When it comes to popular JRPGs such as Final Fantasy, fans undoubtedly remember iconic games from these franchises due to their compelling gameplay, gripping narrative, and their interesting cast of characters. Games like Final Fantasy and other JRPGs can be more memorable with a delightful cast of side characters and a menacing villain to boot. However, a JRPG can be outright unforgettable if they have a villain with an amazing sense of fashion.
After all, villains out to conquer - or even destroy - the world can always do it with style, and this cements their status as villains worthy of the title. However, just which JRPG villains live up to their name with the best and most eye-catching fashion?
8 Luca Blight (Suikoden 2)
While one might want to stop Sephiroth from accomplishing his plans, one might want to get into Suikoden 2 and just outright kill Suikoden villain Luca Blight. This white-clad Suikoden antagonist is known for his white armor characterized by golden slender spikes, mirroring the eternal smirk and cruel look on his face. Known as the “Mad Prince,” Luca was “broken” by a tragic past that involves witnessing the violation of his mother, causing him to revel in the idea of killing those weaker than him.
Throughout Suikoden 2, Luca is shown not just as a cruel person but as a psychopath and a sadist, not hesitating to kill thousands of people simply out of bloodlust. Treacherous, selfish, and utterly irredeemable, one of Luca’s horrible acts is killing a scared woman just moments after making her act like a pig in front of her burning village. Fans looking for a villain with stylish armor opposite his personality would find one with Luca.
7 Mithos Yggdrasil (Tales Of Symphonia)
With each Tales title occurring in its own world, Tales Of Symphonia would have protagonist Lloyd Irving accompanying the Chosen in their quest to inherit the spirit of Martel and save the dying world of Sylvarant. In this Tales game, Mithos Yggdrasil, known first as the innocent-looking Mithos, is the brother of Martel. Originally pure-hearted, the death of Martel will have Mithos develop a deep-seated hatred for humanity, eventually deciding that the world isn’t worth it if his sister wasn’t there to be with him.
This eventually transforms him into his “Yggdrasil” persona, that of a ruthless antagonist who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. Despite the rather straightforward nature of his role as an antagonist, the fact that Mithos was designed to be innocent enough to be a protagonist before ending up with a sleek white angelic design as a villain is a wondrous tactic that worked well in duping players into thinking Mithos is an ally.
6 Black Knight (Fire Emblem 9)
The Black Knight remains one of the most enigmatic antagonists in the Fire Emblem franchise, first appearing in Fire Emblem 9 as the strongest general of Daein during the Mad King’s War. An ever-faithful servant of the Mad King Ashnard, the Black Knight will stop at nothing to accomplish his liege’s orders, using his immense power to do so.
In the Fire Emblem game’s story, it’s revealed that the Black Knight, Zelgius, was once a student of Greil, also known as the Holy Knight Gawain, who was the father of protagonist Ike. Zelgius wanted nothing more than to surpass Greil, killing him in combat to mark his superiority. He’s since then spent his day honing his swordsmanship, hoping to find a new rival - finding one in the form of Ike. While Zelgius’s story is one of a faithful servant, it’s his stylish black armor and intimidating “coldness” that makes him quite iconic in terms of design.
5 Fou-Lu (Breath Of Fire 4)
While Breath Of Fire 4 is set in a similar to the others where different cultures mesh together in a fantasy world, Breath Of Fire 4, in particular, is played through the perspective of two people - amnesiac hero Ryu who was transformed from a dragon, and antagonist Fou-Lu who has risen from the dead to accomplish his goal of ruling the world.
As a character, Fou-Lu is more of a tragic villain, an immortal Endless that serves as one “half” of the true Fou-Lu, with the other being Ryu. While cold yet fair at first, he grew angry towards humanity after the death of a woman he’s gotten close with. This tragic design is reflected through his clothing, being more sleek and imposing compared to the more ordinary-looking Ryu. What perhaps makes him more compelling in terms of design is how combative his armor looks, as his dark blue jumpsuit has room for red gauntlets and boots as well as belts that allowed him to move quickly in combat.
4 Grahf (Xenogears)
The first Xenogears game takes place on a planet where mankind’s reliance on digging led to the discovery of mecha called Gears, which they began using to wage war with each other. This led to the present conflict between the Aveh and Kislev nations on the continent of Ignas, with their fighting spilling through Lahan Village and destroying it. Now without a home, protagonist Fei Fong Wong discovers a Gear of his own and decides on making a new life for himself.
Unfortunately for Fei, one of the people watching his progress and seemingly planning on using him for their own means is the masked Grahf. Already an immensely-powerful being in his own right, it’s soon revealed that Grahf is actually an incomplete manifestation of humanity’s contact with the higher being, with Grahf’s goal being the elimination of mankind. His horrifying and genocidal nature is reflected through his clothing, characterized by a slick black bodysuit with red details, and white accents as though shaped like bones. His emotionless face and daunting appearance are enough to send shivers down the spine of viewers and are a perfect representation of the bleakness and mystery of Xenogears’s more philosophical components.
3 Lanselot Tartaros (Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together)
Despite the rather niche following of Tactics Ogre, it’s games like Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together that define a master craft in both combat and storytelling. In this Tactics Ogre iteration, its branching storyline tells a more personal take on the Ogre Battle Saga, where various groups eye for control over the Valerian Isles. Chief among them is the Holy Lodis Empire, whose warriors, the Dark Knights Loslorien, are led by his strongest Death Templar, Lanselot Tartaros.
A man with a conflicted past, Lanselot was actually a warrior named Alphonese Loeher, the protagonist of Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis. While his adventures have shaped him to become a war hero, his experiences transformed him into a cynical man. This “transformation” was reflected not just in Alphone’s ordinary-looking armor, but also Lanselot’s more foreboding, overwhelming, and intimidating form. His design, coupled with his tragic story, is a good representation of how a dark design is reflected both on the inside and the outside.
2 Psaro (Dragon Quest 4)
An antagonist first introduced in Dragon Quest 4, the demon tribe chief Psaro is one of the more conflicted characters throughout the Dragon Quest series, often serving as a minor character often mentioned or encountered in future installments. Being the Manslayer, Psaro loathes humankind but is passionate about other beings, with the goal of eradicating mankind due to his belief that their disappearance will better the world. While he starts developing a degree of empathy throughout the series, Psaro is still known as a terrifying villain to behold.
Known best for his pointed ears, red eyes, and flowing white hair, Psaro is distinctly unique compared to other Dragon Quest villains for his rather unique sense of style. His dark outfit is characterized by a single spiked shoulder pad and implements made out of bones, as well as a giant sword. One might look at Psaro and think of him as a potentially-redeemable version of Sephiroth, with a matching fur coat that marks his status as demon chieftain.
1 Sephiroth (Final Fantasy 7)
Hailed as the greatest warrior of all time, Sephiroth has always remained an undefeated prodigy of the Shinra Electric Power Company’s SOLDIER program, even after his defection and madness. In Final Fantasy 7, Sephiroth serves as the main antagonist, carrying with him a desire to destroy the world after discovering the truth of him being an experiment.
Despite his tragic origins, Sephiroth remains one of the most gorgeous JRPG villains out there. Sporting silky smooth white hair (that’s been confirmed to need a bottle of shampoo to maintain daily), a sleek black coat with white shoulder guards, and an eight-feet long odachi, Sephiroth is undoubtedly an icon in villain design beyond Final Fantasy 7. Designed to be a contrast to Cloud’s more outward personality, Sephiroth’s darker and cooler demeanor is a reflection of his hidden madness.