Strongest Archers In Final Fantasy

The Final Fantasy series is known for its take on heroes saving the world from certain doom, its gameplay elements allow players to embark on this journey using a myriad of classes or Jobs, such as the Archer. While not bearing the same name throughout the franchise, the Archer, and its derivatives, are the Final Fantasy equivalent of bow-toting long-ranged specialists who can take down foes from afar, all while using special attacks and even a wide variety of exclusive armaments.

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However, while the Archer is a prominent Job in the Final Fantasy series, the games do make it a point to allow characters to mix and match their Jobs and roles to a certain extent. As a result, some characters become notable for their starting Jobs or even for branching out into better roles due to their stats. In the case of the Final Fantasy franchise as a whole, just who are its most powerful archers?

9 Phoebe

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest

• Role in the Story: An adventurer from Acquaria who wants to save her town from the Dark King
• Additional Powerset: Status-Inflicting Weapons (Cat Claw can Paralyze and Poison, Bow of Grace can Blind), Anti-Status Armor (Mystic Robe resists Water and Wind, Magic Ring protects vs Silence, Ether Shield protects vs Paralyze, Sleep, and Drain)

Despite being a niche spinoff title, the beginner-friendly nature of Final Fantasy Mystic Quest does a decent job introducing newcomers to RPGs from 1992 to the fundamentals of the era. Granted, the game does have restrictions regarding travel and equipment, but combat with protagonist Benjamin becomes a breeze thanks to companions that introduce trademark Jobs from the franchise, with Phoebe specifically representing the Archer.

Introduced as an adventurer who wants to save her village from the Dark Lord, Phoebe can be one of Benjamin's strongest allies in the game. Of note is how her Archer Job is made to work in tandem with various magic skills, especially with her Magic at 94 in the final dungeon being a level that Benjamin cannot achieve in the game. Compared to Benjamin's role as a melee fighter, Phoebe can supplement his attacks with her own set of long-ranged shots and Magic, such as Paralyze and Poison, while also getting protection from status effects.

8 Lenna Charlotte Tycoon

Final Fantasy 5

• Role in the Story: Daughter of King Alexander Highwind Tycoon, tasked to protect the Wind Crystal
• Additional Powerset: Bond with her Wind Drake, can learn all other Jobs when accessing the Crystal Fragments, access to Sealed Weapons that were used to defeat Enuo

First appearing as the daughter of King Tycoon and the Tycoon Legacy, Lenna Highwind Tycoon was ambushed by goblins while following her father to the Wind Shrine and would've been harmed had it not been for Final Fantasy 5 protagonist, Bartz Klauser. Lenna soon becomes a Warrior of Light alongside Bartz and their other companions, being in charge of protecting the crystals to save the world from danger.

Following the trend of other Final Fantasy titles, Lenna doesn't have a set Job, although her base stats may dictate her eventual progression. As such, Lenna's Water affinity may push fans to train her as a Gladiator, as its exclusive Finisher Ability can pulverize most random encounters in the Rift. Likewise, Lenna's possession of the game's highest raw Magic stat makes her ideal for back row Jobs like the White Mage. Lenna can then dip into Ranger, giving her access to bows and therefore allowing her to capitalize on dealing much-needed backline damage while mitigating risks.

7 Viera Sniper

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire Of The Rift

• Role in the Story: Elite hunters among the Viera race
• Additional Powerset: Excellent Attack, Above Average Speed, Average HP, Sharpshooting

While Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift will have schoolboy Luso accidentally travel to Ivalice and get involved in its affairs, gameplay in the Nintendo DS title is praised for its Job-mixing options and exclusive classes per race. One such example is the Viera Sniper, the strongest damage-dealing Job for the forest-dwelling race, who also tend to be their strongest assets at a distance. While the Viera Sniper possess average HP and above average Speed, they boast incredible Attack stats that, when combined with their Greatbows, allow them to pulverize foes before they reach them.

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With their exclusive Sharpshooting, the Viera Sniper can destroy a target's weapon (Weapon Shot) or armor (Armor Shot), get a double attack in one turn (Doubleshot), or even inflict an insta-kill timer (Death Sickle). Their high Attack pairs well with abilities of other Jobs, such as melee-based elemental attacks (Blade Arts, Spellblade) and extra ranged attacks (Precision, Archer).

6 Maria

Final Fantasy 2

• Role in the Story: Leon's sister, and becomes one of Firion's most loyal allies
• Additional Powerset: Highest starting Intelligence, and highest Agility growth overall

When Maria gets separated from her brother Leon during the Palamecian Empire's attack on Fynn, it became her mission throughout Final Fantasy 2 to find him. Stats-wise, Maria boasts the highest Intelligence among starting characters, making her an ideal back row unit like the Black Mage. Likewise, her Agility eventually becomes the highest of the protagonists, incentivizing Jobs that allow her to dish out heavy damage as she will likely often go first in combat. However, players need to mind her low Stamina and abysmal HP progression.

While players can change Maria's eventual Job and character progression, she begins with a bow and even ends up with the Artemis Bow as her ultimate weapon. By the time she gets the Artemis Bow, Maria can dominate the mid-game and early late-game segments of the title.

5 Rosa Joanna Farrell

Final Fantasy 4

• Role in the Story: Childhood friends with Cecil Harvey and Kain Highwind, though she has romantic feelings for Cecil
• Additional Powerset: White Mage Job, can deal damage effectively from the backline, especially against Flying Enemies

Celebrated as the franchise's first official female White Mage and first love interest, Rosa Farrell of FInal Fantasy 4 is known for being one of the most loyal companions of conflicted protagonist Cecil Harvey as he transforms from a Dark Knight to a Paladin. However, what makes Rosa an interesting character is how she's one of the rare instances of a White Mage also possessing traits of an Archer. As all characters in Final Fantasy 4 have preset Jobs, Rosa's competence as an MP and Spirit-focused healer are supplemented with physical prowess with the bow, allowing her to take care of enemies from the safety of the back row.

As a White Mage, Rosa can theoretically learn all White Magic in the game. She possesses Pray, allowing her to heal allies' HP (and MP, in the Remake) the equivalent of a Cure (or percentage-based in the Remake). When used with a White Ring in Advance and Complete Collection, her Pray becomes Miracle, which can cast Cure on a failure, Cura in a normal success, or Esuna and Curaga randomly. As an Archer, Rosa also has access to Aim, a slow attack with perfect accuracy.

4 Trey

Final Fantasy Type-0

• Role in the Story: Number 3 of Class Zero
• Additional Powerset: Highest Range and Strength among range characters, exploits Killsight and Breaksight. Fast Firing Rate compensates for lack of combos

Among the 14 cadets of the prestigious Class Zero of the Dominion of Rubrum's Akademeia, Trey is the resident know-it-all of the team. Considered as the troupe's sniper, Trey specializes in using the bow to take out enemies from afar. Unlike other characters, Trey trades the chance to do combos with the ability to fire shots quickly. However, his possession of the highest Range and Strength among ranged combatants makes him a more suitable choice to target foes from afar with precise charged shots.

In combat, Trey can aid frontliners with a myriad of attacks, such as Raining Arrows or stunning Freezing Rain shots. Combining abilities like Hawkeye, Concentrate, and Charged Shots can help Trey unleash more powerful abilities. Trey can equally opt out of charged attacks and go fast and loose with Quick Draw and Twinspell, and even run when necessary with Triple Slip, Slipstream, and Untouchable.

3 Serah Farron

Final Fantasy 13

• Role in the Story: Younger sister of Lightning and one of the l'Cie, will eventually help Lightning save the future
• Additional Powerset: Quick-witted and adaptable combatant who can master weapons quickly, and becomes a competent magic user. Eyes of Etro can help her see the future at the cost of her lifespan

While Serah Farron is known as Lightning's younger sister, she is also known in Final Fantasy 13 as one of the unfortunate individuals branded by the fal'Cie into becoming a l'Cie. Although initially more of a damsel in distress in the game's events, Serah evolves into a highly competent and adaptable warrior. Whereas Lightning uses a gunblade, Serah uses a bowsword that allows her to fight across various fronts.

While not declared as an Archer outright, Serah's dependence on a long-ranged bow may as well classify her as such. Stats-wise, Serah in Lightning Returns boasts high Magic growth, which allows her to accommodate both sub-damage and support duties. In the game's Paradigm System, Serah can specialize in the ATB Gauge-refilling Commando, the elemental chain-building Ravager, and the team-defending Sentinel Roles.

2 Fran

Final Fantasy 12

• Role in the Story: Known as the "Master of Weapons," she is the right-hand of Balthier in the Strahl
• Additional Powerset: License Board puts her close to Quickenings (Super Attacks) and has access to White Magick and Black Magick. She gets to have the highest Vitality at Level 99

Known notably as the character that introduced Viera to the Final Fantasy franchise, the mysterious Fran of Final Fantasy 12 is known best as the slender right-hand of Sky Pirate Balthier. Famous for being the Master of Weapons, Fran is among the more flexible characters in the game, whose early-game prowess extends to her capability of adapting to the License Board quickly. Stats-wise, Fran's proximity to Quickenings or special attacks alongside Black and White Magicks can help her become a damage-support hybrid for most teams.

However, Fran is notable for being a bow user in most of her appearances. Such is her affinity with the bow that the sequel, Final Fantasy 12: Revenant Wings, will have her equip bows as her primary weapon, denoting her skill at using them. In FF12's Ivalice, where guns exist, Fran's dependence on the bow has a frightening implication on how powerful her shots can become.

1 Warrior Of Light Archer

Final Fantasy 14

• Role in the Story: Warrior of Light who may have reappeared after their disappearance from the Battle of Carteneau (the original launch) or a new adventurer (A Realm Reborn)
• Additional Powerset: Accessible Class to get into the Bard Job, Straightforward Ranged DPS

When Square Enix revamped the original Final Fantasy 14 release with A Realm Reborn, along with it came the plot point of the players being the Warrior of Light who had come to Eorzea after "disappearing" in the catalsymic event that supposedly plunged the world into chaos. While players can technically become "any" Class (and eventually Job) in the MMO, the fact that their character always somehow becomes stronger than anyone else means they can also become the strongest Warrior of Light Archer.

Granted, the Archer Class is only a stepping stone for the Warrior of Light to eventually venture into the damage/support Bard Job. However, despite their short stints as Archers, the Class provides players with enough firepower to appreciate their potential as long-ranged physical DPS. Their assortment of heavy-hitting attacks on top of actions that buff their combat performance is a precursor to the more support-leaning kit of the Bard.

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Final Fantasy

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Creation Year

1987

Developer(s)

Square Enix

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Publisher(s)

Square Enix

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