Josef is the stalwart veteran of the Liberation Army, a seasoned Paladin who acts as Alain’s protector and mentor.
He brings an imposing presence to your squad early on, boasting high HP, strong defenses, and the ability to support allies through a mix of offensive and utility skills.
Though he ultimately loses some relevance mid-game, Josef remains a loyal and reliable frontline unit, especially valuable in the prologue and early story segments.
How to Recruit Josef
You recruit Josef almost immediately during the prologue mission known as “Unicorn Ring.”
As Alain’s bodyguard, he’s already part of your squad before the first battle begins.
You don’t need to complete any side quests or make decisions. Josef is automatically part of the Liberation Army and remains with you throughout the story.
His early presence grants players a dependable cavalry tank from the first skirmishes.
Class Overview: Paladin
Josef belongs to the Paladin class, a mounted unit that blends defensive prowess with moderate offensive power and some utility.
Paladins excel at blocking enemy hit-and-run attempts thanks to their high Guard Rate and decent magic resistance.
Unlike Cavaliers, they have access to more defensive and restorative abilities, which makes them good at holding the line.
However, Paladins aren’t designed for sustained offense; their damage output lags behind dedicated fighters, and they’re vulnerable to spear or polearm users that counter cavalry.
Their initiative is average, so they may not always act early. Still, Paladins serve as sturdy bulwarks who can protect your team and absorb key hits while staying mobile on horseback.
Josef, with his veteran-level stats, is a textbook Paladin: he specializes in damage mitigation, crowd disruption, and leading charges without expecting to deal massive damage.
Stats and Growth
- HP: B
- Phys. ATK: B
- Phys. DEF: C
- Mag. ATK: B
- Mag. DEF: S
- Acc: C
- Evasion: E
- Crit. Rate: D
- Guard Rate: B
- Initiative: C
Josef begins at level 20 with high HP, solid strength, and impressive magic defense, a boon against enemy casters.
He also has a commendable Guard Rate, making him reliable at blocking incoming attacks.
His offensive stats are serviceable early on, but soon other units will surpass his damage potential.
Interestingly, Josef’s stat progression is unusual: he grows slower than average through most of the mid-game and then spikes dramatically around levels 45–50.
Players who stick with him and reach the endgame will find Josef matching or even surpassing generic Paladin stats, though by then the main storyline has concluded.
Before that point, he remains a sturdy but unspectacular frontline tank.
Skills and Abilities
Josef’s skill set emphasizes defense and support.
He begins with Slice, a basic sword attack that builds PP, and Holy Guard, a valor ability that temporarily increases his Guard Rate, useful for blocking high-damage incoming attacks.
As he grows, he gains Pursuit, allowing follow-up strikes that can catch enemies off-guard.
One of his standout valor skills is Holy Barrier, which temporarily boosts the defense of his squad’s backline, great for protecting vulnerable units like mages or archers.
He can also learn Divine Cross, a magic-attack sword technique that lets him deal with enemies resistant to physical attacks.
While Josef’s healing capabilities come later, they’re supplementary: he’s not a dedicated healer, but his support toolkit complements his defensive role and helps shore up your frontline as the fights get tougher.
The Best Tactics for Josef
Heal
- 1 or Fewer Enemies
- Target HP is less than 50%
Slice
- Lowest % HP
Pursuit
- No conditions
Holy Guard
- Attacked by Archer
Holy Barrier
- Back Row
This setup prioritizes attacks and only uses Heal when absolutely necessary.
With Slice set to target enemies with the lowest HP it’s more likely you’ll be generating extra PP from defeating enemies.
Don’t set any conditions for Pursuit. This will make Josef use the skill whenever possible
Setting Holy Guard to only use against Archers will help optimize your PP usage and survivability, especially later in the game when you’re dealing with Flame Arrows.
With Holy Barrier set to prioritize your back row helps protect weaker enemies from long range attacks. Front row allies probably don’t need the help.
Best Equipment and Accessories
Since you’re using Josef primarily as a tank and support, prioritize gear that boosts defense, magic resistance, and PP generation.
Equipping a sword that increases magic attack can enhance his Divine Cross, giving him some offensive punch against armored enemies.
His shield should reinforce his defensive capabilities, look for options that boost Guard Rate or increase resistance to physical and magical attacks.
Armor that adds HP or defense is favorable, so long as it doesn’t slow him down too much.
Accessories that improve PP, Shield effectiveness, or defensive stats are excellent choices. For instance, gear that reduces ability cooldowns helps him keep Holy Barrier and Holy Guard available when you need them most.
Ideal Unit Placement and Team Synergy
Josef works best on the frontline, flanked by either offensive units or healers.
In early to mid-game squads, he should lead the charge—soak up damage, secure lines, and allow faster or more fragile units to stay safer behind him.
He pairs exceptionally well with healers like Scarlett, mage support units such as Chloe or Scarlett, or offensive cavalry like Lex and Fran.
His presence enables aggressive formations while also covering against counterattacks. Later in the game, when stronger tanks arrive, keeping him in reserve or using him to support secondary squads is a smart strategy.
Tips and Strategy
Use Holy Guard proactively when he’s about to receive high-damage attacks, such as from dragons or boss tiles.
Holy Barrier can be a lifesaver for your backline, deploy it before enemy mages or archers take their turn.
Delay Pursuit activation when possible so he can build PP on his own with Slice, rather than spending PP inefficiently.
Avoid using Josef for solo damage output, his strengths lie in support, not offense.
And while he does gain power in the post-game, many players find it more effective to substitute specialized Paladins or Sainted Knights once they become available.
Final Thoughts
Josef is the archetypal mentor-squire support: invaluable early on for his durability and protective kit, less flashy but reliable.
If you’re looking for a dependable frontline presence who can keep your army stable in the first half of the game, he’s a top-tier pick.
While he falls behind mid-game compared to newer, more specialized units, committing to his late-game spike can pay off if you’re aiming for a post-game or coliseum run.
Even then, his strong physical and magical defense, combined with his squad support skills, ensure he never grows irrelevant.
If you want a commanding, protective cavalry presence that helps your army survive and thrive, Josef is your reliable old guard.
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Featured image is from the official Japanese Website and used under Fair Use