History GameBreaker / Suikoden

* The OldSaveBonus of recruiting [[spoiler: [=McDohl=], the main character from the first game]] is a noted example, particularly because it is highly likely that a player who imported the game has leveled him particularly more than other party members -- and due to the mechanics of the importing (previous party characters from the first game go up 20 levels above what their maximum was), you may encounter him an absurdly-high level, making the last third of the game absurdly easy, particularly when you storm the castle. The only caveat is that he will return to his home every time he is dismissed from the party, meaning you'll have to trek all the way there by foot (no teleporting or using exploits to get him back to your base), but the tradeoff (keeping him permanently in your party) is more than worth it once he starts steamrolling everything in your path [[spoiler:with the fully-leveled Soul Eater rune]].

* Magic Absorb Runes. In previous games, they were barely worth equipping, only restoring level 1 MP a portion of the time, as well as dropping the wearer's accuracy. In this game? They restore the lowest level of expended MP (which means they can recover level 4 MP if all your lower-level spells are full up), the effect works every time, and there's no accuracy lost. The only downside is that they can only be equipped to the right hand (which prevents people with Runes locked on that slot from using them, such as Viki and her locked Blinking Rune), but anyone that CAN use them effectively has infinite MP. And given how utterly broken magic can be...

* Because of [[http://suikodenbugfixes.wikispaces.com/Suikoden+II+Rune+Unite+Bug how the Rune Unites work]], one can place a [[MightyGlacier slower character]] in the first party slot to make the whole party cast up to ''five'' Rune Unites in one turn! Not bad for a game where mages are pretty useless by the late-game.

* People talk about the obviously broken characters (Ted, Snowe, Kika, so on), but a hidden gem of the game is ''Wendel'' of all people. The designers made one unassuming character that's quite possibly one of the most potentially broken characters in the franchise due to her very high speed, three open rune slots (always a great basis for a lethal character in this series), outstanding attack and even better magic stats (on par with that of the dedicated mages), and rather good defense for someone who should ostensibly be either a FragileSpeedster or SquishyWizard. A fully equipped Wendel equipped right can absolutely level damn near anything in front of her.

* The Herbalist class is very broken, as its skills can heal, revive and restore the SP of the entire party in a single turn. Not only that, but the game encourages you in having one herbalist in the main party since healing items are only usable outside battles.

* As long as you have base materials, you can obtain an unlimited amount of magitice and arrows just by exiting and re-entering your headquarters over and over again.
* The Herbalist class is very broken, as its skills can heal, revive and restore the SP of the entire party in a single turn. Not only that, but the game encourages you in having one herbalist in the main party since healing items are only available outside battles.

* Sheena can become one of these at higher levels, and there's also Georg Prime to consider.
** Killey, for the same reasons as Sheena, except he's even more powerful.
* Recruiting [[spoiler: the main character from the first game. The Soul Eater Rune is as awesome as ever.]]

* Double-Beat rune, especially when compared with other runes or used by anyone with three rune slots. Add in Fury Rune and Double-Strike rune and you'll pretty much have a character who can get all, if not most action in battles. Even more so when you realize you can get Double Beat ''[[DiskOneNuke way early]]'' in the game, if the RandomNumberGod is merciful on you.

* The infamous [[http://suikosource.com/games/gs3/indepth/level.php Level 99 Trick]] in Chapter 1 of Chris [=POV=] is a DiscOneNuke variety of this trope.

* Around the halfway point of the game [[spoiler: after you defeat your father General Teo]], you automatically recruit two swordsmen [[spoiler: Alen and Grenseal.]] They allow you to break the game in a few ways: first, they have incredibly good stats, being both proficient in physical and magic attacks. Second, they have a combination attack with Flik that can deal insane damage to a single target without any drawbacks such as unbalanced status (Flik is also a RequiredPartyMember for the final dungeon, so they can really make the final dungeon easier). Third, they come with a '''Rage''' and '''Thunder''' rune permanently attached. Not only does this give you free access to the strongest AOE and single target magic of the game, due to both units' high magic growth you can utilize the Fire/Lightning combination attack to pretty much burn your way through the opposition.
* In the first game, there are a couple of exploits for taking a detour from the OneTrueSequence. Before going to the castle, go outside, alone, and run away from enemies until you find three [[{{Mooks}} BonBons]]. Easy kill, and hey, level 9! After that, you have a choice of going to Sarady either by yourself or with Ted. Go alone, you get the Fortune Rune (double EXP); go with Ted, you get the Prosperity Rune (double money).

** Recruiting [[spoiler: the main character from the first game. The Soul Eater Rune is as awesome as ever.]]
** Because of [[http://suikodenbugfixes.wikispaces.com/Suikoden+II+Rune+Unite+Bug how the Rune Unites work]], one can place a [[MightyGlacier slower character]] in the first party slot to make the whole party cast up to ''five'' Rune Unites in one turn! Not bad for a game where mages are pretty useless by the late-game.
** Double-Beat rune, especially when compared with other runes or used by anyone with three rune slots. Add in Fury Rune and Double-Strike rune and you'll pretty much have a character who can get all, if not most action in battles. Even more so when you realize you can get Double Beat ''[[DiskOneNuke way early]]'' in the game, if the RandomNumberGod is merciful on you.

* One name stands above all: [[spoiler:Lazlo, the protagonist of ''VideoGame/SuikodenIV'']]. By starting a new game with a [[OldSaveBonus Clear Data]] of ''IV'' [[spoiler:with the 108 Stars of Destiny recruited]], you can recruit him in the 12th Chapter. [[spoiler:Remember how his Rune of Punishment was balanced in ''IV'' by draining some of his HP with every spell cast? Well now it doesn't. Instead it ''heals him'' with every spell cast. He also has good physical attacks and combination attacks on top of his overpowered rune.]]

** Chrodechilde or Fredegund DualWielding SwordOfPlotAdvancement can one-shot almost anything in the game with True Falcon. It'll even do four-digit damage to things that ''resist'' slash attacks.

* In the first game, there are a couple of exploits for taking a detour from TheOneTrueSequence. Before going to the castle, go outside, alone, and run away from enemies until you find three [[{{Mooks}} BonBons]]. Easy kill, and hey, level 9! After that, you have a choice of going to Sarady either by yourself or with Ted. Go alone, you get the Fortune Rune (double EXP); go with Ted, you get the Prosperity Rune (double money).

* The only limitation to this trick is how many free slots a character has but one of the best ways to win fights is to fill up the slots with nothing but Sacrificial Jizos (TheHero will have one less slot thanks to the Blinking Mirror but he's so good he probably won't use a lot of those items anyway). In fairness, there is practically no other way anyway to get through some boss fights, but this is why starting ''VideoGame/SuikodenII'', item slots are limited to three characters.