Why Is There A Cid In Every Final Fantasy Game?

If you've played a Final Fantasy game, chances are you've come across a brilliant engineer by the name of Cid. Despite taking place in entirely different universes (crossovers like Dissidia, for example), each Final Fantasy game has a different version of the mechanically-minded genius. Although they are all different people, they represent a Final Fantasy tradition - just as iconic as moogles and chocobos.

Where did Cid come from? Is there any connection between the characters besides their names? Has Cid really appeared in every Final Fantasy title to date? Here's everything there is to know about Cid - or rather, all the Cids.

Cid's Origin

Cid first appeared in Final Fantasy 2 as a knight-turned-inventor who takes Firion and his party worldwide via his personal airship for a modest fee. When Cid's airship is hijacked by the Palamecian Empire, the heroes are able to recover it - rescuing both Cid and Princess Hilda. Cid is subsequently mortally wounded in an Imperial attack, adding him to the comparatively long list of support characters who die in Final Fantasy 2. On his deathbed, Cid leaves the airship to Firion, giving the heroes a potent weapon in their struggle against Emperor Mateus.

While Cid could have been a one-off character like Josef or Minwu, Final Fantasy 3 featured another inventor and airship owner who bore the name. The inclusion of Cid in Final Fantasy 3 made him one of the series' recurring elements alongside chocobos, who also made their debut in Final Fantasy 2 before returning in the third game. Since each title is a self-contained story with its own separate world, these connecting factors helped build what would become the Final Fantasy mythos and serve as throwbacks for dedicated fans.

Cid's name is derived from an Arabic word, translated into Latin lettering as sayyid or sidi. It's an honorific that means "lord," "master," or more generally "sir." It is often used to refer to descendants of the Prophet and, as such, indicates great respect in Muslim culture. The spelling "Cid" is most commonly associated with Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, an 11th-century knight who fought for both Christian and Muslim lords in what is now Spain and became known as "El Cid" among Spanish-speaking Muslims at the time.

Although the original Final Fantasy is the only main-series title not to include Cid, later remakes referenced Cid of the Lufaine as the builder of the game's sole airship. This Cid is also the narrator of the Dissidia spinoff series, casting him as the overseer of the conflict between Cosmos and Chaos and, therefore, a major figure in the retroactive Final Fantasy multiverse.

Every Cid In The Main Series To Date

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Full Name	Game(s)	Notes
Cid	Final Fantasy 2 (1988)	The original Cid. Rents his airship to the party, and later bequeaths it to them after his death.
Cid Haze	Final Fantasy 3 (1990)	Saved from a curse by the Light Warriors. Develops and modifies an airship for the heroes to use. The first Cid to join the player's party, albeit as a guest character.
Cid Pollendina	Final Fantasy 4 (1991) Final Fantasy 4: The After Years (2009) Final Fantasy 4 ~Interlude~ (2011)	Close friend of Cecil's. Designed and built the airships of the Red Wings, the source of Baron's military might. Joins the party as a fully-playable party member for part of the game, wielding Hammers as his weapon. His unique combat ability allows him to Scan enemies without magic. Helps Cecil steal the Enterprise from Baron, giving the party their first airship. Modifies the Enterprise and later the Falcon. Shows little regard for personal safety, often working himself to exhaustion and once leaping off the airship deck with a bomb to stop pursuers.
Cid Previa	Final Fantasy 5 (1992)	Developed a device to extract power from the Four Crystals, damaging and destroying them in the long term. Realized his mistake but was imprisoned by the Queen of Karnak for trying to undo the damage. Meets Bartz and his companions while trying to escape prison. Assisted by his grandson Mid. Develops and modifies several modes of travel for the heroes (including airships and submarines), including a means for them to travel to Galuf's homeworld.
Cid Del Norte Marguez	Final Fantasy 6 (1994)	Imperial engineer who developed Magitek, allowing humans to use magic. Father figure to Celes, who grew up to become a Magitek knight and Imperial general. Attempts to help the heroes after learning that his technology requires the death of espers. After Kefka shatters the world, Cid and Celes are alone on an island for a long time. Cid takes care of Celes during a yearlong coma and builds a raft so that they can escape when she revives. Depending on Celes' actions after she wakes up, Cid may die of malnutrition on the island.
Cid Highwind	Final Fantasy 7 (1997) Before Crisis (2004) Dirge of Cerberus (2006)	Worked with Shinra's space program hoping to be the first person in space. Cid aborted the launch at the last second on learning that Shera was in the blast zone attempting to fix a potentially hazardous flaw. After the failed launch, Shinra pulled funding, leaving Cid and his rocket to rot. Bitter, foul-mouthed chain-smoker. Joins Cloud's team as a permanent party member, wielding Spears as his weapon type. Steals Shinra's airship, the Highwind. Assumes temporary leadership of the party when Cloud is incapacitated. Travels to space aboard his rocket when Shinra attempts to recommission it. Cid is a boss enemy in FF7 prequel Before Crisis.
Cid Kramer	Final Fantasy 8 (1999)	Founder of SeeD and headmaster of Balamb Garden. Husband of Edea, which he keeps secret from Squall and his team while Edea is controlled by Ultimecia. Developed SeeD with funding from NORG to combat the threat of the Sorceress. Cid has little power with Garden staff, as they answer to NORG rather than to him. Transfers command of SeeD to Squall after the Battle of Balamb Garden, unable to lead a war against his own wife. Reunites with Edea after her Sorceress powers are neutralized and Ultimecia's control is broken.
Regent Cid Fabool IX	Final Fantasy 9 (2000)	Ruler of Lindblum. Garnet refers to him as her uncle, although they are not blood relatives. Developed the Hilda Garde, an airship capable of flying without Mist. His wife Hilda transformed him into an oglop when she discovered he was having an affair. Hilda stole the Hilda Garde and left Lindblum, soon falling into Kuja's clutches when he took the ship for himself. When the party meets him, Cid is trying to build a second Hilda Garde, but his new form is detrimental to his mental capabilities. Cid eventually commissions a potion to regain his human form, but it turns him into a frog instead. After tracking down Hilda and making amends, she turns him back into a human, and he designs a brand-new airship for Zidane and the team to pursue Kuja
Cid	Final Fantasy 10 (2001) Final Fantasy X-2 (2003)	Rikku's father and Yuna's uncle. Cid's sister married Braska, Yuna's father. Leader of the Al Behd, seen as heretics by the Temple of Yevon. Attempts to prevent Summoners from completing their Pilgrimages by kidnapping them. Sends Rikku to capture Yuna before she can perform the Final Summoning. Convinced by Tidus to let Yuna attempt to break the Spiral, giving the party his airship.
Cid	Final Fantasy 11 (2002)	Primary quest-giver in Bastok. Renowned engineer and inventor. Has one son, Midras (Mid for short). Develops airships and helps defeat Bahamut during the Chains Of Promathia storyline.
Cidolfus Demen Bunansa	Final Fantasy 12 (2006)	The first Cid to serve as a villain. Balthier's father. Developed the Archadian Empire's airship fleet. Obsessed with manufacturing and deriving power from nethicite to overthrow the Occuria. Unconcerned with methods and only cares about results. Attempts to gain god-like power from the Sun-Cryst, forcing the party to fight and kill him.
Al-Cid Margrace	Final Fantasy 12 (2006) Final Fantasy Tactics A2 (2007)	Royalty from the kingdom of Rozarria. Attempts to broker peace in Ivalice, but Vayne's coup prevents him from doing so. Commits troops to helping Dalmasca drive out the Archadian occupiers when it becomes clear that war is inevitable. Playable character in Final Fantasy Tactics A2, using guns as his weapon type.
Cid Raines	Final Fantasy 13 (2009) Lightning Returns (2013)	Officer in the Sanctum Guardian Corps, another antagonist. Commanding officer of the airship Lindblum. Wants to overthrow the Sanctum. His treason is discovered by Barthandelus, who makes Cid a l'Cie and forces him to guide Lightning and the others to their destiny. After watching the heroes defy their fate, Cid resolves to go against Barthandelus and reveals his plan to them. Cid becomes a Cie'th upon failing his focus, forcing the party to kill him. Lightning communicates briefly with Cid's soul during her time as the Savior, who offers her guidance in her quest.
Cid nan Garlond	Final Fantasy 14 (2010)	Gifted magitek engineer. Supported the Warrior of Light, transporting the hero in his personal airship the Enterprise to defeat Nael. Severely wounded when Bahamut awakened, losing his memory and becoming a priest. Travels with the Warrior of Light to regain his memories and restore his airships. Eventually recovers, continuing to support the Warrior of Light throughout all their adventures.
Cid Sophiar	Final Fantasy 15 (2016)	Owner of Hammerhead garage and a former adventuring companion of Noctis' father King Regis. Fell out with Regis until just before the King's death, when he was asked to look after Noctis. Offers his garage's services to keep the Regalia running. Turns the garage into a base of operations for daemon hunters after the Starscourge.
Cidney Aurum	Final Fantasy 15 (2016)	Localized as Cindy in the English version. The first female Cid. Cid's granddaughter and the party's primary contact at Hammerhead. Uses her mechanical knowledge to help the party liberate Lestallum. Provides all the Regalia's repairs and upgrades throughout the game. Cheerful and competent, dedicated to her work.

Next: The Best Final Fantasy Airships