Trials of Mana includes a basic character class system that is intended to add more replay value to the game. Each of the six characters has six possible character class choices (not counting their default choice) - they can choose a light or dark option, and then that option has a light or dark option.
The various class choices in Trials of Mana will affect what abilities and spells the character will gain over the course of the game, so it's not a decision to be taken lightly.
The First Class Change
The first class change that can be performed by each character can be undertaken when they hit level eighteen. The player needs to visit a Mana Stone or travel to the land of Mana in order to start the change. A brief cutscene will play and the player will be given the choice between two classes. Once selected, the decision is permanent and there is no way to reverse it short of reloading an older save.
Where The ??? Seeds Appear
The second class change can be performed when the character hits level thirty-eight. The character also needs to acquire a specific item in order to switch class a second time. The items are grown from ??? Seeds which need to be farmed from enemies within a specific dungeon. The seeds in question will spawn in different places, depending on which character was chosen first. If the player chose Angela or Duran, then the seeds will appear in the Glass Desert and Dragon's Hole. If the player chose Charlotte or Kevin, then the seeds will appear in the Illusion Palace and Mirage Jungle. If the player chose Hawkeye or Riesz, then they will appear in the Cave of Darkness and Dark Castle.
Angela's Possible Classes
Angela starts out as a Magician, which gives her access to basic elemental damaging spells. If Angela takes the dark route and becomes a Mysticist, then she gains a powerful dark-element spell. If Angela takes the light route and becomes a Sorceress, then she gains access to a range of elemental spells that can only hit a single target.
If Angela becomes a Mysticist and takes the dark route, then she will become a Magus, which gives access to a range of powerful elemental spells. If Angela takes the light route, then she will become a Rune Seer, which gives her access to a mixture of damaging spells and status effect spells.
If Angela becomes a Sorceress and takes the light route, then she will become a Grand Diviner and can cast a powerful non-elemental spell. If Angela takes the dark route, then she will become an Archmage and will also learn a powerful non-elemental spell. The Archmage version of Angela can have a higher Spirit stat, while the Grand Diviner can have a higher Intellect stat.
Charlotte's Possible Classes
Charlotte starts out as a Cleric. If she takes the light route, then she will become a Priestess and gain access to a Holy-element damaging spell, as well as several elemental buffing spells. If she takes the dark route, then she will become an Enchantress and gain access to some basic summon monster spells, which are similar to the ones from the Final Fantasy series.
If Charlotte becomes an Enchantress and takes the light route, then she will become a Necromancer and gain access to more powerful summon spells and some status effect spells. If she takes the dark route, then she will become a Warlock and gains access to summon monster spells and elemental affinity buffing spells.
If Charlotte becomes a Priestess and takes the light route, then she will become a High Cleric and her old spells will improve so that they can affect multiple party members at once. If she takes the dark route, then she will become a Sage and will gain some of the best buffing spells in the game.
Duran's Possible Classes
Duran starts out as a Fighter. If he takes the light route, then he will become a Knight and will gain access to a healing spell. If he takes the dark route, then he will become a Gladiator and will gain access to several elemental affinity buffing spells.
If Duran becomes a Gladiator and takes the light route, then he will become an Edelfrei and will gain access to even more powerful elemental affinity buffing spells. If he takes the dark route, then he will become a Duelist and will gain the ability to cast the darkness-affinity buffing spell.
If Duran becomes a Knight and takes the light route, then he will become a Paladin and will gain access to one of the best elemental affinity buffing spells in the game. If he takes the dark route, then he will become a Liege and will gain access to a spell that heals status elements.
Hawkeye's Possible Classes
Hawkeye starts out as a Thief. If he takes the light route, then he will become a Ranger and will gain several abilities that mimic the bad effects from random chests. If he takes the dark route, then he will become a Ninja and will gain access to several spell-like abilities that deal damage and lower the enemy's stats.
If Hawkeye becomes a Ninja and takes the light route, then he will become a Ninja Master and his spell-like attacks will gain the ability to hit multiple targets. If he takes the dark route, then he will become a Nightblade and will gain several powerful status effect attacks.
If Hawkeye becomes a Ranger and takes the light route, then he will become a Nomad and will gain access to a range of stat-boosting spells. If he takes the dark route, then he will become a Rogue and will gain several abilities that mimic the throwing items in the game, along with gaining a few unique attacks.
Kevin's Possible Classes
Kevin starts out as a Grappler. If he takes the light route, then he will become a Monk and will gain a healing spell and a buffing spell that makes his base form as strong as his beast form. If he takes the dark route, then he will become a Brawler and will gain no new abilities, but his strength stat will drastically increase over time.
If Kevin becomes a Brawler and takes the light route, then he will become a Fatal Fist and will gain access to a spell that is meant to increase damage. If he takes the dark route then he will become an Enlightened and will gain a spell that allows him to heal the damage that is dealt to enemies.
If Kevin becomes a Monk and takes the light route, then he will become a Divine Fist and will gain a spell that fills the technique gauge of an ally. If he takes the dark route, then he will become a Warrior Monk and will gain a group healing spell and a spell that absorbs magic points from the enemy.
Riesz's Possible Classes
Riesz starts out as an Amazon. If she takes the light route, then she will become a Valkyrie and will gain several buffing spells. If she takes the dark route, then she will become a Rune Maiden and will gain several debuffing spells.
If Riesz becomes a Rune Maiden and takes the light route, then she will become a Dragon Master and will gain access to a powerful summon monster spell. If she takes the dark route, then she will become a Fenrir Knight and will gain access to a powerful summon monster spell and her debuffing spells will affect multiple enemies at once.
If Riesz becomes a Valkyrie and takes the light route, then she will become a Vanadis and will gain a powerful summon monster spell. If she takes the dark route, then she will become a Starlancer and will gain a powerful summon monster spell and her buffing spells will affect the whole party at once.