Key Takeaways
- The original Black Mage in Final Fantasy set the iconic design and gameplay style for the series.
- Final Fantasy 10-2 presented a fresh interpretation of Black Mages, moving away from traditional wizard vibes.
- Palom from Final Fantasy 4 showcases remarkable growth and balance in character attitudes, vital for story development.
Aside from Chocobos and Moogles, almost nothing is visually associated with Final Fantasy more than the Black Mage. Black Mages stand out with a unique visual style and are beloved by the entire community.
Even with their popularity and regular appearances throughout the series, they still aren’t talked about anywhere near enough. So it’s long overdue that some time is dedicated to celebrating the Black Mages of this epic series.
Rather than considering which Black Mages have the highest magic stat or largest MP pool, the criteria for best Black Mages is based on memorability, influence on the series as a whole, and narrative excellence.
8 Final Fantasy
The Original
You simply can’t discuss the best Black Mages without bringing up the original. They may not have done it the greatest, but they did it first. The first Final Fantasy established their iconic design right out of the gate.
As the dedicated offensive spellcaster, they also laid the groundwork for the gameplay style from then on out. The fact that these elements remain consistent so many years later serves as evidence of how flawless a job the developers did.
7 Y-R-P
Final Fantasy 10-2
The Final Fantasy 10 sequel might be divisive among fans, but it provides one of the best examples of a job system in any Final Fantasy. That’s especially impressive, because Final Fantasy is a series known for job systems.
The version of Black Mage it provides certainly fulfills the expectation, but it also plays on it by putting a fresh spin on the aesthetic. It leans away from the wizard vibes and leans, appropriately, harder in the direction of witches.
6 Palom
Final Fantasy 4
Palom may not be the most beloved of all the Black Mages in Final Fantasy history, but he deserves a second chance from even the most jaded of fans. If you follow his journey all the way through to The After Years, he shows remarkable growth.
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His childish positivity is important in a game which otherwise focuses on the fraught morality of adults like Kain Highwind and Cecil Harvey. Palom is proof that balance across character attitudes is vital for a story to flourish.
5 Black Mage Job
Final Fantasy 3
If there’s anything better than a Black Mage, it’s a full party of Black Mages. That’s just what Final Fantasy 3 allows with its Job system, although, back then, Black Mages were even more versatile than they’ve been in more recent games.
Black Mages in Final Fantasy 3 could wield bows, making them sharpshooting spellslingers. Although the game doesn’t fully capitalize on that incredible idea, it still makes this version of the Black Mage stand out.
4 The Warrior Of Light
Final Fantasy 14
Final Fantasy 14 lets you play as a wide variety of classic Final Fantasy jobs and classes, and it does a fantastic job of making you truly feel like each one. Black Mage is no different, and is actually one of the better examples.
You’ll be rotating between Astral Fire and Umbral Ice like a pro in no time, all while decked out in the classic garb of a true Black Mage. Or however you like, really, but let’s be honest: you’ll wear the hat at least once.
3 The Black Mages
Final Fantasy 9
Although not an individual character, the collective Black Mages of Final Fantasy 9 may be the most narratively compelling species of any game in the series. They raise questions of free will, determinism, the horrors of war, and mortality.
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That might sound like a lot if you’re not familiar with Final Fantasy 9, but it is handled expertly and lands every emotional note. These Black Mages are unlike any other, and that makes them truly special.
2 Lulu
Final Fantasy 10
Lulu from Final Fantasy 10 is still of the more compelling Black Mages Final Fantasy has to offer, thanks to her reserved nature and tragic backstory.
A grieving woman with quiet conviction, Lulu is a steadfast party member who provides much-needed counsel and information about Spira to the confused Tidus. Also, her weapon of choice is a doll, which would be enough to earn her a top spot all by itself.
Lulu was actually considered to be one of the party members in the sequel, but it was decided that if she was present throughout the whole story that Yuna would rely on her too much.
1 Vivi
Final Fantasy 9
The general consensus in the Final Fantasy community is that Vivi is one of the most beloved characters the games have ever produced. He’s of the Black Mage species from Final Fantasy 9, carrying all of the narrative weight they bring with them.
Where Vivi differs from the other Black Mages of his game is his childlike demeanor. He is trusting to a fault, believes in the good of almost everyone he meets, and is all around the most precious little guy to ever exist. Vivi is the poster boy Black Mage for a reason.
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