Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn recently released the highly-anticipated Patch 5.4, Futures Rewritten. It is the largest Shadowbringers patch to date and offers new main scenario quests, trials, raids, gear, recipes, a Blue Mage update, and lots more.
The storyline has come a long way since the initial release of A Realm Reborn, and while the characters have changed and grown, the majority of those who make up the Scions of the Seventh Dawn remain ever-present and they continue to protect the world from many threats. There have been numerous members of this group, but here are the top ten members to date. Warning, spoilers ahead for anyone fairly new to the game!
10 Lyse Hext
Lyse Hext was originally known to players by her sister's name of Yda, but by the end of The Far Edge of Fate, players learn that she is actually Yda's younger sister and had taken Yda's name after she had died. As "Yda" she was arguably one of the more forgettable Scions, but as her character grew and the storyline progressed, she developed into a really kick-butt character with a brilliant story arc in the Stormblood expansion.
As Lyse decides to stay in Ala Mhigo at the end of Stormblood, her role is considerably smaller from Shadowbringers onwards. However, she does still feature occasionally, such as during the Monk questline.
9 Tataru Taru
Tataru began with only a small role in the Scions, acting as the receptionist for their headquarters at the Waking Sands. She has always had an adorable personality and was a source of humor for players, but much like the other Scions, her role has also grown, and she has become a stronger character for it.
By the time Stormsblood released, Tataru has proven she is a hardier character than first thought, and she is more than capable of blackmailing others in order to fulfill the Scions' cause. This is a trait she has continued in the more recent Shadowbringers expansion to enlist the aid of Estinien while the Warrior of Light was away in the First.
8 Papalymo Totolymo
Papalymo was always paired with Yda and the two were constantly together during the main scenario questline. Much like Yda, in the earlier content, his character was also rather lackluster, especially when compared to some of the more interesting characters that make up the Scions.
However, Papalymo secured his position as one of the most memorable Scions when he sacrificed himself in order to save the others and stop a primal from rampaging across the world, which would cause another Calamity. In his parting words to Yda, he asks her to follow her own path, which is the reason she eventually reveals herself to be Lyse.
7 Thancred Waters
Thancred fulfilled the role of a roguish, handsome pretty boy with plenty of humor, and he started off as a Rogue. Like several of the other Scions, his job role changed throughout the plot, with him becoming a Gunbreaker in the most recent expansion, Shadowbringers.
His appearance has also undergone a few changes, but the most noticeable change is in his character. He is no longer as carefree as he was before, and he still mourns the loss of Minifilla, but to his credit, he has become even more of an admirable protector than before.
6 Urianger Augurelt
Urianger was originally a bit of a mystery character as much of his face and head were obscured by his initial outfit. This allowed for a perfect plot twist later in the game where he played a double agent, which took advantage of players being unfamiliar with his true appearance for many cutscenes before the big reveal.
He was originally an Arcanist, but with the release of Shadowbringers, he not only received a glow-up but a job switch to Astrologian too. Though his manner of speaking archaically can annoy some players, he has become increasingly popular since his latest makeover.
5 Alphinaud Leveilleur
Alphinaud is one-half of the Leveilleur twins, but he definitely stands out from his sister. Though both characters have been developed tremendously, it is Alphinaud who arguably has the better story arc that has resonated with fans the most, likely because he is given more screen time with the player.
Once Minfillia was gone, it was Alphinaud who naturally became the leader, with all the other Scions looking to him. He received his first costume change in Heavensward, which fans were grateful for as it made it easier to differentiate him from his sister. Additionally, Alphinaud also switched from Arcanist to Academician with the release of Shadowbringers. Interestingly, Academician is not a set class for players and is solely unique to Alphinaud, though it is very similar to the Scholar job.
4 G'raha Tia
G'raha Tia was introduced as part of The Crystal Tower storyline and was fairly forgettable at the time. In fact, he was so forgettable that when it was revealed that he was the Crystal Exarch in Shadowbringers, many players had to remind themselves where they knew him from.
He technically only recently joined the Scions, but given his rather interesting history and the efforts he went to in summoning the Warrior of Light to the First (and accidentally their companions too) in order to prevent the Eighth Umbral Calamity, he is definitely one of the best Scions to date.
3 Y'shtola Rhul
Y'shtola is one of the fan-favorite characters of not only the Scions but the game as a whole. Her popularity has been made clear within the franchise as she has become the representative of Final Fantasy XIV for the Dissidia series.
She began as a Conjuror, but with Shadowbringers she unleashed her dark side with some new attire and a switch over to Sorceress, a unique version of Black Mage that is unique to her character only. Y'shtola is a pretty powerful character and has managed to transport herself (and another) via the Lifestream more than once, though she did need a bit of help getting back out of it.
2 Minfilia Warde
Minfilia is the founder and original leader of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn. Her character arc seemingly came to completion at the end of A Realm Reborn, when she offered her body up to the goddess Hydaelyn.
However, that wasn't the end of Minfilia and she continued to appear after the revelation that she became "The Word of the Mother." Her storyline was further developed in Shadowbringers, where players discover that her time with Hydaelyn had made her incorporeal. Despite sacrificing herself on the First to save a small part of the world from the Flood of Light, she is reincarnated over and over.
1 Louisoix Leveilleur
The Scions didn't technically exist while Louisoix was still alive, but he was made an honorary member posthumously as the group was created to honor his last wishes. Louisoix is the ultimate Scion in this respect, as there would be no Scions of the Seventh Dawn without him.
Not only were the Scions formed in his name, but Louisoix sacrificed himself in order to save the world from Bahamut. A lot of players late to the game will not have much of an emotional connection to Louisoix, as his story was largely told in the original 2010 version of the game. However, the story of his sacrifice was told in the cinematic opening of A Realm Reborn and he is referenced a lot, as well as the odd appearance in the Binding Coil of Bahamut.