Part 75: Job Profile: Viking
Job Profile: Viking
In-Game Description posted:
Vikings have the ability to lure enemies into attacking them instead of other members of the party, but it's gonna hurt!
Unlocked: Water Crystal
Weapons: Hammers, Axes
Shields: Yes
Armour: Heavy
Unique Command: Provoke
Stats (Level 50):
Str 50 Agi 26 Vit 38 Int 26 Mnd 29
Stats (Level 99):
Str 99 Agi 45 Vit 71 Int 45 Mnd 52
Vikings are a class that's meant to be a tank, with their Provoke ability drawing attacks in towards the Viking, while reducing the enemy's defences. What that means, though, is that the Viking would be constantly taking damage, which requires the best armour available (not a problem, really) as well as being in the back row and, to maximise their defense, throwing on two shields (which is bad, it kills offence). Also, for whatever reason, the Viking's Vitality only goes up to 71 - in the NES version, it went up to 98, and 71 is lower than the Knight's Vitality. I don't know why a tank would have such low Vitality.
Generally, I just don't like the Viking. It's really kind of a boring class, and I'm not sure that Provoke actually has any effect on multi-target attacks, which are the main threat fighting any boss is the back half of the game. High Strength/low Vitality means taking a hit on attack modifiers, which leaves them behind other physical classes, and they have to be on the defensive most of the time to deal with powerful hits anyway. These guys just don't have enough going for them for me to ever use them.