Grim Reaper (entity)

The Grim Reaper is a recurring motif in the series. A and personification of death, its appearance differs in every installment, but they share a distinct similarity, they are summoned whenever someone uses the spells Death or Doom, more frequently the former.

Final Fantasy
The Grim Reaper in its first appearance was summoned through the spell Death (called RUB in the NES version and Reaper in the Origins version). A skeletal figure wearing a red cape appears, beckoning the target's soul and slicing it downwards with its scythe. Or, if using another spell, throws back his cloak, and four skulls come out, attach to the soul, and fly upwards.

Final Fantasy II
Multiple Grim Reapers appear during the spell animation for Curse. They are skeletal blue-hooded floating figures with scythes.

Final Fantasy IV
The Black Magic spells Doom and Death summon the Grim Reaper upon the target. Here, the Reaper appears shrouded in black, a skull with red eyes, and carries a dark scythe. In the Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection, the Reaper received a new look. He now looks like an famished man with a skull for a head covered in a ghostly white shroud. He is also mentioned in Kain's Lunar Trial, as Dark Kain's shrouded appearance and polearm remind the townsfolk of the legendary Grim Reaper.

Final Fantasy IV -Interlude-
The Grim Reaper's depiction from the previous game is the same.

Final Fantasy IV: The After Years
The Grim Reaper's depiction from the previous game is the same.

Final Fantasy V
The Blue Magic Doom summons the Grim Reaper.  will appear around the target, followed by the Reaper floating away. The Reaper is dressed in faded red robes and carrying a silver colored scythe. It also appears when the player uses Predict and it has the Pestilence effect.

Final Fantasy VI
The Death spell summons the Grim Reaper. Again in its red cloak and a scythe, it appears out of thin air and carries the target's soul skywards while laughing.

Final Fantasy VII
The Death spell from the Destruct Materia (also seen in Cait Sith's attack "Game Over" from his "Slots" Limit Break) summons the Grim Reaper. Its appearance in this installment instead is more machine like, its head placed in a red saucer, abstracting its red cloak, and its arms oversized, with its right arm an outright scythe and its left arm large, with a crest with the kanji for death on its hand. Black smoke blows from above, and out of it the Reaper appears, slashing its scythe across the target. Note that these are the only ways to summon the Reaper; other Death spells such as Doom summon an elongated skull instead.

Final Fantasy VIII
The Grim Reaper's appearance differs greatly from before, with its color scheme being black, red, and purple. It has a dark, mouth-less head and wears a horned skull on it. Its back has bat-like wings, and its red hands carry a darkened scythe. It is summoned using both the spell Death and the command Doom.

Final Fantasy IX
Here, the Grim Reaper wears brownish robes of Middle Age attire with a skull as its head. It appears with four spells, Lv5 Death, Death, Doom, and Roulette. There was a design for an alternate Grim Reaper to be summoned during the final battle, but this idea was scrapped for the final game.

Final Fantasy X
The Grim Reaper's appearance is similar to the Malaysian : a bodiless shriveled head. It wears a horned headdress and a cape, and has only a clawed left hand. With that clawed hand it reaches into the target, extracting its soul and crushing it, killing the target.

Final Fantasy XIII-2
When a player runs out of time in the Mog Clock a battle is initiated where the player cannot escape. Images of skulls shrouded in black mist appear on the screen during the battle transition, representing the idea of a Grim Reaper.

Also, Cie'th Gorgyra resembles a Grim Reaper and can even cast Doom.

Final Fantasy XV
A large Grim Reaper statue has been seen holding a painting of goddess Etro, who is known as the goddess of death.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Grim Reaper appears when the Doom counter reaches zero or Level 5 Death is used on a susceptible target by Jawbreaker or a Morpher using their powers. It will appear above the target, laugh maniacally and then draw the target's soul towards it, KOing them.

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
When the Death spell is used several Grim Reapers fly over the battlefield, which turns red. It also appears when the Doom counter reaches zero, when Doom is inflicted via Sniper's Death Sickle and when instant kill moves such as the Parivir's Lifethread Blade are used. It flies onto the battlefield and seizes what appears to be the target's soul, and takes it off the screen.

Final Fantasy Legend II
The reaper will appear when a character uses the Death spellbook. A skull shrouded in a black cloth will appear on a target for a split second and vanish. He will take the target with him if the spell was successful.

Final Fantasy Legend III
The reaper in this game is a slightly modified version of the reaper sprite from Final Fantasy Legend II. The reaper appear when a character uses the black magic Fatal spell. A skull shrouded in a black cloth will appear on a target and vanishes after he finishes laughing. He will take the target with him if the spell was successful.

Etymology
The concept of death as a sentient entity has existed in many societies since the beginning of history. In English, is often given the name Grim Reaper and, from the 15th century onwards, came to be shown as a skeletal figure carrying a large scythe and clothed in a black cloak with a hood.

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