Summary
The job system is one of the most iconic elements of theFinal Fantasyseries. Countless fans love the entries in the series that let them assign jobs to various characters, governing the abilities they enter combat with.
Meanwhile, otherFinal Fantasygames let players control characters who are clearly adhering to one of the many jobs in the series. These party members with pre-assigned jobs are often quite memorable, especially when the role they play in combat plays into their personality and story in their respective games.
With the materia system, party members inFinal Fantasy 7can learn a ton of powerful magic and abilities without having to adhere to a rigid class structure. However, veterans of the games know that the innate abilities of some characters in the game make themperfect representations of a certain job.
Barret is a modern ranger, Tifa is obviously a monk, Cloud embodies the spirit of a Warrior, and Cid’s proficiency with spears makes him fit to be a Dragoon. This unique method of paying homage to the job system of the series while also introducing new progression systems madeFinal Fantasy 7a huge step forward for the series in more ways than one.
Unlikethe robust job system ofFinal Fantasy 5, its sequel featured characters with rigid roles. However, this wasn’t a bad thing in the slightest, since it allowed the personality of the cast to shine, courtesy of their fleshed-out backgrounds.
Locke’s thievery makes him a dashing rogue, Shadow is clearly a Ninja, Cyan is a powerful Samurai, and Sabin is arguably the most beloved monk in the series. Along with their innate abilities, party members can equip Magicite further down the line to learn a bevy of spells and abilities, increasing their versatility in combat.
Final Fantasy 4tells one of the most ambitious stories in the series, with the job system also playing a major role in the protagonist’s narrative.As a Dark Knight, Cecil was disillusioned with his inhumane job and decided to climb Mount Ordeals to try and clear his head.
After overcoming his self-doubt, he is reborn as a Paladin who leaves his Dark Knight shell behind. Along with Cecil, the other temporary and permanent party members also embody some of the series' most iconic jobs, makingFinal Fantasy 4a treat for long-time fans of the job system.
Final Fantasy 9is one of the greatest games in the series that pays homage to the series' past. The setting and gameplay are decidedly more classic-feeling while featuring enough modern twists to keep fans happy.
One glance at the cast will make their job affinities clear as day. Zidane is the charming thief, Steiner is the protective knight, Vivi personifies the Black Mage archetype to a T, and both Dagger and Eiko sharethe responsibilities of a White Mageand a Summoner.
The Sphere Grid is one of the most versatile leveling systems in theFinal Fantasyseries, and players can technically explore any path on the Sphere Grid to mold their character however they want. However, in reality, most people won’t want to veer too much from each character’s starting spot on the grid.
This is by design, with each character acquiring abilities suited to their role in the party. Unless players veer too far for each character on the Sphere Grid, Lulu will becomean adept Black Mage, Rikku will become a wily thief, and Yuna will juggles the responsibilities of being both a White Mage and a Summoner.
The Junction system, coupled with the act of drawing magic, means that characters inFinal Fantasy 8can be pretty versatile. However, that doesn’t stop the heroes fromconforming to certain classes.
The biggest giveaway here is the Limit Breaks that characters can use. Quistis can use Blue Magic abilities in combat, and Zell’s Duel is self-explanatory, positioning him as the party’s Monk.
