Summary
While there is a lot to love about theFinal Fantasyseries, one thing that many dedicated fans call out over and over is the job system featured in a few games. Being able to choose how your characters fight and grow adds a shocking amount of depth to basic RPGs.
Thanks to the love for the job system, it only makes sense that a few classes within that system would stand out for one reason or another. It could be argued that you see the various classes across every game of the series, even if only a few allow you to implement them, meaning Final Fantasy shows off tons of unique job classes.
Updated September xxth, 2024 by Hilton Webster:In its over 30-year history, Final Fantasy has created quite a legacy for itself, and the Jobs system is one of the most iconic of those. From Dragoons to Dancers, we’ve given this article a refresh to highlight some of the series' most iconic Jobs.
13Dark Knight
Since its earliest days, the Dark Knight was intended as a melee class that had access to some magic to give them some extra versatility. As time has went on, the Dark Knight has evolved into a Job that is something more sinister, drawing on their own lifeforce to strengthen their capabilities.
In practice, the Dark Knight is very much a glass cannon. They can dish out absurd damage but need constant healing to make sure they don’t sap themselves dry. Cecil Harvey from Final Fantasy 4 is canonically a Dark Knight, while characters like Lightning, Yuna, and Jack Garland can all optional take on the role as well.
While the Dark Knight is a very iconic role, in earlier translations, the Warmage Job in Japanese titles was translated as Darknight.
12Machinist
Machinists have a somewhat complex history in the series, being renowned in each entry they appear, yet quite different in each as well. At their core, they are a ranged class all about taking advantage of guns, bombs and any manner of machinery they can get their hands on.
In Final Fantasy 6, Edgar is a Machinist and uses a spear and other mechanical tools. In Final Fantasy 14, players can be Machinists and use firearms as well as constructed automatons and turrets to deal damage. In Final Fantasy 12, it is considerably simpler, letting you use bombs and guns.
11Dancer
Dancing is an expression of the soul, an act your body can’t help but perform in the right circumstances. To onlookers, dancing is uplifting, bringing a sort of joy to those around you. Fitting into that exact feeling, Dancers in Final Fantasy have always been highly effective support units.
Dancers first appeared in Final Fantasy 5 as a job the party could equip, which was primarily used to put debuffs on enemies.In its MMO renditionsas well as Final Fantasy 10-2, Dancer is more split, both buffing the party and rebuffing enemies. It’s versatile, if rather physically weak.
Dancer is also commonly one of the few Jobs in the series that can offer support without relying on magic.
10Black Mage
Black magic is one of the most important parts of a Final Fantasy game, something that makesthe Black Mage job classvital to your success in most games. Dealing with powerful magics, a competent black mage will go from casting a simple fire spell to obliterating their foes with something like a meteor or ultima.
The original Black Mage from the very first Final Fantasy on the NES may be the most iconic form of the character, but there have been many important renditions of the class. Final Fantasy 9’s Vivi and Final Fantasy 10’s Lulu are two of the most famous dedicated Black Mage characters in the series.
In Final Fantasy 9, Vivi’s species is specifically known as Black Mages.
9Dragoon
The Dragoon job class is often seen as one of the coolest in the Final Fantasy series for some reason. Often seen as agile and dynamic fighters, Dragoons tend to utilize spears or other long weapons to dominate their foes on the battlefield.
With plenty of special abilities to call upon depending on the version of the character, it’s never a bad idea to have a Dragoon on your team. Final Fantasy 4’s Kain Highwind, 7’s Cid Highwind, 9’s Freya Crescent, and 10’s Kimahri Ronso are all recognizable Dragoons from the series.
8Warrior
Originally known as the Fighter class, Warriors stand as the prime example of the standard all-rounder of the group. They are often some of the most reliable members of the team, with great damage output potential and the ability to absorb a lot of damage.
Two of Final Fantasy’s edgiest anime boys can be considered to be warriors, withFinal Fantasy 7’s Cloud Strifeand 8’s Squall Lionheart standing out as great examples of the job class. There’s a reason why, despite the class being simplistic, so many people still want to call themselves a warrior.
7White Mage
It’s no secret that magic is incredibly important to the Final Fantasy series, and the White Mage job class might be the most important.The healer of the group, the White Mage is the best job to heal the wounded, cure ailments, and battle against the undead.
Notable White Mages from the series are Final Fantasy 7’s Aerith Gainsborough, 9’s Dagger, and 10’s Yuna. Solid support is a key to success across the series, which is what makes the White Mage job class a must-have regardless of which game you’re playing.
6Monk
While the Monk job class may initially seem like one of the more forgotten about in the series, that couldn’t be further from the truth. With Final Fantasy 4’s Yang, 6’s Sabin, 7’s Tifa Lockhart, and so many other great examples, it’s not often you go too long without a Monk in your party.
These characters are often capable of dishing out some of the highest physical damage attacks out of any member of your group. Often possessing the ability to perform special attacks, buff allies, and even occasionally heal, Monks are one of the most varied and best job classes out there.
5Blue Mage
The Blue Mage job class is one of the more bizarre in the series because this class actually relies on learning abilities from the enemies you face. Both Strago and Gau from Final Fantasy 6 could be seen as a Blue Mage, with others like 8’s Quistis Trepe, 9’s Quina Quen, and 10’s Kimahri Ronso all serving the same role in part.
The beauty of this job class is that it can be as weak or as strong as you want it to be. Its power depends on your ability to seek out the various abilities the blue mages are capable of inheriting.
4Ninja
Pretty much anyone who plays video games can agreethat Ninjas are cool, and that’s no different in the Final Fantasy series. Being speedy fighters who are often able to throw weapons for critical damage (along with other special abilities), Ninjas are always useful in fights as one of the best jobs.
Final Fantasy 4’s Edge, 6’s Shadow, and 7’s Yuffie Kisaragi all bring something unique to the Ninja class, though the earlier versions of the class have plenty of unique twists. Some Ninjas can use magic, others are capable of simple stealing, but all of them are awesome to use.
