Characters Who Turn Out to Be Secret Villains In Final Fantasy

Key Takeaways

• Ardyn Izunia is a relative of Noctis who turns out to be a malicious entity in Final Fantasy 15.
• The King of Baron in Final Fantasy 4 is exposed as an impostor Archfiend after Cecil becomes a Paladin.
• Ultimecia in Final Fantasy 8 manipulates events behind the scenes, leading to a climactic boss fight in the future.

Final Fantasy is a series known for its cinematic spectacle, intense gameplay, memorable characters, and a whole host of recurring elements that can be too numerous to keep track of. The series may be facing an identity crisis in recent times, but that should take nothing away from the immense allure of the franchise.

One of the most memorable parts of any video game is an antagonist that fans will grow to hate, making for a satisfying conclusion when these villains are taken down. Some of these foes don’t show their deceitful side until players clock in substantial hours in their adventure, which makes these secret Final Fantasy antagonists quite memorable in their own right.

8 Ardyn Izunia

Turns Out To Be An Evil Entity And A Member Of Noctis’ Royal Family

Ardyn Izunia’s charismatic presence makes him an easy character to be captivated by when players are introduced to him in Final Fantasy 15. Despite initially helping the gang out, most fans will predict that this character is a villain who has it out for the heroes.

However, the true extent of his villainy isn’t revealed until he kills Noctis’ betrothed and reveals his true identity as Ardyn Lucis Caelum, Noctis’ ancestor who absorbed the blight and evil of men in his body before eventually becoming a corrupted, malicious entity. He later goes on to plunge the entire world into a state of ruin.

7 King Of Baron

An Impostor Whose True Identity Is That Of Cagnazzo, The Archfiend Of Water

Final Fantasy 4 wastes no time in showing the second thoughts Cecil has about his adoptive father’s actions. The King of Baron was a righteous figure for the longest time before suddenly revealing a dark side, where he started invading other kingdoms and taking their crystals for himself.

It’s not until after Cecil becomes a Paladin that he confronts his adoptive father, only to reveal a horrifying truth — the King of Baron had been killed by Cagnazzo, an Archfield of Water who impersonated him for the longest time. This sets up an emotional boss fight as Cecil and his allies take out the Water Archfield in one of the game’s most cinematic battles.

6 Yunalesca

Knowingly Sending Summoners And Their Friends To Their Doom Instead Of Helping Them Break The Cycle

For the longest time, the people of Spira had been following the teachings of Yu Yevon and sacrificing a summoner to Sin so that the chaos brought about by this entity could be silenced temporarily. Every group encountered Yunalesca, who blessed the Summoner and their loyal guard every single time before directing them to complete the ritual.

However, it turned out that the teachings of Yu Yevon were meant to trap Spira in a cycle of despair — a fact that Yunalesca was aware of. After the group uncovers her treachery and defies her, players must engage in a boss fight with one of the hardest foes in the Final Fantasy series who takes no prisoners and can wipe the party out in a flash if they aren’t prepared to deal with her relentless assault.

5 Necron

Comes Out Of Nowhere To Become The True Final Boss

Nihilism and existential dread are things that Kuja suffers from after learning of the truth behind his existence. After an emotional boss fight against Trance Kuja, it turns out that the antagonist’s negative feelings were so strong that they summoned the true final boss of the game, Necron.

This secret villain embodies this term by coming out of nowhere and stealing Kuja’s thunder. It’s one of the few negative moments in an otherwise amazing JRPG that embodies the very best of what the Final Fantasy series has to offer.

4 Ultimecia

Most Of The People In Final Fantasy 8 Were Manipulated By Ultimecia Behind The Scenes

Final Fantasy 8‘s plot can be a trainwreck at times, which is why Ultimecia’s inclusion can feel rather clumsy. After chasing Edea for the longest time, it turns out that this sorceress was being manipulated by the true antagonist of the game, who must be fought after the party travels into the future.

Ultimecia’s plan to compress time and form a world where only she can live may be nonsensical, but it sets the stage for one of the greatest final boss fights in Final Fantasy history. The four-phase boss fight against Ultimecia and Griever is a gauntlet for the ages that ends Final Fantasy 8 on a high note.

3 Chaos

Garland Takes On This Form After Being Sent Into The Past

Most people assume that defeating Garland is only the first step in a journey to help the Warriors of Light save the world, but there’s more to this tale than what meets the eye. It turns out that Garland’s corpse was sent into the past after this ordeal, turning into a vessel for the God of Destruction, Chaos.

After defeating the four Archfields, the Warriors of Light must go back to the place where everything began and defeat Chaos. This eliminates the time loop that allowed this nefarious entity to exist, allowing the Warriors of Light to save the world once and for all.

2 Ultima

A Malicious Otherworldly Entity Who Is Revealed Midway In The Plot As The True Antagonist

At the start of the game, the political intrigue of Final Fantasy 16 coupled with the introduction of numerous memorable characters makes it seem like this inter-nation conflict will play a central role in the events to come. However, Ultima’s debut flips the script completely.

This godlike entity comes out of nowhere and becomes the final hurdle that Clive and his friends must overcome to save the day. It’s not a huge pivot given that Ultima is given more of a buildup than other secret villains in the series, but what makes his inclusion so jarring is the fact that most of Final Fantasy 16‘s intriguing world-building suddenly takes a backseat to this otherwordly being and his unnecessary fascination with Mythos.

1 Yu Yevon

Responsible For Trapping Spira In A Cycle Of Destruction

Yu Yevon used to be a summoner who protected Zanarkand, unwittingly creating a powerful creature who would trap the world in a cycle of destruction. His instructions were flawed, and the quest to create an entity that could protect Zanarkand ironically destroyed it.

The truth of Sin’s origin is revealed later on, turning Yu Yevon into the true antagonist that players fight at the very end of the game. Despite being a villain in every sense of the word, he isn’t evil per se. Rather, it was a series of unfortunate events that caused him to create Sin, a horrifying creature that destroys anything and everything in its path.