The Malboro (モルボル, Moruboru?), also known as the Molbol, Morbol or Mad Oscar, is a recurring creature in the Final Fantasy series, debuting in Final Fantasy II. It is a large, green, tentacled plant-like creature, with an anemone-like head and large mouth lined with sharp teeth. It is renowned for its dreaded Bad Breath, which can inflict many status effects on its targets, crippling unprotected parties, which can frequently be learned as Blue Magic. The Malboro has ranked among the more iconic and difficult enemies in the series, even appearing as a boss on occasion.
Appearances[]
Final Fantasy II[]
The Malboro appears as an enemy encountered in the Cave of Mysidia. While it lacks its signature Bad Breath, its regular attacks have a chance to inflict Paralysis, making them dangerous enemies nonetheless. Notably, in the Pixel Remaster release, Malboros initially had a 100% chance of inflicting Paralysis with their physical attacks, making them a more serious threat, but this was patched out.
Final Fantasy IV[]
The Malboro, also known as the Molbol, appears as an enemy encountered in the Sylph Cave, as well as the Lunar Ruins bonus dungeon exclusive to the Advance and Complete Collection releases. Final Fantasy IV marks the debut of its Bad Breath attack, which only affects a single party member. The Malboro always uses Bad Breath on its first turn.
Final Fantasy IV: The After Years[]
The Malboro appears in Kain and Edge's Challenge Dungeons.
Final Fantasy VI[]
The Malboro, also known as the Mad Oscar, appears as an enemy encountered in Darill's Tomb. While it retains its dreaded Bad Breath, it is the only enemy in the tomb incapable of inflicting the Zombie status, making it arguably the least dangerous enemy in the tomb.
Final Fantasy VII[]
The Malboro appears as an enemy encountered in Gaea's Cliff and the Northern Cave. It may also appear in the Gold Saucer as a monster in the Battle Square's seventh round, after obtaining the Highwind.
Final Fantasy VII Remake[]
The Malboro appears as an optional boss encountered in the Shinra Combat Simulator at the end of the "vs. Monsters of Legend" challenge, on hard mode. Defeating the Malboro will reward the "That's the Smell" trophy and a Refocus Materia. The player can also learn the Enemy Skill "Bad Breath" from it.
Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-[]
The Malboro appears as an enemy encountered in the Banora Underground and during the mission "Underground Caves."
Final Fantasy VIII[]
The appears as an enemy encountered on the Island Closest to Heaven, Island Closest to Hell, Grandidi Forest, and Great Plains of Esthar. It almost always uses Bad Breath on its first turn, and thus the party should be prepared with good status defense junctions. It can drop the Malboro Tentacle used to teach Quistis Bad Breath as Blue Magic and to craft her ultimate weapon, Save the Queen. The tentacles are also needed to acquire Doomtrain. Malboros can be devoured to boost Spirit. The Malboro can be obtained as a poison-elemental Triple Triad card with 7/7/4/2 values.
Final Fantasy IX[]
The Malboro appears as an enemy first encountered in Pandemonium, and afterward on the world map on the Mist Continent. While it starts the battle grounded, it is capable of entering a floating state that renders it immune to earth-elemental attack, but vulnerable in turn to wind. It is not as threatening as other appearances, partly because its Bad Breath only hits one character.
Final Fantasy X[]
The Malboro appears as an enemy encountered in the Calm Lands and the Cavern of the Stolen Fayth. While weak against Fire, it will use Bad Breath more frequently when hit by Fire-elemental attacks. It may drop a variety of status-inflicting weapons or status-warding armors upon defeat.
Final Fantasy X-2[]
The Malboro returns as an enemy encountered in Besaid, the Thunder Plains, the Bevelle Underground, and Via Infinito.
Final Fantasy X-2: Last Mission[]
Final Fantasy XI[]
The Morbol appears as a family of plantoid enemies, with the common Morbol encountered in Davoi and La Vaule (S). In addition, a variant of morbol known as the Malboro can be encountered in the Pashhow Marshlands. Aside from this enemy and the Malboro Vine and Fiber items, the Morbol name is used for the rest of the family.
Final Fantasy XII[]
The Malboro appears as a genus of enemies, with the common Malboro being encountered in the Golmore Jungle and the Lhusu Mines. Malboro-type enemies are fairly small, usually only human height. Malboros walk with their mouths facing upwards when not in battle—they tilt their mouths down to attack when they engage the party. They may use Cloying Breath in addition to Bad Breath.
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings[]
The Malboro appears as a rank II non-elemental melee Esper.
Fortress[]
The Malboro was set to appear as a boss, with smaller mouths on the inside of its mouth in place of teeth and on its long tentacles. It was gigantic in size, as large as the titular fortress.
Final Fantasy XIV[]
The Morbol appears as a family of seedkin found through Eorzea, with the common Morbol being encountered in the Larkscall region of the East Shroud and the Fogfens region of Mor Dhona. Its signature Bad Breath targets players in a wide-reaching fan, requiring swift maneuvering to avoid its crippling effects.
Players can obtain a Morbol mount by obtaining the True Blue achievement, which requires completing the final raids of each wing of the Bahamut and Alexander (Savage) raids while synced with no Echo, using a party composed entirely of Blue Mages. It is considered one of the most difficult mounts to obtain.
Final Fantasy XV[]
The Malboro appears as a boss encountered in Fodina Caestino. It can later be encountered during the "No Stopping the Great Stink" hunt, in the Costlemark Tower Menace dungeon, and during a timed quest. It appears in swampy areas and ambushes the party. The Stinker: Malboro is a lure fashioned after a malboro and suited to catching Vesper Gar and Snakeheads.
A King's Tale: Final Fantasy XV[]
Final Fantasy XVI[]
The Morbol appears as the second boss of the game, encountered at the end of the Stillwind stage. Owing to the lack of status effects in Final Fantasy XVI, its Bad Breath inflicts damage instead. The Morbol nests beneath piles of refuse in shallow bodies of water, ambushing prey that disturb the pile. After being ambushed by the Morbol in Stillwind, Clive is able to recognize future Morbol nests he encounters, preventing them from ambushing him.
Morbol tentacles can be used for medicine against "gout, melancholy, and moon sickness" as per a note found in the second hideaway's garden. After being excised from the trunk and dried in the sun until brittle, the tentacles are ground to dust and mixed with warm coeurl milk.
Final Fantasy Tactics[]
The Malboro appears as the weakest member in its family. It can only use its signature Bad Breath when an ally with the Beastmaster ability is nearby.
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance[]
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift[]
Crystal Defenders[]
Final Fantasy Type-0[]
The Malboro appears as an enemy encountered in the Eibon Region and Roshana Province.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles[]
The Malboro appears as a boss encountered the Mushroom Forest, casting Blizzard and Slowga as well as using its Bad Breath attack.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King[]
The Malboro appears as an enemy encountered off-screen in Langooth Peak, Rinfor Nightwood, Beltevra Forest, and Musqu Mazewood.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers[]
The Malboro appears as a field boss encountered in the Eastern Wildlands, which can be rather difficult if accompanied by Goblin Healers.
Final Fantasy Dimensions[]
The Malboro appears as an enemy encountered in the Lufenia Ruins and the Massive Cavern.
Final Fantasy Dimensions II[]
The Malboro appears as an earth-elemental Eidolon available to Aemo. It teaches the Dreadful Song ability and casts Consuming Mist when summoned, lower enemies' Attack and Magic for 5 turns.
Dissidia Final Fantasy / Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy[]
The Malboro appears as a summon using its Final Fantasy II artwork. It casts Bad Breath when summoned, which causes Bravery damage over time to the opponent, the damage increasing the shorter the distance between combatants. In the original release, it can be obtained as a Stage Bonus during the Destiny Odyssey II storyline. In Dissidia 012, it is instead purchased from certain Moogle Shops for 60 KP.
Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia[]
The Malboro appears as a boss encountered early on, and is later a common mini-boss. Its appearance is based off its Final Fantasy VIII incarnation.
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy series[]
The Malboro appears as an enemy during Battle Music Sequences.
Pictlogica Final Fantasy[]
The Malboro from Final Fantasy VI appears as an enemy.
Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade[]
Final Fantasy All the Bravest[]
The Malboro appears as an enemy encountered in the Eureka Forest and Zanarkand Ruins. It uses Bad Breath and drops the Partisan.
Final Fantasy Record Keeper[]
The Malboros from Final Fantasy VI, VIII, IX, XII, and XV appear as bosses and enemies.
Final Fantasy Explorers[]
Final Fantasy World Wide Words[]
Final Fantasy Brave Exvius[]
The Malboro appears as a boss encountered during "The Rumble of Malboro." In addition, the Malboros from Final Fantasy VII, IX, and XV appear crossover events.
War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius[]
World of Final Fantasy[]
The Malboro appears as an imprismable enemy encountered in the Windswept Mire, EX Dungeon A, and Coliseum. It can be transfigured with the Mandragora and Malboro Menace.
Mobius Final Fantasy[]
The Malboro appears as an earth-elemental enemy. It can be obtained as a Ranger ability card, granting the Lesser Earthdance or Earthdance abilities.
Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin[]
Final Fantasy: Unlimited[]
In episode 8 Earl Tyrant is served a Malboro salad, but it is mispronounced "Marborja".
Chocobo no Fushigina Dungeon[]
Chocobo's Dungeon 2[]
The Malboro is sometimes encountered in dungeons. Also, a "Drunken Malboro" appears in a restaurant in the town.
Dice de Chocobo[]
Final Fantasy Trading Card Game[]
The Malboros from Final Fantasy X and Theatrhythm appear Water-elemental Monster cards.
Final Fantasy Portal App[]
The Malboros from Final Fantasy VI, VIII, X, XIV, and World of Final Fantasy appear as Triple Triad cards.
Non-Final Fantasy guest appearances[]
Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Portable[]
The Malboro appears as a chance card that increases pearl value by 10% on a random street.
Mario Hoops 3-on-3[]
Two Malboros appeared in the secret court Malboro Gardens, one behind each basket. The Malboros would sometimes attack with their purple Bad Breath, which knocked down players if hit by it and inflict them with the Poison, which slows down characters. The Malboros stray from their normal appearances, with only five eyes, each very large and pink, but still retaining their green skin.
Lord of Vermilion series[]
The Malboro appears as a card in Lord of Vermilion III and Lord of Vermilion Arena.
Puzzle & Dragons[]
The Malboro appeared as part of the Crystal Defenders collaboration.
Samurai Rising[]
Mana series[]
The Malboro appears as an enemy in various games in the series.
Dragon Quest Monsters: Super Light[]
The Malboro appears as a recruitable monster during the crossover event with Final Fantasy Brave Exvius.
Etymology[]
Marlboro Cigarettes, since the creatures often spew horrid fumes from their mouths.
The name may be a reference to