Determining who is the best character in FFXIV is a difficult topic to debate that almost guaranteed to spark a heated argument within the community. This is mainly because there are so many NPCs that appear within the game, almost everyone has a different favourite and it’s not exactly easy for avid fans to come to understandings.
So, in this article, I want to address my favourite characters in the game, spanning across all of the current expansions. As you’ll see from my picks, I tend to prefer to enjoy either well-written characters that aren’t overly complicated but also have a level of intracity to them.
Zenos Yae Galvus
Zenos yae Glavus is the kind of character that only elicits two emotions within FFXIV fans. Excitement or disgust. He’s the kind of character that you either love or absolutely despise. As you can imagine, I absolutely adore him.
Imagine a life where you’re always on top, never struggling or having to truly try against anyone or anything. A life where everything is so unbelievably dull and monotonous that you can predict practically everything. Then suddenly one day, you meet an induvial that awakens something within you, a being that brings colour back to your previously black and white worldview.
Zenos Yae Glavus is a man who was born into a world where he is always on top and it utterly bores him. From the get-go, he is born as a gifted young child who is the potential successor to the throne of Garelan Empire, which would grant him an unfathomable amount of influence, wealth and political power. His life is essentially perfect and he didn’t even have to try.
So as a result, it’s only natural that he would attach himself to the Warrior Of Light, they’re the only person that’s actually challenged him. He even goes as far to let the WoL purposely grow stronger throughout the course of Stormblood so that they’ll become a better fight for him later.
Zenos also speaks to me as a player. He’s a character who’s reached the ‘endgame’ and dislikes all of the long, winding exposition the other characters tend to give and proudly pursues his singular goal of having something actually interesting to do; which is something that I can 100% sympathise with.
Zenos’s simple-minded goal of an enjoyable battle is something that I can relate to as a player
Tataru Taru
Serving as the bookkeeper, caretaker and mascot of the Scions Of The Seventh Dawn, Tataru Taru is an iconic character in FFXIV Online who is surprisingly competent despite her diminutive appearance. It’s that mix of cute and capableness that puts her so high up on my list.
Born into a seemingly affluent life, Tataru lived a fairly comfortable before her family become completely destitute. Instead of buckling under the pressure, she began working at a young age to support her entire family by herself with meagre earnings. This selfless and diligent nature continued well into her adult life where she does whatever she can to help her fellow Scions in saving the realm of Eorzea.
In the beginning, I honestly didn’t think that I’d like Tataru all that much but as soon as I reached the Heavensward expansion and saw her trying to become a Arcanist; my respect for the Lalafell grew. She is a person who’s willing to go above and beyond for the people she holds dear.
Being surprisingly adept at logistics and receptionist work, Tataru is an important member of the Scions.
Estinien Wyrmblood
Serving as the Scion’s muscle and financially-oblivious Azure Dragoon, Estinien is arguably one of the coolest characters within the immediate cast.
Losing his family to the all-powerful Nidhoog, Estinien dedicated his life to walk the brutal path of the Dragoon; who are a specialized group of adept spear-wielding dragon hunters. During the events of Heavensward, he forms a bond with the Warrior Of Light and their companions as they travel through Ishgard and Dravania together.
Towards the end of the expansion, he ends up getting possessed by the same dragon that murdered his family but the hardy Elezen Warrior lives to see another day. Now free of his revenge and duty, he wanders the world aimlessly as a blade-for-hire before officially becoming a member of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn in the Shadowbringers expansion.
The reason why I love Estinien is because of his emotional development he goes through. He starts off as a shell of a man seeking caring only about his own revenge but he eventually turns into a more well-rounded and driven induvial who cares more about protecting what he has than throwing it away for the sake of revenge.
Once a man driven by revenge, Estinien now leads the life of a financially-illiterate Scion of The Seventh Dawn
Teledji Adeledji
I hate his guts.
But at the same time I love to hate him.
Teledji Adeleji is one of the few well-written villain characters in FFXIV Online. He’s so utterly despicable that you have no choice but to dislike him. Sure, he only has one defining character trait and no real backstory aside from his desire for wealth and influence over the city-state of Ul’dah. But that’s all he needs to be. Just the quintessential, stereotypical caricature of a older, high-born tycoon.
I suppose that his dedication to his goals are the only remotely-positive character traits he has. But his utter malice and greed just makes it more satisfying when Teledji eventually gets cut down by Raubahn’s sword.
This Lalafell is the amalgamation of the worst possible traits that every out-of-touch, selfish, murderous corrupt politician has.
The Crystal Exarch
Whilst G’raha Tia and the Crystal Exarch are the same person; they are fundamentally different characters.
Without even mentioning his immense magical capabilities, the Exarch is a man willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of his ideals, including his own life. Infusing his life force with the Crystal Tower and residing in a parallel world, the Miqote kicks starts the events of Shadowbringers by summoning the Warrior Of Light to help with saving said parallel world.
The reason why I appreciate the Crystal Exarch more than G’raha is because he feels much more developed and independent as a person. Whilst I don’t dislike G’raha Tia, he feels more like a fanboy of the Warrior Of Light (especially in Endwalker) than a person who was able to help unite his people under a common cause and save their entire world from the danger of the light.
Despite looking like G’raha Tia, the Crystal Exarch is a selfless man who is wise beyond his years. Though if you told him that, he most likely wouldn’t agree with you…
Conclusion
These FFXIV characters are just my immediate favourites but I could go on and on about how much I like some of the other ones too. Overall, I enjoy FFXIV characters who have some level of nuance to them as opposed to just being plot-devices or the equivalent of fanservice.
(Credit goes to AvyCatte for the video)
