Summary
- Royal characters in Final Fantasy vary from powerful kings to deceptive tyrants.
- The best kings justify their powerful presence through strength and charisma in combat.
- Characters like Edgar, Regis, and Galuf showcase unique royal dynamics in the series.
Final Fantasy is a series that has shown royalty in all shapes and forms. From kings who fight to save their thrones to tyrannical emperors who want to conquer everything in sight, there's no shortage of unique royal characters in the series.
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The best kings in Final Fantasy are legendary for all the right reasons and do a great job of justifying their presence as some of the most powerful characters in the series. Aside from their commandeering presence, the sheer strength they wield makes them a force to be reckoned with.
8 Edgar Roni Figaro (Final Fantasy 6)
A King Who Loves Using Powerful Tools In Combat
Final Fantasy 6
- Released
- October 11, 1994
WHERE TO PLAY
Edgar Figaro is one of the most charismatic characters in Final Fantasy 6, even if his attitude can be a bit questionable at times. He's the King of Figaro, who aids Terra and the heroes in their adventures from the very moment he rebels against Kefka and the Empire.
Edgar uses advanced tools in combat to beat down his foes in style. While these devices are useful early on, most people feel that the special abilities of other characters are more powerful. Still, that should take nothing away from how strong Edgar is, especially when his stats are augmented with the appropriate magicite.
7 Regis Lucis Caelum (Final Fantasy 15)
Past His Prime But Still Capable Of Bringing The Heat In Combat
Final Fantasy 15
- Released
- November 9, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
When fans get to see Regis for the first time, he's clearly weakened and needs a walking stick to move around. The Ring of the Lucii had been slowly draining his life force for a while as he maintained the Wall around Insomnia, leaving him a shadow of his former self.
However, that should take nothing away from the sheer power that Regis wielded in his prime. It's a shame that he didn't retain this strength, causing him to fall during the invasion of his city.
6 Cagnazzo, The False King Of Baron (Final Fantasy 4)
The Elemental Archfiend Killed The True King And Took His Place
Final Fantasy 4
- Released
- July 19, 1991
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square
- Publisher(s)
- Square
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
While only a king through trickery, Cagnazzo deserves a mention for pulling the wool over everyone's eyes after replacing the King of Baron. Even Cecil followed his orders for a while before eventually realizing that something wasn't right with his adopted father.
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It turned out that this so-called "king" was actually Cagnazzo, the Archfiend of Water who had killed the real King of Baron and taken over his place. It was a heartbreaking revelation for Cecil, who decided to avenge his father shortly after uncovering the fiend's true identity.
5 Cecil Harvey (Final Fantasy 4: The After Years)
Becomes A Righteous Paladin And Ascends To The Throne After Saving The World
Final Fantasy 4: The After Years
- Released
- June 1, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
Cecil had to shed his past as a Dark Knight before he could become a Paladin worthy of fighting for good. He became a bastion of justice and was eventually able to gain enough strength to take on the Lunarian Zemus and put him in his place.
By the time The After Years came out, Cecil was already a beloved king who ruled side-by-side with his wife, Rosa. Players familiar with Final Fantasy 4 are already aware of how strong this protagonist is, even if leveling him up from scratch after his transformation into a Paladin was frustrating for some.
4 Galuf Halm Baldesion (Final Fantasy 5)
A Former Warrior Of Light Who Is Revealed To Be The King Of Bal
Final Fantasy 5
- Released
- December 6, 1992
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Galuf seems like a bumbling old man who is a bit too goofy for his own good. It's not until players travel to a different world that they find out about his origins.
It turns out that Galuf was a former Warrior of Light who ruled over the Kingdom of Bal. It's clear that he boasted a ton of power before losing his memories, and it didn't take long for players to load him up with the abilities of numerous powerful jobs to make him a powerful force once again.
3 Emperor Mateus (Final Fantasy 2)
A Tyrant Who Becomes More Powerful After His Death
Final Fantasy II
- Released
- December 17, 1988
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square
- Publisher(s)
- Square
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Entertainment System, Android, iOS, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, PC, PS1, PS4, PSP, WonderSwan
The antagonist of Final Fantasy 2 is a tyrant who rules over the Palamecian Empire and is obsessed with his quest for power. What makes this antagonist so unique is how he somehow becomes stronger after he's killed by the heroes.
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Somehow, the Emperor became stronger in Hell and decided to come back with a vengeance, boasting control over the Hell-spawn as his plans for conquest became stronger than ever. The party had to overcome one final dungeon to deal with the Dark Emperor and take him out once and for all.
2 Barnabas Tharmr (Final Fantasy 16)
The Dominant Of Odin Is No Joke
Final Fantasy 16
- Released
- June 22, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Barnabas is one of the toughest enemies in Final Fantasy 16, both mechanically and from a lore perspective. The first battle against him showcases the power of this immense being as Clive finds himself hopelessly overpowered by the Dominant of Odin.
Even in a rematch that the player can win, Barnabas is no joke and uses Odin's powers to cut Clive into ribbons. Players who were coasting until this point must get serious and avoid a deluge of powerful attacks as they strive to take Barnabas down by any means necessary.
1 Leviathan (Final Fantasy 4)
Serves As The King Of Eidolons
Final Fantasy 4
- Released
- July 19, 1991
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square
- Publisher(s)
- Square
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
It takes some serious power to be hailed as the king of all Eidolons. Most people would assume that this moniker would be reserved for Bahamut, but Final Fantasy 4 throws a curveball by placing Leviathan in this position.
Even when players fight this summon to earn his services, it's clear that Leviathan is holding back and isn't showing his full power. It's a testament to his immense power — and why the other Eidolons respect him as their king.
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