Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift Character Stats Optimization (Leveling/Min-maxing) Guide By Pakxenon Table of Contents 1. Stats and Optimization Info [abc] 2. Mechanics and Mathematics [xyz] 3. Recruitment [omg] a. Hume b. Bangaa c. Nu Mou d. Moogle e. Viera f. Gria g. Seeq 4. Leveling [wtf] a. Hume i) Luso ii) Adelle iii) Frimelda iv) Vaan v) Al-Cid b. Bangaa i) Cid c. Nu Mou d. Moogle i) Hurdy ii) Montblanc e. Viera i) Penelo f. Gria g. Seeq 5. Legal Stuff and Credits [jkl] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is the maximum length for a typical low-resolution screen. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ==================================== 1. Stats and Optimization Info [abc] ==================================== Hi and welcome to my first guide on GameFAQs. I have written guides for other games (err.... MAPLESTORY lol... A Killer Ewok from sleepywood.net forums yep), but this is my first time submitting a guide on GameFAQs. I hope you enjoy it. As with many other stat-whores and perfectionists, it has come to my attention that many will want their characters to be PERFECT in every which way for the purpose that they are to fulfill. FFTA2 has many jobs with many different stat growth rates for each area and I am here to help you attain true perfection via leveling your characters in their appropriate jobs until the level limit (lv99). The stats are as follows: Hit Points, Magick Points, Speed, Attack, Defense, Magick, and Resistance (abbreviated from now on as HP, MP, Spd, Watk, Wdef, Matk, and Mdef). I will assume you know full well what they do. Omitted are Move, Jump, Evasion, and others, as obviously they have nothing to do with what we are doing. Also, as stat growths only concern the characters themselves, equipments and such are ignored except when recruiting characters. To get the ultimate character, you must first recruit one either through the quest "Clan Mates" or through a region and its complimentary month. [See other guides for recruiting details.] Then, you must decide what purpose it should serve so that it can maximize the stats that best fit the character. Teaching it the appropriate job skills is also important as well as unlocking the classes so that the character can access it. Finally, the character must level in the appropriate job so that their stats can be optimized to the best construct for its purpose. So if you think the above is tl;dr, here's a summary of the steps you should take to optimize your character's stats: 1. Recruit it. 2. Decide its purpose. 3. Teach it the skills it needs. 4. Level it in its appropriate job. 5. Grind until lv99. 6. ??? 7. PROFIT!!! In other words, this guide is for Min/Maxing and for perfectionists. Of course, when leveling, you should level up the job that you are learning skills from first (unless you are unlocking jobs or whatnot), then the job you are maining last (For Paladin/Parivirs, level as a Parivir first, then the Paladin last; in the case of Luso, do some Paladin first since you can unlock it early in the game, but level some in Parivir once you get it). That way you can use it once you are done the main part of the optimization. Also, this guide will only be using ABSOLUTE AVERAGE values, meaning that after I explain Variance, you will not hear of it again. If your character has better numbers than calculated/shown, props to you. On the other hand, if your numbers are lower, just hope they are not TOO low. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ==================================== 2. Mechanics and Mathematics [xyz] ==================================== Basically, when your character levels, it will gain stats according to its job. For example, if your Black Mage levels, it will have a lot of increase in Matk and not a lot of increase in both Spd and Watk. A Juggler will have a lot of increase in Spd, Watk, and Wdef, but a Moogle Knight will have less increase in Spd but more increase in Watk and Wdef than the Juggler. Thieves and Soldiers will have more spread out and weaker increases than other jobs. So then the purpose of leveling in the specific job is to maximize the stat that you want most. A Black Mage (or any magick-using job for that matter) will want as much Matk as possible to dish out as much damage as it can to the enemy. BUT, there is a limit to how much you can maximize. A typical pure Nu Mou Black Mage will hit its Matk limit at around lv82, when Matk will not increase any further, so leveling it beyond that will be a waste for the other stats that you could evolve further. And this section will briefly show you why. A. Each stat except for Spd has a maximum value of 999. B. Spd maximizes at 149. C. What is shown in the character window for Watk-to-Mdef is a quarter of its actual value (HP and MP show the actual values). D. So the maximum value in the window for raw Watk-to-Mdef is 249; everything is rounded DOWN. E. Weapons and equipment can add to it further (they don't count towards the character's raw stats). [SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT!!!] F. Stats increase when a character levels as its job. G. Each job as a base value as well as a growth rate for each of its stats. H. Spd grows differently: it is a percentage chance of getting an increase of 1 when it levels. [See Speed Reset*] I. When a stat grows, there is a variance to give randomness. J. For growth rates of 1-10, the variance is 1; 11-20, the variance is 2. K. There is a 33.3% chance of getting a negative, neutral, or positive variance. Therefore, if the growth rate is 10, you will get either a 9, 10, or 11 incrase in growth when you level. For example: Say you have a lv30 Red Mage with absolute average stats (Watk of 85, Matk of 86; actual values of 343 and 347 respectively) and it levels. Both Watk and Matk have growth rates of 9. Therefore, Watk will now be 88 take 1 (352 +/- 1) and Matk will now be 89 take 1 (356 +/- 1). I hope that is simple enough for you. Anyways, here's a legend: New Stat: The number you should have after leveling. Old Stat: The number you should have before leveling. Growth: The number after applying Variance to Rate. Rate: The growth rate for that stat for that job. Variance: The negative, neutral, or positive effect applied to the growth Rate. Window Stat: What is shown on your DS. New Speed: The Spd you should have after leveling. Old Speed: The Spd you should have before leveling. Here are some equations for stat growths: New Stat = Old Stat + Growth Growth = Rate + Variance Variance = [(Rate + 9)/10 RoundDown][33.3% of negative, 0, or positive] Window Stat = Stat/4 RoundDown New Speed = Old Speed + (%chance of getting 1, otherwise 0) For optimization, basically you will be leveling your characters in its appropriate job for X number of levels, then level it in another job that will increase other stats until lv99. In the case of Parivir/Paladins, they will level in Parivir for Spd and Watk, and Paladin for Wdef and Mdef to balance the bad Wdef growth that a Parivir has; now it can go in and dish out damage while taking hits! Usually, you'll be optimizing in one stat and Spd, sometimes both Watk and Wdef and vice-versa then Spd, or Def stats and not Spd - the optimizing is your choice. First off, the highest level you can recruit is lv30. Therefore, it is advised that before optimizing, you can recruit characters at lv30, making the calculations much easier (but harder on your fingers on the numpad :P). Then, you will level for 69 levels to lv99. The following equations assume fresh characters and churn out the number of levels they will need for their stats. Legend: Principle: The amount you need to get from leveling. 999: The maximum limit of a stat except for Spd. Base: The job's lv1 stat, based on it's recruited job. [Details on Job Base**] Rate1: The growth rate from one job. Level1: The amount of levels you should level from that job. Rate2: The growth rate from the other job. Level2: The amount of levels you should level from the other job. Equations: Principle = 999 - Base - 29*Rate1 Principle = Rate1*Level1 + Rate2*Level2 (Level2 = 69 - Level1) = Rate1*Level1 + 69*Rate2 - Rate2*Level1 Level1 = (Principle - 69*Rate2)/(Rate1 - Rate2) Level2 = 69 - Level1 NOW, the above is only for maximizing ONE stat from TWO jobs (due to other stat growth differences and other optimization, mainly for Spd). If you can maximize well before lv99, you may lower the 69 to as low as possible, then carry on with another stat from another two jobs using the same equations for the remaining levels. If you're trying to maximize more than TWO different stats, the equations get too complicated even for me to figure out. However, you will rarely maximize more than two stats for any character, and they will be optimized so that the other stats can gain as much as possible from leveling in those jobs anyways. Or you can cheat to get all 999's, but that's not what this guide is about. Also, if you are trying to optimize an existing character on your roster who is not a fresh recruit, you can alter the 29 from the first equation by changing it to your character's level minus one. You can change the 69 in the equations after to 99 minus your character's level. Basically, the above lets you figure out how many levels you should level in one job, and how many levels in the other, while maximizing one stat and increasing the others by as much as the jobs will allow. Usually, the secondary stat to worry about is Spd, so this is why you might level a Moogle as both a Moogle Knight and a Chocobo Rider (one with great Watk, Wdef, and Mdef, the other with great Spd and crap everything else). See the Stat Growth Chart for details on job base stats, growth rates, and other things that are reiterated here. *Speed Reset: After leveling, check the character's Spd. Reset the game and re-level if it did not increase. **Job Base: ---IFFY ISSUE--- With Luso in the beginning, his stats would change if you changed jobs with him (Watk would decrease as a Thief, increase as a Paladin, etc.). I am not sure about this, but for now, I am going to use the base stat that you recruited with. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ==================================== 3. Recruitment [omg] ==================================== In initiating character optimization and refering to this guide, it is advisable that you can recruit characters at lv30. Not only can you reset your game more often to get the best stats, you also save time leveling and speed reseting. When recruiting, you should always try to find the best base stats and growth rates for the stat you want to maximize. Secondary is the best Spd you can get (I prefer Spd like recruiting an Assassin or Ninja). Here are the jobs you will want to recruit based on their primary (secondary) stats you will want. First is a (sorta useless) ranking for the best of each category. Next will be the lv30 absolute average stats that will appear when you recruit the race's job (INCLUDES WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT ADD-ON FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE). Lastly will be a suggestion to what jobs you should be recruiting for the optimization you will need. See Recruitment guide for details on how to recruit. For special characters, see the Leveling section. ---===>>>)))]]]***WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT INCLUDED***[[[(((<<<===--- Recruits will always have the lowest-leveled weapon for their job and wear one of Leather Clothing (24/4), Linen Cuirass (28/2), or Hempen Robe (17/32). --------------- a. Hume --------------- For Humes, they are extremely versatile yet mainly serve an offensive purpose. You will want to train them mostly in offensive stats. Best HP: Soldier Best Watk: Parivir Best Matk: Black Mage Best MP: Illusionist Best Wdef: Paladin Best Mdef: Seer Best Spd: Ninja Job | HP | MP | Spd | Watk | Wdef | Matk | Mdef | ------------------------------------------------------------- Soldier | 322 | 44 | 72 | 112 | 107 | 59 | 71 | Thief | 257 | 44 | 80 | 97 | 93 | 70 | 64 | White Mage | 258 | 152 | 73 | 78 | 86 | 79 | 110 | Black Mage | 224 | 183 | 69 | 77 | 78 | 97 | 129 | Archer | 289 | 47 | 75 | 88 | 93 | 60 | 75 | Paladin | 291 | 80 | 70 | 113 | 124 | 69 | 89 | Fighter | 258 | 41 | 73 | 124 | 104 | 50 | 65 | Parivir | 289 | 39 | 78 | 134 | 92 | 61 | 58 | Ninja | 224 | 79 | 91 | 118 | 85 | 70 | 74 | Illusionist | 221 | 241 | 64 | 80 | 77 | 81 | 111 | Blue Mage | 258 | 117 | 72 | 100 | 111 | 79 | 92 | Hunter | 258 | 113 | 80 | 102 | 84 | 68 | 83 | Seer | 257 | 245 | 67 | 83 | 86 | 86 | 142 | Recruit Ninja for Spd, Parivir for Watk, Paladin for Wdef, and Black Mage for Matk. Secondary recruits are Fighter, Blue Mage, and Hunter. Forget about everything else. --------------- b. Bangaa --------------- Bangaas are usually for the offensive, sometimes tanking. Magic Bangaas are not very preferable, but a Trickster or two can do some cool things behind your front lines. Best HP: Warrior Best Watk: Gladiator Best Matk: Trickster Best MP: Bishop Best Wdef: Defender Best Mdef: Bishop Best Spd: Trickster Job | HP | MP | Spd | Watk | Wdef | Matk | Mdef | ------------------------------------------------------------- Warrior | 357 | 68 | 72 | 112 | 108 | 58 | 62 | White Monk | 256 | 70 | 78 | 117 | 92 | 68 | 65 | Dragoon | 322 | 35 | 78 | 135 | 116 | 50 | 54 | Defender | 322 | 37 | 69 | 114 | 132 | 59 | 72 | Gladiator | 324 | 76 | 74 | 140 | 105 | 58 | 64 | Master Monk | 225 | 101 | 82 | 136 | 104 | 77 | 74 | Bishop | 254 | 173 | 66 | 83 | 78 | 89 | 117 | Templar | 295 | 107 | 63 | 124 | 126 | 70 | 73 | Cannoneer | 288 | 106 | 76 | 92 | 93 | 67 | 73 | Trickster | 225 | 36 | 92 | 98 | 93 | 95 | 73 | Recruit Trickster for Spd/Matk, Gladiator for Watk, and Defender for Wdef. Secondary recruits are Dragoon and Master Monk. --------------- c. Nu Mou --------------- Slow but highly versed in Magick, Nu Mous will kick the butts out of anything weak to elements or have low magick resistance. Best HP: Beastmaster Best Watk: Beastmaster Best Matk: Black Mage Best MP: Arcanist Best Wdef: Beastmaster Best Mdef: Alchemist Best Spd: Beastmaster Job | HP | MP | Spd | Watk | Wdef | Matk | Mdef | ------------------------------------------------------------- White Mage | 224 | 210 | 73 | 79 | 86 | 79 | 122 | Black Mage | 222 | 208 | 69 | 77 | 78 | 105 | 129 | Beastmaster | 291 | 77 | 76 | 116 | 104 | 61 | 73 | Time Mage | 223 | 212 | 72 | 72 | 76 | 97 | 129 | Illusionist | 221 | 245 | 64 | 70 | 76 | 90 | 118 | Alchemist | 255 | 247 | 74 | 95 | 84 | 98 | 114 | Arcanist | 219 | 280 | 63 | 72 | 76 | 82 | 102 | Sage | 287 | 148 | 70 | 102 | 86 | 88 | 109 | Scholar | 288 | 111 | 75 | 119 | 94 | 75 | 78 | Recruit Beastmaster for physical Nu Mous and Alchemist for magick Nu Mous. Secondary recruit is Black Mage. --------------- d. Moogle --------------- Mainly for support, Moogles are furiously fast and will usually deal damage from behind the lines. Best HP: Moogle Knight Best Watk: Moogle Knight Best Matk: Black Mage Best MP: Time Mage Best Wdef: Moogle Knight Best Mdef: Black/Time Mage Best Spd: Chocobo Rider/Juggler Job | HP | MP | Spd | Watk | Wdef | Matk | Mdef | ------------------------------------------------------------- Animist | 288 | 80 | 76 | 103 | 111 | 68 | 83 | Thief | 257 | 44 | 82 | 92 | 93 | 70 | 64 | Black Mage | 222 | 208 | 69 | 77 | 88 | 97 | 129 | Moogle Knight | 291 | 115 | 70 | 128 | 131 | 62 | 88 | Fusilier | 259 | 41 | 75 | 101 | 103 | 61 | 73 | Juggler | 255 | 47 | 85 | 116 | 110 | 69 | 65 | Tinker | 285 | 82 | 68 | 115 | 121 | 79 | 108 | Time Mage | 223 | 212 | 72 | 72 | 78 | 97 | 129 | Chocobo Rider | 219 | 38 | 94 | 80 | 100 | 61 | 72 | Flintlock | 221 | 178 | 73 | 101 | 93 | 70 | 74 | Recruit Juggler for physical and Black Mage for magick. Secondary recruits are Moogle Knight for power and Chocobo Rider for Spd. --------------- e. Viera --------------- Trained in the arts of the sword and magick, the Viera proves that a race can lean both ways and all ways at once. Best HP: Fencer Best Watk: Sniper Best Matk: Summoner Best MP: Summoner Best Wdef: Spellblade Best Mdef: White Mage Best Spd: Assassin Job | HP | MP | Spd | Watk | Wdef | Matk | Mdef | ------------------------------------------------------------- Fencer | 321 | 44 | 83 | 117 | 94 | 61 | 64 | White Mage | 255 | 181 | 76 | 78 | 86 | 79 | 115 | Green Mage | 259 | 117 | 87 | 93 | 87 | 79 | 103 | Archer | 289 | 48 | 80 | 96 | 93 | 61 | 72 | Elementalist | 254 | 115 | 71 | 94 | 93 | 95 | 73 | Red Mage | 257 | 86 | 80 | 108 | 83 | 87 | 65 | Spellblade | 225 | 82 | 79 | 113 | 95 | 70 | 74 | Summoner | 219 | 158 | 74 | 79 | 81 | 102 | 114 | Assassin | 221 | 45 | 93 | 108 | 85 | 69 | 64 | Sniper | 254 | 47 | 75 | 126 | 84 | 69 | 73 | Recruit Assassin for Spd and physical, Green Mage for Spd and magick, Sniper for Watk, and Summoner for Matk. Secondary recruit is Red Mage and Fencer. --------------- f. Gria --------------- With three out of four jobs being physical, you will want your flyers coming in behind enemies' backs and pummel them with swords and bows alike. Best HP: Ravager Best Watk: Ravager Best Matk: Raptor Best MP: Geomancer Best Wdef: Geomancer Best Mdef: Geomancer Best Spd: Hunter Job | HP | MP | Spd | Watk | Wdef | Matk | Mdef | ------------------------------------------------------------- Hunter | 258 | 110 | 80 | 102 | 84 | 68 | 83 | Raptor | 293 | 113 | 78 | 121 | 94 | 79 | 63 | Ravager | 297 | 76 | 73 | 133 | 115 | 59 | 61 | Geomancer | 256 | 181 | 76 | 109 | 121 | 70 | 139 | Recruit Ravager for physical and Raptor for all-around. Secondary recruit Hunter or Geomancer, depending on preference. --------------- g. Seeq --------------- Ugly but can prove to be brutally annoying, Seeqs rival Bangaas for all the attacking, tanking, and tactical needs of a clan. Best HP: Berserker Best Watk: Berserker Best Matk: Viking Best MP: Viking Best Wdef: Lanista Best Mdef: Viking Best Spd: Ranger Job | HP | MP | Spd | Watk | Wdef | Matk | Mdef | ------------------------------------------------------------- Berserker | 297 | 33 | 70 | 132 | 61 | 59 | 58 | Ranger | 289 | 39 | 83 | 105 | 103 | 69 | 91 | Lanista | 291 | 77 | 72 | 124 | 114 | 69 | 62 | Viking | 293 | 109 | 75 | 110 | 97 | 70 | 106 | Recruit Ranger for Spd and annoyance, Berserker for Watk, and Viking for Pillaging. Secondary recruit Lanista for Wdef. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ==================================== 4. Leveling [wtf] ==================================== Now that you have your fresh recruit, it is time to level it up to the most badass teammate on your clan! But first, you will need to decide what your guy/ girl is going to do in your team. Is it a melee damage dealer? Maximize Watk and Spd. Is it a wide-area magick user? Maximize Matk and Spd. Tanking on the front lines? Maximize Wdef and Mdef. It will be hard to maximize more than two stats at once, but with the right leveling combinations, you should have a powerhouse ready in no time. Be sure to teach your recruit all the skills it needs to unlock the right jobs as well as to fully utilize the jobs it will be leveling in and maining in. Preferably, don't bring it out to battle nor dispatch it until it's ready to begin its secondary leveling job. Give or take a few levels depending on your luck with Variance. Optimization is titled as Max1/Max2/etc., where the first stat is more focused on than the second and so forth. --------------- a. Hume --------------- Watk/Spd Recruit as Ninja. Fill 58 Spd, 650 Watk. 15 levels as Parivir, 54 levels as Ninja. Weakness: 702/176 Wdef Recommended: Fast front-line physical strikers such as Fighters and Parivirs. Watk/Wdef Recruit as Parivir. Fill 587 Watk, 727 Wdef. 12 levels as Parivir, 57 levels as Paladin. Weakness: 113 Spd Recommended: Front-line tanks with Countering such as Fighters and Paladins. Matk/Spd Recruit as Ninja. Fill 58 Spd, 718 Matk. 10 levels as Ninja, 59 levels as Black Mage. Actual Spd: 127 Recommended: Mid-liners who use any magick such as Black and White Mages. Matk/Mdef/MP Recruit as Black Mage. Fill 618 Matk, 613 Mdef. 33 levels as Black Mage, 36 levels as Seer. Actual HP/MP: 605/600. Recommended: Rear-line Illusionists. Matk/Wdef/Spd Recruit as Black Mage. Fill 757 Wdef, 80 Spd. 33 levels as Black Mage, 36 levels as Blue Mage. Actual Wdef: 794/198 Recommended: Mid-line Magick Frenzy users like Illusionist/Seers. *************** i) Luso *************** Recruited as Soldier, minimum after story quests and job unlocks at approximately lv9 (90 levels to go). 154 HP, 24 MP, 61 Spd, 160 Watk, 148 Wdef, 102 Matk, 121 Mdef. Fill 88 Spd, 839 Watk, 851 Wdef, 897 Matk, 878 Mdef. Watk/Spd 76 levels as Ninja, 14 levels as Parivir. Actual Spd: 138 Recommended: Yes, Luso will never reach max Spd unless you speed reset a lot. Weak defenses, but a ninjatastic Luso at your disposal. Watk/Wdef 50 levels as Paladin, 40 levels Parivir. Actual Wdef: 928/232 Recommended: A tanking offense Luso. Perfect for rushing head-on into enemies. Watk/Matk 30 levels as Black Mage, 60 levels as Parivir. Actual Matk: 762/190 Recommended: Magick Frenzy Dual Wielding Luso. Watk 50 levels as Hunter, 40 levels as Parivir. Actual Spd: 118 Recommended: Ranged Ultimaing Luso. *************** ii) Adelle *************** Recruited as Thief, averagely lv9 (90 levels). 131 HP, 23 MP, 66 Spd, 132 Watk, 130 Wdef, 132 Matk, 112 Mdef. Fill 83 Spd, 867 Watk, 869 Wdef, 867 Matk, 887 Mdef. Watk/Spd 57 levels as Parivir, 33 levels as Ninja. Actual Spd: 131 Recommended: Once again, speed reset if you ever want 149 Spd. Watk/Wdef 49 levels as Parivir, 41 levels as Paladin. Actual Wdef: 883/220 Recommended: Tanking Adelle. Watk/Matk 24 levels as Black Mage, 66 levels as Parivir. Actual Matk: 768/192 Recommended: Magick Frenzy Dual Wielding Adelle. Watk 49 levels as Parivir, 41 levels as Heritor. Actual Spd: 122 Recommended: For you lazy people who will main her as Heritor. *************** iii) Frimelda *************** Recruited as Paladin, averagely lv45 (54 levels). 396 HP, 110 MP, 77 Spd, 108 Watk, 133 Wdef, 95 Matk, 121 Mdef. Fill 72 Spd, 567 Watk, 467 Wdef, 619 Matk, 515 Mdef. Watk/Wdef/Spd 9 levels as Paladin, 45 levels as Parivir or Actual Wdef: 937/234 Recommended: Seeing as she starts with Dual Wield, I'd rather make her a Seer. Watk/Matk/Spd Mix between Ninja and Black Mage or go Blue Mage. Recommended: Between all three jobs, she won't hit the maximum limit. She may be good as a Paladin/Blue Mage. Wdef/Mdef 9 levels as Black Mage, 10 levels as Seer, 35 levels as Paladin. Recommended: Sneak in some extra Matk (growth for Watk are the same for both Black Mage and Seer) for a durable tank. *************** iv) Vaan *************** Recruited as Sky Pirate, averagely lv45 (54 levels). 349 HP, 102 MP, 88 Spd, 96 Watk, 95 Wdef, 96 Matk, 94 Mdef. Fill 61 Spd, 615 Watk, 617 Wdef, 615 Matk, 619 Mdef. Watk/Spd 54 levels as Parivir. Recommended: Strike some luck, because nothing is going to be maxed at a normal rate for all his stats. Spd/Watk 54 levels as Ninja. Actual Spd: 138 Recommended: Speed reset. Life of Crime 54 levels as Sky Pirate, some Thief abilities. Recommended: Use Vaan for what he is for - as much 999 damage as possible. *************** v) Al-Cid *************** Recruited as Agent, averagely lv45 (54 levels). 422 HP, 108 MP, 83 Spd, 108 Watk, 108 Wdef, 81 Matk, 96 Mdef. Fill 66 Spd, 567 Watk, 570 Wdef, 673 Matk, 623 Mdef. Watk/Wdef 9 levels as Paladin, 45 levels as Parivir. Actual Wdef: 834/208 Recommended: Some defense even though he has a gun. Spd/Watk 54 levels as Ninja. Recommended: Speedshot. --------------- b. Bangaa --------------- Watk/Spd Recruit as Trickster. Fill 59 Spd, 725 Watk. 60 levels as Master Monk, 9 levels as Trickster. Actual Spd: 141 Recommended: Front-line physical sweepers such as Master Monks. Dragoons can make use of the nice Matk growth. Decent Mdef. Watk/Wdef/Spd Recruit as Master Monk. Fill 585 Watk, 689 Wdef. 46 levels as Defender, 23 levels as Master Monk. Actual Spd: 119 Recommended: Front-line tanking like Gladiators and Defenders. Watk/Wdef/HP Recruit as Gladiator. Fill 552 Watk, 677 Wdef. 42 levels as Defender, 27 levels as Warrior. Actual Spd: 107 Recommended: More front-line tanking, defense oriented. Matk/Spd 100% Trickster. Maxed Spd and Matk (70 overgrowth). Recommended: Rear-line Tricksters. It's hard to grow a third stat since they JUST reach max Spd and have poor HP and MP growth. For defense, try Defender for Wdef or Bishop for Mdef, but beware of lowered Spd growth; preferably, grow Wdef. *************** i) Cid *************** Recruited as Warrior, averagely at lv29 (70 levels). 348 HP, 66 MP, 71 Spd, 339 Watk, 312 Wdef, 226 Matk, 234 Mdef. Fill 78 Spd, 660 Watk, 687 Wdef, 773 Matk, 765 Mdef. Watk/Spd 27 levels as Trickster, 43 levels as Master Monk. Actual Spd: 125 Recommended: Speed reset if you want max. Watk/Wdef 45 levels as Defender, 25 levels as Gladiator. Actual Spd: 105 Recommended: Both Watk and Wdef are MAXED thank goodness. If you replace this with 36 Defender/34 Master Monk, you will get 6 more Spd in place of 5 less Wdef. Matk/Spd 70 levels as Trickster. Actual Matk/Spd: 926/231; 133 Recommended: Well, at least you have some good HP and decent Wdef. --------------- c. Nu Mou --------------- Matk/Spd/Mdef Recruit as Alchemist. Fill 619 Matk, 105 Spd. 52 levels as Alchemist, 17 levels as Beastmaster. Actual Spd: 112 Recommended: Mid/rear-line magicks such as Black Mages and Illusionists. Matk/Wdef Recruit as Sage. Fill 723 Wdef, 649 Matk. 55 levels as Sage, 14 levels as Black Mage. Actual Wdef: 745/186 Recommended: Front-line magicks such as Sages. Watk/Spd 100% Beastmaster. 118 Spd, maxed Watk (72 overgrowth). Recommended: Who really uses a physical Nu Mou? A lv40 Beastmaster is suffice to get your Blue Mage to learn everything. --------------- d. Moogle --------------- Watk/Wdef/Spd Recruit as Juggler. Fill 64 Spd, 656 Watk, 654 Wdef. 34 levels as Juggler, 35 levels as Moogle Knight. Actual Spd: 127 Recommended: Front-line physical sweeper/tanks such as Moogle Knights. Matk/Mdef/Spd Recruit as Time Mage. Fill 620 Matk, 613 Mdef, 77 Spd. 18 levels as Chocobo Rider, 51 levels as Time Mage. Actual Spd: 115 Recommended: Mid-line Moogle Black Mages or magick-oriented Fusiliers. Spd/Watk Recruit as Chocobo Rider. Fill 55 Spd, 760 Watk. 43 levels as Chocobo Rider, 26 levels as Moogle Knight. Actual Watk: 757/189 Recommended: Rear-line Fusiliers, Flintlocks, and Tinkers for fast status afflictions. Spd/Matk Recruit as Chocobo Rider. Fill 756 Matk. 25 levels as Black Mage, 44 levels as Chocobo Rider. Actual Matk: 757/189 Recommended: Rear-line magick ranged Moogles. Perhaps a Time Mage. *************** i) Hurdy *************** Recruited as Bard, averagely lv29 (70 levels). 242 HP, 172 MP, 69 Spd, 238 Watk, 226 Wdef, 341 Matk, 301 Mdef. Fill 80 Spd, 761 Watk, 773 Wdef, 658 Matk, 698 Mdef. Matk/Mdef 49 levels as Time Mage, 21 levels as Tinker. Actual Spd: 103 Recommended: Magick support Hurdy. Very resistant to Illusions so you can have him safely in the rear-lines. Matk/Spd 56 levels as Time Mage, 14 levels as Juggler. Actual Spd: 107 Recommended: Not much better off than the above option. Mdef/Wdef 36 levels as Moogle Knight, 34 levels as Tinker. Actual Wdef: 928/232 Recommended: Mid-line support Hurdy, using Cuisine as much as possible. Watk/Spd 70 levels as Juggler. Actual Watk/Spd: 868/217; 121 Recommended: Dagger Toss offensive Hurdy. Not even 70 levels of Chocobo Rider will get him to max Spd unless you speed reset. *************** ii) Montblanc *************** Recruited as Black Mage, averagely lv45 (54 levels). 297 HP, 298 MP, 76 Spd, 81 Watk, 83 Wdef, 132 Matk, 134 Mdef. Fill 73 Spd, 675 Watk, 667 Wdef, 468 Matk, 463 Mdef. Matk/Mdef/Spd 18 levels as Chocobo Rider, 36 levels as Black Mage. Actual Spd: 111 Recommended: For non-speed resetters. Otherwise, slow Black Mage is slow. Matk/Mdef/Wdef 18 levels as Moogle Knight, 36 levels as Black Mage. Actual Wdef: 186 Wdef Recommended: Great magick support moogle. Do whatever you like with him. Watk/Spd 54 levels of Juggler or Moogle Knight. Recommended: I made my starting moogle a Juggler, then made another Juggler. I don't need another Juggler. Yep. --------------- e. Viera --------------- Matk/Spd Recruit as Green Mage. Fill 62 Spd, 683 Matk. 44 levels as Summoner, 25 levels as Green Mage. Actual Spd: 142 Recommended: Any fast magick user, preferably the Red Mage/Summoner. Watk/Spd/Mdef Recruit as Assassin. Fill 690 Watk, 56 Spd. 23 levels as Assassin, 46 levels as Sniper. Actual Spd: 142 Recommended: Any ranged physical Viera such as Sniper and Assassin. Watk/Spd/HP/Wdef Recruit as Assassin. 69 levels as Fencer. Actual Spd: 141 Recommended: Any melee physical Viera such as Fencer and Spellblade. *************** i) Penelo *************** Recruited as Dancer, averagely lv45 (54 levels). 348 HP, 312 MP, 84 Spd, 82 Watk, 81 Wdef, 109 Matk, 108 Mdef. Fill 65 Spd, 671 Watk, 675 Wdef, 560 Matk, 567 Mdef. Matk/Mdef/Spd 11 levels as Dancer, 43 levels as Summoner. Actual Spd: 115 Recommended: Speed reset. Also, Penelo might be boring as a Summoner, but this is the only way to max Matk. Watk/Matk 54 levels as Red Mage. Recommended: Make use of both Sword Dance and her already medium-high magick. Watk/Spd 54 levels as Fencer. Recommended: This or get some Spellblade abilities. --------------- f. Gria --------------- Watk/Spd Recruit as Raptor. Fill 71 Spd, 650 Watk. 40 levels as Raptor, 29 levels as Ravager. Weakness: 748/187 Wdef Recommended: Rear-line Hunters because of low defense growth. Watk/Wdef/Mdef Recruit as Ravager. Fill 617 Watk, 650 Wdef. 32 levels as Ravager, 37 levels as Hunter. Actual Wdef/Mdef: 868/217; 730/182 Recommended: Front-line Ravagers and Raptors. Mdef/Matk/Wdef Recruit as Raptor. Fill 685 Matk, 757 Wdef/Mdef. 69 levels of Geomancer. Recommended: Magick Grias are... Raptors have more Matk growth than Geomancers. You either go all out defense with Geomancer or all out Matk with Raptors (plus they have more Spd). So if you want a Matk Gria, go Raptor; for defense, Geomancer. --------------- g. Seeq --------------- Watk/Spd Recruit as Ranger. Fill 66 Spd, 689 Watk. 23 levels as Ranger, 46 levels as Berserker. Actual Spd: 121 Recommended: Rear-line Rangers because of low defense growth. Matk Recommended: Both Rangers and Viking are good - Ranger has better Spd growth and Viking has better Mdef growth. Hahaha magick Seeq. Watk/Wdef Recruit as Lanista. Fill 652 Watk, 654 Wdef. 54 levels as Lanista, 15 levels as Berserker. Recommended: Front-line Berserkers and Lanistas. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ==================================== 5. Legal Stuff and Credits [jkl] ==================================== Copyright 2008 Tin Ma I, Pakxenon (Tin Ma), wrote this guide in its entirety. You may not plagarize, take credit, copy and paste, and do other bad stuff to and from this guide. You may share this with your friends, fellow gamers, give credit for information, printthis for your own uses, and do other good stuff to and from this guide. Thisguide may only be posted at GameFAQs.com and only at GameFAQs.com. You may contact me at sn.fifty (at) gmail (dot) com. You may also add me to your MSN. Credits to: Nintendo, for my Cobalt Blue Double Screen Lite. Square Enix, for this game. GameFAQs, for my FAQing needs. FFTA2 GameFAQs boards, for my lurking needs. Antitype, for his Recruitment Guide. Synangel, for his crucial Stat Growth Chart. Much thanks here. The other guide writers, for I love increasing their view counts. MS Calculator, for my calculating needs. Notepad, for my guide writing medium needs. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------