Square Enix’sFinal Fantasyseries hosts dozens of fantastical creatures. Throughout its thirty-year history, it has featured common enemies, like Goblins, Sahagins, and even enemy Chocobos. However, some designs stand out more than others.
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Final Fantasyhosts a number of mascot characters which include allies and enemies alike. Among the mascot enemies, some of the bosses have become defining and notorious in their respective games. Many of these enemies appear in numerous titles as well!
10Tonberry
It’s hard to describe what a Tonberry is besides a green creature wearing a tan cloak. He approaches with lantern and knife in hand. While his base attack inflicts damage based on enemy kill count, the real danger comes from his closest approach.
A Tonberry will stab with his butcher knife for an instant KO. The worrying part comes from their high amounts of HP. But perhaps the creepiest part is when they will slowly approach the party; with each turn, they signify impending doom.
9Cactuar
Much like Tonberry, Cactuar exemplifies another strange mascot design. They’re not found everywhere, but when they are, they can trouble the party greatly. Cactuars are known for their high evasion rate, ability to flee, and their 1000 Needles attack.
This strange, bipedal cactus comes in many forms, just like Tonberry. The Jumbo Cactuar is one example that appears inFinal Fantasy VIII. Not only does it tower over the party but it can deal a 10,000 Needles attack to insta-kill a member.
8Ultros
Final Fantasy VI’s favorite octopus does not appear like a normal enemy. Rather, he taunts the party with jokeswhile flirting with the women. He even agrees to have his portrait drawn by Relm.
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Ultros appears several times throughoutFinal Fantasy VI. When he’s not harassing the party, he’s running the Monster Arena. With a flair for the dramatic, he later makes appearances inFinal Fantasy XIII-2andFinal Fantasy XIV.
7Hell House
Final Fantasy VIIplayers might wonder what they’re fighting the first time they encounter this foe. Once a normal foe in the original game, this strange house-shaped apparatus appeared in the Midgar slums. When attacked, it proved to be a butcher machine.
InFinal Fantasy VII Remake, Don Corneo employs the Hell House as one of his toys. The conniving don pits this death trap against Cloud during the battle arena segment. Compared to its days as a random encounter, Hell Houselives up to its name as a frightening boss.
6Malboro
Speaking of hell, there’s nothing quite like a Malboro encounter. Not to be confused with a similarly-named cigarette brand, the Malboro relates to the amounts of damage it inflicts on one’s body. Furthermore, its special attack just so happens to be called Bad Breath.
Malboro is simply gruesome to look at. But its Bad Breath technique inflicts a number of status ailments on the party. In addition to crippling party members, its high HP makes it difficult to defeat.
5Bomb
Bombs come in many forms. But to be specific, each variation has the same feature. When it reaches enough damage, it will self-destruct.
InFinal Fantasy X, Bombs are particularly nasty because they expand with every attack. Once they hit three, they’re ready to burst. To make matters worse, there’s also a Mom Bomb inFinal Fantasy IV.
4Gi Nattak
Gi Nattak might seem like an unassuming encounter for anyone not familiar withFinal Fantasy VII. However, anyone who playedFinal Fantasy VIIlate at night came unprepared for this jarring encounter. Upon encountering Gi Nattak, it displays a creepy face with an unsettling animation.
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Upon the boss fight, Gi Nattak looks nothing like the face in the stone. This ghostly creature sends spiritual flames to possess party members. Fortunately, players can fell it with a single X-Potion.
3Humbaba
Originally named Phunbaba in the SNES translation, Humbaba comes to threaten Terra’s orphanage inFinal Fantasy VI. One standout feature comes from its name alone. It’s just fun to say. Humbaba.
This creature is a rare breed for being weak to Bio. While it defeats Terra in the first encounter, it’s felled quickly by the full party. Interestingly enough,Final Fantasy VIis the only game where Humbaba appears as a bipedal, green demon.
2Ahriman
NoFinal Fantasytitle exists where Ahriman does not look creepy. This winged cyclops generally appears near the end of each game. Its specialty includes Petrifying the party as well as using physical attacks.
Ahriman’s attack selection also includes Doom and Death spells. While this creature might not be as meaty as other late-game enemies, it pays to defeat it quickly. Not doing so could end a party.
1Phantom Train
The boss ofFinal Fantasy VI’s Phantom Forest, the Phantom Train carries souls to the realm of the dead. Functioning as a dungeon, Sabin, Shadow, and Cyan eat in the dining hall, face a treasure thief, and can even befriend a ghost. Ultimately, they’ll enter the captain’s quarters, head to the exterior, and the train will confront them.
The battle involves the party running away from the train on the tracks. Phantom Train not only casts magic spells but can lob its wheels at the players. But perhaps the single most striking aspect of this creature is that Sabin can instantly defeat it with a single Suplex.
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