Soldier (Tactics)

Soldier is a novelty job in Final Fantasy Tactics, as it is Cloud's default job. The job is named after SOLDIER, the elite unit of powerful warriors under the command of the Shinra Electric Power Company, a major antagonist in Final Fantasy VII, and the division which Cloud Strife claimed affiliation with.
Its abilities involve dealing heavy damage to a single foe, based on Cloud's Limit Breaks from Final Fantasy VII, except Cherry Blossom. It costs 6,730 JP to master.
==Stats==
Prerequisite	Weapons	Helmet 	Armor 	Equip Shields?
None 	Swords 	Hats, Ribbons	Clothes	No
Move Rate	Jump Rate	Speed	Physical Evasion Rate	Base Attack	Base Magic	Base HP	Base MP
3 	3 	9 	20% 	Medium 	Medium 	Medium 	Medium
==Abilities==
===Limit===
Cloud must be equipped with the Materia Blade to use these abilities.
The damage formula for Limit is as follows:
:Magick Attack \times PWR
Name	Range 	Effect 	Speed 	JP Needed
() 	2 	1 	34 	150
() 	A limit skill that slashes swiftly at the target. 	A limit skill that slashes swiftly at the target. 	A limit skill that slashes swiftly at the target. 	A limit skill that slashes swiftly at the target.
() 	2 	2 	25 	200
() 	A limit skill that slices the target in a cross-cut pattern. 	A limit skill that slices the target in a cross-cut pattern. 	A limit skill that slices the target in a cross-cut pattern. 	A limit skill that slices the target in a cross-cut pattern.
 	2 	1 	20 	250
 	A limit skill that inflicts damage commensurate with the damage the user has endured. 	A limit skill that inflicts damage commensurate with the damage the user has endured. 	A limit skill that inflicts damage commensurate with the damage the user has endured. 	A limit skill that inflicts damage commensurate with the damage the user has endured.
 	2 	1 	15 	450
 	A limit skill that inflicts damage commensurate with the damage the target has already suffered.	A limit skill that inflicts damage commensurate with the damage the target has already suffered.	A limit skill that inflicts damage commensurate with the damage the target has already suffered.	A limit skill that inflicts damage commensurate with the damage the target has already suffered.
 	3 	3 	10 	560
 	A limit skill that inflicts damage by summoning a meteor out of the sky. 	A limit skill that inflicts damage by summoning a meteor out of the sky. 	A limit skill that inflicts damage by summoning a meteor out of the sky. 	A limit skill that inflicts damage by summoning a meteor out of the sky.
() 	3 	2 	20 	670
() 	A limit skill that inflicts a variety of status effects.Effect: KO, Stone, Stop. 	A limit skill that inflicts a variety of status effects.Effect: KO, Stone, Stop. 	A limit skill that inflicts a variety of status effects.Effect: KO, Stone, Stop. 	A limit skill that inflicts a variety of status effects.Effect: KO, Stone, Stop.
 	3 	3 	7 	900/1200
 	Another ultimate limit skill. 	Another ultimate limit skill. 	Another ultimate limit skill. 	Another ultimate limit skill.
 	3 	3 	5 	1200/2500
 	The most powerful limit skill. 	The most powerful limit skill. 	The most powerful limit skill. 	The most powerful limit skill.
===Reaction abilities===
Name	Description 	Trigger 	JP Needed
 	Counterattack with a tackle.	Physical Attack	180
===Support abilities===
Name	Description 	JP Needed
 	Equip axes, regardless of job. 	170
() 	Adds an ability to all monsters in neighboring tiles with an elevation difference of 3h or less.	200
 	Defend oneself against an attack. Adds the Defend command. 	50
() 	Increase the amount of JP earned in battle. 	250
===Movement abilities===
Name	Description 	JP Needed
 	Increase Move by 1.	200
== Gameplay ==
The Soldier is a special job capable of dealing high magickal damage, with balanced stats across the board. Its Limit job command has versatile abilities to deal damage in various ways, and some also can inflict status ailments. The Soldier is unique as the only male-job (other than the Onion Knight) that can equip otherwise female-exclusive ribbons, a nod the Cloud crossdressing in the original Final Fantasy VII. Cloud is the only playable Soldier (should the player recruit him).
To use Limit, the Soldier must equip the Materia Blade, which is a secret treasure found at the top of Bervenia Volcano via a Chemist's Treasure Hunter ability. It also can be obtained via Melee and Rendezvous. 
Limit abilities have a charge time, deal damage based on Cloud's magick attack, and can only target tiles, with area of effect being limited to units on the same height. To maximize the Soldier's Limit damage, it is recommended to boost magickal attack as much as possible. The Black Mage's Arcane Strength support ability increases attack by 33%, while the Bard's Magick Boost reaction ability grants +1 magick attack whenever taking damage.
However, the Soldier benefits the most from the Time Mage's Swiftness (or Haste for faster ones) to circumvent its slow Limit charges as well as bypassing damage limitations with Blade Beam (based on Cloud's current HP and could work with Critical: Quick or Reraise), Climhazzard (based on enemy's HP), or inflict debuffs with Finishing Touch. 
A Geomancer build will increase magick attack and movement for Cloud as well as let him equip a shield while keeping his Materia Blade for Limit. Time Mages would need Equip Sword though both can quickly inflict status ailments to provide time for Limit.
The Soldier's powerful abilities are offset by long charge times, with Cherry Blossom being one of the slowest abilities in the game. Cloud's limited equipment pool means he cannot wear heavy armor, shields, nor wield knight swords, which—combined with his average stats and minimal magick attack growth—make his abilities not as effective as other jobs', especially the "special Knight" jobs. The Materia Blade also has a poor attack rating, meaning Cloud will not be able to deal high damage with physical attacks either. The Soldier also suffers from low mobility, which can be eased by equipping movement abilities, such as its own Move +1, the Thief's Move +2, or even Teleport.
==Other appearances==
===Final Fantasy Record Keeper===
Cloud can use his Cherry Blossom ability.
FFRK Cherry Blossom FFT 1.png|1st part.
FFRK Cherry Blossom FFT 2.png|2nd part.
FFRK Cherry Blossom FFT 3.png|3rd part.
==Gallery==
FFT Braver.png|Brave Slash.
FFT Cross-Slash.png|Cross Slash.
FFT Blade Beam.png|Blade Beam.
FFT Climhazzard.png|Climhazzard.
FFT Meteorain.png|Meteorain.
FFT Finishing Touch.png|Finishing Touch.
FFT Omnislash.png|Omnislash.
FFT Cherry Blossom 1.png|Cherry Blossom 1st part.
FFT Cherry Blossom 2.png|Cherry Blossom 2nd part.
FFT Cherry Blossom 3.png|Cherry Blossom 3rd part.
==Etymology==
Category:Jobs in Final Fantasy Tactics