The overall top Main characters in FF?

[Heartless Angel]

One more thing under AW since her magic will be 1275 if she has 255 base magic her Meteor will be even more powerful. Under AW with 1275 magic each Meteor will do about 6800-7400 damage multiply that by 10 and that is about 70000 damage per Meteor Cast by Rinoa. Since her speed is also increased dramatically under AW she will get moves in before anyone else as well. In my FFVIII game I have my characters basic stats HP, STR, VIT, MAG, and SPR all maxed without junctions using the Mega-Potion Tick and Left Diamond girl on the Ragnarok in disk 4. In this way I can then give each of my 6 characters 2-3 GFs at all times. So all my characters have spd, eva, and luck junctions and Elem attack elem Defensex4 as well as St-Attack and ST-Defx4 and Hit is also spread smartly. Anyway my Rinoa has 255 stats minus luck and spd without Junctions 169 spd 29% eva 137% hit and 62 luck and absorbs fire, ice and thunder and only take 10% damage from all other elements. She also is immune to Berserk, Confuse, Death Status and Petrify she also has Drain on her ST-AT. I also have her set up with Auto-Haste and Initiative. With this even gameplay wise she may be able to kill FFX characters.

Strictly in terms of game mechanics, unlikely. First strike/initiative on a character with break damage limit can kill Rinoa in one shot, just because of the fact that her hp caps at 9999. Also, since an X character can HP cap at 99999, even if Rinoa gets the jump. an X character can survive the attack, THEN one shot her. Squall on the other hand, if he gets the jump with a Lionheart, you're screwed even with 99999 hp. So Rinoa really isn't even the strongest in VIII.

[Angel of Iniquity]

Strictly in terms of game mechanics, unlikely. First strike/initiative on a character with break damage limit can kill Rinoa in one shot, just because of the fact that her hp caps at 9999. Also, since an X character can HP cap at 99999, even if Rinoa gets the jump. an X character can survive the attack, THEN one shot her. Squall on the other hand, if he gets the jump with a Lionheart, you're screwed even with 99999 hp. So Rinoa really isn't even the strongest in VIII.

lol
FF13 characters can hit for 999,999, and their stats can skyward lol
My fang had 5335 attack.

But that's not fair.

In terms of gameplay, I would say that Zell is the strongest in FF8, cause his armageddon fist can hit up pretty damn high if your good at it lol
Oh and.

If you were to devour Malboros and stuff, you wouldn't really need to junction magic to base stats. My squall honestly can not be hit by phsicall, magic does about 50-250 damage, I attack 5-8 times before most enemies, (which is how I beat Omega solo), if they somehow hit me, it would be about 50-300 damage, and my magic always hits above 5000.

That brings up another question. Game wise. Terra can't hurt Characters who have a good development. She can try magic but, like I said, it does no damage, or not enough damage to count lol.

Now in real life terms, that may also be present. Materia is real in FF7, junctioning is real in FF8 and so on, meaning that the in game combos may be pressent if they were to meet. Plus Eden beats all... other than cheat bahamut... Exa flare... really?

EDIT: Oh and, what if Rinoa had first strike and prevent back attack (forgot what it's named).
She would go first, and if her spd is 255, which I came close to with Spd 50% and 30%(I think), which was about 230, then she would kill. But then again, Meteor is an area attac, as in all characters won't be hit equal.

[Master Garland]

Rinoa can act so quick before Squall could under her AW limit that he would die before he sets his Renzokuken up. Also his Lionheart is only a 25% chance while as Meteor Wing is 100% probable with only Meteors in her inventory.

Gameplay aside and considering all FF characters I know of using each of their stories logic. Which is what really only matters here.

FF1: WoL is a crystal bearer he can theoretically use White&Black magic and is Skilled with a Sword. Also he is fated and binded to Chaos as his counterpart to battle him. Chaos is a powerful being that can cause an immense Time-Loop and throw the worlds elements in turmoil. So the Warrior of Light has to be damn powerful to defeat him. The WoL also shows himself to be very smart as well.

FF2: Firion is an orphan that is skilled with all weaponry and gains the power of the greatest power in that games story which is Ultima. His foe he beats is essentially Satan as he overthrows Satan in Hell and is it's ruler. Emperor Madeus Palamecia is a powerful Dark Magician.

FFIV: Cecil is Half Lunarian and Half Human he is a skilled Knight with blades and can use some White magic to support himself. He also basically is a powerful mage as well in FFIV TAY as he uses Rods and can Twin Cast Ultima along with Golbez. In FFIV he is the only one that can defeat Zeromous the embodyment of all hatred in existence with the power of the Crystal. Also he becomes a Demi-God in TAY basically. So Cecil is supreme.

FFV: Butz is a Warrior of the Crystals that can have the powers of all fighting types theoretically. His opponent is EXdeath of who is a powerful Black Mage who almost mastered the power of the Void and can send entire countries to other demensions with a thought. Butz defeats him so Butz ranks to be very powerful as well.

FFVI: Terra is my favorite FF character ever, I love her very much. Anyway Terra is Half Esper Half Human she was able to defeat 300 Magitek Knights single handedly in only a matter of minutes in the beginning of the game. This was before her total Esper powers were even awakened and before she could even take on her Esper form at will. After she masters her power she is supremely powerful and Defeats a being like Kefka with lots of help mind you, of who caused the whole face of the Earth to change by his Light of Judgement.

FFVII: Cloud is a genetically enhanced super-SOLDIER and infused with MAKO he has limited flight and can harness the powers of Nature through Materia if he wills to. He also has superb defense because of JENOVA cells and can heal faster as result. His foe is Sephiroth of who shows to be very intelligent(besides always being overly cocky with Cloud and gets his butt beat for it) and he can Summon powerful Meteors. Though Meteor takes to long and cannot even destroy the Earth. Cloud semi-beats Sephiroth or at least halts him a few times.

FFVIII: Squall is a trained military operative with superhuman powers through the use of GFs power. He can uses Para-Magic a weaker version of the Magic that Sorceresses use and is very skilled at his weapon and he is very, very, very intelligent and tactical. His foe is a powerful Sorceress who can erase all existance with her TC magic. He is THE SeeD destined to face her and defeat her so Squall gets my vote as one of the top along with Rinoa who also becomes a powerful Sorcoress as well.

FFIX: Zidane is an alien Gnome created to be a destroyer of the entire civilization of the people on Gaia. However Kuja the one meant to train him abandoned him and did not train him in the use of magic like he was supposed to. Zidane starts off in the game weak and inexperienced in battle hence the fact he lost 3 times to a human though she was a powerful one. However after he gains fighting knoweledge and strength he surpasses everything in FFIX except for Ultimate Trance Kuja(after he absorbed multi-thousand souls and they all tranced in him along with his own soul trancing) were it not for Kujas foreign influence of power he would be way weaker than Zidane. Also in normal form Garland is more powerful than Zidane and Kuja; however UT Kuja and Trance Zidane surpass Garland. Zidane and co at least have the power to damage UT Kuja of who can destroy planets; however Zidane never defeats Kuja completely of his own power, Kuja suicide bombs the party with his Planet Destroying Ultima spell. Then Zidane must fight a powerful being like Necron after Kuja falls and Necron is the embodyment of all life&death since the beginning of the Iifa Trees creation. Zidane and co defeat Necron and cause the Iifa Tree to spazz out because Necron is the spiritual core function of the Iifa Tree. Garland said that when Kujas life is expired is when Zidane will reach full maturity and when Kuja dies that must be when Zidane reaches full maturity. When Zidane goes to find Kuja after Necron dies the entire power of the Iifa Tree collapses on Zidane and he survives unscathed; needless to say Zidane is super-zupper powerful and is probably the most powerful. Zidane shows to have smarts as a great leader of the team as well.

I have also played FFX however Tidus is nowhere near the others in story power so he will be unmentioned.

Here is what I believe the ranking is like.

Hero's:

1. Cecil&Terra&Zidane
2. Squall&Warrior of Light
3. Butz
4. Firion&Cloud

Foes:

1. Ultimecia&Zeromous&Ultimate Trance Kuja
2. Exdeath&Kefka&Chaos
3. Emperor
4. Sephiroth

Well here is my 2 cents.

[Angel of Iniquity]

Here is what I believe the ranking is like.

Hero's:

1. Cecil&Terra&Zidane
2. Squall&Warrior of Light
3. Butz
4. Firion&Cloud

Foes:

1. Ultimecia&Zeromous&Ultimate Trance Kuja
2. Exdeath&Kefka&Chaos
3. Emperor
4. Sephiroth

Well here is my 2 cents.

I'm not to sure about Cecil cause I can't really say his overall prowess as he doesn't seem to show any massive amounts of abilities or ingame attributes above average.
Tina is obviously strong, but we really can't see the full amount of Espers power. Are they comparable to others? Are they stronger than even FF4's? How about FF8? That's the only thing I have with her. I like her, but I like Celes more. I can't say about Zidane cause the game broke on the fourth disc o.o

I have another thread about the strongest villian and I would like to here more of your cents lol

[Heartless Angel]

The fact that heroes beat the villains doesn't nescessarily demonstrate their actual strength, since in almost ALL cases, they only win due to PIS. Without the power of plot behind them, almost all of the FF vilaisn would've been the winners. Look at all the early FF's, oh shit, the enemy is unbeatable?! Thank goodness with have the crystals containing just enough magical plot power to win anways in our back pockets! 7, thank goodness for Holy, planetary lifestream lasers, player distractions, and god knows how much luck coupled with Sephiroth not really trying, or our situation would've taken 'screwed' to a whole new level. 8, good thing we happen to have a sorceress whos unique ability just happens to be to allow us to ignore the negative effects of Time Compression as long as we have happy thoughts. 6, 9, and 10 were really the only games in which I can honestly say the heroes should've won based on their abilities.

[Angel of Iniquity]

The fact that heroes beat the villains doesn't nescessarily demonstrate their actual strength, since in almost ALL cases, they only win due to PIS. Without the power of plot behind them, almost all of the FF vilaisn would've been the winners. Look at all the early FF's, oh shit, the enemy is unbeatable?! Thank goodness with have the crystals containing just enough magical plot power to win anways in our back pockets! 7, thank goodness for Holy, planetary lifestream lasers, player distractions, and god knows how much luck coupled with Sephiroth not really trying, or our situation would've taken 'screwed' to a whole new level. 8, good thing we happen to have a sorceress whos unique ability just happens to be to allow us to ignore the negative effects of Time Compression as long as we have happy thoughts. 6, 9, and 10 were really the only games in which I can honestly say the heroes should've won based on their abilities.

LOL
Just think happy thoughts. Happy beats all any day.

[Master Garland]

I'm not to sure about Cecil cause I can't really say his overall prowess as he doesn't seem to show any massive amounts of abilities or ingame attributes above average.
Tina is obviously strong, but we really can't see the full amount of Espers power. Are they comparable to others? Are they stronger than even FF4's? How about FF8? That's the only thing I have with her. I like her, but I like Celes more. I can't say about Zidane cause the game broke on the fourth disc o.o

I have another thread about the strongest villian and I would like to here more of your cents lol

I would be glad to post in your other topic that would be fun!!!

Also at Heartless Angel I know there is a element of Fate behind their victories but the villains can also be a great indication of the Hero power as well.