Bravely Default II Jobs – Delight or Disappointment!

The job system is what makes Bravely Default II what it is, and this can be said for every entry in the series. The fun for the strategic JRPG player can be found with finessing the possibilities that are born from collecting the Asterisks during their adventure. Each job brings with a new set of ability, specialities and passives, that can be intertwined together with sub-jobs to create characters that both:

  1. Fill traditional roles within RPG’s that players known and love, and can feel confident building, like ‘tank’, ‘healer, ‘damage’.
  2. Give a creative twist to each character, controlled and designed by the player, to make each feel unique and exciting

Today I’m going to siphon through all of the jobs available in the third entry in the series (don’t let the name fool you) and provide insight into whether I think their inclusion and execution within the latest entry lived up to expectations, or flopped and were left wanting. Welcome to Bravely Default II – Delight or Disappointment.

(Be warned, the list will include spoilers and will potentially spoil what was intended to be secrets from the developer. So, if you’re trying to avoid spoilers, avoid delving too deep.)

In list of appearance:

Freelancer.

The good:

  • Gives access to passives that make grinding less painful, as early as possible
  • Body Slam is a reliable boss killer, early
  • The first five ability unlocks provide amazing utility, that will last deep into the game
  • The character models all look great on the default job
  • Both specialties for the class are fantastic, and make the asterisk a great choice for main job

The bad:

  • Body Slam can be a bit of a crutch, which discourages creativity
  • Portal unlock abilities (13, 14, 15) are underwhelming considering the impact of earlier skills

Verdict:

Delight!

Black Mage.

The good:

  • The class is very familiar, and players will know instantly what to expect
  • Poison will help a lot with difficult bosses early, if you’ve avoided grinding
  • Makes exposing weakness easy with elemental abilities

The bad:

  • Only has elemental attacks, and only three
  • Passives don’t synergise overly well with the base class early
  • Falls of quickly in damage and utility
  • Often countered by immunities and resistances
  • Ability animations are less exciting than other casters
  • Models for black mage look silly on some heroes of light
  • Both specialties are really underwhelming

Verdict:

Disappointment..

White Mage.

The good:

  • Extremely familiar, players know what to expect and how to make the most of the class
  • Provides utility with buff early, giving healers something to do when the party is healthy
  • Outfits look amazing, especially Gloria’s
  • Both specialties are incredible, the latter provides a lot of combination with other healing jobs
  • Stays relevant late game, including portal abilities

The bad:

  • Lacks any Holy damage, which would further give utility to healers when the party is healthy
  • Passives don’t synergise great with the job alone, early
  • Abilities haven’t gained any creativity across the interactions

Verdict:

Delight!

Vanguard.

The good:

  • Character models look good on all heroes of light
  • Provides utility debuffs early
  • Has enrage, and provides an option for tanking early
  • Attention seeker is one of the best specialties in the game, period

The bad:

  • Abilities are underwhelming, in damage and interest
  • Okay at attack and defence, great at neither
  • A much better stat-stick subjob
  • Generally a pretty boring class to play
  • Usually only played late game for Attention Seeker specialty, (accessed from Swordmaster, or Sub-Job Specialty 2) which discourages creativity
  • Portal skills are underwhelming, also

Verdict:

Disappointment..

Monk.

The good:

  • All the character models look fantastic with monk, some of the best
  • The abilities synchronise well with the classes own passive, and specialties
  • Can buff itself, heal itself – a very self-reliant class
  • Actually quite fun to play, unique and interesting abilities
  • Good mix of utility and damage
  • Passives and specialties allow for some really interesting combinations
  • One of the cheapest classes to play, if not the cheapest

The bad:

  • Falls off late, where the portal-weapons come into most builds
  • Maximise HP is in battle only, and requires healing to reach the value

The verdict:

Delight!

Bard.

The good:

  • Provides AoE buffs, and combines well with other support classes
  • Can make difficult bosses much more manageable early
  • Portal abilities provide access to Epic Group Cast – which is insanely good

The bad:

  • Not terribly fun or detailed, with a lack of really thoughtful combinations
  • Abilities aren’t terribly creative, or implemented in a fun way
  • Falls off in relevance late game – big time
  • Renders one of your characters as a song-spammer only, which consumes huge BP
  • Specialties don’t really add much through passives if Bard is your sub-job, nor are they as impact as other jobs as a main job

Disappointment..

Beastmaster.

The good:

  • Capture passive combines well with passives from other classes, making the accumulation of creatures easy
  • The specialties are great, the latter making giving the game an extra-easy mode difficulty
  • The passives are insanely good, and provide the utility for a lot of late game combos
  • Interesting premise in capturing monsters to defeat monsters

The bad:

  • Male character models are just awful
  • Poor execution of the idea – pets are lost on use, no description of abilities of pets during battle, discouraged from using pets to enable the specialty
  • Creature Comforts breaks the game early if you’re willing to grind
  • Capturing pets doesn’t feel meaningful whatsoever
  • Active abilities are really underwhelming, both in damage and interest
  • The job overall feels like a missed opportunity for something genuinely unique and fun

Verdict:

Disappointment..

Thief.

The good:

  • The character models are a different twist – mob bosses rather than the normal rooftop footpad
  • Provides some of the best utility in the game with the steal HP / steal MP
  • Passives and thieving mechanic make Gil management a breeze
  • Doesn’t fall off in the late game
  • Rest in Peace opens the possibility of some really creative cheese-builds
  • Provides access to some of the best weapons in the game, with ease, with the ultimate and field bosses

The bad:

  • Godspeed strike is a H U G E crutch – it discourages creativity and detracts from the strategic character building wonder of the series
  • Thievery is explained poorly, with chance to succeed extremely vague
  • Thievery gloves being a must is a detriment to creativity in building
  • Up To No Good is a pretty bad specialty

Verdict:

Delight!

Gambler.

The good:

  • Easy to unlock, being the first of the two optional jobs
  • Spin the Wheel makes grinding for money early easy

The bad:

  • The character models are all just really, really bad
  • The class has very little actual utility in battle
  • No relevance late game
  • Locked behind mini game the player may have no interest in
  • Mini-game to unlock is easy, but pretty shallow and boring
  • Specialties make the class actively frustrating to play
  • Passives add nothing to builds

The verdict:

Disappointment..

Berserker.

The good:

  • Every hero of light looks good as a berserker
  • The risk / reward gameplay is super fun
  • The class is really potent and doesn’t fall off damage wise late
  • Indiscriminate Rage is one of the best passives in the game, and provides so many options for builds
  • Has utility mixed in with the damage, in the form of debuffs
  • Specialties are incredible and synergise perfectly with the job, without the need for outside additions
  • Uses axes, which have some of the best models weapon-wise in the game

The bad:

  • Portal skills are underwhelming
  • Active abilities animations aren’t too flashy

Verdict:

Delight!

Red Mage

The good:

  • Both specialties are fantastic, with the latter being one of the best in the game
  • Easily recognisable class
  • Provides access to static healing numbers
  • Elemental coverage of earth and air, with AoE options
  • Disaster is insanely strong for how early you can get it
  • HP/MP Converter portal passive builds into the strongest combo available

The bad:

  • Chainspell is a must on every mage build, and discourages creativity
  • Magic critical takes up a passive slot for something physical gets naturally

The verdict:

Delight!

Ranger.

The good:

  • Male models are fantastic, female ones are woeful
  • Combines well with freelancer early and identify items
  • Provides a nuking option early
  • One of the strongest late game build classes there is
  • Can chain insane damage critical with infinite BP
  • Specialties aid this damage, critical, BP loop
  • Passives accentuate these type of builds, but work great in almost all passive set ups
  • Grand Barrage looks cool, and is one of the best BP batteries there is – only second to Swordmaster

The bad:

  • Male models are fantastic, female ones are woeful
  • Requires some planning to be effective

The verdict:

Delight!

Shieldmaster.

The good:

  • Purely defensive character with dual shields is an interesting concept
  • Great protective skills, prevent squishy allies from dying
  • Lots of passives, some of which find themselves into later game builds
  • Specialties are quite good for building a purely defensive character

The bad:

  • Character models are all super dorky
  • The need for this class in the late game is almost zero
  • Is a much better sub-job than main focus, with sub-job 1 in the passives
  • Outshined by other BP batteries in the late game
  • The dual shields is pretty gimmicky and really only relevant with arcanist ally builds
  • Portal abilities do nothing to add to its viability at that stage in the game, for itself or any other job

The verdict:

Disappointment..

Pictomancer.

The good:

  • Something that breaks the mould of expected jobs and classes in JRPGs
  • Daub is insanely good, early, middle, late – it’s always super potent
  • All the heroes of light look fantastic as a Pictomancer
  • All the passives are great, and work in a variety of early and late game builds

The bad:

  • Daub is what makes the class, as the debuffs and actives aren’t great
  • Specialties are not as impactful as some other jobs
  • The portal abilities are pretty irrelevant and can be achieved easier and better through passives and equipment

The verdict:

Delight!

Dragoon.

The good:

  • Female models are great, male ones are silly
  • Easily recognisable class from JRPG fans, you’ll know what you’re getting
  • One of the best end-game classes
  • Access to dual wield super early though specialty
  • Access to lots of passives, with full force being the feature of many builds

The bad:

  • Female models are great, male ones are silly
  • Isn’t strong enough at the point of receival to justify coming so late
  • Nerfed heavily from the other two entries – really a shadow of their former selves
  • Takes a very long time to come online, and is outshined until very, very late
  • 2 is much faster paced game, which doesn’t suit the jump mechanic
  • BP as an expense isn’t offset until very late
  • Actives aren’t particularly a blessing to the eye

The verdict:

Disappointment..

Spiritmaster.

The good:

  • One of the best classes through the game, becoming even better after portals
  • Can be suited as a sub-job late game with the subjob specialty 2 passive, or Swordmaster specialty
  • Provides just about everything you need utility wise, passively
  • Something a bit unique in the genre, a passive DoT applicator which is beneficial
  • Fantastic specialties, with the former providing and anti-nuke built in, and the second making the class 200% better instantly

The bad:

  • Access to the asterisk is pretty late
  • It’s so insanely good, it discourages other utility class options

The verdict:

Delight!

Swordmaster.

The good:

  • Character models for the revamped Swordmaster are fantastic, especially Elvis
  • Lots of passives, that fit into a variety of builds
  • Amazing specialties, with the latter opening up so many options
  • Access to some of the best actives in the game – Ninefold being the key one
  • Stances mechanic is interesting, the choice between the two
  • Can be built into a huge DPS, or huge Tank, depending on passives

One of the best late game portal builds surrounds Swordmaster

The bad:

  • Can be expensive to gear
  • Outshines most melee DPS, discouraging creativity
  • Portal Boss killer Ninefold Full Damage Area of Affect DPS build takes some prep work

The verdict:

Delight!

Oracle.

The good:

  • Works well with redmage at acquisition
  • Provides reflect and pace utility
  • Character models are good not great on all heroes of light
  • Great specialty combination with redmage

The bad:

  • Requires portal abilities to really do damage
  • Builds all require a lot of very specific passives and equipment, very little creativity options
  • Requires in battle counter set up, with elemental countering foes
  • Time Mage theme is better in previous entries
  • Straight downgrade in models from previous entries

The verdict:

Disappointment..

Salvemaker.

The good:

  • Even easier to unlock than Gambler
  • Easily the best healer in the game combined with Phantom
  • Provides AoE guaranteed status inflicts with the right build
  • Combining items is fun and interesting
  • Lots of variety in the build potential
  • Works well with monk due to the empty handed option (phantom is almost always better)
  • Character models are really cool between each hero of light

The bad:

The quest to unlock is super lame

Outshines all other healers to the point of ridiculousness, discouraging creativity

The verdict:

Delight!

Arcanist.

The good:

  • Character models are absolutely hilarious and fit perfectly with the theme
  • One of the most fun classes to play
  • Capable of some insane magic numbers, with the casters being limited and less potent than their physical counterparts for the most part
  • Provides the necessary magic amp, for builds
  • Other passive is quite good on thirsty builds
  • Portal skills feel very satisfying
  • Some of the best animations for skills in the game
  • Specialties are fun and help creativity

The bad:

  • Does require to some set up to be effective
  • Needs portal abilities to achieve results
  • Requires the specific mage damage passives and equipment

The verdict:

Delight!

Bastion.

The good:

  • Character models are really great, especially Gloria’s
  • Works well as a BP battery
  • Can help with bosses if you’ve not grinded enough
  • Provides critical flow, which is necessary for a lot of late game builds, particularly Ranger and mages

The bad:

  • Another tank class
  • Adds little besides anti boss nuke, which is irrelevant late anyway
  • Actives are meh
  • Specialties are meh
  • Not as interesting or fun as the other potential tank asterisks
  • Very little relevance in the late game
  • Portal additions are super meh
  • Comes late, and is outshined by classes gained earlier

The verdict:

Disappointment..

Phantom.

The good:

  • Great concept in splitting the thief from assassin
  • Extremely potent actives, mixed with personal buffs
  • Super satisfying gameplay
  • Additional turn passives and actives are an interesting gimmick
  • Results Guaranteed is one of the best specialties, and enables so many builds (Salvemaker, Ranger, etc, etc)
  • Works well as either a subjob with the passives that enable specialties, or a main job DPS with utility
  • Leveling provides access to lots of passives, which feature in a variety of builds
  • Has a BP gainer with dream
  • Nukes do an insane amount with little set-up
  • Ethereal Edge is an insane buff, all the portal skills are great

The bad:

  • Character models from the waist down are pretty corny
  • Comes quite late, for how much fun is to be had

The verdict:

Delight!

Hellblade.

The good:

  • Only class with access to every element
  • Easily the best late-game class, for portals, secret boss, everything
  • Can hit the hard damage cap easily
  • Requires only a few components to be insanely strong
  • Ultima blade is the best active
  • Provides access to surpassing power and last resort, the former being a must in damage builds
  • All the heroes of light look really good as Hellblades
  • Sacrifice HP for DoT/Nukes is really fun and different for the series
  • Portal abilities look cool, and are nuts damage wise
  • The ultima-blade wombo combo makes end game a breeze, enabling super-easy mode

The bad:

  • Comes very late, for how fun it is
  • Ultima-Blade combo takes the challenge away completely
  • Specialty 2 needs managing
  • There is a clear best build for Hellblades, discouraging creativity

The verdict:

Delight!

Bravebearer.

The good:

  • Provides access to Across the Board – which enables a lot of late game builds
  • Provides access to Obliterate – to make farming much quicker
  • Rest of the passives are great, and work well on a lot of builds with the sword of light
  • A fantastic BP battery in the support role
  • Specialties are insanely good, both in damage or BP battery role

The bad:

  • Actives are pretty underwhelming
  • Utility it provides comes when all the challenge is gone
  • Works best as a BP battery, which isn’t terribly engaging gameplay
  • Not the worst character models, but still pretty bad
  • The class isn’t particularly fun as a main job and works better as a provider or passives and specialties
  • Being the final asterisk, and the supposedly secret, the job itself is pretty meh both in appearance and capability
  • Is the last available job but and unlocks some of the most fun builds with across the board – a watered down version of this skill early would be welcome

The verdict:

Disappointment..

Credits

ProgramFounding Writers
AuthorLuke Cowling
PublisherMGN
YouTuberMeloo
GameBravely Default II

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