When people think about the hugely successful Final Fantasy series, one of the first things that usually springs to mind is the summoning mechanic. Summons have appeared in every game since the third entry and are one of the franchise's defining traits. So much so, in fact, that there wasn't really a question as to whether they'd appear in Final Fantasy XVI. Some summons turn up far more often than others though.
The likes of Bahamut, Leviathan, Shiva, and Ifrit have appeared in almost every Final Fantasy, but there are plenty of summons who've only made a single appearance. For some, it's due to them being tied to the narrative of a particular game whilst for others, it's often a case of there being a more popular alternative available. Whatever the reason, only die-hard Final Fantasy fans will recognize all of these summons.
10 Asura (Final Fantasy IV)
Asura's one and only appearance in the series came in Final Fantasy IV. She is the Queen of the Eidolons and can be obtained by defeating her in battle underneath the Eidolon Library. Most players will likely obtain her somewhere along their journey as doing so is a requirement for anybody wishing to obtain Leviathan.
Asura casts Curaga on the party when summoned and can be incredibly useful due to her short casting time. This is somewhat offset, however, by the high MP cost of summoning her. Her design seems to be heavily inspired by the Asuras found in Indian mythology, although this is never confirmed in game.
9 Seraph (Final Fantasy VI)
As one might expect, Seraph takes the form of an angel and fully heals the party when summoned in battle. Her Magicite allows the party to learn several healing abilities including raise and regen. Although there are other ways to learn these spells, Seraph provides one of the most efficient during the game's earlier stages.
The Seraph Magicite can be purchased from a merchant in Tzen for 3,000 gil. If the player waits until the cataclysm, however, the price drops down to a rather modest 10 gil. That might seem like a bargain, but it's worth remembering that Seraph's usefulness declines as the story progresses. As such, many players opt to purchase it as soon as they're able.
8 Valigarmanda (Final Fantasy VI)
Valigarmanda, or Tritoch as he is sometimes known, plays a key role in the events of Final Fantasy VI. Players will likely remember him as the Esper that Terra encounters at the beginning of the game in Narshe. Although he can't be acquired straight away, defeating him in the World of Ruin after the cataclysm allows the player to obtain the his Magicite.
Tritoch is a fairly unique summon in that his attacks deals three different types of elemental damage. Unfortunately, Fire, Ice, and Thunder really isn't the best combination, but it still has its uses in certain battles. The Magicite is also the only way to teach party members the Thundaga and Blizzaga spells. It also teaches Firaga, although the Phoenix Magicite is better suited for this due to it having a much higher learn rate.
7 Maduin (Final Fantasy VI)
Maduin is incredibly important to the plot of Final Fantasy VI. He's the guardian of the Esper world and, perhaps more significantly, Terra's father. His summon sprite is primarily based on the sprite for the Gigas enemy found in Final Fantasy V, although his muscular appearance is also somewhat reminiscent of certain incarnations of Ifrit.
Players acquire the Maduin Magicite towards the end of the Magitek Research Facility. He'll use an unblockable non-elemental attack called Chaos Wave when summoned in battle and his Magicite teaches the level two versions of the Fire, Blizzard, and Thunder spells. Although Ifrit and Shiva are better sources for the first two, Maduin teaches Thundara faster than Ramuh and has the added bonus of teaching all three spells simultaneously.
6 Pandemona (Final Fantasy VIII)
Pandemona is one of the 18 Guardian Forces that appear in Final Fantasy VIII and can be drawn from Fujin during the party's first battle with him. Its signature move is Tornado Zone, which deals wind damage to all enemies. In keeping with his elemental affinity, Fujin will stop using wind attacks after the player has drawn Pandemona.
Should the player fail to draw Pandemona from Fujin, it can instead be obtained from the Red Giant enemy in Ultimecia's Castle. As this is the game's final dungeon though, it's best to try and obtain him the first time around. There's also a Pandemona card available in the Triple Triad minigame, which is held by the owner of the Balamb Hotel.
5 Ark (Final Fantasy IX)
Ark is one of the more unusual summons in the franchise. Much like Alexander, it possesses mech-like qualities and takes the form of an airship. It appears as an Eidolon in Final Fantasy IX and damages enemies using a combination of lasers and explosives. Dagger will learn how to summon Ark after being equipped with a Pumice.
Although Final Fantasy IX is the only game in which Ark appears, there are references made to it in other titles. The Cruise Chaser boss found in Final Fantasy XIV, for example, shares many parallels with Ark. Anybody who's played both games will likely notice the visual similarities straight away, but they might miss the fact that The Cruise Chaser also uses Ark's signature move, Eternal Darkness.
4 Valefor (Final Fantasy X)
Valefor is the first Aeon that Yuna acquires in Final Fantasy X. She can be summoned after the player completes the Cloister of Trials at the Besaid Temple and primarily deals non-elemental damage. Her signature attack is Sonic Wings and she also has access to several elemental abilities. She also appears as a Dark Aeon in some versions of Final Fantasy X and is one of the toughest battles in the game.
Although Valefor is mentioned in several other Final Fantasy titles, she never actually makes an appearance. She is brought up in a play in Final Fantasy XIII and is also referenced at several points throughout Final Fantasy XIV. Whether or not Valefor physically exists in either world though is unclear.
3 Zalera (Final Fantasy XII)
Zalera is an optional Esper from Final Fantasy XII. He is an angel of death and, like several of the series' other summons, has a chance to insta-kill enemies when summoned. His ultimate move, Condemnation will kill all enemies with HP below 9,999 and will deal massive non-elemental damage to any whose HP is higher. Although certain enemies are resistant to death, he's still a very useful Esper to have.
Players can find Zalera in the Barheim Passage and must defeat him in battle if they wish to acquire him. Although his HP is relatively low when compared to other Espers, he more than makes up for this with his strong defense. He also has access to some incredibly powerful magic and – just to make matters worse – there's also a five minute time limit on the battle.
2 Zodiark (Final Fantasy XII)
Zodiark's only appearance in the franchise came in Final Fantasy XII. Like the series regular Leviathan, Zodiark is a serpent-like creature although he uses dark magic instead of water. His signature move, Final Eclipse, is a non-elemental attack that deals 50,000 base damage. This makes it one of the best attacks in the entire game.
In order to obtain Zodiark, players first need to defeat him in battle. This is easier said than done, however, as he has a massive amount of HP and becomes stronger as his HP depletes. He'll also change his weakness once the player has discovered it – which can make for a long and troublesome fight. Given his strength as an Esper though, it's definitely worth it.
1 Brynhildr (Final Fantasy XIII)
Brynhildr is an Eidolon that appears in Final Fantasy XIII. She is summoned by Sazh through the use of his Chocobo Feather Eidolith and deals fire damage. Rather bizarrely, she can also transform into a red racecar that Sazh drives during some story segments of the game.
She's likely based on a Valkyrie known as Brunhild who appears in Norse and Germanic folklore. This would also explain Brynhildr's connection to the fire element, as legend says that Brunhild once instructed her father to build a wall of fire around her to protect her from unworthy suitors. Unsurprisingly perhaps, there are no mentions of race cars in these legends.