Warning: This article contains major spoilers for Final Fantasy 16. Proceed at your own risk.
Final Fantasy 16 was released this week to critical and commercial acclaim, with many praising its groundbreaking changes to the series' traditional elements. The title returns the series to the realm of high fantasy, with a plot centered around some of the Final Fantasy franchise's earliest concepts. While the title paves a new path forward, it also takes the time to honor its predecessors' legacies, including the time-honored tradition of featuring a character named Cid in every mainline title since Final Fantasy 2. However, as with many other legacy elements, all is not what it seems. Final Fantasy 16 goes on to break a massive tradition with its depiction of Cid, creating perhaps the most significant version of the character the series has ever seen.
Final Fantasy 16 follows Clive Rosfield, a former prince who seeks revenge for his younger brother, the heir to the throne of Rosaria and Dominant to the Phoenix Eikon. Early in his journey, Clive is recruited by an outlaw named Cid, who leads a community of former slaves, or Bearers, called the Hideaway. Cid seeks to create a place where people can die on their own terms, free from the shackles of birth, station, and servitude. Cid takes in Clive and his childhood friend Jill, the Dominant of Shiva, after both are critically injured during the game's prologue chapter.
Final Fantasy 16's Cid Telamon is More Than A Supporting Character
Final Fantasy 16's Cidolfus Telamon immediately elevates himself above the supporting role of his predecessors. The early game sees Clive in his debt, before being rallied to his cause. Cid is the driving force behind much of Final Fantasy 16's story, as he seeks to create a network through which slaves and Dominants can find sanctuary at The Hideaway. Cid aids Clive in finding the individual responsible for the death of his brother, Joshua, who was killed by a mysterious Eikon of Fire in their youth. Once the matter is settled, Clive and Cid band together to destroy the Mother Crystals, an act that they believe will free humanity from its societal shackles.
It is eventually revealed that Cidolfus is the Dominant of the Eikon Ramuh, and wields immensely powerful lightning abilities. Despite his strength, Cid uses his powers primarily in service of others, unleashing his Eikon's full power in moments when his comrades are imperiled. During the chapter The Crystal's Curse, Cid unleashes Ramuh in the heart of Drake's Head's Crystal, destroying it, despite having incurred critical injuries in the conflict with Benedikta. Once the Crystal dissipates, a dark portal opens, through which the Eikon Typhon mortally wounds Cid. Rather than recover, Cid uses the last of his energy to weaken Typhon, as it attempts to capture Clive. With his dying breath, Cid imparts the essence of Ramuh to Clive.
Final Fantasy 16's Cid is Its Main Protagonist
Following Cidolfus' death, Final Fantasy 16 jumps five years into the future. Players catch up with Clive as he is freeing a group of Bearers from Hugo Kupka's Private Guard. It is here that players learn of Clive's new identity, Cid the Outlaw. Following his acquisition of Ramuh's power, Clive has taken the name of his former mentor and devoted his life to seeing Cidolfus' dream fulfilled. Under his new title, Cid seeks to destroy the rest of the Mother Crystals, while recruiting Bearers to join the rebuilt Hideaway community. Cid the Outlaw is the Main Protagonist for the majority of Final Fantasy 16.
While Cid the Outlaw is not the Final Fantasy series' first playable Cid, Final Fantasy 16 marks the first time that the character is featured as a title's protagonist. Once Clive inherits Cid's name, fans meet a host of new characters, allowing them to learn more about Cidolfus in the process. Together, both Cidolfus and Cid break new ground for the character, shattering a long-held tradition. In Final Fantasy 16, the Cid archetype is given new life, resulting in the most powerful and meaningful versions the series has yet to feature.
Final Fantasy 16 is currently available on PS5.
