For a while, it was believed that Final Fantasy was aptly named because its creators thought it would be the studio’s final game. This was later laid to rest by series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi who instead says that Final Fantasy is something that strives to be inspiringly different each time.
This dedication to mixing things up can be seen in the series’s stories, characters, and especially its bosses. Just as they strive to push themselves and the series further, they do the same with challenging bosses in each title. We’ve compiled a list of some of the toughest enemies you can expect to encounter in this famous series.
13 Chronodia (Final Fantasy)
This is a boss who only appears in the 20th Anniversary remake of Final Fantasy and any versions thereafter that are based on it.
She is a powerful enemy who, in her strongest form, draws on the strength of powerful fiends like Chaos to increase her strength and range of attacks. Defeating her is a challenge for even the strongest party, so take plenty of restoratives if you plan to live through the fight.
12 Phrekyos (Final Fantasy II)
Phrekyos is another boss added to the 20th Anniversary edition of the game. This boss appears as a test summoned by Deumion. Its strength varies based on the number of key terms you’ve learned and defeating him will net you one character’s ultimate weapon.
Be careful though. His stats are high, his physical attacks are extremely powerful, and he has the ability to insta-kill any warrior not properly protected against it.
11 Iron Giant (Final Fantasy III)
The Iron Giant is a boss that can only be reached through completing the Mognet side-quest with King Alus and the Four Old Men.
While defeating it doesn’t net you much of anything, you’ll receive a metal card item as proof you’ve slain the beast. Be careful though, its beefy HP and devastating physical attacks can quickly leave you with a game over.
10 Proto-Babil (Final Fantasy IV)
This guy is a superboss exclusive to the 3D remake of Final Fantasy IV. In order to fight him, you’ll need to New Game+ after having stolen Dark Matter from Zeromus in your first playthrough.
In addition to having some of the strongest attacks, this tricky machine will alternate between healing over 20000 HP and using its ultimate attack once you’ve dropped its HP past a certain threshold.
9 Neo Shinryu (Final Fantasy V)
Neo Shinryu appears as an exclusive superboss in advance and iOS versions of the game. To battle him, you’ll need to find him in the Sealed Temple Shinryu’s Lair.
While he is one of several bosses, his adamant use of status changes and instant death make him particularly challenging. Stick tough and defeat him, and you’ll be rewarded with Ultima Weapon.
8 Omega Weapon (Final Fantasy VI)
Omega Weapon is an even more powerful version of Ultima Buster. While you don’t get much by way of spoils, you do earn an achievement for defeating it.
Be ready for a lengthy battle, though. Each time you defeat him, he’ll regenerate a few times before finally falling.
7 Emerald Weapon (Final Fantasy VII)
In the newer versions of the game, several of the deadly weapons freed towards the end of the game are now able to be challenged. While it’s up for debate which is more powerful, the Emerald weapons devastatingly powerful attacks and 20-minute time limit makes it the toughest to many.
The enemy boasts one million HP which locks you into a lengthy battle that becomes very easy to lose if you don’t learn his attacks and prepare appropriately.
6 Ultima Weapon (Final Fantasy VIII)
Ultima Weapon is found at the bottom of the Deep Sea Research Center after defeating Bahamut. Taking him on will allow you to draw the most powerful Guardian Force in the game: Eden.
This version is a callback to Final Fantasy VII’s Ultima Weapon, and even carries Cloud’s sword.
5 Ozma (Final Fantasy IX)
Ozma is thought to possibly be a malformed or forgotten Eidolon with a devastating arsenal of attacks and crafty AI script. Arming your characters against its elemental onslaught will make it more prone to using powerful non-elemental attacks.
Push through the battle, and you’ll be rewarded with a Pumice stone giving Garnet access to her most powerful Eidolon, Ark.
4 Penance (Final Fantasy X)
Penance appears in after you’ve defeated all of the already OP Dark Aeons. With 12 million HP, regenerating arms, devastating attacks, elemental absorption, and two “forms,” Penance is quite easily one of the most powerful enemies the Final Fantasy series.
Defeating him requires lots of late-game weapons and pretty much perfect stats (and you can still lose) so defeating him only nets you an achievement.
3 Yiazmat (Final Fantasy XII)
Yiazmat appears as the final Elite Mark in the game and is the toughest superboss you’ll face. While the bosses HP has been nerfed in the Zodiac versions, it still boasts about three million HP and several powerful attacks that leave you in for a long and tedious battle.
Nothing's worse than grinding through a tough fight only to lose in the final minutes of battle, and that’s just what Yiazmat plans to do to you. Defeating him nets you 30,000 Gil and the Godslayer’s Badge.
2 Vercingetorix (Final Fantasy XIII)
The last of the Undying Cieth, Vercingetorix dwells in the Yaschas Massif. He’s a fast attacker that casts buffs on himself and the occasional debuff on your party.
At his strongest, he can attack 27 times with his wings and casts doom on your party leader after 30 minutes of battle. Be fast, be smart, be prepared, and you’ll walk away victorious. He also has a 5% chance of dropping a Ribbon upon defeat.
1 Dread Behemoth & Tyraneant Team Fight (Final Fantasy XV)
There are two powerful bosses that appear during timed quests. Usually, Dread Behemoth can be challenged on the 10th of the month and Tyraneant on the 24th. However, on the 31st of the month, the creatures can be fought simultaneously.
They’re the only two enemies in the game who exceed the player’s max level cap and net you 500 cp if you can manage to defeat them. Each creature has high stats and over 800 thousand HP, so make sure you’re ready for a tough fight.