Summary
- Summons in the Final Fantasy series offer powerful support in battles, but some of the strongest ones are difficult to unlock and may not live up to expectations.
- Diabolos from Final Fantasy Type-0 has the ability to drain enemies' health and heal itself, making it a force to be reckoned with in battle.
- Bahamut is a recurring and powerful summon in the Final Fantasy series, with Bahamut ZERO being the strongest iteration, capable of unleashing devastating attacks when fully charged.
Summons are an integral part of any player’s strategy in the Final Fantasy series. Throughout the games, these beings have provided defensive, offensive, and healing support for the player’s party. A significant grind in any of the games is unlocking the more powerful summons.
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In fact, the developers have locked a few away behind complex algorithms, formulaic attacks, and even the final bosses themselves because they’re so strong. Some of the strongest summons in Final Fantasy are so incredibly powerful that many people simply can't fathom the depths of their strength.
Updated on December 29, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Final Fantasy is a series full to the brim with numerous recurring elements, even if the stories of each mainline entry are self-contained. One of the most enduring aspects of the series is the many summons that players can call upon in battle. These powerful beings are a force to be reckoned with, rearranging the battlefield with their spectacular attacks that hit enemies for severe damage. Some of the best and most powerful summons in the Final Fantasy games are ones that players will love to use time and time again, especially on powerful foes who are a pain to deal with otherwise.
16 Crusader
So Powerful That Even The Party Isn't Safe From This Attack
- Strongest Appearance: Final Fantasy 6
On paper, Crusader should be one of the most impressive summons in the game. It's acquired after players beat all eight legendary dragons in the World of Ruin and provides a 50% bonus to MP growth on a level-up, which is useful for obvious reasons.
However, the ability that Crusader uses in battle hits friend and foe alike, leading to a game over unless players have certain safeguards set in place. This spell is bound by the damage cap too, meaning that players can use far safer attacks to unleash 9999 damage without endangering their party. The MP cost will probably be lower for this alternate approach too.
15 Pandemona
Since Most Enemies Are Weak To Wind, This Guardian Force Is Extremely Useful
- Strongest Appearance: Final Fantasy 8
The Wind element is overpowered in Final Fantasy 8, which is why a summon that utilizes Wind in their attack is bound to be useful. Such is the case with Pandemona, a summon that looks like an extraterrestrial and can use Tornado Zone to decimate foes.
This makes Pandemona an important Guardian Force for players who aren't grinding out 100 units of each magic to break the Junction system. It levels the playing field and is perfect for battles against multi-enemy boss fights.
14 Eden
The Strongest Guardian Force In The Game
- Strongest Appearance: Final Fantasy 8
Eden is supposed to be the strongest summon in Final Fantasy 8, with the player having to go through several hoops before standing a chance of attaining this powerful GF. The trek involved in getting this Guardian Force is pretty grueling and engaging, so it's easy to see why many players are disappointed when Eden doesn't live up to her full potential.
Her strength isn't so high that it makes her worth all the headache that players have to bear, even if players can boost their damage quite a bit because of how lengthy the animation for her summon is. The solitary 9999 damage is still pretty great, and Junctioning this GF allows players to unlock the full potential of their respective characters too!
13 Diabolos
Can Drain Enemy Health To Last Longer In Battle
- Strongest Appearance: Final Fantasy Type-0
Diabolos from Final Fantasy Type-0 may not be the most powerful in terms of raw damage, but he sticks around longer in battle and can heal himself. This is because every attack drains the enemy’s health and is used to heal him.
There is also the signature move Gravitation Ball that will drain the health of enemies, form a large sphere of energy, and launch it at the enemy for massive damage. Combine the high damage with massive healing and Diabolos is a force to be reckoned with.
12 Ark
A Lengthy, Powerful Summon That's Acquired Near The End Of The Game
- Strongest Appearance: Final Fantasy 9
Boasting a nearly two-minute attack time, the Ark is a powerful summon that can dramatically change the outcome of any battle it’s called to. Two-minute cutscenes can seem excessive, but with a brutal shadow-based attack dealt to all enemies via Eternal Darkness it can be worth it.
The Ark also receives a boost to its spell power for every unit of Lapis Lazuli in the player’s inventory. Considering there are around 40 in the game that’s a solid power boost. Even without that boost, it has the highest base damage of any summon in Final Fantasy 9. It’s too bad it’s locked behind the two toughest bosses in the game.
11 Odin
Can Unlock A Very Strong Insta-Kill Attack When Certain Conditions Are Met
- Strongest Appearance: Final Fantasy 9
Odin has appeared in several Final Fantasy games, but his most powerful version by far was in Final Fantasy 9. If the player has 99 Ore in their inventory Odin has a 50% chance of killing any enemy outright with Zantetsuken.
Conversely, if the player has Odin’s Sword activated and no ore in their inventory, then Zantetsuken will deal increased damage to any enemy that survives the attack. It’s up to the player whether they want 50% of instant death or higher damage with every hit. Either way, it’s a brutal summon to have in battle.
10 Raiden
An Upgrade Over Odin Who Gives Amazing Level-Up Bonuses For Physical Fighters
- Strongest Appearance: Final Fantasy 6
Players love the idea of upgrading their summons after completing optional dungeons, with these rewards tasting sweeter as a result. Such is the case with Raiden, an Esper that can be acquired in Odin's place if players reach the end of the Ancient Castle.
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It's a powerful summon that uses Shin-Zantetsuken on all enemies to inflict Instant Death. This may not be effective against enemies immune to this life-rending attack, but Raiden still stands out as one of Final Fantasy 6's best summons courtesy of its amazing leveling bonuses that players can make the most of.
9 Magus Sisters
The Best Aeons Yuna Can Summon In The Game
- Strongest Appearance: Final Fantasy 10
The Magus Sisters are a trio of death on the battlefield. Cindy is a master of healing and magical attacks, Mindy deals black magic and defends the party, while Sandy is a master of physical attacks and support. Combined the three can damage all enemies, heal the party, and provide buffs.
Their signature move Delta Attack will cause all sisters to attack simultaneously and deal a little under six hundred thousand points of damage to a single target. The only catch and why they don’t rank higher is that the sisters cannot be directly controlled and will largely do what they want in battle.
8 Ramuh
A Massive Astral Who Uses His Judgment Bolt To Defeat Enemies Time And Time Again
- Strongest Appearance: Final Fantasy 15
Ramuh is one of the most legendary summons in Final Fantasy. He's consistently appeared across most Final Fantasy games, making a thunderous appearance whenever he's summoned — quite literally! — and decimating his enemies without too many problems. However, there's no denying that his power was simply eclipsed by the more high-level summons that players could find later on in each Final Fantasy game.
This isn't the case in Final Fantasy 15, with the majority of summons leading to Ramuh appearing and thrusting his staff on the ground, electrocuting enemies for serious damage and taking them out in no time flat. The frequency of this summon over others makes him the highest damage-dealer out of all the Astrals whom players can interact with in the game.
7 Anima
A Tortured Aeon Who's Ridiculously Powerful
- Strongest Appearance: Final Fantasy 10
This summon with a tragic backstory is one of the more powerful in Final Fantasy 10. Anima’s Pain attack can outright kill most opponents and deal significant damage to those who are immune to Death magic. Especially when it also bypasses any defenses the enemy may have.
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Her signature move Oblivion is also devastating as it’s a sixteen-hit combo. In the remastered game, each hit can deal a max of 99,999 damage. If every hit is perfect she can deal a little over 1.5 million points of damage in one move.