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Ranking Which Octopath Traveler 0 Characters Would Make the Sickest Secret Skaters in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater

Once upon a time, I wrote a list that ranked Octopath Traveler II's characters by how well they would work as secret skaters in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. After 100+ hours with the latest installment, I find myself pondering a question for the ages: who exactly is the ultimate shredmaster of Orsterra?

Octopath Traveler 0 has the largest roster of playable characters in the series. As a fan of strategy RPGs, I'm used to organizing entire armies worth of weirdos. Still, this will be my longest list to date, but like Tony Hawk landing the world's first 900 at the 1999 X Games, someone has to do it... or die trying. And it would be really embarrassing if writing this list killed me, so in the wise words of Valore's own Fra: it's go time.

Without further ado, I present to you my official ranking of which Octopath Traveler 0 characters would make the most kickass secret skaters in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater.

36. Macy

Macy might be one of the very few characters in your squad to actively discourage a sport as dangerous as skateboarding - but only initially. She is kind and helpful, but intense when it comes to anything medical. I think after seeing a few skate competitions and finding her place on the sidelines as a magical EMT, she might come around to enjoying herself. Macy's personal sidequest in 0 reveals a more open/understanding side to her personality, so while she might prefer a gentler game, she would at least take pride in patching up anyone who bails.

35. Pius

Pius' placement near the very end of this list helps us establish a few facts about this whole ordeal: I'm going off of character personality and a little bit of their history, but mostly it boils down to vibes. Pius, like Macy, is a pretty nice and helpful person. He might never step foot on a skateboard, but he would absolutely be in the judge's corner at every Wishvale skate competition, utilizing his Scales of Justice ultimate to fairly determine who busted out the dopest moves. Pius would enjoy and even encourage sports throughout Wishvale, but would absolutely take a backseat from the action in lieu of a supporting role.

34. Esperre

Unless Esperre's dad skateboarded once upon a time, I suspect he won't be super into it. It's almost too easy to place healers and apothecaries this far down, but with Esperre, this is a personality/vibe thing. That said, he isn't entirely averse to danger, considering he helps save you from getting devoured by a giant ant monster, so he'd probably be pretty chill about watching the Protagonist bust their ass while trying to grind the stair rails at Sufrataljah. If anything, he's probably great at helping skaters figure out which stance is best for them, and I imagine he has a decent eye for good skate spots to hit up.

33. Alexia

It pains me to put Alexia so low down on this list, as she is easily one of my favorite party members. She never left the front line since the moment I recruited her. I just know that the only way to pull her away from her research would be to somehow find an ancient Orsterran skatepark, after which she would likely get super into the art of arcane shredding. She would require something like the "Tome of Tonihoc" to fully enjoy skating... and she'd eat the last page, in hopes of it granting her the points to her hangtime stats. That said, we don't have definitive proof that there aren't old skateparks in Orsterra, so there's hope for her yet.

32. Cyrus

It's easy to say something like "oh, this bookworm would rather stick to the library" but, to his credit, Cyrus probably could shred if he put his heart into it. I think he might even have the right vibe for the skatepark. It's simply too easy to picture him hyperfixating on collecting old skate tapes and ancient copies of Thrasher Magazine. I just think he would much prefer learning about skate history and famous skaters, so that he can one day make his own ranking of which famous skaters would make kick ass secret party members in Octopath Traveler.

31. Solon

Wise King Solon knows better than to risk his royal neck trying to pull off a Super McTwisty 900 over the Cyphlo River. However, you know this man would be excellent when it comes to finding Orsterra's sickest skate spots. He could point out fatass gaps that no other leader of man has seen. I can also imagine Solon showing up to a competition in disguise, only to reveal his true self after getting a 99.9 score, all atop his favorite mutton themed skate deck. The true star of the show always appears last, as he so often likes to point out.

30. Laurana

I feel like Laurana might actually be halfway decent at skating, but she'd fall off the practice wagon quickly. Something about being wracked with guilt would keep her from hitting up the Wishvale skate bowl with her childhood friends - it's likely they all learned how to skate when Stia and Pops built the first halfpipe, so she likely has the basics down. She just would rather forge ahead than linger in the past, or something. Her skate journey simply wouldn't be as compelling as her personal one.

29. Olberic

Another OG from Octopath Traveler 1, Olberic feels like the sort of guy who used to absolutely shred Hornburg, but retired after its decimation. Maybe it's ageist, maybe it's just vibes, but I feel like he would have kicked so much ass in his heyday that he only busts out his board on special occasions. The unbending blade has probably broken a shitload of boards in his time, but all in the pursuit of skate mastery.

28. Ophilia

We now hit the part of the list with characters who all would undeniably work in THPS, in my mind. Ophilia is so chill, she basically gets along with the most bristly characters, and you know she's got that soft spot for kids. She's got the right attitude and basically only appears this far down on the list on the virtue of feeling more like a soul skater than a competitive one. The moment skating takes off in Flamesgrace is the moment Ophilia finds a new hobby to entertain the flock. I think she would be a very respectable skater, with a particular knack for getting back on the board after bailing.

27. Alaune

Alaune would pick up the pieces of Edoras's destroyed skateparks, and have Elrica themed boards that honor her sister (another honorary team member who will go unranked on this list). She wouldn't settle on being a simple patron of the shredding arts, however: she would absolutely skate right alongside her contemporaries. You know that long-ass bridge that leads to her castle proper? She'd manual the whole thing. And everyone would love her for it.

26. Therion

Placing Therion here might appear to be some kind of hot take, but think about him for a sec. He absolutely, positively can skate. He absolutely, positively would not want to, and that is the problem. Thieves almost always get a pass to the higher tiers on lists like this, and while I think he would look absolutely sick pulling off a 360 Madonna over Galdera's steaming corpse, something tells me he would rather just... not. Which is a shame, but you gotta let the guy live his life.

25. Carinda

Carinda has the right attitude for skateboarding, it's one of those amorphous/hard-to-describe vibes. Mix that with a penchant for mercantilism, and you have quite possibly the greatest walking advertisement for Orsterran Vans sneakers that has ever lived. Therein lies the issue, however: she would much rather sort out endorsement deals over actual skating, but by Bifelgan, would she be good at it.

24. Phenn

I warmed up to this guy over the course of OT0's story, but he quickly fell out of my party and always had a sort of middle-of-the-road quality to him. The more you get to know him, the more you realize that he's pretty good at anything he picks up. He's part of Wishvale's watch, he's one of the cooks at the town's hub, and does all of this while helping save the world. A decent skater, a solid member of the Wishvale squad. But let's be real, here's how it actually appears in my mind: if we compare OT0 to Nickelodeon's Rocket Power, then Phenn is the Twister to the Protagonist's Otto Rocket.

23. Tressa

Here is another character that falls into the "I can picture it, but are they the best?" category. Mid-tier does not mean bad, however. I don't think she would have the thirst for brand deals as Carinda, and I think her general size and speed would make for a really entertaining skater to watch. My true reasoning though, is that she's from Rippletide, and she seems to really like the ocean. I bet Tressa would be one of the best surfers on the team, which at least gives her a decent foundation for skating.

22. Celsus

Here's a guy who, like Olberic, gives off "I used to skate, back in the day" energy, except he might not be quite as rusty. I just know he's the definition of surprising - like I guarantee he would see the kids in Wishvale skating, and he'd randomly pick up a board and just blow everyone's minds. He's a pretty devout guy, too, meaning that he might have the balls to hit some particularly wild gaps. Celsus has the power of God and Tony Hawk on his side.

21. Heidne

I love the type of character that pops up here and there throughout a journey, attempting to kick your ass at every turn, only to eventually come into the fold as an ally. That kind of scrappy-ass attitude screams skater-coded to me. Look at her style too, Heidne would fit in so well and look badass on any halfpipe. Her only real issue is that she would hawk her competition medals for rings, which isn't that big a deal. She would easily be one of the more competitive folks on the Wishvale squad.

20. Primrose

I'm usually all for dancers landing higher up on these sort of lists, but we're kicking off the top 20 with Primrose due solely to her personality. She's a kind, caring, brave, but melancholy dancer, which makes for an absolutely compelling character, but her skate skills would be heavily carried by her sense of style and natural grace. Would she enjoy skating? That, I don't know. Lucky for her fans, I can very easily picture her in an actual THPS game for some reason, like my brain can replace Bob Burnquist with Primrose Azelhart with no issue.

19. Rondo

First of all, "Rondo" is a great skater name, full stop. Second, his first appearances in OT0 gives off huge puppy dog energy, which is never a bad thing in the realms of skating. He eventually matures a bit, so that gets toned down, but he retains a youthful vibe that just feels right. It's all about that fire he carries, though. Ripping through downtown Los Angeles on a flaming, blue skateboard just feels really Tony Hawk coded. Deep down, I know that Rondo would have a palette swap where his cape looks like pure Guy Fieri flame print.

18. Viator

Viator, for what my money's worth, just looks like he would fit in seamlessly (pun intended) to any THPS game. Here is an entry that is purely about vibes. There's no real, satisfying explanation beyond the fact that he just looks the part. Each of the decks he collects would also have prints of the game's ultimate weapons on them, which you know is totally sick. My man is simply seeking out his family's prized skateboard, which would probably be a beat-to-shit deck that was signed by Rodney Mullen.

17. Stia

Stia is a total ride-or-die, an amazingly hardworking character who gets some very lovely moments throughout the game. She also just so happens to make some very lovely skateparks, including all the best bits and bobs, like those scary loop-de-loops you can hit on Alcatraz in THPS4. Fun fact: if you walk all the way from Mt. Berecain to Wishvale without encountering any enemies, Stia adds a skatepark to the town's building options. Don't quote me on that though.

16. H'aanit

My original OTII list had that game's Hunter, Ochette, as the number one best skater for THPS. While H'aanit does not have the same energy as Ochette, she would absolutely share some of the cool traits, like having boards themed after the game's monsters (especially Linde). Same deal, she would bust out different monsters to help her out with special moves, and if that doesn't scream Tony Hawk Secret Nonsense, I don't know what does.

15. Richard

Richard is a man of action, down to earth, and so down bad for River Beans that he might have an actual problem, but I'm not judging him. He's a great example of a pure-vibes choice for THPS, and like Viator, I just can really easily picture him absolutely crushing Downhill Jam. He's just got the right attitude for skateboarding. He's chill. He's charming. He's Charles. He also canonically gets laid, which rules. Good for you, King Dick Riven.

14. Alfyn

If anyone is capable of popping their limbs back into place after eating shit upon missing gaps at Cragspear Pass, it's this guy. He's apparently turned his life around after being something of a minor punk in his younger years, and he knows how to have a good time at the bar, so the ethos are totally there. Alfyn would make for an exceptional member to any squad on the grounds of providing great medical care, including plenty of Greengrass for those looking for a more chill skate session. The pun could not be ignored.

13. The Protagonist (Bidoof)

Yes, I named my Ringbearer Chosen Bidoof. I think if we roll with visuals alone, the Protag would make for a pretty sick skater. They get all kinds of outfits, they can learn basically any move, and are basically the Tony Hawk of Octopath Traveler 0. There is a big part of me that is tempted to mock up my Wishvale layout in the skatepark creator in Tony Hawk 3+4... but I'm a little busy doing lists like this, you see. They're almost too easy of a pick, so I wanted to give them credit by placing them somewhat high, but not quite in the top 10.

12. Elrica

Though only a temporary recruit, El the Swordsman kicks ass and is such a dope force for good that she puts her very life on the line numerous times, so that her people can have the freedom to shred. I really like her character/presence in the story overall, her general vibe is that of a punk princess and there are very few archetypes in fiction that are cooler than that. Bonus points for having a deck dedicated to General Mahrez (and maybe a wicked scary-ass one with the sprite of Pardis III).

11. Eltrix

Eltrix was basically made in a lab for me to love. A sailor queen with her own team of hypemaster mariners, who you know just go nuts watching her completely stomp Grandport and its surrounding isles. Boats always make for kickass skateparks (I may have a bias toward Skater Isle and the Cruise Ship from THPS3) and while she isn't necessarily the most chill character in the roster, she has an intensely badass aura that she almost breaks the top ten. Plus, her defense stat is insane, you know she can eat asphalt without batting an eye.

10. Tatloch

Here we are, the top ten, and we kick it off with the most hilariously, unapologetically evil witch in the entire game. Tatloch is bored by any activity that doesn't involve sucking the souls out of buff dudes, which I mean... relatable. However, I really think she might actually be down with skating. She'd love the thrill that comes from launching one's self at top speeds downhill, ollying over piles of the dead and damned, cackling as she draws the screaming essence of life out of Geoff Rowley's body. Now that's what we call a darkslide.

9. Sazantos

This list is a little spoilery as is, so I'll just say that this is yet again another vibechoice. He is indefatigable in his quest and I'm sure he's just as indefatigable in his desire for nailing that gold medal in the Tokyo skate comp. For those who have beaten the game as well, you know he would have THE sickest outfits and looks based on events toward the tail end of every thing.

8. Delitia

Delitia is my choice for the #1 huntress in OT0, and is a perfect fit for THPS. Top tier design, energy, and gameplay, she would be a master of triple flip tricks. Everyone in Tony Hawk's starts off with certain stats that fit them, and Delitia would have absolutely insane Flip out the gate, on the virtue of her coming with Triple Strike (AKA the move that carried me through the first half of the game). Her insta-kill move would also be perfect if Eric Sparrow ever shows his face, too.

7. Saoirse

Like Alexia, Saoirse never left my party since the moment I recruited her. Unlike her mage compatriot, however, Saoirse would be 10,000% down for hitting the Theatropolis halfpipes. The Songbird of Shredding is a brilliant dancer who quite literally has the wind at her back, the grace of every skater in THPS combined, and a buckwild athleticism that would help her absolutely cream any competition that comes her way. Do you know how hard it is to sing AND dance at the same time? Her attitude is what differentiates her from our other dancer, Primrose. Saoirse is a ball of sunshine that is more than capable of completely nailing every mission task on School II on her first runthrough.

6. Xerc

Here is our proof that some scholars are educated in the fine art of hangtime. My man goes balls out with his research, willing to explode entire laboratories for the love of the game. I think he would be just as happy blowing up your local skatespot. He's got sick drip that would look even better fluttering between gaps, and somehow, I know he would incorporate soulstones into making his moves that much more explosive. Not to mention, he would be tirelessly dogged in perfecting his moves. Easy top 10 skater for me.

5. Reime

Recruiting Reime involved the most difficult fight in the entire game for me. She hits fast and hard, and she's got a brutal competitive streak. All of this only stacks her legendary status that much higher, so in my mind, I can easily picture her thwomping any skatepark in Orsterra, all while bragging about how none of them are as good as the ones back east. She brings that sick-ass samurai vibe that is always appreciated in any game, THPS included. That vibe is so strong, it landed her in the top 5, and the rest of her is so strong that she also never left my party upon recruitment - all good reasons for why she's so popular.

4. Isla

Isla has got to be the strongest mage in the game, and by virtue of the quest needed to recruit her, already has total "secret character" vibes. In my previous lists (such as my Final Fantasy VI ranking), I tend to place 'mascot' characters higher up, and while Isla isn't exactly a mascot, she is a cait, AKA one of the best enemies in the OT series. Plus, I mean, come on: cait themed boards, a secret island skatepark, and the cat puns? The devs would have a field day. I also just love that design, the graduation gown is iconic.

3. Goodwin

Guys that just make you say 'hell yeah'. You know this mofo would be so goddamn funny, he has nuclear-grade aura that would make him a shoe-in for everything from THPS to the cast of Jackass. Completely reckless and infinitely talented, he would make for a godtier skater. He has an ability called 'Hang Tough', not to mention he's survived literal shipwrecks, so no man alive can top Goodwin's ability to faceplant and get back up. There is just something to be said about a positive attitude and the ability to sing about near-death bails that helps him beat out most of the competition.

2. Ludo

Some men are born to lead. Some are born to be captains of industry, others are born to shred like there's no tomorrow. Ludo is all of the above. He also may be the greatest example of a vibe-driven choice. It's the look, it's the attitude, it's the voice, but everything about Ludo tells me that he would not only find a way to capitalize on his ability to shred, but help transform all of Orsterra into a gnalier, more x-treme version of itself. He's got some of the most well-balanced stats in the game, making him scrappy on the battlefield, in the item shop, and most certainly on a halfpipe. Just one look at his official character art, and I suddenly hear Superman by Goldfinger playing in my head. Ludo is amazing and all... but we all know there is one many who skates his way to the top spot.

1. Bargello

My friend. My man. Bargello and the Family have my favorite story arc in the entire game. A lot of that rides off of Bargello's well-developed character, including his relationship with the Protag and his friends. But most importantly, this man's vibe is so immaculate when it comes to being chill yet in control that I just know he would not only make for one of the greatest additions to THPS, but would totally make Thrasher's Skater of the Year, and also Valore's Most Eligible Bachelor, and also Valore's Most Edible Bachleor in Tatloch's book. Some characters are just naturally cool. Bargello is the moment.

And thus, yet another lengthy journey comes to its end. Thank you for reading my list of the sickest skaters in all of Octopath Traveler 0. If you enjoyed this list, feel free to heart it and check out my blog for more rankings just like it. If you have any requests for casts you would like to see in Tony Hawk, feel free to comment as you please.

Safe/sick travels to you all.