Carbuncle is just a little guy. One of the smallest guys around, really. They are simply adorable no matter what form they come in. Well, there’s actually the medical carbuncles and you don’t want to see those when you are researching theFinal FantasyCarbuncle. Not very pleasant.
The Final Fantasy Carbuncle though, they’re very pleasant. A soft and loveable friend with plenty of adorable appearances across the series. It almost feels cruel to rank such a beautiful creature, yet it must be done so. Just remember that no Carbuncle is a loser here.
9Final Fantasy 5
Carbuncle appeared for the very first time all the way back in the original Final Fantasy 5 in 1992. They’ve been a mainstay in the series since, even if they’re not in every game. What makes their appearance in Final Fantasy 5 so interesting is that they exist in two forms.
Carbuncle is both battled as a boss and gained as a summon. They’re both green to a radioactive degree with a glowing red stone in their head, though they’re still loveable. This was a pretty strong start to Carbuncle, and also means it never got worse either!
Honourable mention to this concept art Carbuncle, which doesn’t appear in any game but really should have. They rock those sneakers.
8Final Fantasy 6
Carbuncle is one of the many Espers that can be acquired in Final Fantasy 6 through Magicite. This little Carbuncle, like its previous iteration, is all about defence, granting the party Reflect on use.
They’re not a massive departure from Final Fantasy 5’s Carbuncle, though having a much softer blue shade of fur does wonders for the mind. Staring at the deeply green Carbuncle, cute as they may be, became a bit unsettling after a while.
7Final Fantasy 11
Carbuncle in 3D just becomes all the more loveable. Stepping away from their earlier floating renditions, these Carbuncles actually use their legs for once, jogging alongside their summoner. They’reAvatars that Summoner players can conjurein Final Fantasy 11, doing small tasks for their master.
They are, admittedly, very weak as an Avatar though also very cheap to summon. Though do you really need your Carbuncle to go to battle for you when they look so cute? You should be spending your time admiring them and their oblong forehead crystal.
6Final Fantasy 14
Like Final Fantasy 11 before it, Final Fantasy 14 has various Carbuncles available to any player that has the Arcanist job. You do lose these little guys once you graduate into a Summoner or Scholar though, so take the time to love them with all your heart.
They’re quite similar in appearance to Final Fantasy 11’s Carbuncles as well, right down to the red crystal stretching along their head. This time around though, they come in various elementally-infused forms for some new colours!
You can also get oversized Carbuncles as mounts if you decide they deserve a more luxurious life than being sent to battle.
5Final Fantasy 13
Final Fantasy 13 took a big swing in terms of how it changed the return of pre-established concepts in the series, and summons were foremost among those that got dramatic redesigns. Some old summons appeared asthe gargantuan Fal’cie, others as Eidolons that acted as summons. Carbuncle falls into the former category.
This sadly means that Carbuncle isn’t actually usable by the player. And while their Fal’cie form is interesting, it doesn’t exactly screen ‘Carbuncle’. AH, but it’s the doll version of Carbuncle that really draws your eye. Somewhere between a cat and a lemur, this little Carbuncle has a very cutesy sense of style, from facepaint and a frilled collar to a golden headpiece and shimmering ruby.
4Final Fantasy 9
Harkening back to an earlier style of the series, Final Fantasy 9 restricted each character to a more predefined role in combat, making party composition all the more important. This meant that summons become linked to only two characters as well, Dagger and Eiko.
Carbuncle was a summon of Eiko and returned to the green shade from Final Fantasy 5, though with a more seafoam green tint. They’re a cute little dude though with massive eyes, a bushy tail, and a lovable face.
You can actually change the gem in this Carbuncle’s head based on what Eiko has equipped.
3Final Fantasy 15
To talk about anything in Final Fantasy 15 is a complicated task because, as lovingly crafted as the game may be, it is a mess. Example number one - did you know that not only is Carbuncle featured in Final Fantasy 15, but it’s one of the best renditions of them so far?
Originally appearing in the Platinum demo for the game, Carbuncle is one of Noctis' oldest friends. They’re deeply reminiscent of a Fennec Fox, though with a much longer tail. Careful with the horn though, as this Carbuncle has sharpened their gem to a point.
Carbuncle can also appear to save the party when they are defeated, though this only occurs on lower difficulties.
2Final Fantasy 8
While every version of Carbuncle is such a pleasant fellow, a wonderful creature to witness, the Final Fantasy 8 version of them is just so wonderful. They’re cute yet also feel somewhat mysterious. There’s a mystique to them that stands out in the harsh totalitarian world depicted in Final Fantasy 8.
They take many of the aspects of Final Fantasy 5’s Carbuncle and translate them into 3D, where many of those features stand out more strongly.They cast Reflect on the partyas usual, so be careful not to heal the enemy by mistake.
1Final Fantasy 7 Remake
Before you say anything, you have to acknowledge that saying mean things about Carbuncle is forbidden. It would not reflect very well on you. Remember, every Carbuncle is precious in its own right. Yes, even if they have a frankly unsettlingly large forehead.
You may want to criticise this Carbuncle, but it’s not its fault its head is so…large. It has many ideas in there. And they have such a cute face! You can’t deny they still have many adorable aspects. They even revive the whole party when you faint. This Carbuncle loves you no matter what. Can you find it in your heart to love them back?
