It’s true to say that, throughout your adventure across Eorzea, you’ll meet a lot of memorable characters in Final Fantasy XIV. Some of them leave more of a mark than others, but that’s not to say that each character isn’t meaningful in their own right.
I have to admit, narrowing this list down to just 10 characters was tough. Even when I thought I’d reached a final list, someone else would pop into my mind, and I found myself second-guessing my choices a lot. However, after a lot of soul-searching, I’ve managed to come up with a Final Fantasy XIV top 10 that represents some of my favorite moments, arcs, and themes from over a decade’s worth of storytelling.
10. Gigi
Having discovered a Mammet with no memories in the snows of Coerthas, Hildibrand names him Gigi and promises to help restore what he’s lost. He later goes on to adopt Gigi as a ward, at the suggestion of Edmont de Fortemps, to protect him from those who would do him harm. Essentially, Hildibrand Manderville has a Mammet son.
But not for long, after journeying out on an adventure to locate his Grandfather, Godbert, the Mammet gets stuck in the snow and freezes, only to be found by Godbert and turned into a Roegadyn temporarily. It’s just long enough to almost squeeze his father, Hildibrand, to death, though.
Honestly, Gigi makes this list because no other part of the Hildibrand storyline has made me laugh harder or warmed my heart more. This little Mammet, familiar to anyone who has played Final Fantasy IX, leaves his mark on your heart as well as one of the walls in Idyllshire.
9. Dulia-Chai Mewlah
Dulia-Chai is the Miqote mother figure we all need in our lives. After Alphinaud finally gains access to Eulmore under the guise of being there to paint a portrait for her and her husband, Chai-Nuzz, he’s all but adopted by the woman who pours love into their relationship.
Without missing a beat, she encourages Alphinaud with his painting, and the two bond, leading to a very tearful farewell when it’s time for Alphinaud to leave Eulmore. Dulia-Chai is also the face of progress in Eulmore after Vauthry’s defeat, despite knowing they’d been complicit in allowing him to wreak havoc.
She also has a very motherly line which everyone needs to hear from time to time:
“No matter where you are, remember that there are people here who are praying for your health and happiness”.
8. Alpha
Originally created by Omega to battle strong foes, Alpha failed to live up to Omega’s expectations. The otherworldly weapon wiped Alpha’s memories and used him to draw mortals into the Interdimensional Rift. Alpha inadvertently draws the WoL and the Garlond Ironworks team into the Rift, where Omega is hoping to observe them fighting powerful enemies.
Upon coming to understand his true purpose and being dismissed by Omega, Alpha doesn’t despair. He chooses to stay at the side of the Warrior of Light, helping in their battle against the rift’s powerful enemies. As the raid series ends, Alpha is given the freedom to roam Eorzea, and occasionally, if you’re lucky, you can still see him on his adventures in the open world.
Alpha also helps during Endwalker when he visits Sharlayan to help finalize the Ragnarok, allowing the WoL to venture to the Edge of the Universe.
7. Raubahn Aldynn
Raubahn was arrested in Ul’dah on suspicion of espionage at the age of 25, after fleeing from the sudden Garlean invasion of his homelands. He was sentenced to fight in the Coliseum or “Bloodsands”, as it’s otherwise known. At some point, he was pardoned on a whim by Nanamo Ul Namo and won his freedom and the people’s respect.
After winning his freedom, he met a young Lalafell called Pipin, who had been sold into slavery to pay off his father’s debts. Using his winnings to pay for the boy’s emancipation from his family, Raubahn went on to adopt the Pipin and then, further down the line, purchased the Coliseum itself and earned himself a place on the Syndicate of Ul’dah.
Raubahn is unflinchingly loyal to Nanamo Ul Namo, even losing his left arm in his duty to protect her, and is solely responsible for reorganising Ul’dah’s military to form the Immortal Flames. If that doesn’t earn him a place on this list then I don’t know what does. He’s just an all-round good guy if you ask me.
6. Feo Ul
I honestly never thought I’d be able to say that a fairy would be among my favorite characters in a Final Fantasy game, but this is where I’ve ended up.
Feo Ul is the first Fae we meet during our time on The First and is originally intended to help us forge a connection with The Source in order to access retainers and convey messages. However, you soon come to realise that Feo Ul is incredibly possessive of the WoL, calling you their “precious sapling”.
Eventually, Feo Ul willingly takes the title of King of the Faeries in order to protect the WoL from having to do it, stating that they will always be able to help the WoL in times of great need. During the final battle with Vauthry, Feo Ul comes to the rescue of the Scions, allowing them to forge ahead and finish the fight.
5. Counselingway
Having given into despair when her main purpose in life is stripped away from her, Counselingway is pretty hard to reach at first. She’s depressed, longing for purpose, and unsure what she should do with her life. Then, Livingway, Dreamingway and the rest of the Loporrit’s set up a radio station to help her communicate with the people or Etheirys, the very people they were created to protect.
I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that Counselingway is, in some part, very familiar to all of us. We can all feel hopeless, lost, and unsure what to do with ourselves sometimes. But despite being hard to reach, she comes out of her shell and finds a love for something she never dreamed she’d be able to do.
Counselingway offers lessons in friendship, perseverance, and never giving up. I love her story and I’m proud of her for how far she’s come.
4. Emet-Selch
Emet-Selch has what could be the most gut-wrenching arc in Final Fantasy XIV. He’s the Founder and first Emperor of the Garlean Empire, which he admits was created purely to invoke chaos and bring about another Calamity, he’s at least partly responsible for the summoning of Zodiark that required the aether of more than half of the Ascians to complete, and he’s boomeranged back and forth about whether the Scion’s are worthy of his allegiance.
However, despite all of this, Emet-Selch has an undeniable longing to do something good, lurking deep down from the person he was before. He retrieves Y’shtola after she uses Flow to escape in the Ronkan Temple, he rescues us from the Void simply by snapping his fingers, and at the very end of the main Endwalker story, after the final lonely ascension, he’s there beside us to lend us his strength.
3. Tataru Taru
There are very few characters in Final Fantasy XIV who deserve their ending (so far) more than Tataru Taru. While the rest of the Scions are off defending the world and experiencing calamities, Tataru has consistently held down the fort from the very beginning. While everyone else was on The First, she continued her duties at The Rising Stones, never has a bad word to say about anybody and, perhaps most importantly, she’s always helping us to expand our wardrobe.
During Endwalker, Tataru has finally been able to live out her dream and opened up her own clothing boutique, offering her wares far and wide. She has organised provisions for countless important battles and if the WoL is ever uncertain about which direction they should head in, Tataru is always there to offer friendly advice and a new outfit.
On top of all this, Tataru is responsible for us having our very own Island Sanctuary. I’m not really a fan of Island Sanctuary as a whole, but even I have to admit that Tataru has one hell of a business head on her small Lalafell shoulders. Now if only she could inspire the Mammets to be a little more helpful, I’d be grateful.
2. G’raha Tia
Hard working, unflinchingly loyal, and by our side no matter what happens, G’raha is the best friend we all need. This man has ‘died’ or sacrificed himself for the WoL more times than I care to remember, each time having made the WoL promise to continue the adventure and fight ever onwards.
G’raha partially fuses himself with the Crystal Tower to prolong his life, enabling him to be the guide he was destined to be as The First faces peril from the Flood of Light. Even after the WoL has helped to fend off the threat, G’raha becomes a member of the Scions and is there, regardless of circumstance, to help guide the way.
Above everything else, G’raha provides the most hard hitting quote from anyone in Final Fantasy XIV, at least in my opinion:
“Yours is a long road, my friend, and it stretches on to places beyond imagining. With your every step, these grand adventures shall grow more distant and faint. And there may come a day when you forget the faces and voices of those you have met along the way. On that day, I bid you remember this… That no matter how far your journey may take you, you stand where you stand by virtue of the road you walked to get there. For in times of hardship, when you fear you cannot go on… The joy you have known, the pain you have felt, the prayers you have whispered and answered—they shall ever be your strength and your comfort. This I hope—I believe, here at memory’s end.”
1. Ardbert Hylfyst
Even though we first meet Ardbert during Heavensward, he doesn’t come into his own until Shadowbringers. The WoL is the only person who can hear Ardbert upon arriving on The First, and he quickly becomes the WoLs comfort in times of pain and hardship. In the end, Ardbert and the WoL are revealed to be two halves of one sundered soul – soulmates, if you will.
He’s not the most sunshine-and-roses type of guy when we first meet him, but he slowly regains his sense of hope after shadowing us through the story of Shadowbringers. Towards the end of Shadowbringers, Ardbert merges his soul with the WoL in order to contain the Light. At the end of the main Endwalker story arc, his is the first and last voice you hear upon ascending the final hill alone.
“If you need a push, I’ll be right there behind you … Let’s finish this.” I get goosebumps just thinking about it.
I’ve played through Shadowbringers multiple times, as I have the rest of Final Fantasy XIV, and Ardbert’s story is the one that’s guaranteed to reduce me to an ugly crying mess very quickly. It’s the story that I connected with the most and stayed with me most consistently, so that’s why he’s always going to be my favorite character.
Published: May 19, 2024 09:00 am