Anthology franchises are rare in the modern gaming landscape. Final Fantasy stands out in this environment as a proud and varied series, only tying most numbered entries together with recurring icons and concepts. Things like crystals, chocobos, and moogles are the glue that holds Final Fantasy together, and thanks to the many different games this approach brings, fans wouldn't have it any other way.
It can be exciting to see a familiar monster or item take on a new form in the latest FF entry. A lot has yet to be seen in Final Fantasy 16, but the aforementioned crystals, chocobos, and moogles are back again alongside things like characters who embody classic Final Fantasy jobs. However, one big uncertainty is how many iconic pieces of equipment will show up. Final Fantasy has built up a stable of instantly recognizable weapons over its lifetime, and some of these armaments have even shaped the franchise's identity.
S Tier
No discussion of iconic Final Fantasy weapons is complete without bringing up Cloud Strife's Buster Sword from Final Fantasy 7. This massive blade has become the poster child of FF7 as a whole, and most casual fans will instantly recognize it. In terms of iconography, the Buster Sword's only rival may be its villainous counterpart in the Masamune. While this long katana has an even longer history as a high-level weapon since Final Fantasy's inception, its most famous role will always be as Sephiroth's sword in FF7.
Before the Ultima Weapon, the title of the ultimate endgame super-weapon belonged to a few other blades. Masamune was one, but even it couldn't compete with the sheer strength of Excalibur. Ripped straight from Arthurian myth, this evil-smiting blade has appeared in most Final Fantasy titles. It's usually one of the best swords a melee class can get, and there are even other versions like Excalipoor and the secret Excalibur 2. With Gilgamesh often appearing to hype it up, it's hard not to call this sword one of the most iconic weapons in all of Final Fantasy.
A Tier
Just a step below the Buster Sword in recognition is the gunblade, a weapon archetype that premiered in Final Fantasy 8. Combining the guns and oversized swords, gunblades are rather unusual in that they didn't act like regular guns until FF13. The original Revolver belonging to FF8's Squall Leonhart is actually a vibrating weapon that uses gun parts mostly for style. Still, the image of Squall with Revolver or Lionheart slung across his back will endure in the hearts of fans.
In terms of hidden equipment, there's nothing more tied to the Final Fantasy name than the Ultima Weapon. Versions of it have appeared in almost every Final Fantasy game past 6, and many other Square Enix titles as well. Even though its design is ever-changing, the Ultima Weapon serves as a template for optional super-powered equipment in the JRPG genre.
B Tier
Hot on the heels of Cloud's Buster Sword and Squall's gunblade was another character's signature weapon. Tidus' watery blade Brotherhood from Final Fantasy 10 is solid in gameplay, a vehicle for character development, and famous for its unique, beautiful appearance. With a design much stronger than older elemental swords like the Flametongue and the Icebrand, it's not hard to see why the Brotherhood is so popular.
A sword too cool for even the main characters to wield has a good chance of sticking in fans' minds, and that's just what happened with the Zantetsuken. This dark blade is what the summon Odin pulls out when it's time to use his signature instant kill attack. Moments where players get their hands on it are few and far between, but it makes those times, like what Clive's Odin stance in FF16 may entail, all the more memorable.
C Tier
Speaking of weapons the party doesn't get to use, Save The Queen is another sword tied to an NPC. It debuted as a knightsword in Final Fantasy Tactics and became a whip in FF8, but assumed its most iconic sword form in the hands of FF9's recurring boss Beatrix. Ironically, it could only be in the hands of Beatrix; if players go out of their way to synthesize it, they'll discover its only use is being thrown. Save The Queen's appearances in subsequent games are often understated, but this holy blade still garners a lot of love.
The only thing better than one iconic weapon is a whole set of them. The Royal Arms in Final Fantasy 15 make up a game-long quest to power up the protagonist Noctis. As he finds these mythical weapons, Noctis' own abilities also improve. They cost HP to use, but every one comes with a unique moveset and a ton of power. His super mode Armiger adds each new Arm to its assaults, and it's a wonderful sight to see Noctis warping around surrounded by weapons and firing them at enemies. Of Noctis' larger armory, the uniquely mechanical Engine Blade serves as his signature weapon. Appropriately, it joins the Royal Arms' ranks when Noctis finds all thirteen and unlocks the unstoppable Armiger Unleashed.
One can't forget the Final Fantasy loadout that started it all. The sword and shield used in Yoshitaka Amano's Fighter and Knight Warrior of Light artwork holds special reverence in the eyes of longtime fans. While they weren't emphasized for a while, the Dissidia games and Final Fantasy 14 helped bring them into the spotlight. Their biggest weakness is that they don't have a name, but that doesn't stop them from carrying a unique gravity in all their appearances.
D Tier
Unique weapons stand out, and the colorful casts throughout Final Fantasy have plenty of those. The first was Kain's signature spear from Final Fantasy 4, which eventually spawned a recurring imitation called Kain's Lance. No one has been able to imitate Barret's iconic gun arm, and it has helped the FF7 eco-terrorist shred foes while maintaining one of the series' most unique human silhouettes.
Dolls are a rare weapon, but surprisingly have seen use both by FF10's Lulu and FF15's Noctis and Iris. And of course, no one can forget the first time they saw FF10's Wakka knock a flying foe out of the sky with little more than a Blitzball.
E Tier
Tragically, in a stat-based genre, many Final Fantasy weapons are fated to be left behind. One of the most painful may be the Ragnarok, which once stood alongside Excalibur and Masamune as ideal endgame equipment. Since Final Fantasy 3, the Ragnarok has almost always been either the most, or one of the most, powerful swords available. Unfortunately, frequently being outclassed stat-wise and competing with summons, items, and even airships for its name has dulled Ragnarok's edge. Perhaps one day a named Final Fantasy character can claim it as their iconic weapon, but until then it remains as a useful, if plain, tool.