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 (SPOILER)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 It almost scares me.