With classic RPGValkyrie Profile: Lennethhaving arrived in enhanced versions for the PS4 and PS5, fans of JRPGs and theValkyrie Profilefranchise may be curious to find out just what madeLennethstand apart that made it quite an iconic game to jumpstart the series. Set in Midgar near the end of the world, it’s up to Valkyrie Lenneth to recruit her Einherjar to defend the realms against intense evils.
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However, fans might start getting confused as to which among the game’s many Einherjar or holy warriors they could rely upon in order to outlast the game’s tougher portions. For players curious aboutwhich party members to pick, the secret may very well lie withfinding characters optimized for their specific playstyles- be it through melee combat, the safety of range, or through devastating magical spells.
10Arngrim
With acombo-reliant game likeValkyrie Profile Lenneth, having a character who can dish out combos consistently is a godsend. This comes in the form ofArngrim, a greatsword user who also becomes one of the first characters players can acquire in the game. Being one of the first melee characters players could get, Arngrim comes with an accessible toolkit that introduces the game’s mechanics rather quickly.
However, Arngrim also has limitations that teach players to adjust to minute circumstances rather quickly. For instance, while his PWS adds huge chunks to the combo meter, they do need a bit of time to consistently hit. Not only that, his normals are a bit higher than usual, so while they hit fliers easily, they need to be aimed carefully in order to hit shorter enemies.
9Jelanda
Firsts are usually hard to beat, andJelandaproves this by being one of the more valuable early characters players can get inValkyrie Profile Lenneth. Despite being a spoiled princess, Jelanda is quite the potent character even with her status as the first mage players will acquire in theValkyrie Profiletitle. While undeniably average in terms of stats, Jelanda’s status as the only magic-user in the earliest stages of the game can give a lot of versatility to players.
For instance, she comes with the rather middling Fire Storm attack and the significantly-valuable Heal spell, giving players a means to outlast most foes in Chapter 1. In the case of Fire Storm, this is one of the earliest ways players can get their combo meter to 100 rather quickly, making this a decent combo starter while players get more familiar with the meta.
8Nanami
MeekNanamimakes a surprising reveal of being a magic-userinValkyrie Profile Lennethgameplay, and she’s one of the earliest spellcasters players can use in the game. Despite her shy nature, however, Nanami boasts a rather diverse toolkit that allows her to dominate matches in the early game when used properly.
For instance, acquiring the Dragonbane shortly after recruiting Nanami gives her one of the best Sorcerer Weapons in the early stages of the game. Combined with her Lightning Bolt, this version of Nanami is capable of decimating foes with this spammable attack throughout the majority of Chapter 2 and Chapter 3.
7Brahms
Despite his rather rugged nature,Brahmsholds the distinction of being the Lord of the Undead in theValkyrie Profiletitle. Armed with his favored fists, BrahmsinValkyrie Profilegameplaycan wreak havoc in combat with swift and hard-hitting blows. This makes Brahms the ideal 1st Member in any party, as his hits are guaranteed hits whenever he faces opponents.
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What players should watch out for when using Brahms would be his tricky combo times, as each attack needs to have a brief pause before proper execution. However, when done correctly, Brahms and his PWS can reach a whopping 17-hit combo, which can lead to significant damage numbers. While some can argue Llewelyn can reach similar heights, the “guaranteed” combo with Brahms makes him an immediate must-have for the melee position.
6Gandar
As with other mages in popular fiction who got drunk with power,Gandarwanted to obtain the Dragon Orb in order to achieve full immortality. Despite his sinister nature, such was his potential in combat that Lenneth recruited him regardless for his sorcerous skills. What’s perhaps a bummer about Gandar as a character is his acquisition in the later stages in the game, meaning players can really only make the most out of him after preparing Experience Orbs to max him out as soon as he arrives.
When used, Gandar has the means of being perhaps the most powerful mage in the game - especially when he uses the Bracelets of Zoe. Gandar usually begins with powerfully-aggressive spells such as Prismatic Missile, Shadow Servant, and Fire Lance - but players may want to add some restorative magic to his arsenal to balance his toolkit.
5Janus
Once a royal knight,Janushad to be exiled and marked a traitor due to a failed clandestine mission. While his death was due to an unfortunate circumstance, Janus proves to be one of themost skilled archers in theValkyrie Profilegame, being able to reach numbers close to Lenneth with a bow.
What makes Janus a reliable asset to the team is his Diseased Needle, a regular attack capable of poisoning enemies - an invaluable resource against tough foes. Meanwhile, his PWS called Guilty Break has one of the best damage multipliers in the game, making it perfect for initiating combos.
4Lawfer
A young soldier who wants nothing but to become as a knight like his father before him,Lawferis easily one of the more “honorable” characters inthe emotionalValkyrie Profilegame. Such was his sense of justice, in fact, that Lawfer has one of the highest Hero Values in the game, making him worthy of transfer.
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However, where the spearman shines is in his combat prowess. His normal attacks alone dish out damage numbers almost equal to Lenneth when she uses her sword, and his PWS also deals remarkably high damage. Players do need to take note that his PWS doesn’t add as much energy, so it’s best used as the last part of an attack chain.
3Lezard Valeth
An alchemist who mastered the art of necromancy, the sorcererLezard Valethhas established himself asone of the most powerful characters in theValkyrie Profilefranchise. As such, Lezard immediately sets himself apart as a powerhouse as soon as players acquire inValkyrie Profile Lenneth. While arguably the “easiest” to use among the more powerful mages, Lezard is the only mage who can’t reach 90,000 DME via the Bracelets of Zoe, so it’s imperative players use an Ambrosia to boost his maximum DME by 6,000.
Outside this handicap, however, a recruited Lezard introduces himself to the party with some extremely powerful attacks. Spells such as Dark Savior, Fire Lance, Mystic Cross, and Dampen Magic already show Lezard as capable of dishing out massive damage while at the same time debilitating enemy teams.
2Freya
GoddessFreyajoins playersin theValkyrie Profilegamebeginning in the Artolian Mountain Ruins, and she makes her divine presence known almost immediately. When used in the Seraphic Gate, Freya is an easy pick for a party member due to how ridiculously powerful her combos are. Not to mention, her PWS deals Poison damage, meaning she has the potential to deal as much as sub-1-million hits with the right build against the right foes.
Perhaps what only makes Freya a pain would be her rather slow combo delays, this means her attacks take a bit of time to pull off. In intense fights, these delays can spell the difference between life and death when not properly managed. Thankfully, her third attack is an unblockable hit, meaning Freya is advised to be positioned as the 4th Member to compensate for her attack delays.
1Lenneth
The eponymous character in theValkyrie Profilegame, it’s unsurprising howLennethis easily the best unit in the title. However, her worth has less to do with having to use her in almost all battles, but in how ridiculously powerful she gets with the right setup. Unlike other characters, Lenneth has the distinction of being able to use Swords and Bows, allowing her to be both a melee and ranged unit.
However, Lenneth with a bow easily makes Lenneth the best bow user in the game. In tougher fights, the consistency of Lenneth’s bow output and her PWS makes her an easy pick for players who want to farm for items. Combined with anall-MageValkyrie Profile Lennethparty, the eponymous Valkyrie with a bow can help the team outlast almost any kind of fight.
Valkyrie Profile: Lennethwas originally released in 1999 for the PlayStation but had subsequent releases in 2006 for the PlayStation Portable, in 2018 for the Android and iOS, and the most recent 2022 release for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
