Have you ever talked to that NPC that is in every town that shows you a chart of elemental interactions? Well, in FFXI everything has an element associated with it. Certain elements contradict eachother, while others augment eachother.



This is the reason that you get less failures when using Wind crystals to synth on Windsday.



Well, each weapon skill you learn (weapon skills are related to the weapons you use) also has an element associated with them. For example, the sword skill "Fast Blade" is a fire elemental.



A skillchain (or SC, or Renkei) is where you combine two or more weapon skill attacks in a chain such that certain effects happen. These effects cause more damage to the enemy you are attacking. For a skillchain to work, you must be in a party (well, okay, Samurais can self-skillchain, but only using their two hour attack).



The way a skillchain is pulled off is by having one person start the skillchain with their attack. When the attack occurs, the person next in the chain counts to 3 (waits 3 seconds) and then performs their attack. If they time it right, and the elements compliment eachother, you get a skillchain effect.



As an example, let's say that I (a MNK) am fighting with Valsery (a RDM). I use hand-to-hand weapons like knuckles, and he uses swords. A skillchain that we could do is "Red Lotus Blade"->"Backhand Blow" (Detonation).



Valsery and I would start by communicating our current TP (usually by using macros that said "/p &lt tpp &gt Ready to skillchain?" or something similar). When we both have TP high enough (more than 100%), Valsery would start his skillchain by using his weapon skill "Red Lotus Blade". When I saw that he did this, I would count to 3, and the follow up with my weapon skill "Backhand Blow".



This would cause a "Detonation" effect and the enemy would take even more damage than he otherwise would.



Skillchains are crucial once you start getting higher levels. They help you defeat the enemies more efficiently, and often allow you to chain the enemies for even more EXP. Thus, you really do have to learn them for your weapon, and learn them well.



A great chart that shows all of the skill chains and how they interact can be found online at http://www.adennak.com/renkei.html. I would print it out and keep it near you as you play the game.



Now, Skillchains arent the end of the discussion really. A BLM can then augment the already powerful skillchain by issuing an appropriate Magicburst at the end (where they cast a specific elemental spell to make the attack even more powerful). But that is a bit more advanced a subject, so I only mention it in passing.



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