S Tier Fire Characters
At the top of the damage list is the most expansive category. Fire damage dealers are plentiful, and the S Tier is held to a high standard because of it. Otherwise, this single tier would be as large as some entire lists.
That’s exciting, because it allows us to highlight some of the truly most powerful characters in the game since a few have taken up residence in the fire part of town.
Refia (FFIII)
Ability Schools: Combat 6, Celerity 4, Monk 6, Ninja 4, Sharpshooter 5
Estimated Date Activated: Current
Record Spheres: Monk Damage +9%
Legend Spheres: Fire Damage +9%, Minor Blind Resist, Minor Fire Resist
Legend Motes: Dexterity + Vitality
Legend Materia: LM1“Light of Affection”
Increases Fire damage dealt by 10%, LM2“Competitive Spirit”
Grants ATK +50% for Next Damaging Action after dealing a critical hit, LMR“Deadly Charm”
25% chance to dualcast abilities that deal Fire damage
Legend Dive Candidacy: Yes, with BSB+USB+LMR. BSB unnecessary with reliable external provider of Critical 50% buff like Onion Knight’s USB2.
Notable Abilities: Fires Within
Miscellaneous Notes: BSB +Fire Bracer
Signature Soul Breaks
BSB “Dance of Carnage”
Eight single Fire/NE attacks (0,78 each), grants Haste, Dance of Carnage“Dance of Carnage [ID:6006]”
Critical chance =50% for 25 seconds, Attach Fire and Burst Mode to the user
Command 1: Four single ranged Fire/NE attacks (0,49 each), critical hits deal 100% more damage (instead of 50%)
Command 2: Two group ranged Fire/NE attacks (0,65 each), grants Dark Bargain to the user for 20 seconds
USB “Burning Devotion”
Ten single attacks (0,71 each), grants Attach Fire, Critical Damage +50%, Quick Cast 1“Quick Cast 1” [ID:2019]
Cast speed x2,00, lasts for 1 turn and Fire Quick Cycle“Fire Quick Cycle [ID:50018]”
Grants Quick Cast 1 after using a Fire attack for 15 seconds to the user
Believe it or not, I almost kept Refia off this tier. She has her drawbacks and if it weren’t for the power of her burst and the extension of her LMR she wouldn’t be here.
On the whole, I have a lower opinion of Quick Cycle USBs vs Chase USBs. There are some that stand out from the crowd, like Terra’s, but Refia’s does not. Further complicating it is the lack of the reliable self buff that you see on every other USB on this list. Critical Damage +50% is at risk of being absolutely useless without a source of added critical chance. Luckily for her, Refia’s burst is a very powerful source of Critical Chance 50% and the next occurrence of her USB is on a banner with one of the best sources of the buff in the game, Onion Knight’s USB2.
And, with both of those, I still don’t think I add her to the S Tier because it’s quite a bit to ask of a team to support a resource hog like Refia for as little payoff as a Quick Cycle USB, despite its critical power. Her LMR, which can double the effectiveness of those turns is further needed and all of those pieces together finally make Refia into the modern powerhouse she was during the BSB Era.
It’s a tough package to assemble in a gacha game, but if you’re able to then you’ll have a powerful fire character on your hands. Luckily, the entirety of these pieces can be found on a single banner, and one you’ll likely be shooting for different relics.
Krile (FFV)
Ability Schools: Black Magic 6, Summoning 6, Bard 4, Witch 4
Estimated Date Activated: Current, USB in February
Record Spheres: Bard 4*, BLK Damage +9%, SUM Damage +9%
Legend Spheres: Fire Damage +9%, Minor+Moderate Sleep Resist
Legend Motes: Spirit + Wisdom
Legend Materia: LM1“Boundless Affection”
Increases Fire damage dealt by 10%, LM2“Grandfather’s Footsteps”
30% chance to grant Quick Cast 3 to the user after using a Fire attack, LMR“Unbridled Enthusiasm”
Grants Attach Fire at the beginning of the battle
Legend Dive Candidacy: Yes, with USB or CSB
Notable Abilities: Chain Firaga, Meltdown, Valigarmanda
Miscellaneous Notes: SSB +Fire Whip, LMR +Fire Light Armor, USB +Fire Whip
Signature Soul Breaks
OSB “Meteoric Assault”
One Fire/NE attack (38.00 – 44.00)
Breaks damage cap and damage increases with number of Fire attacks used
CSB “Unbroken Chain”
Activates Fire Chain (max 99, field +20%), eleven single Fire attacks (1,63 each), grants Quick Cast 2“Quick Cast 2” [ID:2016]
Cast speed x2,00, lasts for 2 turns to all allies
USB “Collapse of Heaven and Earth”
Ten single Fire/NE attacks (1,70 each), MAG and RES +30% to the user for 25 seconds, grants Attach Fire and Flame Dance Follow-Up“Flame Dance Follow-Up [ID:50090]”
Casts Flame Dance after dealing damage with a Fire attack for 15 seconds
“Flame Dance”
2/3/4/5/6 single Fire/NE attacks (1,42 each, 8.52 max) at rank 1/2/3/4/5 of the triggering ability to the users
From top to bottom, Krile seems to have all the answers. That’s because she does.
A chain of the best variety, a powerful rank based 6 hit chase USB, and an OSB for a finisher. In fact, her arsenal is so powerful that having either the CSB or USB makes her worth of this tier. Her strong Legend Materia and OSB just sweeten the pot.
Her playstyle with the CSB is simple to understand. Either you use Chain Firaga, Meltdown, or Valigarmanda and make sure that chain goes up when its needed. The USB is similar but requires the highest hones you can afford, which can be difficult but not impossible, with Meltdown and Valigarmanda. There’s no shame in using Chain Firaga if that’s what it takes to squeeze out the biggest chase you can.
Terra (FFVI)
Ability Schools: Black Magic 6, White Magic 3, Support 4, Summoning 6, Witch 4
Estimated Date Activated: Current, UOSB in March
Record Spheres: BLK Damage +9%, SUM Damage +9%, Fire Damage +3%
Legend Spheres: Fire Damage +9%, Minor Sleep Resistance, Minor Fire Resistance
Legend Motes: Spirit + Wisdom
Legend Materia: LM1“Esperbond”
Increases Fire damage dealt by 10%, LM2“Magitek Warrior”
Restores HP for 100% of the user’s maximum HP and grants Terra Trance when HP fall below 20%
“Terra Trance” [ID:277]
ATK, DEF, MAG, RES, MND, ACC and EVA +20%, cast speed x2,00 for 25 seconds, LMR“Innate Power”
25% chance to dualcast abilities that deal Fire damage
Legend Dive Candidacy: Yes, with USB, OSB, or UOSB
Notable Abilities: Chain Firaga, Meltdown, Valigarmanda, Wrath
Miscellaneous Notes: Can’t use Staves, BSB2 +Fire Light Armor, LMR +Fire Bracer, UOSB +Fire Sword
Signature Soul Breaks
OSB “Scorching Flames”
One Fire/NE attack (40.00)
Breaks damage cap
—
USB “Omen”
Ten single Fire/NE attacks (1,70 each), grants Attach Fire to the user, grants EX: Magitek“EX: Magitek” [ID:578]
MAG +30%, cast speed x2,00 for 25 seconds to the user for 25 seconds
UOSB “Inferno Combo”
Breaks damage cap
Three single Fire attacks (26,50 each)
One use per battle
Terra is unfair, but such is the rightful place of one of the most popular characters in the entire franchise. It now seems forever ago that we used to laugh at the game’s inability to make this character any good. Those days are very long gone.
As a Support 4 mage, Terra has an advantage afforded to few that allows her to generate 180 SB points during down turns, commonly at the start of the fight before buffs are in place. However, these days, thanks to the recent Ability Overhaul, Terra can forego Wrath completely and use Meltdown or Valigarmanda to actually inflict substantial damage(with a 25% chance to inflict more if you have her LMR) while only being reduced to generating 120 SB points instead. The choice is yours.
Terra’s USB is a Quick Cycle type that throws out the “Cycle” by simply halving her cast times for the duration. That duration has an extended duration of 25 seconds unseen on any other USB, allowing for safe usage after quick Entrusting at the start of a fight without ever needing to refresh provided the fight is short enough. Terra has a tendency to create short fights.
People normally consider Terra’s USB to be the focal point of her strength, and while they’re not wrong, it’s not her only option toward excellence. Using her powerful cast time reducing Trance Mode, she can be right as a rain of fire with just using her abilities and OSBs/UOSB.
Locke (FFVI)
Ability Schools: Combat 4, Support 3, Celerity 6, Thief 6, Sharpshooter 5
Estimated Date Activated: Current, USB in January, UOSB and USB2 in April
Record Spheres: Thief Damage +9%, Minor Blind Resist, Minor Slow Resist
Legend Spheres: Fire Damage +9%, Minor+Moderate Slow Resist
Legend Motes: Dexterity + Bravery
Legend Materia: LM1“Ardent Adventurer”
Increases Fire damage dealt by 10%, LM2“Phoenix’s Charge”
Restores HP for 100% of the user’s maximum HP and grants Phoenix Mode when HP fall below 20%
“Phoenix Mode” [ID:291]
ATK +35%, cast speed x2,00 for 25 seconds, LMR“Burning Desire”
Grants Attach Fire at the beginning of the battle
Legend Dive Candidacy: Yes, with CSB, or USB, or USB2, or LMR+UOSB
Notable Abilities: Ruby Spark, Soul Burn
Miscellaneous Notes: SSB2 +Fire Light Armor, OSB +Holy Dagger, LMR +Fire Light Armor, BSB2 +Fire Bracer, USB2 +Fire Dagger
Signature Soul Breaks
OSB “Miracle of Kohlingen”
One ranged Fire/Holy attack (10.00)
Breaks damage cap
Half cast time
CSB “Atomic Dive”
Activates Fire Chain (max 99, field +20%), eleven single Fire attacks (0,72 each), DEF and RES -50% for 25 seconds
USB “Burning Steel”
Ten random Fire/NE attacks (0,67 each), causes Imperil Fire 20% for 25 seconds, grants Flame Hunt Follow-Up“Flame Hunt Follow-Up” [ID:50052]
Casts Flame Hunt after using a Fire attack for 15 seconds
“Flame Hunt”
One single Fire/NE attack (1,20), 35% chance to cause Imperil Fire 10% for 15 seconds to the user
UOSB “Phoenix Blade”
Twenty single ranged Fire attacks (0,55 each), followed by one single ranged Fire attack (8,00) that breaks damage cap
USB2 “Burning Spirit”
Ten single ranged Fire/NE attacks (0,71 each), grants Attach Fire, Instant Cast 1 and EX: Adventurer“EX: Adventurer” [ID:50123]
ATK +30%, casts Valiant Flame after using a Fire attack for 15 seconds
“Valiant Flame”
4/5/6/7/8 single ranged attacks (0,35 each, 2.8 max) if the user’s HP are below 100/80/60/40/20%, 100% hit rate to the user
That’s a lot of Soul Breaks. That’s because every FFVI event ends up turning into a Locke event. Him and Kain should grab a drink some time.
There’s a lot to go over here, but for starters Locke is the first physical Fire chain. That’s good enough to be on this list as long as the character himself isn’t a complete liability otherwise. Locke is not.
Enabling his myriad of SBs is Locke’s cast speed reducing Phoenix Mode, which really allows you to use him to great effect in many different combinations.
Sabin (FFVI)
Ability Schools: Combat 6, Monk 6
Estimated Date Activated: January
Record Spheres: Fist PHY Damage +3%, Monk Damage +6%
Legend Spheres: Fire Damage +9%, Minor Confuse Resist, Minor Fire Resist
Legend Motes: Dexterity + Vitality
Legend Materia: LM1“Fiery Honor”
Increases Fire damage dealt by 10%, LM2“Master’s Secrets”
35% chance to dualcast abilities that deal Fire damage, LMR“Master’s Teachings”
ATK +2% for each hit dealt with Monk abilities, up to +34%
Legend Dive Candidacy: Yes, with USB.
Notable Abilities: Fires Within
Miscellaneous Notes: Mullet
Signature Soul Breaks
OSB “Scorching Meteor Strike”
One ranged Fire/NE attack (11.25)
Breaks damage cap, 12,75 multiplier if exploiting elemental weakness
USB “Raging Fist”
Ten single Fire/NE attacks (0,71 each), ATK and RES +30% to the user for 25 seconds, grants Attach Fire, Instant Cast 1 and Phoenix Attack Follow-Up“Phoenix Attack Follow-Up” [ID:50053]
Casts Phoenix Attack after using a Fire attack for 15 seconds
“Phoenix Attack”
3/4/5/6 single attacks (0,35 each, 2.10 max) at 492/780/1014 ATK to the user
Powerful legend dive. Easily achieved ATK based chase on his USB. Simple to understand power. Perfect arrangement for this fiery meat popsicle.
Zell (FFVIII)
Ability Schools: Combat 6, Celerity 6, Monk 6
Estimated Date Activated: Current
Record Spheres: Monk Damage +9%, Fist PHY Damage +3%
Legend Spheres: Fist PHY Damage +9%, Minor+Moderate Blind Resist
Legend Motes: Dexterity + Bravery
Legend Materia: LM1“Combat King Aficionado”
PHY attacks deal 10% more damage when equipping a fist weapon, LM2“Singular Reflexes”
30% chance to grant Quick Cast 3 to the user after dealing a critical hit, LMR“Untamed Spirit”
Grants Critical Damage +50% at the beginning of the battle
Legend Dive Candidacy: Yes, with USB
Notable Abilities: Fires Within
Miscellaneous Notes: BSB +Fire Fist, USB +Fire Fist, Chicken Wuss
Signature Soul Breaks
BSB “Duelist”
Ten random attacks (0,74 each), causes Stun (7%), grants Critical Chance 50% to all allies for 25 seconds, grants Haste and Burst Mode to the user
Command 1: Four single NE attacks (0,63 each), grants Dark Bargain“Dark Bargain” [ID:6001]
ATK +30%, DEF -30% to the user for 20 seconds
Command 2: Four single NE attacks (0,48 each), grants Instant Cast 1 to the user
USB “Burning Duel”
Twelve single attacks (0,55 each), ATK and DEF +30% to the user for 25 seconds, grants Attach Fire and Fiery Fist Follow-Up“Fiery Fist Follow-Up” [ID:50025]
Casts Fiery Fist after dealing a critical hit for 15 seconds
“Fiery Fist”
Four single attacks (0,52 each, 2.08 total), 100% hit rate to the user
In a similar situation as Refia, but bailed out by having a better USB with higher damage potential thanks to the chase. Also has a better LD with a chance of Quick Cast 3 LM2.
The chase requires critical hits, which you would prefer to generate with the help of an outside buff, but you can always turn to his BSB if you need it. The burst’s instant cast time means that it doesn’t get too much in the way of your business other than generating the extra Soul Break points and the Critical Chance 50% buff is to party so it’s not simply to enable himself.
Vivi (FFIX)
Ability Schools: Black Magic 6
Estimated Date Activated: Current
Record Spheres: BLK Damage +9%, Minor Silence Resist, Minor Confuse Resist
Legend Spheres: Fire Damage +9%, Minor Sleep Resist, Minor Fire Resist
Legend Motes: Spirit + Wisdom
Legend Materia: LM1“Spark of Memory”
Increases Fire damage dealt by 10%, LM2“Will to Live”
Restores HP for 100% of the user’s maximum HP and grants Vivi Trance“Vivi Trance” [ID:284]
MAG +30%, 50% chance to dualcast Black Magic abilities for 25 seconds when HP fall below 20%, LMR“Magic Suffusion”
Cast speed x0,77 for BLK attacks, BLK attacks deal 25% more damage
Legend Dive Candidacy: Yes, with USB
Notable Abilities: Chain Firaga, Chain Blizzaga, Chain Thundaga, Chain Waterga, Chain Stonega, Chain Biora, Flare, Meltdown
Miscellaneous Notes: BSB +Fire Staff, OSB +Fire Staff, LMR +Fire Hat, USB +Fire Staff
Signature Soul Breaks
OSB “Life’s Torch”
One Fire/NE attack (40.00)
Breaks damage cap
—
USB “Beyond the Twilight”
Ten single Fire/NE attacks (1,71 each), MAG and RES +30% to the user for 25 seconds, grants Attach Fire and Black Magic Double“Black Magic Double” [ID:50038]
Dualcasts Black Magic abilities consuming an extra ability use for 15 seconds to the user
Explosions. Many Explosions. Vivi is a master of black magic and any element in its arsenal, but first and foremost he is a Fire mage, owing to the entry and EnFire on his USB, as well as the +Fire damage in his LD.
Automatically dualcasting Meltdowns is crispy enough, but if he enters his LM2 Trance Mode he gains an additional 50% chance to add on another. This translates into an absolutely sickening amount of damage exceeding the potential of OSBs with the multiplier to back it up. In fact, if you’re under the USB status as well as Trance at the same time, it usually makes more sense to just use Meltdown rather than waste the time casting his OSB.
Honorable Mentions
Vincent (FFVII)
Ever so slightly missing out, Vinny relies a bit too much on lowered cast speed for my liking, with a fast acting Trance Mode as well as a Quick Cycle USB. He does hold a fun advantage of being interchangeably physical or magical though.
Ace (FFT0)
Haste and Instant Cast 3 from his LM2 is a good time. I really don’t have a whole lot of reasons to keep Ace out of the top. It’s more or less because there are so many already. Ace and Refia are dining at different ends of the same table.