Summary
As the grandfather of the JRPG genre, theFinal Fantasyfranchise is known for its distinct entries that share similar themes, creatures, and equipment throughout each entry. While mostFinal Fantasygames take place in their own unconnected world, players can expect to find many of these same elements present regardless of which title they’re playing. One of the most common recurring elements in the series is some of its iconic weapons, many of which appear in nearly every entry and have become synonymous with theFinal Fantasyfranchise.
Although the series has evolved drastically since its debut on the NES, modern titles still contain many of these weapons as they represent the legacy of the franchise as a whole.Final Fantasy 16’s gameplaywas a drastic departure from the mainline series being the first true Action RPG, and whileFinal Fantasy 16saw some controversy because of this change, the presence of many of the series' iconic elements such as its recurring weapons helped it feel like aFinal Fantasygame at heart. BeyondFinal Fantasy 16, there is a wide array of recurring weapons that can be found throughout multiple entries in the series.
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Axes and Hammers
Axes and Hammers are similar two-handed weapon types within theFinal Fantasyseries that are usually wielded by the Berserker job. Characters like Guy fromFinal Fantasy 2andCid fromFinal Fantasy 4are known for their penchant for Axes and Hammers respectively, while inFinal Fantasy 16the Axe is the weapon of choice for Wade. The Rune Axe and the Gigant Axe are typically the strongest of their type in the games they appear in, and Thor’s Hammer is usually the strongest amongFinal Fantasy’s Hammers
Bows and Throwing Weapons
Bows and throwing weapons represent two ofFinal Fantasy’s ranged projectile weapon types, with bows being most often associated with Archers and Rangers, and throwing weapons like shurikens, boomerangs, and chakrams being most associated with Thieves and Ninjas. Characters likeFinal Fantasy 4’s Rosa andFinal Fantasy 12’s Fran are notable Bow users, whileFinal Fantasy 6’s Locke andFinal Fantasy 7’s Yuffieare notable throwing weapon users. The Artemis Bow is typically the strongest of the bows, and while throwing weapons vary between entries, the Rising Sun is often the best of its type.
Daggers
Daggers are a weapon type that can be utilized by a variety ofjobs in theFinal Fantasyseries, but Thieves and Ninjas are the jobs most often associated with the weapon.Final Fantasy 2’s Leila andFinal Fantasy 9’s Zidane are two notable Dagger users, but many characters can equip them, such asFinal Fantasy 15’s Noctis for which the Dagger is his fastest equippable weapon type. While there are many iconic Daggers throughout the series, a variation of the Orichalcum is typically the strongest option within the category.
Guns and Gunblades
Gunblades are a uniqueFinal Fantasyweapon type that combine the projectiles of a gun with the melee potential of a blade, though regular Guns are also present throughout the series. While not as commonly used as other weapon types, Gunblade users likeFinal Fantasy 8’s Squall andFinal Fantasy 13’s Lightning both have access to the Lionheart as one of their strongest weapon options. Guns are much more common within the series, with notable users likeFinal Fantasy 7’s VincentandFinal Fantasy 15’s Noctis both having access to the Cerberus.
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Katanas and Ninja Blades
Similarly to Swords, the slender Katanas and Ninja Blades are typically used by the Samurai and Ninja jobs throughout theFinal Fantasyseries. Characters likeFinal Fantasy 6’s Cyan andFinal Fantasy 10’s Auron are notable wielders of these weapon types. Perhaps the most famous katana user in the series isFinal Fantasy 7’s villain Sephirothwho is known for wielding the iconic Masamune, which is often considered the strongest katana in the games where it appears.
Rods and Staves
Rods and Staves are the standard weapon types for the majority ofFinal Fantasy’s magic users and tend to be utilized by jobs like Black Mage and White Mage. A character likeFinal Fantasy 7’s Aerithis notable as a Staff user, but other characters likeFinal Fantasy 10’s Yuna wield both Rods and Staves. The Magus Rod is typically the best weapon of its type, while the Sage’s Staff is usually the best ofFinal Fantasy’s Staves.
Spears
Spears are the weapons of choice forFinal Fantasy’s iconic Dragoon job, although other characters can wield these weapons as well. Notable Spear users includeFinal Fantasy 7’s Cid,Final Fantasy 9’s Freya, andFinal Fantasy 13’s Fang, but a character likeFinal Fantasy 15’s Noctis also can equip Spears within his arsenal of weapon types as well. EarlierFinal Fantasygames featured Abel’s Lance as the category’s most powerful, but Gae Bolg and Gungnir have also come to be some of the series' most powerful Spears.
Swords
TheFinal Fantasyseries' most iconic weapons tend to be Swords, with many protagonists throughout the franchise being their wielders.Final Fantasy 7’s Cloud and, most recently,Final Fantasy 16’s Clive are among these notable swordsmen. Powerful swords like Excalibur can be found in mostFinal Fantasygames, but it is theUltima Weaponthat is typically the strongest Sword inFinal Fantasy.
