Best Gimmick Bosses In The Final Fantasy Series, Ranked

Final Fantasy is a series full of engaging boss fights that fans will have a great time defeating. As long as players were diligent about leveling up and utilized appropriate strategies in combat, they’ll be able to defeat most Final Fantasy bosses in style.

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Some bosses in Final Fantasy function more like puzzle or gimmick bosses that are either meant to make players think differently or just enjoy a cinematic display of power. Either way, fans will love how these bosses change things and freshen up the gameplay for most Final Fantasy players.

8

Yu Yevon

A Final Boss Who Can’t Kill Anyone

Systems

Released

December 17, 2001

ESRB

T for Teen: Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Yu Yevon is the final boss of Final Fantasy 10, and some people lament the fact that players are unable to lose against this boss. However, players who don’t mind this boss’ cinematic spectacle will love this gimmick encounter.

Since attacking Yu Yevon causes him to cast Curaga, players can just wait for him to deplete his own HP with Curaga and only use attacks that deal extremely high damage. This ensures that Yu Yevon’s HP will plummet as players win the fight and break the cycle of violence plaguing Spira.

7

Garuda

A Party Of Dragoons Is Recommended To Defeat This Boss

Released

April 27, 1990

ESRB

m

How Long To Beat

30 hours

OpenCritic Rating

Weak

Expand

Garuda can either be one of the frustrating bosses in Final Fantasy 3 or a laughably easy encounter based on how players approach this boss. It’s hinted beforehand that players should approach this party with a party of Dragoons to defeat Garuda in no time.

Failing to do so leads to players being bombarded with Lightning, a move that hits the entire party for major damage that can wipe out the entire party. However, if players just bombard Garuda with Jump as intended, then the fight will be over before they can even blink.

6

Wrexsoul

This Spirit Possesses A Party Member Who Must Be KO’d For The Boss To Reappear

Released

October 11, 1994

ESRB

T For Teen Due To Fantasy Violence, Partial Nudity

Developer(s)

Square Enix, Square

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Wrexsoul is one of the most unique Final Fantasy bosses that players must defeat to free Cyan from his nightmares. The encounter starts with Wrexsoul possessing one of the party members, leaving two Soul Savers behind who will regenerate after being defeated.

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To win this battle, players must KO their party members one by one until Wrexsoul’s possession is reversed, following which they can bombard this foe with attacks. Rinsing and repeating this strategy ensures that Wrexsoul will be down for the count and Cyan joins the party.

5

Dr. Lugae

His Reverse Gas Can Completely Change How Players Approach

Final Fantasy 4 (3D Remake)

Released

July 22, 2008

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes

The 3D version of Final Fantasy 4 is notoriously difficult, with the fight against Dr. Lugae being a great example of the same. The original fight was pretty straightforward, but the remake’s take on this boss adds a gimmick that will turn a player’s strategy upside-down.

This Reverse Gas ability switches how damage and healing works, leading to players using curatives and healing magic on the boss to reduce its health while attacking friendly party members to restore their health. It’s a unique change to the boss that makes things tricky if players don’t adjust to the effects of the Reverse Gas in time.

4

Gogo

A Mimic Who Can Only Be Defeated If Players Do Nothing

Released

December 6, 1992

ESRB

T For Teen due to Mild Fantasy Violence, Partial Nudity

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

In Final Fantasy 5, players can find the Famed Mimic Gogo in the sunken Walse Tower. If players treat this encounter as a regular boss fight, then Gogo will obliterate their party in a flash.

Instead, they must do nothing so that Gogo can’t mimic anything, resulting in them attaining victory and gaining access to the Mimic job. It’s a novel boss fight with a gimmick that makes perfect sense, making it clear why this legendary mimic was brought back as a secret party member in Final Fantasy 6.

3

Dark Knight Cecil

To Defeat His Dark Side, Cecil Must Walk The Path Of Pacifism

Released

July 19, 1991

ESRB

e

Developer(s)

Square

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Cecil is a Dark Knight who’s conflicted about his actions and decides to clear his mind at Mt. Ordeals. After reaching the top, he transforms into a Paladin and faces off against his darker self.

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Instead of attacking this vision, Cecil must do nothing and refuse to play the Dark Knight’s game. This cements his transformation and turns him into a righteous Paladin who can finally be confident in his actions.

2

Magic Master

Players Must Figure Out A Strategy To Deal With The Ultima He Casts Before His Demise

Final Fantasy VI

Released

April 2, 1994

ESRB

Teen // Fantasy Violence, Partial Nudity

Developer(s)

Square

One of the toughest optional bosses in Final Fantasy 6, the Magic Master is fought at the top of the Cultists’ Tower after a grueling climb where players can only use magical attacks against their foes.

The fight seems relatively straightforward, only for the boss to cast Ultima before his demise, which will assuredly wipe out everyone unless players are at a ridiculously high level. To avoid this Hail Mary attack, players must either use Re-Raise, time a Jump attack to perfection, or use Berserk on the Magic Master.

1

Demon Wall

A Popular Gimmick Boss In Multiple Final Fantasy Games Who Will Crush The Party If It Isn’t Killed In Time

• Appears in multiple Final Fantasy games

The Demon Wall is a legendary gimmick boss who has appeared in most Final Fantasy games and serves as a DPS test. If players don’t take out this boss in time, it’ll crush the entire party and kill them in no time.

Players must throw caution to the wind, buff everyone’s attack, and obliterate this boss with their strongest attacks. Only then will they be able to survive this gimmick boss by the skin of their teeth.

Final Fantasy

Creation Year

1987

Developer(s)

Square Enix

Publisher(s)

Square Enix