Most Difficult Party Members To Keep Alive In Final Fantasy

Key Takeaways

• Final Fantasy characters like Lulu & Relm need strategic use due to their weaknesses, relying on teamwork.
• Characters like Gau & Banon are powerful in stats an extreme amount of planning to be fully utilized.
• Cait Sith is divisive due to his unique abilities, like a one-hit KO attack that can harm the player’s party.

Although the world of Final Fantasy has been expanded from Tolkien-esque medieval fantasy to settings resembling contemporary sci-fi, and its heroes can call upon existential deities to cause havoc on the battlefield, there do still exist those characters that some players can struggle to keep standing.

From children with magic powers and bedraggled resistance leaders, to cat-like double-agents with Scottish accents, the Final Fantasy series has no shortage of characters who rely more on the strength of their teammates than their own.

1 Mustadio Bunansa

The Retreating Sharpshooter Who’s Under Attack By Black Mages

Despite Final Fantasy: Tactics‘ jump into the more analytical bounds of the tactical RPG space, developer Square was seemingly determined to keep JRPG narrative decisions as a core facet of the spin-off title. As a result, the isometric 2.5D PlayStation title simultaneously provides players with one of the easiest and most difficult tasks of keeping a character from falling.

In the title’s second chapter, players are faced with the retreat of Machinist Mustadio Bunansa from Baert Trading Company Forces. Although he will ultimately join the party, either way, players are presented with the choice to intervene in his predicament or not get involved. The price for choosing to intervene is an RNG gauntlet against Black Mages who pose a lethal threat against Mustadio with only one of their attacks. However, with the permanent boost to the Brave stat, if he is defended, the arduous slog through turn-based retreat is arguably worth it.

2 Relm Arrowny

A Powerful Pictomancer Who Acts As A Glass Cannon

Despite the versatility of her “Sketch” ability and her endearing personality, Pictomancer Relm Arrowny flounders with some truly substandard stats. Hailing from the Crescent Island hamlet of Thamasa, the ten-year-old Relm is arguably one of Final Fantasy 6‘s most delicate glass cannons.

Hampered by a “shockingly mediocre” set of abilities and stats, alongside a somewhat limited amount of equipment, Relm’s position within Final Fantasy 6‘s roster is seemingly precarious. However, by being able to replicate enemy moves and turn their power right back against them, Relm’s Pictomancer class is arguably the character’s saving grace.

3 Lulu

A Character With Great Range Who Struggles Unless Under Strict Use

Despite a somewhat solid set of stats across the board, Final Fantasy 10′s Lulu can struggle to set herself apart on an average playthrough. Although late-game players have seemingly found ways of utilizing her elemental coverage, Lulu’s relative weakness hampers her.

As “clearly not the most physically powerful” of Final Fantasy 10‘s roster of characters, Lulu can be taken down relatively quickly without proper attention. This is compounded by the fact that Lulu’s Overdrive takes a significant amount of time to build up before being let loose – and even when it is, it remains one of Final Fantasy 10‘s weakest.

4 Gau

The Feral Child Who Requires Methodical Planning To Be Utilized Correctly

While feral child Gau remains arguably one of Final Fantasy 6‘s most powerful characters, his strength is hallmarked by a necessity to consult a guide to navigate his intricate moveset. As such, while many avid players will take the time to utilize him more effectively, his strength will be overshadowed by a much more apparent relative weakness.

Abandoned after the death of his mother, and becoming a feral child of the Veldt, he ultimately joins Sabin and Cyan with a tantalizing offer of some Dried Meat. Despite his bedraggled appearance, Gau’s “Rages” can break the balance of Final Fantasy 6 with their power. However, before players can fully make use of Gau’s special ability, these mimicked abilities from enemies first need to be found by scouring the Veldt.

5 Harley

King Edward’s Aide Whose Stats Aren’t As Prominent As Her Narrative

With a dislike of aggression and a fierce intellect, Harley exclusively appears in Final Fantasy 4‘s 2008 pseudo-sequelFinal Fantasy 4: The After Years. Although she is the secretary to King Edward of Damcyan – formerly Edward Chris von Muir, the playable crown prince in the original title, her stats struggle to set herself apart.

Unfortunately, despite a strong personality, Harley’s poor stats and substandard ability do nothing to bolster her position. While her intelligence is narratively noteworthy, and a hallmark stat of her character, even that is seemingly outclassed by other characters of the Black Mage class.

6 Banon

The Returners’ Stoic Leader Who’s Hampered By A Lack Of Developer Oversight

In leading the rebel cause of the “Returners” and presenting himself as a full-figured, bearded warrior, Banon’s strength is seemingly all but assumed by first-time players of Final Fantasy 6. However, his strong stature is betrayed by a poor pool of stats, a lack of MP, and a ridiculously imposed weapon.

Despite such a strong narrative and visual character, Banon’s four primary stats remain incredibly low. Beyond this, the temporarily playable rabble-rouser has low strength and a complete lack of MP available to him. These statistical hindrances are compounded by the fact that Banon’s permanently-set weapon – the “Punisher” rod – is effectively wasted. As the weapon “draws MP from its wielder to deal criticals”, Banon’s complete lack of MP is highlighted due to its ineptness.

7 Rydia

A Magical Powerhouse Who Is Fragile In Her Younger Years

Although Final Fantasy 4 is host to an incredibly varied party roster, the green-haired Rydia remains arguably one of the installments’ most recognizable characters. While her power as a Summoner informs her place as a powerhouse of Final Fantasy 4‘s character list, her transformation into this titanic force comes only after her skewed aging in the land of Feymarch.

As such, while she is an incredibly valuable party member even in her child state, her natural frailty does hamper her impact until her untimely departure from the party. Although her prepubescent state is a narrative element, Final Fantasy 4’s gameplay is reflective of this, as her stats are similarly underpowered until her seeming transformation later in the game’s plot.

8 Cait Sith

The Divisive Creature With A One-Hit KO Attack That Can Hit Himself

While a character’s strength or weakness can rarely be equated with their overall fan reception, Final Fantasy 7‘s feline fiend has seemingly found the balance of being divisive narratively and mechanically. With a somewhat stale set of stats, Cait Sith’s unique casino-themed abilities arguably set him apart.

With “very little reason to be included in the player’s primary fighting squad”, Cait Sith’s luck-based ‘Slots’ attack – that can cause a supreme amount of damage given the right situation – defines his place within Final Fantasy 7‘s party roster. However, with the destructive power of the Slots also pointed in the player’s direction, the chances of a full-party KO are always within reach.