The following lists all the characters and their starting stats. The stats
for characters at starting levels greater than 1 are random, but this should
still give you an idea of their comparative strengths. Each character has a
rating of * to ***** indicating how good they are overall. Since all mages are
basically interchangeable, I gave them all the same rating (****).
The numbers for the attacks is the number of hits, energy added, and damage
multiplier per hit.
Well, you don't have a lot of choice about using her. She's in all but a very
few battles. Luckily, she's quite good. Her sword attacks are capable of
hitting all types of opponents (she's one of a very few characters who can hit
the hamsters), and equipping her with a bow is an even better option. In
fact, I recommend keeping her with a three-hit bow throughout the game, as
she's the strongest bow user in the game. Her PWS has three different power
levels which depend on the weapon she has equipped. The third level is only
available in the final battle of Asgard Hill and in the Seraphic Gate.
Rating *****
Freya
"I am Freya. Recall the name on your journey to Hel."
Taking a look at her stats should give you an idea about how good she is. She
tags along in the Artolian Mountain Ruins to make sure you don't lose any
fights. In the Seraphic Gate, she may very well be your most powerful
fighter, and her PWS does more damage than any other. The only problem with
her is that she has a very long delay between each attack. This makes her a
royal pain to combo with. Her third attack is unblockable (except when you're
fighting against her).
A special note about her PWS: it's Poison elemental. It will do double damage
to enemies weak against Poison. So try it out against some of these enemies
in the Seraphic Gate if you want to see some 1,000,000+ damage numbers. The
PWSes of other characters are not elemental, even though some of them look
like they are.
Arngrim is a powerhouse early on. His PWS does decent damage and adds a huge
amount of energy, but it has a tremendous charge time to match. His normal
attacks hit rather high, meaning he tends to miss short enemies. He is very
good at hitting flying creatures, though. Not an exceptional character, but a
good one.
Jelanda is the first mage you get, and will serve you well in the early
chapters. Her Fire Storm spell is weak, but it adds a great deal of energy to
the combo gauge. This will be the only way you will be able to get the meter
up to 100 until you get some better weapons. She also comes equipped with the
highly useful Heal.
Rating ****
Lawfer
"I pledge my strength to the Lady Valkyrie!"
Modes available: Normal and Hard (Chapter 2)
Starting stats (level 1) DME: 1500 Str: 10 Int: 6 Agl: 10 Dex: 5
The best character outside the Seraphic Gate. His normal attacks are good,
and his PWS does insane damage. But the PWS adds very little energy, so make
sure you use it last in a chain. With a Combo Jewel or Energy Ring he can
fill up the energy gauge by himself. A good candidate for transfer also.
You will usually end up transferring him because of his high Hero Value, but
he is a good addition to the party as well. His PWS does very strong damage,
one of the highest in the game. His normal attacks are almost identical to
those of Valkyrie (with sword).
Rating ****
Llewelyn
"With enemies like this even I might have a chance!"
Attacks: First Shot (1, 5, x1), Twin Shot (2, 10, x.5), Aiming Wisp (2-3, 10,
x.29834). PWS: Layer Storm (varies, 5 per hit, 2 CT, x.6738 damage multiplier
per hit)
Optimum PWS position: first
He's pretty bad. The only good thing about him is his PWS. It does a
variable number of hits depending on the enemy's size and positioning. Seven
is a common number of hits, but I've seen as many as 18 against large enemies.
He doesn't even make good transfer material because his Hero Value is so low.
Also, his third attack is unblockable, so use it to set up combos.
Rating *
Kashell
"All right! Feeling good!"
Modes available: Normal and Hard (Chapter 3)
Starting stats (level 1) DME: 2000 Str: 10 Int: 6 Agl: 10 Dex: 5
He is weaker than Arngrim, with slightly better normal attacks and a much
worse PWS. Some of his voice samples are annoying, but his enthusiasm can be
infectious.
The best archer, other than Valkyrie. His first attack, Diseased Needle,
actually poisons the enemy. I cannot begin to tell you how useful that is.
And his PWS is very good as well, doing 9 auto-hits and adding 72 to the
energy gauge.
Another mage. Her Lightning Bolt is quite a bit stronger than the other
spells you'll get get early in the game. And after you recruit her you can
get Dragonbane, a very useful weapon. If you're lucky enough to get her in
Chapter 2, you can pretty much win every battle in Chapters 2 and 3 just by
casting Lightning Bolt on all enemies with Dragonbane equipped.
Yet another mage. If you don't cry the first time you see her recruitment
scene, you are one heartless individual. Nothing really special about her,
but she does have some hilarious animations in battle.
Rating ****
Aelia
"Now you have felt my strength."
Modes available: Normal and Hard (Chapter 4)
Starting stats (level 1) DME: 1400 Str: 10 Int: 20 Agl: 5 Dex: 15
Her attacks and PWS do strong damage. But if you equip her with a three-hit
weapon be sure that you change the order her attacks come in or you'll never
hit with all of them. A strong character, but you'll get tired of hearing her
voice after a while.
Jun's major redeeming feature is his PWS. It does decent damage, spread out
among 15 hits and 30 energy. This makes him the ideal leadoff man in a PWS
chain. By building up the hit meter he lets the other characters do more
damage. His normal attacks are rather poor though. Good luck connecting with
them all.
Kind of annoying, and butt ugly. She's one of the stronger mages. Don't
transfer her to Valhalla, or she'll be gone for good. But if you do, you'll
get to see her horribly ugly portrait during the Sacred Phase. Good for a
laugh.
Attacks: Flare Shot (1, 15, x1), Fifth Way (varies, 1 per hit, x.1992),
Lunatic Shot (varies, 1 per hit, x.09375). PWS: Sphere Strike (1, 30, 2 CT,
x3.75 damage multiplier)
Optiumum PWS position: first (fourth is a waste of the damage bonus)
His attacks don't do good damage, don't build up the energy gauge well, and
his PWS is a very bad joke. But there is one thing he's good at. He's the
best character for knocking experience crystals out of the enemies. He can
help your party level up fairly quickly. Just make sure you bring some real
characters along to actually hurt the enemies. This is an expert's character,
not for beginners.
Rating **
Grey
"I invoke the power of the Glacial Blade! Finishing Strike: Icicle
Disaster!"
He has the coolest voice samples of any character. Unfortunately, he's not a
good choice for battle. He has some extreme problems dealing damage to the
enemies, with the weakest PWS in the game. Easily the weakest of the three
heavy knights. The little wisps that trail after him are unblockable, though.
Rating *
Lorenta
"Such a will to live!"
Modes available: Normal and Hard (Chapter 4)
Starting stats (level 1) DME: 300 Str: 2 Int: 26 Agl: 2 Dex: 3
Yep, another mage. She's fairly useful when you first get her because she
comes with the Mystic Cross spell. But I don't care for her voice and that
stupid staff flying around in battle really aggravates me.
Rating ****
Mystina
"Feast your eyes on me. It'll be your last vision of beauty."
Modes available: Normal and Hard (Chapter 5)
Starting stats (level 1) DME: 300 Str: 10 Int: 30 Agl: 10 Dex: 10
She has some funny voice samples, but many are so muted you can barely hear
them. One of the better mages in the game.
A rather average character who makes good transfer material. He has some
great voice samples. The PWS is a little weak.
Rating ***
Gandar
"My life's ambition... reduced to nothing!"
Modes available: Normal and Hard (Chapter 8)
Starting stats (level 1) DME: 1300 Str: 8 Int: 80 Agl: 2 Dex: 5
He is potentially the most powerful mage. He can have more DME than Lezard by
using Bracelets of Zoe, and his intelligence is usually slightly higher by the
time he reaches level 30.
Rating ****
Lucian
"... and take this!"
Modes available: Normal and Hard (Chapter 5)
Starting stats (level 1) DME: 1000 Str: 10 Int: 15 Agl: 8 Dex: 8
*Although it's supposed to add 36, Shining Bolt will usually add a full 100 to
the energy gauge. It also does 24 hits instead of 12 when this happens.
Seems to be a glitch, but it's a good one. Press the attack button rapidly to
activate this glitch.
Optimum PWS position: first
Rather unremarkable, except for one thing. His third attack, Shining Bolt, is
the best normal attack in the game. It can crush guards easily, and it knocks
out a slew of gems and a treasure chest against a fallen enemy. Teamed with
Badrach and a couple of sword users, you can get 40 experience crystals in one
round. He is also capable of filling up the energy gauge by himself due to
the strange properties of Shining Bolt. Only his weak PWS keeps him from
being a 5-star character.
A powerhouse mage. He's got great voice samples and a funny personality. He's
the only character who can't reach 90,000 DME by equipping two Bracelets of
Zoe, so keep an Ambrosia for him.
Another powerful fighter. His PWS does the most hits in the game - up to 17
(not counting unreliable Llewelyn). Comboing is a bit tricky with him, as you
have to pause slightly in between his attacks.
