Dragoons are iconic. Any Final Fantasy fan can tell you that. There's a coolness about them that is downright irresistible; between their often-lavish outfits, their death-defying leaps, and a frequent case of not-so-subtle suaveness, the Dragoon has come to encapsulate all the enigmatic energy that the most famous JRPG series in the world can muster.

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Dragoons owe their origins to FInal Fanfasy 2, the same game that introduced such series staples as the beloved Chocobo. From there, their influence has spanned decades, and included no few characters who represent the way of the spear. Here, we'll peer into each of them, if only a bit, to determine the best of the bunch.

8 Ricard Highwind

Final Fantasy 2 Ricard

Props where props are due: Ricard started the whole Dragoon thing, and for that, he will never not be memorable. So, why's he last? Where's the respect? Well, with respect to folks who rank origins highly purely on account of kickstarting a trend, we've elected to take a separate path. Final Fantasy 2, after all, though it has a surprisingly in-depth story for its time and tells a grander one than either of its NES brethren, still treats its cast fairly simplistically.

That said, the main heroes are a bit less developed than temporary party members like Ricard. The last of the Dragoons, he vows vengeance upon the Palamekian Empire. Like other temporary party members, Ricard's grim fate is brought about by his own determination to aid the cause at any cost. Thanks, Ricard. Know that your surname lives on. A more detailed script would bump the fellow up a few slots.

7 Oerba Yun Fang

Fang From Final Fantasy 13

Not only does Fang leap into the air like she just don't care, but she's also a cunning snark-fest of a woman with a penchant for piercing not just armor plating but the mental and emotional defense mechanisms of her peers. Put plainly, she's one of the coolest characters in her rather divisive game, and we wouldn't have her any other way.

It's precisely that divisiveness, or rather the reasons therein, that keeps her somewhat low on our personal totem pole. Final Fantasy 13 excels both visually and aurally, with a deep battle system and rewarding characterization. On the other hand, its plot suffers from overly convoluted beats, bizarre pacing, and underbaked villains; and its combat doesn't let players explore many options until fairly late in the game. (If you love FF13, please know that your thoughts are just as valid! This is simply our read.)

What we're getting at here is, in our estimation, Fang's potential is brought down by other narrative aspects of her outing. But still, look at her. The lady means business.

6 Aranea Highwind

Aranea From Final Fantasy 15

Final Fantasy 15 juggles a comfy road trip tale with an effort to go darker and deeper. The degree to which it succeeds is about as divisive a subject as anything in Final Fantasy 13, but we're of the flock who views Aranea as one element of the game's makeup that doesn't suffer any sort of identity crisis. She toes the line between playfulness and sincerity rather impressively, with the kind of cool and crisp Final Fantasy personality that is simultaneously a staple of Dragoon characters and wholly her own shade of it.

Aranea is a temporary ally, but we're counting her in the same way we might count Larsa, Vossler, or Reddas in Final Fantasy 12. When she's with you, she leaves a mark, not just with her timeless remarks but in every battle. It's a real shame we never got Aranea's planned DLC, because that would have likely made her that much niftier.

5 Kimahri Ronso

Kimahri From Final Fantasy 10 standing in cave

Kimahri is one of those folks who blend more than one traditional Job Class into a delightful mishmash. He's not just a Dragoon, but a Blue Mage as well. We're hoping his designers didn't decide he's a Blue Mage purely for the color of his skin, because that would be kind of messed up. No, here is a Ronso who carefully studies his opponents, so that he might spit their own giant fruit seeds back at them like a boss.

In any case, Kimahri is pretty cool. And since he wields a spear and makes a habit of jumping into the air with it only to land upon his foes with indelicate violence, he totally qualifies for our list. Yuna's most stoic Guardian dedicates his life to protecting her during the heroine's dangerous Pilgrimage across the world of Spira. His character arc might have benefited from a bit more effort; it's there, but it only comes up a short handful of times. A rather dark moment at its end does stick in our minds, though.

4 Kain Highwind

Kain From Dissidia Final Fantasy NT pointing weapon

Kain, Kain, Kain. Fans of classic Final Fantasy typically love this guy, and it's easy to see why. He brings that brooding on-and-off ally energy that so many 1990s stories reveled in, and he looks fantastic doing so. Ricardo may have been the first named Dragoon, but his surname successor brought that unmistakably Dragoon look to the table. Cosplay culture's never been the same since.

We do find Kain's story a touch overrated. His time as a brainwashed servant of the dark side somewhat overstays its welcome, but it's grand to have him back before the endgame. But Yoshitaka Amano hit gold with this man's appearance, and his enigmatic persona has been a driving force of several Dragoons going forward. Good shout, Kain.

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Final Fantasy 4 pushed the narrative ahead for the series and Kain was a big part of that. He did have his moments but none of them compare to what these other Dragoons go through. He was also one of the more powerful allies in the game.

3 Freya Crescent

Freya From Final Fantasy 9

A powerful warrior who is sworn to protect the Kingdom of Burmecia, Freya's story centers on enduring tragedy and overcoming heartbreak to forge a mightier resolve. Most of Final Fantasy 9's characters possess a depth that isn't necessarily easy to identify at first, given the script's propensity toward cheekiness and antics; Freya is stalwart from the first. With a handful of rat-like features, she furthers the game's love of one-off non-humanoid race designs, which arguably helps keep her in fans' minds all these years later.

Whereas Kain's story drags at points, Freya's practically vanishes after its early stretch. It's a common point of contention among Final Fantasy fanatics. Our read on the issue that it's while it's quite true, it does a minor disservice to the brilliance of Freya's big moments beforehand. Plus, it's fun to watch her bond with the extended cast later on, even if the plot doesn't throw her many scraps anymore.

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While not around too much in the main game, she returns to help Prompto out in his DLC. On the downside, she was also going to get her own DLC which would have presumably allowed players to control her for the first time. That, and several other DLC plans, were canceled though.

2 Cid Highwind

Cid From Final Fantasy 7

Cid's one of the most popular characters in possibly the most popular JRPG not linked to a certain set of ever-expanding pocket monsters. Final Fantasy as a franchise may have lost some measure of luster, but in its heyday, it was unbeatable, and Final Fantasy 7 was the behemoth best-seller that brought forth that heyday.

The trash-talking mechanic with dreams of outer space has a best friend: the cigar in his mouth at any given time. Some of the behavior he exhibits toward his wife, Shera, feels more than a sprinkle side-eye these days, but if one can look past that, there's a colorful and crass Dragoon whose exclamations have left millions in stitches for two-and-a-half decades and counting.

The zestiest of Highwinds also benefits from a clear arc with a satisfyingly spacey closing moment. This guy will fix anything that comes his way, gripe about the hardship involved, and practically purrs to see it off flying into the great unknown. Somewhat of a spellbinding presence, this Cid.

1 Estinien Wyrmblood

Estinien Varlineau in Final Fantasy 14

Now, here is a man whose arcs have arcs. Estinien, like many Final Fantasy 14 favorites, by no means comes across as a long-term important figure when first introduced; whether players meet him during the tense lead-up to the Heavensward expansion or (especially) during the Lancer/Dragoon Job Quests, he comes across more as a temporary uneasy ally than a permanent fixture.

It's best to experience Estinien's tale unspoiled. Suffice it to say, it tends to grab you, worry you, and leave you reeling... until it leaves you in stitches from too much laughter. Estinien is a master of the Dragoon's craft as well as an increasingly impressive character as expansions continue and the budget allows for more kinetic cutscenes.

For all he learns, all his small but meaningful shifts in outlook, and the kindness and stalwart strength he continues to provide throughout Final Fantasy's most massive story, Estinien Wyrmblood's our favorite Dragoon. Whether he manages to hold that record rests completely on Square Enix's ability, or lack thereof, to ever surpass him. Oh, and he rocks Kain's get-up, too.

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