Golbez/Gameplay

Golbez appears as a boss and AI-controlled character in Final Fantasy IV and as a permanently playable party member in Final Fantasy IV: The After Years. He is typically a strong caster of Black Magic and a physical fighter, being able to equip swords, dark swords and staves, as well as wear heavy armor.

Party member
Golbez appears as a playable character during two AI-controlled fights at the end of the game, fighting Zemus and Zeromus alongside Fusoya. He knows the Black Magic spells Firaga, Blizzaga, Thundaga, Meteor and Twincasts Double Meteor with Fusoya. As a child, Golbez was attempting to learn Cure, but has no proficiency with White Magic as an adult.

Golbez's HP in his and Fusoya's battle against Zemus at the end of Final Fantasy IV (2,943) can alternatively be read in Japanese as, which means "hatred", while his starting HP in The After Years (2,971) can be read as , meaning "atonement".

In the 3D version, Golbez can be hacked into the player's party and is entirely functional. He also has his own set of stats and he also has his own victory pose. He starts at level 1 and knows every single Black Magic spells. He starts with four abilities learned, but none are equipped. His known abilities are: Attack, Defend, Items, and Black Magic. Golbez's is right-handed. Upon level up, his HP does not increase while all his other stats increases. On the status screen, Theodor appears instead of the armored Golbez. But during battle, the armored Golbez appears. His job is Lunarian. Golbez also starts out with no equipment. For weaponry, Golbez can equip every dark swords, swords (except Thundershard), rods, and staves. He can equip a wide range of armor that doesn't entirely focuses on single types of armor.

Golbez will go back to level 1 every time the player turns the power off, he'll lose his stats, equipped weapon and armor, and as well as his equipped abilities.

Boss


Golbez is fought once as a boss and knows several strong spells. In the original 2D releases, Golbez has a simple attack pattern, but in the 3D release, he acquires elemental weaknesses and resistances, casts stronger magic than before and is overall a much more difficult enemy.

Final Fantasy IV: The After Years
Golbez can equip swords, axes, spears, hammers, rods, staves and daggers, as well as a combination of heavy armor and lightweight hats and robes. He has access to the Pressure ability, which paralyzes an enemy, Taunt, which draws enemy attacks toward him, and most Black Magic spells, including the high level Flare and Meteor. Golbez doesn't learn the status-type spells that Palom and Rydia can, but has the advantage of knowing Firaga, Blizzaga and Thundaga at a much earlier level.

Golbez's HP is initially 2,971, giving him a great deal of HP at first, but he will not gain more until Level 55, where he will be on par with other characters. Golbez's HP and Stamina are fairly high, and his MP, Strength and Intelligence are decent. These balanced stats, combined with his wide variety of equipment, allow Golbez to function as both a powerful attacker and an effective mage at once, though ultimately he is outclassed in both aspects by dedicated characters.

The Golbez who fights in the flashbacks of The After Years is an entirely different character in terms of game data, with slightly different stats from the normal Golbez. If hacked into the party he can grow to Level 45, the level cap of The Lunarian's Tale, and will keep the same HP while his other stats increase normally as the normal Golbez. However, the flashback Golbez will not learn any new spells, and does not have the real Golbez's Pressure and Taunt abilities.