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Summoner (Final Fantasy)

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Summoners, or Callers, are a class of magic users in the Final Fantasy series of console video games from Square Enix. Unlike their cousins the White Mages, Black Mages or Red Mages, Summoners do not use conventional spells. Instead they call upon entities of great power (whose name and source varies from game to game) to attack their enemies, protect their party or render other forms of aid.

History and Description

Summoners first appear in Final Fantasy III for the Nintendo Famicom, where they appear as part of the game's job system. There are two distinct classes which utilize summoning magic in the game: the first class, "Conjurers" act primarily as support, and the creatures they summon will have some sort of beneficial effect on the player's party, similar to traditional white magic. "Summoners," on the other hand, call upon the same creatures as Conjurers, but to different effect: when cast by a Summoner, Summon magic is attack-oriented, similar to traditional black magic. In addition to these two classes, "Sages" can cast summoning magic (as well as every other form of magic present in the game). When cast by a Sage, summoning magic has the same effect as it would if cast by a Summoner.

The only playable Summoner in Final Fantasy IV is Rydia. She can summon a number of creatures, as could anyone from her village. Once called, a creature makes a single attack and then disappears. Rydia summons a creature called Titan early in the game, and meets others later on.

The Final Fantasy V game makes "Summoner" an available Job that any character can take once they meet the requirements.

In Final Fantasy VI, the "Espers" (or "Phantom Beasts" in the original Japanese game) are beings that live in another dimension, and once crystallized can be equipped by a character and called. Terra Branford has a special connection to the Espers, and they are central to the game's storyline. Espers provide specific statistical bonuses if equipped when a character levels up.

Materia allow any playable character in Final Fantasy VII to call on unique magical monsters and is notable for having one of the most powerful summons in the series, the "Knights of the Round". Again a called creature makes an attack, usually quite powerful, and then vanishes.

Final Fantasy VIII uses "Guardian Forces" as a central component of the game system. Guardian Forces, or GFs, are similar to the summoned creatures of earlier games, and characters "junction" with specific GFs. GFs develop compatibility with specific characters; compatibility affects the time required to summon one, and each GF has a set of abilities it can bestow on whoever junctions it, such as the ability to draw or cast magic spells, or other special abilities.

The "Eidolons" of Final Fantasy IX are powerful extradimensional beings that can be called upon by special people. In the game, Dagger and Eiko are the two playable Summoners, and the Eidolons play a role in the game plot. Eidolons appear, perform their attack, and then vanish.

The Summoners of Final Fantasy X are champions of the people of Yevon who summon the "Aeons" to aid in their battle to defeat Sin. There are fewer Aeons than other such beings in the other games, but the FFX battle mechanics make Aeons more than simple one-shot attacks: they replace the party temporarily, fighting as characters until recalled. When a Summoner suceeds in destoying Sin, he/she is labeled a 'High Summoner'. There are only five in Spira's history, with Yuna as the fifth, last & only surviving High Summoner.

In the MMORPG Final Fantasy XI, summoners are one of many extra jobs that you can obtain after achieving level thirty. These characters, while physically weak, have the ability to summon powerful Avatars. These avatars, which include the summons posted below, are obtained by getting Magic Scrolls, which are extremely difficult to get. This is why Summoners are not for the faint of heart, although having these Avatars came help you greatly.

Summoners also appear as job classes in Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance.

Notable Summoned creatures include Shiva, Ifrit, Ramuh, Leviathan and Bahamut. These creatures have appeared in almost every game of the series, sometimes even when there are no Summoners available.

Summoned beasts

Some of the most frequently appearing summoned monsters include:

  • Ifrit is a demon-like monster whose attack ("Hellfire") damages all enemies with fire-based magic. He has appeared in Final Fantasy III, Final Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy V, Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy IX, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X-2, Final Fantasy XI, Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, & 'Final Fantasy Unlimited'. He is to appear in Final Fantasy XII as well. The North American version of Final Fantasy IV (a.k.a. Final Fantasy II) referred to him as Jinn.
  • Shiva (no relation to the Hindu goddess) is a humanoid female whose attack ("Diamond Dust") damages all enemies with ice-based magic. She has appeared in Final Fantasy III, Final Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy V, Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy IX, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X-2, Final Fantasy XI, Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, & 'Final Fantasy Unlimited'.
  • Ramuh is an elderly humanoid male whose attack ("Judgment Bolt") damages all enemies with lightning-based magic. He has appeared in Final Fantasy III, Final Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy V, Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy IX, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. The North American version of Final Fantasy IV (a.k.a. Final Fantasy II) referred to him as Indra.
  • Leviathan is a sea serpent whose attack ("Tsunami") damages all enemies with water-based magic. He has appeared in Final Fantasy III, Final Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy V, Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy IX, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance.
  • Titan is a humanoid male whose attack ("Anger of the Earth") damages all enemies with earth-based magic. He has appeared in Final Fantasy III, Final Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy V, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy XI, Final Fantasy Tactics, & Final Fantasy Unlimited.
  • Odin is a humanoid male (usually dressed like a medieval knight) on horseback whose attack (varyingly "Atom Edge," Gungnir" or "Zantetsuken") attempts to kill all enemies instantly by cleaving them in two. He has appeared in Final Fantasy III, Final Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy V, Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy IX, Final Fantasy Tactics, and Final Fantasy Unlimited.
  • Bahamut is a dragon whose attack ("Gigaflare") does massive non-elemental damage to all enemies. He has appeared (as a summonable creature) in Final Fantasy III, Final Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy V, Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy IX, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. He appears as a non-player character in Final Fantasy I, Final Fantasy X-2 & Final Fantasy XI, and as a racer in the spin-off racing game Chocobo Racing. In Final Fantasy VII, in addition to his regular form, Bahamut appears in two more powerful forms, Neo Bahamut and Bahamut Zero.
  • Golem is a vaguely humanoid being composed entirely of rock. When summoned, Golem will intercept all physical attacks directed at the party, taking damage in their stead until his hit points are depleted. He has appeared in Final Fantasy V, Final Fantasy VI, and Final Fantasy Tactics.
  • Carbuncle is a a green-skinned being with a gemstone on its forehead. When summoned, Carbuncle will perform "Ruby Light" which casts the "Reflect" white magic spell on all friendly combatants. While active, any magic, either hostile or friendly, targetted at affected characters will be redirected to an enemy. Carbuncle has appeared in Final Fantasy V, Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy IX, Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance.
  • Alexander is a humanoid male knight whose attack ("Judgment") damages all enemies with holy magic. He has appeared in Final Fantasy VI and Final Fantasy VII. He also appears in Final Fantasy IX during a cutscene, but his summoning magic can never be used during battle in that game.

Pictures

Ifrit from Final Fantasy IX Shiva from Final Fantasy VIII Leviathan from Final Fantasy V Bahamut from Final Fantasy X
The Eidolon Ifrit (Final Fantasy IX) The Guardian Force Shiva (Final Fantasy VIII) The summoned monster Leviathan (Final Fantasy V) The Aeon Bahamut (Final Fantasy X)
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