The 25 best 'Final Fantasy' enemies

These giant tortoises are a series mainstay that typically towers above your party. It's ranged in size from large to the size of an entire mountain in Final Fantasy XV. When you run into it, expect it to have a high defense because of its shell.

Odds are, if you're playing a Final Fantasy game, you're going to run into Bahamut. The Dragon King has been with the series from the beginning and has taken many forms. All of them have a few things in common, though. They're usually giant dragons and among the game's most powerful enemies and/or summons. 

Another of Final Fantasy's most powerful enemies is the Behemoth. These purple canids are rippling with muscle and hit hard with physical attacks. They can also attack with powerful magic (usually as a counter), making them an even bigger threat. Its most memorable portrayal came in Final Fantasy XV, where players had to hunt the Chocobo-eating Deadeye as part of the story.

These floating fireballs are one of Final Fantasy's most recognizable creatures and one of its most dreaded. When first encountered, they bombard you with fire magic and ramming, but the real pain comes if you have the gall to hit one. As it takes damage, a Bomb will begin to swell and eventually self-destruct, causing massive damage to its target.

Cactuar are another of Final Fantasy's mascots, but don't let their comical appearance fool you. They're fast, evasive, and have a high defense, which makes them hard to take down. Furthermore, their 1,000 Needles attack will instantly hit for 1,000 HP damage regardless of protection. Fortunately, they're relatively skittish creatures and canonically only fight as a means of last resort.

Most of the time, Chocobos are steadfast friends, but they can be encountered as foes in a few games. In particular, they're one of the tougher monster hoards to battle against in Final Fantasy Tactics. Don't let their beautiful golden feathers fool you. 

Depending on the game, these gelatinous foes can give players trouble because of their unique defenses. They typically take less damage from physical attacks and require you to use magic for full effect. In most games that feature them, you'll encounter them in various colors representing different strengths and/or elemental weaknesses. Also, contrary to their name, they're not edible (even if you're Quina Quen).

The Final Fantasy version of Gilgamesh is typically a mix of the hero of the Akkadian poem and the character Benkei from Japanese mythology. While every encounter with him in the series is unique, they typically encounter the player on a bridge and wield several legendary weapons (or at least imitations of them). Gilgamesh also frequently becomes a summon after his defeat.

Without context, the Guard Scorpion is a pretty run-of-the-mill boss. However, as the series' first 3D boss, its appearance was amazing. Seeing the camera pan around and show the mechanical monstrosity from multiple angles is unforgettable. The Final Fantasy VII Remake version of the fight (against the renamed Scorpion Sentinel) is also thrilling.

Final Fantasy VII Remake took Hell House from being one of the goofiest enemies in the series to one of the most imposing. The robotic house is a formidable (yet bizarre) boss that puts an excellent cap on Cloud and Aerith's adventure in Wall Market.

The Calamity that fell from the sky is the primary catalyst for the events of Final Fantasy VII. Jenova never shows any consciousness, but we know that she dominates the will of others by infecting them with her cells, which makes her one of the most dangerous enemies on our list.

Many of Final Fantasy's villains have tried to destroy the world, but Kefka is the only one actually to do it. He's genuinely insane and manages to achieve godhood for a short time. He's the most successful of Final Fantasy's many antagonists, easily earning him a place on this list.

Kuja's inferiority complex nearly led two worlds to ruin. He almost succeeds, as he is the only main antagonist in the series to defeat the party every time he fights them. However, he lacks the resolve of Zidane, Dagger, and the others, which leads to his ultimate end.

Sometimes what appears to be an enemy is really a friend. The Magic Pot typically offers a heaping helping of AP in exchange for an Elixir. However, each iteration has its quirks and rewards, some of which can be as deadly to the party as any other enemy.

Magitek Armor isn't typically tough to beat individually. However, these mechs act as a symbol of government oppression in the various games that feature them. However, the player does get to control these machines in some titles, which are frequently turned against their makers to devastating effect.

Final Fantasy players have reviled Malboros for decades due to their status-inducing Bad Breath attack. These mouthy plants are typically some of the most challenging regular enemies in the games they appear in and can wipe out an unprepared party almost instantly.

This enemy usually appears as a super boss and can be maddeningly tough. If you go toe-to-toe with it, expect a long grueling fight with attacks that can almost wipe out a fully healed party. 

The Phantom Train has the honor of being the only foe on the list to be a dungeon and a boss. It's not a particularly tough enemy, but it's one of the weirdest, especially since Saban can Suplex it. One of the coolest summons in the series, Doomtrain in Final Fantasy VIII, is a direct reference to it.

Sephiroth, the one-winged angel, is one of the most recognizable Final Fantasy characters and one of the saddest. He went from being a decent person to the enemy of the entire planet because of Jenova and Shinra's manipulation. But, of course, spending all that time in the super creepy Shinra Mansion basement didn't help things.

Seymour's past was tragic, including his mom becoming Anima (the ugliest Aeon). However, he has the most punchable face ever and is a major scumbag.  He's the only foe on the list that killed their dad, and patricide is enough to make him one of the best of the worst.

Sin looks like a spectral whale, but don't judge a book by its cover. Its destructive abilities are downright devastating, even down to its Sinscales. Everything about Sin screams disastrous because that's what Final Fantasy X producer Yoshinori Kitase had in mind when creating it: "disaster and sadness." And it sure makes for a frustrating boss fight, too. If you know, you know.

These little guys look kind of like Jawas, but that little kitchen knife they carry is stronger than it seems. In most iterations, their movements are slow and ponderous. However, if they reach the party, their Chef's Knife attack causes massive (usually fatal) damage. 

Another frequent super boss in the series is Ultima Weapon. This foe is typically the inferior version of Omega Weapon that must be fought first. However, it's been part of the main storyline in a few titles and is the final boss of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.

You don't know who Ultimecia is for a good chunk of Final Fantasy VIII, but it becomes apparent she's one of the strongest villains in Final Fantasy history. Her attempt to compress time and space to become a living god almost comes to fruition, which isn't too shabby for the first female antagonist in the series. 

This purple octopus is frequently incompetent but can still be dangerous (especially when partnered with his buddy Typhon). His first and most important appearance was in Final Fantasy VI, but he's gone on to appear in several other entries, including Final Fantasy XIV.