Kuja/Dissidia (PSP)

Kuja is a warrior of Chaos in Dissidia Final Fantasy and Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, serving as the antagonist representing Final Fantasy XI. He also appears in Dissidia Final Fantasy NT and its arcade version. With porcelain skin and long, silver hair, he has an elegant appearance. However, this beauty is strictly external—Kuja is cruel, assertive, narcissistic, and extremely envious of his rival, Zidane. He fights using graceful spells that are as much style as substance.

In Dissidia Final Fantasy, the other antagonists look down on Kuja due to his relative youth and inexperience as newly summoned warrior, but he considers them "animals" and strives to prove himself their superior. Unable to understand the bond Zidane shares with Squall and Bartz, he lays traps to test Zidane's resolve and separate him from his friends. In Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, his storyline is slightly redone, establishing him as an unwilling warrior of Chaos who has been through several cycles of the war between Chaos and Cosmos. On amicable terms with Zidane, Kuja attempts to aid him and his comrades in the twelfth cycle, but due to Kefka Palazzo's manipulations, Kuja's mind was implanted with false memories upon his awakening in the thirteenth cycle, causing his animosity towards Zidane to resurface in Dissidia Final Fantasy.

Dissidia Final Fantasy & Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy
Kuja's appearance is identical to his original design in Final Fantasy IX, though simply more refined. Kuja wears a deep purple bolero jacket held closed by a silver band, with white sleeves and gold lining. His legs are covered in the back by a white skirt-like piece held in place by four straps connected to a codpiece. From the thighs down, Kuja wears purple leggings and pointed boots. His hair is more silver than lavender as it was in Final Fantasy IX, and retains the feather. In an appearance feature unique to Dissidia, Kuja is surrounded by five orbs of energy. The orbs orbit him in formation as he moves and are enchanted with Holy and Flare magic to be used to attack with, but do not appear in most cutscenes.

Kuja's first alternate outfit, "Lapis Bolero", has more bluish tones, matching by Yoshitaka Amano, while his EX Mode form is purple instead of red.

Kuja's second alternate outfit, "Achromatic Bolero", is meant to invoke the imagery of an "Angel of Death", Kuja's title. His outfit and hair are black and white with various gradients. His EX Mode form in this outfit is dark gray.

Kuja's third alternate outfit, the "Treno Nobleman" DLC, is an original character design by Hideo Minaba, Final Fantasy IX's art director and the original character designer for both Kuja and Zidane. The costume is intended to envision Kuja as he would have appeared during his time as a wealthy citizen of Treno. His hair is purple with hints of white and topped by a large, black tricornered hat. He wears an elaborate outfit consisting of a lacy cropped top with frilled sleeves, a gold bolero jacket with buckled sleeves and a black collar, and leggings in purple, white, and mauve tones. The piece covering his legs is gold and splits in the back like the tails of a tuxedo jacket. He wears pointed-toe gold shoes. Kuja's EX Mode form in this outfit is primarily gold with light purple fur on his arms and legs.

Kuja's manikin version, Capricious Reaper, is purple.

Dissidia Final Fantasy NT

 * Default
 * Reaper of Gaia A - Default coloration. Kuja's feathered ornament is slightly more distinguishable.
 * Reaper of Gaia B - 1st alternate coloration. Recolors his jacket, skirt-piece and sleeves black.
 * Reaper of Gaia C - 2nd alternate coloration. Recolors his jacket grey and skirt-piece and sleeves pink.


 * 1st Alternate Costume
 * Hermit's Cloak A - Default coloration. A completely revamped version of Kuja's "Treno Nobleman" attire in Dissidia 012. It is now based off its . Kuja wears an elaborate black coat with lavish patterns throughout, white and blue pants, knee-length black boots, white gloves and a pointed wizard hat. He also has straight white back-length hair with curls at the top and sides of his face.
 * Hermit's Cloak B - 1st alternate coloration. Colors his hat and coat purple, his pants white and grey, and his gloves black.
 * Hermit's Cloak C - 2nd alternate coloration. Colors his hat and coat white, his pants black and purple, and his gloves black.

Kuja equips magical "Cores":
 * Weapons
 * Mist Core - Default weapons. The orbs of light conjured by Kuja in the PSP games are replaced with two "cores" representing the Holy and Flare spells. They can split to become six individual cores, thus retaining the six orbs of light's properties.
 * Brilliant Core - 1st alternate weapons. The cores are turned into crystalline spikes. The Holy core is colored sky blue, and the Flare core is colored red.
 * Spark Core - 2nd alternate weapons. The cores are turned into electrical orbs. The Holy core is colored dark blue, and the Flare core is colored plum.

The cores have not appeared in any game in the Final Fantasy series prior, and are entirely new and original weapons for Kuja in the Dissidia series. The Mist, Brilliant, and Spark cores resemble the Fire, Ice, and Lightning trifecta of elemental spells, respectively.

Kuja's default player name is titled Nameless Angel of Death.

Personality
In the twelfth cycle, Kuja's personality is reminiscent to his reformed nature at the end of Final Fantasy XI. As a result of recovering all of his memories of his homeworld, Kuja possesses a more benevolent personality, as he shown to care about Zidane, though he still retains a somewhat haughty demeanor and his theatrical speech patterns. Although he treats the other warriors of Chaos with disdain, especially Kefka Palazzo, he has shown to be good terms with Cloud, who he comforts when the latter becomes conflicted about fighting a friend from his world. Despite this, Kuja displays a rather reserved manner, as he states that he and Cloud are "far from friends." Kuja also breaks Kefka's control over Terra due to feeling sympathy for her plight. Reluctant about directly participating in the conflict due to his memories, Kuja wishes to help Zidane and his friends defeat Chaos before his plans were foiled by Kefka's machinations.

In his original storyline for Dissidia Final Fantasy, Kuja suffers from an - (similar to how he is depicted earlier in Final Fantasy XI), as the other antagonists look down on him for his youth and inexperience as newly summoned warrior for Chaos. This is slightly retconned in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy (as Kuja has participated in previous cycles), where Kuja is demeaned by the other warriors of Chaos for his youth and for being manipulated by false memories upon his awakening, and attempts to outshine them in spite of his fake memories. As his hatred for Zidane was due to Kefka implanting false memories to ensure Kuja was more "cooperative" in fighting for Chaos in the thirteenth cycle, Kuja becomes arrogant, narcissistic, and cruel, seeming to enjoy Zidane's suffering. After being defeated by Zidane in "Shade Impulse", Kuja resigns himself to his fate, believing that "the world has disowned [him]" and requests Zidane to kill him. Fortunately, thanks to Zidane's compassion, the two are able to reconcile, with Kuja demonstrating his benevolence towards Zidane once again before he vanishes.

Treachery of the Gods
Having been through several cycles of war and recovered all of his memories, Kuja has grown tired of serving Chaos and is initially unwilling to fight, as he is now on good terms with Zidane (who has also recovered his memories). He meets up with Cloud and comforts him, who was tormented at the thought of fighting a friend from his world, before Kuja takes his leave. Kefka overhears the two and decides to interfere with Kuja's memories, displeased with his stance towards the war.

After hearing of the plan Cosmos has conceived concerning the Crystals, Kuja begins to work against Chaos. To that end, he poses as a Warrior of Cosmos, convincing Zidane to gather friends he trusted and have Kuja would meet with them again once he scouts a clear road to Chaos, planning for them to defeat Chaos without having to fight their way through his other servants.

Moments later, Kefka confronts Kuja and asks what he is plotting, but Kuja insists that Kefka leave him alone. Kuja then meets Terra and initially considers making Terra his slave instead, but ultimately decides against it due to sympathizing with her predicament and breaks Kefka's spell over her. Enraged that Kuja removed the spell on Terra, Kefka alerts the Emperor and Ultimecia of Kuja's treachery. The three find Kuja meeting with Zidane, Bartz and Squall, and Kefka makes them believe that the meeting was a trap by Kuja to gather them behind enemy lines. Caught in his scheme, Kuja goes along with the act and attacks them, but allows them to escape.

After the Emperor and Ultimecia berate Kuja for his efforts, Kefka keeps up the act and plays as though he thinks Kuja was only pretending to betray them. However, he is aware of the truth, and due to this and his hand in helping Terra break free, Kefka arranges for Kuja to fight Lightning and prove himself. Kuja reluctantly does so and separates her from her allies, but is defeated and begins to fade away. Kefka mocks Kuja for his failure and implants false memories in Kuja's mind, causing him to desire Zidane's suffering due to a deep inferiority complex so he will be a more willing warrior in the next cycle.

Light to All
After being taunted by Ultimecia that his memories are fake, Kuja resolves to prove his worth to her and begins scheming to defeat Zidane while motivated by the false memories. To that end, Kuja sets up an alliance with Kefka, who gives him the notion to use one of Zidane's friends as bait. After his scheme to capture Squall fails, he sees that the loner would be a poor choice to use as a trap. Kuja then concocts a new plan to capture Zidane using a fake Crystal, and plants it in Kefka's Tower for him to find.

Bartz falls into the trap instead, and Kefka taunts Kuja about his failure. Though Kuja is irritated, he follows Kefka's suggestion and turns to Exdeath, who weaves a second fake Crystal for Bartz to find as a trap. When Bartz reunites with Zidane and shows him the fake Crystal, Kuja's plan works and Zidane is transported away. Kuja taunts Zidane with the prospect of being alone, unable to protect his friends, and leaves Zidane in his solitude.

At one point, Kuja almost got into a fight with Garland, who criticizes the former for outsmarting himself, but Kuja simply leaves once Jecht attempts to join in.

Later, Garland confronts Kuja and the revelation he presents to the antagonist has him realize the other Warriors of Chaos are not as superior to him as they think. Confronting Zidane in the Crystal World, Kuja questions Zidane's choice to continue believing in his friends, and Zidane asks if Kuja has friends of his own. Outraged at being associated with the other Warriors of Chaos, Kuja attacks Zidane and is defeated. Zidane claims his Crystal, and Kuja begins to fade away. Zidane asks Kuja why he refuses to believe in others, and Kuja responds he does not see the point, as in the end, people are still alone. Zidane tries to explain the true meaning to Kuja, but Kuja refuses to listen and fades away.

Following Cosmos's death, Zidane finds Kuja reciting poetry in the Crystal World, resigned to his fate of death once Chaos destroys World B. Zidane still refuses to give up hope, and Kuja attacks him. Defeated again, Kuja asks Zidane to kill him, but Zidane instead offers Kuja his hand and help. Kuja brushes Zidane away, believing he will never understand him, and tells Zidane to go, accepting his fate to return to where he must go and vanishes as blue flames float from his body. After he fades, Zidane says he and Kuja will return to the same place when the war is over.

Official Quests
Kuja appears in "Cecil's Quest 013: Even I Don't Remember It", where he attacks Cecil, Terra, Cloud, Tidus and the Onion Knight in the thirteenth cycle. He tells the group that Firion is about to confront the Emperor alone, as he hates the Emperor and wishes to see his schemes fail. Cloud and Tidus leave to help Firion while Kuja battles Terra. Terra is defeated and Cecil steps in to fight Kuja and sends him into retreat. During the battle, Cecil questions why Kuja has no one and nothing to hold onto and fight for, and Kuja says the bonds and dreams they cherish are just fragments of faded memories, which he has no use for.

Dissidia Final Fantasy and Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy
Kuja is described as a Graceful Glider. He is the only character able to glide through the air outside of EX Mode, and can attack while moving. This is crucial to Kuja's Bravery attacks, which consist of two-part attacks where the second part of the effect changes depending on his distance from the opponent, and the power according to the nature of the first attack. This gives Kuja a great deal of versatility when attacking. The start-up of his Bravery attacks are also varied between close and long-range techniques. His HP attacks, with the exception of Force Symphony (as of Dissidia 012), stun the opponent, dealing Bravery damage before damaging their HP.

As a downside, Kuja's attacks are mostly mid-ranged and he does not do as much damage as melee fighters. His Bravery attacks are also easy to block, and behave more in a linear pattern, with little vertical range that allows opponents to quickly anticipate the attack.

Boss
In Dissidia, Kuja is fought in "Destiny Odyssey VIII" and "IX", "Shade Impulse", "Distant Glory", and "Inward Chaos".

In Dissidia 012, he is fought during "A New Threat", "Resolve for Seclusion", "Trust", and "Conclusion of the Cycle" chapters of Story Mode.

Bravery Attacks

 * DFF2008
 * Dissidia 012

HP Attacks

 * DFF2008
 * Dissidia 012

EX Mode
Kuja's EX Mode is his Trance form from Final Fantasy IX. During EX Mode Kuja gains the abilities "Hyper Glide" and "Auto Magic". Hyper Glide allows him to maintain altitude longer when gliding, letting him remain in the air almost indefinitely, while Auto Magic leaves Flare orbs in the air when Kuja jumps, staggering opponents, and surrounds him with Holy orbs while gliding to knock opponents into the air. This lets Kuja damage opponents simply by moving around them. The Holy orbs have Melee Low attack priority, allowing them to reflect or nullify lesser attacks, but the Flare orbs are Ranged Low priority and so will only reflect projectiles.

Kuja's EX Burst is Final Requiem. The player must repeatedly press circle to fill the gauge as Kuja performs several Flare Star attacks on his victim. If successfully filled, he'll perform Seraphic Star by zigzagging around his opponent and then ends the EX Burst with a powerful Ultima spell.

Kuja's EX Burst operation is similar to his rival character, Zidane, but the former's limit/power bar is divided at varying lengths, unlike the latter, whose power bar is divided evenly.

Equipment
Kuja can equip Daggers, Rods, Staves, Bangles, Hats, Hairpins, Clothing, and Robes. In Dissidia 012, Kuja can also equip Poles, Headbands, and Chestplates.

Exclusive weapons

 * DFF2008
 * Dissidia 012

Dissidia Final Fantasy NT

 * Type: Speed
 * Unique System: Glide

Gallery

 * Dissidia Final Fantasy & Dissidia Final Fantasy 012

Allusions

 * The poem Kuja recites at the beginning of his "Shade Impulse" scene with Zidane is the exact same poem he states just before Bahamut attacks Alexandria in Final Fantasy IX. Zidane's offer to assist Kuja mirrors Kuja's final moments in Final Fantasy IX.
 * If a character other than Zidane faces Kuja in "Shade Impulse", Kuja says, "I have nothing left to fear! But I refuse to die alone... You will all join me!" This paraphrases Kuja's dialogue when defeated as Trance Kuja in Final Fantasy IX, "I won't have to be afraid anymore... but I'm not gonna die alone. You're all coming with me!"
 * As with Zidane, two planets can be seen fusing during Kuja's EX Burst, alluding to Terra assimilating Gaia. However, opposite to Zidane, it is the red planet Terra that emerges as the dominant planet in the fusion.
 * Kuja's Bravery attacks are themed after the spells Holy and Flare, spells he is able to cast as Trance Kuja. His HP attacks are attacks he uses in Final Fantasy IX - Seraphic Star's appearance of a burst of white energy is based on the appearance of the Holy spell in Final Fantasy IX (in fact, Seraphic Star is even named "Holy Star" in the Japanese version), Flare Star is one of Kuja's signature attacks, and Ultima is the spell Trance Kuja uses when defeated.
 * In the arcade reboot, the orbs of light controlled by Kuja are changed to Holy and Flare orbs, and the orbs themselves partially resemble the planets of Gaia and Terra respectively.
 * Kuja's ultimate weapon, Terra's Legacy, refers to his home planet in Final Fantasy IX. His second strongest weapon, Whale Whisker, is the name of the strongest rod that can be used by Princess Garnet. Kuja's third weapon, the Punisher, curiously is taken from Final Fantasy VI, and is a rod used by Banon.
 * Kuja's pose when ending his EX Burst is similar to the pose he takes in Final Fantasy IX when he destroys Terra.
 * In his victory pose, Kuja floats to the ground in a pose identical to his original artwork by Yoshitaka Amano, then assumes a pose identical to his Dissidia artwork.
 * When fighting Squall, he says, "Can you survive without a cause?" This alludes to how Kuja would eventually go insane upon learning of his own mortality from Garland.
 * At the beginning of Dissidia's "Destiny Odyssey IX", Ultimecia goads Kuja by saying he is "no more than a vessel, a flawed one at that," and Kuja's response is to accuse her of lying. This roughly parallels Kuja's conversation with Garland in Final Fantasy IX, where Garland tells Kuja he is a mortal and Kuja refuses to believe him at first.
 * In Dissidia 012's "Light to All", when Garland tells Kuja about his fake memories, Kuja recites "The weak are robbed of their freedom from the strong. And it's only natural that the victor always prevails," paraphrasing his line in Final Fantasy IX, "The weak lose their freedom to the strong. Such is the way of the strong. And it is the providence of nature that only the strong survive."
 * If fighting as Kuja against Garland, the latter will remark, "I sense you are haunted by your fate." This is a reference to the end of Disc Three of Final Fantasy IX, in which Kuja learns of his mortality and is driven into an insane rage.
 * In Dissidia 012, if fighting as Kuja against Shantotto, the latter will remark "You hide your tail, but I still see you quail." This may allude to the conversation between Zidane and Garland in Final Fantasy IX, where Garland explains that Kuja, like Zidane, has a tail but only hides it.
 * In "Destiny Odyssey II"/Chapter 7 in "Light to All", Kuja beginning to fight with Garland could be a reference to his plans to fight Final Fantasy IX Garland, but was unable to do so.
 * When Kuja faces Yuna, he says "I'll rip you away from your dear friends." This alludes to when he had Zorn and Thorn extract the Eidolons from Garnet.
 * The opening for Kuja's debut trailer for the arcade reboot focuses in on Terra in an ominous manner, alluding to Kuja's later role in Terra's destruction.

Trivia

 * Kuja shares his Japanese voice actor with Kazusa Futahito from Final Fantasy Type-0, Makenshi from Final Fantasy: Unlimited, and and  from the  series.
 * Kuja is the only character that possesses the Glide ability initially even outside of EX Mode.
 * Kuja is one of three characters, the others being Zidane and the Warrior of Light, to have more than one intro quote when fighting his rival in Dissidia.
 * Kuja's icon in the character selection screen in Dissidia 012 erroneously features him in his alternate outfit.
 * Not counting DLC, Kuja is the only character in Dissidia 012 where the entirety of his alternate costumes are palette swaps.
 * Uniquely among magic-based characters, Kuja is classed as a Speed type as opposed to a Shoot type in the arcade reboot.