RPG Characters That Start Really Weak But Eventually Become Very Powerful

RPG Characters That Start Really Weak But Eventually Become Very Powerful

• Leveling up weak characters in RPGs can lead to powerful party members, like Magikarp evolving into Gyarados in Pokemon.
• Characters like Relm in FF6 or Quina in FF9 may start weak, but their magic or abilities make them strong late game.
• Games like Dark Souls or Skyrim start players off weak but with effort, the character can become a powerhouse by the end.

The concept of a role-playing game has expanded quite a bit since the term entered the realm of video games. Initially rather rigid and confined to only a few genres, the vast majority of open-world games now incorporate elements of RPG design into their overall scope. This is because RPGs give a palpable sense of progression and let players truly feel the rewards of each and every battle in these games.

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However, there are times when some characters seem so weak that spending any modicum of time developing them feels like a waste. While a poor first impression is generally indicative of a bad character that no one would want to play around with though, the same doesn’t apply to the following exceptions to this rule.

Updated on May 6th, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: In a role-playing game, the last thing players want is to be saddled with a character that is a slog to control, who brings down the entire party, or is susceptible to being taken out over and over again. This can make it annoying for players who just want to remove this character from the equation and not spend a ridiculously long time trying to make these characters as powerful as possible. However, the effort to accomplish the same can be worthwhile, with these weak RPG characters turning into some of the strongest playable party members in their respective games, who can tear up most enemies in no time. A few more of those characters have been added to this list in its latest update i the hopes that players will have just a bit of patience with them in order to witness their final forms.

Magikarp

Becomes A Beast After Evolving Into Gyarados

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Platform(s)SwitchReleasedNovember 18, 2022Developer(s)Game FreakGenre(s)RPG See at Nintendo eShop

It would be impossible to talk about weak RPG characters that become strong without mentioning the legacy of Magikarp. Ever since the debut of this Pokemon in one of the most popular franchises of all time, this weak fish has done a great job of frustrating players who just want to level it up as soon as possible.

The reason for doing this is simple — after gaining a few levels, Magikarp evolves into the powerful Gyarados, one of the toughest Pokemon in every game, one that can make most Pokemon faint in no time. It’s easy to see why so many players go through the grueling ordeal of leveling up Magikarp, since the end result is worthwhile every time.

Relm Arrowny

Takes A Few Levels To Become A Souped-Up Magic User

Final Fantasy 6

Platform(s)Switch, PS4, PC, iOS, Android, Game Boy Advance, PS1, SNESReleasedOctober 11, 1994Developer(s)Square, Square EnixGenre(s)RPG See at Steam

Final Fantasy 6 is one of the greatest games in the series, with an ensemble cast that is a joy to engage with. Each and every character has a riveting story (barring a few exceptions) and becomes a memorable part of the cast. When the duo of Relm and Strago are introduced, players are more than glad to see the latter’s Blue Mage capabilities.

However, Relm’s Sketch ability isn’t all that impressive, and her lack of sturdiness means that she is likely to be downed by some hard-hitting attacks multiple times when players first get her character in the early stages of the game. However, it only takes a few levels for Relm to show just how powerful her magical abilities are, turning into the best magic user in the party in the eyes of many by the endgame rolls around.

Quina Quen

Players Need To Put In Some Time And Effort To Make Her A Worthwhile Character To Use

Final Fantasy 9

Platform(s)Switch, PS4, PC, iOS, Android, PS1, Xbox OneReleasedJuly 7, 2000Developer(s) Square EnixGenre(s)JRPG See at Official Site

Final Fantasy 9 features an optional character named Quina Quen who is one of the oddest characters in the entire series. With no defined gender and some rather twisted abilities – which include cooking enemies to eat them and gain their abilities – most players who place Quina in their party will be less than impressed by the lack of power she brings to the table.

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To really make the most of Quina’s character, players have to put in a lot of work. They have to catch a ton of frogs, eat a lot of enemies, and ensure that Quina steadily gains levels over the course of the campaign. Only by doing this can they turn Quina into an absolute powerhouse in battle, with techniques like Frog Drop doing a guaranteed 9999 damage every time.

Edward Chris Von Muir

No Reason To Level Up, But Gains Ridiculously High Stats If Players Put In The Effort

Final Fantasy 4

Platform(s)Switch, PS4, PC, iOS, Android, Game Boy Advance, PS1, SNESReleasedJuly 19, 1991Developer(s)SquareGenre(s)JRPG

Edward is a character in Final Fantasy 4 who is a part of the dreaded Bard class. Many veterans of the genre will attest to the fact that the Bard is nothing more than a support class who doesn’t really help out a ton in battle.

However, since Edward leaves the party after a point, players don’t know that his stat growth increases exponentially after reaching Level 70. He becomes the fastest member of the party who hits like a truck, but most people simply have no incentive to reach this point.

The Chosen Undead

By The End Of The Game, Most Enemies Who Gave Players A Hard Time Can Be One-Shotted

Dark Souls

Platform(s)PS3, Switch, PS4, Xbox 360, PC, Xbox OneReleasedSeptember 22, 2011Developer(s)From SoftwareGenre(s)Action RPG See at Official Site

In a way, the player character in each FromSoftware game starts out as weak. However, Dark Souls is the game that catapulted this studio to success, with the Chosen Undead’s struggles against the game’s many imposing denizens being quite engaging indeed.

The Chosen Undead starts off in a pitiful state and barely has any direction of where to go. However, as players begin to understand the layout of the areas and start improving their stats, they’ll soon build up a strong character who can eventually one-shot enemies that had once given them a tough time.

Liara T’Soni

A Biotic Who Is Fragile But Becomes Hardier At Later Levels

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition

Platform(s)PS4, PC, Xbox OneReleasedMay 14, 2021Developer(s)BioWareGenre(s)Action, RPG See at Official Site

Liara T’Soni is an Asari scientist who is one of the most beloved characters in Mass Effect. She plays a pivotal role in all three games, and a romance with her ends up being one of the highlights of the series.

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Early on in the game, she doesn’t really help out a lot in battle and is definitely the first person to go down during a frenetic shootout. However, if players distribute her stat points properly, then she becomes one of the best biotics in the game who will leave enemies helpless as they float around the arena.

Kel

Fragile Early On, But Gains Multi-Hit Abilities And Wallops Enemies Later On

OMORI

Platform(s)Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Switch, PS4, PC, Xbox OneReleasedDecember 25, 2020DeveloperOmocatGenre(s)RPG, Horror See at Playstation Store

Omori is an excellent RPG where the majority of the video game hijinks happen in Headspace, a mental world in the mind of the protagonist. Here, the protagonist teams up with his three friends, Kel, Hero, and Aubrey.

At the start, Kel is pretty weak and can only be counted on for his swiftness. However, as he gains more and more levels, Kel becomes a great damage dealer who can also restore the party if need be, all while retaining his position as the fastest member of the party.

Terry Hintz

A Horrible Party Member Who Becomes Ridiculously Powerful After Gaining Some Levels

LISA: The Painful

Platform(s)Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Switch, PS5, PS4, PC, Xbox OneReleasedDecember 15, 2014DeveloperDingalingGenre(s)RPG See at Steam

Speaking of indie RPGs that are a joy to play, another great game that comes to mind is LISA: The Painful. This game is extremely quirky and goes out of its way to mess with the player at inopportune moments.

At the very start of the game, players meet with Terry Hintz, who is one of the most annoying characters in the game who players can’t wait to get rid of. However, if players level up Terry Hints enough, he gains access to one of the strongest abilities in the game that can absolutely wipe out anything and anyone with ease.

Zagreus

It Takes A Few Runs Before Zagreus Can Consistently Wipe The Floor With His Enemies

Hades

Platform(s)Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Switch, PS5, PS4, PC, Xbox OneReleasedSeptember 17, 2020Developer(s)Supergiant GamesGenre(s)Action RPG See at Official Site

At the start of Hades, both Zagreus and the player are pretty unskilled and need to be whipped into shape. The first boss itself becomes a massive gauntlet, and clearing Tartarus seems like an impossibility.

However, as the player slowly starts developing their skills, each boss in the game becomes more and more conquerable. Investing in Zagreus’ stats and abilities also goes a long way toward ensuring that players can easily wade through areas that were initially giving them a tough time, and there will come a point when even beating someone as tough as Hades becomes just another footnote in a successful run.

The Dragonborn

Ridiculously Weak Early On But Cleans Up Most Enemies By The Mid-Game

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Platform(s)PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 3ReleasedNovember 11, 2011Developer(s)Bethesda Game StudiosGenre(s)Action, RPG, Adventure See at Bethesda Official

Anyone who’s played one of Bethesda’s huge sprawling open-world games knows just how much they struggle early on. Fighting a Giant in Skyrim at a low level is pretty much asking for a death sentence, as the Dragonborn is sent flailing through the air.

Thankfully, as the player keeps on exploring areas and gaining levels, Skyrim becomes more of a manageable affair. In fact, after gaining enough levels, there’s pretty much nothing that can threaten the player, especially since a single hit or two is enough to take out most enemies with ease.

Chie Satonaka

Serviceable In The Early Stages But Ends Up Being The Best Party Member By The Endgame

Persona 4 Golden

Platform(s)Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PS Vita, Switch, PS4, PC, Xbox OneReleasedDecember 9, 2008Developer(s)AtlusGenre(s)JRPG See at Official Site

Persona 4 is a beloved title in this illustrious series, with its cast of characters being quite lovable in their own right. One such character who starts off somewhat brash but ends up being one of the highlights of the game is Chie Satonaka.

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Even her character arc as a fighting party member is somewhat similar to how players perceive her in the game. She starts off decently strong but completely lacking from a magical standpoint before learning extremely hard-hitting skills and gaining an all-party all-stats augmenting skill too.

The Courier

The Radscorpions That Wipe Out Players Early On Become Chumps In The Game’s Late Stages

Fallout: New Vegas

Platform(s)PS3, Xbox 360, PCReleasedOctober 19, 2010Developer(s)Obsidian EntertainmentGenre(s)RPG See at Official Site

Fallout: New Vegas is considered by many to be one of the greatest games in this long-running series. Despite launching with many bugs, Obsidian Entertainment was lauded for developing a title that combines the modern advancements of gaming with the celebrated role-playing mechanics of past games in the series.

Since this game is made in Bethesda’s engine, it goes without saying that trying to fight certain enemies early on will lead to the player being one-shotted in record time. Instead, it’s more prudent for The Courier to gain some levels and attain a sense of satisfaction from killing off the Cazadores that were giving them a tough time early on.

Geralt Of Rivia

No Reason To Level Up, But Gains Ridiculously High Stats If Players Put In The Effort

The Witcher 2

Platform(s)Xbox 360, PC, macOS, LinuxReleasedMay 17, 2011Developer(s)CD Projekt RedGenre(s)Action RPG See at Official Site

Geralt of Rivia is one of the most powerful Witchers of all time. However, the second game in the CD Projekt Red series, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, makes him look like the weakest person in the world during the early chapters.

Players lose count of how many times they die to simple footsoldiers during the first chapter. It’s odd that The Witcher 2 features an inverted difficulty curve, with Geralt wiping out most enemies without any worries after gaining a few levels.

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