The Best Characters of Final Fantasy

The best part of a journey lies in the company you keep. Over the many years of the Final Fantasy franchise dozens of heroes and villains have entered our hearts and remain in our memories. Some of them awe us with their dedication to righteous causes while others widen our eyes with sinister plots.

The combined cast of the great play that is Final Fantasy brims with incredible characters. To select the best of them means facing a challenging decision at every turn. But we love a good challenge. What follows represents just a small sampling of the highlights of a series known the world over for helping define the RPG for 24 years.

For those of you unfamiliar with the stories of these characters know that important plot points will be discussed.

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Edward "Edge" Geraldine, IV
Ninjas aren't rare in the Final Fantasy series, but Edge is the most notable of the bunch. As royalty hailing from the Kingdom of Eblan, Edge is decidedly un-ninja-like. He's aggressive, outspoken and overtly flirtatious with the ladies. But his abilities in battle make him outright dangerous. His ambidextrousness means he can do considerable damage with two weapons at a time, while his ability to throw items and use magic make him exceptionally well-rounded.

Golbez, IV
Golbez is the most bipolar antagonist in the Final Fantasy series. His story of manipulation is fascinating, but he ends up being the one manipulated by the end of Final Fantasy IV. Disgraced by his use of Kain to collect powerful Crystals, it's revealed that Golbez was being controlled by Zemus the entire time -- the Lunarian at the heart of Final Fantasy IV's chaos.

Porom and Palom, IV
Few moments in Final Fantasy history evoke as much feeling as when Porom and Palom sacrifice themselves for the sake of the rest of the party. As young twin mages from Mysidia, they cast deadly magic on themselves to stop Cagnazzo from collapsing walls on the rest of the party in Banon Castle. It appears they've killed themselves until the end of the game, when they are healed and brought back to life. Still, losing the twins was exceptionally sad, and not knowing their fate for dozens of game hours was hard for many players to deal with.

Tellah, IV
Best known for his "You Spoony Bard!" phrase, Tellah is an elderly sage capable of using both white and black magic with incredible skill. In Final Fantasy IV, the party befriends Tellah as he attempts to break-up a marriage between his daughter and Edward the Bard. Tellah comes in and out of the party thereafter, dying after casting Meteor near the end of the game, only to return in spirit to lend his friends the power they needs to defeat Zeromus and ultimately save the world.

Faris Scherwiz, V
In Final Fantasy V, Faris is the character that brings everyone together. After all, she captains the ship that the rest of the party attempts to commandeer towards the beginning of the game. But as a woman disguised as a male pirate, Faris grew up on the high seas, but she also happens to have royal blood flowing through her veins. This dynamic makes her Final Fantasy V's most endearing character, one that's both integral to the main plot while hiding intriguing secrets of her own.

Celes Chere, VI
Fueled by cold strength and honor to the Empire, Celes Chere begins Final Fantasy VI as an enemy to the heroes but, through a twist of fate, changes her allegiance. Celes' story is one of the most powerful sub-plots in Final Fantasy VI as she acts as a counterpart to Locke, steals the spotlight in the legendary opera house scene, and attempts to kill Kefka atop the Floating Continent. Most importantly, her desperate attempts to save Cid in the World of Ruin set the stage for one of the most memorable conclusions in the franchise's history.

Edgar Roni Figaro, VI
The tool-using, flirtatious king of Figaro, Edgar helps the Returners fight against the Empire with his mechanical marvel of a castle. In the cast of Final Fantasy VI, Edgar provides small doses of comic relief coupled with a strong will to fight against the world's evils. And Edgar's cunning sacrifice for his brother proves his worth as a legendary hero.

Kefka Palazzo, VI
This maniacal jester not only steals the show in Final Fantasy VI, he dominates the villainous history of the franchise as one of the most evil antagonists to face the forces of light. Kefka deceives, betrays, poisons, and murders throughout his ascension to godlike heights. And it all started with a little sand on his boots.

Locke Cole, VI
It's true that Locke is just one character in Final Fantasy VI's epic roster. But Locke is also a critical piece of the puzzle. His relationships with lynchpins Terra and Celes are unrivaled, and his ability to steal (and later mug) during battle makes him a thieving maniac. Locke's quest begins with his deceased girlfriend, but by the time Kefka rises to power and threatens the entire world, Locke turns his eyes to the true prize and helps the party rid the world of evil once and for all.

Ultros, VI
Ultros is a strange character, one that follows the party around in Final Fantasy VI, fighting them in the most random places. He's also unintentionally hilarious. Whether he's fighting the party in a river, at the opera house, or even thousands of feet above sea level, Ultros' quest to clobber the party is completely mystifying. He's not the main antagonist in Final Fantasy VI, but he's certainly the most funny and enemy around.