Garland (Final Fantasy)/Dissidia NT

Garland is a warrior of Spiritus in Dissidia Final Fantasy NT and its arcade version, representing the original Final Fantasy. He is a Vanguard-type character who wields a large sword.

Garland's default player name is titled Nameless Stalwart, and his manikin counterpart is renamed the False Heretic.

Appearance

 * Default
 * Knight of the Cycle I - Default coloration. Garland dons a new appearance in the revived conflict. His horned helmet has a more monstrous design; his smaller horns are longer and pointed, and his longer horns have blue accents that replace the original silver base. The helmet reveals more of Garland's face and its eyes are more slit-shaped. His cape no longer covers his shoulders, and his pauldrons are larger and pointed.
 * Knight of the Cycle II - 1st alternate coloration. Identical to his "Stalwart's Armor" coloration from the PSP games.
 * Knight of the Cycle III - 2nd alternate coloration. Darkens his armor black and changes his cape purple, resembling Garland's 20th Anniversary battle sprite.


 * 1st Alternate Costume
 * Hardened Zealot I - Default coloration. An updated version of his original attire while in his "Class Change" EX Mode from the PSP games. Garland's white armor and cape symbolizes his time as a heroic knight of Cornelia before his fall from grace.
 * Hardened Zealot II - 1st alternate coloration. Recolors his armor black, and his cape yellow. The cape has a unique pattern on its underside.
 * Hardened Zealot III - 2nd alternate coloration. Recolors his armor bronze with black accents, and his horns are colored purple.

Garland wields greatswords:
 * Weapons
 * Rebellion - Default weapon. A large decorated purple sword with golden ornaments and accents. Garland's primary weapon in the beginning of the new conflict.
 * Chaosbringer - 1st alternate weapon. A crude black volcanic iron blade with glowing magma running along fissures on its body and surface. Originates from his "Cloudsea Djinn" attire while in EX Mode from Dissidia 012.
 * Balmung - 2nd alternate weapon. An original designed sword for Garland, and is said to be a holy knight sword once wielded by him during his days serving Cornelia. It is an enormous double-bladed broadsword accentuated with inlaid metal details, and has a wing themed crossguard.
 * Zanmato - 3rd alternate weapon. Another original design for Garland. The weapon itself resembles that of Spiritus's greatsword, with the blade featuring more inlaid edges. The wielding portion is decorated with a spiked guard fashioned in the motif of an oni, with the handle wrapped in the fashion of a katana and adorned with a knotted string at its pommel.
 * Claymore - Extra alternate weapon. Garland's original weapon used in the PSP games. Available to players who pre-order or purchase Dissidia Final Fantasy NT on Day One.

Garland's alternate weapons recur throughout the series. Though their properties vary by installment, the Chaosbringer and Balmnung are associated with the Dark Knight job class, while the Zanmato is associated with the Samurai job. They share themes of discord along with the Rebellion; the Balmung alludes to its originating tale of the Nibelung and Volsunga Saga as a story set in brutal times and fraught with instances of human fault, while the Zanmato alludes to the more warlike and conflict centered aspects of samurai, including the concept of shurado and aggressive factions throwing the entire nation of Japan into chaos for the sake of power.

Personality
Garland is still shown to have a massive rivalry with the Warrior of Light, which he implies is due to believing that fate demanded that they do battle. However, he nonetheless was shown to be reasonable, as he accepted the Noctis's offer for a truce to put a stop to the Planesgorgers and led them to Spiritus, especially after confirming that not only was Spiritus not responsible for the planesgorgers, but also that Spiritus himself desired for World A and B to survive. Garland also implies that he remembers the original time loop that he instigated when he stated "Even though we are no longer bound by time, we are still bound by destiny to fight!"

Story
Garland is summoned as a warrior of Spiritus to fight in the new war and is the first to arrive at his tower. When Spiritus communicates with Materia, Garland silently watches as Spiritus declares his intentions to rule World B.

Garland confronts the Warrior of Light in the gateway that resembles Cornelia, and challenges him to a fight. Despite being accompanied by two Manikins, Garland is ultimately defeated by the Warrior, Cecil, and Noctis. After the battle, the Warrior of Light asks Garland whether Spiritus's true motive is to destroy the world, prompting the latter to explain that Spiritus does not desire in its destruction. Garland, after confirming that Spiritus is perfectly willing to overlook a grudge against Materia for the best interests of their respective worlds when Noctis suggested they go to Spiritus's realm to communicate with Materia there, then accompanies the three to Spiritus's domain to establish communication with Materia.

Upon arrival, Shantotto initiates the discussion between the two gods, where Garland is present. Once Materia and Spiritus come to a truce, the champions on both sides engage in a stage battle to lure Shinryu, the source of planesgorgers that threatens to eradicate the world, out to them. During the ensuing fight, Garland briefly duels with Noctis and Lightning, before taking up arms against the Warrior of Light directly. Once the battle energy summons Shinryu, Garland participates in a joint attack against the dragon, but is repelled as Shinryu reveals his true form in a potent burst of power. Once the warriors regain their composure, they work together to defeat Shinryu. Afterwards, the moogles give Garland a crystal to host his memories for Spiritus to use in the new cycles of wars. With a crystal doppelgänger of himself to serve on Spiritus's behalf, Garland is sent home.

Gameplay

 * Type: Vanguard - By hitting the opponent with consecutive attacks, Garland can receive a buff that stacks up to two times and enhances attack potency while extending the effect's duration.
 * EX Skill: Deranged Soul - Restrain Garland's target while is held down. This skill also makes it easier to stack buffs when landing bravery attacks.

Allusions

 * When using Earthquake in the arcade version, Garland will declare that he will "knock you all down," a reference to his line before the player fights Garland for the first time in Final Fantasy.

Trivia

 * Garland is the first character to undergo a redesign compared to the previous Dissidia games. As a result, he is the only character to have their official art updated by Tetsuya Nomura, which now positions him facing to his left, like the rest of the warriors of Chaos.