This Seiken Densetsu 3 Duran Classes Guide will teach you everything you need to know about the classes available to Duran in the original Seiken Densetsu 3/Trials of Mana on Super Famicon and the Collection of Mana on Nintendo Switch.
If you’re using Duran in Seiken Densetsu 3 aka Trials of Mana, you’re going to have to decide which one of Duran’s 4 final classes you’re going to pursue. That can be quite a challenge, because you also have to keep in mind potential class combos.
- Related Content:
Duran Classes Guide – Kevin Classes Guide – Hawkeye Classes Guide
Riesz Classes Guide – Charlotte Classes Guide – Angela Classes Guide
NOTE: This is the class guide for the original Trials of Mana/Seiken Densetsu 3. CLICK HERE for Duran’s Class Guide for the Trials of Mana Remake!
Here’s a rundown of all the Seiken Densetsu 3 Duran Classes:
Fighter – Seiken Densetsu 3 Duran Classes
Fighter is Duran’s starting class and it’s pretty standard. His attack is above average and he hits decently hard, but quite as hard as Kevin, and not as often as Hawkeye. Other than that, like with most character’s starting classes, he doesn’t really do much.
Stats:
STR 12, DEX 10, CON 11, INT 8, PIE 8, LUC 8
Spells:
None
Gladiator (Dark) – Seiken Densetsu 3 Duran Classes
Gladiator is the first of the dark classes for Duran, and in this class he starts getting a few more tools in his toolkit. He’s able to cast elemental sword spells on a single target, which imbue physical attacks with an element. If you imbue your party’s weapons with an enemy’s elemental weakness, this ends up being a very strong damage buff. Gladiator gives a taste of what you can expect in terms of utility when you go down the darkside path of classes for Duran.
Stats:
STR 18, DEX 16, CON 17, INT 14, PIE 13, LUC 13
Spells:
Diamond Saber, Thunder Saber, Ice Saber, Flame Saber
Knight (Light) – Seiken Densetsu 3 Duran Classes
Knight is the first of Duran’s light side classes. It gets a shield which, due to a bug in the game, does absolutely nothing. Shields are supposed to increase evasion and magic defense, but actually they do nothing. Duran also gets a single target heal spell, which is nice in a pinch. If you raise his Piety, it’s actually a fairly potent healing option.
Stats:
STR 17, DEX 15, CON 17, INT 13, PIE 14, LUC 14
Spells:
Heal Light
Swordmaster (Dark-Light) – Seiken Densetsu 3 Duran Classes
Generally considered to be the best option out of all the classes for Duran, Swordmaster allows Duran to cast his saber spells on the entire party, and additionally gives him access to Moon Saber and Leaf Saber, increasing his elemental coverage. Moon and Leaf saber also have the special characteristic of granting lifesteal and manasteal, respectively. Swordmaster is Duran’s Dark-Light class option.
Stats:
STR 21, DEX 18, CON 21, INT 16, PIE 16, LUC 16
Spells:
Moon Saber, Leaf Saber, Diamond Saber*, Thunder Saber*, Ice Saber*, Flame Saber*
Duelist (Dark-Dark) – Seiken Densetsu 3 Duran Classes
Duelist is another popular option when is comes to classes for Duran. It’s slightly stronger than Swordmaster, and in exchange, is stuck with single targeting the saber spells. If you’re only using two physical attackers in your party, you might be okay with Duelist, since it’s not very time consuming to cast a saber spell twice. He also gets Dark Saber which might as well be nothing. You will never cast Dark Saber even once, for any reason.
Stats:
STR 22, DEX 19, CON 21, INT 17, PIE 15, LUC 15
Spells:
Dark Saber
Paladin (Light-Light) – Seiken Densetsu 3 Duran Classes
Paladin is Duran’s Light-Light option, and it grants him Saint Saber on top of his existing Knight skillset. Saint Saber isn’t terribly useful, but it has a couple of uses – namely against the Black Rabite. Shields still do nothing. Also, just by being Light side, Duran can get access to the Paladin’s Proof, which casts Saint Saber, so you can the one thing this class has over Lord without ever actually class changing to it.
Stats:
STR 21, DEX 17, CON 21, INT 15, PIE 17, LUC 16
Spells:
Saint Saber
Lord (Light-Dark) – Seiken Densetsu 3 Duran Classes
Lord is Duran’s Light-Dark option and it gives Duran the ability to multitarget Heal Light, and he also gets access to Tinkle Rain, which, weird name aside, cures status effects for the party. Tinkle Rain is a non-issue because you can use the Chibikko Hammer to easily cure any status effects. The multitarget heal light is useful in some parties that don’t have a healer, but you have to ask yourself in that situation why you didn’t take Kevin as a Warrior Monk instead, or, if you wanted a healer, Charlotte.
Stats:
STR 21, DEX 18, CON 21, INT 16, PIE 16, LUC 17
Spells:
Heal Light*, Tinkle Rain
Conclusion – Seiken Densetsu 3 Duran Classes
The general consensus is that Swordmaster is Duran’s best class, with Duelist as a close second. Duran’s light classes would be more competitive if shields worked, but they do not. Saint Saber has the occasional utility, but there are only 1-2 fights in the game where you’d want to use it. Multitarget Heal Light can be quite useful, but Charlotte is a much better healer and Kevin as a Warrior Monk is a better hybrid DPS/healer than Lord.
That about does it when it comes to Seiken Densetsu 3 Duran Classes. Be sure to check out the Games Section for more content like this and click here for more Seiken Densetsu 3 game guides.
Trials of Mana has a remake coming out and if you preorder now, you’ll get the Rabite Adornment DLC, which increases XP after each fight until level 10.
Duran Classes Guide – Kevin Classes Guide – Hawkeye Classes Guide
Riesz Classes Guide – Charlotte Classes Guide – Angela Classes Guide
