Bravely Default II, the successor to the critically acclaimed 3DS RPG, throws players into a vibrant world filled with strategic turn-based combat. One of the game’s defining features is its robust job system, allowing you to customize your party members with a diverse array of skills and abilities.
This comprehensive guide explores all the jobs available in Bravely Default II, highlighting their strengths, weaknesses, and how to unlock them.
The Bravebearer: Leading the Charge
The Bravebearer serves as the default job for your main protagonists, Seth and Gloria. It’s a well-rounded class that focuses on physical attacks and basic healing. Here’s a breakdown of the Bravebearer’s key features:
Strengths: Good physical damage output, access to basic healing spells, ability to use any weapon type (albeit with varying proficiency).
Weaknesses: Lacks specialization, limited support options compared to dedicated magic or healing classes.
Unlock: Automatically available for Seth and Gloria at the beginning of the game.
While the Bravebearer might seem basic, it serves as a solid foundation for mastering other jobs. Its versatility allows you to experiment with different weapon types and abilities as you progress through the game.
Classic Combat Roles: Mastering the Fundamentals
Bravely Default II offers several familiar job roles that form the core of any RPG party:
Vanguard: The quintessential tank, excelling in defense and drawing enemy attacks. They also possess some offensive capabilities and elemental resistances.
Unlock: Defeat the Gigantes boss in the Ruins of Dundrasil.
Monk: A nimble and powerful physical attacker with high critical hit chance and self-buffing abilities. They fight barehanded or with knuckles.
Unlock: Defeat the Biped boss in the Sea of Trees.
White Mage: The dedicated healer, utilizing powerful healing spells and buffs to keep your party healthy.
Unlock: Defeat the Ahriman boss in the Crystalsand.
Black Mage: The master of offensive magic, dealing heavy elemental damage to single or multiple enemies.
Unlock: Defeat the Efreet boss in the Flamesgrace.
These core jobs provide a solid foundation for building your party composition. Experiment with their skillsets and find a combination that suits your playstyle.
Beyond the Basics: Unlocking Advanced Jobs
Bravely Default II takes things a step further with unique and specialized jobs that unlock hidden depths in your party’s capabilities:
Beastmaster: Tame and command monsters to fight alongside you, offering strategic monster abilities and stat boosts.
Unlock: Complete the side quest “A Hunter’s Duty” in Halcyonia.
Thief: A master of agility and stealing, dealing high single-target damage and pilfering valuable items from enemies.
Unlock: Complete the side quest “The Phantom Thief” in Savalon.
Gambler: A high-risk, high-reward class that utilizes dice rolls to unleash powerful attacks or support effects.
Unlock: Clear the optional dungeon “The Isle of Doubt” in the Hallowed Ground.
Swordmaster: An offensive powerhouse specializing in fast, multi-hit sword attacks.
Unlock: Defeat the Famfrit boss in the Ruins of Dundrasil (requires the Vanguard job).
These advanced jobs require a bit more effort to unlock, but their unique abilities can significantly enhance your party’s capabilities. Consider incorporating them into your team composition based on the enemies you face and the challenges you encounter.
Important Note: This article covers the majority of the base game’s jobs. Limited-time downloadable content (DLC) or future updates might introduce additional jobs, so keep an eye out for official announcements.
Synergy is Key: Mastering Job Combinations
One of the most exciting aspects of Bravely Default II’s job system is the ability to combine them. Each character can equip a main job and a sub job, allowing you to create customized character builds with diverse skillsets. Here’s how mastering job combinations elevates your gameplay:
Unlocking New Abilities: Subjobs grant access to specific passive and active abilities that can be used even when the sub job is not set as the main job. This allows you to create hybrid characters with a wider range of skills.
Specialization or Versatility: You can specialize your characters by equipping synergistic sub jobs that complement their main job’s strengths. Alternatively, you can equip contrasting sub jobs for a more versatile character.
Experimentation and Strategy: The possibilities for job combinations are vast, encouraging experimentation and strategic thinking. For example, a Black Mage with a White Mage sub job gains access to healing spells, creating a magic-wielding character who can also support the party. The reverse is also true, with a White Mage utilizing Black Mage sub job abilities for additional offensive options.
Here are some additional tips for mastering job combinations:
Focus on Job Level Mastery: As you use a particular job, you’ll unlock passive and active abilities specific to that job. Mastering a job unlocks all its abilities, making it a valuable source of skills even when used as a sub job.
Consider Synergy: Some job combinations offer natural synergy. For example, a Vanguard with a Monk sub job becomes a near-invincible tank with increased physical damage output. Explore different combinations and see what works best for your party composition and playstyle.
Don’t Be Afraid to Switch: Job combinations are not permanent. Experiment freely and switch jobs based on the situation you face. A boss fight requiring heavy magic damage might call for a different combination than exploring a dungeon filled with weaker enemies.
By mastering the job system and exploring the possibilities of job combinations, you can transform your party into a force to be reckoned with in the world of Bravely Default II.
Conquering Asterisks: A Final Word
Bravely Default II’s job system offers immense depth and strategic customization. From the core combat roles to the advanced and specialized jobs, the options available allow you to tailor your party to any challenge you encounter. Experiment, unlock new abilities, and master job combinations to create a party that reflects your strategic prowess and conquer the enemies that stand in your way. So, grab your Asterisks (the crystals representing job mastery), unleash your inner strategist, and embark on your grand adventure in the captivating world of Bravely Default II!
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