Swords, fists, and wands are not always enough to thwart the world-ending forces present in RPGs. When the battles get too hard to handle, players can usually call upon special monsters to lend a helping hand. These summons, who sometimes go under a different classification, have become a staple of the genre. The iconic Final Fantasy franchise has utilized these beasts since the third entry in 1990. As great of a concept that summons are, not all of them are golden. It is imperative to stratify these creatures so everyone knows which ones are worth keeping around and which ones can be sent to the farm upstate. The 25 summons present in this list are arranged from the meekest of the meek to the mightiest mythical beast of all.
As several of the featured summons appear in multiple games, they cannot be judged solely on their reliance in battle. Their designs, animations, and overall intimidation have also been taken into consideration. After all, if a summon isn't sending adversaries running to the hills just by showing up, then they really haven't done their job in the first place. The best summons feel like true living companions, and not just simple spells used to win tough battles.
So drink some Ethers, because here are the The 25 Most Powerful Summons In Final Fantasy, Officially Ranked.
25 Goblin
Goblins are usually the first enemies that players face in a Final Fantasy title. They are non-threatening, and only become less of a nuisance as the party grows more powerful. Since these fiends are essentially harmless, it should come as no surprise that they are nearly useless as a companion.
They can be called into battle by Rydia in Final Fantasy IV after obtaining the Goblin item from them. The spell has a short wait time, but the attack itself is weak and the Goblin will not be frequently used by most players.
24 Remora
Piranhas may be lethal with their razor sharp teeth that can turn animals to bones, but what good are these fish outside of water? This question perfectly encapsulates Remora's fundamental flaw.
This school of fish are more often on the other side of the battlefield, but they can be utilized as a summon in Final Fantasy V. They temporarily render foes incapable of movement, but not long enough to make a real impact. Other than that, they have no special use other than taking up inventory space.
23 Chocobo
Everyone loves these fictional birds, and no one will deny their usefulness as a game mechanic. Need to cross a treacherous terrain? Chocobo has that covered. Need to outrun monsters beyond the party's level? Chocobo can also help out, however, in battle, these adorable birds just do not have what it takes to put fear into foes.
Oftentimes, Chocobo is the first summon available, but once a second spell is learned, the yellow aves are quickly forgotten. Fortunately, they still get plenty of attention outside of fights.
22 Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh adds flare to every adventure in which he appears. When the avid collector of weaponry is found, hilarity is sure to follow suit. As a summon, his attacks are random, ranging from instant knock outs to complete uselessness.
This randomness seldom works in the player's favor, making him a not-so-welcome addition to the roster. What's worse, the rarely occurring super move won't even effect bosses, rendering the move null and void when it's most needed. Still, at least the idea of Excalipoor can elicit laughs.
21 Siren
Siren's initial design was deemed too mature for some audiences, so more of her covered up. It only makes sense for her to be dressed that way though, as Sirens are the mythical creatures from the Odyssey who used their gendered wiles and divine singing voices to crash ships against rocks.
As a summon, Siren tends to inflict silence on foes. Besides that, she seldom offers more assistance. If Final Fantasy works the same way as Greek myths, opponents can avoid her attack by simply plugging their ears with cotton.
20 Belias
This particular beast can only be found in Ivalice and Final Fantasy XII is the only time the fire-based monster can be called into battle. There is nothing notably bad about Belias, but as a game's premiere summon, he lacks standout features.
His appearance in other games also overshadows his part in FFXII and the boss fight in Final Fantasy Tactics sent shivers down everyone's spines. Unfortunately, he is not as intimidating as a three-dimensional figure. Had he been a summon in Tactics as well, his location on this list could have been higher.
19 Sylph
This summon is not one entity; the name refers to the entire species of small fairy. They give Tinkerbell a run for her money in terms of adorableness, but their spells leave much to be desired.
In most of their appearances, Sylph will pilfer health from its opposition and redistribute it among the party members. It's a kind gesture, but it's not enough health to be used further on in the game. In Tactics, a fairy will come and silence opponents within range, making her more handy in the long run.
18 Yojimbo
No one likes a mercenary for hire, even if they are fighting on the player's side. If a summon is going to assist in battle, it should be from the goodness of their heart, and not for a paycheck. Yojimbo in Final Fantasy X only attacks when given Gil, and decides for himself which move to use.
With a little luck and a lot of money, the samurai will unleash Zanmato, a powerful strike that instantly eliminates any enemy, including bosses. It is a life saver in a pinch, but don't rely on it to help every time.
17 Carbuncle
Carbuncle would be lower on this list if it wasn't so darn cute, especially in its Final Fantasy XV iteration. This mythical creature helps out not by damaging enemies, but by casting beneficial status effects on the party like Reflect.
In Final Fantasy XV, Carbuncle will assist inexperienced players by healing the party, but only on easy mode and if the Platinum Demo was completed. Every character receiving Reflect is a good ability to have, but is only particularly useful in specific situations, meaning he won't frequently be asked to help.
16 Valefor
Final Fantasy X's plot revolves around summons, called aeons, more than the other entries in the series. The first one players get to use is Valefor, a giant bird with an impressive wingspan. Subsequent aeons are elemental based, meaning Valefor remains useful well into the campaign.
Also, Valefor is the only summon in that game to have more than one overdrive attack, both of which have entertaining animations. Additionally, its special move, Sonic Wings, delays an enemy's turn and against certain foes, it can even prevent their attack indefinitely with repeated use.
15 Ifrit
Fire helped early men survive the wilderness and it still benefits us today. At the same time, it can also cause massive, unstoppable destruction when used improperly. Appropriately, this dichotomy also applies to Ifrit.
The fire-based summon always comes in handy against the opposite elemental monsters. Adversely, he stands as a formidable foe when the party must duel it out with him. Fortunately, those instances are few and far between and more often than not, it will be the main characters using the beast to scorch the battlefield and turn fiends to ash.
14 Ixion
With the lightning-based summon, Final Fantasy X opted to shake things up and not include Ramuh, who had been the de facto lightning summon for several games. Instead, they introduced Ixion, a unicorn whose attacks use electricity.
Ixion certainly had big shoes to fill, but he manages to carve out a place all on his own. He also appears as a summon in Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings. In Final Fantasy XV, Ramuh wields a staff with Ixion at the head, possibly signifying that the two have joined forces and have reconciled their differences.
13 Shiva
It takes real patience and determination to withstand cold temperatures sans winter clothing. Shiva, for instance, always appears with minimal attire. It is, however, significantly easier to endure freezing weather as an ice queen.
She has popped up more than most others and has consistently been friendly. In Final Fantasy XIII, the summon is two sisters who join together to become a motorcycle. Not only do they participate in battle, but they can also be utilized for a quick drive to the supermarket or to pick up the kids from school.
12 Golem
Golem comes from old folklore and first appeared in the series as a random enemy encounter. Their first time as a summon was in Final Fantasy V. The monster's signature ability is absorbing damage for the party until its health runs out. This can come in handy in desperate times.
Final Fantasy VI's Golem deserves a special mention, too. Typically, the summon looks to be derived from clay or rocks, but this version takes inspiration from the steampunk aesthetic to present a more unique version of the classic beast.
11 Ramuh
Ramuh holds the distinction of being the most humanoid of the bunch. He appears as an old man with an exceptionally long, well-groomed beard. Don't be fooled by looks, though, as Ramhuh is extremely powerful.
His animation in Final Fantasy XV is especially intimidating. The thunder wielding sage is a deity and towers over the opposition. From up high, he throws his wand to the Earth, unleashing Judgement Bolt as it pierces the ground. Summons in that game cannot be used at leisure, but every time they show up is a special event.
10 Titan
What better way is there to describe this massive beast than with its own name. Titan is, simply put, a titan. People parable the importance of brains over strength, but this guy never seems to have an issue solving problems through force.
In Final Fantasy XV, he is a boss fight before offering his services to Noctis and friends. His animation from Final Fantasy VII is particularly noteworthy, too. The comedically muscular giant appears, scantily-clad, and literally uproots the ground from the earth, flipping over on the enemies' heads.
9 Phoenix
Most summons either help the party by healing them or dealing damage to foes, but seldom does an entity do both at the same time. Phoenix, however, unleashes fiery power upon the battlefield while simultaneously reviving any fallen party members.
Given this unique and beneficial attribute, Phoenix often requires little work to earn as a summon. In Final Fantasy VII, the mythical bird is only rewarded if the party successfully defends Fort Condor from Shinra. One should always make an effort to find Phoenix, though, as being defensive and offensive in one move is an invaluable tool.
8 Hades
AC/DC says the netherworld “ain't a bad place to be,” so maybe, Hades himself is not such a bad guy after all. Sure, he can bestow endless annoyance upon the wicked, but think about how helpful he can be when fighting for the player. The only downside to this sinister power is that it's only available in Final Fantasy VII.
Found underwater in the sunken Gelnika, Hades deals damage while also inflicting a plethora of status ailments. The spell can even be enhanced by combining it with the Added Effect Materia.
7 Leviathan
This gargantuan ocean-dwelling serpent plays a role in Final Fantasy's plot at times. In Final Fantsy IV, Leviathan attacks a ship early in the game, causing one of the party members, Rydia, to disappear. It is later discovered that Leviathan intentionally took the young girl to the land of summons because she knew Rydia was one of the last summoners.
She is also vital to the tragic third act in Final Fantasy XV, but soon afterwards becomes a summon for Noctis to call upon. Sometimes a friend, sometimes a foe, always extraordinary.
6 Odin
This Norse-influenced entity appears as if it blasted right out of the underworld in order to aide the party. Odin rides in on a horse and strikes opponents with his signature move, Zantetsuken. The move usually spells instant doom for opponents, but luckily, souls will just be hit with massive damage. Really, the only thing that would make this guy cooler is if he were played by Sir Anthony Hopkins. Square Enix is making an Avengers game, so we can't help but ponder the possibility of a crossover between the two franchises.
5 Alexander
This giant robot was first introduced in Final Fantasy VI and its design feels wholly appropriate for that entry's steampunk aesthetic. Alexander is a mechanical fortress that deals holy damage. It does not quite make sense why it's a holy elemental, but given its extreme power and large stature, we won't complain.
In Final Fantasy Type-0, the summon is so powerful that it requires surrendering 100 lives in order to use. He also makes a brief appearance in Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII during the finale.
4 Anima
Anima may just be the most intimidating monster on this list, visually speaking. The creature is bound in chains, projects a laser from her eye, and even has an additional head and pair of hands underneath her. She is first introduced as Seymour's aeon in Final Fantasy X, but is also a hidden summon for players to obtain.
Anima is also one of the few summons in the game to have a realized backstory. Yuna and her guardians discover the beast is Seymour's mother who is racked with guilt for her son's turn to darkness.
3 Magus Sisters
What could possibly be better than one powerful summon? The answer is three mighty aeons for the price of one. The Magus Sisters made their first appearance as a boss battle in Final Fantasy IV, but showed up again many years later as Final Fantasy X's ultimate hidden aeon. Even though they heed Yuna's call, the trio cannot be directly controlled, instead, they only take suggestions from the player. This should not be too much of a bother, however, considering their impressive power. Unfortunately, this also means their dark aeon is a tough bout.
2 Bahamut
Bahamut is an old favorite, and can always be relied on to level the playing field. Even before summons were an ability in the series, this dragon-like creature appeared in the first entry to assist players in upgrading their classes.
He is even there to help when the series goes astray. Who was it that brought chaos upon the realm of Eorzea when Final Fantasy XIV was a convoluted mess that wasn't fun to play? That's right, it was Bahamut who set things right. This formidable beast will never let the player down.
1 Knights Of The Round
These 13 noble knights are hard to come by in Final Fantasy VII. To reach this Materia's location, one has to breed a gold Chocobo first. Once the Materia is in possession, however, Cloud and crew become a nigh unstoppable force of power.
The last battle becomes a cakewalk and many of the challenging bonus bosses are significantly easier. The animation is so ridiculous that it borders on parody, but it gives players the opportunity to go to the store, do their taxes, and cook dinner with extra time to spare.
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What are your favorite Final Fantasy summons? Let us know in the comments!
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