Final Fantasy: 8 Best Boss Fights With Multiple Phases, Ranked

Final Fantasy is a series full of memorable and cinematic moments that fans will remember long after they finish playing these amazing titles. Once the series settled into a rhythm, fans could rest assured that the most epic moments in each game would come with multi-phase boss fights that upped the stakes to a whole new level.

Some of the best encounters in the game can feature so many phases that fans can’t help but wonder what it’ll take to bring these villains down for good. These battles are always a blast to play through, with the visuals and music crescendoing to let players enjoy an unforgettable video game set piece.

8 Ardyn

Number Of Phases: 3

From a narrative standpoint, taking out Ardyn and stopping him from plunging the world towards a premature end is as satisfying as can be. However, even the strongest Final Fantasy 15 players will agree that the easy gameplay can make this boss’s phases feel way easier than they have any right to be.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and most players are likely to enjoy the power fantasy of using a superpowered Noctis to deplete Ardyn’s health in record time. Killing his physical form isn’t the end, however — Noctis must enter a state of limbo at the end of the game and kill the antagonist’s spiritual form to eliminate the threat of the Starscourge from Eos.

7 Exdeath & Neo Exdeath

Number Of Phases: 2

Exdeath is a nefarious antagonist who hounds the heroes of Final Fantasy 5 every step of the way, trying to realize his plans of plunging the world into the Void. After a grueling trek through the Interdimensional Rift, players will face off against this boss one final time, with Exdeath revealing his true form as a tree born of evil that has taken root in this world between worlds.

After this tree is chopped down to size, Exdeath is hurled into the Void and absorbs its dark energy to return as Neo Exdeath. This is a high-octane boss fight where players must display their mastery over the job system and save the world from this villain once and for all.

6 Zemus & Zeromus

Number Of Phases: 2

Final Fantasy 4 boasts a strong narrative, even if Zemus’s inclusion as the true final antagonist can come out of nowhere for some. However, his manipulative acts make him an easy villain to hate as players fight him on the moon, with Golbez and Fusoya stepping into the picture and defeating this villain for good.

Related

7 Hardest Decisions Made By Final Fantasy Protagonists

Final Fantasy protagonists rarely have an easy go of it and are often forced to make harrowing, life-changing decisions for the greater good.

In true JRPG fashion, this boss’s hatred causes it to revive as Zeromus, whipping the entire party and nearly causing their demise. However, the prayers and hopes of their allies compel the heroes to gain a second wind and defeat this foe, saving the world from his nefarious plans.

5 Yunalesca

Number Of Phases: 3

Systems

Released

December 17, 2001

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

With the truth uncovered that Spira was trapped in a cycle of chaos perpetuated by the lies from Yunalesca and Yevon’s teachings, the heroes of Final Fantasy 10 head to Lady Yunalesca fully intent on defying her will. As one would expect, this foe doesn’t take this slight lying down and takes on the party in an epic boss fight.

Yunalesca is a hard boss who spans three stages.On top of that, she pulls absolutely no punches. It’s her third phase that players must be wary of, since her Mega Death is a fight-ending spell and must be countered with immunities or the Zombie status.

4 Barnabas

Number Of Phases: 3

Systems

Released

June 22, 2023

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Barnabas is one of toughest boss fights in Final Fantasy 16, a statement that means a lot given how easy the game is otherwise. Most people would argue that he overshadows the final encounter against Ultima, too, boasting three phases that are as challenging as they come.

What helps this boss fight stand out is that players don’t control Ifrit in a railroaded section that is impossible to lose. It’s a true test of the player’s skills as they dodge his erratic attacks and unleash a wealth of Eikonic Abilities in an attempt to take this foe down for good.

3 Jenova Synthesis, Bizarro Sephiroth, & Safer Sephiroth

Number Of Phases: 3

The final boss fight against Sephiroth in Final Fantasy 7 is a sequence that was slowly simmering from the moment Cloud regained his memories. Exploring the Northern Crater is no easy feat, with players having to deal with the game’s toughest foes before eventually getting their hands on Sephiroth.

Related

Final Fantasy: 8 Bosses That Require Unique Strategies To Defeat

Not all Final Fantasy boss fights are as straightforward as one would expect. Here are some that require players to make use of unique strategies.

Before the fight against Cloud’s nemesis even starts, players must take on the final form of Jenova they’ll encounter before being pulled into a battle with Bizarro Sephiroth with both parties. Once this is done, players will initiate the final boss fight against Safer Sephiroth in one of the most memorable encounters in Final Fantasy. While this is followed up with a one-on-one duel between Cloud and Sephiroth, this is technically a battle that players can’t lose, which is why most people don’t consider it to be a part of the final boss rush of Final Fantasy 7.

2 Statue Of The Gods & Kefka

Number Of Phases: 4

Final Fantasy 6 is hailed by many as the best game in the Final Fantasy series. Not only is the story as epic as they come, but players are rewarded for all their efforts to reunite the party in the World of Ruin by standing a chance of taking out Kefka after climbing his tower.

This battle is the most cinematic final boss fight of Final Fantasy‘s SNES days, with players slowly ascending to heaven while fighting all three sections of the Statue of the Gods. Downed party members are replaced by others until players complete this ascent and face off against Kefka in a cinematic boss encounter where the music and visuals of Final Fantasy 6 reach their most impressive point.

1 Ultimecia, Griever, Ultimecia-Griever, & Ultimecia’s Final Form

Number Of Phases: 4

While it’s true that the story and Junction system of Final Fantasy 8 was a bit of a mess, fans who checked out this game back in the day likely did not care once they saw the immense graphical improvement over its predecessor. Battles were prettier and more epic than ever before, especially when it came to the final boss rush.

The battle against Ultimecia is a lengthy affair where players take on the sorceress with party members that can switch at the drop of a hat before she unveils Griever. Defeating this Guardian Force causes it to merge with Ultimecia for the third phase, and players who assume that the fight is done after defeating this fusion will be in for a rude awakening when Ultimecia reveals a final form that can be incredibly challenging.

More

Final Fantasy: 8 Best Rivals In The Series, Ranked

A rivalry between characters can lead to a compelling story, and these characters served as excellent rivals in Final Fantasy.