The Final Fantasy series has introduced a slew of spectacular characters, all of whom have unique strengths and weaknesses. These strengths and weaknesses are even more exacerbated by the series' recurring job system, allowing players to create and customize their ideal party for their playthrough.
But perhaps the best asset to any successful party could be boiled down to how evenly each character's stats are distributed. In particular, a character's HP has been shown to make or break a successful Final Fantasy playthrough. Based purely on their in-game stats, these eight characters having more HP than the rest of their friends and allies.
8 Squall Leonhart (Final Fantasy 8)
Individual character stats in Final Fantasy 8 can be hard to decipher due to the game's polarizing Junction system. However, when excluding the Junction system as a far, Squall has the highest HP out of all of his friends. His HP reaches 4,187 at Level 100.
While 4,187 is quite small considering the maximum HP of 9,999, it is here where the Junction system becomes quite useful. With the help of certain HP-boosting Guardian Forces, such as Diabolos and the Brothers, as well as the Ultima and Full-Life spells, players can craft Squall into the most effective powerhouse in the game.
7 Cecil Harvey (Final Fantasy 4)
Being the hero of Final Fantasy 4, it is no surprise that the enigmatic protagonist Cecil would have the most HP out of all of his friends. As the only character who cannot leave the party, Cecil has the most experience to gain throughout the duration of the game, having roughly 4,671 around Level 70.
As it turns out, however, Cecil's protagonist powers are not the only explanation for his high HP. Upon switching from a Dark Night to a Paladin, Cecil's HP skyrockets by about 600 points. When combined with the proper augments obtained by the player, maxing out Cecil's HP should prove to be a straightforward feat.
6 Amarant Coral (Final Fantasy 9)
The last playable character to join, Amarant is well-known for his vast skill set, be it his unique Flair command or his passive abilities such as Return Magic. Additionally, much like many physical fighters in the series, Amarant has one of the highest HP totals in Final Fantasy 9, reaching a maximum of 5,428 HP.
Even without any HP-altering accessories and abilities, Amarant's high HP makes him a vital asset in late-game boss fights, such as Ozma and Hades. Combined with his Trance's Elan command, which allows his Flair abilities to target multiple enemies at once, Amarant proves an efficient party member to make up for his late recruitment.
5 Adelbert Steiner (Final Fantasy 9)
Steiner has the distinction of having the best HP growth out of all the playable characters, despite not being playable for nearly an entire disc. Much of this can be attributed to his job as a Knight, which usually entails a high HP and defense stat in order to make a bulky party member out of Steiner.
At 5,609 HP and without taking into account any HP modifying accessories, Steiner has the highest HP out of the entire party. His high capacity for HP growth coupled with his equally high strength stat makes Steiner a valuable party member once he becomes a permanent fixture in the party.
4 Umaro (Final Fantasy 6)
Recruited near the end of the game, Umaro has very little relevance to both the story and the universe of Final Fantasy 6. In spite of this, however, players may still find it worthwhile to pick up Umaro due to his high strength and HP. It is possible for Umaro to have 9,808 HP upon reaching Level 99.
Due to Umaro's high stats, he can prove to be a valuable party member in certain locations, such as the Dragon's Neck Coliseum. The only downside is the fact that Umaro is ostensibly in permanent Berserk. The only action he will ever do is attack unless equipped with the handy Blizzard Orb relic, which allows him to summon a snowstorm.
3 Auron (Final Fantasy 10)
Due to the nature of the Sphere Grid in Final Fantasy 10, it is possible for every playable character to reach the maximum HP. But when taking the Sphere Grid into account, it is Auron who yields the most HP in his personal area of the grid.
Like with the other playable party members, Auron's HP can be altered with equipment that contains HP-enhancing abilities, including the all-powerful Break HP Limit ability. For players looking to max out their character's HP, it will prove to be beneficial to take the other characters down Auron's Sphere Grid path.
2 Barret Wallace (Final Fantasy 7)
Introduced early in Final Fantasy 7, there are numerous opportunities for Barret to grow as a party member. But in terms of HP, Barret has the highest HP out of any other playable character in the game, even when accounting for stat-boosting supportive Materia and other accessories that can increase HP.
When not accounting for accessories and Materia, Barret's possible maximum HP is 9,999. This makes Barret the only character in the game who can naturally achieve this total, a feat not shared even by Cloud, the game's main protagonist, despite the latter's permanent fixture in the party.
1 Snow Villiers (Final Fantasy 13)
An example of the perennial Monk class, Snow has, without question, the most optimal HP growth out of all the party members in Final Fantasy 13. With a possible grand total of 30,000 HP, Snow's high HP does well to compliment his effective offensive stats, a common feature often seen in the Monk characters in the series.
Battle-wise, it is Snow's HP and defense that make him an optimal candidate for the Sentinel role, which involves him provoking enemies in order to draw their attacks toward himself. Snow is also quite effective as a Commando and a Ravager, but it is the Sentinel role that makes the best use of his high HP.