Hm. No tiers.

Still surprised that I haven't seen a tier list for Last Remnant. While it'd be impractical to create one for all characters (there's what, 400 of them?), it'd be fairly easy for the unique leaders. Of course, there's also the catch dealing with their upgrade paths (balance, combat, mystic). And as with creating tier lists akin to the FE tiers, join time, base stats, stat growth, abilities and class availability can influence their placement. I don't think it's easy to place Rush because he's so flexible, even though you can't start training Shards until you reach Nagapur.

I can see David not placing all that high... He may start with Invocations (Black Out) and Herbs, learns Remedies (slightly redundant, Rejuvenating Waters) and Shards (Moonlight and damage, but expensive), but that One-handed+shield combo seriously hampers him. But hey, at least he's not stupid this time around with the Frostblade, and can learn Cerulean Rain. It seems like a good reflection of his character though: trying too hard to do everything at once. Keeping him in a union would be a good idea since he has Ex Machina as a Unique Art, meaning that he won't stop others from acting before shooting. One of the only other things he's got going for himself is above average HP when compared to other Mystic oriented (mitra?) units and pretty good Speed, giving his union a bit of mobility. Most other characters have a specific focus when you stare at their starting stats and skill sets. I mean, just look at Wyngale and Leucetius. They can become Warlocks because they can learn every Arcana in the game. They even START with Int>Str. Of course, this is a SaGa game. There ARE no concrete tiers because everything can eventually be steered in certain directions based directly on your actions in battle. It's just a matter of how quickly. Efficient leveling! It's like how someone tried to create a tier list for MinSaGa. It didn't work out because of all sorts of factors affecting outcomes and how everyone can be eventually tailored the same way. Or at least become game breakers if you have the patience to do that to every single playable character at ER22 (unless you're facing off against 10DS Saruin). Just a matter of working with their inherent traits and steering them towards something. Alfred with a D growth rate in Compassion? Not a problem! Just abuse Cosmology when you have the chance!

But yeah. I guess SaGa is Square's version of non-linear play. Too bad it's not one of the pillars for them, and that the West isn't particularly fond of the games either. I wonder how well SaGa2GoD sold... Probably not that well. Still haven't bothered progressing with my playthrough. Running around gathering materials for their upgrades, then ended up poking at the demo. You don't even need to fight a single battle to finish the demo at all. Just run through the Ivory Peaks to reach Elysion. That's it. Not many quests are available, Blackdale isn't on the map, and you can't open up new area either. It also kinda makes me feel like I don't fight enough battles. By the time I reached the Ivory Peaks, I wasn't anywhere near BR11. Probably also sparked a hell of a lot more arts than available.

I don't think I can upgrade their stuff any further at the moment. No access to Platinum Ores, amongst other materials.