For the majority of people, the Final Fantasy series is notable mainly for a few stalwart titles that achieved sizeable popularity over the course of this franchise's tenure. Games like Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy X, and Final Fantasy XV come to mind, with these three games arguably being the most well-known of the lot. However, hardcore fans of the franchise would be more than happy to counter this by stating that the earlier games in the series had some of the best storytelling and combat that has featured in the JRPG series.
Out of all of these 2D games, a strong argument can be made that Final Fantasy VI is probably the best out of the lot. In fact, some have gone so far as to state that this title is the best the series has come out with by far, with devout fans clamoring for a remake akin to the one Final Fantasy VII is receiving.
However, that is a separate topic altogether. For gamers who wish to ingratiate themselves to the incredible nature of Final Fantasy VI, the first thing to keep in mind are the party members and how useful they actually are. Keeping this in mind, here are all the party members of Final Fantasy VI ranked from weakest to strongest.
14 Umaro
Before we get started, you'll notice a pattern in this list — characters that have limited control as supposed to some of the other members on the list are bound to take a hit. Umaro is the first man (yeti?) down in this regard. While he might be the hardest hitting physical character in the game, the fact that the player can't control him is a massive detriment. Add to this the fact that he barely plays any role in the story, and you've got yourself a recipe for disaster.
13 Gogo
Mimics, in general, are a pretty cool addition in the Final Fantasy series. However — more often than not — they end up being nothing more than gimmicks that aren't all that useful in critical situations. Gogo suffers from this debilitation, being a pretty versatile character that is unfortunately weak in all departments.
12 Gau
The manner in which the party obtains Gau is pretty freakin' memorable, serving as one of the many reasons why people adore Final Fantasy VI. However, aside from this novelty, Gau isn't all that great. The lack of control is one of the biggest reasons why this character becomes obscure further down the line.
11 Setzer Gabbiani
The gambling stereotype is a character that most people frown upon in the Final Fantasy series (Cait Sith is perhaps the most notorious example). In Final Fantasy VI, Setzer Gabbiani takes over this role, and — true to form — he's as useless as can be. Luck is hardly something to count upon anywhere, let alone a JRPG. This makes Setzer incredibly unreliable as a party member.
10 Strago Magus
While he might be an excellent mage, the fact of the matter is that Strago joins the party too late to make any substantial impact. Most people choose to ignore him in favor of established party members like Celes or Terra, and for good reason.
9 Locke Cole
Thieves generally tend to be quite useful when it comes to stealing rare items from certain enemies in Final Fantasy games — and JRPGs in general. However, this use is very specific, with most thieves becomes pretty useless otherwise.
Locke suffers from this exact problem. While he's definitely quite fast, he needs to be built up properly if the player wants him to be useful, which is a big ask.
8 Relm Arrowny
Relm is the strongest magic user in the game, but she's also pretty weak and — just like Strago — comes pretty late into the game. By that time, it's very much likely that you'll already have two excellent magic users in the party, making Relm pretty useless in comparison.
7 Mog
By all accounts, Mog shouldn't have been as useful as he actually can be. An optional character who happens to be a Moogle is also one of the most useful and unique characters in the game? Now that's a story indeed!
6 Cyan Garamode
The samurai with an incredibly tragic backstory — summing up Cyan in one sentence is impossible due to how multi-faceted his character actually is. While his physical prowess is definitely excellent, points are taken off for his Bushido ability that takes way too long to reach the higher levels.
5 Celes Chere
The general with a heart of gold — it's easy to see why most people absolutely adore Celes. While most people prefer Terra when it comes to pure magic usage, that fact that Celes' stats are pretty well-rounded make her an excellent addition to the party.
4 Edgar Figaro
An entertaining character who easily becomes a critical member of your party — especially in the first half of the game — anybody who's played Final Fantasy VI will understand why Edgar sports such a prestigious position on this list. His Tools are a godsend and help dish out loads of damage with ease.
3 Terra Branford
While it's true that Final Fantasy VI doesn't exactly have a main character, one can easily consider Terra to be one of the pivotal characters in the game. The entire story kicks off with her exit from the Gestahlian army and the transformations she goes through — both physically and mentally — are a treat to witness.
2 Shadow
In terms of coolness, Shadow pretty much tops the list as one of the most memorable and intimidating Final Fantasy characters of all time, with a backstory that is both parts intriguing and memorable. In terms of gameplay, Shadow can dish out some major damage with his Throw ability, making him an absolute.
1 Sabin Figaro
If a man can suplex a train, then he can pretty much do anything. This statement is one of the major reasons why Sabin has become such an iconic part of the game, featuring a Blitz ability that made using this character all the more enjoyable. If you want to enjoy Final Fantasy VI to the fullest, then having this character as a stalwart member of your party is a must!