Embarking on your journey through the vast and beautiful world of Osterra in Octopath Traveler 0 presents a thrilling, yet critical, first decision: selecting your main character's starting job. This initial choice defines your protagonist's core identity, combat role, and influences optimal party composition for the entire epic.With eight distinct job classes available, from stalwart warriors to enigmatic scholars, determining the best fit can shape your early-game experience and long-term strategy. This comprehensive tier list guide analyzes every starting job's potential, ranking them from the supremely powerful S-Tier to the situational B-Tier, so you can begin your adventure with confidence.
S-Tier: The Elite Vanguard – Unmatched Starting Power
These classes offer the most robust, versatile, and beginner-friendly foundations for your main hero, excelling from the first battle and remaining powerful throughout the entire story.
- Warrior: The Unshakable Foundation
- Why It's Top-Tier: The quintessential physical powerhouse. The Warrior boasts exceptional survivability with high HP and defense, deals devastating sword and spear damage, and can effortlessly pivot between a frontline tank and a relentless attacker. Its simplicity allows new players to master combat fundamentals while remaining brutally effective. Early-game enemies are frequently weak to its weapon types, ensuring a smooth and dominant start.
- Optimal Synergy: Pairs perfectly with the Cleric for a self-sustaining tank or the Thief for a high-damage, critical-focused bruiser.
- Cleric: The Indispensable Heart
- Why It's Top-Tier: Survival is paramount, and the Cleric guarantees it. As the game's premier healer, starting as a Cleric ensures your party's longevity from the very first chapter, filling a role that is scarce in early recruitable companions. Beyond healing, it evolves into a defensive bulwark, providing essential buffs and becoming the absolute pillar of any successful late-game party composition.
- Optimal Synergy: Combine with the Apothecary to create an unstoppable dual-healing force, or with the Warrior to build an impenetrable "Paladin" style frontliner.
- Scholar: The Elemental Archetype
- Why It's Top-Tier: For players who favor magical supremacy. The Scholar commands the highest elemental (Fire, Ice, Lightning) damage output in the game. While physically frail, when positioned strategically in the back row, it can unleash spells that decimate enemy lines. Its power scaling is consistent and formidable from early to endgame, making it a reliable primary damage dealer.
- Optimal Synergy: The Apothecary secondary job creates a versatile "Red Mage" hybrid. Cleric or Merchant sub-jobs also provide excellent utility and sustainability for a dedicated caster.
A-Tier: Excellent & Versatile Choices
These jobs are powerful and offer unique advantages, though they may requireslightly more specific strategies or partner combinations to reach their full potential as a main character.
- Merchant: The Economic Engine
- Key Advantages: A fantastic support choice that boosts the entire party's economicgrowth. Passive skills increase acquired gold (Gil) and Job Points (JP), accelerating your party's progression. It also excels at recruiting NPC helpers for battle. In combat, it provides flexible support throughfunding allies' turns and dealing reliable lance damage.
- Optimal Synergy: Works wonderfully with the Thief for a swift, evasive support character, or the Dancer to amplify buffing capabilities.
- Apothecary: The Resilient Support
- Key Advantages: The secondary healer with exceptional utility. The Apothecary focuseson single-target healing, HP/SP restoration via items, and removingstatus ailments. It often has a more efficient SP economy than theCleric for sustained healing. This class provides immense survivabilityand is a cornerstone of any defensive party strategy.
- Optimal Synergy: Naturally, the Cleric combination is the ultimate healing core. Pairing with Scholar creates a potent and self-sufficient hybrid spellcaster.
B-Tier: Niche or Redundant Picks
These classes are fully viable and can be strong in the right hands, but aregenerally not recommended as a primary starting choice due to early-game redundancy or a steeper learning curve.
- Thief: The Speedy Specialist
- Considerations: An incredibly fast and agile class focused on daggers, critical hits,and stealing. The primary drawback is that several excellentdagger-wielding companions are recruitable very early in the story,potentially making a main character Thief feel less unique. However, its speed and utility are undeniable assets.
- Optimal Synergy: Combines well with the Warrior for a deadly damage-dealer or the Dancer for a supremely evasive buffing unit.
- Hunter: The Ranged Physical Expert
- Considerations: Masters of the bow and axe, Hunters provide valuable ranged physicalattacks and can summon beasts. Similar to the Thief, a key Huntercompanion joins the party very early, which can diminish the value ofstarting as one. It remains a solid physical damage option, especiallyfor covering multiple weapon weaknesses.
- Optimal Synergy: The Thief sub-job maximizes speed and critical potential, while Warrior creates a character proficient in all major physical weapon types.
- Dancer: The Late-Game Buffer
- Considerations: A potent support class that shines brightest in the mid-to-late game.Dancers provide essential stat-boosting buffs and dark elementalattacks. The challenge is their early-game impact can feel subduedcompared to more immediately impactful classes, and some of their bestgear is found later on.
- Optimal Synergy: Pairs excellently with the Thief for a versatile support/attacker, or the Apothecary to create a resilient buffing and healing specialist.
Final Verdict: Begin Your Journey with Strength
For a seamless and powerful start in Octopath Traveler 0, you cannot go wrong with an S-Tier selection. The Warrior offers brute-force simplicity and dominance, the Cleric provides essential, unrivaled support, and the Scholar delivers magical devastation.
Your choice ultimately defines your narrative and strategic approach.Consider your preferred playstyle—whether you want to lead from thefront with steel, sustain your allies with healing arts, or command theelements—and choose the job that will make your hero's tale in Osterralegendary from the very first step.
▶
Other Articles Related
Best Starting Job in Octopath Traveler 0Discover the ultimate beginning in Octopath Traveler! Our guide reveals the best starting job for your hero's journey, factoring in combat, story, andlong-term party synergy.
How to Find the Mythical Horn in Octopath Traveler 2?Learn how to find the mythical horn in Octopath Traveler 2 from one of the game's developers.
How to get all Scholar Licenses in Octopath Traveler 2Want to know How to get all Scholar Licenses in Octopath Traveler 2? Here’s how to get all Scholar Licenses in Octopath Traveler 2.
Where to find the Master Thief’s Sapphire Stone in Octopath Traveler 2Where to find the Master Thief’s Sapphire Stone in Octopath Traveler 2 is the latest game in the Octopath Traveler series.
Where to find the Thieves’ Gem in Octopath Traveler 2Learn more about the quest and Where to find the Thieves’ Gem in Octopath Traveler 2
How to Get the Brooch of Joy in Octopath Traveler 2How to Get the Brooch of Joy in Octopath Traveler 2 is a helpful guide with all the information you need to complete the special quest in the game.
How to Unlock All Hidden Jobs in Octopath Traveler 2How to Unlock All Hidden Jobs in Octopath Traveler 2? Unlock all of them with this guide to get the ultimate challenge.
Where to Find All Altar in Octopath Traveler 2In this article, we’ll tell Where to Find All Altar in Octopath Traveler 2
Where to Find All licenses in Octopath Traveler 2Here Where to Find All licenses in Octopath Traveler 2 and how you can obtain them.
How To Get Secondary Jobs In Octopath Traveler 2How To Get Secondary Jobs In Octopath Traveler 2. This blog post discusses how to get secondary jobs in the popular RPG Octopath Traveler 2.
How To Catch All Shine Animals in Raise AnimalsLearn how to catch every Shine Animal in Raise Animals with our step-by-stepguide. Discover locations, tips, and tricks to complete your collectionand master the game.
How To Get Ceremonial Dagger in Risk of Rain 2Acquire the Ceremonial Dagger - the ultimate Survivor's guide to finding anddominating with this powerful Lunar Item in Risk of Rain 2. Unlock itspotential now!
How to Kill O.S.C.A.R. in Black Ops 7 ZombiesLearn the definitive strategy to defeat O.S.C.A.R. in Black Ops 7 Zombies.Discover weapon loadouts, critical weak points, and phase-by-phasetactics to eliminate the boss.
All Perk-a-Cola Locations in Astra Malorum for Black Ops 7 ZombiesDiscover every Perk-a-Cola machine location in Astra Malorum for Black Ops 7Zombies. Maximize your loadout and survival strategy with our completemap guide.
How to Unlock Scholar and Undertaker in Elden Ring NightreignLearn how to add the Scholar and Undertaker spirits to your arsenal in theElden Ring Nightreign mod. Step-by-step guide to unlock these powerfulnew companions.