Tomke, The Gourmand

This page may contain spoilers regarding Broken Aether.

Tomke is an optional recruitable character who specializes in learning abilities from specific enemies. His unique consumption-based ability system allows him to acquire skills directly from foes encountered throughout the game, enabling access to a wide range of techniques that cover multiple combat roles. This system functions similarly to "blue magic" archetypes found in traditional RPGs, where progression is tied to exploration and discovery rather than linear skill unlocks.

Tomke features balanced core attributes across offense, defense, and utility, allowing him to adapt to various roles depending on the skills he acquires. Based on party needs and available abilities, he can be configured as a physical attacker, magic user, support unit, or frontline defender. This flexibility makes him well suited to parties designed around dynamic role distribution or hybrid strategies.

He begins with a single skill associated with learning new abilities, which can be used on specific enemies that provide unlockable skills. Encounter information indicates when a target can be consumed, ensuring clarity in identifying which foes contribute to his progression. This mechanic encourages exploration and interaction with diverse enemy types throughout the game.

Tomke also has access to equipment that enhances his ability to acquire new skills by modifying conditions under which consumption becomes available. Such items support faster collection of abilities and streamline progression paths for players who want to expand his toolkit efficiently.

Strengths

• Very balanced and above average stats.

• Abilities learned from enemies offer plenty of damage and utility.

• Flexibility makes him fit in any party setup.

• Has access to all the Killer passives (bonus damage against specific enemy types).

Weaknesses

• Uncanny Encounter can only be used once enemies are below certain HP thresholds. It also can only be used on enemies that you can learn skills from, and only once.

• Very weak until learning more useful and powerful skills.

Canned

• Spinach Power: arguably his best skill. Casts Shield AND Aura on the entire party.

• Sailor's Song: his second best skill. Raises Ultra Bar by 30% (up tp 50% when maxed).

• Sharing is Caring: grants a random amount of TP to the ally.

• Broken Accordion: has one of the highest damage multipliers in the game (x4, up to 4.4 when maxed).

• Sacrifice: kills Tomke for reviving the whole party.

Class Abilities

• Ether Sucker: from Vampire. Useful on all characters.

• Drunken Master: from Monk. Works fine equipped on any character as a pretty decent filler ability.

• Heal All: from Cleric. This allows Tomke to fulfill a niche of emergency healer since has a pretty high MND.

• Magic Smash / Physical Wonder: from Mage Warrior. Since Tomke has pretty balanced and above average ATK and MAG, these skills can actually hit pretty hard when used by him.

Crystals

• HP / DEF / MND Up: Tomke has pretty decent defensive stats, so pumping more just further reinforces it.

• HP Drain: very straightforward. The amount seems to scale with damage done, so the harder you hit, the more you heal.

Tomke’s progression is tied to unlocking new abilities through enemy-based skill acquisition, so maintaining available skill points as new opportunities arise ensures access to his expanded toolkit. Because his attributes are balanced across multiple roles, development can be directed toward offensive, defensive, or support capabilities depending on the skills learned and the party’s needs, rather than following a single defined priority path.

Class Emblems offer flexible specialization options for Tomke. Depending on desired role, they can be used to reinforce agility for faster turn order, enhance general stat distribution for hybrid builds, or support specific combat functions. His emblem choices can shift over time as new skills are acquired and his role becomes more defined within the party.

Equipment selection can further reinforce his adaptability. Items that improve his skill-acquisition mechanics are useful while actively expanding his move set, enabling more efficient collection of enemy abilities. Once his toolkit has been fully established, equipment choices can shift toward role-specific enhancements, such as improved speed, survivability, or offensive scaling, based on party composition and intended function.