Final Fantasy V Advance (USA)

Mastering Final Fantasy V Advance’s flexible job system is the key to beating even the toughest bosses and post-game content, so we’ve put together essential tips for new and returning players alike. First, prioritize unlocking and leveling basic jobs early: the Freelancer job gets stronger the more other jobs you level, so leveling every job to at least level 4 early in the game will give your Freelancer a massive stat boost by the end of your playthrough. Don’t sleep on the Blue Mage job, which lets you learn enemy abilities by being hit by them—abilities like Aqua Breath and Level 5 Death can delete entire groups of bosses if you unlock them early enough, saving you hours of grinding. For the GBA-exclusive jobs, unlock them as soon as they become available: the Cannoneer’s elemental shot abilities are perfect for exploiting boss weaknesses, while the Oracle’s magic can turn tough random encounters into one-shot kills. When building your party, always bring at least one dedicated healer (either a White Mage or a Red Mage early on) and one physical damage dealer, but don’t be afraid to mix abilities: for example, give a Warrior the White Mage’s Cure ability to make your party far more sustainable without dedicating a full slot to healing. Grinding for ability points (AP) is much easier in Final Fantasy V Advance than in the original 1992 release, so head to the plains around the first town after getting the airship to farm low-level enemies for quick AP early on. For the main story’s toughest boss, Exdeath, make sure your party has at least level 25-30, and bring abilities that boost defense against dark magic. If you’re heading into the GBA-exclusive Sealed Temple post-game dungeon, come prepared with endgame gear and at least level 40, and make sure you’ve mastered most core jobs to maximize your Freelancer’s stats. The optional super-boss Enuo in the Sealed Temple hits extremely hard, so bring a party with high magic defense and use the Ninja’s Two-Sword ability