Who are the Bad Guys in FFXIV?
The Ascians have proven to be the overarching antagonistic force in Final Fantasy XIV, orchestrating calamities, wars, and manipulation schemes for thousands of years all aimed towards their ideal of the "rejoining" and restoration of their unsundered world.
The Persistent Threat of the Ascians
The Ascians are immortal beings with the fragments of ancient souls that once lived in their unsundered world of Amaurot. They have repeatedly sparked disasters over the eras in Eorzea in pursuit of their "rejoinings", aiming to reshape the world towards this former state.
Some key stats about the havoc they have wrought:
| Calamity | Death Toll | Cause |
|---|---|---|
| First Umbral Era | Unknown | Solus zos Galvus (Emet-Selch) triggers first umbral calamity |
| Fourth Umbral Era | 1 million+ | Bahamut unleashed |
| Seventh Umbral Era | 80% of Eorzea population | Primals and imperial expansion |
The Ascians believe this unsundered world was an age of peace and prosperity using their advanced "creation magic". However, to the people of the present shards/worlds, the Ascians‘ methods have brought nothing but misery and destruction.
Their ability to body-hop hosts and steer entire imperial lines over generations has made them extraordinarily dangerous adversaries. For example, Emet-Selch in particular has influenced Garlean expansion for over a century towards chaos to enable "rejoinings".
Notable Ascians
Emet-Selch – One of the immortal "Unsundered Ascians". Orchestrates much of Shadowbringers storyline and serves as its final antagonist. His sympathetic motives and means of manipulating both friend and foe make him one of FFXIV‘s most compelling villains.
Lahabrea – The first Paragon we‘re introduced to who possesses Thancred and fuels chaos from ARR onwards before finally being felled.
Fandaniel – A former member of the Convocation who takes more destructive measures, bringing about Endwalker‘s Final Days.
Other Unsundered – Elidibus and others who have continued seeking calamities over the eras.
Major Arc Villains
While the Ascians have been the overarching threat, each expansion has also introduced new primary foes for that story arc:
Zenos yae Galvus
The Garlean prince who serves as Stormblood‘s primary villain and the Warrior of Light‘s main rival. His later return in Endwalker also makes him the longest-running living antagonist besides the Ascian overlords.
Ruthless and reveling in violence, I find Zenos a darker reflection of the players themselves. Like us, he seeks ever greater challenges, but through imposition of his will rather than protecting others.
Archbishop Thordan VII
The Archbishop of Ishgard who secretly tries to transform into the primal King Thordan in a bid to end the Dragonsong War on his terms. In doing so, he came closer than most expac villains to actually bringing Eorzea to its knees.
Nael van Darnus
The Legatus who unleashes the primal Bahamut to trigger the Seventh Umbral Era‘s devastation in ARR. Responsible for the erasure of much of Eorzea and works closely with the Ascians towards this catastrophe.
Fandaniel
A tragic figure who helps unleash Endwalker‘s Final Days in a bid to make life "exciting" again through destruction. His backstory shows how Ascian methods can corrupt individuals towards devastation.
While their expansions may end, the villains of FFXIV often cast a lasting shadow. From Ascians manipulating across eras to rivals like Zenos awaiting their next clash against the Warrior of Light. Understanding their methods and motives is key to unraveling each storyline.
