Summary

  • Selflessness is a rare trait in the Final Fantasy franchise, but characters like Sazh, Ignis, and Cid prove it still exists.
  • Sazh is constantly looking out for others, Ignis sacrifices his sight for Noctis, and Cid fights to save slaves from oppression.
  • Tifa and Yuna also display immense selflessness through their willingness to protect others, even if it means personal sacrifice.

The Final Fantasy franchise contains its fair share of selfish characters, with the likes of Sephiroth, Kefka, and Ultimecia being just a few examples, but when it comes to individuals who are selfless, there's far less of them to choose from. Most of the Final Fantasy games are set in oppressive worlds where citizens are forced to fend for themselves, so finding someone who is willing to ignore their own needs for the sake of others is quite rare.

However, there have definitely been a few characters who have proven they aren't afraid to put their own wants and desires aside if it will benefit another person or even the world at large. There are plenty of reasons why these specific characters act so generously, but sadly, some of their selfless actions eventually come back to bite them later in the story.

6 Sazh (Final Fantasy 13)

A Desperate Father Whose Selflessness Can Often Get Him Into Trouble

Sazh from Final Fantasy 13
Final Fantasy 13
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JRPG
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Released
March 9, 2010
Developer(s)
Square Enix
Platform(s)
PS3, Xbox 360, PC
Genre(s)
JRPG

Most of the party members in Final Fantasy 13 have a special someone they're trying to save during their journey. For Sazh, this person is his son, Dajh, whom he is willing to go to extreme lengths to meet once again after the two were separated at the hands of the Sanctum.

Despite this being Sazh's main objective, there are numerous occasions where he also helps the other party members achieve their goals. For example, when Snow attempts to dig Sarah out from the ground after she turns to crystal, Sazh is right there to help him. His selfless personality did end up backfiring on him, though, when it's revealed that Vanille, the young girl who he had been protecting, is the one who inadvertently turned Dajh into a L'Cie. Still, this doesn't take anything away from the fact that Sazh is a man who is always up for helping those around him, even if it isn't always the smartest decision.

5 Ignis (Final Fantasy 15)

Ignis Remains Loyal To Noctis, Even When His Life Is At Stake

Ignis in Final Fantasy 15
Final Fantasy 15
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Action RPG
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Released
November 9, 2016
Developer(s)
Square Enix
Platform(s)
PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia
Genre(s)
Action RPG

Truthfully, Prompto and Gladiolus could also be considered selfless since they do everything they can to support Noctis during his adventure, but as Final Fantasy 15 goes on, it soon becomes apparent that it is Ignis who is truly willing to give up everything to help his friend reach his destination. At about the halfway point of the story, Ignis loses vision in both of his eyes after a fierce battle with Ardyn.

Rather than moaning or abandoning the crew to get some rest, he remains in the party to provide loyal support for Noctis as best as he still can. Seeing Ignis fight through the pain for the sake of his friends is truly heartbreaking, but it also proves he's more than willing to put his own problems aside for the sake of the group as a whole.

4 Cid (Final Fantasy 16)

Cid Would Rather Use His Underlying Powers To Save As Many Slaves As Possible

Cid in Final Fantasy 16
Final Fantasy 16
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Action RPG
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Released
June 22, 2023
Developer(s)
Square Enix
Platform(s)
PC, PS5
Genre(s)
Action RPG

Though Cid is recognized as a Dominant who possesses the immense power of Ramuh, he doesn't use the summon to reign terror on the world, unlike some characters. Instead, Cid is dedicated to freeing the Dominants and Bearers from being used as nothing more than pawns. When he was the Lord Commander of Waloed's army, he even managed to establish a secret hideaway where he would rescue any Bearers who were being oppressed, despite how much he would lose if he was ever caught.

His undying passion for saving Bearers all started when Cid found out that his friend's son, Otto, was one of them, prompting him to start a movement where he would do all he could to free these unfortunate souls by any means necessary. He's also one of Clive's most loyal companions and is always willing to provide him with anything he needs throughout his journey.

3 Palom & Porom (Final Fantasy 4)

Despite Being So Young, Palom And Porom Decide To Put Their Lives On The Line For Their Allies

Palom and Porom in Final Fantasy 4
Palom and Porom in Final Fantasy 4.
Final Fantasy 4
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JRPG
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Released
July 19, 1991
Developer(s)
Square
Genre(s)
JRPG

Palom and Porom are two young children who end up becoming the mages in the party in Final Fantasy 4. Despite being so young and naive, these siblings prove on numerous occasions that they are dedicated to saving the world from Golbez in his pursuit of the crystals, but there's one particular scene that really emphasizes just how far they are willing to go to achieve this goal.

After two walls begin closing in on the party, Palom and Porom realize the only way to save their new-found friends is to give their own lives by turning into stone. Even though they are eventually cured and restored back to normal, the siblings had no idea that they would come back. They were willing to give up their short-lived lives for the greater good of the party, which is one of the most selfless acts ever seen in the series.

2 Tifa (Final Fantasy 7)

Tifa Gives Everything She Has To Protect Cloud From Tearing Himself Apart

Tifa talking to cloud in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Final Fantasy 7
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Released
January 31, 1997
Developer(s)
Square Enix
Genre(s)
RPG

At the beginning of Final Fantasy 7, it's implied Tifa and Cloud are old friends who are reuniting for the first time after several years, but later in the game, this is revealed to not technically be true. In reality, Tifa found a disillusioned Cloud near a train station after his mental state collapsed upon witnessing the death of his friend Zack. At this point, Cloud had convinced himself that he was Zack to deal with his grief, and the one person who watched over him to ensure that Cloud's mental state didn't plummet even further was Tifa.

Tifa in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth-1
8 Best Tifa Quotes From Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Cloud's trusted friend Tifa also makes her return in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. These are her best moments throughout the game, quoted.

Throughout the game, Tifa is cautiously watching over Cloud, and though she does play along with his whole "Ex-Soldier" persona, the main thing she cares about is keeping him safe. This is only one example of Tifa's selfless nature, but another is when she begrudgingly decides to help AVALANCHE with their schemes, despite not really wanting to deep down. She believed that it would be the right thing to do for her and her friends, further demonstrating how selfless of a person she is.

1 Yuna (Final Fantasy 10)

Yuna Is Willing To Make The Ultimate Sacrifice For The Sake Of Spira

Yuna with her friends aboard the Fahrenheit in Final Fantasy 10
Final Fantasy 10
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JRPG
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Released
December 17, 2001
Developer(s)
Square Enix
Platform(s)
PS2
Genre(s)
JRPG

The world of Final Fantasy 10 is always under threat from the looming presence known as Sin, a giant monster that wreaks havoc on the world every few years. Thankfully, there is a way to at least delay Sin's attacks, but this can only be achieved by a Summoner who is capable of commanding the final Aeon. The catch, though, is that the Summoner will have to give their own life in order to protect the wider populace, which is something Yuna is perfectly content with.

Despite being only 17 years old, Yuna is still more than willing to sacrifice herself to protect the world from devastation, even though she knows Sin will inevitably return once again in the future. This heroic act does eventually start to affect Yuna, though, as seen when she bursts into tears upon realizing that she won't be able to be with Tidus anymore after the Pilgrimage ends. Yuna is as far from selfish as a video game character can be, and it's one of the many reasons why she has become such a fan-favorite party member from the Final Fantasy series.