Top 10 Final Fantasy Classes

One of the cooler classes in the series, the Dark Knight rose to fame thanks to Final Fantasy IV and the iconic journey of Cecil, a knight from the kingdom of Baron who had to cleanse his blade of darkness to take on true evil. The Dark Knight sacrifices its own HP to deal more damage, making it unmistakably badass as it shreds through enemies. And just look at that sleek armor!

The Monk lives by the code of ‘less is more’: while this melee fighter usually comes with little equipment, it can devastate enemies by enjoying increased damage from fighting barefisted. That’s right, don’t be surprised to see a monk outdamaging your characters’ swords and spells with his bare hands. Throw in its useful martial arts abilities and some elemental claws and you’ve got a one man, two fisted army.

Quick, crafty, and sporting a love for all things valuable, the thief is a great asset to any Final Fantasy party. Known for their stealing abilities, the thief makes sure your inventory is full of rare and powerful items taken straight from the hands of your enemies. Made even more popular in Final Fantasy IX, the first game to feature a thief as a main character, the thief is a popular and handy choice.

Jack of all trades; master of none – if there’s ever been a class to live up to this saying, it’s the Red Mage. Able to use basic black and white magic as well as being potent with a sword, the Red Mage patches up any holes your team might have nicely. They might suffer later in the game when they get outpaced by other classes, but with a secret ability or two and a great amount of versatility, the Red Mage still earns its spot on the team. And who can say no to that stylish hat?

If one strategy prevails above all in RPGs, it’s to hit your enemy with a sword until they fall over. And that just about sums up the Knight in a nutshell. They’re basically upgraded versions of the basic fighter or warrior class: they hit harder, take more damage, and in some games even come with an elementary knowledge of white magic. You can’t go wrong with throwing a knight into the fray and watching them chop up the opposition.

Lurking in the shadows with a sword in each hand and an arsenal of shuriken and ninja scrolls, the Ninja is a deadly and powerful class. These stealthy warriors are known for their ability to dual-wield and their ability to throw just about any item from your inventory to deal massive damage. They’re a popular choice thanks to series favourites like Edge and Shadow, and they’re a powerful addition to any team.

You might think you’ve assembled the strongest team of fighters in the land, but who’s going to keep them all alive while they’re charging headfirst into battle? That’s where the White Mage comes in, in their iconic red-and-white robes, with a long list of healing spells all designed to save your bacon. But let’s not forget their legendary spell ‘Holy’, which turns them into massive damage dealers at the same time. A White Mage is a must – at least, if you care at all about staying alive.

There are few attacks more extreme than jumping hundreds of feet in the air to strike a deadly blow to your enemy, and this is exactly what the Dragoon loves to do. Experts at using spears and polearms, dragoons leap into action – literally – with their iconic Jump ability that keeps them from harm and delivers devastating damage. Some dragoons can even call on the ancient magic of dragons, as if they needed to be anymore badass than they already are.

Whether you want to call them Espers, Eidolons, Aeons, or whatever else, everyone can agree that having the god-like power of mythological beasts on your side is a win – and that’s exactly what the Summoner brings to the table. Popular characters like Rydia, Dagger, and Yuna have made Summoners a beloved part of the series, even if their attacks are sometimes a little over the top. We’re looking at you, Bahamut Zero.

Before we reveal our top pick, here are some honorable mentions:

Paladin
Blue Mage
Time Mage
Mime

With their straw hats, blue robes, and glowing eyes, there’s no doubt that the black mage is the most iconic of Final Fantasy classes – and it has a megaton of power to boot. Whether they’re burning things to a crisp or raining thunder down on the battle field, the Black Mage always leaves its mark with its devastating elemental magic. And when they take it up to eleven – summoning meteors or using the legendary ‘Ultima’ – you’re going to want that straw hat on your side of the battle.

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