The BEST Boss in Every Final Fantasy Game

Best Boss in Every Final Fantasy Game

Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’re looking at the best boss in every mainline “Final Fantasy” game. Our picks were chosen based on a combination of balanced difficulty, as well as design and impact. And just a heads up, some spoilers lie ahead.

Lich

“Final Fantasy” (1987)

The first of the four Elemental Fiends the Warriors of Light must face, Lich is also undoubtedly the coolest in terms of design. Found at the bottom of the Cavern of Earth, Lich is the first true challenge of the original “Final Fantasy.” His undead nature makes him weak to Dia and Fire attacks, so strategize accordingly. Just watch out for his equally powerful magic attacks - casting Nul spells will cut this damage in half. Depending on which version of the game you’re playing, you may have access to other helpful items, like the elemental Curtains from the ‘20th Anniversary’ and ‘Dawn of Souls’ editions. He’ll be a lot stronger the second time around, though.

Emperor

“Final Fantasy II” (1988)

Our first final boss on this list, the last Emperor encounter in Square’s sophomore outing is definitely the most badass in the game. Firion and friends defeat and kill him earlier on, sending him to Hell. Unluckily for them, however, is that he takes it over. Yeah, so much for all that grinding. This final fight is significantly tougher, and focusing on evasiveness is highly recommended here. His Flare XVI attack hits the whole party for massive damage, so be sure to have a White Mage at the ready. He also sports the most menacing and imposing design in the game, making him an easy pick for the best boss.

Cloud of Darkness

“Final Fantasy III” (1990)

There are countless iterations of “Final Fantasy III” out there, from the Nintendo DS remake to the recent Pixel Remaster. But one thing remains constant: the final boss, Cloud of Darkness, is far and away the best fight in all versions. Her awesome design coupled with the battle music are a recipe for fun, and is challenging to boot. Her Flare Wave attack can decimate your party, so, as always, make sure you have a White Mage ready to go. To deal damage, the best strategy here is to load up on Shurikens and tear her to shreds with as many Ninjas as you can spare. With enough time, you’ll beat the game and get to watch that sweet ending.

Dark Knight Cecil

“Final Fantasy IV” (1991)

Just like “Final Fantasy III,” “Final Fantasy IV” (or “Final Fantasy II” for the American olds) is one of the most widely available entries in the series thanks in part to its DS remake. In any case, the obvious pick here is Dark Knight Cecil. Midway through the story, troubled protagonist Cecil must “bid farewell to his bloodstained past” atop the peak of Mount Ordeals, emerging victorious with new duds and abilities as a Paladin. While this fight isn’t necessarily the most difficult, it’s a crucial turning point in the game’s narrative and a moment of powerful character development for our hero. Oh, and the battle music? Yeah, awesome. Play this game.

Gilgamesh

“Final Fantasy V” (1992)

A recurring comic relief character throughout many of the “Final Fantasy” games, Gilgamesh’s appearance in the fifth installment is both his best and the game’s most entertaining boss battle. Don’t let his cool design fool you; hilariously, the dude is a pushover and talks a big game thathe can’t back up. Bartz and company encounter him a total of six times throughout the game, as he’s the right hand of the main antagonist, Exdeath, often imprisoning you or acting as a roadblock. None of his encounters are terribly difficult, but we always love hearing his little quips and one-liners. If you’re lucky enough with the Thief class, you can steal pieces of the Genji armor from Gilgamesh during each of your interactions with him - a must-have for strong builds.

Phantom Train

“Final Fantasy VI” (1994)

If you thought the Gilgamesh fights were goofy, allow us to introduce the Phantom Train. What starts out as a somber and macabre moment for one of our protagonists, Cyan, becomes just as off the walls as our previous entry. Yep, you fight an actual choo choo train. “Final Fantasy VI” is widely regarded as one of the most iconic entries in the entire series, and its bosses are a big contributor to that. One of the most well-known memes associated with this fight is Sabin’s ability to suplex the train. Yes, like the wrestling move. If it sounds funny, wait til you see it in action. Additionally, if you’re looking to speedrun the game, the Phantom Train is classified as undead, so one Phoenix Down should do the trick.

Safer-Sephiroth

“Final Fantasy VII” (1997)

It was really tough to pick from “Final Fantasy VII’s” roster of awesome bosses for this list. We were leaning towards the Weapons, but they didn’t seem nearly as iconic as the final encounter with main antagonist Sephiroth. Here, the villain takes his legendary, One-Winged Angel form, and the battle theme of the same name rages on in the background as you fight for the fate of the planet. The challenge is pretty brutal, so bringing your strongest Materia and equipment is paramount if you want to come out on top. If 2024’s “Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth” is anything to go off, the third entry of the Remake trilogy will do this fight justice and then some. Oh, and this form is also Sephiroth’s Final Smash in his appearance in “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate,” so that’s pretty cool too.

Omega Weapon

“Final Fantasy VIII” (1999)

We all know the main antagonist, Ultimecia, is a great villain, and her final battle at the end of “Final Fantasy VIII” is iconic. But there’s another baddie that takes the cake here. Omega Weapon, found hidden within Ultimecia’s castle, brings the heat in both challenge and cool design. The weird, centaur-like hybrid creature boasts an insane amount of HP, weighing in at just over a million, and has some devastating attacks that can take out the whole party. Should you overcome this beast, the game congratulates you by unlocking the Proof of Omega, a sort-of Easter Egg in the help section of the menus.

Necron

“Final Fantasy IX” (2000)

“Final Fantasy IX” was another difficult one for us, as the game has so many awesome and unique bosses. From the Black Waltz to the enigmatic Ozma, the great picks are endless. And while not quite as formidable as the latter, the game’s final boss is still a force to be reckoned with. After being weakened by Trance Kuja’s Ultima spell, the party must tussle with the terrifying, Biblically-accurate angel-looking monster that is Necron. Beware of his powerful magic attacks, and try using the Dispel ability to remove his buffs. Take him out, and you’re treated to a very satisfying ending that wraps up all the characters’ stories.

Evrae

“Final Fantasy X” (2001)

At the midpoint of “Final Fantasy X,” the giant guardian dragon, Evrae, descends upon the Fahrenheit airship as the party attempts to reach Bevelle. A pretty unique boss battle, you’ll have to use the environment and parts of the ship to take it out. Strategizing your movements and paying attention to turn order is crucial, as you’ll have to command the ship to get close or move away. His Poison Breath attack hits like a truck, so make sure to kit out your party accordingly beforehand - you’ll also evade the attack if you’ve moved the ship away. It’s best to use ranged attacks here, like Lulu’s Black Magic or Wakka’s attack, and the airship can even shoot its cannons at the beast.

The Ark Angels

“Final Fantasy XI” (2002)

We’re cheating a little bit here. The Ark Angels, also known as the Crystal Warriors, are a set of five bosses you can fight in “Final Fantasy XI,” Square Enix’s first MMORPG attempt. Part of the Rise of Zilart expansion, they represent each of the game’s Elvaan virtues, and their designs are certifiably badass. You can fight them all individually or test your skill against all five at once, but be warned: they’ll use devastating attacks using Class abilities you’re familiar with. Upon defeating each one, you’ll unlock their Trusts, allowing you to summon them in battle. Definitely worth the grind.

Yiazmat

“Final Fantasy XII” (2006)

While we didn’t want to pick all of the hardest bosses for this list, it isn’t our fault “Final Fantasy XII’s” Yiazmat also happens to be the coolest in the game. Packing a whopping 50 million health, the final Elite Mark is not only an imposing beast from a gameplay perspective, but its size is just as intimidating; it takes up the entire screen! Its history as the most powerful elder dragon in existence is clear in its design, and the fight itself will require a lot of grinding. Once you get it to half health, the amount of damage it takes is reduced by one-third, requiring even more effort. That’s not to mention its ultra-powerful attacks, which should be obvious given everything else we just said. Good luck!

Anima

“Final Fantasy XIII” (2009)

The first of “Final Fantasy XIII’s” Pulse fal’Cie that Lightning and company come up against, Anima is definitely the coolest. While not really taking inspiration from the original undead look from “Final Fantasy X,” its design is still unmatched. You’ll be facing a huge, terrifying cyborg… thing. Which is honestly just as awesome. It attacks using the two Manipulators on either side, making dodging a bit of a challenge. Still, destroying them both before attacking Anima’s main body will allow you to finish it off in no time. While it isn’t that hard of a fight, it’s still a fun one.

Endsinger

“Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn” (2013)

Comprised of two forms, the “Endwalker” expansion’s final boss, the Endsinger, is the hit MMO’s best. Taking the shape of a giant goddess-like figure, the Endsinger is an imposing force to be reckoned with. The fight takes place on the back of Shinryu on a round arena, so maneuvering strategically is of utmost importance to survive and emerge victorious. A full party is of course recommended, with each player filling each role to their highest ability. But the Endsinger still poses a significant challenge. Oh, and the battle music is incredible. Ten out of ten.

Leviathan

“Final Fantasy XV” (2016)

In terms of spectacle, the fight against Leviathan in “Final Fantasy XV” is unmatched compared to the rest of them. OK, yes, the fight against the literally mountain-sized Adamantoise is epic, but Leviathan has important story implications, so it wins the spot. Anyway, the lead up to the fight is awesome, with Noctis cutting his way through imperial soldiers and flying around the city with Prompto, all with the imposing figure of Leviathan in the background looming. Feeling like something straight out of “Shadow of the Colossus,” the sheer scale of this battle is one of the most impressive in any “Final Fantasy” game.

Bahamut

“Final Fantasy XVI” (2023)

If you’ve played “Final Fantasy XVI,” you know that any Eikon fight from the game would fit nicely onto this list. All of them are awe-inspiring, Kaiju-esque battles, but the fight against Bahamut is probably the best in terms of badass-factor. Preceded by a gut-wrenching and superbly acted cutscene between protagonist Clive and his mother Anabella, the battle itself sees the hero take on the form of Ifrit, and face the legendary dragon and franchise staple, Bahamut. Accompanied by his brother Joshua and his Eikon, Phoenix, the encounter is more than just a typical boss battle; it’s an impactful, emotional, playable cutscene that is one of the game’s best moments. The music, camera work, acting, EVERYTHING is just so good. You even fight Bahamut in space. Ahem, ok enough nerding out.

What are some of your favorite bosses throughout Final Fantasy’s history? Let us know in the comments below!