Summary

  • The Grand Dragon in FF9 is a tough early foe, requiring strategy at an appropriate level.
  • The Behemoth, a recurring monster in the series, casts Meteor and poses a major challenge to players.
  • The Midgar Zolom in FF7 is a terrifying foe, requiring a plan and a great deal of power.

Final Fantasy is one of the most legendary video game series around. Players love going on epic adventures with a party of unique characters as the stakes are raised over and over again. Watching aspiring heroes become powerful enough to take on divine beings in battle is a blast every single time the series allows for it.

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Taking on monsters is the bread-and-butter of most Final Fantasy games, but some titles take it a step further by thrusting players into truly nightmarish encounters. These enemies are even scarier to behold when players take their appearance and powers into account, making them even more intimidating to take on in battle.

8 Grand Dragon

These Things Are A Death Sentence If Players Encounter Them Early On

Grand Dragon in Final Fantasy 9
  • Appears In: Final Fantasy 9

The Grand Dragon is an enemy that will catch most players by surprise early on if they decide to walk around in Popos Heights. Unless they expect this encounter and have a strategy to rely on, the dragon will make quick work of a player's party in no time.

Even when players fight this monster at an appropriate level, it's easy for the Grand Dragon to school the party and make them regret their actions. It's easily one of the scariest monsters to fight in Final Fantasy 9 because of how strong it is, leading to a frustrating game-over that most people would prefer to avoid.

7 Behemoth

Massive Recurring Monsters Who Can Decimate Parties By Casting Meteor

Final Fantasy XI Behemoth
Final Fantasy XI Behemoth
  • Appears In: Almost every Final Fantasy game

The Behemoth is one of the most iconic recurring monsters in Final Fantasy. Every appearance of this iconic monster is accompanied by a feeling of dread as players pray for their party to be saved from an inevitable Meteor cast.

Covering all bases and attacking a Behemoth's weakness is imperative for players who don't want to be decimated by its powerful magic. These encounters are quite unnerving and will force gamers to either flee or take the battle very seriously if they don't want to witness a premature game over.

6 T-Rexaur

A Huge Monster Who Can Wreck Parties That Don't Use Status Effects

T-Rexaur from Final Fantasy 8
  • Appears In: Final Fantasy 8

Early on in Final Fantasy 8, players are taught the importance of status effects when they explore the Garden's training center. Without sleep, players will be chomped to bits by this powerful foe.

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The level scaling in Final Fantasy 8 means that players will be consistently challenged by this foe, mandating powerful Junctions to make the fight easier. The iconic nature of this enemy, coupled with its terrifying visage, makes it one of the scariest monster encounters in the Final Fantasy series by a country mile.

5 Tonberry

The Impending Sense Of Doom As This Enemy Closes In On The Player Is Indescribable

Final Fantasy 16 Tonberry Master
  • Appears In: Almost every Final Fantasy game

At a glance, Tonberries look pretty cute and don't seem like they pose too much of a threat. However, a single use of Everyone's Grudge will make it clear that this enemy is not to be trifled with.

Aside from punishing a party member based on how many monsters they've killed in battle, the Tonberry is also known for its menacing walk toward the party. This is followed by a lethal Stab that will always kill a target and turns every fight with a Tonberry into a battle of attrition, with players trying (but often failing) to get the upper hand against this imposing foe.

4 Anima

A Monstrous Aeon Who Takes No Prisoners

Anima summon cinematic from Final Fantasy 10
Anima summon cinematic from Final Fantasy 10
  • Appears In: Final Fantasy 10

Witnessing Anima in the flesh for the first time is one of the most terrifying moments in Final Fantasy 10. Despite being an aeon that Yuna can eventually summon if she plays her cards right, Anima's disturbing look never fails to haunt fans.

Thankfully, she fights alongside the player for the most part, letting them make the most of her powerful attacks that break the damage limit. The story of Anima's origin is also about as harrowing as one would expect, with this aeon serving as the physical manifestation of a tortured spirit who is none other than Seymour's mother herself.

3 Demon Wall

If Players Don't Defeat This Enemy In Time, Then It's An Instant Game Over

Demon Wall in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
  • Appears In: Most Final Fantasy games

The Demon Wall is one of the most iconic monsters in Final Fantasy. The impending doom of this sentient wall closing in on players is something that fans must experience first-hand to realize just how scary this foe is.

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An underleveled party will be stuck in a fight against the clock as they do everything in their power to avoid being crushed by this foe. Failing to deplete its HP in time is a guaranteed game over, making the Demon Wall one of the most iconic and frustrating recurring bosses in the series.

2 Malboro

Getting Inflicted By Numerous Status Effects At Once Is A Dreadful Feeling

final-fantasy-7-great-malboro-intel
  • Appears In: Almost every Final Fantasy game

The Malboro is one of the most infamous monsters in the Final Fantasy series, and that's for good reason. Players will feel an impending sense of doom as they try to take out this foe before it gets the chance to unleash the accursed Bad Breath technique.

Being inflicted by every status effect possible is one of the worst things that can happen in a Final Fantasy game, with players losing control of their party and helplessly watching on as the Malboro toys with their favorite characters. It's important to be equipped with Ribbons or other gear that prevents status effects and stay on the offensive to take out this foe as quickly as possible.

1 Midgar Zolom

The Sheer Terror Of Seeing This Massive Serpent Loom Over The Player Is Immense

Midgar Zolom in Final Fantasy 7
  • Appears In: Final Fantasy 7

When players exit the city of Midgar in Final Fantasy 7, they will be excited to embark on grand adventures as they take their first steps on the world map. However, all it takes is one step in the swamps for players to encounter the dreaded Midgar Zolom, a monster that is no joke.

Without a chocobo, players will be forced into an encounter with this massive serpent, and if they have been playing the game casually, they likely won't emerge victorious. Players should flee instead of taking on this foe unless they have a strategy in mind; a lack of a game plan will simply lead to them looking on in horror as this beast chomps on them, chucks party members out of battle, and uses the powerful Beta Enemy Skill to one-shot an unlucky party member.

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