Final Fantasy Characters Who Appear The Most

A good story can be hard to maintain. That's why it's probably for the best that each Final Fantasy game is typically unrelated to its successors and predecessors. This keeps each title fresh, but fans aren't left completely adrift between each one, thanks to several reoccurring themes, gameplay mechanics, and characters, which help give a sense of stability between each shakeup.

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Usually, these NPCs, tropes, or monsters return as references, but some characters make frequent returns, albeit with different forms and faces, and have become mainstays over the years. The most familiar characters, as opposed to generic monsters, items, or animals, are listed here, along with their appearance statistics, which are broken into mainline appearances (numbered games and their sequels) and spinoffs (non-numbered games).

6 The Magus Sisters / Shikaree Sisters / Mageth Brothers

The Witchy Trio That Always Stick Together

• Mainline Appearances: 6
• Spinoffs: 7
• Total: 13

Technically, these are three characters in one, but they never appear separately and, as such, might be considered one entity. The sisters come in many forms, guises, and even under different names. They can sometimes be identified by their signature weapons: Sandy's staff, Cindy's scythe, and Mindy's dagger. While they appeared as antagonistic minions in Final Fantasy 4, they are summonable end-game aeons in Final Fantasy 10 and formidable frenemies in Final Fantasy 11, appearing under the monikers Shikaree X, Y, and Z.

They appear as brothers in Final Fantasy 16 (Sandwydd, Cyndwydd, and Mindwydd, and while they do not directly appear in Final Fantasy 9 (and are thus, it is not counted as an appearance), there is a statue in Alexandria commemorating them for their valor during the Lindblum war. Of course, as well as the mainline games, the trio has appeared in many offshoots, including the Tactics, Brave Exvius, and Dissidia series.

5 Typhon

The Multi-Mouthed Monster Always Muscling His Way Back

• Mainline Appearances: 6
• Spinoffs: 13
• Total: 19

This bizarre, two-headed creature (one on the front, one on the back) has returned to terrorize heroes throughout the Final Fantasy universe since Final Fantasy 6, where he appeared with the other recurring enemy, Ultros. His most high-profile cameo since was Final Fantasy 7, in which he appears as a summon (although he probably won't appear on anyone's top 10 FF7 summons list). His trademark ability is "snort," which he uses to instantly remove party members from battle in one "blow."

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With such a distinct design, it is easy to see why he has become such a recurring foe, especially in spinoff titles. Typhon arguably has eight mainline appearances, not six; in Final Fantasy 15, only Typhon's image appears (as that of a fish lure), and in Final Fantasy 16, "Typhon" appears as one of Ultima's puppets with seemingly no association with the double-headed fiend, and his slightly different spelling of the original Japanese name ("Teyupon," to the original "Tifon") muddies the water even more.

4 Ultros / Orthros

The Talkative, Tenacious Tentacle Trickster

• Mainline Appearances: 6
• Spinoffs: 14
• Total: 20

After first debuting as "Orthros" in the original Final Fantasy, Ultros would not be seen again until Final Fantasy 6, where he makes several appearances as an antagonist along with another frequently recurring enemy. Since then, he has shown up sporadically as a unique, minor enemy for other parties to deal with. When he appears, he flashes his trademark lecherous and mischievous personality that suits his grinning, indulgently jubilant expression.

For example, in Final Fantasy 12, while his usual jokes and jibes are kept to a minimum, he will only appear when the player assembles an all-female party and will snatch items from them when he can. This mirrors the inappropriate behavior he displayed around Sereh in Final Fantasy 13-2 and the bizarre moments when he hits on the girls in Final Fantasy 4: The After Years, chastising the men of the party for their muscular physiques (which he, as a mostly-gelatinous being, presumably finds repulsive).

3 Biggs & Wedge

The Cosmically Conjoined Comrades

• Mainline Appearances: 10
• Spinoffs: 14
• Total: 24

These two names might arguably be more well-known in Star Wars circles than in Final Fantasy fandom. However, the two X-wing pilots (Biggs Darklighter and Wedge Antilles) only appeared in one of the science-fantasy space opera episodes, A New Hope, but they have shown up in fourteen mainline Final Fantasy entries to date and just as many spinoffs. Their first appearance in Final Fantasy 6 was clearly someone's little homage to Star Wars, but Biggs and Wedge have been regulars since, sometimes having retroactive incarnations, for example, Final Fantasy 4: Interlude naming them in the original's story.

In the original translation of Final Fantasy 6, they were known as "Wedge and Vicks," but this was later changed. Besides several reappearances, the two have been referenced often. For example, the English localization of Final Fantasy 12 names two hapless, chatty soldiers, "Gibbs and Deweg." However, as the Japanese version gives them different names, this isn't an official appearance. While they didn't show up in person in Final Fantasy 13, they appear to have branched out from mercenary activities to become the founders of a trendy clothing store called B&W (written V&W as an allusion to their original names).

2 Gilgamesh

The Rift-Tearing, Dimension-Hopping Blade Boob

• Mainline Appearances: 13
• Spinoffs: 23
• Total: 36

Recurring characters in the Final Fantasy series tend to be reborn incarnations, ushered in by the dreaming will of the crystals. However, this multi-limbed swordsman could be the sole exception if the interconnected multiverse theory is to be believed. After falling through the rift between worlds near the end of the story in Final Fantasy 5 and appearing in a battle between Squall and Seifer in Final Fantasy 8, he seemingly broke the barrier between games.

His appearance in Final Fantasy 4: The After Years seemed to follow up on the idea that this Gilgamesh was indeed the same, given his continued obsession with Final Fantasy 5's protagonist, Bartz. However, Gilgamesh has made appearances that differ from his dimension-hopping (or stumbling) prime form. Namely, Alleyway Jack in Final Fantasy 9 seems a far cry from the arrogant, self-deluded blades collector, and the one-armed swordsman in Final Fantasy 15 loses his typical sense of humor and boobery.

1 Cid

The Wizened, Tech-Savy Mainstay

• Mainline Appearances 19:
• Spinoffs 22:
• Total: 41

Probably one of the most recognizable names in the series and one of its most expected elements, Cid has been around since Final Fantasy 2. In each incarnation, he is associated with engineering and airships. Whether he starts on the good guys or the bad guys' side, he tends to come around in the end, with the exception of Final Fantasy 12, in which he embraces his more "evil mad scientist" side, making him one of the best Cids in the series so far.

Although he never wields magical abilities (besides perhaps magitech), Cid is the series' best equivalent to the wise old wizard fantasy archetype. Series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi once described him as "Yoda-like" and "intelligent and wise," having enjoyed the idea of putting in a character that fans could spot and watch out for with each subsequent game. Clearly, the idea was a hit.