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{{FFXII character
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{{sideicon|prime=FFXII|XIIRW}}
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{{infobox character
|name = Ffamran "Balthier" mied Bunansa<ref name=Ultimania /><!--The spelling is "mied" with a lowercase m.-->
 
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|name=Balthier
|sprite = [[File:Balthier Sprite.PNG|Balthier's sprite.]] [[File:Balthier Port.png|Balthier's menu portrait.]]<hr>[[File:Mini Balthier.PNG|20px|Balthier's sprite from ''Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings''.]] [[File:Balthier ffxiirw.PNG|35px|Balthier's portrait from ''Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings''.]]<hr>[[File:FFTS Balthier Sprite.png|35px|Balthier's ''FFTS'' in-game sprite.]][[File:FFTS Balthier Portrait.png|50px|Balthier's ''FFTS'' icon.]]
 
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|release=FFXII
|name = Balthier
 
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|japanese=ファムラン・『バルフレア』・ミド・ブナンザ
|image = [[File:Balthier-ffxii-render.png|167x400px]]
 
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|romaji=Famuran "Barufurea" mido Bunanza
|japanese = Ffamran "Balflear" mied Bunansa
 
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|lit=Ffamran "Balflear" mied Bunansa
|kana = ファムラン・『バルフレア』・ミド・ブナンザ
 
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|image=Balthier-ffxii-render.png
|romaji = Famuran "Barufurea" mido Bunanza
 
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|portrait=[[File:FFXII Balthier Avatar.png|60px]]
|japva = Hiroaki Hirata
 
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|sprite=[[File:Balthier Sprite.PNG|Sprite.]]<hr/>[[File:Mini Balthier.PNG|20px|Sprite from ''Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings''.]] [[File:Balthier ffxiirw.PNG|35px|Portrait from ''Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings''.]]<hr/>[[File:FFTS Balthier Sprite.png|35px|''FFTS'' sprite.]][[File:FFTS Balthier Portrait.png|50px|''FFTS'' icon.]]
|engva = {{w|Gideon Emery}}
 
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|home=[[Archades]]
|age = 22 (''Final Fantasy XII'')<br/>23 (''Revenant Wings'')
 
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|age=22 (''Final Fantasy XII'')<br/>23 (''Revenant Wings'')
|height = 6' 0" (183 cm) <!--DO NOT CHANGE HEIGHTS WITHOUT PROOF. Always cite your reference(s)-->
 
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|occupation=[[Sky pirate (Final Fantasy XII)|Sky Pirate]]
|race = [[Human|Hume]]
 
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|race=[[Human|Hume]]
|home = [[Imperial City of Archades]]
 
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|gender=Male
|job = [[Sky Pirate (Job)|Sky Pirate]]
 
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|eye=Hazel Green<ref name="xiiscenulti20">{{Refbook|[[Final Fantasy XII Scenario Ultimania]]|020}}</ref>
|q1 = Fires of War
 
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|height=183cm (6'0")<ref name="xiiscenulti20"/><!--DO NOT CHANGE HEIGHTS WITHOUT PROOF. Always cite your reference(s)-->
|q2 = Tides of Fate
 
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|footsize=28cm<ref>[[Final Fantasy XII Pin Collection]], No.005 Balflear</ref>
|q3 = Element of Treachery
 
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|ffxii type=[playable=Player character guest=Guest character, npc=Non-player character, boss=Boss]
|rwq = Element of Treachery
 
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|ffxii limit break=[[Fires of War]], [[Tides of Fate]], [[Element of Treachery]]
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|ffxii initial licenses= Steal, Guns 1, First Aid, Light Armor 1 (Zodiac Job System)<br>Guns 1 and 2, Steal, Shields 1, Light Armor 1 and 2, Heavy Armor 1 (original)
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|xiirw type=playable
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|xiirw job=[[Sky Pirate (job)|Sky Pirate]]
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|xiirw limit break=Element of Treachery
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|designer=[[Akihiko Yoshida]]<ref name="xiiscenulti20"/>
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|japanese voice actor=Hiroaki Hirata
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|english voice actor=[[Gideon Emery]]
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|motion capture=Sean Ryan
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|gameplay=true
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|other appearances=true
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|tactics=true
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|dffoo=true
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|theatrhythm=true
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|ffrk=true
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|ffbe=true
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|gallery=true
 
}}
 
}}
{{Q|Princess! No need to worry. I hope you haven't forgotten my role in this little story. I'm the leading man. You know what they say about the leading man? He never dies.|Balthier to [[Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca|Ashe]]}}
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{{Quote|Princess! No need to worry. I hope you haven't forgotten my role in this little story. I'm the leading man. You know what they say about the leading man? He never dies.|Balthier to [[Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca|Ashe]]}}
'''Balthier''', real name '''Ffamran mied Bunansa'''<ref name=Ultimania>Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania File 1: Character page 466</ref>, is a playable character in ''[[Final Fantasy XII]]''. He is a [[Sky Pirate (Final Fantasy XII)|sky pirate]] who travels all over [[Ivalice (Final Fantasy XII)|Ivalice]] with his partner [[Fran]] on his [[airship]], the ''[[Strahl]]''. During an attempt to steal from the [[Royal Palace of Rabanastre]], Balthier encounters [[Vaan]], also attempting to rob the palace treasury. When his plan goes awry, Balthier finds himself a part of a conflict between political forces that could lead to war.
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'''Balthier''', real name '''Ffamran mied Bunansa''',<ref name="Ultimania-p466">Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania File 1: Character page 466</ref> is a playable character in ''[[Final Fantasy XII]]''. He is a [[Sky pirate (Final Fantasy XII)|sky pirate]] who globetrots [[Ivalice (Final Fantasy XII)|Ivalice]] on his [[Airship (term)|airship]], the ''[[Strahl]]'', with his partner [[Fran]]. During an attempt to steal from the [[Royal Palace of Rabanastre]], Balthier encounters [[Vaan]] robbing the palace treasury. When his plan goes awry Balthier finds himself a part of a conflict between political forces that could lead to war.
   
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== Profile ==
==Appearance and Personality==
 
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=== Appearance ===
 
[[File:Balthier and vaan in nalbina dungeons.png|thumb|left|Balthier and Vaan in the Nalbina Dungeons.]]
 
[[File:Balthier and vaan in nalbina dungeons.png|thumb|left|Balthier and Vaan in the Nalbina Dungeons.]]
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Balthier is six feet tall and has short brown hair with blond highlights, sharply styled sideburns, and green eyes. He wears an embroidered golden and olive vest over a high-collared shirt and tight black leather trousers with leather shin pads, and steel, open-backed sandals. He wears two crossed, gold-buckled belts with two pouches attached to either side and a collection of brightly colored rings and bracelets on his left hand, and has a set of earrings in both ears. In his official render for ''Final Fantasy XII'', Balthier holds the [[:File:Betelgeuse-ffxii.png|Betelgeuse]]. Artwork and renders of Balthier for several spin-off appearances depict him with this gun.
{{Q|Your mistakes were twofold, I'm afraid. You sprung your trap without looking to see if the game you hunted was the one you'd snare, and you sold me short. I'm no thief; I'm a sky pirate.|Balthier to a Brigand, ''Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions''}}
 
Balthier is six feet tall and has short brown hair with blond highlights, sharply styled sideburns, and green eyes. He wears an embroidered golden and olive green vest over a high-collared shirt and tight black leather trousers with leather shin pads, and steel, open-backed sandals. He wears two crossed, gold-buckled belts with two pouches attached to either side and a collection of brightly colored rings and bracelets on his left hand, and has a set of earrings in both ears. In his official render for ''Final Fantasy XII'', Balthier holds the [[:File:Betelgeuse-ffxii.png|Betelgeuse]]. Artwork and renders of Balthier for several spin-off appearances depict him with the same gun.
 
   
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=== Personality ===
Balthier is a charming, dashing man with a sharp and cunning wit but he is also cynical. Balthier comes across as cocky and self-centered but his trust in Fran is complete. While the story is told from Vaan's perspective, Balthier certainly seems to think it is his story, going so far as to refer to himself as "the leading man". Despite this, he is far from selfish, proving himself in the events aboard the ''[[Sky Fortress Bahamut]]''.
 
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{{Quote|Your mistakes were twofold, I'm afraid. You sprung your trap without looking to see if the game you hunted was the one you'd snare, and you sold me short. I'm no thief; I'm a sky pirate.|Balthier to a Brigand, ''Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions''}}
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Balthier is charming, dashing, cunning and cynical. He comes across as cocky and self-centered but his trust in Fran is complete. While the story is told from Vaan's perspective, Balthier certainly seems to think it is his story, referring to himself as "the leading man." Despite this, he is far from selfish, proving himself in the events aboard the [[Sky Fortress Bahamut|Sky Fortress ''Bahamut'']]. After he joins Vaan and the others Balthier comes to realize he has been running away from his past, and it is implied his theatrical personality exists in part to mask his vulnerabilities and to cast aside the person he used to be.
   
==Story==
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== Story ==
 
{{spoiler}}
 
{{spoiler}}
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=== ''[[Final Fantasy XII]]'' ===
===Early Life===
 
[[File:Dr. Cidolfus and Balthier (artwork).jpg|thumb|left|Baby Balthier with Dr. Cid.]]
 
Born in 684 Old Valendian, Balthier, as Ffamran mied Bunansa<ref name=Ultimania />, is the third son of [[Cidolfus Demen Bunansa]]<ref>As given in the ''[[Final Fantasy XII Ultimania Omega]]'', written by Square Enix and published by Studio BentStuff.</ref>, a scientist in employ of the [[Archadian Empire]]. He showed such promise at a young age he was made an [[Archadian Judges|Archadian Judge]] at only sixteen years old.
 
   
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{{Quote|So I ran. Free at last... Then I met you. All that running and I got nowhere. It's time to end this—cut my ties to the past.|Balthier}}
In 700, six years prior to ''Final Fantasy XII's'' storyline, after his father returned from [[Ancient City of Giruvegan|Giruvegan]], Ffamran noticed Cid's sanity fading: he talked to someone who wasn't there, raving on about "bringing the reins of history back to the hands of man." This behavior strained their relationship and eventually Ffamran could not stand the sight of his father.
 
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[[File:Dr. Cidolfus and Balthier (artwork).jpg|thumb|Baby Balthier with Dr. Cid.]]
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Born in 684 Old Valendian, Ffamran mied Bunansa is the son of [[Cidolfus Demen Bunansa]], the head of House Bunansa and a scientist in employ of the [[Archadia|Archadian Empire]]. He showed such promise at a young age he was made an [[Archadian Judges|Archadian Judge]] at only sixteen years old. In 700, after his father returned from [[Giruvegan]], Ffamran noticed Cid's sanity fading: he talked to someone who wasn't there, raving on about "bringing the reins of history back to the hands of man." This strained their relationship until Ffamran could not stand the sight of his father.
   
Ffamran's falling out with his father, combined with Archadia's political maneuvers, made Ffamran decide to leave his post as Judge and flee the [[Imperial City of Archades|Archades]], stealing the new prototype fighter ship. Since going into hiding, he has updated the ship (so much it no longer resembles the original design) and has named it the ''Strahl''.
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Ffamran's falling out with his father, combined with Archadia's political maneuvers, made him decide to leave his post as Judge and flee [[Archades]], stealing a new prototype fighter ship. After going into hiding he upgraded the ship (so much it no longer resembles the original design) and named it the ''Strahl''. Ffamran took on the name "Balthier" as an alias to help cast aside his ties with Archades. Partnering with a [[viera]] companion named [[Fran]], he flew the skies of Ivalice searching for treasure, gaining notoriety as a sky pirate, and increasing the bounty on his head.
   
Ffamran took on the name "Balthier" as an alias to help cast aside his ties with Archades. Partnering with a [[viera]] companion named Fran, he flew the skies of Ivalice searching for treasure, gaining notoriety as a sky pirate, and increasing the bounty on his head.
 
 
===''[[Final Fantasy XII]]''===
 
{{sideicon|FFXII}}
 
 
[[File:Fran and balthier.png|thumb|left|Balthier and Fran surprise Vaan in the Palace treasury.]]
 
[[File:Fran and balthier.png|thumb|left|Balthier and Fran surprise Vaan in the Palace treasury.]]
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In 706 Old Valendian, Balthier and Fran head to the Royal Palace of Rabanastre's treasury where they find [[Vaan]] holding the [[Dusk Shard|Goddess's Magicite]]. Balthier demands he hand it over, but before he can retrieve the [[magicite]] the ''[[List of airships#Ifrit|Ifrit]]'' attacks the palace. Vaan escapes and Balthier reluctantly follows him.
{{Q|So I ran. Free at last... Then I met you. All that running and I got nowhere. It's time to end this - cut my ties to the past.|Balthier}}
 
In 706 Old Valendian, Balthier and Fran head to the Royal Palace of Rabanastre's treasury, where they find Vaan already holding their treasure: the [[Dusk Shard|Goddess's Magicite]]. Balthier demands he hand it over, but before he can retrieve the [[magicite]] the ''[[List of Airships#Ifrit|Ifrit]]'' attacks the palace. Vaan escapes and Balthier reluctantly follows him.
 
   
He chases Vaan out into the Palace Grounds, where amid the battle between the [[Resistance (Final Fantasy XII)|Resistance]] forces and the Imperials, Balthier loses his patience and throws Vaan onto his hovercraft, piloted by Fran. His plan is derailed as the Goddess's Magicite, really a piece of deifacted [[nethicite]], renders the hovercraft unresponsive, crashing into the [[Garamsythe Waterway]].
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He chases Vaan out into the palace grounds, where amid the battle between the [[Resistance (Final Fantasy XII)|Resistance]] forces and the Imperials, Balthier throws Vaan onto his hovercraft, piloted by Fran. In [[Final Fantasy XII (manga)|the manga]], Vaan is accosted by [[Vayne Carudas Solidor]] and [[Archadian Judges|Judge Magister]] [[Gabranth]] and is saved by Balthier. The Goddess's Magicite, really a piece of deifacted [[nethicite]], renders the hovercraft unresponsive, and the trio crashes into the [[Garamsythe Waterway]].
   
Balthier joins forces with Vaan to escape the Waterway, though Vaan is determined to keep the magicite. Balthier suspects the new consul, [[Vayne Carudas Solidor|Vayne Solidor]], deliberately lured the Resistance out of hiding to attack the palace. They encounter a Resistance fighter named Amalia, who joins them in search of an exit, despite her distaste of her "thieving" company.
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Balthier joins forces with Vaan to find a way out though Vaan is determined to keep the magicite. Balthier suspects the new consul, Vayne, deliberately lured the Resistance out of hiding to attack the palace. They encounter a Resistance fighter named Amalia who joins them despite her distaste of her "thieving" company.
   
[[File:Balthier-gives-his-handkerchief.png|thumb|Balthier gives his handkerchief to Penelo.]]
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[[File:Balthier-gives-his-handkerchief.png|thumb|Balthier gives his handkerchief to Penelo]]
At the Waterway's exit Vayne and a battalion of Imperial Soldiers ambush the party. Despite Amalia's insistence that her company is innocent, they are taken captive. As they are marched out onto the streets of Rabanastre, Balthier meets Vaan's friend [[Penelo]], who weeps as she watches Vaan be lead away. Balthier gives Penelo his handkerchief and ensures her Vaan will be safe. Unknown to Balthier, the bounty hunter [[Ba'Gamnan]] watches the exchange from the shadows.
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After the party defeats the [[Firemane (Final Fantasy XII)|Firemane]], Vayne (in the game) or [[Ghis|Judge Ghis]] (in the manga) with a battalion of soldiers ambush the party. Despite Amalia's insistence that her company is innocent, they are taken captive. As they are marched out onto the streets of Rabanastre Balthier meets Vaan's friend [[Penelo]] who weeps at the sight of Vaan being led away. To avoid a scene, Balthier gives Penelo his handkerchief and assures her Vaan will be safe. Unknown to Balthier, the bounty hunter [[Ba'Gamnan]] watches the exchange from the shadows.
   
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In the [[Nalbina Dungeons]] Balthier sends Fran to find an escape route. In the manga, Vaan intervenes when a [[seeq]] prisoner attacks a former [[Dalmasca]]n soldier and has the Goddess's Magicite seized from him. Balthier attempts to teach Vaan why he lost by challenging him to a coin toss game; Vaan must guess which hand he holds the coin in. If Vaan fails he will turn over his chestpiece from his late brother [[Reks]] as a prize, but Vaan demands Balthier wager his airship. Vaan loses and Fran returns and reveals she has the coin and Balthier's hands are empty. Balthier had won using the magick spells [[Decoy]] and [[Vanish]] to distract Vaan, tossing a fake coin while throwing the invisible real coin to Fran, and Vaan lost because he was too naive to think of sneakier tactics and didn't watch his surroundings.
In the [[Nalbina Dungeons]] Balthier sends Fran to find an escape route while he goes find Vaan. He finds the thief in battle with three [[Daguza|seeq dungeon masters]], and joins the fray. After defeating them, Balthier and Vaan hide within the arena, where Balthier overhears Ba'Gamnan, who has followed him to Nalbina, along with Judge [[Gabranth]]. They team up with Fran and follow Gabranth into an Oubliette, where they are surprised to find an emaciated [[Basch fon Ronsenburg]] imprisoned.
 
   
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Fran had found an exit and Balthier decides to make their move in two hours after investigating the Resistance. Vaan declares he will have recovered the Goddess's Magicite by that time. Vaan defies Balthier's lesson and reclaims the Goddess's Magicite without dirty tricks, and flees to reconvene with Balthier.
Following Gabranth's departure, Basch pleads with the party to set him free. Balthier is indifferent, but Vaan cannot control his rage at the king slayer who is said to have also killed Vaan's brother, [[Reks]], and jumps atop Basch's cage, attracting the guards. Fran drops Basch's cage down to the [[Barheim Passage]] as a means of escape, inadvertently freeing the supposed king slayer and Balthier allows Basch to join the party as another sword arm. Basch explains his side of the story, telling them it was his twin brother Gabranth who killed the king and Vaan's brother in his guise, and Balthier notes the two do have the same face.
 
   
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In the game, Balthier finds Vaan in battle with three [[Daguza|seeq dungeon masters]] and joins the fray. After their victory, Balthier and Vaan hide within the dungeon arena where Balthier overhears Ba'Gamnan, who has followed him to Nalbina, along with Judge Gabranth. With Fran they follow Gabranth into an Oubliette where they find an emaciated [[Basch fon Ronsenburg]] imprisoned.
After emerging into and crossing the [[Dalmasca Estersand]] to reach Rabanastre, the party disperses. While Vaan and Basch go meet the Resistance, Balthier and Fran retire to the Sandsea tavern. While enjoying a drink, Balthier is accosted by the [[bangaa]] [[Migelo]], who claims Ba'Gamnan has kidnapped Penelo because he mistook her as someone close to Balthier. He is initially unwilling to go to [[Skycity of Bhujerba|Bhujerba]] to rescue her, but Basch asks him to fly him there so he can meet [[Halim Ondore IV|Marquis Ondore]], and when Vaan promises Balthier the Goddess's Magicite in return, he agrees to fly them all to the sky city.
 
   
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Following Gabranth's departure, Basch pleads with the party to set him free. Balthier is indifferent, but Vaan cannot control his rage at the King-Slayer, said to have also killed Vaan's brother Reks, and jumps atop Basch's cage, attracting the guards. Fran asks everyone to hold onto the cage and drops it to the [[Barheim Passage]], inadvertently freeing Basch. Balthier allows him to join the party as another sword arm, as they navigate their way to an exit. Basch explains it was his twin brother [[Gabranth]] who killed the king and Vaan's brother in his guise; Balthier notes the two do have similar faces.
[[File:Balthier lhusu.jpg|thumb|left|Balthier, "Lamont", and Vaan in Lhusu Mines.]]
 
In Bhujerba, the group meets a youth who introduces himself as Lamont. Balthier is suspicious but allows the boy to accompany them to the [[Lhusu Mines]], where the Archadian Empire is mining magicite to be used in the [[Draklor Laboratory]] in Archades, and where Ba'Gamnan is said to be holding Penelo captive. Hearing about the magicite perks Balthier's interest and he attempts to force the boy to reveal his true identity as [[Larsa Ferrinas Solidor|Larsa Solidor]], but Ba'Gamnan interrupts the group and they escape. On their way out, the party watches Larsa go to Penelo's aid, who had been wandering the mines alone after being set free by Ba'Gamnan, and take her to Marquis Ondore's estate.
 
   
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Back in Rabanastre, the party disperses. While Vaan and Basch go meet the Resistance, Balthier and Fran retire to the Sandsea tavern. Balthier is accosted by the [[bangaa]] [[Migelo]], who claims Ba'Gamnan has kidnapped Penelo because he mistook her as someone close to Balthier. Balthier's act of kindness to Penelo when he offered his handkerchief, has been repaid with trouble for them all. Balthier is initially unwilling to go to [[Bhujerba]] to rescue her, but Basch asks him to fly him there so he can meet [[Halim Ondore IV|Marquis Ondore]], and when Vaan promises Balthier the Goddess's Magicite in return, he agrees to fly them all to the sky city.
Balthier suggests they attract the Resistance's attention to gain entrance into the estate. After Vaan goes around town spreading rumors of the supposedly executed Basch still being alive, the Resistance grants them an audience. In the hopes of Basch rescuing Amalia, Ondore alerts Judge [[Ghis]] and has them arrested and taken aboard the Imperial flagship ''[[Dreadnought Leviathan]]''.
 
   
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[[File:Final-Fantasy-XII-The-Zodiac-Age Vaan, Balthier and Larsa.jpg|thumb|left|Balthier, "Lamont", and Vaan in Lhusu Mines]]
Aboard the Imperial airship the party is reunited with "Amalia", whose true identity is that of the reportedly dead Princess [[Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca]]. Judge Ghis takes the Goddess's Magicite from Vaan and Amalia's accomplice in the Resistance, [[Vossler York Azelas|Vossler]], helps the party escape on an ''[[Atomos (Final Fantasy XII)|Atomos]]'' Imperial carrier ship back to Bhujerba. After Ashe is advised to stay within Ondore's estate to bid out the Archadian Empire, Balthier finds her aboard the ''Strahl'' attempting to steal it.
 
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In Bhujerba the group meets a youth who introduces himself as Lamont. Balthier is suspicious but allows the boy to accompany them to the [[Lhusu Mines]] where the Archadian Empire is mining magicite to be used in the [[Draklor Laboratory]] in Archades, and where Ba'Gamnan is said to be holding Penelo captive. Hearing about the magicite piques Balthier's interest and he attempts to force the boy to reveal his true identity as [[Larsa Ferrinas Solidor|Larsa Solidor]], but Ba'Gamnan interrupts the group and they escape. On their way out the party watches Larsa aid Penelo, who had been caught wandering the mines alone after being set free by Ba'Gamnan, and take her to Marquis Ondore's estate as his guest.
   
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Balthier suggests they attract the Resistance's attention to gain entrance into the estate. After Vaan spreads rumors of the supposedly executed Basch still being alive, the Resistance grants them an audience. To reunite Basch with Amalia Ondore alerts Judge Ghis and has them arrested and taken aboard the Imperial flagship [[Dreadnought Leviathan|Dreadnought ''Leviathan'']].
She asks Balthier to "kidnap" her and take her to the [[Tomb of Raithwall]], where the proof of her royal lineage lies, hoping she could claim [[Kingdom of Dalmasca|Dalmasca's]] throne. Balthier is reluctant to get caught up in Imperial business, but is tempted by Ashe's promise of King [[Raithwall]]'s treasure, and so Balthier and Fran accompany her across the [[Ogir-Yensa Sandsea|Ogir-Yensa]] and [[Nam-Yensa Sandsea|Nam-Yensa]] Sandseas to Raithwall's Tomb.
 
   
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Amalia's true identity is that of the reportedly dead Princess [[Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca]]. Judge Ghis takes the Goddess's Magicite from Vaan, and Amalia's accomplice in the Resistance, [[Vossler York Azelas|Vossler]], helps the party escape on an ''[[Atomos (Final Fantasy XII)|Atomos]]'' Imperial carrier ship back to Bhujerba. [[Ashe]] is advised to stay within Ondore's estate lest she undermine Ondore's plans, but Balthier finds her aboard the ''Strahl'', attempting to steal it.
[[File:Balthier threatened.jpg|thumb|right|Balthier threatened by Judge Ghis onboard the ''Leviathan''.]]
 
Vossler, who accompanies the party, voices his disdain of traveling with sky pirates. After fighting the [[Esper (Final Fantasy XII)|Esper]] [[Belias (Final Fantasy XII Boss)|Belias]], Ashe acquires another piece of deifacted nethicite, the [[Dawn Shard]]. Much to Balthier's disappointment, the treasure of Raithwall's Tomb turns out to be control of the Esper, and naught of monetary value. Upon exiting the tomb, Ghis's Imperial Fleet accosts them and it turns out Vossler has betrayed them.
 
   
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[[File:Balthier threatened.jpg|thumb|right|Balthier threatened by Judge Ghis onboard the ''Leviathan'']]
Ghis takes the Dawn Shard and attempts to evaluate it but unleashes the nethicite's magick and destroys the entire [[Archadian Imperial Fleet|8th Archadian Fleet]], while Balthier and the others escape with Balthier piloting another carrier ship. Spotting the Dawn Shard glinting in the sky after the explosion, he steers the ship to retrieve it, before descending to Rabanastre. After witnessing the nethicite's power, Ashe decides to use it as her weapon to restore Dalmasca, but does not know how to use it. She wants Balthier to accompany her to [[Jahara]] to ask the [[garif]]s' help, but Balthier is skeptical. As collateral, Balthier requests one of the rings on Ashe's finger.
 
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She asks Balthier to "kidnap" her and take her to the [[Tomb of Raithwall]] where the proof of her royal lineage lies; with it she hopes to reclaim Dalmasca's throne. Balthier is reluctant yet tempted by Ashe's promise of King [[Raithwall]]'s treasure, and so Balthier, Fran, Basch, Vaan and Penelo accompany her across the [[Ogir-Yensa Sandsea|Ogir-Yensa]] and [[Nam-Yensa Sandsea|Nam-Yensa]] Sandseas to Raithwall's Tomb.
   
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Vossler, who accompanies the party, voices his disdain of traveling with sky pirates. After fighting the [[Esper (Final Fantasy XII)|Esper]] [[Belias (Final Fantasy XII boss)|Belias]], Ashe acquires a piece of deifacted nethicite, the [[Dawn Shard]]. Much to Balthier's disappointment the treasure of Raithwall's Tomb turns out to be control of the Esper, and naught of monetary value. Ashe tells him the Dawn Shard is a prize of value "beyond measure". "Call me old-fashioned," replies Balthier, "but I was hoping for a treasure whose worth we '''''could''''' measure."
Due to the ''Strahl'' being damaged in the 8th Fleet's destruction, the group walk their way to Jahara, but garif are no help to Ashe's plight. They meet up with Larsa who wishes for Ashe to become queen and ally with the Empire to quell the looming war. He accompanies the party through [[Golmore Jungle]] to [[Mt. Bur-Omisace]], where they meet with Gran Kiltias [[Anastasis]], who reveals Vayne has murdered the Emperor [[Gramis Gana Solidor]], succeeding him, foiling their plan for a truce. Anastasis tells them of a sword that can cut through nethicite and while Larsa stays behind, the rest of the group heads off to the [[Stilshrine of Miriam]] where Ashe retrieves the [[Sword of Kings]].
 
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Upon exiting the tomb Ghis's [[Archadian Imperial Fleets|Imperial Fleet]] accosts them; it seems Vossler has betrayed them.
   
  +
Ghis takes the Dawn Shard and attempts to evaluate it; his experiment unleashes the nethicite's magick and destroys the entire 8th Archadian Fleet. Balthier pilots another carrier ship to escape with the others; spotting the Dawn Shard glinting in the sky after the explosion, he steers the ship to retrieve it before descending to Rabanastre. After witnessing the nethicite's power, Ashe decides to wield it as her weapon to restore Dalmasca, but does not know how to use it. She wants Balthier to accompany her to [[Jahara]] to ask the [[garif]]'s help, but Balthier is skeptical. As collateral, Balthier requests a ring on Ashe's finger.
With the sword, she vows to destroy the Empire's nethicite and the party head to Archadia with the intention of destroying the nethicite within Doctor Cid's possession. When they stop to rest in the [[Phon Coast]]'s Hunters' Camp, Balthier questions Ashe's intentions, comparing her drive to that of his father's. He reveals his Imperial past as a Judge and his relation to Doctor Cid, as well as his suspicions of an unknown creature his father spoke of named [[Venat]]. He vows to persevere in their endeavor to cut the ties to his past, and implores Ashe to not allow the stone's power to consume her, as it did his father.
 
  +
  +
Leaving the ''Strahl'', damaged in the 8th Fleet's destruction, the group walks to Jahara, but the garif can not answer Ashe's questions. They meet up with Larsa who wishes for Ashe to become queen and ally with the Empire to quell the looming war with [[Rozarria]]. Basch questions Balthier's intentions, worried for Ashe's safety. Balthier accompanies the party through [[Golmore Jungle]] to [[Mt Bur-Omisace]] where they meet with Gran Kiltias [[Anastasis]] who reveals the Emperor [[Gramis Gana Solidor]] has been murdered with Vayne succeeding him, foiling their plan for a truce. Anastasis tells them of a sword that can cut through nethicite, and while Larsa remains behind, the rest of the group heads off to the [[Stilshrine of Miriam]] where Ashe retrieves the [[Sword of Kings (weapon)|Sword of Kings]].
  +
  +
With the sword she vows to destroy the Empire's nethicite and the party heads to Doctor Cid's laboratory in [[Archades]]. When they stop to rest in the [[Phon Coast]]'s Hunters' Camp Balthier questions Ashe's intentions, comparing her drive to that of his father's. He reveals his Imperial past and his relation to Doctor Cid, as well as his suspicions about an creature his father spoke of named [[Venat (Final Fantasy XII)|Venat]]. He vows to persevere in their endeavor to cut the ties to his past, and implores Ashe to not allow the stone's power to consume her, as it did his father.
   
 
[[File:Draklorlab.jpg|thumb|left|Balthier leads the way through his father's laboratory.]]
 
[[File:Draklorlab.jpg|thumb|left|Balthier leads the way through his father's laboratory.]]
In Archades Balthier splits from the party who come across Balthier's old "friend", [[Jules]], who embezzles the chops Balthier gave him to give to Vaan and the others. They reconvene and head to the Draklor Laboratory in search of Cid, which they find suspiciously lacking in Imperial presence. On discovering Cid's ransacked office, Balthier inspects some old papers and questions what madness found him six years ago in the [[Jagd Difohr]].
+
In Archades Balthier splits from the party who comes across Balthier's old "friend," [[Jules (Final Fantasy XII)|Jules]], who embezzles the chops Balthier gave him to give to Vaan and the others. They reconvene and head to the [[Draklor Laboratory]] in search of Cid, but find the lab suspiciously lacking in Imperial presence. On discovering Cid's ransacked office Balthier inspects some old papers and questions what madness found him six years ago in the [[Jagd Difohr]].
   
In the 70th floor they find [[Reddas]], rogue sky pirate who is responsible for the lack of guards and soldiers. They follow him to Cid, where Balthier demands he turn over the Dusk Shard. Balthier is forced to draw his weapon when Cid challenges the party, backed by the power of deifacted nethicite and his [[Occuria]]n ally, Venat. Balthier realizes Cid was never mad, but when he appeared to be speaking to thin air he was actually conversing with Venat, a mysterious being who can make itself invisible to everyone but those it wishes to be seen.
+
In the 70th floor they find [[Reddas]], a sky pirate; alone, he has cut his way through the guards and soldiers. They follow him to Cid where Balthier demands he turn over the Dusk Shard, the very same Goddess's Magicite that Judge Ghis had taken from the party earlier. Balthier is forced to draw his weapon when Cid challenges the party, backed by the power of nethicite and his [[Occuria]]n ally, Venat. Balthier realizes Cid was never mad, but when he appeared to be speaking to thin air he was actually conversing with Venat, a mysterious being who can make itself invisible to anyone it chooses.
   
After Cid's defeat he retreats and claims to be heading out to the Ancient City of Giruvegan to gather more nethicite. The party head for [[Port at Balfonheim]] with their new ally, Reddas, where the explains the war is inevitable with the Marquis and the Resistance ready to engage Vayne and the Imperial Forces. As long as it is Cid and not Vayne who holds the nethicite the party see a way to prevent the war and decide to follow him to Giruvegan. Balthier is suspicious over Reddas's intentions concerning the nethicite, inferring he knows of Reddas's true identity as Judge Zecht whose inadvertent use of the [[Midlight Shard]] in [[Necrohol of Nabudis|Nabudis]] destroyed the city.
+
Cid retreats and claims to be heading out to the Ancient City of [[Giruvegan]] to gather more nethicite. The party heads for [[Balfonheim Port]] with their new ally, Reddas, where he explains the war is inevitable, with the Marquis and the Resistance ready to engage Vayne and the Imperial Forces. Now that it is Cid and not Vayne who holds the nethicite, the party sees the way to prevent the war is to follow him to Giruvegan. Balthier reveals he knows of Reddas's true identity by telling the story of a certain Judge Zecht, whose inadvertent use of the [[Midlight Shard]] in [[Necrohol of Nabudis|Nabudis]] two years ago destroyed the city. Invoking Reddas' past, Balthier warns Reddas against using the nethicite.
   
In Giruvegan the party realize Dr. Cid had tricked them and that he was never heading that way. In the heart of the [[Great Crystal (Final Fantasy XII)|Great Crystal]] the party meets the Occuria who name Ashe as the new Dynast-King and grant her the [[Treaty Blade]] to carve out new shards of deifacted nethicite from the motherlode, the [[Sun-Cryst]]. The ''Strahl'' is finally fixed by Balthier's [[Moogle (Race)|moogle]] mechanic [[Nono]] and Reddas accompanies them to the [[Ridorana Cataract]] after his fleet was mysteriously brought down there. Balthier tells Vaan to take the ''Strahl'' should anything happen to him. Atop the [[Pharos at Ridorana]] the party find the Sun-Cryst, but instead of using it to obtain more nethicite, Ashe attempts to destroy it. She is intercepted by Cid and Balthier again fights his father, this time fatally wounding him. Balthier watches his father die, and up to his dying breath, Cid believes what he was doing was best for mankind.
+
Dr. Cid is not in Giruvegan, and the party realizes he had tricked them into going there. In the heart of the [[Great Crystal (Final Fantasy XII)|Great Crystal]] the party meets the [[Occuria]] who name Ashe as the new Dynast King and grant her the [[Treaty-Blade]] to carve out new shards of deifacted nethicite from the motherlode, the [[Sun-Cryst]].
   
  +
The ''Strahl'' is finally fixed by Balthier's [[Moogle (race)|moogle]] mechanic [[Nono]] and Reddas gives them a manufacted skystone that allows it to fly over [[Jagd]] and accompanies them to the [[Ridorana Cataract]]. Balthier tells Vaan to take the ''Strahl'' should anything happen to him.
Sun-Cryst has awakened the Empire's ultimate weapon, the battleship ''Sky Fortress Bahamut'', and the Mist it seethes seems impossible to stop. Overwhelmed, Fran falls to the ground and insists they go without her, but Balthier vows to never leave her behind. Reddas sacrifices his life to destroy the Sun-Cryst.
 
   
  +
Atop the [[Pharos (Final Fantasy XII)|Pharos]] the party finds the Sun-Cryst, but instead of using it to obtain more nethicite Ashe attempts to destroy it. She is intercepted by Cid and Balthier again fights his father, this time fatally wounding Cid. Balthier watches his father fade into [[Mist (Final Fantasy XII)|Mist]], and up to his dying breath, Cid believes what he was doing was best for mankind.
[[File:Balthiersavesfran.jpg|thumb|Balthier saves Fran inside the ''Bahamut''.]]
 
As [[Battle above Rabanastre]] is about to break out Balthier pilots the group to infiltrate the ''Sky Fortress Bahamut'' where they confront Vayne, who merges with Venat to destroy them. Despite their allegiance Vayne and Venat are defeated, and while the others escape the ''Bahamut'' on the ''Strahl'' with Vaan as its pilot, Balthier and Fran remain behind to repair the damaged engines and stop ''Bahamut'' from falling on Rabanastre. Balthier fixes the ''Bahamut's'' glossair rings in time, but together with Fran they are stuck inside as the sky fortress crash-lands outside the city, with the two believed to have perished in the crash.
 
   
  +
The Sun-Cryst has awakened the Empire's ultimate weapon, the battleship Sky Fortress ''Bahamut'', and the Mist the Cryst seethes seems impossible to stop. Overwhelmed by Mist, Fran falls to the ground and insists they go without her, but Balthier vows to not leave her behind. Reddas sacrifices his life to destroy the Sun-Cryst while the others escape.
A year later, Balthier and Fran reclaim the ''Strahl'' from Vaan and Penelo, who had been looking after it, leaving behind a note and Ashe's ring, signifying he has found the treasure he was looking for. Balthier explains he is going for the Cache of Glabados at [[Bervenia Palace]], wishing Vaan and Penelo to join in on the spoils.
 
  +
  +
[[File:Balthiersavesfran.jpg|thumb|Balthier saves Fran inside the ''Bahamut'']]
  +
As the [[Battle above Rabanastre]] is about to break out Balthier pilots the group to infiltrate the Sky Fortress ''Bahamut'' where they confront Vayne, who merges with Venat to destroy them. Despite their allegiance, Vayne and Venat are defeated, and while the others escape the ''Bahamut'' on the ''Strahl'' piloted by Vaan, Balthier and Fran remain behind to repair the damaged engines and stop ''Bahamut'' from falling on Rabanastre. Balthier fixes the ''Bahamut's'' glossair rings in time, but together with Fran they are stuck inside as the sky fortress crash-lands outside the city, the two seeming to have perished in the crash.
  +
  +
A year later, Balthier and Fran reclaim the ''Strahl'' from Vaan and Penelo, who had been looking after it, leaving behind a note and Ashe's ring, signifying Balthier has found the treasure he was looking for. Balthier explains he is going for the Cache of Glabados at [[Bervenia Palace]], asking Vaan and Penelo to join in on the spoils.
  +
  +
=== ''[[Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings]]'' ===
   
===''[[Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings]]''===
 
{{sideicon|XIIRW}}
 
 
[[File:Balthier RW.png|right|125px|Balthier as he appears in ''Revenant Wings''.]]
 
[[File:Balthier RW.png|right|125px|Balthier as he appears in ''Revenant Wings''.]]
{{Q|Roses have thorns - this much I've come to expect. But you, my dear, poison yours. You've no sense of fair play.|Balthier to the Judge of Wings}}
+
{{Quote|Roses have thorns—this much I've come to expect. But you, my dear, poison yours. You've no sense of fair play.|Balthier to the Judge of Wings}}
Vaan and Penelo arrive at the [[Glabados Ruins]] to meet Balthier and Fran who have made their way to the Cache chamber and defeated the [[Ifrit (Revenant Wings)|Ifrit]] guarding it. The foursome spy twin [[auracite]] crystals atop a pedestal and Balthier teases Vaan he's too young to partake in any treasure, and moves in to take both crystals. When Vaan protests, Balthier laughs and throws him the green crystal, taking the purple one for himself. The ruins begin to crumble and the sky pirates make their way to their respective airships, but the falling debris destroys Vaan's. Balthier returns Vaan and Penelo to [[Royal City of Rabanastre|Lowtown]].
+
Vaan and Penelo arrive at the [[Glabados Ruins]] to meet Balthier and Fran who have made their way to the Cache chamber and defeated the [[Ifrit (Revenant Wings)|Ifrit]] guarding it. The foursome spy twin [[auracite]] crystals atop a pedestal and Balthier teases Vaan he's too young to partake in any treasure, and moves in to take both crystals. When Vaan protests, Balthier laughs and throws him the green crystal, taking the purple one for himself. The ruins begin to crumble and the sky pirates make their way to their respective airships, but the falling debris destroys Vaan's. Balthier returns Vaan and Penelo to [[Rabanastre|Lowtown]].
   
 
Soon after, Balthier makes his way to [[Lemurés]] to search for the [[auralith]]s and ends up confronting the [[Judge of Wings]] at the [[Fane of Tehp Qul]]. The Judge reveals what went on between her and Balthier by projecting her memories into Vaan and his allies' minds. In the flashback, Balthier is seen in the same Fane, with an unconscious Fran behind him. The Judge of Wings approaches him from the right, and the auralith is still intact between them. Balthier acknowledges the Judge's power, but says she has been holding on to her illusion of Eternity for too long. He throws the purple crystal he found in the Glabados Ruins in the air and shatters it with a gun blast before it reaches the Judge.
 
Soon after, Balthier makes his way to [[Lemurés]] to search for the [[auralith]]s and ends up confronting the [[Judge of Wings]] at the [[Fane of Tehp Qul]]. The Judge reveals what went on between her and Balthier by projecting her memories into Vaan and his allies' minds. In the flashback, Balthier is seen in the same Fane, with an unconscious Fran behind him. The Judge of Wings approaches him from the right, and the auralith is still intact between them. Balthier acknowledges the Judge's power, but says she has been holding on to her illusion of Eternity for too long. He throws the purple crystal he found in the Glabados Ruins in the air and shatters it with a gun blast before it reaches the Judge.
   
  +
[[File:XIIRW-SkyPirates.jpg|left|180px]]
 
His auracite willingly destroyed, Balthier points his gun at the Judge, vowing to stop her from pursuing her goal of eternal life. Before he can fire, the Judge uses her own crystal to summon the [[Esper (Revenant Wings)|Esper]] [[Shiva (Revenant Wings)|Shiva]], who appears behind Balthier and uses [[Diamond Dust]] to render Balthier unconscious. He and Fran are left lying on the floor.
 
His auracite willingly destroyed, Balthier points his gun at the Judge, vowing to stop her from pursuing her goal of eternal life. Before he can fire, the Judge uses her own crystal to summon the [[Esper (Revenant Wings)|Esper]] [[Shiva (Revenant Wings)|Shiva]], who appears behind Balthier and uses [[Diamond Dust]] to render Balthier unconscious. He and Fran are left lying on the floor.
   
Line 109: Line 133:
 
{{endspoiler}}
 
{{endspoiler}}
   
==Battle==
+
== Gameplay ==
  +
[[File:FF12 Char Model - Balthier.png|100px|right|Character model.]]
[[File:Fires of war.png|thumb|Balthier's level 1 [[Quickening (Ability)|Quickening]], '''Fires of War'''.]]
 
  +
{{main|Balthier/Gameplay|t1=Balthier gameplay}}
===''Final Fantasy XII''===
 
  +
=== ''Final Fantasy XII'' ===
Balthier's [[HP]] growth and [[Strength]] are good though lower than [[Vaan]]'s and [[Basch fon Ronsenburg|Basch]]'s. His [[Speed (Stat)|Speed]] is the highest of the six main playable characters. His [[MP (Stat)|MP]] and [[Magic Power|Magick]] growth are low.
 
  +
Balthier has high [[Final Fantasy XII stats#Strength|Strength]] and the highest [[Final Fantasy XII stats#Speed|Speed]], but low [[Final Fantasy XII stats#MP|MP]] and [[Final Fantasy XII stats#Magick Power|Magick Power]]. Due to this, he is best suited to equip [[Final Fantasy XII weapons|weapons]] with damage reliant on Strength and Speed to deal damage, as opposed to [[Final Fantasy XII weapons#Guns|guns]], as his action time with guns is the slowest. Balthier's default [[License Board|licenses]] differ based on releases. In the original release, he has Guns 1 and 2, Steal, Shields 1, Light Armor 1 and 2 and Heavy Armor 1 learnt. In the Zodiac Job System releases, he has Steal, Guns 1, First Aid and Light Armor 1 learnt.
   
  +
=== ''Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings'' ===
Balthier joins the party with the [[License Board|Licenses]] "Guns 1", "Guns 2", "Shields 1", "Light Armor 1", "Light Armor 2", "Heavy Armor 1", "[[Steal]]" and "[[First Aid (Ability)|First Aid]]". He is equipped with an [[List of Final Fantasy XII Weapons#Altair|Altair]], [[List of Final Fantasy XII Ammunition#Onion Shot|Onion Shot]], [[List of Final Fantasy XII Armor#Headgear|Headgear]], and [[List of Final Fantasy XII Armor#Chromed Leathers|Chromed Leathers]].
 
  +
Balthier equips [[Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings weapons#Balthier's guns|guns]]. His [[Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings armor#Balthier's tops|armor]] equips—sleeveless tops—all favor Defense over Magick Defense. His accessories are [[Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings accessories#Balthier's rings|rings]]. He takes on the role of a ranged fighter. His Quickening, Element of Treachery, deals heavy damage to one foe, and is learned after defeating the Esper [[Shemhazai (Revenant Wings)|Shemhazai]].
   
  +
Balthier can also be fought as a [[Balthier (boss)|boss]] along with [[Fran (boss)|Fran]].
Balthier is well-suited for close combat, and his low magick stats mean he is ill-suited for healing or using [[Black Magicks (Final Fantasy XII)|Black Magicks]]. When Balthier joins the party his [[level]] is Vaan's level +1, and his [[Ability Points#Final Fantasy XII|LP]] is Vaan's LP minus 135 (the official strategy guide states it is [Vaan's LP + Fran's LP]/2 - 135, but this is wrong).
 
   
  +
== Creation and development ==
Even though Balthier's default weapon is a gun and he has gun licenses already learned, Balthier is the slowest character, together with Penelo, to use a gun — all the other characters' action time when equipped with a gun is faster.<ref>Final Fantasy XII: Battle Ultimania</ref> Thus, it is best to equip him with other weapons that make good use of his strength and speed stat: [[Dagger (Weapon Type)|daggers]], [[Ninja Blade (Weapon Type)|ninja swords]], [[Greatsword (Weapon Type)|greatswords]] and [[Spear (Weapon Type)|spears]] are the best.
 
  +
[[File:BalthierUO.jpg|thumb|left|Concept art for a flashback scene.]]
  +
''[[Final Fantasy XII Ultimania Omega]]'' details that a flashback scene to Balthier's younger days was planned for the game, and a character design was drawn for it. The render for young Balthier was finished, and his Yoshida especially noted that the glasses' texture was of good quality.<ref>{{Refwebsite| page url = http://iamfangu.tumblr.com/post/71949102751/so-tresdias-squall-of-seed-finished-the-page-3| page name = Balthier's Early Days from the FFXII Ultimania Omega translation| site url = http://iamfangu.tumblr.com/| site name = Rant by Fangu on Tumblr| access time = 20180821203859}} |</ref> The flashback scene was cut but his unused flashback attire resembles somewhat the one he wears in ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics|Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions]]''.
   
  +
Balthier has been called a "completely original character" by creator Akihiko Yoshida, having not used any previous ''Final Fantasy'' character as a reference.<ref>{{Refwebsite| page url = https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/05/12/e3-2006-interview-with-the-final-fantasy-xii-staff| page name = E3 2006: Interview with the Final Fantasy XII Staff| site url = https://www.ign.com/| access time = 20140714175542}}</ref> Balthier has been compared to other characters in fiction. Simon Wigham of Console Obsession called Balthier his "favorite by quite a wide margin", comparing him to James Bond due to his "humorous lines".<ref>{{Refwebsite| page url = http://www.consoleob.com/playstation/ps2/final-fantasy-xii-ps2-review/| page name = Final Fantasy XII PS2 Review| site url = http://www.consoleob.com/| site name = Console Obsession| access time = 20180821203229}}</ref> RPGFan editor Stephen Harris compared his voice to that of Ian Fleming's depiction of Bond.<ref>{{Refwebsite| page url = http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/finalfantasy12/index.html| page name = Final Fantasy XII review| site url = http://www.rpgfan.com/| site name = RPGFan| access time = 20180821203342}}</ref> 1UP.com editor Andrew Pfister compared the duo of Balthier and Fran to that of Han Solo and Chewbacca, two characters from the ''Star Wars'' franchise, adding that they are far more interesting than any other character in the "modern FF era".<ref>{{Refwebsitedead| page url = http://www.1up.com/reviews/final-fantasy-xii_4| page name = Final Fantasy XII Review for PS2| site url = http://www.1up.com/| site name = 1UP.com| access time = 20160617015023}}</ref>
====Stats====
 
{|class="full-width table" style="text-align:center"
 
|-class="FFXIIa"
 
!Level
 
!HP
 
!MP
 
!Strength
 
!Magick
 
!Vitality
 
!Speed
 
|-
 
!class="FFXIIb"|2
 
|99-103
 
|20-22
 
|25
 
|17
 
|24
 
|24
 
|-
 
!class="FFXIIb"|10
 
|277-311
 
|32-41
 
|29
 
|20
 
|27
 
|25
 
|-
 
!class="FFXIIb"|20
 
|630-725
 
|51-75
 
|34
 
|24
 
|31
 
|26
 
|-
 
!class="FFXIIb"|30
 
|1,084-1,261
 
|71-109
 
|39
 
|28
 
|34
 
|28
 
|-
 
!class="FFXIIb"|40
 
|1,513-1,768
 
|95-153
 
|44
 
|32
 
|38
 
|29
 
|-
 
!class="FFXIIb"|50
 
|2,198-2,581
 
|115-189
 
|50
 
|36
 
|41
 
|31
 
|-
 
!class="FFXIIb"|60
 
|2,803-3,299
 
|134-223
 
|55
 
|40
 
|45
 
|32
 
|-
 
!class="FFXIIb"|70
 
|3,146-3,702
 
|149-247
 
|60
 
|44
 
|48
 
|34
 
|-
 
!class="FFXIIb"|80
 
|3,542-4,168
 
|163-271
 
|65
 
|48
 
|52
 
|35
 
|-
 
!class="FFXIIb"|90
 
|4,082-4,808
 
|173-285
 
|71
 
|52
 
|55
 
|37
 
|-
 
!class="FFXIIb"|99
 
|4,691-6,044
 
|177-289
 
|80
 
|61
 
|58
 
|38
 
|}
 
   
  +
Balthier was originally considered to appear in ''[[Dissidia Final Fantasy (2008)|Dissidia Final Fantasy]]'', but was left out as he had recently appeared in ''Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions''. [[Vaan/Dissidia (PSP)|Vaan]] was set to appear in his place, but was ultimately replaced by [[Gabranth/Dissidia (PSP)|Judge Gabranth]].
===''Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings''===
 
{{See Also|List of Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings Weapons#Balthier's Guns|List of Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings Armor#Balthier's Armor|List of Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings Accessories#Balthier's Accessories}}
 
Balthier equips guns. His armor equips — sleeveless tops — all favor Defense over Magick Defense. He takes on the role of a ranged fighter. His [[Quickening (Ability)|Quickening]], Element of Treachery, deals heavy damage to one foe, and is learned after defeating the Esper [[Shemhazai (Revenant Wings)|Shemhazai]].
 
   
====Abilities====
+
=== Voice ===
  +
{{audio|filename=BalthierVoice 1.ogg|dialogue=Princess! No need to worry. I hope you haven't forgotten my role in this little story. I'm the leading man. You know what they say about the leading man? He never dies!|title=Gideon Emery as Balthier}}
{|class="full-width XIIRW table"
 
  +
In the English version of ''Final Fantasy XII'' and ''Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions'', Balthier is voiced by [[Gideon Emery]]. In the Japanese version, he is voiced by [[wikipedia:Hiroaki Hirata|Hiroaki Hirata]].
|-class="a"
 
!Name
 
!Level
 
!Description
 
!Image
 
|-
 
!class="b"|Tri-shot
 
|align="center"| -
 
|Deal ranged damage to one foe with three successive shots.
 
|align="center"|[[File:RW Tri-Shot.png|150px]]
 
|-
 
!class="b"|Percussive Slug
 
|align="center"| -
 
|Deal ranged damage to one foe, knocking it back.
 
|align="center"|[[File:RW Percussive Slug.png|150px]]
 
|-
 
!class="b"|Sniper Eye
 
|align="center"|36
 
|Increase attack range.
 
|align="center"|[[File:RW Sniper Eye.png|150px]]
 
|-
 
!class="b"|Quicksilver
 
|align="center"|38
 
|Increase user's Strength.
 
|align="center"|[[File:RW Quicksilver.png|150px]]
 
|-
 
!class="b"|Hamstring
 
|align="center"|41
 
|Inflict [[Immobilize (Status)|Immobilize]] on one foe.
 
|align="center"|[[File:RW Hamstring.png|150px]]
 
|-
 
!class="b"|Maim
 
|align="center"|45
 
|Inflict [[Disable (Status)|Disable]] on one foe.
 
|align="center"|[[File:RW Maim.png|150px]]
 
|-
 
!class="b"|Armor-piercing Shot
 
|align="center"|49
 
|Attacks deal damage to one foe in a line extending from the user.
 
|align="center"|[[File:RW Armor Piercing Shot.png|150px]]
 
|-
 
!class="b"|Element of Treachery
 
|align="center"| -
 
|Deal heavy ranged damage to one foe.
 
|align="center"|[[File:RW Element of Treachery.png|150px]]
 
|}
 
   
  +
Balthier, along with Basch and Ashe, speaks in formalized English in contrast to Vaan and Penelo's more casual style. In Japanese, Balthier, Ashe and Basch use an older, more formal form of Japanese than Vaan and Penelo. Both reflect his background of being Arcadian nobility and the son of a scholar. While the medieval tone comes from the original game, the localizers could decide on the specific accents the characters would use and voice models were used to guide the writing: Balthier was Aragorn from the ''Lord of the Rings''.<ref name=edge>EDGE #278 ''Tale of Tales Meet Alexander O Smith the translator who's brought some of Japan's biggest RPGs to the West'' p. 94</ref>
====Boss====
 
{{main|Balthier (Boss)}}
 
Balthier is fought as a boss, alongside [[Fran (Boss)|Fran]].
 
   
  +
When Gideon Emery came on the localization team's radar, the casting director Jack Fletcher thought he was perfect for the part. Emery wasn't previously familiar with the ''Final Fantasy'' series, which allowed him to escape any extra pressure. Back when the voices for ''Final Fantasy XII'' were recorded, the actor would go in to their voice agent's booth to record. Emery did a take or two with the in-house engineer and then forgot about it until he got the call. He got to use his own accent, a rarity then. Emery had around six recording sessions totaling around 24 hours of recording time. Up until that point he had never done more than one session for a specific game.<ref name="5do-tdOd">{{Refwebsite| page url = http://www.usgamer.net/articles/a-voice-for-ivalice-the-localization-and-voice-acting-of-final-fantasy-xii| page name = A Voice for Ivalice: The Localization and Voice Acting of Final Fantasy XII| site url = http://www.usgamer.net| site name = US Gamer| access time = 15:35, April 23, 2018 (UTC)}}</ref>
==Creation and Development==
 
  +
{{clear}}
[[File:BalthierUO.jpg|thumb|left|Concept art for a flashback scene.]]
 
''[[Final Fantasy XII Ultimania Omega]]'' details that a flashback scene to Balthier's younger days was planned for the game, and a character design was drawn for it. The render for young Balthier was finished, and [[Akihiko Yoshida]] especially noted that the glasses' texture was of good quality.<ref>http://iamfangu.tumblr.com/post/71949102751/so-tresdias-squall-of-seed-finished-the-page-3</ref> The flashback scene was cut but his unused flashback attire resembles somewhat the one he wears in ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions]]''.
 
   
  +
== Other appearances ==
Balthier has been called a "completely original character" by creator Akihiko Yoshida, having not used any previous ''Final Fantasy'' character as a reference. Balthier has been compared to other characters in fiction. Simon Wigham of Console Obsession called Balthier his "favorite by quite a wide margin", comparing him to James Bond due to his "humorous lines". RPGFan editor Stephen Harris compared his voice to that of Ian Fleming's depiction of Bond. 1UP.com editor Andrew Pfister compared the duo of Balthier and Fran to that of Han Solo and Chewbacca, two characters from the Star Wars franchise, adding that they are far more interesting than any other character in the "modern FF era".
 
  +
{{main|/Other appearances|t1=Balthier other appearances}}
  +
Balthier has made appearances in the following games in the [[Final Fantasy series|''Final Fantasy'' series]]:
  +
* ''[[/Other appearances#Fortress|Fortress]]'' as a cameo (cancelled).
  +
* ''[[/Tactics|Final Fantasy Tactics]]'' as a playable character.
  +
* ''[[/Other appearances#Final Fantasy Tactics S|Final Fantasy Tactics S]]'' as a playable character.
  +
* ''[[/Other appearances#Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy|Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy]]'' as a cameo.
  +
* ''[[/Opera Omnia|Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia]]'' as a playable character.
  +
* ''[[/Theatrhythm|Theatrhythm Final Fantasy]]'' as a playable character.
  +
* ''[[/Theatrhythm|Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call]]'' as a playable character.
  +
* ''[[/Other appearances#Pictlogica Final Fantasy|Pictlogica Final Fantasy]]'' as a playable character.
  +
* ''[[/Other appearances#Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade|Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade]]'' as summonable [[Legend (Airborne Brigade)|Legend]].
  +
* ''[[/Other appearances#Final Fantasy Artniks|Final Fantasy Artniks]]'' as a series of [[Final Fantasy Artniks cards|cards]].
  +
* ''[[/Other appearances#Final Fantasy All the Bravest|Final Fantasy All the Bravest]]'' as a playable character.
  +
* ''[[/Record Keeper|Final Fantasy Record Keeper]]'' as a playable character.
  +
* ''[[/Other appearances#Final Fantasy Trading Card Game|Final Fantasy Trading Card Game]]'' as a series of [[Final Fantasy Trading Card Game cards|cards]].
  +
* ''[[/Other appearances#Triple Triad|Triple Triad]]'' as a card.
  +
* ''[[/Brave Exvius|Final Fantasy Brave Exvius]]'' as a summonable vision.
   
  +
=== Non-''Final Fantasy'' appearances ===
Balthier was originally considered to appear in ''[[Dissidia Final Fantasy]]'', but was left out as he had recently appeared in ''Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions''. [[Vaan/Dissidia|Vaan]] was set to appear in his place, but was ultimately replaced by [[Gabranth/Dissidia|Judge Gabranth]].
 
  +
{{main|Balthier/Other appearances#Guest appearances|t1=Balthier non-Final Fantasy appearances}}
  +
Balthier has made key guest appearances in the following non-''Final Fantasy'' games:
  +
* ''[[/Other appearances#Itadaki Street|Itadaki Street]]'' as a playable character.
   
===Voice===
+
== Other media ==
  +
=== Games ===
{{Quote|filename=BalthierVoice 1.ogg|quote=Princess! No need to worry. I hope you haven't forgotten my role in this little story. I'm the leading man. You know what they say about the leading man? He never dies!|title=Gideon Emery as Balthier}}
 
  +
Users in Square Enix Members Virtual World community can make their character appear as Balthier. Balthier's hair costs 100 crystals and his clothes cost 480 crystals.
In the English version of ''Final Fantasy XII'' and ''Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions'', Balthier is voiced by {{w|Gideon Emery}}. In the Japanese version of ''Final Fantasy XII'', he is voiced by {{w|Hiroaki Hirata}}.
 
   
  +
Additionally, in ''[[wikipedia:Gunslinger Stratos 2|Gunslinger Stratos 2]]'', Balthier's costume was released on November 6, 2014.
Balthier, along with Basch and Ashe, speaks in formalized English in contrast to Vaan and Penelo's more casual style. In Japanese, Balthier, Ashe and Basch use an older, more formal form of Japanese than Vaan and Penelo.
 
{{-}}
 
   
  +
<gallery>
==Other Appearances==
 
  +
FFXII Virtual World Balthier.png|An avatar dressed as Balthier from the Square-Enix Members Virtual World.
===''[[Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions]]''===
 
  +
GS2 Balthier.png|''Gunslinger Stratos 2'' costume.
{{sideicon|FFT}}
 
  +
</gallery>
[[File:TBal.jpg|right|100px|Artwork Balthier in ''The War of the Lions''.]]
 
{{Q|You'll have your reward for finding me. And don't think of running off without collecting. My shot is faster, or my name's not Balthier.|Balthier}}
 
{{See Also|Sky Pirate (Tactics)}}
 
Balthier is a [[List of Secret Characters|secret playable character]] in ''Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions''.
 
   
  +
== Merchandise ==
After the first fight against [[Meliadoul Tengille|Meliadoul]] at [[Free City of Bervenia]] in [[Chapter]] 4, [[Ramza Beoulve|Ramza]] visits the [[Mining Town of Gollund]] and checks the [[Rumors|rumor]] "Rash of Thefts", about a godless thief stealing precious cargo from the church. Ramza heads to the [[Merchant City of Dorter]] and checks the rumor "A Call For Guards", about some precious cargo from [[Free City of Bervenia|Bervenia]] that needs an escort to Dorter.
 
  +
Balthier has a [[Play Arts]] action figure released as part of the ''Final Fantasy XII'' set. Play Arts released a new figure to commemorate the release of the ''Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age''. Balthier also has a miniature figure in the [[Final Fantasy Trading Arts Mini]] Vol. 3. Balthier in his ''Final Fantasy Tactics'' appearance is part of the Final Fantasy Tactics Trading Arts set. He appears alongside Fran and their hoverbike in a polystone Sculpture Arts statue.
   
  +
<gallery>
[[File:FFTBalthier3.png|left|thumb|Balthier's entrance.]]
 
  +
FFXII Balthier Play Arts.jpg|Balthier's Play Arts figure.
When Ramza arrives at the Dorter slums he walks into an ambush. The thieves attack Ramza, before realizing they've got the wrong man. Balthier steps out the shadows and condemns the thieves' ability to set a trap. Teaming up with Ramza, Balthier rids of the thieves.
 
  +
Balthier-Play-Arts-FFXII.png|Play Arts re-release figure.
  +
Trading-Arts-Mini.jpg|Balthier is part of the Trading Arts Mini series.
  +
FFT-Trading-Arts-Balthier.png|Tactics Trading Arts.
  +
Fran-Balthier-Hoverbike-Sculpture-FFXII.jpg|Final Fantasy Sculpture Arts.
  +
</gallery>
   
  +
== Gallery ==
After the battle, Balthier explains he is a [[Sky Pirate (Tactics)|Sky Pirate]] looking for the Cache of Glabados. Ramza thinks Balthier is referring to the auracite, and when he asks Balthier what the Cache is Balthier only mentions it is the reason he is currently in [[Ivalice (Tactics)|Ivalice]].
 
  +
{{Main|/Gallery|t1=Balthier gallery}}
   
  +
==Etymology==
When Ramza tells Balthier he thinks he knows what he is looking for, Balthier is more than keen to tag along, claiming the leading man never walks out of a little danger, even if he does feel more like a cameo role this time. Before they set off, Ramza comments Balthier can't be a pirate of the skies if he has no wings, while Balthier complains he is fed up of constantly following children. His [[Zodiac (Term)|Zodiac Sign]] is [[Leo (Zodiac)|Leo]].
 
  +
Balthier's middle name "mied" {{J|ミド|Mido}} is a romanticized spelling of [[Mid]], a recurring name of characters related to [[Cid]].
   
  +
== Trivia ==
[[File:FFT Balthier Portrait.png|right]]
 
  +
[[File:Balthier-ffxii-sprite.png|right]]
Balthier is level 35 during the sidequest where he is a [[guest]], and starts with 78 [[Bravery (Stat)|Bravery]] and 60 [[Faith (Stat)|Faith]]. He comes equipped with the [[List of Final Fantasy Tactics Weapons#Ras Algethi|Ras Algethi]], [[List of Final Fantasy Tactics Armor#Thief's Cap|Thief's Cap]], [[List of Final Fantasy Tactics Armor#Mirage Vest|Mirage Vest]], and [[List of Final Fantasy Tactics Accessories#Germinas Boots|Germinas Boots]].
 
  +
* Attacking 300 times adds Balthier's sprite to [[Sky Pirate's Den]] of ''Final Fantasy XII'' and grants the player the title of Assault Striker.
  +
* Balthier shares his last name, Bunansa, with [[Mustadio Bunansa|Mustadio]] and [[Besrudio Bunansa]] from ''Final Fantasy Tactics''. It is unknown if there is any relation between the characters.
  +
* Only Balthier and Vaan retain their original Quickenings from ''Final Fantasy XII'' in ''Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings'': Element of Treachery for Balthier and Pyroclasm for Vaan.
  +
* Coincidentally, given Balthier's status as a sky pirate, his Japanese voice actor Hiroaki Hirata also provides the voice of the pirate [[wikipedia:Jack Sparrow|Jack Sparrow]] in ''{{KHWiki|Kingdom Hearts II}}'', and has also done Japanese dubbing of various other [[wikipedia:Johnny Depp|Johnny Depp]] roles. He is also the Japanese voice actor for [[w:c:onepiece:Sanji|Sanji]], pirate chef of the [[w:c:onepiece:Straw Hat Pirates|Straw Hat crew]] in ''[[w:c:onepiece:One Piece|One Piece]]''.
  +
* Much like the other cameo characters ([[Cloud Strife/Tactics|Cloud]] and [[Luso Clemens/Tactics|Luso]]), Balthier's age is not displayed when the player sees his profile.
  +
*Balthier shares a few similarities with [[Ignis Scientia]] from ''[[Final Fantasy XV]]'':
  +
**Balthier and Ignis have similar facial structures.
  +
**Both men speak in a British accent.
  +
**Throughout their primary apearances in their main games, both share the same height and age.
  +
*Balthier's hair, sleeves, and earrings are static in the PlayStation 4 version of ''The Zodiac Age''. This has been fixed for the PC version, where they move in the wind.
   
  +
== References ==
Balthier can do the most damage in the game by equipping the [[List of Final Fantasy Tactics Weapons#Chaos Blade|Chaos Blade]] and using [[Barrage]], easily doing over 2000 damage.
 
  +
{{Reflist}}
   
====Rendezvous====
+
==External links==
  +
*[[wikipedia:Balthier|Balthier at Wikipedia]]
When fought in the fourteen [[Rendezvous]] battle: [[Rendezvous#Brave Story|Brave Story]], he is level 99 and starts with 75 Bravery and 53 Faith. He uses his default Sky Pirate job, and comes equipped with the [[List of Final Fantasy Tactics Weapons#Blaster|Blaster]], [[List of Final Fantasy Tactics Armor#Crystal Shield|Crystal Shield]], Thief's Cap, [[List of Final Fantasy Tactics Armor#Luminous Robe|Luminous Robe]], and [[List of Final Fantasy Tactics Accessories#Angel Ring|Angel Ring]]. He has access to the [[Sky Pirate (Tactics)#Piracy|Piracy]] and [[Item]] commands, as well as the abilities [[First Strike (Ability)|First Strike]], [[Throw Items]], and [[List of Final Fantasy Tactics Movement Abilities#Move +1|Move +1]].
 
   
  +
{{navbox characters FFXII}}
===''[[Final Fantasy Tactics S]]''===
 
{{sideicon|FFTS}}
+
{{navbox XIIRW}}
[[File:FFTS Balthier Portrait2.png|right|100px|Balthier's ''FFTS'' portrait.]]
 
Balthier appears as a recruitable character in ''Final Fantasy Tactics S''.
 
{{Char-stub|Final Fantasy Tactics S}}
 
{{-}}
 
 
===''[[Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy]]''===
 
{{sideicon|D012}}
 
Balthier makes a cameo appearance as one of the tutors of Abilities. He appears alongside Fran and first tells the player; "to obtain more abilities, you need to level up! Also, he explains that just learning new abilities is not enough, and one needs to equip them for them to work. He commends himself as the leading man who can handle the extra abilities. Fran calls him as "Mr. Spotlight".
 
 
There is a letter sent by a [[Moogle (Race)|moogle]] named Sablé regarding the previous letter he sent entitled "Watching You, Kupo". The letter is about when Vaan, Balthier, Fran and Basch went to Bhujerba's Lhusu Mines to save Penelo from Ba'Gamnan's grasp.
 
 
:<big>I'm Relieved, Kupo</big>
 
{{Q|New intel, kupo! The kidnappers designated a a sky pirate for the rescue, kupo. What a relief, kupo! I was able to keep my cool thanks to your responses, kupo. I hope we can have a more leisurely chat in the future, kupo!}}
 
 
===''[[Theatrhythm Final Fantasy]]''===
 
{{sideicon|TFF}}
 
{{IncompleteTable|Stats and Abilities}}
 
[[File:Theatrhythm Balthier.png|right|100px]]
 
{{Q|Making himself known as a chivalrous thief, this sky pirate travels the skies in his beloved Strahl. When he sneaks into the Royal Palace of Rabanastre in pursuit of treasure, he stumbles across both Vaan and Ashe, and the strange pair joins him and his partner Fran in their travels. Yet when he realizes the part that his brilliant father Cid has played in the Archadian Empire's expansion, he will have to take action if he is to be a true leading man.|Online description}}
 
Balthier appears in the [[iOS]] release as a purchasable character.
 
 
====Stats====
 
{|class="full-width table TFF" style="text-align:center"
 
|-class="a"
 
!style="width:10%"|Level
 
!style="width:18%"|[[HP#Theatrhythm Final Fantasy|HP]]
 
!style="width:18%"|[[Strength#Theatrhythm Final Fantasy|Strength]]
 
!style="width:18%"|[[Magic Power#Theatrhythm Final Fantasy|Magic]]
 
!style="width:18%"|Agility
 
!style="width:18%"|[[Luck (Stat)#Theatrhythm Final Fantasy|Luck]]
 
|-
 
!class="b"|1
 
|267
 
|A
 
|D
 
|S
 
|S
 
|-
 
|}
 
 
====[[List of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Abilities|Abilities]]====
 
<div class="full-width col2"><div>
 
{|class="table" width=100%
 
|-class="TFFa"
 
!colspan=2|Reactive Abilities
 
|-class="TFFa"
 
!width="55%"|Ability
 
!width="45%"|Level Learned
 
|-
 
!class="TFFb"|[[Mirage (Ability)|Mirage]] (Lv 1)
 
|align="center"|Initial
 
|-
 
!class="TFFb"|[[Vigilance]]
 
|align="center"|Initial
 
|-
 
!class="TFFb"|[[Power Break (Ability)|Weapon Break]] (Lv 1)
 
|align="center"|Level 10
 
|-
 
!class="TFFb"|[[Flee|Escape]] (Lv 1)
 
|align="center"|Level 25
 
|-
 
!class="TFFb"|Escape (Lv 2)
 
|align="center"|Level 40
 
|-
 
!class="TFFb"|Weapon Break (Lv 2)
 
|align="center"|Level 50
 
|-
 
!class="TFFb"|Mirage (Lv 2)
 
|align="center"|Level 55
 
|-
 
!class="TFFb"|Escape (Lv 3)
 
|align="center"|Level 60
 
|-
 
!class="TFFb"|Mirage (Lv 3)
 
|align="center"|Level 70
 
|-
 
!class="TFFb"|Weapon Break (Lv 3)
 
|align="center"|Level 80
 
|-
 
|}
 
 
</div><div>
 
{|class="table" width=100%
 
|-class="TFFa"
 
!colspan=2|Proactive Abilities
 
|-class="TFFa"
 
!width="55%"|Ability
 
!width="45%"|Level Learned
 
|-
 
!class="TFFb"|[[Speed+|Agility Up]] (Lv 1)
 
|align="center"|Level 5
 
|-
 
!class="TFFb"|[[Strength+|Strength Up]] (Lv 1)
 
|align="center"|Level 15
 
|-
 
!class="TFFb"|[[Lancet|Lance]] (Lv 2)
 
|align="center"|Level 20
 
|-
 
!class="TFFb"|Earth Blues (Lv 2)
 
|align="center"|Level 30
 
|-
 
!class="TFFb"|Strength Up (Lv 2)
 
|align="center"|Level 35
 
|-
 
!class="TFFb"|Agility Up (Lv 2)
 
|align="center"|Level 45
 
|-
 
!class="TFFb"|Agility Up (Lv 3)
 
|align="center"|Level 65
 
|-
 
!class="TFFb"|Earth Blues (Lv 3)
 
|align="center"|Level 75
 
|-
 
!class="TFFb"|Strength Up (Lv 3)
 
|align="center"|Level 85
 
|-
 
!class="TFFb"|Lance (Lv 3)
 
|align="center"|Level 90
 
|-
 
|}
 
</div></div>
 
{{-}}
 
 
====''[[Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call]]''====
 
{{sideicon|TFFCC}}
 
Balthier appears as a playable character and one of the representatives of ''Final Fantasy XII''.
 
{{sec-stub|Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call}}
 
{{-}}
 
 
===''[[Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade]]''===
 
{{sideicon|FFAB}}
 
{{Q|Known as the "swift sky pirate," the Strahl airship captain who accompanies Vaan and friends on their voyage. Has made a name for himself as a freedom-loving Robin Hood with no ties to any nation or organization.|Character Description}}
 
Balthier appears as an ally and a summonable [[Legend (Airborne Brigade)|Legend]] in ''Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade''. He is depicted in his default ''Final Fantasy XII'' outfit. His ability is Element of Treachery. His EX ability is Tides of Fate. He was first introduced as an event ally in the event, ''Final Fantasy Special Event Part 2 - Showdown'', in which he was unlocked automatically as a bonus character. Leveling him up to up to 99 in these events granted the player his individualized SSR weapon, [[List of Final Fantasy: Airborne Brigade Weapons#Spica|Spica]]. In battle, Balthier is armed with his pistol and uses the ability Element of Treachery.
 
 
{{Gallery
 
|File:Balthier Brigade Portrait.gif|Balthier's icon.
 
|File:FFAB Balthier SSR.png|Tides of Fate (SSR).
 
|File:ElementOfTrecheryBrigade.png|Balthier I (SR).
 
}}
 
{{-}}
 
 
===''[[Final Fantasy Artniks]]''===
 
{{sideicon|Artniks}}
 
{{Gallery
 
|File:FF12 Balthier SR L Artniks.png|''Final Fantasy Artniks''.
 
|File:FF12 Balthier SR+ L Artniks.png|''Final Fantasy Artniks'' (2).
 
}}
 
{{Sec-stub|Final Fantasy Artniks}}
 
{{-}}
 
 
===''[[Final Fantasy All the Bravest]]''===
 
{{sideicon|FFATB}}
 
[[File:Balthier ATB.png|right|45px|Balthier's sprite in ''All the Bravest''.]]
 
{{Q|This fast-flying sky pirate is often seen with what appears to be a giant bunny.|Description}}
 
Balthier is an exclusive character only available from the Premium Character Shop as a random downloadable content. He uses the Fires of War ability during battle.
 
 
===''[[Final Fantasy Trading Card Game]]''===
 
{{sideicon|FFTCG}}
 
Balthier has multiple Wind cards in ''Final Fantasy Trading Card Game''.
 
 
{{Gallery
 
|File:BalthierTradingCard.jpg|Balthier's [[Final Fantasy Trading Card Game|trading card]].
 
|File:Balthier TCG.png|Trading card.
 
|File:4-043U.jpg|Trading card.
 
|File:Balthier2 TCG.png|
 
|File:Balthier3 TCG.png|Trading card.
 
}}
 
 
==Non-''Final Fantasy'' Appearances==
 
===''[[Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Portable]]''===
 
[[File:Itadaki-Balthier.png|right|95px]]
 
Balthier appears along with the other five main characters of ''Final Fantasy XII'' in ''Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Portable''. The game was released prior to ''Final Fantasy XII''.
 
{{-}}
 
{{Sec-stub|Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Portable}}
 
 
===Virtual World===
 
[[File:FFXII Virtual World Balthier.png|thumb|150px|An avatar dressed as Balthier from the Square-Enix Members Virtual World.]]
 
Users in Square Enix Members Virtual World community can make their character appear as Balthier. Balthier's hair costs 100 crystals and his clothes cost 480 crystals.
 
{{-}}
 
 
==Merchandise==
 
Balthier has a [[Play Arts]] action figure released as part of the ''Final Fantasy XII'' set and a miniature figure in the ''[[Final Fantasy Trading Arts Mini]]'' Vol. 3. Balthier in his ''Final Fantasy Tactics'' appearance is part of the ''Final Fantasy Tactics'' Trading Arts set. He appears alongside Fran and their hoverbike in a polystone Sculpture Arts statue.
 
 
{{Gallery
 
|File:FFXII - BALTHIER.jpg|Balthier's Play Arts figure.
 
|File:Trading-Arts-Mini.jpg|Balthier is part of the Trading Arts Mini series.
 
|File:FFT-Trading-Arts-Balthier.png|Tactics Trading Arts.
 
|File:Balthier-and-Fran-Sculpture-Arts.jpg|''Final Fantasy'' Sculpture Arts.
 
}}
 
 
==Gallery==
 
{{Gallery|title=Gallery|class=FFXIIa|collapse=hide
 
|File:FF12 Char Model - Balthier.png|Character model.
 
|File:Balthier and Fran.jpg|Promotional artwork of Balthier and Fran.
 
|File:Balthier RW CG.png|CG of Balthier in ''[[Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings]]''.
 
|File:Fran-ashe-baltheir FFXII.jpg|Promotional artwork of Balthier, Ashe and Fran.
 
|File:Balthier-concept.jpg|Concept art of Balthier.
 
|File:FFXII Amano.jpg|Artwork by [[Yoshitaka Amano]].
 
|File:FFXII-BalthierFran conceptColored.jpg|Balthier and Fran artwork by [[Akihiko Yoshida]].
 
|File:Balthier and Ramza.jpg|Artwork of Balthier with [[Ramza Beoulve]] from ''Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions''.
 
|File:Balthier cool.png|Balthier in Garamsythe Waterway.
 
|File:Balthier2.png|Balthier in Nalbina Dungeons.
 
|File:Fran balthier.jpg|Balthier with Fran.
 
|File:Balthier Fran.jpg|Balthier and Fran.
 
|File:BalthierCGScreen2.jpg|Balthier during an FMV.
 
|File:Balthier Vaan.jpg|Balthier and Vaan.
 
|File:Fran-Balthier-Fistbump.png|Balthier and Fran.
 
|File:SkyPirDen - Balthier.jpg|Sprite - [[Sky Pirate's Den]].
 
|File:Mini Balthier.PNG|Balthier's sprite in ''[[Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings]]''.
 
|File:Balthier ffxiirw.PNG|Balthier's portrait image in ''[[Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings]]''.
 
|File:XII Manga Cover Vol. 3.jpg|Balthier on the cover of the ''Final Fantasy XII'' Manga, Vol. 3.
 
|File:FFT Balthier CG Render.png|Balthier in ''Final Fantasy Tactics''.
 
|File:Itadaki-BalthierPortrait.png|''Itadaki Street Portable''.
 
|File:Balthier in nalbina.jpg|Balthier in the Nalbina Dungeons with Vaan and Fran.
 
|File:FF12 Manga Balthier.png|Balthier in the manga.
 
}}
 
 
==Trivia==
 
*Attacking 300 times adds Balthier's sprite to ''Final Fantasy XII''s [[Sky Pirate's Den]] and grants the player the title of Assault Striker.
 
*Balthier shares his last name, Bunansa, with [[Mustadio Bunansa|Mustadio]] and [[Besrudio Bunansa]] from ''Final Fantasy Tactics''. It is unknown if there is any relation between the characters.
 
*Only Balthier and Vaan retain their original Quickenings from ''Final Fantasy XII'' in ''Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings'': Element of Treachery for Balthier and Pyroclasm for Vaan.
 
*Coincidentally, given Balthier's status as a sky pirate, his Japanese voice actor Hiroaki Hirata also provides the voice of the pirate {{w|Jack Sparrow}} in ''{{KHWiki|Kingdom Hearts II}}'', and has also done Japanese dubbing of various other {{w|Johnny Depp}} roles. He is also the Japanese voice actor for [[w:c:onepiece:Sanji|Sanji]], pirate chef of the [[w:c:onepiece:Straw Hat Pirates|Straw Hat crew]] in ''[[Wikipedia:One Piece|One Piece]]''.
 
*Much like the other cameo characters ([[Cloud Strife/Final Fantasy Tactics|Cloud]] and [[Luso Clemens#Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions|Luso]]), Balthier's age is not displayed when the player sees his profile.
 
 
==References==
 
{{Reflist}}
 
   
{{FFXII}}
 
{{XIIRW}}
 
{{FFT}}
 
{{TFF}}
 
{{TFFCC}}
 
   
 
[[de:Balthier]]
 
[[de:Balthier]]
  +
[[pt-br:Balthier]]
 
[[ru:Балфир]]
 
[[ru:Балфир]]
[[Category:Final Fantasy XII Player Characters]]
+
[[Category:Characters in Final Fantasy XII]]
[[Category:Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings Player Characters]]
+
[[Category:Characters in Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings]]
[[Category:Final Fantasy Tactics Characters]]
 
[[Category:Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade Legends]]
 
[[Category:Secret Characters]]
 
 
[[Category:Gunners]]
 
[[Category:Gunners]]
[[Category:Hume]]
 
 
[[Category:Sky Pirates]]
 
[[Category:Sky Pirates]]
  +
[[Category:Hume in Ivalice]]
  +
[[Category:Mid]]

Revision as of 02:06, 10 May 2020

Template:Sideicon

Princess! No need to worry. I hope you haven't forgotten my role in this little story. I'm the leading man. You know what they say about the leading man? He never dies.

Balthier to Ashe

Balthier, real name Ffamran mied Bunansa,[3] is a playable character in Final Fantasy XII. He is a sky pirate who globetrots Ivalice on his airship, the Strahl, with his partner Fran. During an attempt to steal from the Royal Palace of Rabanastre, Balthier encounters Vaan robbing the palace treasury. When his plan goes awry Balthier finds himself a part of a conflict between political forces that could lead to war.

Profile

Appearance

Balthier and vaan in nalbina dungeons

Balthier and Vaan in the Nalbina Dungeons.

Balthier is six feet tall and has short brown hair with blond highlights, sharply styled sideburns, and green eyes. He wears an embroidered golden and olive vest over a high-collared shirt and tight black leather trousers with leather shin pads, and steel, open-backed sandals. He wears two crossed, gold-buckled belts with two pouches attached to either side and a collection of brightly colored rings and bracelets on his left hand, and has a set of earrings in both ears. In his official render for Final Fantasy XII, Balthier holds the Betelgeuse. Artwork and renders of Balthier for several spin-off appearances depict him with this gun.

Personality

Your mistakes were twofold, I'm afraid. You sprung your trap without looking to see if the game you hunted was the one you'd snare, and you sold me short. I'm no thief; I'm a sky pirate.

Balthier to a Brigand, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions

Balthier is charming, dashing, cunning and cynical. He comes across as cocky and self-centered but his trust in Fran is complete. While the story is told from Vaan's perspective, Balthier certainly seems to think it is his story, referring to himself as "the leading man." Despite this, he is far from selfish, proving himself in the events aboard the Sky Fortress Bahamut. After he joins Vaan and the others Balthier comes to realize he has been running away from his past, and it is implied his theatrical personality exists in part to mask his vulnerabilities and to cast aside the person he used to be.

Story

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow. (Skip section)

Final Fantasy XII

So I ran. Free at last... Then I met you. All that running and I got nowhere. It's time to end this—cut my ties to the past.

Balthier
Dr

Baby Balthier with Dr. Cid.

Born in 684 Old Valendian, Ffamran mied Bunansa is the son of Cidolfus Demen Bunansa, the head of House Bunansa and a scientist in employ of the Archadian Empire. He showed such promise at a young age he was made an Archadian Judge at only sixteen years old. In 700, after his father returned from Giruvegan, Ffamran noticed Cid's sanity fading: he talked to someone who wasn't there, raving on about "bringing the reins of history back to the hands of man." This strained their relationship until Ffamran could not stand the sight of his father.

Ffamran's falling out with his father, combined with Archadia's political maneuvers, made him decide to leave his post as Judge and flee Archades, stealing a new prototype fighter ship. After going into hiding he upgraded the ship (so much it no longer resembles the original design) and named it the Strahl. Ffamran took on the name "Balthier" as an alias to help cast aside his ties with Archades. Partnering with a viera companion named Fran, he flew the skies of Ivalice searching for treasure, gaining notoriety as a sky pirate, and increasing the bounty on his head.

Fran and balthier

Balthier and Fran surprise Vaan in the Palace treasury.

In 706 Old Valendian, Balthier and Fran head to the Royal Palace of Rabanastre's treasury where they find Vaan holding the Goddess's Magicite. Balthier demands he hand it over, but before he can retrieve the magicite the Ifrit attacks the palace. Vaan escapes and Balthier reluctantly follows him.

He chases Vaan out into the palace grounds, where amid the battle between the Resistance forces and the Imperials, Balthier throws Vaan onto his hovercraft, piloted by Fran. In the manga, Vaan is accosted by Vayne Carudas Solidor and Judge Magister Gabranth and is saved by Balthier. The Goddess's Magicite, really a piece of deifacted nethicite, renders the hovercraft unresponsive, and the trio crashes into the Garamsythe Waterway.

Balthier joins forces with Vaan to find a way out though Vaan is determined to keep the magicite. Balthier suspects the new consul, Vayne, deliberately lured the Resistance out of hiding to attack the palace. They encounter a Resistance fighter named Amalia who joins them despite her distaste of her "thieving" company.

Balthier-gives-his-handkerchief

Balthier gives his handkerchief to Penelo

After the party defeats the Firemane, Vayne (in the game) or Judge Ghis (in the manga) with a battalion of soldiers ambush the party. Despite Amalia's insistence that her company is innocent, they are taken captive. As they are marched out onto the streets of Rabanastre Balthier meets Vaan's friend Penelo who weeps at the sight of Vaan being led away. To avoid a scene, Balthier gives Penelo his handkerchief and assures her Vaan will be safe. Unknown to Balthier, the bounty hunter Ba'Gamnan watches the exchange from the shadows.

In the Nalbina Dungeons Balthier sends Fran to find an escape route. In the manga, Vaan intervenes when a seeq prisoner attacks a former Dalmascan soldier and has the Goddess's Magicite seized from him. Balthier attempts to teach Vaan why he lost by challenging him to a coin toss game; Vaan must guess which hand he holds the coin in. If Vaan fails he will turn over his chestpiece from his late brother Reks as a prize, but Vaan demands Balthier wager his airship. Vaan loses and Fran returns and reveals she has the coin and Balthier's hands are empty. Balthier had won using the magick spells Decoy and Vanish to distract Vaan, tossing a fake coin while throwing the invisible real coin to Fran, and Vaan lost because he was too naive to think of sneakier tactics and didn't watch his surroundings.

Fran had found an exit and Balthier decides to make their move in two hours after investigating the Resistance. Vaan declares he will have recovered the Goddess's Magicite by that time. Vaan defies Balthier's lesson and reclaims the Goddess's Magicite without dirty tricks, and flees to reconvene with Balthier.

In the game, Balthier finds Vaan in battle with three seeq dungeon masters and joins the fray. After their victory, Balthier and Vaan hide within the dungeon arena where Balthier overhears Ba'Gamnan, who has followed him to Nalbina, along with Judge Gabranth. With Fran they follow Gabranth into an Oubliette where they find an emaciated Basch fon Ronsenburg imprisoned.

Following Gabranth's departure, Basch pleads with the party to set him free. Balthier is indifferent, but Vaan cannot control his rage at the King-Slayer, said to have also killed Vaan's brother Reks, and jumps atop Basch's cage, attracting the guards. Fran asks everyone to hold onto the cage and drops it to the Barheim Passage, inadvertently freeing Basch. Balthier allows him to join the party as another sword arm, as they navigate their way to an exit. Basch explains it was his twin brother Gabranth who killed the king and Vaan's brother in his guise; Balthier notes the two do have similar faces.

Back in Rabanastre, the party disperses. While Vaan and Basch go meet the Resistance, Balthier and Fran retire to the Sandsea tavern. Balthier is accosted by the bangaa Migelo, who claims Ba'Gamnan has kidnapped Penelo because he mistook her as someone close to Balthier. Balthier's act of kindness to Penelo when he offered his handkerchief, has been repaid with trouble for them all. Balthier is initially unwilling to go to Bhujerba to rescue her, but Basch asks him to fly him there so he can meet Marquis Ondore, and when Vaan promises Balthier the Goddess's Magicite in return, he agrees to fly them all to the sky city.

Final-Fantasy-XII-The-Zodiac-Age Vaan, Balthier and Larsa

Balthier, "Lamont", and Vaan in Lhusu Mines

In Bhujerba the group meets a youth who introduces himself as Lamont. Balthier is suspicious but allows the boy to accompany them to the Lhusu Mines where the Archadian Empire is mining magicite to be used in the Draklor Laboratory in Archades, and where Ba'Gamnan is said to be holding Penelo captive. Hearing about the magicite piques Balthier's interest and he attempts to force the boy to reveal his true identity as Larsa Solidor, but Ba'Gamnan interrupts the group and they escape. On their way out the party watches Larsa aid Penelo, who had been caught wandering the mines alone after being set free by Ba'Gamnan, and take her to Marquis Ondore's estate as his guest.

Balthier suggests they attract the Resistance's attention to gain entrance into the estate. After Vaan spreads rumors of the supposedly executed Basch still being alive, the Resistance grants them an audience. To reunite Basch with Amalia Ondore alerts Judge Ghis and has them arrested and taken aboard the Imperial flagship Dreadnought Leviathan.

Amalia's true identity is that of the reportedly dead Princess Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca. Judge Ghis takes the Goddess's Magicite from Vaan, and Amalia's accomplice in the Resistance, Vossler, helps the party escape on an Atomos Imperial carrier ship back to Bhujerba. Ashe is advised to stay within Ondore's estate lest she undermine Ondore's plans, but Balthier finds her aboard the Strahl, attempting to steal it.

Balthier threatened

Balthier threatened by Judge Ghis onboard the Leviathan

She asks Balthier to "kidnap" her and take her to the Tomb of Raithwall where the proof of her royal lineage lies; with it she hopes to reclaim Dalmasca's throne. Balthier is reluctant yet tempted by Ashe's promise of King Raithwall's treasure, and so Balthier, Fran, Basch, Vaan and Penelo accompany her across the Ogir-Yensa and Nam-Yensa Sandseas to Raithwall's Tomb.

Vossler, who accompanies the party, voices his disdain of traveling with sky pirates. After fighting the Esper Belias, Ashe acquires a piece of deifacted nethicite, the Dawn Shard. Much to Balthier's disappointment the treasure of Raithwall's Tomb turns out to be control of the Esper, and naught of monetary value. Ashe tells him the Dawn Shard is a prize of value "beyond measure". "Call me old-fashioned," replies Balthier, "but I was hoping for a treasure whose worth we could measure." Upon exiting the tomb Ghis's Imperial Fleet accosts them; it seems Vossler has betrayed them.

Ghis takes the Dawn Shard and attempts to evaluate it; his experiment unleashes the nethicite's magick and destroys the entire 8th Archadian Fleet. Balthier pilots another carrier ship to escape with the others; spotting the Dawn Shard glinting in the sky after the explosion, he steers the ship to retrieve it before descending to Rabanastre. After witnessing the nethicite's power, Ashe decides to wield it as her weapon to restore Dalmasca, but does not know how to use it. She wants Balthier to accompany her to Jahara to ask the garif's help, but Balthier is skeptical. As collateral, Balthier requests a ring on Ashe's finger.

Leaving the Strahl, damaged in the 8th Fleet's destruction, the group walks to Jahara, but the garif can not answer Ashe's questions. They meet up with Larsa who wishes for Ashe to become queen and ally with the Empire to quell the looming war with Rozarria. Basch questions Balthier's intentions, worried for Ashe's safety. Balthier accompanies the party through Golmore Jungle to Mt Bur-Omisace where they meet with Gran Kiltias Anastasis who reveals the Emperor Gramis Gana Solidor has been murdered with Vayne succeeding him, foiling their plan for a truce. Anastasis tells them of a sword that can cut through nethicite, and while Larsa remains behind, the rest of the group heads off to the Stilshrine of Miriam where Ashe retrieves the Sword of Kings.

With the sword she vows to destroy the Empire's nethicite and the party heads to Doctor Cid's laboratory in Archades. When they stop to rest in the Phon Coast's Hunters' Camp Balthier questions Ashe's intentions, comparing her drive to that of his father's. He reveals his Imperial past and his relation to Doctor Cid, as well as his suspicions about an creature his father spoke of named Venat. He vows to persevere in their endeavor to cut the ties to his past, and implores Ashe to not allow the stone's power to consume her, as it did his father.

Draklorlab

Balthier leads the way through his father's laboratory.

In Archades Balthier splits from the party who comes across Balthier's old "friend," Jules, who embezzles the chops Balthier gave him to give to Vaan and the others. They reconvene and head to the Draklor Laboratory in search of Cid, but find the lab suspiciously lacking in Imperial presence. On discovering Cid's ransacked office Balthier inspects some old papers and questions what madness found him six years ago in the Jagd Difohr.

In the 70th floor they find Reddas, a sky pirate; alone, he has cut his way through the guards and soldiers. They follow him to Cid where Balthier demands he turn over the Dusk Shard, the very same Goddess's Magicite that Judge Ghis had taken from the party earlier. Balthier is forced to draw his weapon when Cid challenges the party, backed by the power of nethicite and his Occurian ally, Venat. Balthier realizes Cid was never mad, but when he appeared to be speaking to thin air he was actually conversing with Venat, a mysterious being who can make itself invisible to anyone it chooses.

Cid retreats and claims to be heading out to the Ancient City of Giruvegan to gather more nethicite. The party heads for Balfonheim Port with their new ally, Reddas, where he explains the war is inevitable, with the Marquis and the Resistance ready to engage Vayne and the Imperial Forces. Now that it is Cid and not Vayne who holds the nethicite, the party sees the way to prevent the war is to follow him to Giruvegan. Balthier reveals he knows of Reddas's true identity by telling the story of a certain Judge Zecht, whose inadvertent use of the Midlight Shard in Nabudis two years ago destroyed the city. Invoking Reddas' past, Balthier warns Reddas against using the nethicite.

Dr. Cid is not in Giruvegan, and the party realizes he had tricked them into going there. In the heart of the Great Crystal the party meets the Occuria who name Ashe as the new Dynast King and grant her the Treaty-Blade to carve out new shards of deifacted nethicite from the motherlode, the Sun-Cryst.

The Strahl is finally fixed by Balthier's moogle mechanic Nono and Reddas gives them a manufacted skystone that allows it to fly over Jagd and accompanies them to the Ridorana Cataract. Balthier tells Vaan to take the Strahl should anything happen to him.

Atop the Pharos the party finds the Sun-Cryst, but instead of using it to obtain more nethicite Ashe attempts to destroy it. She is intercepted by Cid and Balthier again fights his father, this time fatally wounding Cid. Balthier watches his father fade into Mist, and up to his dying breath, Cid believes what he was doing was best for mankind.

The Sun-Cryst has awakened the Empire's ultimate weapon, the battleship Sky Fortress Bahamut, and the Mist the Cryst seethes seems impossible to stop. Overwhelmed by Mist, Fran falls to the ground and insists they go without her, but Balthier vows to not leave her behind. Reddas sacrifices his life to destroy the Sun-Cryst while the others escape.

Balthiersavesfran

Balthier saves Fran inside the Bahamut

As the Battle above Rabanastre is about to break out Balthier pilots the group to infiltrate the Sky Fortress Bahamut where they confront Vayne, who merges with Venat to destroy them. Despite their allegiance, Vayne and Venat are defeated, and while the others escape the Bahamut on the Strahl piloted by Vaan, Balthier and Fran remain behind to repair the damaged engines and stop Bahamut from falling on Rabanastre. Balthier fixes the Bahamut's glossair rings in time, but together with Fran they are stuck inside as the sky fortress crash-lands outside the city, the two seeming to have perished in the crash.

A year later, Balthier and Fran reclaim the Strahl from Vaan and Penelo, who had been looking after it, leaving behind a note and Ashe's ring, signifying Balthier has found the treasure he was looking for. Balthier explains he is going for the Cache of Glabados at Bervenia Palace, asking Vaan and Penelo to join in on the spoils.

Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings

Balthier as he appears in Revenant Wings.

Roses have thorns—this much I've come to expect. But you, my dear, poison yours. You've no sense of fair play.

Balthier to the Judge of Wings

Vaan and Penelo arrive at the Glabados Ruins to meet Balthier and Fran who have made their way to the Cache chamber and defeated the Ifrit guarding it. The foursome spy twin auracite crystals atop a pedestal and Balthier teases Vaan he's too young to partake in any treasure, and moves in to take both crystals. When Vaan protests, Balthier laughs and throws him the green crystal, taking the purple one for himself. The ruins begin to crumble and the sky pirates make their way to their respective airships, but the falling debris destroys Vaan's. Balthier returns Vaan and Penelo to Lowtown.

Soon after, Balthier makes his way to Lemurés to search for the auraliths and ends up confronting the Judge of Wings at the Fane of Tehp Qul. The Judge reveals what went on between her and Balthier by projecting her memories into Vaan and his allies' minds. In the flashback, Balthier is seen in the same Fane, with an unconscious Fran behind him. The Judge of Wings approaches him from the right, and the auralith is still intact between them. Balthier acknowledges the Judge's power, but says she has been holding on to her illusion of Eternity for too long. He throws the purple crystal he found in the Glabados Ruins in the air and shatters it with a gun blast before it reaches the Judge.

XIIRW-SkyPirates

His auracite willingly destroyed, Balthier points his gun at the Judge, vowing to stop her from pursuing her goal of eternal life. Before he can fire, the Judge uses her own crystal to summon the Esper Shiva, who appears behind Balthier and uses Diamond Dust to render Balthier unconscious. He and Fran are left lying on the floor.

The two escape this encounter, as Fran meets Vaan on the island of Arda, Heaven's Pillar, and leads them to the Ymir Qul Underground, where Balthier waits. Ba'Gamnan interrupts the reunion and the party battles the group of bangaa before they reach Balthier. After Ba'Gamnan's defeat, Balthier shocks Vaan by moving to destroy the auralith. Fran defects to her partner's side, and the two summon a group of Yarhi for Vaan and his party to deal with. Though Balthier and Fran are defeated, Balthier starts up the machines flanking the second auralith, which is subsequently destroyed.

The auralith's demise frees a great deal of aegyl anima. Vaan, Penelo, Llyud, Filo, and Kytes are sent to Lesrekta, Isle of Illusions, while Balthier and Fran commandeer to Vaan's new airship, the Galbana. After Vaan's return, Balthier explains he destroyed the auralith to restore the aegyls' souls; by releasing the anima, Balthier prevented the Judge of Wings from getting to the crystal first and stealing the anima within. The motivation behind the Judge's actions and the aegyl god, Feolthanos, are finally understood, and Balthier and Fran join the allied party for good.

Spoilers end here.

Gameplay

Character model.

Final Fantasy XII

Balthier has high Strength and the highest Speed, but low MP and Magick Power. Due to this, he is best suited to equip weapons with damage reliant on Strength and Speed to deal damage, as opposed to guns, as his action time with guns is the slowest. Balthier's default licenses differ based on releases. In the original release, he has Guns 1 and 2, Steal, Shields 1, Light Armor 1 and 2 and Heavy Armor 1 learnt. In the Zodiac Job System releases, he has Steal, Guns 1, First Aid and Light Armor 1 learnt.

Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings

Balthier equips guns. His armor equips—sleeveless tops—all favor Defense over Magick Defense. His accessories are rings. He takes on the role of a ranged fighter. His Quickening, Element of Treachery, deals heavy damage to one foe, and is learned after defeating the Esper Shemhazai.

Balthier can also be fought as a boss along with Fran.

Creation and development

BalthierUO

Concept art for a flashback scene.

Final Fantasy XII Ultimania Omega details that a flashback scene to Balthier's younger days was planned for the game, and a character design was drawn for it. The render for young Balthier was finished, and his Yoshida especially noted that the glasses' texture was of good quality.[4] The flashback scene was cut but his unused flashback attire resembles somewhat the one he wears in Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions.

Balthier has been called a "completely original character" by creator Akihiko Yoshida, having not used any previous Final Fantasy character as a reference.[5] Balthier has been compared to other characters in fiction. Simon Wigham of Console Obsession called Balthier his "favorite by quite a wide margin", comparing him to James Bond due to his "humorous lines".[6] RPGFan editor Stephen Harris compared his voice to that of Ian Fleming's depiction of Bond.[7] 1UP.com editor Andrew Pfister compared the duo of Balthier and Fran to that of Han Solo and Chewbacca, two characters from the Star Wars franchise, adding that they are far more interesting than any other character in the "modern FF era".[8]

Balthier was originally considered to appear in Dissidia Final Fantasy, but was left out as he had recently appeared in Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions. Vaan was set to appear in his place, but was ultimately replaced by Judge Gabranth.

Voice

In the English version of Final Fantasy XII and Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, Balthier is voiced by Gideon Emery. In the Japanese version, he is voiced by Hiroaki Hirata.

Balthier, along with Basch and Ashe, speaks in formalized English in contrast to Vaan and Penelo's more casual style. In Japanese, Balthier, Ashe and Basch use an older, more formal form of Japanese than Vaan and Penelo. Both reflect his background of being Arcadian nobility and the son of a scholar. While the medieval tone comes from the original game, the localizers could decide on the specific accents the characters would use and voice models were used to guide the writing: Balthier was Aragorn from the Lord of the Rings.[9]

When Gideon Emery came on the localization team's radar, the casting director Jack Fletcher thought he was perfect for the part. Emery wasn't previously familiar with the Final Fantasy series, which allowed him to escape any extra pressure. Back when the voices for Final Fantasy XII were recorded, the actor would go in to their voice agent's booth to record. Emery did a take or two with the in-house engineer and then forgot about it until he got the call. He got to use his own accent, a rarity then. Emery had around six recording sessions totaling around 24 hours of recording time. Up until that point he had never done more than one session for a specific game.[10]

Other appearances

Balthier has made appearances in the following games in the Final Fantasy series:

Non-Final Fantasy appearances

Balthier has made key guest appearances in the following non-Final Fantasy games:

Other media

Games

Users in Square Enix Members Virtual World community can make their character appear as Balthier. Balthier's hair costs 100 crystals and his clothes cost 480 crystals.

Additionally, in Gunslinger Stratos 2, Balthier's costume was released on November 6, 2014.

Merchandise

Balthier has a Play Arts action figure released as part of the Final Fantasy XII set. Play Arts released a new figure to commemorate the release of the Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age. Balthier also has a miniature figure in the Final Fantasy Trading Arts Mini Vol. 3. Balthier in his Final Fantasy Tactics appearance is part of the Final Fantasy Tactics Trading Arts set. He appears alongside Fran and their hoverbike in a polystone Sculpture Arts statue.

Gallery

Etymology

Balthier's middle name "mied" (ミド, Mido?) is a romanticized spelling of Mid, a recurring name of characters related to Cid.

Trivia

Balthier-ffxii-sprite
  • Attacking 300 times adds Balthier's sprite to Sky Pirate's Den of Final Fantasy XII and grants the player the title of Assault Striker.
  • Balthier shares his last name, Bunansa, with Mustadio and Besrudio Bunansa from Final Fantasy Tactics. It is unknown if there is any relation between the characters.
  • Only Balthier and Vaan retain their original Quickenings from Final Fantasy XII in Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings: Element of Treachery for Balthier and Pyroclasm for Vaan.
  • Coincidentally, given Balthier's status as a sky pirate, his Japanese voice actor Hiroaki Hirata also provides the voice of the pirate Jack Sparrow in Kingdom Hearts II, and has also done Japanese dubbing of various other Johnny Depp roles. He is also the Japanese voice actor for Sanji, pirate chef of the Straw Hat crew in One Piece.
  • Much like the other cameo characters (Cloud and Luso), Balthier's age is not displayed when the player sees his profile.
  • Balthier shares a few similarities with Ignis Scientia from Final Fantasy XV:
    • Balthier and Ignis have similar facial structures.
    • Both men speak in a British accent.
    • Throughout their primary apearances in their main games, both share the same height and age.
  • Balthier's hair, sleeves, and earrings are static in the PlayStation 4 version of The Zodiac Age. This has been fixed for the PC version, where they move in the wind.

References

External links