Final Fantasyhas solidified itself as one of the most iconic series in the history of gaming. The series has spawned a host of games, films, anime and spinoff titles (for better or worse), and introduced fans to some of the gaming world’s most famous characters and creatures. And while many are the heroes and villains of their respective games, some of Final Fantasy’s monstrous enemies have become just as recognizable.
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Very few of Final Fantasy’s beasts have become as synonymous with the series as the ferocious behemoth. Appearing in almost every series entry to date, the hulking, bipedal, bull-like menace has been along for the ride so often that even die-hard fans may not be aware of its entire history.
10They Didn’t Appear In The Original Final Fantasy, But Were Supposed To
The iconic nature of the behemoth is, in part, due to how frequently they appear in the series. Behemoths are present in almost every mainline Final Fantasy game, with the notable exception being the original Final Fantasy, although evidence suggests that this wasn’t originally the case.
Concept art from the first Final Fantasy shows the game’s Four Heroes of Light facing off against a large, winged version of the behemoth that never actually made it into the game. This iteration of the classic creature would finally be brought to life withFinal Fantasy 15’sBehemoth King and Dread Behemoth, the first winged behemoths in the series.
9They Share An Origin With Bahamut
It’s easy to see the similarity in names between the behemoth and another infamous Final Fantasy monster, the dreadedBahamut.In fact, Bahamut actually translates to “behemoth” in Hebrew. The two share the same Biblical origin story, with the behemoth’s depiction as a large and unstoppable beast who was born at the beginning of creation.
This similar origin story may have inspired the two creatures' connection in some games, such asStranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin.In this title, the behemoth transforms into the Ur-Dragon King, a large dragon beast that closely resembles several versions of Bahamut seen in other games.
8They Appear In Titles Outside Of Final Fantasy
While the behemoth is absolutely a staple of the Final Fantasy series, its appearances are not limited to Square Enix’s flagship RPG franchise or even its spinoffs. Behemoths have been known to appear in a variety of other titles, showing up in games likeKingdom Hearts,Bravely Default,andLive A Live.
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The list of guest appearances is not limited to just Square Enix titles, however, as there have been behemoths that take clear inspiration from the Final Fantasy beasts in games likeXenoblade Chroniclesand the Xbox 360 RPG Lost Odyssey. While these creatures often appear with slight variations on their original designs, the nod to the Final Fantasy enemy is clear.
7They Have Appeared In A Mario Game
While some behemoth appearances outside of Final Fantasy games are surprising, none compare to its most unexpected foe: Mario. While you may assume this appearance is tied to the Square Enix-developedSuper Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars,the reality is even more surprising, as behemoth actually serves as the final boss of the often-forgotten Mario Sports Mix.
Also developed by Square Enix, Mario Sports Mix features a variety of teams to face off against in multiple sports, with one of these teams representing the Final Fantasy series. If you’re able to defeat the RPG-inspired party in every sport, you’ll be able to challenge behemoth in a final showdown. You’ll utilize the skills used in different sports to take behemoth on, and the game even features a Behemoth King boss that’s unlocked after beating the standard version of the beast.
6They Were The First Final Fantasy Character To Use Meteor
Meteor has become one of the most notorious spells or abilities in Final Fantasy. Certain monsters are able to utilize the powerful spell in battle, while some games treat Meteor as an even more intimidating threat, withFinal Fantasy 7infamously positioning the spell as a potentially world-ending event.
With such a storied history throughout the series, few may realize that the first user of this spell was none other than the behemoth. The enemy debuted the spell in Final Fantasy 3, and has used it in a variety of scenarios since, often as one of its signature counterattacks.
5They May Have Been The First Enemy Designed For Final Fantasy 15
Final Fantasy 15 marked a big shift for the mainline series of Final Fantasy games. The title shifted from the traditional turn-based combat to something more action-focused, while also narrowing down the number of party members and granting players an open world to explore in.
With such a dramatic adjustment planned for the game, it’s natural that a different approach was needed to the enemies you’d encounter in the open world. It’s been suggested that the behemoth was actually the first enemy designed for the game, with FF15’s approach giving the creature a more wild and realistic design. Images of concept art and even a clay model of the behemoth show the clear distinction between FF15’s version and other behemoths from the series.
4In Some Games, They Can Be Recruited, Captured, Or Ridden
Behemoths are, more often than not, formidable foes that you’ll encounter in the games that they appear in. In spite of this, there are a handful of notable exceptions, where you’ll be able to capture, ride, or even recruit behemoths to aid you on your quest.
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InFinal Fantasy 13-2,you can recruit the dangerous Feral Behemoth using the Paradigm Pack mechanic. Its name is then shortened to simply “Behemoth,” and it becomes available to fight alongside you in battle. In theFinal Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn, behemoths were added to the game and are available as a mount for players to ride, and in Final Fantasy 5, a key story mission sees your player tasked with capturing a behemoth in order to progress through the Sealed Cave.
3They Occasionally Wear Clothes And Wield Swords
In the majority of its appearances throughout the series, behemoths are feral, violent beasts. They’re often bipedal, though some stand on their hind legs, but they very rarely communicate. Despite this animalistic nature, there are a few examples of behemoths that use weapons, and some that are even clothed.
InFinal Fantasy 12,behemoths are an entire species of enemies, often seen wandering the lands wearing loincloths. The largest of this species, the Behemoth King, is the only instance in the game where we see the four-legged behemoth that we’re familiar with. Similarly, Final Fantasy 13 features behemoths who can remove the horns from their bodies and use them as makeshift swords.
2Two Characters Use Behemoth Parts As Weapons
There are a variety of examples of behemoth parts being collectible in games, from horns to claws. Often, these parts are valuable items to sell or use for crafting recipes, but on occasion, characters can utilize them directly as weapons.
In Final Fantasy 7,Red XIIIis able to acquire a weapon called the Behemoth Horn. This is one of Red’s most powerful weapons in the game, with an attack power that’s second only to his ultimate weapon. Similarly, In Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13, Lightning is able to acquire one of the swords that are attached to the behemoth’s horns, named the Shard Blade.
1Apparently, They’re Delicious
While most of the behemoth parts acquired in Final Fantasy guides are used for battle, there’s another use for the creature that often goes unnoticed. Various games in the series have established that behemoth meat is edible, and what’s more, it would appear that it’s pretty darn tasty.
Most notably, Final Fantasy 11 features a consumable known as behemoth steak, which provides a solid amount of healing along with a stat boost. Perhaps the most infamous appearance of the behemoth, however, is in Final Fantasy 15, where a mission requires the hunting of a behemoth to add its meat to the perfect cup of noodles. We hope the risk was worth it.
