Beat time
Beat time (formally ".beat time") in Phantasy Star Online Blue Burst is a unique method of telling time created by the Swatch corporation. It was designed as a method of telling time independent from time zones (although it is globally based on the time zone UTC+1) by dividing the standard 24-hour day into 1,000 units called ".beats," each lasting an equivalent of 86.4 seconds.
Beat time was incorporated into Phantasy Star Online as a way to facilitate cross-continent gameplay coordination more easily. The current beat time can be observed in-game by opening the menu, with the current beat time - as well as the progression of the current beat (represented by a green bar) - being displayed in the bottom-right corner of the menu.
Equipment
Certain pieces of equipment have mechanics that function differently depending on the current beat time.
| Item | Beat Time Condition(s) | Effect(s) |
|---|---|---|
 Heaven Punisher |
Hundreds digit of Beat Time is even | Special attack becomes Divine Punishment |
| Mille Marteaux
| ||
| Heaven Striker
|
Hundreds digit of Beat Time is even | |
 Morning Glory
|
All Beats (always active) | ATP increases by Current Beat Time / 4
|
 Epsiguard
|
Every two Beats | Resistance changes, aesthetic changes |
 Divine Protection
|
Hundreds digit of Beat Time is odd | LCK is doubled, ELT and EDK increased by 20 |
