Best Starting Character?

[RainbowRuby]

I am interested in Primrose (mainly cause my OC is a dancer and i played her in the demo all those years ago) but im curious which characters are generally 'the best' to start as?

[Melodia]

For a couple reasons, the 100% absolute best to start is probably Therion.

But you can start with any of them and be fine, especially if you're used to JRPGs already. The difference isn't going to be big.

[Sakhari]

Personally, I'd put Primrose near the bottom of my 'best start' list. It's true - it really doesn't make that much of a difference who you choose but in my view, she isn't very satisfying to play on her own before you have other party members who would actually benefit from the dancer's support skills and her opening is kind of a hassle to play though alone. Beyond that, she's functional but doesn't really offer anything that someone else couldn't do better.

From a purely mechanical standpoint, I'd also give the nod to either Therion or Cyrus, especially for a new player, just because their unique benefits are immediately helpful. Both have useful ability sets to start with. Therion can unlock purple chests which generally have better-than-average rewards and can steal other useful gear and items from NPC's. Cyrus can reveal a free weakness at the start of every fight which is a nice QoL feature (especially for new players) and can unlock a passive ability that makes exploration much easier very early on.

I tend to start with Ophelia in recent playthroughs just because I usually want to get her storyline out of the way first for the post-game rewards. But again, outside of the first area (and especially after subjobs are available), it doesn't matter that much who you choose.

[marcv666]

that depends a lot on your playstyle,

to me the absolute best starting character is Tressa. Purchase is what's best when you are low level and her talent to make money running around is also pretty good. Her damage type is also pretty useful, many enemies are weak to what she has available.

I'd ranked Cyrus the 2nd best, because of his spells (deals a lot of damage) and his support skills (Evasive Maneuvers & Percipience) are broken early game if you cheese the game, and especially if you're new to the game, you will really like his talent to reveal weakness.

Therion would be my 3rd best character to start with, main reason would be for opening locked chest, this can give you some pretty good stuff. Steal is good as well but early on it's not as game breaking as purchase can be since it's pretty though to steal the best stuff. To me Therion shines the most in the mid and late game, but late game I consider him the best character.

As for the 4th best to complete your party, I'd say H'aanit or Ophilia, but that depends highly on what you do. I'd say H'aanit is better only if you know what to do with her where as Ophilia is good in any other situation if you just need a good heal other than that Ophilia is probably the character you want to complete her story first for end game reward.

[Stew_Padaso]

I've started with Therion, Olbric and Ophilia and I would say Ophilia's first boss really enforces finding weaknesses, and breaking guard early on. I've got a solo run with just Ophilia , level 73 and I'm stuck on her 4th boss. The vorpal strikes in the last area are just a punch in the gut.

[Melodia]

Ophilia's chapter 4 can be cheesed extremely easily solo. Just use Reflective Veil and the only thing that can damage you is physical attacks. Plus if you don't break him he can't summon the ads

[marcv666]

wow you grinded a lot for your solo run, at level 50 it should be an easy fight, let me know if you need some tips.

[Melodia]

It's an easy fight at level 30, because of what's in the spoiler.

That said, chapter 3 might not be so easy at that level.

[Eltia]

Depends on your goals. Are you going to collect achievement? Cyrus or Therion are both useful from the start to finish of the game. Are you doing solo or speed run? Tressa is probably the easiest. Or do you want to clear post-game content? In that case, Alfyn, Olberic, Ophilia or Therion.

[SaN]

Cyrus is the best starting character and also one of the best character for new players. Fastest start, strong AOE dmg, reveal weakness, early medium soulstone, good map position

Second is Tressa and she is also a very good char for new players. Very fast start, Hired Help is one of the best skills, lot of money, early medium soulstone, good map position

Primrose and Therion are very bad starting chars, they are the contrary of what makes Cyrus and Tressa the best starting characters. Bad starting position, slow start, no early medium soulstone.
Therion dont have AOE dmg.
Primrose starting kit is very weak when solo.