Final Fantasy Characters Who Ended Up Being Surprisingly Strong

Final Fantasy is one of the greatest JRPG franchises of all time. Fans of the series tend to love how much fun it is to level up their parties, explore dungeons, and take on powerful bosses who will eventually be brought to their knees by the player’s strength.

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Some party members are very strong and capable of holding their own in battle, but there are others who seem rather weak and aren’t worth the effort of leveling up. At least, that’s what it initially seems like. Some Final Fantasy playable characters have become legendary for how powerful they are, despite their outward appearance or poor first impression.

8

Edward Chris Von Muir

At Very High Levels, His Stats Reach Astronomical Heights

Released

July 19, 1991

ESRB

e

While Edward is an interesting person, his effectiveness as a party member is rather muted during his cameo appearance as a playable character. As a Bard, he’s only suitable as a support character and can easily fall in battle if he’s not placed in the back row and protected.

However, after level 70, Edward’s stats skyrocket to the point where he can enjoy the highest stats out of any other party member. This fact will make many fans scratch their heads, especially since he will exit the party long before reaching this level unless players grind for an unreal number of hours.

7

Relm Arrowny

Despite Looking Rather Weak, Her Magical Abilities Are Incredible

Released

October 11, 1994

ESRB

T For Teen Due To Fantasy Violence, Partial Nudity

Relm is one of the peppiest characters in Final Fantasy 6, making a major impression from the very moment she appears on-screen. She’s the only character Interceptor is friendly with, and she has an interesting Sketch ability, even if it feels rather weak to execute in battle.

However, players who write off this young character will be missing out on one of the most potent magic users in the game, one who can annihilate entire enemy mobs with a single Black Magic spell. The fact that she can dwarf her grandfather in power despite the latter being presented as the better magic user of the duo is a testament to how unassumingly strong Relm is.

6

Krile Mayer Baldesion

Replaces Her Grandfather And Inherits All Of His Strength

Released

December 6, 1992

ESRB

T For Teen due to Mild Fantasy Violence, Partial Nudity

Galuf’s death is one of the most harrowing moments in Final Fantasy 5, with the former Warrior of Light sacrificing himself to save his friends and granddaughter. Krile arrives to replace him, with many assuming that they would have to build up this character from level 1 after the experience they had with Cecil at Mt. Ordeals in Final Fantasy 4.

This is why fans were left pleasantly surprised when they opened the menu screen, only to see that Krile had inherited all the levels and job masteries of her grandfather. It may be hard to justify her strength, but most didn’t mind as long as they got to enjoy a powerful story moment that ended with a convenient character switch instead of an unreal grind.

5

Yuffie Kisaragi

Her Limit Breaks Are Ridiculously Powerful

Released

January 31, 1997

ESRB

T for Teen: Blood, Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes

Yuffie is one of the most annoying party members to recruit in Final Fantasy 7. She runs away from the player whenever they make a single mistake, and she even steals their materia when they land in Wutai.

To make things worse, Yuffie isn’t even all that strong early on when compared to the rest of the party members in Final Fantasy 7. However, players who acquire the Doom of the Living and All Creation Limit Breaks can obliterate enemies with her in battle, with the former being especially potent against single enemies as long as Yuffie’s base damage stats are at an impressive level.

4

Selphie Tilmitt

Her Slots Limit Break Can End Battles In No Time

Released

February 11, 1999

ESRB

T for Teen: Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence

Given how the Junction System can render most natural stat growths moot in Final Fantasy 8, strength in this game is usually determined by the Limit Breaks players can spam once they gain access to Aura. This is why Selphie can seem so weak, with her bubbly personality and Slots Limit Break making her seem rather underwhelming in combat.

However, players who manage to game these slots can re-roll over and over again to gain access to some of the most potent spells in the game. Full-cure and Wall are amazing support spells that dwarf everything else, while Rapture can instantly take out foes susceptible to Instant Death. However, her most powerful technique by far is The End, which is so powerful that even Ultimecia and Omega Weapon aren’t immune to its devastating fight-ending effects.

3

Rikku

Mixing Is Integral To Deal With The Game’s Hardest Challenges

Systems

Released

December 17, 2001

ESRB

T for Teen: Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence

Given how simple and damaging the bulk of Overdrives are in Final Fantasy 10, Rikku’s Mix seems like a lot of work. Her role as a Thief makes her less potent as a damage dealer, too, making it easy to see why most people write her off as one of the weakest Final Fantasy characters.

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However, veterans of Final Fantasy 10 and its many challenge runs will be well aware of how important Rikku’s Mix is when she is going up against a tough enemy. The fact that Megalixirs are not even the most potent thing Rikku can make is a testament to her strength, with other concoctions like Hyper Mighty G and Trio of 9999 turning most boss encounters into a joke.

2

Rydia

A Kid With No Control Over Her Powers Transforms Into A Powerful Summoner

Final Fantasy 4 (3D Remake)

Released

July 22, 2008

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes

When players control Rydia for the first time, she’s little more than a weak child who must be brought up from level 1 in order to tackle the many threats that come their way. She leaves the party not long after, causing many players to breathe a sigh of relief that they don’t have to constantly heal and revive the weakest party member they’ve possibly controlled in a Final Fantasy game.

However, Rydia does a 180 after aging up and rejoining the party. She becomes a competent Summoner who can invoke the power of astral beings to decimate her foes in style, making her one of the most fun characters to control. She is also a must-have against bosses who are weak to elemental attacks.

1

Umaro

A Berserker That Players Can’t Control, But He Makes Up For It With Incredible Strength

Most people write off Umaro as an annoying party member, given his role as a Berserker. Typically, players want to enjoy direct control over their party, and Umaro may throw a wrench in certain strategies if everything doesn’t go according to plan.

However, players who give this yeti a chance will be impressed by how ridiculously strong he can be. His efficiency can be improved with the Berserker Ring and the Blizzard Orb, two relics that enhance his repertoire of moves and make him a fun wild card to use in battle, pounding enemies to oblivion with his impressive physical moves.

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