Summary
Ever since the firstFinal Fantasygame was released in 1987, the franchise’s games have been known for their diverse cast of characters. For the most part, these characters have been human, but some ofthe bestFinal Fantasygameshave starred non-human main characters.
These range from the distinctly humanoid, likeFinal Fantasy 9’s Zidane, to the animalistic, likeFinal Fantasy 7’s Nanaki. However different they may look, these characters tend to have one thing in common.Final Fantasyfans love them. Below are some of the best of these non-human characters based on how much the fandom loves them, how well-written they are, how iconic they’ve become, and how good they are in a fight.
Final Fantasy 14is known for its outstanding character designs. As an MMORPG, it doesn’t really have “main characters” as such, but it does boast a diverse cast of well-written friends and enemies that the player will run across. One of the best is Y’shtola, a Seeker of the Sun Miqo’te Conjurer.
Final Fantasy 14has gone through a lot of changes over the years, but everyone’s favorite cat girl has been around since version 1.0, first appearing to help the adventurer during the Aurelia attack on the ship. Her design has become so iconic that she has become the game’s main representative, appearing in crossover titles likeDissidia Final Fantasy NTandTheatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call.Dawntrailmight haveintroduced great new characters, but Y’shtola’s cool demeanor, dry wit, and iconic design mean she will always have a place in fans' hearts. If she were playable, she’d rank much higher.
Non-human characters are a bit of a theme inFinal Fantasy 9. Indeed, a good chunk of the playable cast isn’t human. Of them all, Quina is easily the most inhuman. He/she/it is a Qu, a species that only really cares about one thing: eating. Compared to other characters, Quina doesn’t get a lot of character development, which has made her a little divisive amongFinal Fantasy 9fans.
As one ofthe most selfish playableFinal Fantasycharacters, Quina doesn’t seem that interested in the overarching, world-ending threat the party is facing. Instead, it only follows Zidane in the hopes the party’s quest will lead to interesting new things to eat. On the bright side, Quina does have a pretty cool, chef-themed design, and the fact that it learns blue magic spells by eating enemies comes in handy. Unfortunately, Quina’s divisive nature and lack of development land it near the bottom.
One of the reasonsFinal Fantasy 6is so beloved is its large cast of iconic characters, each with their own personality, unique abilities, and backstory. While some of these characters are mandatory, a handful are optional, secret characters.Final Fantasyhas a long history ofhard-to-unlock secret characters, but Umaro isn’t one of them. He’s a big, angry Yeti who can only be found deep in the Narshe Mines and can only be recruited in the World of Ruin if Mog is in the party.
Umaro can’t speak much and mainly communicates through grunts and groans, but he does feature some fun gameplay mechanics. He’s a berserker, which means the player can’t control him directly and he can only use physical attacks. However, this is compensated by the fact that he has high physical stats and that many of his attacks are devastating. In certain areas, like the Cultists' Tower and Dragon’s Neck Coliseum, he’s almost unstoppable. Sadly, his lack of character and risk/reward nature mean he gets a low ranking.
7Mog - Final Fantasy 6
The Bossy Moogle
Moogles have been a staple of theFinal Fantasyfranchise for decades, butFinal Fantasy 6was the first entry in which fans got to control one. This cute mascot character can either be recruited in the World of Balance by saving him from Lone Wolf or when running into him in Narshe Mines during the World of Ruin. Unlike other Moogles in the game, he can speak to the characters, having been taught how to do so by the mighty Ramuh.
Mog’s a moogle, so of course, he’s adorable. He appears to be smarter than the average moogle and can be more than a little sarcastic and bossy. In battle, he’s a combination of Dancer and Geomancer and his Dance ability uses one of four attacks depending on the terrain. While he can be powerful in the right circumstances, Dance puts him in a berserk-like state, making him hard to control, and limiting his usefulness. SinceFinal Fantasy 6,other moogles called Mog have come and gone, but the original is still the best.
Of allFinal Fantasy 10’s characters, Kimahari easily has one of the best designs. As a member of the warrior Ronso tribe, Kimahari looks like a mixture of a blue lion, a dragon, and a human. Despite being smaller than the average Ronso and having a broken horn, he still cuts an intimidating figure. His backstory is heartbreaking, but at least he gotone of the game’s happier endings.
Kimahari is Yuna’s most loyal guardian and has protected her since she was a child. In battle, he’s a blue mage, meaning he can learn enemy attacks, which can come in handy. He also starts in the middle of the sphere grid, meaning he’s a blank slate that the player can mold as they wish. He can be useful early on, but later on in the game, he becomes outclassed as characters like Wakka gain access to game-breaking special attacks. For his awesome design, stoic nature, and loyalty, Kimahari gets a middle ranking, even if most players barely use him.
5Freya - Final Fantasy 9
Burmecia’s Dragon Knight
Another non-human character fromFinal Fantasy 9, Freya is a Burmecian - a race of anthropomorphic rat/kangaroo people. That might sound a little unsettling, but Freya is one ofthe most badass women inFinal Fantasyhistory. She became a skilled Dragon Knight at the tender age of sixteen but left her city just a year later to hunt down her lost love.
She’s a character defined by honor, loyalty, and strength and is one of the few characters capable of shutting down Zidane. In battle, she has some powerful Dragon Knight skills, while her jump ability allows her to avoid enemy attacks and bring the heat with her lance. Unfortunately,Final Fantasy 9has so many great characters that Freya is often left forgotten - something made worse by the fact that her story trails off toward the game’s end. Freya gets a mid-ranking, but she arguably deserves better.
Final Fantasy 12might have one of the most boring leads in the entire franchise, but at least it has the dynamic duo of Balthier and Fran. Fran is a Viera from Eruyt village who acts as sky-pirate Balthier’s loyal right hand. Her title is “Master of Weapons” thanks to the fact that the Viera are known for their craftsmanship, grace, and intellect.
The Viera are basically an all-female race of giant rabbit people that share a lot of characteristics with wood elves. They love nature and aren’t so keen on mankind (for good reason). She’s one ofFinal Fantasy’s tallest characters, and countless cosplayers have copied her look. In a game known for having characters that are boring wet blankets, Freya stands out and has become aFinal Fantasyicon.
Final Fantasy 7features several of thefranchise’s most iconic charactersand Nanaki (or Red XIII as Hojo dubbed him) is one of the most unique. The player is never told what race Nanaki is, but he’s pretty much an awesome lion/wolf mix with human-level intelligence and an extended life span.
Nanaki has an interesting, slightly Native American-inspired design and one of the game’s most touching backstories. Nanaki always believed his father, Seto, was a coward who abandoned Cosmo Canyon, when in fact he sacrificed himself fighting the evil Gi tribe. When Nanaki discovers the truth and finds his father’s petrified body, it’s one of the franchise’s most heartfelt moments. Gameplay-wise, Nanaki is a good all-rounder with an excellent dexterity stat, and fans can’t go wrong having them in their party. He’s the bestFinal Fantasycharacter on four legs, hands down.
2Zidane - Final Fantasy 9
An Angel Of Death
There’s a lot more toFinal Fantasy 9’s protagonist than meets the eye. At first glance, it’s easy to mistake Zidane for a human when, in fact, he’s the franchise’s only non-human protagonist. Look a little closer, and his telltale monkey tail gives him away. Zidane isn’t human at all; he’s a genome from the dead planet Terra.
ThroughoutFinal Fantasy 9, the player discovers that the game’s hero was created by the evil Garland to become his “Angel of Death” and that Zidane is an improved version of the game’s main villain, Kuja. It’s a revelation that nearly breaks Zidane, but he doesn’t let it keep him down for long. His true nature also helps explain why Zidane is so powerful considering his class is a thief. Zidane has access to some of the most powerful attacks in the game in his trance state and is a force to be reckoned with, despite his friendly nature. All these things make him one ofFinal Fantasy’s best non-human characters.
1Vivi - Final Fantasy 9
The Black Mage With A Heart
IfFinal Fantasy 9has a mascot character, it’s Vivi, the little black mage with a heart. The game is chock-full of lovable characters, but for most fans, Vivi takes the top spot. He’s a black mage, a man-made race of humanoids formed from mist designed to be soul-less killing machines. Except something went wrong with Vivi, and instead fans got one ofFinal Fantasy’scutest characters.
Vivi is innocence personified. He’s trusting and naive and, during the game’s beginning, is walking around Alexandria like a lost puppy. Then Zidane and Steiner take him under their wing, and he joins their heroic journey. Vivi’s design is iconic, which is impressive considering fans don’t know what he looks like under that hat. In battle, he’s a powerful mage who remains a staple of most player’s parties the entire game. From his character growth to his cute design and brilliant backstory, Vivi isFinal Fantasy’smost iconic, and best, non-human character.
