If I plan on going Shikari and Foebreaker. Which do I take first? +other

[VincentVolaju]

So I started the game for the first time yesterday, sunk about 4-5 hours into just messing around, grinding in Ginza, selling loot etc. Then I realized I effed up with my character jobs. I googled a bit of just random advice about the different classes, and realized there is no respecing in the game. You're stuck with whatever you choose. Considering that, I decided to start over since I was only like, lvl 6 or something.

Anyway after reading a bit, it seems like I found some decent combos for jobs and am planning to do something like this. (Let me know your opinions of course, if you disagree).

Vaan - Shikari / Foebreaker - Acting as a strong, tanky dps, with debuffs.
Penelo - White Mage / Mechinist - As a main healer, with decent ranged dmg when full HP.
Fran - Archer / Red Mage - Kind of a hybrid, don't know how much I'll use her?
Basch - Knight / Bushi - For more melee dps, tanky, with some heals.
Ashe - Black Mage / (Monk?) - As the main caster DPS.
Balthier - No idea, I guess some kind of melee?

So there is a couple things I am unsure about. Obviously, I am not 100% on which combos to do, I just have a basic idea from reading some other posts. Any suggestions / advice would be appreciated.

Also, I am not sure about which order to do the combos in? For example, if I am doing Shikari + Foebreaker, which do I take first? Do I go with the Foebreaker so I can get whatever debuffs are strong, earlier in the game? Or should I go with Shikari first, so I have a stronger main character stat / gear / dps wise etc.?

Are there any class combos where I should, for sure, take 1 class first, over the 2nd?

Thanks for the help / info!

[Sakhari]

I'm sure someone will be along soon to go into more detail but in general:

- Most of the combinations you've highlighted are fine and are suggested pretty regularly though unless you're set on doing a 12-job run, I'd strongly recommend against Shikari/Breaker.

The only reason that combination got any attention in the early days after the PS4 release was because it was assumed that the Genji Glove accessory (which the Breaker has access to) would make Shikari a god-tier damage dealer with Ninja Blades. It turns out that another accessory (which every class has access to) is better for blade damage so this combo just ends up being a boring, less than stellar auto-attacker for about 95% of the game. It isn't even the best choice in the two fights where a Shikari actually stands out as a damage dealer.

- As far as which jobs to take first, There's no stat-related reason to pick one job before another so the only note I'd make here is to maybe wait until you can unlock a second job to take a Black Mage. Magic damage (and the tools to effectively sustain it) doesn't really start taking off until right before you get your second job so you're not missing much by waiting.

It's not that hard to get to the second-job point of the story having literally taken no jobs at all so you'll be fine with any job you choose to select first.

[VincentVolaju]

Originally posted by Sakhari:

I'm sure someone will be along soon to go into more detail but in general:

- Most of the combinations you've highlighted are fine and are suggested pretty regularly though unless you're set on doing a 12-job run, I'd strongly recommend against Shikari/Breaker.

The only reason that combination got any attention in the early days after the PS4 release was because it was assumed that the Genji Glove accessory (which the Breaker has access to) would make Shikari a god-tier damage dealer with Ninja Blades. It turns out that another accessory (which every class has access to) is better for blade damage so this combo just ends up being a boring, less than stellar auto-attacker for about 95% of the game. It isn't even the best choice in the two fights where a Shikari actually stands out as a damage dealer.

- As far as which jobs to take first, There's no stat-related reason to pick one job before another so the only note I'd make here is to maybe wait until you can unlock a second job to take a Black Mage. Magic damage (and the tools to effectively sustain it) doesn't really start taking off until right before you get your second job so you're not missing much by waiting.

It's not that hard to get to the second-job point of the story having literally taken no jobs at all so you'll be fine with any job you choose to select first.

Thanks for the info! I see, so that is why I was reading conflicting things about the Shikari / Breaker build. It must have been older posts I was reading, compared to more recent ones. And funny you mention it, but I started my new game a couple hours ago and am just speed running back up to where I was yesterday. So far I haven't taken any jobs yet. I was planning to wait until I get some good advice / suggestions / responses etc. before doing that.

However, I'm not sure how much longer I can go before needing to choose a job... I just went through 20-25 potions beating that first horse boss in the sewer. Thought for sure it was going to kill me lol. This is the farthest I've gotten in the game so far, so if the next few areas are as difficult as that boss was, I'll likely have to make my mind up on some jobs sooner than later.

So far I've been using Vaan as my party leader / tank. I have Balthir and Fran gambits set to attack the party leaders target, so I am basically just trying to auto attack focus monsters down, while using potions / dawns to keep my characters alive in the battles.

Edit: Also a side question, you mentioned "unless I plan to do a 12-job run". I'm assuming that means a play through where every single job class is used, ya? I was wondering, what is the point of that? I mean, is there any specific reason someone would do a 12-job run, other than the satisfaction of filling out all 12 class grids? Is there anything tangible from doing it, some type of reward, achievment, different game ending etc.?

Edit 2: It seems like monsters attack the closest enemy to them, or atleast the one that runs in first. If that's true, then wouldn't it be a good idea to make my party leader (Vaan) a strong tank type class? If I chose to do that, which class combo do you think would be good for that type of character, a typical tank build with some solid melee dps tied in?

[Sakhari]

Originally posted by VincentVolaju:

Edit: Also a side question, you mentioned "unless I plan to do a 12-job run". I'm assuming that means a play through where every single job class is used, ya? I was wondering, what is the point of that?

There is no practical reason for it but a lot of newer players seem keen to go that route on their first run.

Personally, I don't even bother working the Foebreaker, Uhlan, and Archer classes into my rotation anymore and I only bring Time Mages along because I like not having to deal with items for certain conveniences. But yeah, no reason to use all 12 jobs if you have something more specific in mind.

Originally posted by VincentVolaju:

...wouldn't it be a good idea to make my party leader (Vaan) a strong tank type class? If I chose to do that, which class combo do you think would be good for that type of character

Very early on, all you really need to 'tank' is the best armor you can find and some HP licenses. Shortly after getting your second job, the Shikari actually winds up being an excellent choice for a tank due to a specific, easy-to-get dagger with a stupidly high evasion rating (along with the shields and hp-boosting light armor that a Shikari can also use).

Shikari/Red Mage is one of my favorite class combinations and it works pretty well in a tank/utility role. Later in the game when evasion becomes less useful, it can transition into a decent damage-dealer. Other people seem to prefer Shikari/White for similar tanking/utility results. Both are good.

[VincentVolaju]

Okay then, that settles that, no need to force all 12 jobs for no reason. To be honest, I'd kind of like to find combos that not only work well together, but also fit the characters "personality" in a sense as well, at least a little bit. However, I don't know much about the characters, or game in general for all that matter, because I am trying to avoid spoilers.

If you were to assign job combos to the 6 characters, based on their personality, or type of character they portray themselves to be in-game, which would you choose? While also not completely gimping their abilities lol. I think Basch as a Knight / Bushi kind of makes sense, from what I've seen of him in-game so far at least. Fran starts with a bow, so I assume Archer? And Balthir with a gun, so I guess Mechinist? I haven't gotten to the Ashe character in-game yet, but apparently shes some type of Mage. And of course Penelo seems like the best friend / love interest (at least in the first cpl hours so far), which gives me the feeling she should be a White Mage.

I have no idea if any of those are actually correct though, since I am only a couple hours into the game, as well as I have no idea what 2nd jobs to combo with them to build a pretty balanced team. What would you suggest?

Also, it seems like Shikari is a pretty solid main (1st) job for Vaan, if I want to play him as a Tank / Melee dps, yea? If so, I am thinking I'll just unlock Shikari tree on him now, and start dumping the 150-200 saved up LPs I have, into +HP licenses to start making him a tank. Also, you mentioned Shikari get good daggers and use shields, so maybe I should unlock some Dagger and Shield licenses as well?

Do you think would be a good idea to do now, or should I wait a bit longer until I am closer to the 2nd job class, before picking the first?