Red XIII

"Just as his name implies, he is an animal with fire-red fur. But under his fierce exterior is an intelligence surpassing that of any human's..."

Red XIII is a red lion/wolf-like beast, with a fiery tail. Even though his real name is Nanaki, Red XIII was the name he received while being a specimen "owned" by Dr. Hojo. In his race's years he is an adolescent of around 15-16, but he is 48 in human years. He has a vast intelligence and a big heart. However, his mind and soul are a different story.

Story
Red XIII joins with Cloud after being rescued from the Shin-Ra Tower, right before a horrible experiment with him and Aeris. During his captivity, he received a tattoo of the number 13 on his left front leg. After the escape from Midgar, he says to the party he will only stay with them until they reach Cosmo Canyon.

Until the return to Cosmo Canyon, Red XIII tried to evade all the comments of his past. The party is in need of advice on how to save the planet from the coming disaster, so they seek out some help from Bugenhagen. At the meeting with Bugenhagen, it is revealed that Bugenhagen is Red XIII's grandfather (this is a translation error, and would more fittingly be 'elder'), and a small part of his past is revealed. Red XIII comments about how his father was a "coward" to him. When the Gi Tribe attacked his hometown, Seto, father of Nanaki (Red XIII's real name) rushed off to a lava-filled cave which was the only entrance to Cosmo Canyon, fighting alone against the whole Gi Tribe.



Cloud's party travels through the fiery cavern, which is haunted by the ghosts of the Gi Tribe. Bugenhagen stops them every once in a while to speak about Seto and the Gi invasion briefly. At the end of the cavern, the Gi Boss awaits the party. After the Gi Boss is defeated Bugenhagen shows Red XIII his father encased in stone from the poisoned arrows of the Gi Tribe. Red XIII is commanded by his 'grandfather' Bugenhagen to follow Cloud and his friends on their mission to save the planet. Nanaki agrees, and decides to return to Cosmo Canyon a hero and live up to his father's reputation.

In an FMV later on, Seto's tears fall down and Nanaki howls as the screen fades out. He receives the Seraph Comb weapon.

In the FMV after the game's credits, 500 years after the ending, Red XIII is shown, with some red pups, running around the fields of Midgar, now covered in moss and greenery. This might have been a trailer for Advent Children, because this is shown at the very beginning of the movie.

Other Appearances


Red XIII also shows up in Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII-, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. In Before Crisis, he fights against the main playable characters as a boss in episode 18 and later in the Training Mode. In Advent Children, he assists in the battle with Bahamut SHIN with Cait Sith on his back. He is given only one line in the movie. In Dirge of Cerberus, he is seen sitting next to Shelke in the end cutscene.

Limit Breaks

 * See videos of the various Breaks here

Level 1
Sled Fang - Red XIII swiftly shoots through an enemy, attacking with his powerful fangs causing considerable damage.

Lunatic High - Red XIII forms a yellow field of dust over allies, casting Haste around the party, and increasing their chance to evade physical attacks

Level 2
Blood Fang - Similar to Sled Fang, this limit gives Red XIII some HP and MP from of enemy attacked.

Stardust Ray - Red XIII calls upon the stars. They rain down from the sky and land on the enemies, causing massive damage.

Level 3
Howling Moon - The moon causes Red XIII to go crazy, casting Berserk and Haste on himself.

Earth Rave - Red XIII inflicts his enemies with a series of 5 magical attacks.

Level 4
Cosmo Memory - Red XIII howls to the moon and blasts his enemy with an enormous beam of fire.