What is the best team (Chapter 9 and beyond)?

[Digital Phoenix]

I am on chapter 10 now, and all the characters are reunited. I've been using Lightning, Hope, and Fang. Is that a good set-up?

What do you think the best set-up is once all the characters are reunited?

[Raistlin]

Lightning, Hope, and Fang remain my main party. They are pretty awesome, especially after Hope (finally) can learn Haste.

[Elpizo]

Hope's the best healer in the game, Fang rocks as a Commando and Sentinel, and Lightning's a very well-rounded character and good Commando and Ravager.

So Hope, Lightning and Fang is the way to go. Probably with Lightning as leader.

[Crowseye]

Lightning, Fang, and Hope have probably the strongest combination of primary paradigm jobs for most of the fights the game throws at you.

I used Sazh more early on for Haste, but haven't used him recently.

If you were targeting a specific fight, you could maybe make a case for using Sazh, Vanille, and/or Snow based on a particular job strength (like Sentinel for Snow) or a unique weapon bonus, but in general I think the versatility of Light, Fang, and Hope over the course of the great majority of battles makes them the best combo.

[Rinoabella]

I have the same party as you: Lightning/Fang/Hope. It's a pretty win combo if you ask me.

The Official FFXIII Guide says the best strategy to complete the game 100% is to do this: From about Chapter 6 onwards, don't spend any of Snow's/Vanille's/Sazh's CP. Instead, save it all up so that you have at least 700,000 later on to spend making them 'Super Specialists' (focusing on one single role each). Keep your main party as Lighting/Fang/Hope all the time and only use CP in their 3 main roles.

[Loony BoB]

I haven't really had a problem despite not using either Fang or Hope, who are considered the best attacker & magic user respectively. I don't think it's a massive issue to select an exact party - so long as you have one that does what you want. I love Tri-disaster, so Fang is useless in my party. I also like to take a lot of risks against enemies who can quickly diminish my health, so Hope is out the window as his HP is the lowest by some margin. I like a balanced party not in "highest of everything" but rather a "red mages everywhere" style.

[eestlinc]

I am in chapter 10, after beating Cid, and I am using an all-girl party: Lightning, Fang, and Vanille. I like having two saboteurs for throwing a bunch of debuffs on quickly. I suppose when I need a synergist I can either swap in Hope or Sazh, or use a -sol before the battle. I may experiment with Snow vs Fang for the better Sentinel (and I like using Lightning as my COM instead of Fang, so Snow could be the second RAV).

[Goldenboko]

I go Lightning, Hope, Fang. I want to use Sazh more, but I need a defensive role, which he doesn't have, and Snow isn't as good as Fang. Vanille might replace Hope.

[demondude]

I started using Lightning, Sazh and Vanille recently and I'm liking it. My default paradigm is COM/SYN/SAB.

[cloud21zidane16]

Ive also gone with Lightning, Fang and Hope. I havent had any problems either, its a real easy strategy so far.

[Wolf Kanno]

I'll probably end up with Snow, Fang and Hope though I'm probably going to put Lightning in there as well (replace Hope perhaps?). I might play with that combination actually...

For once I have an issue with party configuration cause I have to choose between characters I like and ones that are practical. Hope is not my fave character but he's ungodly useful in battle. I love Fang and Snow but they are almost identical in their strengths and they don't exactly lead to the best Paradigm set-ups. The problem with Lightning, Sahz, and Vanille is that all three are basically good averages that really depends on situations and needing to utilize specific skills that are unique to them.

[Ontibile]

I used Lightning, Hope, Fang until I hit Chapter 11. Then, after testing various groups (after Hope died pitiful many times), I went to Sahz, Lightning, Snow. I have thought about replacing Snow with Fang for a bit. Might try it some this evening. For some reason I have a hard time keeping Hope alive. (pun intended)

[Loony BoB]

Hope has far less HP than the others, by some way. That's the main reason I prefer Vanille to him - she can take hits and keep going.

[Raistlin]

Yeah, but Hope has haste, which is the sole reason I switched my default paradigm in even normal battles to include a Syngerist. Lightning/Sazh/Vanille would also work well, but I prefer Fang/Hope to Sazh/Vanille because of Fang's greater fire-power.

[Rinoabella]

Yes, Fang is just sooooo strong :eek: It almost scares me.

[Ashi]

At first I used Lightening/Hope/Fang but then switched to Lightening/Vanille/Fang. I still can't really decide what I wanna do, especially since I have everyone at their main role on lv3 and nothing beyond that. If I stick to the latter team one of them needs to learn to be a SYN, but yeah...too early for me to stick to one team I think. Gonna mess around a bit more! :)

[Dignified Pauper]

I go Lightning, Hope, Fang. I want to use Sazh more, but I need a defensive role, which he doesn't have, and Snow isn't as good as Fang. Vanille might replace Hope.

I use this same team, rarely replacing Hope with Vanille.

Hope is just so awesome.

[Masamunemaster]

I prefer lightning hope and fang

Fang may not be the best SEN but she makes up for it by having mediguard so soon, and she is the best COM there is. I had her hit for max damage on a behemoth with only 600% stagger(made me happy:D)

Lightning is a very well balanced character...even better with her first weapon than any other. if you can keep her madic going pretty fast then she makes a decent secondary healer(I usually have hope as my party leader so I can make sure nobody dies[and alexander is so bad @$$])

Hope's healing is better cause the AI seems to react faster than vanilles, and it heals for more(her cure did 200, hopes did 350).

I would honestly recommend this party to everyone....it makes the later boss fights so simple

[Loony BoB]

Regarding "he heals for more" - that is largely down to what equipment you put on each of them. I'm not entirely certain, but I believe that Vanille probably maxes out better for cures if she has a fully upgraded Healer's Staff (or whatever).

However I've found that as you go up the levels, you can pretty much improvise with all of the characters. I've had a very unlikely trio come out victorious against Neochu (with his Picochu minions) recently despite forgetting to adjust far from the main three paradigms - I had no RAV or COM in my paradigm set at all! I won using SEN/MED/SAB, with Vanille casting Death and Snow using Vendetta.

[demondude]

I have discovered that this game is much easier if you don't stick to the same three characters.

[Loony BoB]

That's definitely true.

[demondude]

Chapter 12 against the midboss. I died so many times until I switched Lightning for Snow, where it was a breeze because its really fast attacks all directed at Snow making it much easier to attack. The Umbra was helpful too, and if anyone is unsure whether to go for Umbra or Paladin for a Sentinel Snow, I would advise Umbra.

I'm generally unimpressed at Fang's Sentinel ability. :/ I will concede she's good, but Snow can be left alone and take so many more blows than Fang can.

[VeloZer0]

It's a shame the upgrade system really discourages having a flexible party make up. It is nice everyone gets CP, but upgrading rewards dumping large sums of money into one item at a time, you are basically punished by spreading item exp around.

[asukaevaunit02]

I started off with Lightning/Snow/Hope for a while, worked well... but relied heavily on staggering.

Recently changed to Hope/Vanille/Fang, and it just kicks ass. Default set up is SYN/RAV/SAB, for buffs to make Fang even stronger, by time thats done Vanille/Fang have done enough damage and then switch to RAV/RAV/COM to finish easily.

[Loony BoB]

Ooh, that's one I don't think I've tried. I might have a go at it later on. I suppose I've tried Hope/Vanille/Snow which is kind of similar (and fantastic for Neochu destruction).

[Rinoabella]

We have the Official FFXIII walkthrough and it has a bunch of bargraphs and fancy charts. Hope excels in Medic over Vanille because his maximum magic is higher. It suggests these are the best roles for each character:

Commando: Fang
Ravager: Lightning
Snow: Sentinel
Synergist: Sazh/Hope equally
Saboteur: Vanille
Medic: Hope

[Loony BoB]

I've got the same guide - it doesn't take equipment bonuses into account, nor does it take into account ultimate weapons or power leveling. Basically, it's for the "standard and direct route through the main game", to quote the guide's text next to the graphs (opposite page). Vanille has a staff that enables her to get 20% extra out of her healing, so it gives it a pretty big boost - enough, I'd say, to outdo Hope.

Hope and Sahz are also debatable over who is the better Synergist depending on what angle you're wanting in your battle. Hope, with the right weapon, can increase the duration of defensive buffs such as Protect and Shell by 80%. Sahz, meanwhile, puts the same 80% onto offensive buffs such as Enfrost (again, with the right weapon).

[VeloZer0]

When I tested with Vanille's magic vs healing staff they both healed for the same amount. Which is extremely disappointing. And when I switched to Hope for healing he outdid both weapons with his magic weapon. Since healing is the only thing in the game I can really keep effective tabs on and the dedicated healing weapon didn't come out on top, it makes me wonder how useful the other specialty weapons really are.

[Loony BoB]

I have Vanille's debuff & heal specialty equipment upgraded to the point that the next stone makes them into an ultimate weapon and I can tell you that I alternate between them depending on the enemy because it makes a whopping big difference. :p I don't know how far you have them leveled, but Vanille definitely does a notable difference with her healing/debuffing between those weapons. Hope is pretty even with her without the staff for curing, but with the staff I notice a difference immediately. Maybe you have other equipment boosting Hope up with things, or maybe you just have him powered up to a different point than I do.

EDIT: Does anyone know what Simurgh does, btw? Even the guide doesn't tell you. "A very special synthesis" or something along those lines. Interesting...

[VeloZer0]

I tested between Vanilles +healing and +magic weapons maxed out on the first level at the start of Ch11. The extra magic bonus on the magic pole was enough to make up the difference the +healing bonus made. Naturally the healing version would easily outperform the debuffing one.

The reason Hope was healing for more was he straight up had a higher Magic stat.


Does anyone know what Simurgh does, btw? Even the guide doesn't tell you. "A very special synthesis" or something along those lines. Interesting...
Interesting indeed. And by interesting I mean total bulls*** that it is so cryptic.

[Crowseye]

EDIT: Does anyone know what Simurgh does, btw? Even the guide doesn't tell you. "A very special synthesis" or something along those lines. Interesting...

I assume they mean that if you equip Simurgh (or its first upgrade) and four Kaiser Knuckles Hope becomes immune to physical damage. Except he can't be healed by magic, and the weapon offers no magic stats afaik...

Fang has a weapon like that too, but they're the only two.

Fang and Snow have a similar weapon that equipped with four Magistral Crests make them immune to magical damage, but also can't be healed by magic and have no strength stat.

I have no idea if there are any practical applications of either weapon in the endgame (since you only get the fourth Accessory slot after beating the main story).

[Loony BoB]

I'm told that you can get Snow to a point that he is effectively indestructable (as SEN), although it would make for very boring gaming.

[Del Murder]

Like most everyone I'm going with the balanced party of Lightning (leader), Hope, and Fang. They are pretty awesome together.

I have the strategy guide and it suggests you stick with this party and not develop your other characters. Then, much later when you gain access to the final Crystarium, you can make those characters specialists in one job which turns them into powerhouses. Sounds like a plan.

[Draniei]

What I do is I just stick the characters with the highest HP into my party. Considering I level them up in all 6 classes, it's all fun.

[The Space Pope]

I switched up my team regularly to keep things from getting too stale but I prefer using Lightning, Fang, and Hope even though I wish Hope would contract flesh-eating bacteria.

I never used Snow except for when I didn't have a choice.

Snow, if you ever read this, know that I hate you and your cliche-even-by-FF-standards look and 'personality'.

[Eagle299]

I made my default team Lightning, Fang and Vanille. I didn't like to switch the party around much because they made reassigning your paradigms such busy work. I will admit that Lightning, Fang and Hope is a better default balanced party, but I couldn't stand Hope, so I made due without a dedicated Synergist. I tried going with Lightning, Fang and Sahz for a while when I first arrived on Gran Pulse, just making Lightning my healer, but against some of the game's stronger monsters, she just can't cut it as your primary healer. So I traded Sahz for Vanille and made due without a dedicated Synergist. And it worked out for me in the end. I minored all three of them as Synergists, and it worked out pretty well. Fang gets only a basic set, but it includes Haste, which is probably the most important Synergist spell. Lightning gets almost everything but the Bar- spells, so she makes a good Synergist in then end if you're willing to put the time in. Master's Seal Achievement/Trophy requires that anyway. And Vanille is a better Medic than Hope, since she has much higher health and will survive longer to keep supporting your efforts to make enemies dead.

In the end, with the right equipment, you can probably make any party work. Some just take a bit more grinding than others.