Most Overrated Job Class (again...)

[Wolf Kanno]

The "again" is cause I'm certain its been done to death but due to the release of the PSP port I feel its time to re-evaluate the job classes. Now I have always been impressed with Tactics cause the job class system has always been fairly balanced overall, granted the PSP version kinda smurfs this up due to Dark Knights and Onion Knights being horribly overpowered but they are off-setted by both needing steep requirements in order to get access to them.

Regardless, this is a series where everyone has their favorite party combinations and lord knows a few of us disagree when people swear upon the uber-godliness of certain classes; but let's face it. Some classes are not nearly as good as people say they are.

My two choices are Calculators/Mathematicians and Ninjas. The first one has easily the worst stats of all the classes, yes their abilities are useful cause its instant casting with no mp cost but the work needed to make sure you don't nuke your own party or worse, heal and buff the enemy party is not worth the stress IMO.

Ninja's are another class I don't care for, weak weapons, lousy hp and defense making them glass cannons. Their only plus is their speed and an d a few abilities that once again are better served in other classes. Like the Cal/Math, I feel its a class you jump into so you can get a few useful abilities and then you never look back unless you need a real thief (unless you have Balthier then its not worth it).

An honorable mention goes to Summoners but luckily its easy to offset their weaknesses so its only a minor hassle...

[BG-57]

No argument about Calculators as a class, although their Math Skills are one of the prizes in the game. There are plenty of ways to avoid self-damage, particularly with Holy. It's my secondary skill of choice.

The useless part of Ninjas for me is that most of the Throw commands go unused except for Throw Shuirken and Throw Ball. I'm not gonna hurl a spare Excalibur at my foes unless I'm in the endgame.

As much of a fan-favorite Cloud is, I find his Limit skill is hampered by the time limits placed upon them, not to mention weapon restriction. Even a Bard has more weapon options. Although Finish Touch has some nice status effects I usually have him use secondary Math Skills rather than go for a sword strike.

I also don't have much use for Geomancers. It's not that they can't do damage, but the status effects depend on terrain too much. I like having more control.

[Karellen]

Knights are pretty lame without Two Swords.

[VeloZer0]

If you twink ninjas out they are probably the most overpowered class in the game outside a caster with Math Skill.

By mid way through chapter 3 you can get a +2 PA armor and hat, giving a ninja about 14 PA total. With 97 Br, 14*14*2=392 damage per hit, as a base line. After this you could equip Martial Arts to bring the total to 588, a bracer to bring it to 578, or both to have your lv30 ninja do 867 damage.

If you want to twink out for mobility you can equip Germanias Boots and Move +3 to give a ludicrous move of 8 and jump of 5, all while still being able to one shot anything that awaits you when you get there.

Survivability, as you mentioned, is the main weakness of the ninja. Once your ninja one shots everything it touches the picture changes a little bit, since you don't have to worry about counters or having them attack you back next round. Additionally the game possesses some very powerful defensive abilities, namely Blade Grasp and MP Switch. We all know how awesome Blade Grasp is, seeing as it reduces 80% of the damage you are liable to take in the game to a scant 03% chance to hit.

Lesser known is the power of MP Switch. Since ninjas have such low hp, the total mp is usually consumed on each hit, however with Move MP-UP you regenerate a token amount of MP each time you move, meaning you would get one free hit every turn. And if you are setting up any of your characters to get pile driven with multiple attacks every turn, I don't think its the classes you are using that’s the problem.

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So ends my defense of the mighty ninja. As for my vote for useless classes, I'm going with Calculator (obviously) and Samurai.

The reason I list Samurai is that other than the skills you can learn from them (which are quite good) the class itself has little use. Weak physical attack, no shield and an action command that doesn't see its full strength unless equipped on a magic class. Other than to learn the skills there is really no reason to every use them. (unless you want to take advantage of the sword from Deep Dungeon since you only have a limited supply of uber weapons).

[feioncastor]

Ninjas are only really great for their Two Sword ability. Once I get that, I just use it for other jobs. Their "Throw" command is silly. It doesn't do nearly enough damage. It's good for situations when an enemy is almost dead but you can't reach him with a regular attack, but there are other skills that would be better.

I had a friend who LOVED Samurais, and I don't know why. They don't do much physical damage and they can't use shields. Their draw out skill isn't good except for a few of them (I like that one that does Protect and Shell, and the one that heals allies).

And, finally, Lancers. Their "Jump" skill is too unpredictable. You can never know if your target is gonna go before you land until after you decide to jump. You can use the CT gauge to determine, but it's not set in stone. Also, they do less damage than other physical classes. And Jump doesn't get useful until the later skills, which are kind of pricey.

[Flying Mullet]

Summoners can be godly with Quick Charge. The're one of the few classes that can cast area damage spells that only target enemies and not allies.

I agree that Samurais are worthless, especially since they're considered an advanced class. I've never liked the amount of money you have to spend on weapons to use them. They're like a hybrid of a magic user and a physical attacker that loses the advantages of the two classes and gains all of the disadvantages.

Sadly, I think a lot of the classes are only good for their abilities. Once learned, there are better classes that those abilities are suited for.

[Ziekfried]

Ah! screw ninjas. there are plenty of classes that top that power with better range, the only blessing ninjas got is some new items from the PSP port make then more usable, like a ninja sword with 30 PA and the brigands gloves(good for everyone) to add haste making them hit much harder and faster. Still I probably wouldn't use them.

hmmm, lessee, overrated eh? Dark Knight. I know call me crazy and all but that HP and speed sacrifice ain't too much worth it. They do have some great abilities I make use of though. Also their fell swords suck, I know you don't have to use them but they certainly don 't add any appeal to the class.

[Wolf Kanno]

Anything can be tweaked to a killing machine in this game (hell its half the fun in the system) but I'm with others on the fact that Ninja's are only good for getting Dual Wield and to a lesser extent, Vanish and Reflexes, but overall I feel their are better classes suited for its abilities, especially when Mana Shield fails cause the AI decides that character needs to die NOW!

I actually like Samurai and at high levels they are pretty good with the right set up but like Ninja's they are more useful for abilities than as a class. I just feel Ninjas are not so great as a class cause they have apparent flaws and even with a good set up it can't keep them safe like other classes with a similar set up. All Ninjas really have going for them is speed. Their weapons are not really good compared to Greatswords and Katanas.

[MadeOfApples]

Ninjas are LETHAL and I can't see how they can be viewed as overrated (Not my favorite class but one of the most effective killing machines).

A ninja equipped with a Thief Hat, Secret Clothes, Sprint Shoes, and has the Move +3 ability equipped can throw a 'Morning Star'* at a range of 7 spaces and at 240 damage (assuming your total speed is 15).

Not bad at all.

With a range of 7 spaces, you can easily keep out of range of the more powerful, non-ninja, melee strikers (far to slow with to low of a movement range) while still taking down high HP foes in 2-3 throws.


Not over rated in the least.


I find that newer players tend to overrate summoners. Useful class in the early game but I don't think I've ever used them past the second chapter (Besides all summoner attempt... which I couldn't beat).

[Wolf Kanno]

I only say Ninja's are overrated cause they have low hp and even with their speed and evasion it only takes one good hit from a monster (any of them) or a strong melee class to wipe them out. Their throw command is also useless since it requires money and at the end of the day; dual-wielding Greatswords/Katanas does more damage. My other reasoning is that people swear upon the ungodliness of their team of 3 Ninjas and Dragoons with Monk sub class. :rolleyes2

[MadeOfApples]

I only say Ninja's are overrated cause they have low hp and even with their speed and evasion it only takes one good hit from a monster (any of them) or a strong melee class to wipe them out. Their throw command is also useless since it requires money and at the end of the day; dual-wielding Greatswords/Katanas does more damage. My other reasoning is that people swear upon the ungodliness of their team of 3 Ninjas and Dragoons with Monk sub class. :rolleyes2

The Ninja isn't a defender class. They're intended to get close to your enemy and to know them out in a single strike. Using them for anything else will just make them disappointing. I like to think of them as Wizards with swords.

I don't even use ninja's after I learn 2-Sword. Usually only learn that and two throws (Ball, Hammer), only learn those since it makes my Ninja more useful while training.

I'm more of an Oracle type of guy.

Also thought the dragoons/lancer was a useless class.

[Bambiko]

I dont have a favourite class. Just favourite skills.

The thing I like to do is torture the enemy. And so for me the best class is Oracle. Mediators r fun too. Kinda sux that magicians die so fast, but thats if the enemy reaches them :P

[NeoTifa]

id say calculators and samurai. i could never get my samurai to work

[Fate Fatale]

I agree. Samurai were potentially powerful but I never got much use of them. I never really cared to learn though. I suppose it's my loss.

[BG-57]

For me the main weakness of the Samurai is the best katanas with the best Draw Out effects are hard to get. At least in the PSX version you can duplicate them easily.