Harvestella, Square Enix's new game, tackles the Rune Factory game formula by sprinkling their farm simulator with the combat of an action RPG. One way they do this is through their approach to the traditional RPG class system. Anyone who is familiar with a class, or job system, understands that each role offers its own unique pros and cons that appeal to players according to how they like to play the game.
In Harvestella, the player can assign three unique classes or jobs to Ein, the protagonist, and switch between them on the fly. This helps boost options and approaches for battle but also ties into the game's progression system. After fighting, JP (Job Points) are earned, which can be used to unlock abilities in each job skill tree. Each job is different and players may choose jobs depending on how they want to approach combat in the game. So which job is a bang for one's JP bucks?
10 Avenger
The Avenger is synonymous with powerful long-range attacks and can snipe at the enemy's weaknesses. They are advantageous against certain enemies, flitting between ice and fire elements they can break through defenses enabling other party members to deal more damage.
The glass cannon of Harvestella shines at a distance but can be overwhelmed quickly when fighting face-to-face.
9 Fighter
At the start of the game, the protagonist has the default job of the fighter. A skilled physical attacker with the ability to deal single and multi-target damage that is able to enhance their attacks with elemental damage such as fire for that extra spicy kick.
It is a good option for a frontline position that can aggro enemies and take hits while the magic users can cast their stronger spells in the meantime. Less versatile than other jobs, it still has its uses.
8 Shadow Walker
Harvestella's version of an assassin wielding dual blades, the Shadow Walker aims to overwhelm the enemy with a flurry of attacks. Similarly to the fighter, this job is specialized in up close and personal fights. They boast high attack damage in close range and can unlock skills pertaining specifically to combat, including the ability to self-buff their already high attack power.
The Shadow Walker lacks elemental damage but makes up for it with higher damage output. Players may find it harder to break through boss enemy defenses but will be able to capitalize through single-target powerful skills.
7 Mechanic
An all-rounder in the party with the ability to take on both close-quarter and long-range attackers. At later levels, the mechanic is a great support build with abilities de-buffing enemies to sneak in extra damage from the party.
The Mechanic excels in supporting other team members by weakening enemy attacks. However, Mechanics can also handle their own business by taking care of enemies as well.
6 Woglinde
The Woglinde is a ranged job type imbuing the character with a Siren's Song. The only healer in the game, their magics range the gamut from healing to buffing the party while dealing water damage to enemies when the opportunity arises.
Woglinde is an important job as it is the only job that boasts healing abilities (once unlocked in the sizable job skill tree). The healing skill is important as party members will take damage from the mobs and bosses encountered when roaming the world. Also, with no blocking action within the game, and quick dashes buried behind job points that will need grinding to unlock, having a Woglinde can be useful when battling the more difficult enemies.
5 Mage
Unlocked upon encountering the unicorn in the High Canyon area, the mage slings ice and lightning spells with the sole purpose of exploiting enemy elemental weaknesses. The downside is that the Mage's attacks suffer from long charge times which can be interrupted.
The long-range elemental attacks can pinpoint enemy weaknesses quickly. With the downside of a long charge time, this comes with the upside of being able to break through the guards of bosses allowing for more damage to get through.
4 Sky Lancer
As the name suggests, similar to the Dragoon class, the Sky Lancer dominates the aerial battlefield. The job offers a wide array of area-of-effect attacks sporting both physical and wind damage that is suitable for taking down larger groups of enemies.
With a singular elemental choice, this class may find it difficult to exploit an enemy's elemental weaknesses. However, the crowd control abilities make short work of the mobs that are littered throughout dungeons that the player will have to visit frequently to obtain items and other resources.
3 Pilgrim
An area-of-effect attack specialist who can also employ attacks that deal continuous damage over an extended period of time. The Pilgrim is also outfitted with a magical sword that can switch between physical and magic attacks where appropriate.
Not the highest damage dealer but the use of continuous damage effects help to whittle down the heartier bosses, and their magical sword has decent close-combat damage too.
2 Assault Savant
Combing scientific know-how and applying it to martial skills, this is a unique position for those wanting to switch things up on the fly. The Assault Savant's skills include the ability to alter the effects and types of damage to each attack. Specifically, they're good for fighting a diverse array of enemies.
Switching elements on the fly is a strong skill to have in the game. Targeting enemy weaknesses is vital to taking down the bosses as it can inflict a break condition (and a double break in some cases) on the enemies. This opens up foes to more damage by lowering their overall defense.
1 Lunamancer
An enigmatic class said to harness the power of the planet, the Lunamancer uses both potent wide-area magical combat abilities and a selection of de-buff skills to deliver a fatal one-two magical punch to the player's enemies.
This job is unlocked later in the game but works on all fronts. By inflicting negative status effects on enemies the Lunamancer has an almost reverse healing effect, lessening the incoming damage. Plus, on the upside, the large magical spells can clear out a group of monsters swiftly when going through the game's many dungeons.
Harvestella is out now on Nintendo Switch and PC.