Weak Mode - useless classes?

[Soulmancer]

I notice on the license board there is a way to increase your HP, but not a way to increase your MP if I'm reading it right? Wouldn't that make mages very tricky if you're limited to starting MP? I see there is an ability to reduce the cost of spells... but still relying on such a low amount of MP at level 1? Or can you raise it through some other means?

Also, are melee characters that rely on strength for damage pretty much completely useless? A lot of skill/ability hit rate and damage appears to be directly linked to character level...

[Scarlet Crusade]

Offensive mages, MP is not really a concern. Early game is a bit rougher, but mid to late game, second and especially third level spells fully restore your MP because of augments and the amount of damage gives them just about infinite free casts.

Defensive mages, you'll want to use either Penelo or Ashe, since they have significantly more MP, but it's still not as bad as you might think it would be. You can supplement healing with items to conserve MP, and will recover MP upon taking damage as well.

[Soulmancer]

Ok, I haven't played this game at all yet. I was debating starting on weak mode because FF games tend to be a cake walk aside from optional late game content... But I was reading weak mode is essentially broken for mage job paths beyond a support role as MP is too low and tech hit rate is tied directly to level, so they'll miss all the time on weak mode.

[The Last Hope]

Originally posted by Soulmancer:

Ok, I haven't played this game at all yet. I was debating starting on weak mode because FF games tend to be a cake walk aside from optional late game content... But I was reading weak mode is essentially broken for mage job paths beyond a support role as MP is too low and tech hit rate is tied directly to level, so they'll miss all the time on weak mode.

do what im going to do, play only one job per character

[oda.iori]

Originally posted by Soulmancer:

I notice on the license board there is a way to increase your HP, but not a way to increase your MP if I'm reading it right? Wouldn't that make mages essentially useless if you're limited to starting MP? I see there is an ability to reduce the cost of spells... but still relying on such a low amount of MP at level 1? Or can you raise it through some other means?

Mystic equipment increase MP. Just for you to know some of the best mystic gear and vest add 250 MP. In the IZJS and TZA ethers are easy to farm from many chests from the start of the game and Turbo Ether (or whatever is it's name in this version) can be bought later in the game.

White Mage, Black Mage and Red Mage are very useful since they can equip mystic equipment. Time Mage can't equip mystic gear, but you can pair it with a job that provides mystic gear.

Buffs and Debuffs play major role in FFXII so having mages in weak mode is a must. Here's a video of a friend showing how mages can be very useful even in weak mode, and he is not even with the best setup:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHYkzR5S4ek

[oda.iori]

These are the best main jobs for weak mode.

Shikari: tanking, tanking, tanking
Knight: Tanking, Karkata and Excalibur
Machinist: massive damage
White Mage: Healing, support
Black Mage: Magic damage still usefull in some level, Debuff
Red Mage: Healing, Support, Buff, Debuff and Death.

[Scarlet Crusade]

Originally posted by Rain:

do what im going to do, play only one job per character

The game is still pretty easy even doing that. Weak Mode with one job per character is the hardest feasible challenge, but if you know what you're doing, even that won't be too bad, just a few tough spots.

[Jounatsi]

S-Tier:
Shikari - Main Gauche+Jade Collar evasion tank god with lotsa HP, 2nd highest DPS late game with Fomalhaut.
Machinist - Best damage dealer period.
Black Mage - Best magical damage dealer, great vs. multiple enemies, buffs, debuffs.

A-Tier:
White Mage - Best heals, best buffs.
Red Battlemage - Solid MAG damage, useful spells.

B-Tier:
Time Battlemage - Good buffs, useful spells, some ammunitions are actually useful. Trouble with MP & damage.
Knight - Deals zero damage & barely qualifies as a tank, but is able to wield Karkata.

C-Tier:
Bushi - Is able to wield Karkata if you give him/her Zalera esper, otherwise terrible job

D-Tier:
Archer - Assassin's Arrows are somewhat useful.. i guess.

F-Tier
Foebreaker - Useless since it can't hit anything with breaks.
Monk - Useless.
Uhlan - Useless.


IMO Mages are really strong in Weak Mode.

[oda.iori]

Black Mage is the most powerful damage dealer in the game for 95% of the battles. White Mage is the most effective healer and support role and Red Battlemage is one the most versatile job in the game. The only mage that wasn't very useful is Time Battlemage, but if you pair it with a certain job you can make it extremely useful specially because they're the only job that can cast Haste early.

[Soulmancer]

So it sounds like many classes are rendered completely gimped/useless in weak mode? Not really what I'm after, I do want a challenge, but I don't want to play if only some classes are viable and the others are completely broken... I like challenge but if it means sacraficing a fair and balanced playing field where all the jobs can play a viable role.... the fact that many abilities chance to hit is based on character level is clearly not compatabile with weak mode.

[<color=#CD3210>Lunatic]

im around lv 40 playing on ps4 pro right now, mages are fine, you can get etheres easily in the game and upkeep mana that way or you can learn syphon and then gambit (ai tactic) them to use it when they are low on mana, either way you dont really need to keep an eye on it.

[Soulmancer]

So can Uhlan or Bushi be paired with anything to make them not useless? Like a red mage or black mage?

[Soulmancer]

So anything that relies on melee/strength damage and non-magic abilities all pretty much suck?