Lightning

Game Final Fantasy XIII

Type Character

Card Number 13/81

Lightning

Sprite

Unique Character

No. ✩ 28 Game FFXIII

Unlocked at Level

Gear Sword

Ability Lightning Strike

This lady of the Bodhum Security Regiment is a true pro, and far from a yes-woman.

Lightning

Eidolon Odin (Chapter 4)

Base HP 200

Maximum HP 20,000

Base Strength 15

Maximum Strength 1,700

Base Magic 15

Maximum Magic 1,700

Starting Weapon Blazefire Saber

Primary Roles Commando, Ravager, Medic

Accessory Crystal Medic 3

Accessory Crystal Ravager 8

Accessory Crystal Commando 10

ATB Level Crystal Commando 8

Chapter 1

Lightning – Commando Crystarium

Character Lightning

Role Commando

Lightning is an effective Commando, lacking only the Adrenaline and Deathblow auto Abilities. She's your most effective Commando until Fang shows up, and remains powerful until late in the game, though her low HP total does become an issue against the most powerful enemies out there.

Lightning – Medic Crystarium

Character Lightning

Role Medic

For most of the game, Lightning is an effective Medic, if not quite on par with Vanille and Hope. As the game wears on, she becomes better as a secondary Medic, and by the time you're mastering multiple Crystarium Roles, she's all but worthless. This is entirely due to her lack of access to the Curasa Ability (to say nothing of Curaja). Cure just won't cut it once your party's HP is in the five-digit range, limiting Lightning's job as a Medic to casting Esuna and perhaps Raise.

Lightning – Ravager Crystarium

Character Lightning

Role Ravager

Ravager is perhaps Lightning's best overall Role. She gets a complete set of auto Abilities and every spell in the first two tiers. What she lacks is -ga spells, getting only Thundaga. While you can certainly live without them, the lack of Aeroga in particular is a bit painful. On the upside, her unique Army of One Ability is fantastic for building chain bonuses against staggered opponents, and combos very well with her Attack: ATB Charge Weapons.

Lightning – Saboteur Crystarium

Character Lightning

Role Saboteur

As a secondary Role, it's not surprising that Lightning has a rather limited set of Saboteur Abilities. She lacks any way to inflict Slow, Curse, Daze, Fog, or Pain, and also lacks Dispel, which can be a problem against some foes. However, she does get both the single- and multiple-target forms of Deprotect, Deshell, Imperil, and Poison, making her quite good at lowering defenses of single enemies or entire groups.

Lightning – Sentinel Crystarium

Character Lightning

Role Sentinel

Lightning is an interesting Sentinel, relying on the Elude Ability rather than Mediguard or Steelguard. This Ability (the only one she can use besides Provoke) allows her to dodge attacks with a very high rate of success. However, it only works on Physical attacks, making Lightning a sitting duck against Magic-wielding foes. Still, when it works, it's very effective and requires very little healing.

Lightning – Synergist Crystarium

Character Lightning

Role Synergist

Lightning is a surprisingly effective Synergist, gaining all of the basic Abilities with the exception of Bar-spells. Her biggest failing is not learning Haste or Vigilance until Crystarium stage 10, however. Once all is said and done, she's quite effective simply because Bar-spells aren't of much use against the toughest enemies anyway. Too bad there's no Barstone in this game.