While many Final Fantasys before it offered customization and variety for character skill sets, Final Fantasy X stepped it up a notch with its Sphere Grid. While each of the seven playable characters start off in their areas of the Grid, if you put enough effort into it, you could have any character learn any ability from it. Here is a list of the most useful abilities you'll need in Final Fantasy X.[prbreak][/prbreak]

Hastega

FFX_Hastega.png
Let's hurry up, guys. Yuna promised me a date after we defeat Sin!

This is Tidus' highest Haste spell, which affects all three active party members. This spell becomes vital later in the game, as getting an upper hand on the more vicious fiends is absolutely necessary to survive. Speedsters like Tidus and Rikku can benefit from having multiple turns before the enemy is even able to attack. Auron as well benefits greatly, as our favorite powerhouse falls short of natural speed. Of all the magic, this is probably the most useful.

Armor/Mental Break

FFX_Mental_Break.png
I'm getting too old for this.

These two defense busters are a heaven-sent. Unlike Kimahri and Auron, most of the crew doesn't benefit from having Armor piercing weaponry most of the time. Armor Break is ideal for making tedious battles against thick skins go by in a flash. Mental Break kills the enemy's magic defenses, making Lulu's magic much more dangerous.

Doublecast

lulugunit.png
Fun Fact: Doublecast was the name of Lulu's only #1 single, which featured G-Unit

Speaking of making Lulu's magic more dangerous, what's more dangerous than being able to cast a spell twice? Hastily make waste of those annoying Flans or those obnoxious Elementals. Later in the game, when fiends have more resistance to magic, doubling up spells is more beneficial. It’s worth the Lvl. 3 and Lvl. 4 Sphere Locks, as well as taking a detour, to acquire.

Dark/Silence/Sleep Attack/Buster

FFX_Dark_Buster.png
Wakka gonna knock you out... ya?

You wanna take out those annoying Mandragoras without a problem, ya? Well, that's where Sleep Attack comes in. For three turns you can say goodnight to any fiend with a weakness to Sleep. For those that are immune to Sleep, you could always try Dark or Silence Attack, making their offenses void instead. The Buster versions of these Skills have a higher rate of success, but only last one turn. Still, they prove much more effective late in the game, ya?

Switch/Yuna

Valefor-FFX-HD.JPG
If you take this hit for us, I'll get you a sweet pic of Lulu's boobs.

While technically more of a strategy than ability, keeping Lady Yuna out of your main party, especially later in the game, gives you the ability to keep her out of harms way and call her in when she's most needed. Whether you need her to heal your beaten teammates, or to summon an Aeon to shield the party against a noxious Malboro, using the Switch ability to bring in Yuna from the reserves can turn a potential GAME OVER into a victorious fanfare.

While there are other abilities which prove extremely useful (Rikku’s Use for Al-Bhed Potions and Kimahri’s Lancet for his Blue Magic are two examples) these are the ones that will make your journey through Spira a smoother one. With these abilities in your arsenal, you should make mincemeat of Sin in no time!