Captains can actually be beaten with sucky stats...

[Peter_20]

Did you know that the Captains in Phin can be beaten very easily by using the correct strategy?
You don't even need high HP, because the strategy involves frequent use of the LIFE spell anyway.

This is how you do it: level up your LIFE spell until it reaches LV3, or higher.
Then put the character using LIFE in the back row, and everyone else in the front row.
Now keep casting attack spells on the Captain (physical attacks work too, but spells are much better).
If a character dies (and this will happen), use LIFE on that character.
Now if you just know that a char will die the next turn, still give that char an order, because in this game even revived characters will execute their commands before the next turn.

Personally I use this strategy:

---FRIONIEL
MARIA
GUY
GORDON

Frioniel stands in the back row and uses LIFE 3 on anyone that dies.
Maria keeps casting FIRE 5.
Guy just swings his axes.
Gordon casts ICE 2.

Sometimes I take a good guess on who's about to die, and I usually pick Maria, since she has the absolutely lowest HP; and then the next turn she dies alright, but since I've ordered her to throw FIRE 5 she'll still do that before the next turn.
This stategy works even better in FF2 Origins, because in that version the LIFE spell *always* works, even when it's used on several characters at once.

Well, try it.

[DarkLadyNyara]

Or you could just level teleport up to about, say, level 4.

[Peter_20]

Or you could just level teleport up to about, say, level 4.

Does that magic actually work against the terrible Captains?

I mean, death-spells like Teleport usually only work on the weakest enemies in the game, and only if you're lucky. :rolleyes2

[Bart's Friend Milhouse]

Now come up with a strategy for winning the first battle

[Peter_20]

Now come up with a strategy for winning the first battle

Wha?
You use the LIFE spell for a while, and then suddenly you can win the very first Captain battle already.

[FuzZerd]

you don't have the life spell at the first battle

[DarkLadyNyara]

Or you could just level teleport up to about, say, level 4.

Does that magic actually work against the terrible Captains?

I mean, death-spells like Teleport usually only work on the weakest enemies in the game, and only if you're lucky. :rolleyes2

Meh. It's what I've always used, and it worked for me.

[Tempest]

I just have everyone level up Fists early on so they can knock out a bunch of the Captain's Hp.