Healers are the linchpin of any party within JRPGs. They will heal you when the chips are not falling in your favor, can reduce the amount of damage you receive overall, and incapacitate your enemies with spells that shut them up. All of these spells are par for the course when it comes to healers.
What makes each one different on this list is how they can differentiate themselves from the pack. Some are crucial to defending yourself and the party, and others are walking powerhouses with healing as a side gig that they’re good at. Either way, you can’t go wrong with anyone down below.
Updated June 29, 2024, By Rena Darling: As the deluge of RPGs continues to grace our PCs and consoles, there are going to be plenty of healers that catch your attention. Some may be because of how good they are in a pinch, while others will win your heart with their warm and nurturing personality. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with your choices, but don’t worry! Today, we continue to be your beacon of light within the storm of games that are coming down the pipeline for many games to come. Now, how about we introduce the newest healers to the rosters, so you can find your new favorite?
16 Francesca — Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
The Sweet Healer With A Mean Streak
Most healers live with the stereotype of being the gentle, demure support that is the backbone of the party. They heal wounds and keep you protected, but not many offer much else outside of their role. Francesca is all of that of course, but she is so much more. And if you tell her otherwise, you will be meeting the blunt end of her staff with force.
Francesca is a pretty decent healer in the game but can be outclassed by others. So, what makes her stand out? She is the only healer who has really good physical attacks and a mouth full of curse words and isn’t afraid to use them. As long as you don’t make her lose her temper, you’ll keep your head.
15 Rena Langford — Star Ocean: Second Story R
The Healer With The Hands
The healer with hands! Rena is one of two protagonists in Star Ocean: The Second Story and its remake. Hailing from her former home planet, Energy Nede, she was the only magic user at the start of the game who could use healing magic, making her an anomaly. Her desire to find the truth leads her and protagonist Claude on an unforgettable journey across the stars.
While she commands both healing and offensive magic with expertise, she also isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty and will easily come to blows if that’s what it takes to protect her friends.
14 Billy Lee Black — Xenogears
Twin Pistols For His Enemies
Tragedy can muster different things inside a person. For some healers, there’s an underlying rage that bubbles just below the surface, and for others, there is an overwhelming need to help others around them to soothe their soul. But what if you are the type who does both? Heal with your magic, but be quick to shoot someone in the face if they do the wrong thing.
Here is where you find Billy Lee Black from Xenogears. After a tragic upbringing and an even larger betrayal from the organization that raised him and taught him his healing arts; luckily, he answers in kind with his twin pistols and no-nonsense attitude.
13 Luocha — Honkai Star Rail
The Mysterious Coffin-Wielding Healer
Luocha isn’t the type of man who will let anything of significance be known about him until the time is right. All you know for sure is that he is a merchant and has a coffin he needs to deliver. Even that last tidbit about delivering that coffin is ambiguous because he definitely uses it in battle.
As a healer, Luocha has an arsenal of skills that will keep your party fit for combat. His passive-aggressive skill, Abyss Flower, will heal anyone in your party that’s at less than 50 percent health without using any of your energy. If that isn’t good enough, Luocha can cast a field that turns all enemy damage into HP to keep his party alive. Not surprising from one who’s from the house of Abundance.
12 Compa — Hyperdimension Neptunia
Turning Them Off And On Again With Spells
The Hyperdimension Neptunia games attempt to answer the question: What if our game systems were anthropomorphized into powerful goddesses charged with saving all dimensions in existence? Compa is an ally you meet during your adventures, and she represents the developer of the game, Compile Heart. Having the company protect and heal its characters gives a more personal touch.
All Compa wants to do is become a nurse to heal those who are in need. Her heart is large, and her personality is too sweet for this world. Even better, you can focus on building up her defense stats and make her a tanky healer who can take some serious damage.
11 Estelle — Trails In The Sky
A Well Rounded Attacker Who Can Heal Your Wounds
Estelle isn’t solely a healer like the others on this list, but she excels as a well-rounded, jack-of-all-trades character that you can utilize in a multitude of ways. For much of the game, she is your sole healer and the only other one that can learn all the healing spells in the game once the prerequisites are met.
Her flexibility in battle is the best thing about keeping her in your party. Estelle isn’t the strongest by any means, but her grit, charm, and willingness to knock someone out with her infamous stick earn her a place on this list.
10 Princess Garnet — Final Fantasy 9
The Healer Searching To Heal Herself
Garnet is an example in Final Fantasy 9 of tenacity in the face of adversity and never taking no for an answer. Even first meeting her in the game, she tries to escape from her home and becomes a willing participant in Zidane and the company’s princess heist. Not only does she have to watch as her mother, Queen Brahne, goes on a continent-wide rampage, but she has to try to pick up the pieces when she becomes queen.
She starts as a decent healer before trauma silences her skills for a time. Once she recovers, not only is she a great healer to have in your party, she is the strongest summoner in the game. Granted, she is one of only two summoners in the game, but that doesn’t mean we should discount the sheer power she commands. Just look at the devastation the summons extracted from her did.
9 Estelle Sidos Heurassein — Tales Of Vesperia
She Has A Strong Urge To Protect Those She Cares About
In Tales of Vesperia, the world relies on a magical substance called Blastia that powers everything, from electrical work to magic that people use daily. Estelle is a special type of magic user; she is the only one who can use magic without Blastia because she is a child of the moon.
She comes with all the fixings one would think of when discussing healers: able to heal single and multiple targets, remove status effects and provide protection spells. However, she isn’t just there for the heals. No, she will make the pain rain down on anyone who gets in her way. She has several attacks that command the power of the stars themselves.
8 Mercedes — Fire Emblem Three Houses
The Healer With A Heart Of Gold
Those in Fire Emblem: Three Houses’ Blue Lions house have come to understand that they have the complete support of Mercedes, the house’s healer. Though all house members could technically become a healer through the job system, Mercedes has two spells that set her above the rest of the school’s healers.
First, she has the spell Fortify, which can heal her allies within the chosen radius. However, the spell that sets Mercedes apart from the pack is the spell unique to her: Live to Serve. Using the spell heals both your target and Mercedes herself, giving you two heals for the price of one.
7 G’raha Tia — Final Fantasy 14
How Could We Not Include The Best Boy?
Okay, okay. Technically, G’raha Tia isn’t a healer but acts more as a jack of all trades. Unlike other people who fall under that category, though, G’raha has had the time and patience to master them all. He’s saved the lives of countless allies, including the Warrior of Light. So is it such a far-fetched notion not to consider him such?
In Final Fantasy 14, you can use the Trust System and run dungeons with your favorite characters from the story. While all the other characters are locked in their specific jobs, G’raha has a unique job called All-Rounder. If you need a tank, he can do it. Need DPS? He’s got you there too. Plus, he can heal. It puts him on the same level of expertise as the character who’s fought and beaten gods: you.
6 Princess Peach — Super Mario RPG Legend Of The Seven Stars
No Need To Rescue Her Here
Taking the characters you know and love from the Super Mario franchise, Legend of the Seven Stars gives the party new RPG moves to play with. Princess Toadstool is the last person to join your party, but easily one of the best members given what she can do in battle. While not great at being offensive, the princess thrives in support.
Princess Toadstool brings the power of mental wellness and empathy. Her single target heal, Therapy, gives you some HP, cures status effects, and group hug heals multiple targets for less HP. She also comes equipped with moves that excel in crowd control, such as Sleepytime and Mute. The princess is a far cry from a damsel here.
5 Yu Nanba — Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Watch Out For His Awful Breath
Yu Nanba is the tragic healer of your group of lovable misfits in Yakuza: Like a Dragon. A former doctor, healing is a natural fit for him, as he healed Ichiban when he was found unconscious and bleeding in the dumpster. He starts as cold and scheming initially, but he and Ichi become as as brothers by the game’s end.
He starts with Power Nap, a move where he drops to the ground and does exactly what the name entails, heals himself. Eventually, Nanba gains other abilities that let him heal others, cast regen, or even bring you back from the brink of death. …be mindful of that last one; his bad breath is no joke.
4 Aerith Gainsborough — Final Fantasy 7 Remake
An Attitude That Belies Her Appearance
Why the remake over the original? It’s for one simple, if a little coldhearted, reason: she wasn’t in the game for that long. It’s also why she isn’t higher on this list. You only get to see her final Limit Break, Great Gospel, if you grind battles. Not a fun experience.
In Final Fantasy 7 Remake, she’s just getting out of Midgar. With Remake seemingly an alternate timeline, you may see her come to her full potential organically. Aerith’s Limit breaks are all healing ones, but what’s great about her level three and four limit breaks is the damage mitigation. They elevate her to overpowered status when it comes to lifesaving.
3 Alfyn — Octopath Traveler
His Concoctions Will Save You
The only healer on this list so far that isn’t a straight magic user, Alfyn from Octopath Traveler can use a little magic on his own here and there, but where he truly shines is with Concoct.
His apothecary abilities can make all types of tonics: to heal, revive, clear out any type of status effects that had been cast on you, and you’re also able to attack enemies with them as well, making him high on the versatility list, and a stand out against other magic based healers.
2 Sophia Esteed — Star Ocean: Till The End Of Time
The Cutest Nuclear Bomb
To put it plainly, Star Ocean 3’s Sophia is a nuclear attack in the guise of a healer. Her magic starting is innocent enough with Healing and the small offensive spells, such as Fire Bolt and Ice Needles. If you take the time to put her in your main party and level her up, her moves become increasingly devastating.
For example, as she levels up, she begins to acquire summons and the ability to call them to the field. Efreet, a literal fire genie, is only the beginning. By the time you get r to the end, she can summon literal demons from hell (including the lord of hell), with a dose of asteroids to drop on enemies to boot. Sophia is the best friend next door; you don’t want to make her mad.
1 Yuna — Final Fantasy 10
The Healer Made Of Steel
In Final Fantasy 10, Yuna proved to be the pinnacle of showing you strength in stoicism and a will of steel. She accepted the fate cast down on her at an early age and trained as hard as she could to become the summoner that could ease the suffering of Spira.
A role she doesn’t take lightly, Yuna takes her time to create more than just a simple transactional bond with her summons; she gives each one the respect they deserve and more. Combining her traditional healing skills with Lulu’s black magic via sphere grid, there's nothing to get in her way.
