Final Fantasy Tactics: A Retrospective Ranking of Every Job Class

Final Fantasy Tactics, the legendary strategy RPG, has finally arrived on PC, bringing its intricate job system to a new platform. This retrospective offers a highly scientific ranking of all 20 classes, grading them on style, shenanigans, sass, and stoutness while identifying their best abilities.

Every hero starts as a Squire, the humble foundation. While visually bland and weak in attack, the Squire is essential for learning JP Boost, a support ability critical for progression. Their Throw Stone and Focus skills are perfect for guaranteed XP and JP gains, and Ramza’s unique Squire skills, like the speed-boosting Tailwind, are invaluable throughout the entire campaign.

The Chemist, the other starter job, proves its longevity. It offers the most reliable healing in the game, as items cannot miss. Its crown jewel is the Auto Potion reaction skill, which automatically uses a healing item when damaged. Surprisingly, the Chemist can also equip guns, adding unexpected firepower to your backline support.

Knights embody raw power from the moment they are unlocked. With access to heavy armor, shields, and the Parry reaction, they are incredibly durable. Their Art of War skills can deliver devastating debuffs like Rend Weapon, crippling enemy attackers. Paired with support abilities for ranged weapons, a Knight can shoot a weapon right out of an enemy’s hand from a distance.

In contrast, the Archer is a disappointment. Burdened with the underwhelming Aim skill, which delays their attack and lowers their defense, they often find their targets moving out of range before the shot lands. Their primary value lies in support abilities like Concentration, which ensures attacks never miss, making them better as a secondary skill for other classes.

The White Mage serves as the party’s primary healer, learning essential spells like Curaja and Arise. While fragile, their ability to restore the entire team makes them a cornerstone of any successful strategy in the war-torn lands of Ivalice.