I'm very new starting this game. Now between Balthezaar or w/e his name is with the gun and Fran which one is a better spellcaster/healer?

I'm not sure if either one is necessarily great (or better) at spell-casting, but I do know that Balthier is the better warrior, so it would be economical to use him to the best of his ability (as an attacker in the early stage of the game), and to delegate magic to Fran.

It's really a toss up between Ashe and Penelo. Both end (at level 99) with 69 base Magick Power, but Ashe's Magick grows faster than Penelo's.

They have the same Speed, but Penelo has a higher Vitality, which makes her a better choice if you are going to use her as a pure healer. Ashe has higher Strength, what makes her more suitable for a hybrid. Lastly, their speed is the same too.

It's really a toss up between Ashe and Penelo. Both end (at level 99) with 69 base Magick Power, but Ashe's Magick grows faster than Penelo's.

They have the same Speed, but Penelo has a higher Vitality, which makes her a better choice if you are going to use her as a pure healer. Ashe has higher Strength, what makes her more suitable for a hybrid. Lastly, their speed is the same too.

Penelo has higher MP for the majority of the game, as well.

But, out of Balthier and Fran, definitely use Fran. Balthier is the better attacker, and is the worst Magick user in the game - while Fran may not be the best spellcaster, she's certainly better than him.

MP depends a lot on the random factor. I'd pick Ashe as the healer, personally, since her Magick Power is higher for the vast majority of the game. At Lv. 99 everyone will probably have every ability on the License Board anyway.

Fran's good as a support character. Her MP is usually good, but her Magick Power not so much. If you have her use magicks that don't rely on Magick Power, like status spells and Balance, she can be pretty effective.

MP depends a lot on the random factor. I'd pick Ashe as the healer, personally, since her Magick Power is higher for the vast majority of the game. At Lv. 99 everyone will probably have every ability on the License Board anyway.

Fran's good as a support character. Her MP is usually good, but her Magick Power not so much. If you have her use magicks that don't rely on Magick Power, like status spells and Balance, she can be pretty effective.


I am agreeing with Ceidwad on this one. I picked Ashe aswell. I made Fran a normal attack character. With quite a few Quickenings aswell.

<_<

>_>

But still, Ashe has better MP. Yes her magick power isn't that good but..she is pretty effective otherwise. (In otherwords; LIKEWISE!)

Use Fran out of those two....but personally I prefer to use Penelo for magic attributes

MP isn't much of an issue if you have all the Licenses for abilities that help you regenrate your MP.

MP isn't much of an issue if you have all the Licenses for abilities that help you regenrate your MP.

Granted, but you won't get all of those until fairly late on. I was answering the question on the basis that the healer would need to be the best one throughout the game.

In any case, MP being relevant or not, I'd still pick Ashe.

Fran kicks everyone else's ass as healer when leveled up and equiped properly, and with Hastega cast on her :]

Fran is a better fighter than Penelo. Using Fran as a healer means that you essentially "lose" the extra damage points that she could do over Penelo as an attacker. Plus you also "lose" Penelo's advantage in MP and spellcasting. (Economics lesson: that's an example of what's called "comparative advantage.")

Every character should learn healing magicks.

Since this game has no classes or skill limitations I just make everyone learn whatever they can. Sometimes in the middle of battles too.

Fran is better for a support character and penelo or ashe should be spellcasters ideally.

the way i do it is, have every character learn the white magics, but try to keep Ashe as a healer because she seems to naturally have the highest magic stat.
Penelo is also a good choice as she seems to be little bit quicker than the others, obviously more so when equipped with a dagger.

Ashe & Penelo played hearlers for me. Fran kicked some major ass for my team, so I just kept her in the distance, arrowing anything in sight.

they all heal b/c stuff

Between those two I'd make Fran the healer. However Penelo or Ashe would make a much better healer than Fran. Penelo especially. She has great 'magick' stats.