Part 72: Job Profile: Scholar
Job Profile: Scholar
In-Game Description posted:
Scholars can examine enemies and spot their weak points. They can also enhance the effects of items they use. They can dispel magic effects from enemies they've studied. Surprisingly enough, these bookworms can also use magic!
Unlocked: Fire Crystal
Weapons: Books
Shields: No
Armour: Robes
Magic: Level 1-3 White and Black
Unique Ability: Study
Stats (Level 50):
Str 34 Agi 38 Vit 22 Int 50 Mnd 26
Stats (Level 99):
Str 63 Agi 71 Vit 38 Int 99 Mnd 45
Scholars are a big gimmick class, and like every other gimmick class in this game, that puts them at a severe disadvantage. Their Study ability, which is their apparent gimmick, is useless and should pretty much never be used; that goes double if you've got the option of looking at GameFAQs instead. The Scholar's real use is their hidden ability, which doubles the effect of items when a Scholar uses them. That's not much for Potions (but it could be a bit handy for Phoenix Downs), but it makes attack items really shine. And since your only other options for damage from a Scholar are physical attacks (which mean front row damage - too risky) and baby school Black Magic (outdated before you can make consistent use of it), that's where your damage is coming from. But that means that you need a constant supply of attack items, which means grinding (or cheating!), and grinding means EXP, and EXP means every other job is getting better, too.
The Scholar doesn't exactly shine stat-wise, either. The game's lowest Vitality means that the Scholar's going to end up making very poor showings in HP, and that means they're going to be a major liability in something like a boss fight, where an enemy can do serious damage. Their Intelligence is tied for highest in the game, and that makes them even more of a threat with attack items - a level 99 Scholar with a serious supply of those will be unparalleled for elemental damage - but it's wasted on their Black Magic, which caps out on second-tier spells (if you really need Black Magic, go with a Black Mage). Their Strength is fairly solid, but the front row is the suicide row for a squishy class like this. One interesting thing about Scholars is that they gain JP faster than other classes (24 per action), so they gain job levels faster, but that's not really going to make up for their shortcomings. Long story short, the Scholar isn't suited to long-term use, but can be an interesting novelty when it's backed up by a ton of attack items. Skip 'em.