Welcome to the Type-0 Breakdown. Over the next couple of months, I’ll be giving a rough breakdown on the characters and other aspects of Square Enix’s upcoming release, Final Fantasy Type-0. While these won’t be in-depth guides that will tell you how to gear or exploit the game, they will be brief introductions to the characters, as well as character stat rankings. I’ll be telling you what’s going to be good for beginners, a challenge for advanced players, and which character personality might drive you nutty. All of it will be spoiler-free, so fear not. This will just be a quick glance to get you geared up and pumped to play!
Please note that there is the possibility that abilities or other small changes may be made in the translation of the game. The information in the guide is based upon the existing Japanese terms and controls used. Very little is expected to change in the released game.
Last time, we took the jump and checked out Nine, the Dragoon. This time, we’ll be unsheathing information about Jack, the Samurai.
Jack is the class clown of Type-0, and is rarely seen without a smile. Taking it upon him to liven spirits when a situation leaves his classmates down in the dumps, he’ll often pipe up with a joke or words of encouragement to get a smile or laugh out of his friends. His swordmanship, however, unveils a more stoic side. Seven is the only member of his class to understand that he is ‘always smiling on the outside, but never on the inside’.
Jack’s weapon of choice is a katana, and because of that, he maintains the highest Strength in the group. Now, before you immediately jump on the Jack bandwagon, let me warn you that his gameplay isn’t without downsides. Remember one of Nine’s downsides, that slow striking and movement? Well, Jack is even slower. Not only that, but Jack is also within the lower half of the class for HP, and the bottom three for MP.
In order to move normally, players have to sheathe his weapon. Otherwise, you’ll have to rely on dodges and sidesteps to move about the field. I’m sure you know exactly what I’m about to say, but if you play Jack, you have to focus on timing. However, with that high strength, Jack will make quick work of most enemies, so long as you don’t get hit in the process. Another downside is that Jack has the slowest learning rate of abilities; they can only be learned one at a time. It’ll take time to pull out Jack’s fullest potential.
Much like Nine, be prepared to dodge. Unlike Nine, be prepared to decimate everything with Jack’s high Strength.
Let’s take a stab at Jack’s abilities:
- One Long Katana – Jack receives a critical chance boost if striking from behind.
- Concentration – Jack powers up his normal attack. Only lasts for one attack.
- Lightning Speed – Jack strikes a powerful, five-hit combo.
- Deliver – Jack moves swiftly to an enemy targeted with a Kill Sight and takes them out.
- Flash Breakthrough – Jack strikes his enemy but also lowers the enemy’s Defense.
- Transient Red Snowstorm – Jack sacrifices his health, lowering him to 1 HP, in order to damage all enemies within his radius. While the animation plays out, Jack is immune to all damage.
For the most part, Jack’s stats are fairly average or lackluster. His shining prize is that high Strength.
Jack’s stats are ranked as the following among all the characters:
- HP – 9th
- MP – 12th
- Strength – 1st
- Defense – 11th
- Flame Magic – 5th
- Cold Magic – 14th
- Lightning Magic – 8th
- Defense Magic – 11th
Overall, Jack may be tricky for newer players, but at the same time, his high Strength will probably make short work out of most opponents. Be prepared to be patient when leveling Jack, as he does have the slowest learning rate among his classmates. His abilities are all fairly straight-forward, making him accessible for those who got a headache after looking at more complicated characters like Seven.
Don’t fold yet, because we might find ourselves with a full house next time when we look at Queen, the Generalist.
What else would you like to see me cover before the game’s release on March 17th (NA), March 19th (Japan re-release and Australia), and March 20th (Europe)? Comment down below and tell me what you would like to see covered after I tackle the characters!
Checking out the Type-0 Breakdown for the first time? Here’s a list of everything you’ve missed!
- Ace, the Gambler
- Deuce, the Bard
- Trey, the Archer
- Cater, the Gunmage
- Cinque, the Tank
- Sice, the Reaper
- Seven, the Ravager
- Eight, the Monk
- Nine, the Dragoon
Kayla Swenson is an aspiring author and former DJ from Seattle, WA that procrastinates far too much with video games to get a book out. When she’s not gaming until carpal tunnel sets in, she’s working on dreams of being a voice actor as well as a published writer. Fond of RPGs, she will happily disappear into the void to tackle whatever bad voice acting awaits. Contact her at the email above, or on all major systems/networks as Beltravi.
What's Your Tag? 