene, you will need to recruit Abizboah instead.