From Past to Present: A Comprehensive Guide to All Iconic Final Fantasy Weapons Leading up to FF16

Highlights

Final Fantasy games feature recurring weapons, such as axes, bows, daggers, guns, katanas, rods, spears, and swords.

Throughout the series, these weapons are closely linked to job classes and characters.

The Ultima Weapon and Masamune, among other iconic weapons, are widely acclaimed as the most potent within their respective categories.

The Final Fantasy franchise, known as the grandfather of the JRPG genre, is renowned for its distinct entries that share similar themes, creatures, and equipment. Although each game takes place in its own separate world, players can expect to find common elements present across titles. One of these recurring elements is the series' iconic weapons, which have become synonymous with the Final Fantasy brand and can be found in almost every game.

Despite the significant evolution of the series since its debut on the NES, modern titles still feature many of these weapons, representing the franchise's legacy as a whole. Final Fantasy 16, for example, introduced a drastic departure from the mainline series as the first true Action RPG. While this change sparked controversy, the inclusion of familiar elements such as recurring weapons helped to maintain the essence of a Final Fantasy game. In addition to Final Fantasy 16, there is a vast assortment of recurring weapons that appear across multiple entries in the series.

Axes and Hammers

Battle Axe

Mythril Axe

Demon Axe

Ogrekiller

Poison Axe

Rune Axe

Gigant Axe

Mythril Hammer

Gaia Hammer

Thor's Hammer

Axes and Hammers are two-handed weapon types found in the Final Fantasy series, and they are commonly used by the Berserker job. The character Guy from Final Fantasy 2 is known for his preference for Axes, while Cid from Final Fantasy 4 wields Hammers. In the upcoming game, Final Fantasy 16, the protagonist Wade relies on the Axe as his weapon of choice. The Rune Axe and the Gigant Axe are typically the most powerful among their respective types in the games they appear in. Additionally, Thor's Hammer is often considered the strongest Hammer in the Final Fantasy series.

Bows and Throwing Weapons

Dark Bow

Yoichi Bow

Elven Bow

Killer Bow

Artemis Bow

Moonring Blade

Rising Sun

Wind Edge

Hawkeye

Bows and throwing weapons are two projectile weapon types commonly found in Final Fantasy. Archers and Rangers are often associated with bows, while Thieves and Ninjas favor throwing weapons such as shurikens, boomerangs, and chakrams. Notable bow users include Rosa from Final Fantasy 4 and Fran from Final Fantasy 12, whereas Locke from Final Fantasy 6 and Yuffie from Final Fantasy 7 are known for their skilled use of throwing weapons. The Artemis Bow is typically considered the most potent among bows, and while the effectiveness of throwing weapons varies across different entries, the Rising Sun is often regarded as the top choice in its category.

Daggers

Gladius

Mage Masher

Sword Breaker

Main Gauche

Assassin's Dagger

Daggers in the Final Fantasy series are versatile weapons used by various jobs, with Thieves and Ninjas being the most common ones associated with this weapon type. In Final Fantasy 2, Leila and in Final Fantasy 9, Zidane are noteworthy users of Daggers. However, other characters like Noctis from Final Fantasy 15 can also wield them, with the Dagger being his fastest equippable weapon type. While there are numerous iconic Daggers in the series, the Orichalcum variant typically stands out as the strongest option within this category.

Guns and Gunblades

Lionheart

Mythril Pistol

Cerberus

Death Penalty

Gunblades are a distinct weapon type in the Final Fantasy series that merge the firing capabilities of a gun with the close combat abilities of a blade. However, standard guns are also prevalent throughout the series. Although not as widely utilized as other weapon types, characters such as Squall from Final Fantasy 8 and Lightning from Final Fantasy 13 have access to Lionheart, which is one of their most powerful weapon choices. In contrast, guns are more commonly used, with notable characters like Vincent from Final Fantasy 7 and Noctis from Final Fantasy 15 wielding the Cerberus.

Katanas and Ninja Blades

Masamune

Kotetsu

Kikuichimonji

Ashura

Genji Blade

Muramasa

Kunai

Kodachi

Kagenui

Just like Swords, Katanas and Ninja Blades, with their slim design, are commonly employed by the Samurai and Ninja professions in the Final Fantasy series. Noteworthy characters such as Cyan from Final Fantasy 6 and Auron from Final Fantasy 10 are skilled wielders of these particular types of weapons. One of the most renowned katana users in the series is Sephiroth, the villain from Final Fantasy 7, who is famed for wielding the iconic Masamune. This legendary blade is widely regarded as the most powerful katana in the games it appears in.

Rods and Staves

In Final Fantasy, the game's cutscenes often take away control from the player. However, this is usually done to provide a cinematic perspective of a different character, like Yuna's soul sending in Final Fantasy X.

Mythril Rod

Ice Rod

Flame Rod

Thunder Rod

Magus Rod

Lilith Rod

Stardust Rod

Whale Whisker

Rune Staff

Power Staff

Healing Staff

Sage's Staff

Rods and Staves are the primary weapon choices for many magic users in Final Fantasy, such as the Black Mage and White Mage jobs. Aerith, from Final Fantasy 7, stands out as a notable Staff user, while characters like Yuna from Final Fantasy 10 can wield both Rods and Staves. In terms of power, the Magus Rod typically ranks as the best weapon in its category, while the Sage's Staff is often considered the strongest staff in the Final Fantasy series.

Spears

Trident

Partisan

Abel's Lance

Kain's Lance

Longinus

Holy Lance

Gae Bolg

Spears are the preferred weapons for the famous Dragoon job in the Final Fantasy games. While other characters can also use these weapons, notable Spear users include Cid from Final Fantasy 7, Freya from Final Fantasy 9, and Fang from Final Fantasy 13. Additionally, characters like Noctis from Final Fantasy 15 can also equip Spears as part of their diverse arsenal. In earlier games, Abel's Lance was considered the strongest in this category, but Gae Bolg and Gungnir have also emerged as some of the series' most formidable Spears.

Swords

Excalibur

Ragnarok

Flametongue

Icebrand

Mythril Sword

Coral Sword

Lightbringer

Deathbringer

The Ultima Weapon, commonly regarded as the most powerful sword in the Final Fantasy series, stands as the pinnacle among a multitude of iconic weapons. It surpasses even renowned swords such as Excalibur, with protagonists like Cloud from Final Fantasy 7 and the more recent Clive from Final Fantasy 16 among its wielders.