Summary
Villains come in all sorts of flavors, from the maniacal and power-hungry, to the calculated tacticians who use subterfuge and manipulation to achieve their goals.TheFinal Fantasyfranchisehas explored all of these archetypes, and a few of them have managed to concoct some truly clever plans over the past 35-plus years.
Whether it’s orchestrating some sort of war that they can benefit from, or using political power in order to gain some sort of advantage, the villains ofFinal Fantasyhave been behind some truly unique and intelligent schemes over the years. These plans have been ranked on their effectiveness, how well they were implemented, and how much damage they did before the heroes were able to intervene and save the world.
ThroughoutFinal Fantasy 10, players come face to face with Sin, a gigantic force of nature that the people of Spira see as punishment for their misdeeds. It’s this perception that guides Seymour Guado, a Master Summoner who is infatuated with Yuna, to concoct one of the most sinister and intelligent plans inFinal Fantasyfranchise history.
TheFinal Fantasyseries is no strangerto huge, overwhelming creaturesthat threaten to tear the world apart, but Seymour’s plan revolved around actually becoming Sin. Seeing that the world of Spira was filled with death, destruction and chaos, Seymour wanted to become Sin in order to end the suffering once and for all. Gigantic, world-destroying creatures are fairly common inFinal Fantasy, but Seymour’s wish to actually embody them and use them for his own desires is still one of the most compelling approaches any villain in the franchise has ever taken.
Sephiroth is one of the most iconic villains of all time, not just in the franchise, but the entire video game industry. This silver-haired swordsman was at the epicenter of the landmark release ofFinal Fantasy 7in 1997 and once again in theRemaketrilogy. Though his goals initially appear murky, Sephiroth’s true plan doesn’t come into full view untilthe events ofRebirth, where he has his eyes on the Black Materia hidden away in the Temple of the Ancients.
Using Cloud’s pure, unfiltered hatred of him against the party, Sephiroth manipulates the ex-SOLDIER into taking the Black Materia and handing it over to him. As the Black Materia allows Sephiroth to summon Meteor, a devastating spell that would destroy the entire planet, Sephiroth’s ambitious goals add some huge stakes to the second half ofFinal Fantasy 7.
Kuja’s presence inFinal Fantasy 9is originally relegated to the shadows. He works behind the scenes to alter and control the events of the game, coming to a head when Zidane and the party come face-to-face with him in Burmecia. It’s here that his plan starts to fall into place, as his careful, detail-oriented ability to manipulate the situation for his needs sets off a chain of events designed to trigger war and garner him more power.
Kuja’s silver tongue and charisma are the key, as he’s able to coerce Queen Brahne into attacking Burmecia. He also supplies Black Mages, furthering his goals to unleash chaoson the world of Gaia, as Kuja’s quest for power and control leads him to some concrete victories over the party. He is one of the most well-equipped, intelligent villains inFinal Fantasyhistory.
The Shinra Electric Power Company is one of themost dastardly organizations in gaming. This insidious group of greedy villains crafted harmful mako reactors designed to suck the energy from the planet and keep its people oppressed. to do so, while also keeping a scared public on its side, Shinra used the media and propaganda in hugely effective ways, as they needed it to stay one step ahead of a group of freedom fighters named Avalanche.
By painting Avalanche as eco-terrorists threatening the public’s safety, Shinra is able to sow distrust, while also framing them for the destruction of Sector 7, an act they committed themselves by dropping the plate. Shinra also used this as a way to further an illegal war against Wutai, further proving how far this nefarious group would go in order to achieve their goals. Shinra would get what was coming to them, but not before their creative use of manipulation and control would gain them a massive upper hand against Avalanche.
After becoming aware of a prophecy that detailed her defeat at the hands of SeeD, a group of teenagers from the distant past, Ultimecia sent her consciousness back into the past, where it possessed the body of Edea Kramer. This leads tothe events ofFinal Fantasy 8, where Ultimecia intends to use time compression in order to alter the events of the past and save her life, all while eliminating every speck of life outside of her own.
While in possession of Edea’s body, Ultimecia manipulates the past to her liking, coercing Seifer into joining her and taking control of Galbadia. Despite being the main cause ofFinal Fantasy 8’sevents, the party doesn’t even confront her until the game’s haunting finale, as she expertly causes strife and chaos from the shadows of her castle. She is one of the most intelligent, intimidating villains in franchise history.
