Best Tank Party Members In Final Fantasy

Final Fantasy is a series known for letting players control numerous party members in combat, using their unique abilities to turn the tide of battle and win against enemies in a dominant fashion. Given how hard some enemies can hit in the games, it's easy to see why players will rely on a tank more often than not to absorb damage for others and give weaker party members a fighting chance in battle.

As one would expect, some players will have their favorite tanks in the Final Fantasy series that they can rely on for particularly grueling battles where foes love to wallop the heroes with hard-hitting physical attacks. Without these tanks in a party, gamers may have to endure an inevitable loss, further proving just how vital tanks are throughout the Final Fantasy series.

8 Umaro

A Berserker Who Can Take A Hit But Can't Be Controlled

Most people write off Umaro as one of the weaker party members in Final Fantasy 6, since players can't control him. This may be true to an extent, but this Berserker can still be kitted out with useful accessories and gear to turn him into a force to be reckoned with in battle.

This yeti can smash enemies with hard-hitting physical attacks and use the Blizzard Orb and Berserker Ring accessories to become more dynamic in battle with an enhanced moveset. He can also take a ton of punishment, letting players breathe a sigh of relief whenever he's targeted by a particularly damaging attack.

7 Warrior Of Light

Can Use The Warrior Job To Become An Effective Tank

The four Warriors of Light can choose from one of six jobs that become more powerful after a certain point in the story. Most players would wisely choose the Warrior job for one of their characters, who can wield the strongest equipment and down enemies with a few hits.

This Warrior can eventually become a Knight, enhancing their abilities as a tank while also gaining access to some basic White Magic spells. Players who want a tank to rely on in particularly challenging boss battles should make it a point to turn at least one of the party members into a Warrior at the start of the game.

6 Knight Job

Present In The First Set Of Jobs Players Can Use In Battle

Final Fantasy 5 takes a while before players are allowed to switch their jobs from the default Freelancer, with the gameplay opening up after the first set of jobs is unlocked. This includes the Knight, one of the most important jobs to rely on during the early stages of Final Fantasy 5.

Not only is a character with this job capable of wielding powerful equipment, but they also serve as an effective tank who can use both Cover and Guard to either protect a party member or nullify a physical attack entirely. Knight is a job that one party member should master before players move on to more advanced roles for their party.

5 Nine

A Tanky Dragoon Who Can Aid Class Zero In Battle

A Dragoon who can take a ton of hits without being downed, Nine is one of the many classmates in Class 0 who can attract enemy attention while other party members exploit a distracted enemy. He boasts high HP and defenses to make him more suitable for this role.

While this comes at the cost of low MP and magic defense, most players won't mind if they only want to use this character to impale enemies with lance attacks. He's easier to control than some of the slower damage dealers in Class Zero, making him a favorite for players who slowly get accustomed to Type-0's real-time combat.

4 Gladiolus

Hits Like A Truck And Can Absorb A Lot Of Damage

Gladiolus is a party member who will slowly grow on players as they get immersed in the world of Final Fantasy 15. The fact that players can control this character in later versions of the game makes this tank more tactical to use in combat against tough foes.

If players want Noctis to avoid any unnecessary damage, then using Gladiolus to aggro enemies is a great way to give the party leader time to heal up and restore his MP. Aside from being a tank in battle, Gladio is, in many ways, the big brother of the group who strives to protect their bonds when they're particularly strained.

3 Steiner

A Hilarious Character Who's A Very Powerful And Tanky Knight

Steiner takes no time at all to establish himself as one of the most endearing characters in Final Fantasy 9. He is not a huge fan of Zidane and clashes with him regularly throughout the game, only to develop a begrudging respect for this knave as they both start to understand each other.

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His adorable crush on Beatrix makes their team-up a hype moment that lets players control this deadly warrior of Alexandria for the first time. Steiner's abilities as a Knight make him the hardest damage dealer in the game, and it helps that he can take a few hits to take the heat off other party members.

2 Barret

Not Only Can He Take A Solid Hit, But His Ranged Attacks Mean That He Can Be Placed In The Back Row, Too

Barret is one of the most overpowered characters in all of Final Fantasy. Not only can this character use his gun arm to shoot down foes with ease, but his ranged attacks mean that players can comfortably stick him in the back row.

This boosts his defenses and makes him a great option for a tank if players want to allocate materia to help him take the role on with ease. This AVALANCHE member may seem rugged, but his love for Marlene and the Planet makes it clear that he has a soft side that makes him one of the best party members in Final Fantasy 7.

1 Auron

A Hard-Hitter Who Can Take Powerful Hits And Remain Standing

From the very start of Final Fantasy 10, Auron wastes no time in establishing himself as the coolest character in Final Fantasy 10. The effortless manner in which he wields a massive blade to wallop his foes makes him a must-have in the party if players want to decimate enemies with high-damage attacks.

Along with this, Auron boasts a great HP pool and defenses, letting him tank blows without too many problems. His main draw may be his monstrous physical damage, but his potential as a tank shouldn't be ignored either.

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