One factor you might want to take into consideration when deciding what Jobs you want your Characters to be is Weapon Types and the Characters Stats. Different Weapon Types use different Stats when calculating DAMAGE, with the exceptions of Guns and Measures. In this Guide, I will walk you through each and every Weapon Type, what Job(s) use them, what Stat(s,) if any, effect the Weapons DAMAGE (in the case of Multiple Stats the more important Stat will be listed first,) and I will rank each Characters EFFECTIVENESS with each Weapon, based on Stats. I hope you will find this Guide helpful. Enjoy.
WEAPON TYPE: Unarmed
Jobs: Any but Monk is most Effective due to Brawler Ability (or you can Equip Amber Armlet)
Stats: Strength
Effectiveness:
1. Basch/Vaan
2. Balthier
3. Ashe
4. Fran
5. Penelo
ONE HANDED WEAPONS
WEAPON TYPE: Daggers
Jobs: Shikari/White Mage
Stats: Strength/Speed
Effectiveness:
1. Balthier
2. Vaan
3. Basch
4. Ashe/Fran/Penelo
WEAPON TYPE: Swords
Jobs: Knight/Time Battlemage
Stats: Strength
Effectiveness:
1. Basch/Vaan
2. Balthier
3. Ashe
4. Fran
5. Penelo
WEAPON TYPE: Axes
Jobs: Foebreaker
Stats: Strength/Vitality
Effectiveness:
1. Vaan
2. Basch
3. Balthier
4. Fran
5. Penelo
6. Ashe
WEAPON TYPE: Hammers
Jobs: Foebreaker
Stats: Strength/Vitality
Effectiveness:
1. Vaan
2. Basch
3. Balthier
4. Fran
5. Penelo
6. Ashe
WEAPON TYPE: Maces
Jobs: Red Battlemage
Stats: Magick Power
Effectiveness:
1. Ashe/Penelo
2. Vaan
3. Fran
4. Basch/Balthier
WEAPON TYPE: Measures
Jobs: Machinist
Stats: None
Effectiveness:
Any
TWO HANDED WEAPONS
WEAPON TYPE: Greatswords
Jobs: Knight/Red Battlemage/White Mage
Stats: Strength
Effectiveness:
1. Basch/Vaan
2. Balthier
3. Ashe
4. Fran
5. Penelo
WEAPON TYPE: Katanas
(Kumbha is a ONE HANDED WEAPON)
Jobs: Bushi
Stats: Strength/Magick Power
Effectiveness:
1. Vaan
2. Basch
3. Balthier
4. Ashe
5. Penelo
6. Fran
WEAPON TYPE: Ninja Swords
Jobs: Shikari
Stats: Strength/Speed
Effectiveness:
1. Balthier
2. Vaan
3. Basch
4. Ashe/Fran/Penelo
WEAPON TYPE: Spears
Jobs: Uhlan
Stats: Strength
Effectiveness:
1. Basch/Vaan
2. Balthier
3. Ashe
4. Fran
5. Penelo
WEAPON TYPE: Poles
Jobs: Monk
Stats: Strength
Effectiveness:
1. Basch/Vaan
2. Balthier
3. Ashe
4. Fran
5. Penelo
WEAPON TYPE: Rods
Jobs: White Mage
Stats: Strength
Effectiveness:
1. Basch/Vaan
2. Balthier
3. Ashe
4. Fran
5. Penelo
WEAPON TYPE: Staves
Jobs: Black Mage
Stats: Strength/Magick Power
Effectiveness:
1. Vaan
2. Basch
3. Balthier
4. Ashe
5. Penelo
6. Fran
RANGED WEAPONS
WEAPON TYPE: Bows
Jobs: Archer
Stats: Strength/Speed
Effectiveness:
1. Balthier
2. Vaan
3. Basch
4. Ashe/Fran/Penelo
WEAPON TYPE: Crossbows
Jobs: Time Battlemage
Stats: Strength
Effectiveness:
1. Basch/Vaan
2. Balthier
3. Ashe
4. Fran
5. Penelo
WEAPON TYPE: Guns
Jobs: Machinist/Shikari
Stats: None
Effectiveness:
Any
WEAPON TYPE: Hand-Bombs
Jobs: Foebreaker/Machinist/Black Mage
Stats: Strength/Vitality
Effectiveness:
1. Vaan
2. Basch
3. Balthier
4. Fran
5. Penelo
6. Ashe