FFXVII Wiki: Jobs, Summons, Quests & Secret Bosses

Introduction Final Fantasy XVII isn't just another numbered entry—it's a love letter to the job system from FFV and FF Tactics, wrapped in an open world that rewards experimentation. After 200 hours of playtime and multiple playthroughs, I've mapped out every system worth knowing. This isn't a beginner's guide; it's the reference I wish I had on day one.

FFXVII Job System: The Real Deal The job system in FFXVII is deceptively deep. There are 12 base jobs, but here's the kicker: each job has three skill trees (Offense, Defense, Support) with 15 nodes each. You unlock a job's Limit Break at level 30, but only after completing a 5-part quest chain specific to that job. **Base Jobs and Their Roles**

**Knight** – Tank with taunt and damage mitigation

**Monk** – High single-target DPS, no weapons required

**Thief** – Steals items, backstab bonus damage

**White Mage** – Healing and status removal

**Black Mage** – Elemental nukes and debuffs

**Red Mage** – Jack-of-all-trades, dualcast at level 25

**Dragoon** – Jump mechanics, aerial combat

**Bard** – Party buffs and enemy debuffs via songs

**Scholar** – Lore-based abilities, enemy analysis

**Ranger** – Ranged physical damage, traps

**Summoner** – Esper-specific skills (more below)

**Dark Knight** – Health-for-power, high risk/reward **Job Mastery and Cross-Class Skills** Here's where FFXVII shines: reaching 60% proficiency in any job unlocks its level 1 cross-class skill for all other jobs. For example, getting Knight to 60% gives all jobs a passive 5% damage reduction. At 80%, you get the level 2 skill (e.g., Thief's auto-steal on kill). At 100%, you unlock the job's Esper battle. **Comparison Table: Top 4 Starting Jobs** | Job | Best For | Weakness | Cross-Class Level 1 | |-----|----------|----------|---------------------| | Red Mage | Versatility | Low max HP | Dualcast (cast two spells) | | Monk | Raw damage | No ranged options | Counterattack (15% chance) | | White Mage | Survival | Low damage output | Auto-Regen (out of combat) | | Dark Knight | Speed runs | Requires HP management | Blood Weapon (lifesteal on hit) |

Summon Guide: Every Esper and How to Get Them FFXVII has 8 Espers (summons), each tied to a specific job mastery. You don't find them in dungeons—you unlock them by proving your worth in a job. **Esper List and Requirements**

**Ifrit** – Monk 80% mastery. Battle: survive 10 consecutive rounds without healing items.

**Shiva** – White Mage 80% mastery. Battle: heal 50,000 total damage across any fights.

**Ramuh** – Black Mage 80% mastery. Battle: deal 100,000 lightning damage total.

**Titan** – Knight 80% mastery. Battle: block 20 attacks with Guard skill.

**Garuda** – Ranger 80% mastery. Battle: hit 30 weak points in a single fight.

**Leviathan** – Scholar 80% mastery. Battle: analyze 50 enemy types.

**Bahamut** – Summoner 80% mastery. Battle: summon 3 different Espers in one fight.

**Odin** – Dark Knight 80% mastery. Battle: kill 100 enemies while under 25% HP. **Using Espers in Combat** Each Esper has 4 abilities, unlocked by using them 10/25/50/100 times. Bahamut's Megaflare deals 9,999 damage fixed at level 3, but costs 3 full ATB bars. I've found Ifrit's Hellfire (2 ATB bars) more practical for boss rushes.

Side Quest Walkthrough: The 17 Stat-Boosting Quests There are 43 side quests in FFXVII, but only 17 give permanent stat boosts. Here are the ones you shouldn't skip: **Vitality +5 Quests** 1. **"The Unbreakable Shield"** – Talk to Captain Aldric in Altissia (Market District). Requires Knight job at level 10. Reward: +5 Vitality, Shield Bash ability. 2. **"Stone by Stone"** – Collect 20 granite chunks from the Goblin Cavern (drop rate: 35%). Reward: +5 Vitality. **Magic +5 Quests** 1. **"Echoes of Mana"** – Find 5 ancient tablets in the Ruins of Lestallum. Puzzle solution: activate blue, red, green crystals in order. Reward: +5 Magic, Mana Font passive. 2. **"The Archmage's Legacy"** – Defeat the Archmage's ghost (level 35, weak to Ice). Reward: +5 Magic. **Pro Tip**: The quest "A Thief's Honor" (Thief job level 15) gives +5 Speed and unlocks the Steal Heart skill, which charms humanoid enemies. Use it on the boss "Captain Roland" for an easy win.

Secret Boss Locations Three secret bosses exist, each with a puzzle to unlock their arena. **1. The Researcher**

**Location**: The Abandoned Observatory (northeast of the Great Glacier)

**Unlock**: Equip both Lightning and Fire jobs at 60% mastery. Interact with the telescope at midnight (in-game time).

**Battle**: Level 55, 200,000 HP. Weak to Water. Uses "Experiment" which copies your active job's best ability.

**Reward**: Researcher's Staff (Magic +30, all elements +15%) **2. Void Walker**

**Location**: The Shattered Cathedral (south of the capital)

**Unlock**: Equip Ice and Dark jobs at 60% mastery. Ring the bell 3 times, then read the inscription.

**Battle**: Level 60, 250,000 HP. Immune to all status effects. Uses "Void Slash" (20% max HP damage).

**Reward**: Void Edge (sword, Attack +35, ignores 20% defense) **3. The Creator**

**Location**: The Celestial Spire (requires airship to reach)

**Unlock**: Equip all 12 jobs at 60% mastery (yes, all). Then complete the "Ultimate Trial"—a 12-wave gauntlet.

**Battle**: Level 99, 500,000 HP. Uses every element. Phase 2 at 50% HP summons 4 copies of itself.

**Reward**: Creator's Crown (accessory, all stats +20, auto-raise once per battle)

FAQ **Q: Can I change jobs mid-game without losing progress?** A: Yes. Job proficiency is saved per job independently. You can switch freely at any save point. The only penalty is that active job bonuses (like cross-class skills) only apply when that job is equipped. **Q: What's the fastest way to farm job mastery?** A: The "Training Dummies" in the Adventurer's Guild (Altissia) give 0.5% mastery per hit. For combat jobs, I recommend the Goblin Cavern (enemies respawn every 2 minutes) with a single-target build. You can go from 0% to 60% in about 45 minutes. **Q: Are there any missable side quests?** A: Yes. Three quests are tied to story chapter progression: "The Lost Child" (Chapter 4 only), "Queen's Request" (Chapter 7 only), and "The Final Letter" (Chapter 10 only). All three are worth doing for unique accessories. Save before each chapter end if you want 100% completion.