The class system is a mainstay in theFinal Fantasyseries. Although some games do not employ the system or outright mention each character’s class, they retain enough characteristics of their particular classes to be able to categorize them in one of the iconic jobs.Final Fantasy 16is one of these games.
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Since the direction of this game is centered around medieval times, many of the more unique classes like Time Mage or Geomancer are not found, but there are many characters in the game whose combat style fits perfectly into the more traditional classes like Paladin and Red Mage. From lance-wieldingDragoonsto fist-fighting Monks, these classes are also found in Final Fantasy 16.
8Clive Rosfield - Paladin
Being the main character in the story earns you a main character-esque class. Clive’s fighting style revolves around traditional swordplay with a bit of magic sourced from the Phoenix’s blessing.
Since the game only allows you to control Clive, it gives you plenty of options to be a sustainable character with plenty of huge hits to stagger your enemy and spells that can heal part of your HP, including your Limit Break.
Paladin suits Clive’s story as well—a knight sworn to protect the heir to the throne of Rosalia, his younger brother Joshua. But realistically, with how he “learns” the Eikons’ powers, Clive is aBlue Magethrough and through.
7Joshua Rosfield - Mystic Knight
Since Final Fantasy 16 is based more along the lines of a medieval time period rather than something more fantastical, most of the characters without a distinctive fighting style can be lumped together into the Red Mage class. A simple sword-wielding class that can employ magic as well.
But Joshua’s class can be dug a little deeper. Being the Dominant OfPhoenix, he has high survivability and his healing powers can be extended to others, making him the perfect fit for a Mystic Knight.
While the Mystic Knight class can be attributed to element-embuing weapons, their high HP and ability to learn the Cover move fits Joshua perfectly.
6Jill Warrick - Black Mage
Jill is one of the characters in the game that doesn’t do much as far as physical fighting style since most of her strength comes from Shiva’s power. When she is not primed as Shiva, Jill fights using a rapier that she learned to use while under the Iron Kingdom’s command.
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Due to that, Jill’s class falls along the lines of a Black Mage. When you fight her at the start of the time skip, she is seen using her rapier when you approach her, but she mostly focuses on long-range Ice spells.
Once you are close to her, she will slash you a couple of times when move a bit further away, unlike Benedikta, who is close to her in fighting style, Jill is not as quick, solidifying her role as a Black Mage even more.
5Cidolfus Telamon - Sword Saint
Cid is one of the best characters in Final Fantasy 16. Taking the role of mentor to Clive as his quest for revenge begins, Cid gives some of the most memorable lines in the script.
The Dominant ofRamuhis seen wielding two long swords while donning an almostWitcher-like outfit, yet no class in Final Fantasy matches that description alone.
Cid’s name is a tradition in every Final Fantasy game, but 16’s is a little different. His name, and powers, are directly inspired by Final Fantasy Tactics’ Cidolfus Orlandeau, the Thunder God himself.
Even without any Holy magic, this would make Final Fantasy 16’s Cid a Sword Saint.
4Benedikta Harman - Red Mage
It’s surprising that the always cold intelligencer from the Kingdom of Waloed is not the Dominant of Shiva, but rather of Garuda. You fight Benedikta during your time at Caer Norvent while looking for the Hooded Man.
During the fight, and many of the cutscenes where she kills people, she is seen using a thin longsword, similar to a rapier, but with an edge.
Being a part of a military, it is obvious that Benedikta would have a way with the blade, but being the Dominant of Garuda, she also utilizes her magic to attack from a distance. She can shoot the spell Aeroga and while you’re caught in a whirlwind, she can leap in with fearsome slashes.
This combination of attacks spells out one thing and one thing only:Red Mage.
3Hugo Kupka - Monk
The Titan himself is an absolute unit. Most characters in the world of Valisthea are somewhat smaller framed, besides Goetz and Ash’s Orcs, so seeing a man built like Hugo Kupka is refreshing.
Hugo Kupka being the Economic Advisor of the Dhalmekian Republic is as silver-tongued as the most charming characters in the series, yet he has the fists to back it up.
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Hugo can be considered a Monk. He is never seen fighting without being primed, so the only times you see him fighting is with his fists.
It might seem underwhelming at first since everyone carries a sword of sorts, but those Titan gauntlets can sure pack a punch.
2Dion Lesage - Dragoon
Do we really have to answer this? The Crown Prince of The Holy Empire of Sanbreque and leader of The Holy Knights Dragoon, an elite garrison of knights whose signature weapon is a spear and are trained in specialized attacks where they jump extremely high and drop on their foes with a single strike of their weapon? Who knows?
Dragoons are so iconic to the Final Fantasy series that it’s difficult to categorize anything else with a spear into any other class besides Dragoon. The game does a great job of differentiating the Dragoons here from the ones in the past.
Most of the time, Dragoons carry a brooding aura to them and are clad in dark-toned armor, whereas in 16’s case, the Holy Knights Dragoons resemble something akin to Templar Knights.
1Barnabas Tharmr - Dark Knight
Although not as obvious as Dion Lesage, it is very clear what class Barnabas represents if you are familiar with the series. The King of Waloed and Dominant of Odin would be a Dark Knight in any Final Fantasy game with a job system.
Unlike the Price of Sanbreque, you don’t see Barnabas in action until the final hours of the game, so up until then besides his Eikonic form, his combat is hardly known by anyone that has not faced him in battle. And those who have usually will not live to tell the tale.
Barnabas is feared by many due to his power as Odin and the veil of mystery that is the continent of Waloed. Edgy, dark iconography, gold-trimmed black armor, and a blade that can part the seas with one stroke are the recipe for a menacingDark Knight.
Next:Which Final Fantasy 16 Character Are You Based On Your Zodiac Sign?
