Fans of Final Fantasy would fondly remember Final Fantasy 12 and its License Board, a game mechanic that essentially eliminates the idea of classes and instead allows all characters to “earn” Licenses towards bonuses and weapon specializations they wish. This adds quite a lot of customization and personalization to each character, as players can tailor fit characters into exactly the kind of roles they want. The Zodiac Age improves the License Board further with better accessibility and new additions, as well as Jobs that finally streamline the License Board with specific bonuses, spells, and most importantly, equipment options.
In turn, players of The Zodiac Age that want to create specific characters might have a lot more time tinkering with the License Board than usual. And for Final Fantasy players who want to fully take this experience to the next level, their characters may maximize their specializations with the game’s most powerful weapons.
10 Kanya
This golden polearm has quite the mechanical blades on top, making the reveal that this is a pole quite a surprise for players. The Kanya boasts 112 Attack, 35 Evade, and a 35% Combo Chance, easily making this a great Ultimate Weapon for the nimble Monk Job, who are also the ones able to carry the License for this weapon.
Players can only obtain the pole through the Bazaar for 60,000 Gil. This item only becomes available once players sell 4 Aquarius Gems, 3 Corpse Flies, and 3 Mythril pieces in the Bazaar.
9 Vrscika
Unlike other weapons in the game, the Vrscika has a unique appearance that makes it seem as though it’s come from an entirely different civilization outside Ivalice - possibly even alien, due to its green coloration and odd take on details. Regardless, this hammer boasts a 133 Attack and 20% Combo Chance, much higher than the Golden Axe and easily marking itself as the Ultimate Weapon for the heavy-hitting Foebreaker Job.
Players can acquire this weapon through the Bazaar for 70,000 Gil. They can only see this in the listings once they sell 4 Scorpio Gems, 3 Wyrm Bones, and 3 Charged Gizzards.
8 Staff Of The Magi
The Staff of the Magi is perhaps one of the best-looking staves in the game, especially with its red flower aesthetic that tops its slender frame. This staff is just as powerful as its unique appearance, as it has a nifty Vitality boost and its +7 Magic Power. Not to mention, it becomes a catalyst for Holy, Wind, and Ice Spells - making this the best Ultimate Staff for Black Mages to use.
Players can obtain the Staff of the Magi from the Hunt Club as a reward. Likewise, players can get this from treasure chests in the Cerobi Steppe’s Hunters’ Camp or from the Great Crystal. There’s also a 3% chance of the weapon dropping once players slay Oversouls in the Necrohol of Nabudis.
7 Kumbha
Originally known as the Masamune I, the Kumbha is the Ultimate Katana of the game, and for good reason. This ornate golden katana boasts 117 Attack and 40 Evade, allowing players to slash through enemies with ease. Moreover, it’s the only katana to boast a one-hand status, making it quite unique for the weapon type.
Players can obtain the Kumbha by buying it from the Bazaar for 350,000 Gil. This only becomes available once the player sells 2 Mallets, 3 Orichalcum chunks, and 2 Gemsteel pieces. Likewise, players can obtain the weapon from Gilgamesh in Stage 94 of Trial Mode with a 10% chance of stealing it from him.
6 Yagyu Dark Blade
The Yagyu Dark Blade is a sword fitting of the name, with its S-shape hilt and slender dark blade reserved for the fiercest of speedsters. This weapon boasts 98 Attack and Dark Elemental Damage, with stats making it perhaps the best ninja sword for the Shikari Job. Not to mention, it has a 20% chance of casting Doom, making it quite the lethal weapon for the lethal class.
Players can acquire this sword with 5% accuracy whenever killing a Bombshell. Likewise, players can try to steal this from Yiazmat at Stage 98 of the Trial Mode, with a 10% probability. Players can also look for the weapon in the Cerobi Steppe’s Crossfield Zone, or the Giruvegan and the Great Crystal.
5 Mina
Perhaps the most ancient-looking of all the best weapons in the game, the Mina is an ornamental dagger of blue and red details, with a steel blade that has bronze highlights as well as a triangular hole at the center. This weapon boasts 104 Attack and 25 Evade, as well as a 70% chance to instant-kill enemies - quite a worthwhile weapon for the stealthy Shikari Job. It doesn’t help that the Mina has the same aesthetic as the Shikari Nagasa, which is also a License the Mina shares.
Acquiring the weapon isn’t as easy, though, as it drops from the Larva Eaters in the Great Crystals with a 5% chance. Likewise, players can try to obtain this from the Overlord in Stage 2 of Trial Mode, with a 5% chance of dropping.
4 Tournesol
Considering the theme of Ivalice as that of the Zodiac, it makes sense for one of its best swords to represent the stars. The Tournesol is a serpentine blade with a black hilt and exquisite gold details made prominent with its curving blade with engravings as well as a hilt of a moon placed upon a sun. This greatsword has a whopping 138 Attack as well as 30 Evade and 10% Combo Chance.
However, acquiring the Tournesol isn’t easy either. Players can get the weapon by first purchasing The Sunflower from the Bazaar, which itself costs 600,000 Gil. Not to mention, players need to sell 3 Serpentarius, 3 Empyreal Souls, and 3 Gemsteel pieces before being able to see this on sale.
3 Zodiac Spear
Bearing the name of the actual game, the Zodiac Spear is a sight to behold with its elegant appearance, and it’s also the most powerful weapon in the game. It boasts 141 Attack, befitting the Uhlan Job and its mid-ranged specialization.
Acquiring this coveted weapon isn’t easy, though. Players can get the Zodiac Spear by trying to steal them from the Biding Mantis in Stage 62 of Trial Mode, albeit with a 3% success rate. Players can also equip a Diamond Armlet and try their luck in the Henne Mines, or even buy it for maximum Gil.
2 Great Trango
Players know that it’s possible to avoid the Zodiark fight in the story, but doing so would make them miss out on the opportunity to earn one of the most coveted weapons in the game. Despite its invisible appearance, the Great Trango is one of the game’s glitch weapons with ridiculously amazing stats. It boasts 153 Attack with 30% Combo Chance, something that melee fighters would definitely need. And while it doesn’t offer any Evade amongst its stats, the weapon itself remains a sight (pun intended) to behold.
Players can get the Great Tango through sheer theft during the optional Zodiark fight. But even then, players only have a 3% chance of stealing this from the boss.
1 Seitengrat
Although this is more of a glitch weapon than anything else, the Seitengrat is surprisingly one of the most powerful weapons out there in the game. It’s just unfortunate that no one knows what the weapon looks like, as the only indication of what the Seitengrat even is would be equipping it to someone who can use bows. Because aside from the bow pose, the weapon is nothing but invisible. It boasts 224 Attack and 75 Evade, alongside a ridiculous 25% Critical Chance that is the best among all bows in the game.
Unfortunately, the weapon is also extremely difficult to acquire. Players need to locate an invisible chest in the Skyferry’s Air Deck that only has a 1% chance of appearing in the game. And even then, the Seitengrat only has a 0.01% chance of appearing from the said chest. Players who want to even out the odds would need to follow specific instructions to trick the game into giving players the weapon via RNG.
Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age was released in 2017 and is playable on the PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One.
