Top 8 Oldest Final Fantasy Villains: Ageless Power Ranked!

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Summary

  • Final Fantasy villains are often ancient beings with immense power and grudges against the world.
  • Exdeath, Yu Yevon, Ardyn Izunia, Ultima, Zemus, Bhunivelze, Chaos, and Cloud of Darkness are some age-old antagonists.
  • These villains, with ages ranging from over 500 to older than the universe, pose a significant threat to the protagonists with their near-infinite power.

The Final Fantasy collection boasts an abundance of iconic adversaries, several of which bear a peculiar resemblance to deities in their various manifestations. These range from ambitious warlords to entities beyond the confines of space and time, divinity level beings if you will. Not all foes are ordinary mortals driven by ambition and rage; some have been around for centuries or even millennia, influencing the world before the heroes even set foot in it.

The advanced age of these Final Fantasy antagonists frequently bestows upon them almost limitless power, exceptional wisdom, and an intense hatred towards the very fabric of existence, rendering the oldest entities incredibly perilous. A word of caution: the following discussion may contain spoilers for numerous installments within the Final Fantasy series.

8. Exdeath – Final Fantasy 5

Age: Over 500 Years Old

Speaking of a sinister tree enchanter, born from the dark energies that infused his wooden form (symbolized by the Latin term “mortis”), would possess numerous growth layers if ever sliced in two. However, 500 years might seem insignificant compared to his age, and it’s probable that Exdeath would swiftly eliminate any unfortunate woodsman attempting to chop him down without magical gems for support.

In a more casual and clear manner: Exdeath usually saunters about in his armor-clad dark knight persona, yet he remains magically bound to his tree form. Before the events of Final Fantasy 5, Exdeath had 500 lives under his belt, but for 470 of those, he was imprisoned. However, it’s the malevolent spirits that gave him life who provide him with his power and experience.

7. Yu Yevon – Final Fantasy 10

Age: Around 1,000 Years Old

In Final Fantasy 10, Sin takes on the role of the destroyer with Tidus as its face, but it is Yuvellen, the immortal ruler and potent summoner of Ancient Zanarkand, who keeps the cycle going by using the spirit of the previous victorious summoner’s aeon to rebuild Sin after each defeat.

The events traced back a millennium before Tidus seemingly gets pulled into the future. At this point, Yu Yevon is no longer a human being but has transformed into an insectoid parasite. This transformed Yu Yevon not only summons Sin but also creates Dream Zanarkand – a utopian version of the real city and the true origin of Tidus. As the daughter of Yu Yevon, Yunalesca is approximately 1,000 years old as well, making her significantly older.

6. Ardyn Izunia – Final Fantasy 15

Age: Around 2,033 Years Old

Initially, Ardyn was a compassionate healer in Starscourge, dedicating himself to helping others. However, on the day he tried to rise as their leader, his soul was imprisoned and his body became an eternal host. Fast forward to Final Fantasy 15, after enduring 2,000 years of mental torment, his mind had warped significantly.

In simpler terms, the darkness he initially used to protect others granted him terrifying power and a longing to destroy the world. Over two thousand years of isolation and haunting visions drove him insane. With control over demons at his command, he developed an obsession with overthrowing the Lucis dynasty.

5. Ultima – Final Fantasy 16

Age: Over 5,000 Years Old

Lastly, one could say that Lastly serves as the cunning sorcerer who orchestrates much of the turmoil within Valisthea. He identifies with and, in many aspects, represents a race of beings older than humans, adopting their name for himself.

Following the setup of events enabling him to transform the world through a mortal agent’s assistance in casting a potent spell called Raise, Ultima enters a deep slumber alongside his kin, remaining dormant for countless millennia until his designs are realized.

4. Zemus – Final Fantasy 4

Age: Possible Many Thousands Of Years Old

In the game Final Fantasy 4, Zemus and his kind are said to have arrived on the planet long before humans had developed as a species. The exact number of thousand-year intervals he has lived through remains uncertain, but given that their artificial moon circles this planet, it can be inferred that they have been around for an extremely long time, likely many thousands of years, based on when humanity is believed to have evolved. However, whether the Lunarians were referring to biological evolution or cultural and intellectual development is unclear.

Zemus had no patience for humans developing at their own pace compared to his kind, opting instead to dominate the indigenous populace. He was imprisoned in a state of suspended animation due to his wicked schemes. Yet, employing his formidable psychic prowess, he manipulated the world beneath and fostered evil for his malevolent objectives.

3. Bhunivelze – Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13

Age: Predates Mortal History

In many Japanese role-playing games, you’ll often face an adversary towards the end of the game that resembles a deity or even God itself. The final boss in Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13, Bhunivelze, perfectly fits this pattern.

In contrast to being the creator deity of the cosmos, Bhunivelze is instead the offspring of the original creator goddess. While this doesn’t necessarily mean he’s older than the universe, it suggests that his age should be comparable or equal to it.

Initially, he murdered her when their creation began moving, intending to seize power. But once he gained control, he discovered that mortals had been corrupted by disorder. Suspecting his mother as the cause, he devised a plan to enter the Hidden Realm, the afterlife. Yet, upon gaining access, he unleashed chaos across the universe, triggering an apocalypse that Lightning eventually has to resolve.

2. Chaos – Final Fantasy

Age: Seemingly Eternal, Trapped In Time Loop

In the original “Final Fantasy” game, Chaos served as the final antagonist. However, the concept of chaos has been a recurring theme throughout the series’ narrative since then. Initially, Chaos was introduced within a time loop, but four heroes of light successfully resolved the paradox and vanquished the demon.

Yet, he’s often called the “King of Reincarnation,” implying his death is just a momentary halt. An ancient, almost primordial force known as Chaos thrives on darkness. Its age is hard to pinpoint, but it’s somewhere between being extremely old and timeless.

1. Cloud Of Darkness – Final Fantasy 3

Age: Borne Of The Void, Older Than The Universe

This entity functions more like an elemental force, rather than a conscious being, similar to a natural phenomenon. The Cloud of Darkness, debuting in Final Fantasy 3, and later (potentially suggesting links within the Final Fantasy universe) in FF11 and FF14, is an extradimensional creature that exists beyond the confines of time and space.

This entity yearns for oblivion and manifests when the equilibrium between light and darkness is disrupted. Whether it has an age depends on its origin beyond a four-dimensional reality, but it’s important to note that the Darkness Cloud never perishes and continually resurfaces wherever there’s cosmic discord.

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2025-02-24 02:37