Charatcers and weapons question.

[Vlakorados]

Ive got FFXII a few days ago and one thing has been annoying me. Does it matter what weapons you give to what character? If i were to take balthiers gun away and give him a pole with the same attack power, will he be as strong? Sorry if its a stupid question but its really bugging me.

[LunarWeaver]

Generally, it really doesn't matter. Stat differences do dictate some things, and each weapon does do damage differently. Go into your menu, go into your Clan Primer, and look under "Arm Thyself" I believe it is. That will tell you how each weapon determines damage, such as Katanas are based both on Magick Power and Strength, while Guns pierce armor, and Daggers and Bows are boosted by Speed, etc. This can make certain characters better suited for certain weapons.


The difference isn't shattering or anything, and if you equip them with proper armor and such then you'll be fine. But just for kicks, Arthellinus's Power Walkthrough FAQ at GameFAQs has all the weapon info you need. Ultimately it boils down to this:

Overall Weapon Proficiencies
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Again:
Group 1 = Swords, Greatswords, Spears, Rods (except for Healing Rod and Rod of Faith), Crossbows
Group 2 = Poles
Group 3 = Maces
Group 4 = Katanas, Staves
Group 5 = Daggers, Ninja Swords, Bows
Group 6 = Axes, Hammers, Hand-bombs

==== ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
| Lv | Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 5 | Group 6 |
==== ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
| 10 | 1-Basch | 1-Basch | 1-Ashe | 1-Basch | 1-Basch | 1-Balth |
| | 2-Balth | 2-Balth | 2-Vaan | 2-Vaan | 2-Balth | 2-Vaan |
| | 3-Vaan | 3-Vaan | 3-Basch | 3-Ashe | 3-Vaan | 3-Basch |
| | 4-Fran | 4-Fran | 3-Pen | 4-Balth | 4-Fran | 4-Ashe |
| | 5-Ashe | 5-Ashe | 5-Fran | 5-Fran | 5-Ashe | 5-Pen |
| | 6-Pen | 6-Pen | 6-Balth | 6-Pen | 6-Pen | 6-Fran |
---- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

==== ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
| Lv | Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 5 | Group 6 |
==== ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
| 20 | 1-Basch | 1-Basch | 1-Ashe | 1-Basch | 1-Basch | 1-Balth |
| | 2-Balth | 2-Balth | 2-Vaan | 2-Vaan | 2-Balth | 2-Vaan |
| | 3-Vaan | 3-Vaan | 3-Pen | 3-Ashe | 3-Vaan | 3-Basch |
| | 4-Fran | 4-Fran | 4-Basch | 4-Balth | 4-Fran | 4-Ashe |
| | 5-Ashe | 5-Ashe | 5-Fran | 5-Fran | 5-Ashe | 5-Pen |
| | 6-Pen | 6-Pen | 6-Balth | 6-Pen | 6-Pen | 6-Fran |
---- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

==== ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
| Lv | Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 5 | Group 6 |
==== ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
| 30 | 1-Basch | 1-Basch | 1-Ashe | 1-Vaan | 1-Vaan | 1-Vaan |
| | 2-Vaan | 2-Vaan | 2-Vaan | 2-Basch | 1-Balth | 2-Balth |
| | 2-Balth | 2-Balth | 2-Pen | 3-Ashe | 3-Basch | 3-Basch |
| | 4-Fran | 4-Fran | 4-Basch | 4-Balth | 4-Fran | 4-Ashe |
| | 5-Ashe | 5-Ashe | 5-Fran | 5-Fran | 5-Ashe | 5-Pen |
| | 6-Pen | 6-Pen | 6-Balth | 6-Pen | 6-Pen | 6-Fran |
---- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

==== ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
| Lv | Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 5 | Group 6 |
==== ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
| 40 | 1-Basch | 1-Basch | 1-Ashe | 1-Basch | 1-Basch | 1-Vaan |
| | 2-Vaan | 2-Vaan | 2-Pen | 2-Vaan | 2-Vaan | 2-Balth |
| | 2-Balth | 2-Balth | 3-Vaan | 3-Ashe | 2-Balth | 3-Basch |
| | 4-Fran | 4-Fran | 4-Basch | 4-Balth | 4-Fran | 4-Ashe |
| | 4-Ashe | 4-Ashe | 5-Fran | 5-Pen | 4-Ashe | 5-Pen |
| | 6-Pen | 6-Pen | 6-Balth | 6-Fran | 6-Pen | 6-Fran |
---- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

==== ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
| Lv | Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 5 | Group 6 |
==== ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
| 50 | 1-Basch | 1-Basch | 1-Ashe | 1-Vaan | 1-Vaan | 1-Vaan |
| | 2-Vaan | 2-Vaan | 2-Pen | 2-Basch | 1-Balth | 2-Balth |
| | 2-Balth | 2-Balth | 3-Vaan | 3-Ashe | 3-Basch | 3-Basch |
| | 4-Fran | 4-Fran | 4-Fran | 4-Balth | 4-Fran | 4-Ashe |
| | 4-Ashe | 4-Ashe | 4-Basch | 5-Pen | 5-Ashe | 5-Pen |
| | 6-Pen | 6-Pen | 6-Balth | 6-Fran | 6-Pen | 6-Fran |
---- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

==== ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
| Lv | Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 5 | Group 6 |
==== ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
| 60 | 1-Basch | 1-Basch | 1-Ashe | 1-Vaan | 1-Vaan | 1-Vaan |
| | 2-Vaan | 2-Vaan | 2-Pen | 2-Basch | 1-Balth | 2-Balth |
| | 2-Balth | 2-Balth | 3-Vaan | 3-Ashe | 3-Basch | 3-Basch |
| | 4-Fran | 4-Fran | 4-Fran | 4-Balth | 4-Fran | 4-Ashe |
| | 4-Ashe | 4-Ashe | 4-Basch | 5-Pen | 5-Ashe | 5-Pen |
| | 6-Pen | 6-Pen | 6-Balth | 6-Fran | 6-Pen | 6-Fran |
---- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

==== ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
| Lv | Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 5 | Group 6 |
==== ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
| 70 | 1-Basch | 1-Basch | 1-Ashe | 1-Vaan | 1-Vaan | 1-Vaan |
| | 2-Vaan | 2-Vaan | 2-Pen | 2-Basch | 2-Basch | 2-Balth |
| | 3-Balth | 2-Balth | 3-Vaan | 3-Ashe | 3-Balth | 3-Ashe |
| | 4-Ashe | 4-Ashe | 4-Fran | 4-Balth | 4-Ashe | 4-Basch |
| | 5-Fran | 5-Fran | 4-Basch | 5-Pen | 5-Fran | 5-Pen |
| | 6-Pen | 6-Pen | 6-Balth | 6-Fran | 6-Pen | 6-Fran |
---- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

==== ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
| Lv | Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 5 | Group 6 |
==== ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
| 80 | 1-Basch | 1-Basch | 1-Ashe | 1-Vaan | 1-Vaan | 1-Vaan |
| | 2-Vaan | 2-Vaan | 2-Pen | 2-Ashe | 2-Basch | 2-Balth |
| | 3-Balth | 2-Balth | 3-Vaan | 3-Basch | 3-Balth | 3-Ashe |
| | 4-Ashe | 4-Ashe | 4-Fran | 4-Pen | 4-Ashe | 4-Basch |
| | 5-Fran | 5-Fran | 4-Basch | 5-Balth | 5-Fran | 5-Pen |
| | 6-Pen | 6-Pen | 6-Balth | 6-Fran | 6-Pen | 6-Fran |
---- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

==== ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
| Lv | Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 5 | Group 6 |
==== ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
| 90 | 1-Vaan | 1-Vaan | 1-Ashe | 1-Vaan | 1-Vaan | 1-Vaan |
| | 1-Basch | 1-Basch | 2-Pen | 2-Ashe | 2-Balth | 2-Balth |
| | 3-Balth | 3-Balth | 3-Vaan | 3-Basch | 3-Basch | 3-Ashe |
| | 4-Ashe | 4-Ashe | 4-Fran | 4-Balth | 4-Ashe | 4-Basch |
| | 5-Fran | 5-Fran | 4-Basch | 5-Pen | 5-Fran | 5-Pen |
| | 6-Pen | 6-Pen | 6-Balth | 6-Fran | 6-Pen | 6-Fran |
---- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

==== ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
| Lv | Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 5 | Group 6 |
==== ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
| 99 | 1-Vaan | 1-Vaan | 1-Ashe | 1-Vaan | 1-Vaan | 1-Vaan |
| | 1-Basch | 1-Basch | 1-Pen | 2-Ashe | 2-Basch | 2-Balth |
| | 3-Balth | 3-Balth | 3-Vaan | 3-Basch | 3-Balth | 3-Ashe |
| | 4-Ashe | 4-Ashe | 4-Fran | 4-Pen | 4-Ashe | 4-Basch |
| | 5-Fran | 5-Fran | 5-Basch | 5-Balth | 5-Fran | 5-Pen |
| | 6-Pen | 6-Pen | 6-Balth | 6-Fran | 6-Pen | 6-Fran |
---- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

The chart kinda got icky in the transfer, but it's still readable at least ._.

[Renmiri]

I used Axes for all but 2 of my guys/gals because for each group of 3 I wanted at least one range weapon, usually a bow.

Axes do the most damage but are very inconsistent, they vary from 50% to 100% max damage. Since 50% of a lot is still a lot I didn't care. Plus axes are one handed allowing me to equip good shields.

[Wolf Kanno]

The stat differences between the characters are minor so it really comes down to the equipment rather than the characters. You can honestly have Penelo beating things up with a two handed greatsword if you want

[Remedy]

Axes do the most damage but are very inconsistent, they vary from 50% to 100% max damage. Since 50% of a lot is still a lot I didn't care. Plus axes are one handed allowing me to equip good shields.

Gee..
and I want to give Basch the Axe as a weapon.
I might change my mind and give him spear or something else!

[d£v!l'$ ph0£n!x]

i think i'll end up giving the zodiac spear to someone (duh!?) and it looks like it'll be basch until lv90

[Renmiri]

Aye, the two handed weapons do not let you equip shields but most of the good ones come with a high defense bonus.

Swords are the most accurate iirc.

[McLovin']

Most enemies ignore defense anyways so pfft.

You can give your characters whatever weapons you like. In the beginning I stuck with what ever they originally had then gave them what I thought was better. Doesn't really make a difference.

[Hazzard]

Well Basch seems to take the role as 'axeman' for me. Vaan is 'Ninja kid', and Fran is 'Sexy Arrow Woman'.
I think that team is great!!!

[Xurts]

Guns suck, IMO. They are slow as hell and don't always ignore defense.

[rubah]

well, they do keep you out of the imminent enemy targeting area, so you'll probably live longer with a gun or bow or hand bomb.

However, something like a pole is much cooler looking.

[LunarWeaver]

However, something like a pole is much cooler looking.

Yes~ . Poles are the sexiest thing ever. They're so jaunty yet dangerous.

[rubah]

No freaking kidding.

[Renmiri]

Vaan does a monkey dance when he defeats bosses with a greatsword

[Wolf Kanno]

Sheilds work like they do in the old days (FF1, FFII, and FFV) they don't raise defense, rather they block attacks occasionally, depending on you your characters evasion. They work better than the old school shields as well...

I love the Samurai swords since they do combo attacks frequently. Basch equipped with Genji Gloves (raises multi-hit chances) and the Masamune (Best Samurai sword) bezerke, haste, and bravery cast on him makes him an unstoppable killing machine...