If an RPG has a class system then chances are pretty good that there will be some sort of healer or magician in there. Final Fantasy has the White Mage and Black Mage archetypes respectively, for example. Not many RPGs have a standard for what a Sage class is though. Sometimes they are little more than a stronger version of a Red Mage with less of an emphasis on weapon and armor training.
6 RPGs That Have A Gunslinger Class
A rare class that only rears its head in a few select RPG titles, the gunslinger is one of the more unique RPG classes. Here's which games have it.
Sometimes they can do a lot more than deal elemental damage or heal the wounded. Let’s go through some RPG options and explain how each version of their Sage differs, if at all. They will be ranked on their overall power and style.
8 Bishop (Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology)
A Spinoff Focused On Dungeon Crawling
Tales Of The World: Radiant Mythology
- Released
- December 21, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- PSP
Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology, and the rest of the series, were established as PSP dungeon crawlers that crossed over characters from across the Tales of franchise. Players controlled a more generic hero and there wasn’t much story involved, plus there was a class system to go through which isn’t typical for this series. For example, players could become a Bishop which isn’t exactly a Sage in name, but it is in practice. A Bishop within Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology is a weak physical fighter but its offensive and defensive magic is second to none during the intense action combat.
7 Julei (Visions Of Mana)
The Latest Entry Focusing On A Robust Class System
Visions of Mana
- Released
- August 29, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ouka Studios, Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Most of the Mana games are pure action RPGs with a few twists here and there to keep combat fresh between titles. Very few of them have had class systems but the latest entry, Visions of Mana, did. Each character had an exclusive range of classes that would unlock as the game progressed in the story plus there were some tied to side quests. Julei is a little wood sprite who mostly had magic-based classes like this later evolution: Sage. Julei’s Sage class can equip umbrellas as weapons and mostly has healing spells with the only offensive attack being tied to a poison bubble. So, it’s not the most versatile Sage but it is a strong healer.
6 Sage (Tear Ring Saga: Chronicles of War Hero Yutona)
Fire Emblem’s Other Half
Tear Ring Saga: Chronicles of War Hero Yutona
- Released
- May 24, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- nr
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, JRPG
- Platform(s)
- PS1
After the SNES era of Fire Emblem, the creator, Shouzou Kaga, left Intelligent Systems to create his own company, Tirnanog, to start a spiritual successor via Tear Ring Saga: Chronicles of War Hero Yutona. If someone jumped into this game and didn’t know it wasn’t Fire Emblem, they would be shocked because the visuals and gameplay are that similar.
7 RPGS That Have A Thief Class
Playing a thief in these RPGs is tough, but it's satisfying when affecting battles from the shadows, or swiping valuable weapons without being seen.
This includes the various classes in the game and how they progress. Mages can become Sages, for example, and they are good at dealing magical damage along with healing allies. Alicia is one of the named characters that can become a Sage. The game was never released in the West on PS1 but there is an English fan patch for those interested.
5 Sage (Disgaea 5: Alliance Of Vengeance)
In The Stars
Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance
- Released
- October 6, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Language, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Nippon Ichi Software
- Publisher(s)
- Nippon Ichi Software, NIS America
- Engine
- proprietary engine
- Franchise
- Disgaea
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, RPG
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- How Long To Beat
- 40 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance was the first entry in the series to hit the PS4. Like others before it, players acquired hero characters from the story but they could also make their own party members based on dozens of classes to gather for strategic battles. The Sage was one of the later game classes and it’s unlike any other Sage in an RPG and it was exclusive to this entry. Rather than being proficient in healing and offensive magic, these Sages instead mostly used star-based magic to pummel enemies which was weird but effective.
4 Narve Oparyn (Triangle Strategy)
Character-Based Classes
Triangle Strategy
- Released
- March 4, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix, Artdink
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix, Nintendo
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Franchise
- Triangle Strategy
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Tactical
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Triangle Strategy was a spiritual successor to Final Fantasy Tactics that first hit the Switch and used Square Enix’s HD-2D style. Instead of recruiting random party members based on classes, each story character had an assigned class that could then evolve through gameplay. Narve Oparyn was the one Sage in the game and players could get him early if they made the right choices in Triangle Strategy. Narve could use area attacks based on the wind, fire, and lightning elements along with healing the party through magic, making him an invaluable party member early on.
3 Sage (Fire Emblem Engage)
A Class Decades In The Making
Fire Emblem Engage
- Released
- January 20, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen due to Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Intelligent Systems
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Engine
- Unity
- Franchise
- Fire Emblem
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, JRPG
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- How Long To Beat
- 40 Hours
Fire Emblem has been going strong as a series since 1990 on the NES. The first inclusion of a Sage class appeared in the second game, Fire Emblem Gaiden, and has been in nearly every game since. They’re traditional as far as Sages go in RPGs without much offensive power backed by physical attacks.
6 RPGS That Have A Pirate Class
The Pirate class is not a common one in the RPG genre, but the following games are the big exception, each featuring a unique version of the class.
Their magic proficiency has changed over time depending on specific sub-classes from being able to just use light magic to do damage and heal to being able to use all elements. Sages are more versatile in the latest entry on Switch, Fire Emblem Engage, making them a class to aim for.
2 Sage (Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake)
A Limited Opportunity
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
- Released
- November 14, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix, Artdink
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Franchise
- Dragon Quest
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- PC Release Date
- November 14, 2024
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- November 14, 2024
- PS5 Release Date
- November 14, 2024
- Nintendo Switch Release Date
- November 14, 2024
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Dragon Quest 3 was the first game to include classes, called Vocations, that players could swap between which was tweaked in the recent remake, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake. Players could select every Vocation from the start except for one that was hidden: Sage. Players could turn any class into a Sage with a rare item or they could do it naturally with the Gadabout which is the most useless Vocation in the game. Either way, the Sage is worth fighting for in Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake because it has some of the most powerful healing and offensive magic in the game and Sages exist elsewhere in the series too.
1 Final Fantasy 3 (Sage)
Powerful From Day One
Final Fantasy 3 (3D Remake)
- Released
- November 14, 2006
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Suggestive Themes
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Franchise
- Final Fantasy
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- Android, iOS, Nintendo DS, PSP, PC
- How Long To Beat
- 30 Hours
Like Dragon Quest 3, Final Fantasy 3 was the first game to include swappable Jobs for the campaign. Of the many Sage variations in the series, the Sage from the Final Fantasy 3 DS remake is the strongest. It can use the most powerful Black and White Mage spells but it can also use some Summons. The pure Summon Job still has the strongest set of Summons in the game but the Sage’s selection is still proficient. As an extra note, the DS remake in 2006 was the first time Western players could enjoy this Job system twenty-six years after its 1990 debut on NES.
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From seafaring adventures to rolling around with sky pirates, these RPGs are unmissable classics for those who love a pirate's life.