The Cloud of Darkness (暗闇の雲, Kurayami no Kumo?) is a recurring creature in Final Fantasy series. It is a monstrously powerful eldritch abomination with feminine features that serves as an anthropomorphic personification of the Void, and often seeks to bring about a Flood of Darkness on the worlds it appears in.
Appearances[]
Final Fantasy III[]
The Cloud of Darkness first appears as the final boss of Final Fantasy III. It manipulates Xande into destroying the world's Crystals. Xande believes this will stop time and allow him to prolong his mortal life, but in reality this is the catalyst needed for the Cloud of Darkness to manifest.
The Cloud of Darkness is fought twice. It is first encountered in an unwinnable storyline battle after Xande has been defeated. At the very end of the game, after the party has traversed the World of Darkness, the Cloud of Darkness is fought again, but if the player has not freed all the Warriors of the Dark in the final dungeon before doing so, the final boss will have an unparalleled high defense stat and the heroes will find themselves fighting a losing battle.
Final Fantasy XI[]
The Cloud of Darkness is the antagonist and final boss of the game's originally-planned final story, Rhapsodies of Vana'diel. Also known as the Void, the residents of Tartarus know it as the Cloud of Darkness, and that it is a primordial being that resides in the space between worlds. It consumes light and darkness, ceasing all life in its path while leaving a lifeless realm called Escha in its wake.
Final Fantasy XIV[]
The Cloud of Darkness appears as the antagonist of the Crystal Tower story arc, and the final boss of The World of Darkness. It is a powerful voidsent who made a pact with Xande to be brought into Eorzea.
Another Cloud of Darkness based on its Dissidia appearance appears in Eden's Promise: Umbra, as a primal created by Eden from the Warrior of Light's memories of the original voidsent Cloud of Darkness.
Final Fantasy Dimensions II[]
Dissidia Final Fantasy[]
The Cloud of Darkness is a Warrior of Chaos who stands as the antagonist representing Final Fantasy III, opposing the Onion Knight. Its design is based on concept artwork by Yoshitaka Amano rather than its original in-game appearance, and it retains this design across all of its Dissidia appearances and other crossovers.
Among the antagonists, the Cloud of Darkness plays a small role in the storyline. Along with Kefka, Kuja, and Exdeath, it desires to plunge the world into the Void and destroy everything. Under Kefka's instruction, it kidnaps Terra to use as a tool for their plan, and confronts the Onion Knight with his childish fears and bravado. After Terra is rescued and the Onion Knight claims his Crystal, the Cloud of Darkness takes a minor role.
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy[]
Final Fantasy III's Cloud of Darkness is a Warrior of Chaos who attacks Laguna, but is intrigued by his attitude towards serving Cosmos and fighting the Warriors of Chaos. Cloud of Darkness tells Laguna about the portal the manikins are using to cross over into World B from the Void to see what he does with this information, as seeking out the portal would be a suicide mission. The Cloud of Darkness's actions result in Laguna and other Warriors of Cosmos finding and closing the portal, and as punishment for its treachery, Kefka kills the Cloud of Darkness in the twelfth cycle, costing it its memories in the thirteenth.
Dissidia Final Fantasy NT[]
Final Fantasy III's Cloud of Darkness returns as a Warrior of Spiritus. It returns to World B and accompanies Kefka and Sephiroth to Spiritus's domain. Later, it explains to Materia about Shinryu and the planesgorgers, and suggests that the world will not last long until they are defeated.
Cloud of Darkness is a Vanguard type—after a certain amount of time, it becomes flooded with darkness, allowing its Bravery attacks to be buffed when Circle is held. Its EX Skill is Umbral Torrent, gaining the ability to use Zero-Form Particle Beam.
Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia[]
Final Fantasy III's Cloud of Darkness is a boss and playable character. They are recruited in Act 2, Ch. 9 of the main story.
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call[]
Final Fantasy III's Cloud of Darkness appears as a boss-type enemy during Battle Music Sequences for Final Fantasy III or Dissidia Final Fantasy.
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy All-Star Carnival[]
The Cloud of Darkness is a boss-type enemy and makes its playable debut as the representative antagonist of Final Fantasy III, unlocked by collecting Dark Crystal Shards.
Pictlogica Final Fantasy[]
Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade[]
Final Fantasy Artniks[]
Final Fantasy All the Bravest[]
Cloud of Darkness is a boss using Wave Cannon. It is fought in the Eureka Forest and drops Deathbringer upon its defeat.
Final Fantasy Record Keeper[]
Final Fantasy III's Cloud of Darkness is a playable character who could be initially recruited during the Challenge Event Destroyer of Light and Dark as a First Time Reward for completing the event's Ancients' Maze stage on Classic difficulty.
Final Fantasy Brave Exvius[]
Final Fantasy III's Cloud of Darkness appears as a summonable vision and optional playable character (being classified as a female unit). A 3-6★ Rare Summon, her job is listed as Dark Mage, and her role is Physical Damage. It originally could awaken only up to 5★, but received a new form for the Final Fantasy III event The Crystal Tower. Her Trust Master reward is the passive ability Auto-Limit, which increases the equipped unit's Limit gauge by 1 per turn.
Mobius Final Fantasy[]
Final Fantasy III's Cloud of Darkness appears as an ability card.
Final Fantasy Trading Card Game[]
Final Fantasy III's Cloud of Darkness appears in Final Fantasy Trading Card Game as Water- and Dark-elemental Forward cards. It is depicted in its artwork and Alt 2 EX Mode render from Dissidia Final Fantasy, its Yoshitaka Amano artwork, and its Theatrhythm Final Fantasy appearance. Its Manikin from Dissidia Final Fantasy, Counterfeit Wraith, also appears as a card in the game.