WARNING: This Feature contains spoilers for the mainline Final Fantasy series. The Final Fantasy series is known for more than just its music and its storytelling. Between the iconic Summons and the villains that seek to bring about chaos and destruction, Final Fantasy is also known for producing some of the most iconic protagonists in video game history, be it by their physical appearance or their feats in combat. However, not all of Final Fantasy's main heroes are as iconic or as strong as their counterparts in the series.

Each hero was chosen for not only how popular they are with Final Fantasy fans, but also for their feats of strength in battle and their ability to relate to players through their stories. For the sake of brevity and fairness, and due to the sheer multitude of Jobs and customizability options available in their respective games, the player characters from Final Fantasy 11 and Final Fantasy 14 were excluded. Ergo, only the protagonists from the mainline, single-player Final Fantasy games were considered.

S-Tier

Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy 7 and Final Fantasy 7 Remake): Arguably the poster child of the Final Fantasy franchise, Cloud Strife and his iconic Buster Sword have been synonymous with the series for over two decades. This popularity also led Cloud to appear in the Super Smash Bros. series. Beneath Cloud's brooding demeanor lies a twisted backstory. As a result of Jenova cell experiments conducted by Professor Hojo, the memories of Cloud's SOLDIER friend Zack Fair blended with his own. But while his tale is finished in the original game, only time will tell what surprises await the "ex-SOLDIER" in the massive Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

Squall Leonhart (Final Fantasy 8): As the wielder of the unique but effective gunblade, Squall Leonhart is the top SeeD of Balamb Garden, a school for mercenaries. Even though his aloof and taciturn mannerisms can be off-putting to his comrades, his simple black attire remains a popular cosplay subject. Squall's gunblade can also be fired to add some extra potency to his sword swings and his "Renzokuken" Limit Break. Between that and the ability to Draw and Junction magic from enemies to enhance himself, Squall is one of the most effective and malleable combatants in the series. Despite time compression and the game's bleak ending, Squall saw his mission to completion and cracked a rare smile in the process.

Clive Rosfield (Final Fantasy 16): Though Final Fantasy 16 is the latest entry in the series, Clive Rosfield quickly became a favorite of Final Fantasy fans. This endearment is due in part to his fiery Eikonic powers as Ifrit, his red and black attire, and his compassion for others despite his own tragic circumstances. This humanity was further emphasized by the performance of voice actor Ben Starr, who channeled his own experiences into portraying Clive in the recording booth. Though his Final Fantasy is not among the hardest games to play on the PS5, Clive's flashy combat style and his Eikonic feats are among the best that the series has seen to date. It remains to be seen what any Final Fantasy 16 DLC will do to further emphasize it.

A-Tier

Terra Branford (Final Fantasy 6): Hailing from one of the top SNES JRPGs, Terra has dealt with a lot of trouble from tyrannical forces that enslaved her for her power over magic. This is due to the fact that Terra was born as a half-human, half-Esper hybrid, which gave her the gift of magic from the start. While she was initially brainwashed to work for the Gesthalian Empire, her rescue from them by Locke and The Returners led Terra on a deeply personal journey of self-discovery and embracing her power to help her friends. In her Esper form, Terra's magic power is unrivaled and proves pivotal in the fight against Kefka. Though Kefka's demise also meant the end of magic and Espers, Terra's love for others allowed her to live on as a human and rebuild the world.

Zidane Tribal (Final Fantasy 9): At first glance, Zidane appears to be little more than a thief and a womanizer. But, the plucky and animated Tantalus theater troupe member is also grounded by his personal virtue of not needing a reason to help someone. Despite his perverse, adolescent behavior being overbearing at times, the monkey-tailed Zidane eventually grows into one of the most selfless leads in the Final Fantasy series, all in spite of the reasons why he was created. As a wielder of dual knives and bladed staves, his damage output while in Trance mode is no laughing matter, and can easily make up for his average defenses. Though rumors of a Final Fantasy 9 remake remain strong, only time will tell when fans will see Zidane steal the show again.

Tidus (Final Fantasy 10): As a figurative fish out of water, Tidus starts off as a cocky but cheerful rising Blitzball star in his native Zanarkand. But when Sin attacks his home and transports Tidus to the far-flung land of Spira, his life is turned sideways. Having to grow up and adapt to his new life fast, Tidus takes plenty of opportunities to vent and complain, much to the chagrin of his peers and some Final Fantasy fans. However, his natural speed and swordplay made him a worthy Guardian to Yuna on her pilgrimage to defeat Sin. Though Tidus and Yuna were eventually torn apart in one of the saddest moments in the Final Fantasy series, Tidus remains one of the most unforgettable protagonists in the franchise.

Lightning (Final Fantasy 13): Though she was born as Claire Farron into a futuristic world ruled by the godlike Fal'cie, the woman known to Cocoon as Lightning eventually became godlike in her own right by the time her tale reached a decisive conclusion. Despite her best intentions to care for her sister Serah, her stern and blunt tsundere personality still remains a controversial sticking point with Final Fantasy fans today. However, Lightning was more than capable of holding her own in a fight, as her Blazefire Saber and her trusty Eidolon Odin gave her an edge over a myriad of foes. Though her story continued for two more games, some fans initially grew weary of Lightning's time in the series spotlight once Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13 was released. Nevertheless, Lightning's battle prowess and feats of strength are tough to beat.

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Cecil Harvey (Final Fantasy 4): As a Dark Knight turned Paladin, Cecil Harvey was among the first Final Fantasy protagonists to undergo a Job change during his journey. Though he long resented his power as a Dark Knight, his journey to avenge his kingdom and save his world from a fearsome sorcerer named Golbez led him to bid farewell to his bloodstained past. Even though he is formidable as both a Dark Knight and a Paladin, Cecil's Lunarian heritage, and the reveal of his connection to Golbez as a result of it, stand as one of the top plot twists in Final Fantasy history.

Vaan (Final Fantasy 12): The war-torn city of Rabanastre is the home of Vaan, a street urchin who yearned to be rid of the Archadian Empire's grip on the usurped kingdom of Dalmasca. Growing up with dreams of flying an airship of his own as a sky pirate, Vaan and his best friend Penelo are swept up in events and political machinations that threaten to tear the land of Ivalice further apart. While Vaan is a bit naive and immature, particularly when asking questions about Fran's age, his street smarts and versatility with arms and armor give him the means to take the fight to Emperor Vayne and the Archadians in one of the most iconic PS2 RPGs.

Noctis Lucis Caelum (Final Fantasy 15): In a fantasy that blends magic and modern technology, Noctis is the crown prince of the deposed kingdom of Lucis. While Noctis and his retinue go off on a road trip to Altissa to meet his betrothed Lunafreya, the Empire of Niflheim makes their move to assassinate Noct's father, King Regis. Though he is socially inept and has a basic fashion sense at first, his mastery of the Royal Arms and his ability to call upon the Astrals in times of need allows Noctis to fight on despite the looming threat of the Starscourge and the daemons that spawned from it. Noctis eventually took back the throne of Lucis from the usurper Ardyn and brought the dawn back to the world of Eos, but this cost Noctis his life so that others would be able to wake up and live without fear of the dark.

C-Tier

Warriors of Light (Final Fantasy): Though the party of the first Final Fantasy could be named at will, the title of Warrior of Light got started here. While this squad of silent protagonists does not have much personality, the Warriors of Light can take up one of six Jobs each that can be upgraded further. Despite the fact that both the plot and gameplay loop of the first Final Fantasy are rudimentary by today's standards, and despite remakes on the Game Boy Advance and other platforms, FF1's original Warriors of Light are sadly overshadowed by future heroes.

Firion (Final Fantasy 2): As one of a handful of Wild Rose Rebels fighting the might of the Palamecian Empire, Firion is the first Final Fantasy protagonist to have a backstory, albeit a small one. Firion, along with his adopted siblings Maria, Guy, and Leon, saw their village of Fynn attacked by the Empire. The fiery ambush caused him along with Maria and Guy to join the Rebellion once they recovered. Though Leon went missing in action, that did not stop Firion and a carousel of guest party members such as Minwu and Josef from carrying on the fight. However, FF2's cause-and-effect style of determining character power remains a failed experiment in the Final Fantasy series.

Onion Knights (Final Fantasy 3): As was the case with the first Final Fantasy, the Onion Knights were the titles bestowed upon this young, plucky quartet of would-be heroes. However, the 2006 remake of Final Fantasy 3 on the Nintendo DS gave them the names of Luneth, Arc, Refia, and Ingus. In all iterations, the Onion Knights had a wide variety of Jobs to choose from, including the first iteration of Summoners. These horned mages could call upon the iconic Summons that have become a Final Fantasy series staple.

Bartz Klauser (Final Fantasy 5): Along with his trusty Chocobo named Boco, Bartz Klauser is a born adventurer who wanders the overworld of Final Fantasy 5, free as the wind. But, his carefree nature led him to the site of a meteor crash in which the amnesiac Galuf emerged. Together with the princess named Lenna and a pirate captain named Faris, Bartz suddenly was part of a ragtag group of Warriors of Light that sought to solve the mystery of why the Crystals of their world were breaking. Though Bartz has versatility due to Final Fantasy 5's Job variety, his lackluster personality was easily overshadowed by the other cast members and villains alike.

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