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Shinryu DoS

Shinryu artwork from Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls.

An ancient dragon dwelling in the Dimensional Rift. It often rains devastation on those who would destroy it, causing even gods to fear its strength.

Dissidia summon files

Shinryu (神龍, 神竜, or しんりゅう, Shinryū?, lit. Shénlóng; spirit dragon, god dragon, divine dragon), also translated as Lord Dragon or Nova Dragon, is a recurring boss in the Final Fantasy series, and one of the hardest superbosses. Designed by Tetsuya Nomura, it first appeared in Final Fantasy V as a powerful boss fought optionally in the final dungeon, and has since been featured in various forms in the series. Shinryu is associated with the powerful weapon Ragnarok, and sometimes drops it after being defeated. It is sometimes presented as a counterpart to another superboss, Omega. Shinryu has appeared as a summon, but he cannot be summoned by the player.

Profile[]

Shinryu is a mysterious entity with a crystalline body and known as a traveler of dimensions. He is linked to both the Interdimensional Rift and the Void, where he resides. Shinryu is often seen alongside Omega, another powerful superboss. It has been said Omega was created to destroy Shinryu, although the true nature between the two is unknown.

Shinryu tends to be found in treasure chests that guard the game's most powerful weapons, and prefers using a multitude of elemental attacks.

In the Dissidia Final Fantasy series Shinryu is the one behind the events by striking a deal with Cid of the Lufaine to become stronger. In a secret scenario in the original Dissidia Final Fantasy, Shinryu reveals he gained amusement from the war he had orchestrated. He takes revenge on Cid and sparks the post-apocalyptic scenario known as Confessions of the Creator. As Shinryu sided with Chaos, Dissidia Final Fantasy is the only time the dragon is an outright antagonist. In Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, Shinryu evolved into Shinryu Verus, and departs to the Void once the player defeats Feral Chaos. Shinryu returns in Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, where he faces off against the combined forces of Materia and Spiritus.

Appearances[]

Final Fantasy[]

Shinryu from FFI 20th Anniversary Edition sprite

Shinryu as he appears in Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary and Final Fantasy IV Complete Collection

Shinryu appears with the same appearance as in Final Fantasy V in the Dawn of Souls, 20th Anniversary, and defunct iOS and Android versions. It is one of the last two bosses in the Lifespring Grotto along with Omega.

Final Fantasy IV: The After Years[]

Shinryu (Lord Dragon in the English WiiWare release and Nova Dragon in the The Complete Collection) is an optional boss in the Depths of the True Moon. It drops the Ragnarok after its defeat.

Final Fantasy V[]

Shinryu-ffv

Shinryu.

Shinryu is a monster-in-a-box in the Interdimensional Rift. It is tied with Omega for the most difficult boss. Its attacks are Water-elemental, and it offers the Ragnarok when defeated, which is the most powerful sword in the SNES and PS releases. In Final Fantasy V Advance and 2013 releases, there is an even stronger version called Neo Shinryu who guards the new strongest sword, the Ultima Weapon.

A book found in the Interdimensional Rift mentions Shinryu arriving in the wake of Omega, and being sealed in the Void after the Sealed Weapons failed to destroy them.

Final Fantasy IX[]

Nova Dragon-FFIX

Nova Dragon.

Nova Dragon leads an army of dragons from Memoria, and must be defeated to enter the final area. Shinryu's character file in the original Dissidia Final Fantasy lists this as one of the character's appearances since it derives from the same Japanese name.

Final Fantasy X[]

Shinryu-ffx-enemy

Shinryu.

Shinryu is an Original Creation monster in the Monster Arena. It is a palette-swap of Evrae and is fought underwater; thus, only Tidus, Wakka and Rikku may face it. To fight it, the player must capture at least two Splashers, two Achelous, and two Maelspikes from the flooded portion of Gagazet Cavern.

Final Fantasy XI[]

Shinryu (FFXI)

Shinryu.

Shinryu is an evolved form of Abyssea's version of Promathia, serving as a Notorious Monster fought in a special battle within Abyssea - Empyreal Paradox. To fight him the player must defeat the boss of every Abyssea area and defeat all six Caturae. Notable drops include the Twilight Helm and Mail set, which when paired are the only items to grant a player the "Auto-Reraise" effect.

Final Fantasy XIV[]

FFXIV Shinryu 1

Shinryu.

Shinryu is a primal introduced in the main scenario during the second portion of "The Far Edge of Fate" story quests. The Warrior of Light's party reactivates Omega to fight it. In Stormblood, it ends up under Zenos yae Galvus's possession and serves as the final boss of the main scenario. Shinryu returns in Endwalker; Zenos becomes Shinryu once more after absorbing the remaining aether of the Mothercrystal in an exchange with Krile Maya Baldesion. This was done to cross the universe to reach Ultima Thule and gain the Warrior of Light's attention once Zenos assists in the fight against the Endsinger. The Trial The Final Day takes place upon Shinryu's back as Zenos and the Warrior of Light pursue the Endsinger.

Final Fantasy Type-0[]

Type 0 shinryu render

Battle render of Shinryu Celestia.

Shinryu Celestia is a dragon form the l'Cie Celestia assumes.

Final Fantasy Dimensions II[]

FFLTNS Shinryu Omega Artwork

Artwork of Parai's version of Shinryu.

Shinryu is a water-elemental Eidolon for Wrieg and Parai. Wrieg's version of the signet teaches him Blizzaga Breath abilities, while Parai's version teaches him Devil Claw abilities. Its summon attack is Tidal Wave when summoned into battle, which deals heavy water-elemental damage to all enemies.

Dissidia Final Fantasy[]

Shinryu Dissidia

Shinryu.

Shinryu is a special summon used by Chaos and cannot be summoned by the player. Unlike other summons, Shinryu can be summoned multiple times in the same battle, and uses several powerful effects borrowed from other summons.

Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy[]

Shinryu is a summon used by Chaos and Feral Chaos. It has the same function it has in Dissidia Final Fantasy.

Dissidia Final Fantasy NT[]

Shinryu is the main antagonist and final boss of the main story campaign.[1]

Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia[]

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Theatrhythm Final Fantasy[]

Theatrhythm Shinryu

A dragon which flits through dimensions in pursuit of Omega. Enemies drown in the face of its strength. It guards a legendary sword, but neither its treasure nor power offer any clue why it might lurk in a box...

Shinryu's CollectaCard

Shinryu appears as a superboss.

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call[]

Shinryu appears as an enemy in Battle Music Sequences.

Pictlogica Final Fantasy[]

PFF Shinryu

Shinryu from Final Fantasy V appears as an enemy.

Final Fantasy All the Bravest[]

Shinryu is a boss.

Final Fantasy Record Keeper[]

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Final Fantasy Brave Exvius[]

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Chocobo no Fushigina Dungeon[]

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Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales[]

Shinryu is one of the five promotional cards. In the Japanese and American versions, Shinryu must be downloaded from a download station. In the European version, the player simply has to enter the code Down, X, R, Right, A, B on the Download Pop-Up Card screen.

Cards[]

Shinryu
Shinryu Atomic Ray
None Promo Blue
Attack None Defend None
Atomic Ray
Crystal Ability (*****)

Deal 7 damage.

CP Crush
Destroy all of your opponent's crystals.


Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King[]

The superboss Wyrm is implied to be Shinryu, having been paired with Omega in the Infinity Spire. It uses Shinryu's signature Tidal Wave as an attack.

Final Fantasy Trading Card Game[]

Shinryu in his Final Fantasy Trading Card Game appearance has a card.

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Non-Final Fantasy Appearances[]

Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Portable[]

Shinryu is a chance card in Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Portable, the card's ability: Free visit to stock market.

Guardian Cross[]

GC Shinryu

This dragon boasts a strength that not even mighty heroes wielding the Sealed Weapons could hope to match.

Description
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Non-Final Fantasy guest appearances[]

Bravely series[]

In Bravely Default Shinryu is one of the six dragon bosses that need to be defeated to get the keystones needed to unlock the Vampire Castle. It holds the light keystone.

Allusions[]

Yiazmat, a holy superboss dragon that first appeared in Final Fantasy XII, bears many similarities to Shinryu. Like Shinryu, Yiazmat is a holy dragon spoken of like a deity, is said to be the guardian of a powerful sword, and accepting the hunt for Yiazmat in Final Fantasy XII allows the party to fight Omega Mark XII; Shinryu and Omega are often depicted together as hunting one another. As Shinryu does not appear in games set in Ivalice, Yiazmat may serve as Shinryu's substitute among the enemy roster.

Etymology[]

Shinryu is the Japanese on'yomi name for Shénlóng, literally "god/divine dragon", an important ancient dragon in Chinese mythology. It is said to preside over storms and rain, and can bring disastrous drought, thunderstorms and general bad weather if it feels neglected and/or angered.

Though Shinryu's name is taken from the East Asian dragon which normally is depicted with four claws and no wings, it does not greatly resemble the mythological Shénlóng, as it originally had five claws on each hand as opposed to four as a way to show higher-rank (as well as sharing the same azure color as another mythological dragon, the Qīnglóng/Seiryu).

The Final Fantasy depiction of Shinryu's most iconic recurring design more closely resembles the European wyvern, a dragon-like serpent with two claws and two wings.

Citations[]

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