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Hilariously underpowered RPG party members.
- Thread starter Dark_castle
- Start date
KittenMaster
Member
What spells Cannock got that Moonbrooke didn't were pretty useful at times depending on the encounter if I remember correctly though. Once he gets Defeat he is able to kill most random encounters until you start seeing enemies in the last couple of areas.
SaberVulcan
Member
+
= worthless
Dice
Pokémon Parentage Conspiracy Theorist
I honestly had no idea he was supposed to be good/would have defenders. I played FFIX once when it came out and didn't bother talking about it much since because it was late PS1 and so much other stuff was coming out at the time. I just moved on.
So he's so underpowered you need to get something special to give him a move worth a shit, but it's only actually worth a shit if you waste every single one of his turns throughout the entire game to fix him, then he is strong.
I think I'm going to stand by my original belief that he sucks.
Sentinels were actually pretty great in ME1, but this thread is about underpowered.
Keldorn + Carsomyr + boots of speed or whatever = MvP NPC, fullstop.
I had him solo the black dragon, because it was easier to do so.
Edit:
He also soloed the litch.
Robert at Zeboyd Games
Banned
Give him the Falcon Sword and he's a good physical attacker who also gets some decent spells. Definitely not underpowered.
Thorwaldsson
Member
This is a thread made for Chester, poor guy is
only in the game for the first hour, then he is stuck in the past for the entire game only to rejoin your party after 20 hours...at the same level as when you left him.
+
= worthless
They're the best mage killers and their mobility is a godsend in mountainous terrains.
SaberVulcan
Member
I have never had a Pegasus rider survive through an entire game on anything higher than normal difficulty, in any FE game. The enemy will dive bomb your pegasus riders no matter where they are, and usually can 1 shot them.
Mazzy isn't great but she can be made to work. Cernd kinds sucks because his transformation is bugged (maybe they fixed in Enhanced Edition?). And yea Keldorn is top tier.
PepsimanVsJoe
Member
Ehh... I always had Zidane steal.
Not just because of thievery either. A lot of useful equipment can be stolen. Sometimes you end up with stuff that normally wouldn't be available for several hours.
But that's just me. I'd rather steal a few thousand times than go frog hunting 10 times.
See how many remember this one.
I never take Amy out of my party once I get her in Phantasy Star II. Best healer in the game by far.
Naw, meng! She's an absolute beast in the last levels. You give her the Yamato belt and she heals the hell out of your mechs while never dying.
Morrigan Stark
Arrogant Smirk
This. On what planet are two of the strongest party members "hilariously underpowered"? Ridiculous to name these two alongside of Jogurt, Edward, Kiwi, etc.
Yeah, they're really frail at first, but they get really good later on from my experience since they tend to have great speed growth rates. Marcia in PoR hard mode and Florina in Hector hard mode were two of my MVPs, they were great with a killer lance!
Laevateinn
Member
royox
Member
Well, since no one's mentioned it yet...
I fucking hate her.
Her voice, her story, her EVERYTHING.
But she is the god damn healer of the game and you need her in every boss battle.
ChazAshley
CharAznable's second cousin
See how many remember this one.
Incorrect! If you gave her two of those acid guns she could do a consistent amount of damage. Plus her healing spells like Nasar were ridiculous, especially after casting Megid(o)
Poor guy was so useless.
While we are at it:
Hahn Mahlay from the Genesis masterpiece Phantasy Star 4
Also incorrect! Hahn had a decent amount of skills that hardly made him worthless. He wasn't a Chaz or a Rune by any means, but I would take him over Gryz. Love him story wise, but probably had the worst end game out of the 5 you could choose.
DealWithIt
Member
Also incorrect! Hahn had a decent amount of skills that hardly made him worthless. He wasn't a Chaz or a Rune by any means, but I would take him over Gryz. Love him story wise, but probably had the worst end game out of the 5 you could choose.
His first appearance is low damage and very squishy with yawn worthy techs. For late game, he is better than Gryz.
I'm playing as a monk and the game is very easy. I originally started on Normal but found the game to be a piece of cake so I switched to Hard in Act II and never noticed any difference in difficulty, so then I switched to Expert in Act III and still no difference. I'm now playing on Master in Act V and the game is still a piece of cake.
FrontalMonk
Banned
Did someone say hilariously underpowered?
No, he should be one of your heavy hitters through out the game. My Zidane even without Thievery dealt more damage than everyone, but Steiner. I don't know what you were doing wrong (Amarant can compete if you want to waste gil throwing weapons).
Once you get the Tower (memoria) he should be hitting over 6k (well I tend to over level my entire party, but everyone was the same level. Also damage capss at 9999 and the only multi-hitter is Steiners Charge and that needs prep) with regular attacks, unless your Zidane is under leveled compared to everyone else (do you just leave him dead?).
Basically Pre-end game its Quina (Limit Glove) > Vivi (his power fluctuates throughout the game)/Steiner > Zidane >= Freya >= Amarant (rise a rank if you throw the good stuff every turn) > Garnet (mother fuckin ARK swag) > Eiko.
End game (which is what you mentioned in your first post. Zidane does not do 1/10 of anyone at endgame since everyone should be doing at or near 9999. comes down to stats, speed, and skill efficency) its Steiner (Excal2 + Charge... have mercy) > Freya (bit more utility in her dragon arts imo) >= Zidane >= Quina (blue magic is awesome if you eat enough things)... hmm barring summoners its really Steiner >>>> everyone else.
He's fucking batman. with prep everyone else will only deal 1/4 the damage he can dish out (depends on how you look at charge).
Also the guy saying Quistis sucks.... what!? With quick limit trick (mash dat triangle) Shock Wave Pulsar will wreck everything except for Ultima and Omega. You can get SWP in disc 1 post siren with card mod (Quetzalcoatl). Just battle Zells mom for a few hours for the 100 tri-face cards (or you can just get disc 1 lion heart for super easy god mode).
Also Selphie is the godess of cheese mode (if you use the disc eject trick)
Shir, unless specifically stealing.
Hugh was meant to be strong in the beginning, useless mid-game, and strong again, end-game. But thanks to Kain's tech wrecking skills working on the fauna of Dezoris, this was not the case. He is still a far better "party member" than Shir, though.
KittenMaster
Member
Hahn filled some gaps for when you still had few party members by being a basic healer and spellcaster for the time you have him. Far from useless since he served his purpose just fine.
His sphere grid is the worst, but his sphere grid is not why he is useful. Turns out Explosion Blue Magic is mandatory for speedruns.
If anyone I would say Shir, you get her too late to be worth leveling her up beyond getting the item that lets you save anywhere. Hugh has his uses while all you are fighting are bio-monsters, his techs can decimate them.
DealWithIt
Member
Hahn the walking monomate. He was also good for giving you money for quests you'd do anyway.
Laevateinn
Member
That's true but you can get through those parts pretty well without him and generate experience for characters that are useful throughout the game. I'm not a fan of Kain or Hugh since they're too specialized. You're probably right about Shir. I don't think I've ever used her in battle but she's incredibly useful for generating the visiphone, equipment and items. There's no way I could beat the game without her. I think the next time I play, I'll try to endgame with Shir, Hugh and Amy.
Just take it with you.
Member
Final Fantasy Tactics - Meliadoul
On her own, she's good, but why bother when you getat pretty much the same time and is better in every single way?
This. The worst part is her special abilities make her near useless against monsters in the original game.
Ouch. That will be a rough party to run with. You should record it as an LP, I am sure it would generate some interest.
fredrancour
Member
Yeah. The bugs got consumed by their role as early-game fodder, for the most part.
Sarah is the best healer and support mage in the game. She was in all three of my endgame parties (Galaxy, Universe, Chaos). If you're picking from that game, it's Lymle. Good early, but once Myuria comes along she's immediately outclassed.Well, since no one's mentioned it yet...
Yeah, but BB does get super OP at that endgame point. Prior to that point, he is the least expensive character to have in the group to maintain allowing you to focus on the money drains like Fighter, RDM, WHM, or BLM. Thief, is just hot garbage all around even when evolved to ninja. Basically anything the ninja could do, you were better served by having RDM instead. I mean, why run when you had staying power for days and days? Expensive as hell though to keep current throughout the game...
Yep, even if you were to go meta with her and set her up to take advantage of her brave score, Malak was a better choice in that regard always and Malak is well... Malak. The only thing she had going for her was being female and the OP unique female equipment you could scavenge together.
Huw_Dawson
Member
Grandia needs some rep:
Discussion of her character's role and ending below:
Props to Milda for being rubbish, too.
Discussion of her character's role and ending below:
The fact that Farewell to Sue is both the best song in the OST, and the scene itself is probably the best scene on the first disc, is irrelevent given the fact that she sucks. Even worse, she's a noob trap - you invest mana eggs in her, and you lose out on giving them to other party members - particularly Justin - early on. That means you're committing yourself to either not have enough mana eggs to max out your final cast's magical ability (in your first playthrough) or, even if you find all the mana eggs you need to give all magic types to everyone, she's effectively robbing Justin and Feena of magic XP. Granted, that's mitigated somewhat by getting her XP back as books at the end of Disc 1.
She is salvaged by two facts: One, you don't get to pick and choose your party members in Grandia, so she is at least a warm body to take hits and deal limited damage. Secondly, as above, she really is a great side character and it is really sad when she leaves. At least plot-wise.
She is salvaged by two facts: One, you don't get to pick and choose your party members in Grandia, so she is at least a warm body to take hits and deal limited damage. Secondly, as above, she really is a great side character and it is really sad when she leaves. At least plot-wise.
Props to Milda for being rubbish, too.
Boss Doggie
all my loli wolf companions are so moe
Isn't Amarant (FFIX) shit?
Like, his ability is pretty much useless and you have better damage dealers at the point where he joins you.
wait what
Feebas and Magikarp can't be shit when their lines all lead to really good mons (powerhouse Gyarados and supertank Milotic). And the second post doesn't even make sense since at least Feebas can learn good moves unlike Magikarp.
You know who the true weakest Pokemon is?
wait what
Sophia being level 1 is a requirement to get the "defeat Luther with a level 1 party" trophy.
Secondly, SO3 is the only SO where magic is actually useful and able to keep up (most of the time) with physical attacks, primarily because you can put them as special moves. In this case, Sophia can stunlock enemies repeatedly with Thunder Flare -> Thunder Flare chains or even Explosion -> Explosion chains. Also, because of MP death they can pretty much tank attacks via "convert damage". While not as broken as Peppita and Maria, Sophia can still ravage the battlefield.
Like, his ability is pretty much useless and you have better damage dealers at the point where he joins you.
Shoutouts to my main man Feebas. Fools be fixated on Magikarp, but you the real shit.
wait what
Feebas and Magikarp can't be shit when their lines all lead to really good mons (powerhouse Gyarados and supertank Milotic). And the second post doesn't even make sense since at least Feebas can learn good moves unlike Magikarp.
You know who the true weakest Pokemon is?
wait what
Sophia being level 1 is a requirement to get the "defeat Luther with a level 1 party" trophy.
Secondly, SO3 is the only SO where magic is actually useful and able to keep up (most of the time) with physical attacks, primarily because you can put them as special moves. In this case, Sophia can stunlock enemies repeatedly with Thunder Flare -> Thunder Flare chains or even Explosion -> Explosion chains. Also, because of MP death they can pretty much tank attacks via "convert damage". While not as broken as Peppita and Maria, Sophia can still ravage the battlefield.
Yeah, I love threads like this. I just wish everyone would post the character and game name with their pictures.
decoyplatypus
Member
Pegasus knights are not underpowered. You have to baby them at first, but the same could be said of myrmidons, and pegasus knights become far more useful than the latter due to their movement range and ability to use both swords and lances. I only deprive myself of a pegasus knight if I'm trying to make life more difficult.
Diablohead
Member
but this gangster knew how to make huge money in photos early game, based.
Coinspinner
Member
Marle in Chrono Trigger. Being able to heal the entire party without wasting another character's turn i just too good, and Haste Helms beat having to cast it. There was no reason for her offense to be as bad as it was. She's not useless, just under-powered compare to everyone else though I never found Lucca a lot better either. Also, you get
after the one dungeon where he would have really shone...
Malak in FFT, as so many have noted.
Noel, in Star Ocean 2. Being able to pull off a very difficult spell combo for DEATHMURDER damage with Leon doesn't count. His Earth spells don't affect many enemies and he doesn't have the AI to be a healer. He joins after mages are basically obsolete. All the mages save Rena become just-about useless after reaching Nede, really.
In Valkyrie Profile, Janus, Llewelyn, Gray and Jayle. Try as I might I could not make them even mediocre. Then again I just cheese the game with ether scepters.
The Berserker job, in FFV. The slowest class in the game, you can't choose who they attack, and their damage is largely random and not incredible either.
Magus
Malak in FFT, as so many have noted.
Noel, in Star Ocean 2. Being able to pull off a very difficult spell combo for DEATHMURDER damage with Leon doesn't count. His Earth spells don't affect many enemies and he doesn't have the AI to be a healer. He joins after mages are basically obsolete. All the mages save Rena become just-about useless after reaching Nede, really.
In Valkyrie Profile, Janus, Llewelyn, Gray and Jayle. Try as I might I could not make them even mediocre. Then again I just cheese the game with ether scepters.
The Berserker job, in FFV. The slowest class in the game, you can't choose who they attack, and their damage is largely random and not incredible either.
Bug grass, still gonna get wrecked due to 4x weakness to blizzardIsn't Parasect bug/poison? Poison is weak to psychic. Everything is part poison.
Isn't Parasect bug/poison? Poison is weak to psychic. Everything is part poison.
Bug and grass.
Pinsir was the only pure Bug type, but he learned no Bug moves (and Gen 1 had no bug TMs).
I also tried a Jolteon with Pin Missile, but it was too weak.
GameFreaks must have wanted Psychic to be OP. Not only was the only thing strong against it (bug) not viable, but it -- as you pointed out -- was strong against so much.
Mewtwos. Mewtwos everywhere.
I didn't play much after Gen 1 to know if bug types got any better.
Starwolf_UK
Member
To name a few unconventional ones. Beserker in Final Fantasy V. Anyone who has done the Job fiesta knows that these guys can be a pain initially by auto attacking bosses who counter hard (Liquid Flame, Sandworm) or hitting the wrong targets in multi-target. Thankfully you're not likely to have more than two of these guys. However, they are good at doing damage, especially if you can make them use weapons more accurate than Axes. I guess the Monk in Final Fantasy V is a more appropiate answer although is more of a power falls off the cliff after the first third of the game and needs a rare item (Kaiser Knuckles) which it is found in one chest and a rare drop from an enemy and/or level grinding to get that power back. Annoying the Kaiser Knuckles take up the accessory slot so no Hermes sandles for them.
One I am more sure about is Hitmonchan in Pokemon Gen I. Their level up move list is garbage. For a fighting Pokemon the only STAB move it gets is counter...which doesn't rely on attacking at all. "But it can learn the elemental punches" Oh wow and do like 7 damage with a super effective hit as its special attack (and defence) is 35 (physical special split for moves didn't happen until Gen IV). In fact the only STAB move its gets is Submission via a TM...
Consider also you choose between Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee (if you beat the fighting dojo) and Lee is more powerful, faster and gets actual fighting type moves (base HP of 50 means neither of them have any serious bulk) and can also get counter and submission via TMs (though why would you want to use an attack which is weaker than and has less accuracy than high jump kick)
In the time I pondered on that I noticed Gen I bug types have been mentioned who all suffer from similar movepool problems than Hitmonchan (wasn't only attacking bug move the super weak pin missile). I'm sticking with Hitmonchan as he has a direct comparison.
One I am more sure about is Hitmonchan in Pokemon Gen I. Their level up move list is garbage. For a fighting Pokemon the only STAB move it gets is counter...which doesn't rely on attacking at all. "But it can learn the elemental punches" Oh wow and do like 7 damage with a super effective hit as its special attack (and defence) is 35 (physical special split for moves didn't happen until Gen IV). In fact the only STAB move its gets is Submission via a TM...
Consider also you choose between Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee (if you beat the fighting dojo) and Lee is more powerful, faster and gets actual fighting type moves (base HP of 50 means neither of them have any serious bulk) and can also get counter and submission via TMs (though why would you want to use an attack which is weaker than and has less accuracy than high jump kick)
In the time I pondered on that I noticed Gen I bug types have been mentioned who all suffer from similar movepool problems than Hitmonchan (wasn't only attacking bug move the super weak pin missile). I'm sticking with Hitmonchan as he has a direct comparison.
Boss Doggie
all my loli wolf companions are so moe
to name a few
powerful bug mons that can go toe-to-toe with other powerful mons
we also got a bug legendary
this "early bug" Pokemon can carry you to the end now rather than just be a crutch
Also, Venomoth is very useful now.
Bug also got plenty of powerful moves now, like Megahorn, Bug Buzz, Signal Beam, and X-Scissor.
Nowadays it's Psychic type that is usually seen the "crappy" type due to the crappy type match.
Winterfang
Banned
to name a few
powerful bug mons that can go toe-to-toe with other powerful mons
we also got a bug legendary
this "early bug" Pokemon can carry you to the end now rather than just be a crutch
Also, Venomoth is very useful now.
Bug also got plenty of powerful moves now, like Megahorn, Bug Buzz, Signal Beam, and X-Scissor.
0/10 post
Where the goat?
Boss Doggie
all my loli wolf companions are so moe
0/10 post
Where the goat?
To be fair, Pinsir is shit until you mega-evolve it, and I'm mostly going for non-mega
Robert at Zeboyd Games
Banned
All of the immortal characters (of which Sarah is 1 of 4) end up overpowered compared to the non-immortals.