Story Timeline

Beginner's Guide

For your first play-through, rather than suddenly aiming for a high rank, it's probably better to play however you like.

In THE IDOLM@STER2, there are times when you will be asked to play using various combined strategic elements.

The guides on the site which aim to get you a high rank are written under the assumption that you already understand how to construct an efficient schedule and can complete mini-games with good results.

At a minimum, in order to grasp why certain factors are regarded as important, as well as to get used to the various mini-games, you should try to play through freely for about 1-2 play-throughs. By doing this you will also attain the required funds to obtain clothes, amulets and the like.

Events

Simplified Chart by Week

This is a simplified chart for use as a guide.

Compulsory events are marked with ○, events which occur based on certain conditions are marked with △.

Songs are marked assuming you take the earliest option to announce the song. The numbers indicate the release number, and the symbols preceding the numbers:

• An attached "-" marks the preparatory period.
• Numbers without a "-" mark the weeks following release where the sales coefficient will not yet be zero.
• An attached "!" marks the week the release goes on sale.

From the Guide Thread

For the opening, a very reliable pattern

(although it might be boring)

Week 3: debut national audition (1st release announcement)

Week 4: paid promotion + lesson

Week 5: paid promotion + lesson

Week 6: area audition (1st release)

If you manage the lessons and auditions perfectly, at this point you should easily get in the Top 50 (you want a score in the 20,000s.)

After this also, if you increase the fan count by continuing with more stage performances, you should easily get in the Top 20.

There is a paid promotion activity in some area each week without fail, so resetting is unnecessary.

The following tips are aimed at middle-level players.

• The audition you take at Week 6 should be taken in the area where you did the paid promotion in Week 4.
• After this, perform further activities in the two areas where you did the paid promotion (if by chance the paid promotion returns to the same area, consider it lucky.)
• If you hit the Top 50 with your first song, immediately start preparing for your second (focus on paid promotion + lessons.)

If you do this, the second song should safely reach 1st place (at least until Maou Angel shows up.)

• If your first song somehow enters the Top 20, the appearance rate of paid promotions will decrease, so if you're aiming for reliability, it isn't recommended.
• If you successfully catch reporters Yamahara and Ariake, complete domination is assured. [note: referring to the 360 version here, where S Rank was achievable without having to play Hyper] S Rank might be severe, but it isn't exactly impossible.

[TODO: This next chunk of information is also on Unit Training Policy, so it would be a good idea to unify the two sections.]

I will write down as much specific advice as I can remember.

• Getting into the top 20 with your first song

Equip the appropriate "rate decay" amulet (にくワンのお守り, リンカモのお守り, あわんこのお守り).

For costume and accessories, raise the same two statistics for which the amulet is helping to reduce the rate decay.

At the audition, first raise the rate of one appeal by using the other (e.g. for あわんこ, if you use vocal appeal the dance appeal rate will increase) until you reach the target rate for the second appeal.

The rate will be high, so keep appealing until the burst.

At the end of the burst appeal, have the idol whose burst rate is highest (1.30 or 1.20) use the appeal enhanced by the amulet.

After that, until the burst, continue to use that appeal → at the burst (repetition omitted.)

Of course, get a full chain.

• Battles vs. Ryuugu Komachi and Jupiter

With the amulet as mentioned above, raise a suitable statistic for the unit.

At the beginning of the performance, using a Memory Appeal will raise the target rate to 1.10.

After that, by bursting, it will return to 1.30.

I think you can probably beat Ryuugu Komachi even if you don't get a full chain.

Jupiter being Level 11, with a full chain, I won with 17,000 points separating the two scores.

• Song choice This time around my sales numbers were judged at A but for the purpose of aiming for S.

Use the three idols' personal songs for songs 3, 4 and 5 and you will earn more Lucky Stars.

I don't know if the S Line is 550 or 600, but it seems like you might need to Break or Revival two songs or you won't make it. [translator: how old is this information? Is it referring to the PS3 version? Because according to conflicting information, you can only get S Rank on Hyper and Hyper only exists on the PS3 version, doesn't it?)

• About reporters

If Yamahara-san is present, you should take the opportunity to get an increase in that area's fan count.

Also, the lesson reporter or the fan increase reporter are good, aren't they.

• About each award

I can't say for sure yet, but after clearing the Utahime-Utaouji Festival, even if the fan count drops considerably, it seems you still get the award, so you should take control of each area one by one.

I didn't take notes but the difficulty level of each area's Utahime is fixed, so I think this will become a guide to which order to do them in.