Best Stats To Raise With Espers In Final Fantasy 6 Pixel Remaster

You can get through Final Fantasy 6 Pixel Remaster without taking advantage of bonus stat growth opportunities through Espers, but doing so means tossing aside the chance to turn your favorite characters into the superheroes they were born to be.

Related:Final Fantasy 6 Pixel Remaster: How To Get Ragnarok

By equipping Espers, characters will gain boosts to a given stat whenever they level up. The particular stat, as well as the size of its boost, is determined by the identity of the equipped Esper. Some are surely handier than others, and generally speaking, those will become available later in the game as a result.

Updated on August 6, 2023 by Quinton O’Connor: We’ve added a new section explaining the best stats to consider for each character during the level-up process!

A Note On The Console Versions Of FF6 Pixel Remaster

While we advise against obsessing over this system to the point of no longer having fun, we would be remiss not to note that in the Switch and PS4 editions of Final Fantasy 6 Pixel Remaster, players can crank their EXP gain after battles up to two or even four times the normal, and we strongly suggest refraining from taking advantage of this until you’ve gotten your first batch of Espers.

You may end up incredibly overleveled, yes, but you’ll also have skipped many opportunities for Esper-related stat growth boosts. Better to level in moderation early on. Again, you don’t need to obsess over every detail in stat growth, but it can make a sizably negative difference if you let all your grinding happen prior to being able to tap into this system.

Recently, Square Enix has confirmed that the console versions’ perks, including the EXP adjustment system, will be coming to PC and mobile… eventually. We’ll update this when it happens!

The Best Espers For Every Character’s Stat Growth

Given his high physical stats and naturally low Magic, it may seem strange that we link Sabin to Magic-boosting Espers. However, his Blitz abilities mostly inflict magic-based damage, which means building a properly amped Sabin Figaro means defying visual expectations.

If a character is excluded entirely, don’t take that to mean they won’t benefit from Esper-equipped stat growth. Rather, their stats don’t stand out especially high in any specific category. Setzer’s a good example of this. Gogo’s stats, on the other hand, are all-around poor (his Mimic ability makes up for this to an extent) so do what you will with that guy.

«HP +10 Percent» and so forth does not mean the character’s max HP will rise 10 percent per level. What it does mean is that their ordinary HP gain at that level will be upped to 110 percent and so forth. This can still add up quite nicely over time.

Each Character’s Best Stats To Level

General deductions on the most important stats for each character can be made with the table in the previous section, but we figured it’d be easier to have it all spelled out separately. Plus, this affords us the opportunity to explain why these stats are important!

• Terra: Magic and MP boosts. Terra has somewhat respectable physical offensive capabilities as well, but you’ll want to further accentuate her magical side overall.
• Celes: Magic, Strength, and MP boosts. Celes’ physical stuff isn’t much better than Terra’s, which is to say it’s fair, but between the two excellent sword-wielders, Celes is the savvier choice for raised strength. Don’t neglect her magic!
• Locke: Strength and Speed. Locke’s got a couple of weapons that help him stick out in a packed crowd later in the game, which is much to his benefit, as he’s otherwise a bit lacking. Complement strength with doubling down on his affinity for swiftness.
• Edgar: Strength, Stamina, and HP boosts. In the World of Balance, Edgar’s Tools make him top-tier. In the World of Ruin, he might work better as a tanky dragoon. High HP and stamina’s resistance to negative status effects keeps Edgar hardy.
• Sabin: Magic, Strength, and Stamina – preferably in that order. Many of Sabin’s Blitzes benefit from the magic uptick. By endgame, you’ll end up attacking with your weapon more frequently, so keep strength going, too.
• Cyan: Strength and Stamina. Cyan’s better off in Pixel Remaster than earlier versions of FF6, as his Bushido command is no longer its own worst enemy. Hale, hardy, and strong with a sword.
• Shadow: Speed. Shadow’s predisposed toward being the fastest character, so there’s no sense swimming upriver here. Choose between strength and magic thereafter.
• Relm: Magic and MP boosts. Relm has the highest natural magical affinity in the game, and unlike Terra and Celes, she’s awful as a physical attacker.
• Gau: Strength, Speed, and HP boosts. Gau’s a powerhouse when properly trained. Crank his strength and speed up even higher, and make up for his low defense with more HP.
• Mog: Magic and MP boosts. Mog’s ultimate weapon, Gungnir, positions him as a highly capable dragoon; but with incredible magic defense and nearly as lofty defense, plus very solid magic, this moogle should emphasize spellpower.
• Strago: Magic and HP boosts. Strago is a hard guy to recommend. His magic is high, but not as high as any of the women’s, and his other stats are poor. If you really want to use his Lore, make HP growth a priority, so he can take a hit.
• Umaro and Gogo: Neither Umaro nor Gogo can equip Espers, so they’re exempt from analysis.

Next:Final Fantasy Tactics: Bravery And Faith Explained