Summary
- Final Fantasy games feature recurring weapons, such as axes, bows, daggers, guns, katanas, rods, spears, and swords.
- These weapons are associated with specific job classes and characters throughout the series.
- Some of the iconic weapons, like the Ultima Weapon and Masamune, are considered the most powerful in their respective categories.
As the grandfather of the JRPG genre, the Final Fantasy franchise is known for its distinct entries that share similar themes, creatures, and equipment throughout each entry. While most Final Fantasy games take place in their own unconnected world, players can expect to find many of these same elements present regardless of which title they're playing. One of the most common recurring elements in the series is some of its iconic weapons, many of which appear in nearly every entry and have become synonymous with the Final Fantasy franchise.
Although the series has evolved drastically since its debut on the NES, modern titles still contain many of these weapons as they represent the legacy of the franchise as a whole. Final Fantasy 16's gameplay was a drastic departure from the mainline series being the first true Action RPG, and while Final Fantasy 16 saw some controversy because of this change, the presence of many of the series' iconic elements such as its recurring weapons helped it feel like a Final Fantasy game at heart. Beyond Final Fantasy 16, there is a wide array of recurring weapons that can be found throughout 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 similar two-handed weapon types within the Final Fantasy series that are usually wielded by the Berserker job. Characters like Guy from Final Fantasy 2 and Cid from Final Fantasy 4 are known for their penchant for Axes and Hammers respectively, while in Final Fantasy 16 the Axe is the weapon of choice for Wade. The Rune Axe and the Gigant Axe are typically the strongest of their type in the games they appear in, and Thor's Hammer is usually the strongest among Final Fantasy's Hammers
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 represent two of Final Fantasy's ranged projectile weapon types, with bows being most often associated with Archers and Rangers, and throwing weapons like shurikens, boomerangs, and chakrams being most associated with Thieves and Ninjas. Characters like Final Fantasy 4's Rosa and Final Fantasy 12's Fran are notable Bow users, while Final Fantasy 6's Locke and Final Fantasy 7's Yuffie are notable throwing weapon users. The Artemis Bow is typically the strongest of the bows, and while throwing weapons vary between entries, the Rising Sun is often the best of its type.
Daggers
- Gladius
- Mage Masher
- Sword Breaker
- Main Gauche
- Assassin's Dagger
- Orichalcum
Daggers are a weapon type that can be utilized by a variety of jobs in the Final Fantasy series, but Thieves and Ninjas are the jobs most often associated with the weapon. Final Fantasy 2's Leila and Final Fantasy 9's Zidane are two notable Dagger users, but many characters can equip them, such as Final Fantasy 15's Noctis for which the Dagger is his fastest equippable weapon type. While there are many iconic Daggers throughout the series, a variation of the Orichalcum is typically the strongest option within the category.
Guns and Gunblades
- Lionheart
- Mythril Pistol
- Cerberus
- Death Penalty
- Quicksilver
Gunblades are a unique Final Fantasy weapon type that combine the projectiles of a gun with the melee potential of a blade, though regular Guns are also present throughout the series. While not as commonly used as other weapon types, Gunblade users like Final Fantasy 8's Squall and Final Fantasy 13's Lightning both have access to the Lionheart as one of their strongest weapon options. Guns are much more common within the series, with notable users like Final Fantasy 7's Vincent and Final Fantasy 15's Noctis both having access to the Cerberus.
Katanas and Ninja Blades
- Masamune
- Kotetsu
- Kikuichimonji
- Ashura
- Genji Blade
- Muramasa
- Kunai
- Kodachi
- Kagenui
Similarly to Swords, the slender Katanas and Ninja Blades are typically used by the Samurai and Ninja jobs throughout the Final Fantasy series. Characters like Final Fantasy 6's Cyan and Final Fantasy 10's Auron are notable wielders of these weapon types. Perhaps the most famous katana user in the series is Final Fantasy 7's villain Sephiroth who is known for wielding the iconic Masamune, which is often considered the strongest katana in the games where it appears.
Rods and Staves
- 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 standard weapon types for the majority of Final Fantasy's magic users and tend to be utilized by jobs like Black Mage and White Mage. A character like Final Fantasy 7's Aerith is notable as a Staff user, but other characters like Final Fantasy 10's Yuna wield both Rods and Staves. The Magus Rod is typically the best weapon of its type, while the Sage's Staff is usually the best of Final Fantasy's Staves.
Spears
- Trident
- Partisan
- Abel's Lance
- Kain's Lance
- Longinus
- Holy Lance
- Gae Bolg
- Gungnir
Spears are the weapons of choice for Final Fantasy's iconic Dragoon job, although other characters can wield these weapons as well. Notable Spear users include Final Fantasy 7's Cid, Final Fantasy 9's Freya, and Final Fantasy 13's Fang, but a character like Final Fantasy 15's Noctis also can equip Spears within his arsenal of weapon types as well. Earlier Final Fantasy games featured Abel's Lance as the category's most powerful, but Gae Bolg and Gungnir have also come to be some of the series' most powerful Spears.
Swords
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- Excalibur
- Ragnarok
- Flametongue
- Icebrand
- Mythril Sword
- Coral Sword
- Lightbringer
- Deathbringer
- Ultima Weapon
The Final Fantasy series' most iconic weapons tend to be Swords, with many protagonists throughout the franchise being their wielders. Final Fantasy 7's Cloud and, most recently, Final Fantasy 16's Clive are among these notable swordsmen. Powerful swords like Excalibur can be found in most Final Fantasy games, but it is the Ultima Weapon that is typically the strongest Sword in Final Fantasy.