Editing Banon | Final Fantasy Wiki

{{sideicon|prime=FFVI|FFTCG}}
{{infobox character
|name=Banon
|release=FFVI
|japanese=バナン
|romaji=Banan
|lit=Bannan
|image=Banon.jpg
|portrait=[[File:Banon menu.png|50px|Menu sprite.]][[File:FFVI Banon Menu iOS.png|50x50px|Portrait (iOS/Android).]]
|sprite=[[File:Banon.png|In-game sprite.]]<hr/>[[File:FFVI Banon Sprite iOS.png|48x48px|Field sprite (iOS/Android).]]
|home=[[South Figaro]]<ref name="ultimaniavol1"/>
|age=54<ref name="ultimaniavol1">{{refbook|title=[[Final Fantasy Ultimania Archive]] Volume 1|page=3-8}}</ref><ref name="Complete-p180">{{Refbook|title=[[Final Fantasy VI The Complete]]|page=180}}</ref>
|dob=October 23<ref name="ultimaniavol1"/><ref name="Complete-p180"/>
|affiliation=[[Returners]]
|occupation=Returner leader<ref name="ultimaniavol1"/>
|loves=Peace<ref name="ultimaniavol1"/>
|hates=Chaos<ref name="ultimaniavol1"/>
|hobby=Reading<ref name="ultimaniavol1"/>
|sign=Libra<ref name="ultimaniavol1"/>
|race=[[Human]]
|gender=Male
|height=172 cm<ref name="ultimaniavol1"/><ref name="Complete-p180"/> (172 cm)<!--DO NOT CHANGE HEIGHTS WITHOUT PROOF. Always cite your reference(s).--> 5' 8"
|weight=70 kg<ref name="ultimaniavol1"/><ref name="Complete-p180"/> 154 lbs.
|blood=A<ref name="ultimaniavol1"/><ref name="Complete-p180"/>
|type=guest
|job=[[Oracle]]
|abilities=[[Pray (ability)|Pray]]
|weapon=[[Final Fantasy VI weapons#Punisher|Punisher]]
|armor=[[Final Fantasy VI armor#Wizard's Hat|Magus Hat]] and [[Final Fantasy VI armor#Silk Robe|Silk Robe]]
|designer=[[Yoshitaka Amano]]
}}
{{Quote|Your power is a gift, not a curse. No matter what happens, you must remember that. You are this world's last ray of light...our final hope.|Banon, to Terra}}
'''Banon''' is a [[Guest|temporary playable character]] in ''[[Final Fantasy VI]]''. He is the leader of the [[Returners]], a secret resistance movement formed against the [[Gestahlian Empire]].

==Profile==
===Appearance===
Banon has large, bushy brown hair with a beard and mustache. He wears a brown cloak with layered green, orange, and yellow linings, and green robes with black pauldrons, red bracers, brown boots, and a belt with a zebra-striped sash. His in-game sprites simplify this to an orange cloak with a large collar that covers his upper chest, a green tunic, red bracers, red pants, and brown boots. Banon's hair is long and straight rather than messy, but he retains his beard and mustache.

===Personality===
Banon is pragmatic and straightforward. He is forthcoming to [[Terra Branford|Terra]] about her being the Returners' only hope to turn the tide of the war and speaks openly of rumors that she killed fifty Imperial soldiers; when [[Locke Cole|Locke]] protests that she has no memory of doing this, Banon replies "hiding from the truth won't change it!" However, he is not harsh, and coaxes Terra to see her magical abilities as a gift, not a curse, that can be used to help defeat the Empire.

Banon is quick to remind others of the near-destruction of the world during the [[War of the Magi]] and fears that the Gestahlian Empire's pursuit of [[Magitek]] power will result in history repeating itself. Instead of using Magitek machinery to combat the Empire, Banon believes the best course is to get the aid of the [[Esper (Final Fantasy VI)|espers]] directly, and believes the war can be brought to an end swiftly if they can earn their trust. When the espers [[Battle of Vector|decimate the Empire]], Banon can barely believe they could be capable of wreaking such destruction.

===Abilities===
Banon's unique ability is [[Pray (Final Fantasy VI)|Pray]] that restores HP to his allies. Because [[Magic (term)|magic]] is thought to be a myth and normal humans cannot cast it, it is unknown how Banon has this power.

==Story==
{{spoiler}}
[[File:Banon-FFVI-iOS.png|thumb|Banon meets Terra.]]
[[Edgar Roni Figaro|Edgar]], Locke and Terra escaped [[Figaro Castle]] after [[Kefka Palazzo|Kefka's]] attack, and Edgar asked Terra to come with them to the [[Returners' Hideout]] and meet Banon if she wanted to be protected from the Empire and learn more about her powers. At the hideout Banon told them a story about a man who opened a box that unleashed the evils of humanity on the world, leaving only a ray of light: hope. Banon believed Terra is that light, their last hope to repel the Empire. He besought her to speak to her allies and hear their reasons for fighting the Empire and see if it convinced her to aid them.

While the Returners were meeting, the Empire conquered [[South Figaro]] to use as a staging ground for further northern invasions, and a force began to make its way over [[Mt. Kolts]] to the Returners' base. When one of their agents brought warning of this, Banon elected to flee down the [[Lethe River]] with Terra, Edgar, and [[Sabin Rene Figaro|Sabin]], and go to [[Narshe]] to investigate the [[Valigarmanda (Final Fantasy VI)|frozen esper]] there that first brought Terra to the Returners' attention; Locke would go to South Figaro to sabotage the Empire's advance. On the river the four were attacked by [[Ultros (Final Fantasy VI)|Ultros]] and Sabin was washed away, but the remaining three made it to Narshe safely.

At Narshe the local guards refused the three entry, as they recognized Terra from [[Raid on Narshe|when she had attacked the town]] with the Empire. The guards knocked Banon back when he tried to explain the situation. Terra remembered a secret entrance into [[Narshe Mines (South Passage)|the mines]] that Locke had used to get her out of town, and they used this entrance to sneak into town and meet with [[Arvis]], a secret supporter of the Returners. Arvis warned Banon that the townsfolk were adamant about remaining neutral in the [[Third Gestahlian Campaign|Imperial war]], and Banon met with the [[Elder of Narshe]] to try and convince him of the need to act against the Empire, but the elder was unmoved.

During the negotiations Sabin and Locke arrived with new allies: [[Cyan Garamonde|Cyan]], [[Gau]], and [[Celes Chere|Celes]], a former Imperial general. Celes knew the Empire was planning to attack Narshe with a larger force, and when a guard reported that force approaching, the elder agreed to at least allow the Returners to protect the town. At the [[Narshe Cliffs|cliffs above the town]] where the frozen esper had been moved, the Returners made their stand; with Banon guarding the passage to the esper, the other [[Battle for the Frozen Esper|Returners fought off the Imperials]] and faced Kefka commanding the attack and sent him into retreat.

After the battle, Terra confronted the esper and transformed into an [[Trance (Final Fantasy VI)|esper-like being]] that flew away. Banon remained in Narshe while the party searched for Terra. When they found her and discovered her origins—that she was the child of [[Maduin (Final Fantasy VI)|an esper]] and [[Madeline|a human]]—they returned to Narshe. Banon informed them the city had agreed to support the Returners, and they had been coming up with a plan to attack the Empire with a combination of Figaro's machinery and Narshe's resources, but they lacked the manpower. Banon suggested Terra go to the [[Cave to the Sealed Gate|Sealed Gate]] to the [[Esper World|esper world]] and ask the espers for aid, and they could storm the Empire from the east while the Returners invaded from the west.

Banon's plan worked better than he expected: a group of espers rushed out of the Sealed Gate and [[Battle of Vector|laid waste]] to the imperial capital [[Vector]], causing massive destruction and casualties. When the coalition of Returner forces reached the city, the Imperials put up no resistance and surrendered. The party arrived at Vector and had a banquet with [[Gestahl|Emperor Gestahl]], and he told them the war was over and asked them to help the Empire locate the espers before they attacked again. Banon was dubious of the idea of teaming up with the Empire to look for espers, but the party went along with it.

Banon's fate after this point is unclear; he is never seen again once the party departs Vector to go on the Imperial expedition.
{{endspoiler}}

==Gameplay==
[[File:FF6_iOS_Banon_Sprites.png|right|250px]]
Banon is an '''Oracle''' {{j|神官|Shinkan|Shinto Priest}}. His four primary stats are very low, with his [[Final Fantasy VI stats#Magic|Magic]] being mediocre. However, his defensive stats—[[Final Fantasy VI stats#Defense|Defense]], [[Final Fantasy VI stats#Magic Defense|Magic Defense]], [[Final Fantasy VI stats#Evasion|Evasion]], and [[Final Fantasy VI stats#Magic Evasion|Magic Evasion]]—are higher than any of the playable cast save for [[Umaro (Final Fantasy VI party member)|Umaro]]. His equipment is permanently set to a [[Punisher (Final Fantasy VI weapon)|Punisher]], [[Magus Hat (Final Fantasy VI)|Magus Hat]], and [[Silk Robe (Final Fantasy VI)|Silk Robe]]. Because Banon has no MP, the Punisher's effect to [[MP Attack|deal a critical hit at the cost of MP]] will not trigger. Though the Punisher has high attack power for the point in the game he is playable, Banon's extremely low [[Final Fantasy VI stats#Strength|Strength]] makes him an ineffective attacker.

Banon's ability is [[Pray (Final Fantasy VI)|Pray]], which casts the equivalent of a [[Cura (Final Fantasy VI)|Cura]] spell on the party. Pray is considered a spell, which means it is affected by [[Runic]] and [[Reflect (Final Fantasy VI status effect)|Reflect]], and Banon is unable to use Pray if he is affected by [[Silence (Final Fantasy VI status effect)|Silence]] or [[Imp (status)|Imp]]. With Pray Banon is a very effective support character; [[Terra (Final Fantasy VI party member)|Terra]], [[Edgar (Final Fantasy VI party member)|Edgar]], and [[Sabin (Final Fantasy VI party member)|Sabin]] can focus on attacking while Banon spends every turn using Pray to top up the party's HP. A [[Lethe River#Level up strategies|level grinding spot]] on the Lethe River allows the player to battle enemies over and over, using Banon's Pray to sustain the party.

While Banon is in the party, if he is [[Knocked Out|KO'd]] it is an instant [[Game Over (term)|Game Over]]. Through the player is not informed of this until boarding the raft on the Lethe River, this condition is in effect the entire time Banon is in the party, including the [[Three Scenarios]]. For this reason it is best to keep Banon in the back [[row]]. Because his [[level]] is much lower than the party's (he is the average of the party's levels minus three), it is beneficial to level up Banon a bit outside the Returner Hideout before boarding the raft.

===Stats===
{|class="full-width"
| valign="top" width="50%"|
{|class="half-width FFVI article-table" style="text-align:center"
|-class="a"
!style="width:50%"|Name
!style="width:50%"|Initial Stats
|-
!class="b"|[[Final Fantasy VI stats#Strength|Strength]]
|10
|-
!class="b"|[[Final Fantasy VI stats#Speed|Speed]]
|24
|-
!class="b"|[[Final Fantasy VI stats#Stamina|Stamina]]
|11
|-
!class="b"|[[Final Fantasy VI stats#Magic|Magic]]
|32
|-
!class="b"|[[Final Fantasy VI stats#Attack|Attack]]
|6
|-
!class="b"|[[Final Fantasy VI stats#Defense|Defense]]
|56
|-
!class="b"|[[Final Fantasy VI stats#Evasion|Evasion]]
|36%
|-
!class="b"|[[Final Fantasy VI stats#Magic Defense|Magic Defense]]
|51
|-
!class="b"|[[Final Fantasy VI stats#Magic Evasion|Magic Evasion]]
|32%
|-
!class="b"|[[Final Fantasy VI stats#Escape Success|Escape Success]]
|2
|-
!class="b"|HP Gain
|46
|-
!class="b"|MP Gain
|16
|-
!class="b"|Level Averaging
| -3
|}
| valign="top" width="50%"|
{|class="half-width article-table FFVI" style="text-align:center"
|-class="a"
!style="width:5%"|Level
!style="width:30%"|HP
!style="width:30%"|MP
!style="width:30%"|EXP
!style="width:5%"|+
|-class="collapsibletr collapsed"
!class="b"|1
|46
|16
|0
|-
!class="b"|2
|57
|20
|32
|-
!class="b"|3
|69
|24
|96
|-
!class="b"|4
|83
|29
|208
|-
!class="b"|5
|100
|34
|400
|-
!class="b"|6
|120
|40
|672
|-
!class="b"|7
|142
|46
|1056
|-
!class="b"|8
|166
|53
|1552
|-
!class="b"|9
|192
|61
|2184
|-class="collapsibletr collapsed"
!class="b"|10
|219
|69
|2976
|-
!class="b"|11
|247
|78
|3936
|-
!class="b"|12
|277
|87
|5080
|-
!class="b"|13
|312
|97
|6432
|-
!class="b"|14
|351
|107
|7992
|-
!class="b"|15
|395
|117
|9784
|-
!class="b"|16
|445
|127
|11840
|-
!class="b"|17
|499
|137
|14152
|-
!class="b"|18
|556
|148
|16736
|-
!class="b"|19
|617
|159
|19616
|-class="collapsibletr collapsed"
!class="b"|20
|682
|170
|22832
|-
!class="b"|21
|749
|181
|26360
|-
!class="b"|22
|818
|192
|30232
|-
!class="b"|23
|890
|204
|34456
|-
!class="b"|24
|966
|216
|39056
|-
!class="b"|25
|1045
|228
|44072
|-
!class="b"|26
|1127
|240
|49464
|-
!class="b"|27
|1213
|252
|55288
|-
!class="b"|28
|1303
|265
|61568
|-
!class="b"|29
|1398
|278
|68304
|-class="collapsibletr collapsed"
!class="b"|30
|1497
|291
|75496
|-
!class="b"|31
|1597
|304
|83184
|-
!class="b"|32
|1698
|317
|91384
|-
!class="b"|33
|1800
|331
|100088
|-
!class="b"|34
|1902
|345
|109344
|-
!class="b"|35
|2005
|359
|119136
|-
!class="b"|36
|2109
|373
|129504
|-
!class="b"|37
|2215
|387
|140464
|-
!class="b"|38
|2322
|402
|152008
|-
!class="b"|39
|2430
|417
|164184
|-class="collapsibletr collapsed"
!class="b"|40
|2540
|432
|176976
|-
!class="b"|41
|2651
|447
|190416
|-
!class="b"|42
|2764
|462
|204520
|-
!class="b"|43
|2878
|478
|219320
|-
!class="b"|44
|2994
|494
|234808
|-
!class="b"|45
|3111
|510
|251000
|-
!class="b"|46
|3230
|526
|267936
|-
!class="b"|47
|3350
|542
|285600
|-
!class="b"|48
|3472
|559
|304040
|-
!class="b"|49
|3597
|576
|323248
|-class="collapsibletr collapsed"
!class="b"|50
|3725
|593
|343248
|-
!class="b"|51
|3855
|609
|364064
|-
!class="b"|52
|3986
|624
|385696
|-
!class="b"|53
|4119
|638
|408160
|-
!class="b"|54
|4253
|651
|431488
|-
!class="b"|55
|4389
|663
|455680
|-
!class="b"|56
|4526
|674
|480776
|-
!class="b"|57
|4665
|684
|506760
|-
!class="b"|58
|4807
|693
|533680
|-
!class="b"|59
|4951
|701
|561528
|-class="collapsibletr collapsed"
!class="b"|60
|5096
|708
|590320
|-
!class="b"|61
|5243
|714
|620096
|-
!class="b"|62
|5391
|719
|650840
|-
!class="b"|63
|5541
|724
|682600
|-
!class="b"|64
|5693
|730
|715368
|-
!class="b"|65
|5846
|736
|749160
|-
!class="b"|66
|6001
|743
|784016
|-
!class="b"|67
|6157
|750
|819920
|-
!class="b"|68
|6315
|757
|856920
|-
!class="b"|69
|6475
|765
|895016
|-class="collapsibletr collapsed"
!class="b"|70
|6637
|773
|934208
|-
!class="b"|71
|6797
|781
|974536
|-
!class="b"|72
|6952
|789
|1016000
|-
!class="b"|73
|7103
|797
|1058640
|-
!class="b"|74
|7248
|804
|1102456
|-
!class="b"|75
|7388
|811
|1147456
|-
!class="b"|76
|7524
|818
|1193648
|-
!class="b"|77
|7656
|824
|1241080
|-
!class="b"|78
|7782
|830
|1289744
|-
!class="b"|79
|7902
|836
|1339672
|-class="collapsibletr collapsed"
!class="b"|80
|8019
|842
|1390872
|-
!class="b"|81
|8132
|847
|1443368
|-
!class="b"|82
|8242
|852
|1497160
|-
!class="b"|83
|8350
|857
|1552264
|-
!class="b"|84
|8455
|862
|1608712
|-
!class="b"|85
|8557
|867
|1666512
|-
!class="b"|86
|8657
|872
|1725688
|-
!class="b"|87
|8755
|877
|1786240
|-
!class="b"|88
|8850
|883
|1848184
|-
!class="b"|89
|8942
|889
|1911552
|-class="collapsibletr collapsed"
!class="b"|90
|9032
|895
|1976352
|-
!class="b"|91
|9120
|901
|2042608
|-
!class="b"|92
|9207
|907
|2110320
|-
!class="b"|93
|9292
|914
|2179504
|-
!class="b"|94
|9375
|922
|2250192
|-
!class="b"|95
|9457
|931
|2322392
|-
!class="b"|96
|9537
|941
|2396128
|-
!class="b"|97
|9620
|952
|2471400
|-
!class="b"|98
|9706
|964
|2548224
|-class="uncollapsible"
!class="b"|99
|9794
|977
|2637112
|}
|}

==Other appearances==
===''[[Final Fantasy]]''===
In the ''[[Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls|Dawn of Souls]]'' and subsequent remakes of the original ''Final Fantasy'', Banon is one of the automatic names the player can choose for the [[Warrior (Final Fantasy)|Warrior]] job.

===''[[Final Fantasy Trading Card Game]]''===
[[File:Banon TCG.png|right|100px]]
{{Section|Final Fantasy Trading Card Game}}
{{clear}}
==Behind the scenes==
In the Super NES and PlayStation ''[[Final Fantasy Anthology|Anthology]]'' versions, when Edgar suggests using Magitek weapons of their own to combat the Empire, Banon's refusal to resort to such a tactic is [[Final Fantasy VI dummied content|disabled]] due to an oversight in the dialogue coding, and the conversation skips to him suggesting they have Terra speak to the frozen esper to wake it up. This has the effect of giving the impression Banon concurs with Edgar's idea instead of opposing it. This glitch is fixed in the [[Finest Fantasy for Advance|Game Boy Advance version]], making it clear that Banon's intent from the beginning was to combat the Empire with the aid of espers, either the frozen esper or the espers beyond the Sealed Gate.

Banon's fate is unknown. Given that Gestahl's alliance with the Returners was revealed to be a trick, they may have had him killed when the deception was revealed. Otherwise it would seem that Banon perished in the [[Cataclysm (Final Fantasy VI)|cataclysm]]. When [[Hironobu Sakaguchi]] was asked what happened to Banon and Arvis (whose fate is also ambiguous), Sakaguchi replied "use your imagination".<ref name="vjamp">{{Refwebsitedead| page url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090215121344/http://totscqcc.hp.infoseek.co.jp/vjamp.htm| page name = V Jump issue (in Japanese)| site url = http://www.infoseek.co.jp/| site name = Infoseek| access time = 20090925022956}}</ref>

Banon's sprite with a different palette is reused for [[Duncan Harcourt|Duncan]].

==Gallery==
<gallery>
FF6BanonSprites.PNG|Banon's sprites (SNES).
</gallery>

==Etymology==
{{Etym|Banon}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{navbox characters FFVI}}

[[de:Banon]]
[[fi:Banon]]
[[it:Banon]]
[[ru:Банон]]
[[Category:Characters in Final Fantasy VI]]
[[Category:Guest characters]]
[[Category:Oracles]]