Best Final Fantasy Mage Classes
What is the best Final Fantasy mage class? Given the long history of the series filled with classic mage archetypes, from healers to destructive spellcasters, it’s difficult to narrow down the best mage class. However, we’ve done the hard work for you to bring you our ranking of the best Final Fantasy classes by narrative presence and impact in battles.
While the best Final Fantasy characters are subjective, we’ve done our best to justify our rankings with examples from each game and why we think this character is important – or fun – in that game. Naturally, this list is highly opinionated, so if your favourite mage isn’t mentioned, we’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
Sage
The latest iteration of the sage class, which originally appeared in Final Fantasy 5, makes its debut in Final Fantasy 14: A Requiem for the Stars. The change allows them to learn spells from other classes, making them more versatile in single-player games.
In Final Fantasy 14, the Sage class gains popularity in the recent Endwalker expansion thanks to the spells they can learn from the Gladiator class. The spells are rooted in mathematics and are therefore niche, but if you’re looking for the best mage in an MMO, the potential for top-tier gameplay is there.
Calculator
Calculators are a special kind of mage that use their mathematical prowess to calculate the most effective number of attacks. We’re not talking about a niche concept that only works in an MMO; calculators, similar to Strago from Final Fantasy 6, can find their place in single-player games.
While Strago is the only Calculator in the Final Fantasy series, he’s beloved for his unique fighting style and his quirky mannerisms. If calculators were to ever appear in a game again, we’d love to see them in a more prominent role than random NPCs.
Bard
Bards are a niche class but one that is fun to play in games like Final Fantasy 5 and Tactics, where they offer unique buffs that improve the way you play the game. Buffs are a key part of any RPG game, but bards shine by being more than just a temporary stat boost.
While not technically mages, bards offer specific ways to improve your party’s performance by enhancing their abilities or making them last longer. Their niche status is why they don’t rank higher, but we’d love to see a Bard in a mainline Final Fantasy again – especially if the job system returned.
Time Mage
Time Mages are a versatile class that manipulate time to their advantage and protect their party with a range of spells. Final Fantasy 6’s Quistis is a fan favourite for her ability to use slow and stop time in battle.
While stop time can be exploited in some games, Quistis’s time spells are rooted in her ability as a time mage. She’s not a character that can manipulate time outside of battle, making her a unique and interesting class to play as.
Black Mage
Black Mages excel in offensive magic but are limited outside of combat. Final Fantasy 9’s Vivi Ornitier is the iconic Black Mage.
Black Mages in Final Fantasy 6 and 7 offer a wide range of spells, but their physical abilities are lacking. Vivi is the perfect balance between magical strength and physical ability. He’s not as powerful as Sazh in FF9, but his balanced approach to battle helps in a party that consists of a knight, a monk, and a summoner.
Mystic Knight
Mystic Knights are the best of both worlds, combining spellcasting and swordplay in a unique fighting style. Mystic Knights are a fan-favourite class and one that has appeared in all but one of the games in the series.
Final Fantasy 6 is perhaps the most famous for its cast of Mystic Knights, which includes the likes of Terra Branford and Shadow. Mystic Knights are popular because they allow for unique gameplay outside of the traditional Black Mage and White Mage classes.
Geomancer
Geomancers use the environment to unleash powerful attacks that are unique to their class. Like Mystic Knights, Geomancers can be found in all but one of the main Final Fantasy games.
Geomancers offer a unique fighting style that can’t be replicated by other classes. Final Fantasy 5’s Quistis is a fan-favourite due to her ability to use powerful magic against monsters found in the local environment, such as using water to damage fire-based enemies.
Blue Mage
Blue Mages, like in Final Fantasy 5, learn enemy skills and have diverse abilities based on the enemies they fight. Unlike the job system, Blue Mages are unique characters that offer a staggering variety of spells to learn.
Final Fantasy 5’s Quina, Kimahri, and Strago are fan-favourites for their unique fighting styles that are based on the enemies they fight. Blue Mages have a special place in the series and are one of the best classes in Final Fantasy 5.
Dragoon
Dragoons are a special kind of knight that use spears to fight from a distance. Dragoons are a fan-favourite class that appears in most of the main Final Fantasy games, as well as in many spin-offs.
