Part 79: Job Profile: Black Belt
Job Profile: Black Belt
In-Game Description posted:
Black belts are experts in unarmed combat. They can boost their attack power to deal massive damage, but be careful not to boost too much!
Unlocked: Earth Crystal
Weapons: Fists, Claws
Shields: No
Armour: Light
Unique Command: Boost
Stats (Level 50):
Str 50 Agi 38 Vit 50 Int 22 Mnd 22
Stats (Level 99):
Str 99 Agi 71 Vit 99 Int 38 Mnd 38
Black Belts are an improved version of the earlier Monk job, with the same focus on barehanded fighting, but switching counterattacks out for being able to increase the damage of a single attack with Boost. Honestly, Boost isn't that spectacular - used once, it doubles the power of the next attack, and used twice it triples it; you can do twice the damage in two turns, or thrice in three. That's the same as just regular attacking, though, so you're not getting much of a value. You also have to be careful not to Boost three times - if you do, the Black Belt blows themselves up and loses half their current HP, which is no good to anyone.
These guys are spectacular attackers, with high HP, constantly growing power (as barehanded Attack increases with job level), and solid Agility. As a fringe benefit, the Black Belt's Vitality increases directly with character level, giving them the best HP growth in the game - if you want to make the game easier, gain ten levels as a Black Belt. Hell, if you want 9,999 HP, this is pretty much the only option you've got. This is one of the best physical classes in the game, to be honest, with its only real weakness being that it comes so late and requires grinding to get into equal form with other, earlier jobs.