Asterisk Holder: Kamiizumi (in Bravely Default)

Origin: Final Fantasy V (called “Samurai”)

Was It In Bravely Default?: Yes

Overview: Despite their name, katana are actually the preferred weapon of a Swordmaster. Their Bushido skills allow them to wield the blades expertly, predicting their enemies’ moves and preparing devastating counterattacks to throw them off-guard. A Swordmaster will also sometimes immediately counter after being attacked (or attack again after a standard attack) without using up any BP. And, for those able to master the way of the sword/katana, one of the most legendary abilities awaits you…

Personal Thoughts: While Swordmasters are clearly based on the Samurai of Final Fantasy fame, they’ve given up their traditional ability of throwing money at people (see Merchant) and instead focus on counters named after old sayings. Oh, and the beautifully broken Free Lunch ability you get for mastering the Job. (No MP cost, on anything, for two turns. Doesn’t cost any MP or extra BP to use. Combine this with a Pirate who has 4 BP and watch the endless carnage.) Kamiizumi is no pushover, and Swordmaster can be a bit tricky since it works best when you predict the enemy’s actions, but the Job is definitely worth the trouble. It’s also the source of Katana Lore, and the game’s strongest Katana (Ama-no-Murakumo) is the weapon with the best stats in the game, so…you definitely want to go for that. I’m super excited to see this Job returning, and I look forward to seeing how broken it will be in Bravely Second.