01-02-2018, 12:51 AM
For those who never heard about it or simply forgot it existed, Bravely Default is a turn-based RPG very similar to Final Fantasy (probably because it's from Square Enix). It has a notable gameplay feature in its "brave and default" system, where players can spend turns to attack more and sooner, or save them up to use at a later time. We're not gonna talk about that. As is a common staple of Final Fantasy since it's [actual] third installment, Bravely Default borrows the job system where all the fighters can become a certain class whenever they want. Maybe you want Edea part knight, part thief? What if you want to make Ringabel a merchant so he can buy out the local brothel? Perhaps you'd like to say "screw it" to reason and never give Agnes a proper magic class in the game? All of this is up to you, and you can choose how you want to play at any moment you desire.
But that got me thinking: if the characters have unique stats, then which characters are best suited to each job in particular? Of the four in the game- Tiz, Agnes, Ringabel, and Edea- what are their strongest suits in regards to jobs? This thread will serve as a record of my studies, as I play through the game and analyze each of the specific classes from the lens of every playable ally.
First up, we have their base stats. Each character has 8 of them: HP, MP, strength, vitality, intelligence, mind, dexterity, and agility. For more details, Gamer Guides has a nice description of each stats that will be linked at the end of the thread. Each base stat has someone higher in it than the rest of the party, and most of them have a second best (though two end in ties). The order of stats will be (Tiz / Agnes / Ringabel / Edea), with the owner of the first and second highest stat-holders mentioned right after (their stats will also be formatted accordingly).
Based on the above information, we can infer the following:
1) Tiz best plays a jack of all trades, as he shows consistency in having second-best stats. His HP is his only excelling factor, but then again his only low points are MP and intelligence.
2) Agnes is clearly the best in terms of magical ability; she has the top scores in MP, intelligence and mind, and is likely best suited for magical classes.
3) Ringabel works best with jobs that require high speed and dexterity (like the thief.) He can work well in magic as well, second best in MP and intelligence, but his dreadful mind stat is a large setback.
4) Edea has the best chances with physical combat, having good strength and vitality. It is nigh essential to keep her on some physical class, as the only area she comes second is is MP, and even then she's tied with Ringabel.
However, none of this matters if we do not analyze the classes themselves. After all, not every class is neatly divided into "magic," "physical," "swift," etc. Classes like the spell fencer are mainly physical with an emphesis on magical buffs to the sword. So, with this in mind, I will also go over each of the classes in the game. As of now, however, I am nowhere close to completing it, and something tells me I'm in it for the long haul before all the jobs are unlocked. As such, this thread will be occasionally updated with new information to stay up to date. At the end, I will reevaluate all the jobs at that level to ensure that these trends are stable overall. Stats will be listed identically to the base stats, but will also be colored based on whether they are buffed, nerfed, or are not changed at all; blue for buff, red for debuff, black for naught.
---
JOB ONE: Freelancer
[spoiler]Freelancers are the most basic class of all, relying entirely on base stats from the outset. Notable features include:
-Boosts to HP when leveling up the job
-Late Bloomer: ability which add a 1% buff to all stats for every job mastered thus far.
Level One
Current Thoughts:
Save this for last, that's when it gets the most benefit. I will keep this on level one for the entirety of my study until it is the last job left, as it serves as the only job with basic stats. Yes, there is a place to see the default stats beside the ones altered by your job, but... um... yeah. Anyways.
[/spoiler]
JOB TWO: Monk
[spoiler]Monks are warriors who generally fight best with fists alone. Notable features include:
-Buffs to HP, strength, vitality, agility
-Hits to MP, intelligence, mind
-Knuckle Lore: Apt at using knuckle weapons; the value of your level doubled is added to your attack stat (not strength) when unarmed.
Level One
Current Thoughts:
Tiz and Edea are neck and neck, I would say. On one hand, Tiz gains more health to further boost his high HP, and his strength and vitality are up to snuff. Edea, on the other hand, can hit harder and take less damage, but if you're fighting a strong opponent then her high defense won't make up for her low HP. I generally go with Tiz, as by the time I unlock Edea I'll have already gotten a couple of levels in the job for Tiz. However, either is a good pick for different reasons. Ringabel wouldn't be a half-bad choice, but monk is clearly not his path to stardom. Basically, what I'm saying is don't choose Agnes for this. Please. You shouldn't be so hard on yourself.
[/spoiler]
JOB THREE: White Mage
[spoiler]White Mages give up their compitency with stick fighting to use it a different way; they suck at fighting, but are notably good at healing their team of ailments or damage. Notable features include:
-Buffs to MP, intelligence, mind.
-Debuffs to strength, vitality, dexterity.
-Ability to cast white magic.
-Self Healing: Removes status ailments after the battle.
Level One
Current Thoughts:
Agnes is a perfect candidate for white mage based on stats alone, so that much is easy to note. Second best might actually be Tiz, for the sole reason that he can take more of a beating. White mages are not known for their defensive capabilities, but you would at least like them to take a hit. Tiz has the best health and second best mind stat of them all, and with these base stats a single point can make a huge difference. Ringabel has a little more MP, sure, but the truth is his mind stat just doesn't do that well, especially when mind determines the power of healing spells. All in all, I would say give Tiz a staff over Ringa-ding-ding.[/spoiler]
JOB FOUR: Black Mage
[spoiler]Black mages use the arcane in an offensive manner by burning, freezing and electrocuting all in their path, as well as causing status effects. Notable features include:
-Buff to MP, intelligence, mind.
-Debuff to strength, vitality, dexterity.
-Ability to cast black magic.
-Black Resonance: Deal more magic damage with each black mage in your party.
Level One
Current Thoughts:
This class is, obviously, Agnes' territory once more. However, it is important to note that this job has more limitations than its brighter counterpart. While white mages excel in staves but can use rods competently, black mages are great with rods but sub-par skill with staves. On top of this, you have better strength values on white mages than black. Is this something to fuss over? Maybe, maybe not, but it is important to bring up because its ability, "Black Resonance," increases the power of dark magic with each black mage on the field. It's generally not good to go with a team of all four mages, but if you want to take advantage of the skill, Ringabel's high intelligence makes him a good companion to Agnes. Tiz is also a good option again, since he can still take a hit, and his white magic is still quite effective if you taught him some beforehand.[/spoiler]
JOB FIVE: KNIGHT
(to be updated in the future)
---
Link to Gamer Guides' explanation of stats.
If you scroll a little bit past the stats, you will also get a more in-depth description of the job system.
But that got me thinking: if the characters have unique stats, then which characters are best suited to each job in particular? Of the four in the game- Tiz, Agnes, Ringabel, and Edea- what are their strongest suits in regards to jobs? This thread will serve as a record of my studies, as I play through the game and analyze each of the specific classes from the lens of every playable ally.
First up, we have their base stats. Each character has 8 of them: HP, MP, strength, vitality, intelligence, mind, dexterity, and agility. For more details, Gamer Guides has a nice description of each stats that will be linked at the end of the thread. Each base stat has someone higher in it than the rest of the party, and most of them have a second best (though two end in ties). The order of stats will be (Tiz / Agnes / Ringabel / Edea), with the owner of the first and second highest stat-holders mentioned right after (their stats will also be formatted accordingly).
Quote:BASE STATS DATA
---
HP: (271 / 244 / 259 / 247) - Tiz, RingabelMP: (71 / 84 / 80 / 80) - Agnes, Ringabel+EdeaStr: (12 / 10 / 11 / 13) - Edea, TizVit: (12 / 10 / 11 / 13) - Edea, TizInt: (11 / 13 / 12 / 10) - Agnes, RingabelMnd: (12 / 13 / 10 / 11) - Agnes, TizDex: (12 / 10 / 13 / 11) - Ringabel, TizAgi: (10 / 10 / 13 / 10) - Ringabel, Everyone else*The above information was gathered with all characters at level 6, each with level 1 in all jobs.
Based on the above information, we can infer the following:
1) Tiz best plays a jack of all trades, as he shows consistency in having second-best stats. His HP is his only excelling factor, but then again his only low points are MP and intelligence.
2) Agnes is clearly the best in terms of magical ability; she has the top scores in MP, intelligence and mind, and is likely best suited for magical classes.
3) Ringabel works best with jobs that require high speed and dexterity (like the thief.) He can work well in magic as well, second best in MP and intelligence, but his dreadful mind stat is a large setback.
4) Edea has the best chances with physical combat, having good strength and vitality. It is nigh essential to keep her on some physical class, as the only area she comes second is is MP, and even then she's tied with Ringabel.
However, none of this matters if we do not analyze the classes themselves. After all, not every class is neatly divided into "magic," "physical," "swift," etc. Classes like the spell fencer are mainly physical with an emphesis on magical buffs to the sword. So, with this in mind, I will also go over each of the classes in the game. As of now, however, I am nowhere close to completing it, and something tells me I'm in it for the long haul before all the jobs are unlocked. As such, this thread will be occasionally updated with new information to stay up to date. At the end, I will reevaluate all the jobs at that level to ensure that these trends are stable overall. Stats will be listed identically to the base stats, but will also be colored based on whether they are buffed, nerfed, or are not changed at all; blue for buff, red for debuff, black for naught.
---
JOB ONE: Freelancer
[spoiler]Freelancers are the most basic class of all, relying entirely on base stats from the outset. Notable features include:
-Boosts to HP when leveling up the job
-Late Bloomer: ability which add a 1% buff to all stats for every job mastered thus far.
Level One
Quote:The stats are identical to the ones above, as it gives no bonuses or detractions at level 1.
Current Thoughts:
Save this for last, that's when it gets the most benefit. I will keep this on level one for the entirety of my study until it is the last job left, as it serves as the only job with basic stats. Yes, there is a place to see the default stats beside the ones altered by your job, but... um... yeah. Anyways.
[/spoiler]
JOB TWO: Monk
[spoiler]Monks are warriors who generally fight best with fists alone. Notable features include:
-Buffs to HP, strength, vitality, agility
-Hits to MP, intelligence, mind
-Knuckle Lore: Apt at using knuckle weapons; the value of your level doubled is added to your attack stat (not strength) when unarmed.
Level One
Quote:HP: (352 / 317 / 336 / 321) - Tiz, Ringabel
MP: (49 / 58 / 56 / 56) - Agnes, Ringabel+Edea
Str: (15 / 13 / 14 / 16) - Edea, Tiz
Vit: (14 / 12 / 13 / 15) - Edea, Tiz
Int: (6 / 7 / 7 / 6) - Agnes+Ringabel
Mnd: (9 / 10 / 8 / 8) - Agnes, Tiz
Dex: (12 / 10 / 13 / 11) - Ringabel, Tiz
Agi: (12 / 12 / 15 / 12) - Ringabel, Everyone else
*The above information was gathered with all characters at level 6.
Current Thoughts:
Tiz and Edea are neck and neck, I would say. On one hand, Tiz gains more health to further boost his high HP, and his strength and vitality are up to snuff. Edea, on the other hand, can hit harder and take less damage, but if you're fighting a strong opponent then her high defense won't make up for her low HP. I generally go with Tiz, as by the time I unlock Edea I'll have already gotten a couple of levels in the job for Tiz. However, either is a good pick for different reasons. Ringabel wouldn't be a half-bad choice, but monk is clearly not his path to stardom. Basically, what I'm saying is don't choose Agnes for this. Please. You shouldn't be so hard on yourself.
[/spoiler]
JOB THREE: White Mage
[spoiler]White Mages give up their compitency with stick fighting to use it a different way; they suck at fighting, but are notably good at healing their team of ailments or damage. Notable features include:
-Buffs to MP, intelligence, mind.
-Debuffs to strength, vitality, dexterity.
-Ability to cast white magic.
-Self Healing: Removes status ailments after the battle.
Level One
Quote:HP: (271 / 244 / 259 / 247) - Tiz, Ringabel
MP: (92 / 109 / 104 / 104) - Agnes, Ringabel+Edea
Str: (8 / 7 / 7 / 9) - Edea, Tiz
Vit: (7 / 6 / 6 / 7) - Edea+Tiz
Int: (13 / 15 / 14 / 12) - Agnes, Ringabel
Mnd: (15 / 16 / 13 / 14) - Agnes, Tiz
Dex: (9 / 8 / 10 / 8) - Ringabel, Tiz
Agi: (10 / 10 / 13 / 10) - Ringabel, Everyone else
[i]*The above information was gathered with all characters at level 6.[/i]
Current Thoughts:
Agnes is a perfect candidate for white mage based on stats alone, so that much is easy to note. Second best might actually be Tiz, for the sole reason that he can take more of a beating. White mages are not known for their defensive capabilities, but you would at least like them to take a hit. Tiz has the best health and second best mind stat of them all, and with these base stats a single point can make a huge difference. Ringabel has a little more MP, sure, but the truth is his mind stat just doesn't do that well, especially when mind determines the power of healing spells. All in all, I would say give Tiz a staff over Ringa-ding-ding.[/spoiler]
JOB FOUR: Black Mage
[spoiler]Black mages use the arcane in an offensive manner by burning, freezing and electrocuting all in their path, as well as causing status effects. Notable features include:
-Buff to MP, intelligence, mind.
-Debuff to strength, vitality, dexterity.
-Ability to cast black magic.
-Black Resonance: Deal more magic damage with each black mage in your party.
Level One
Quote:HP: (271 / 244 / 259 / 247) - Tiz, Ringabel
MP: (92 / 109 / 104 / 104) - Agnes, Ringabel+Edea
Str: (7 / 6 / 6 / 7) - Edea, Tiz
Vit: (7 / 6 / 6 / 7) - Edea+Tiz
Int: (14 / 16 / 15 / 13) - Agnes, Ringabel
Mnd: (14 / 15 / 12 / 13) - Agnes, Tiz
Dex: (9 / 8 / 10 / 8) - Ringabel, Tiz
Agi: (10 / 10 / 13 / 10) - Ringabel, Everyone else
[i]*The above information was gathered with all characters at level 6.[/i]
Current Thoughts:
This class is, obviously, Agnes' territory once more. However, it is important to note that this job has more limitations than its brighter counterpart. While white mages excel in staves but can use rods competently, black mages are great with rods but sub-par skill with staves. On top of this, you have better strength values on white mages than black. Is this something to fuss over? Maybe, maybe not, but it is important to bring up because its ability, "Black Resonance," increases the power of dark magic with each black mage on the field. It's generally not good to go with a team of all four mages, but if you want to take advantage of the skill, Ringabel's high intelligence makes him a good companion to Agnes. Tiz is also a good option again, since he can still take a hit, and his white magic is still quite effective if you taught him some beforehand.[/spoiler]
JOB FIVE: KNIGHT
(to be updated in the future)
---
Link to Gamer Guides' explanation of stats.
If you scroll a little bit past the stats, you will also get a more in-depth description of the job system.
Death Count: 0
Banish Count: 0
Banish Count: 0