Thancred Waters

Thancred Waters
(サンクレッド・ウォータース, Sankureddo Wōtāsu?) Alternate names: Handsome Stranger (手練れらしき 優男, Tedarerashiki Yasaotoko?, lit. Skillful Gentleman)
Portraits
Other appearances	Opera Omnia Theatrhythm Record Keeper Brave Exvius War of the Visions All other appearances
Biographical information
Age	32
Affiliation	Circle of Knowing Scions of the Seventh Dawn
Physical description
Race	Midlander Hyur
Gender	Male
Hair color	Ash-blond
Eye color	Brown (Original) Silver (Heavensward onwards)
Gameplay details
Type	AI controlled party member
Job class	Gladiator (Original) Rogue (A Realm Reborn) Gunbreaker (Shadowbringers)
Unique abilities	Gladiator: Flash, Sentinel, Fast Blade, Savage Blade, Rage of Halone, Cure Ninja: Shukuchi Gunbreaker: Heart of Stone, Superbolide, No Mercy, Soothing Potion, Solid Barrel Combo, Rough Divide, Nebula, Smackdown, Perfect Deception, Shining Blade, Leap of Faith, Souldeep Invisibility
Weapon	Lion Heart
Armor	Gunbreaker artifact armor (Bodyguard set)
Behind the scenes information
Japanese voice actor	Yuichi Nakamura
English voice actor	Taliesin Jaffe (Original) Peter Bramhill (Heavensward onwards)

A self-professed bard and chaser of dreams, often seen wandering the wilds of Thanalan. Ever the charmer, Thancred never misses an opportunity to woo a lovely lady with verses of adulation. This foppish facade, however, conceals many secrets, not the least of which is his puissant skill with a dagger.

Official description

Thancred Waters is a male Midlander Hyur Gladiator and later Rogue and Gunbreaker. He played an important role in the Ul'dah storyline of the original Final Fantasy XIV, and is a major NPC in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn and its expansions.

History

Early life

Thancred was a street urchin in Limsa Lominsa, snatching purses with a band of petty thieves. One day he targeted Louisoix Leveilleur, but was caught red-handed. Instead of turning him in, Louisoix asked Thancred to aid his fellow man with his talents. The boy returned with Louisoix to Sharlayan to study survival and intelligence-gathering techniques, becoming an Archon and then a member of the Circle of Knowing.

Final Fantasy XIV (version 1.0)

At the age of seventeen, Thancred appeared in Ul'dah on the day of a big festival, aiding subdue a Goobbue that went on a rampage. He questioned the actions of Niellefresne for orchestrating the events at the parade that had cost Warburton's life, Ascilla's father. Unable to get Nielle to fess up, Thancred was exiled from the city until the authorities looked to question him. He discovered Nielle collapsed on the floor and witnessed his death. Knowing Garlean spymasters would come for Ascilla due to her father's betrayal, Thancred renamed her "Minfilia" so none would come looking for her.

Thancred drifted in and out of Minfilia's life, but on her eighteenth birthday he delivered her a mythril knife and a missive from his mentor: Louisoix Leveilleur. She was upset he had told Louisoix about her gift, but Thancred revealed that the Echo will help people survive the upcoming calamity, although how she uses it would be up to her.

Thancred praying to the Twelve.

Thancred, Yda, Papalymo, and Y'shtola attempted to defeat the imperial Legatus Gaius van Baelsar. Thancred prayed at the Milvaneth Sacrarium as the Calamity struck, and though not shown, in "Tales from the Calamity" Thancred had persuaded the sultana, Nanamo Ul Namo, to do a similar vigil at the Arrzaneth Ossuary.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn

The Warrior of Light ended up in an altercation in Ul'dah with some thugs led by Ungust who harassed a refugee woman in the streets. Realizing the Warrior of Light had used the Echo to clear her name, Thancred invited them to meet the Antecedent in the Waking Sands with the password "wild rose" to be given to the clerk Tataru. The Warrior of Light met Minfilia there, who introduced the other Scions of the Seventh Dawn and assigned the Warrior to assist Thancred in discovering who was responsible for the missing refugees in Camp Drybone.

They discovered it was Ungust posing as a priest of Nald'thal to lure the poor into being captured by Amalj'aa. The Warrior of Light was caught in a trap and taken to the Bowl of Embers along with Ungust and a corrupt Brass Blades member. After the Warrior of Light slayed the Lord of the Inferno itself in self-defense, Thancred arrived with a detachment of the Immortal Flames and regretted he could not help sooner. He confided that the other survivors had to be put down due to Ifrit's tempering.

Thancred possessed by Lahabrea.

Thancred gradually appeared less often at the Waking Sands as he worked on other assignments. Much later, it was discovered he had become possessed by the Ascian Lahabrea via a black crystal necklace while out investigating the Ascians' machinations. Using his body, Lahabrea secretly aided both the beastmen and Gaius van Baelsar to bring about the return of "the one true god". He unmasksed at Castrum Centri as the Scions escaped on Cid's airship. They realized Lahabrea possessing Thancred was how Livia sas Junius could raid the Waking Sands, and concluded Thancred became possessed due to pushing himself so hard to make up for Louisoix's absence.

During the final confrontation with the Ultima Weapon, Lahabrea explained to Gaius that the light of the mothercrystal was shielding the party from the superweapon's assault. The real reason he had it absorb the primals was to activate the Heart of Sabik and awaken a sliver of his god's power, Ultima. To Gaius's horror, Lahabrea demonstrated its power by using it to destroy much of the Praetorium and exhausted all of Hydaelyn's strength to shield the party. The Sxions yet defeated Gaius, after which Lahabrea confronted the Warrior of Light directly. Though he taunted that they would have to kill Thancred to fight him off, the Warrior of Light had a trump card: the Light of the Crystals they had found enabling them to purge Lahabrea from Thancred's body. As the ruined imperial base crumbled, the Warrior of Light escaped with an unconscious Thancred using a Magitek Reaper.

Thancred later accompanied the Warrior of Light and Y'shtola in investigating reports of stolen crystal shipments in Thanalan. After ruling out the Amalj'aas' involvement, they learned the raids were carried out by the Serpent Reavers on behalf of the Sahagin who were going to summon Leviathan. As the Scions investigated Sapsa Spawning Grounds, Thancred demonstrated his knife-wielding skills, and to his astonishment, the newcomer Yugiri demonstrated similar talents from her homeland. After Leviathan was felled at sea, Minfilia revealed (to Thancred's embarrassment) that he had learned his knife skills in his days with the Limsa Lominsan underground. Intrigued, Yugiri wanted to be introduced to this "fraternity" and share her knowledge.

When the Crystal Braves betrayed the Scions who were framed for Nanamo Ul Namo's apparent assassination, a squad of Brass Blades confronted Thancred to arrest him for colluding with the Garleans. Initially believing them to be referring to his actions while under Lahabrea's control, he evaded capture and met up with the other Scions, who were fleeing Ul'dah. He revealed a hidden tunnel that led out of the city, but their pursuers followed. Y'shtola and Thancred remained behind to ensure that the Warrior of Light and Minfilia escaped by causing a cave in. At the last second, Y'shtola used the ancient spell Flow to transport herself and Thancred to safety.

Thancred shortly after emerging from the Lifestream.

While Y'shtola became trapped within the Lifestream, Thancred ended up in the wilderness of the Dravanian Forelands, devoid of clothing. Thancred fashioned obsidian blades to hunt for animal skins to cover his body, later bartered with the Vath for more ideal garments by offering them food. The Lifestream had distorted Thancred's aether to the point he lost his ability to use magick, and thus he could not teleport out of the wilderness. When Thancred learned of the Gnath and Ravana, he decided to remain near the beast tribe as he deemed it his best chance of reuniting with the other Scions.

Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward

Thancred was reunited with the Warrior of Light, Alphinaud, Y'shtola, and Krile while they searched for him in the Smoldering Wastes at Loth ast Gnath. He saved the Warrior of Light from the Warriors' of Darkness leader (Ardbert) and assisted in the investigation of the arson incidents in Ishgard.

Thancred ignores Alphinaud's beckoning.

Thancred learned of Minfilia's fate as having transcended her mortal existence to become the Word of the Mother; the Scions promised to fulfill her wishes and defeat the Ascians once and for all. After the Scions discussed what happened to Minfilia with Matoya, a bereaved Thancred walked away while at a loss for words. This had a lasting effect upon him; when Emmanellain de Fortemps punched him after the protest in Falcon's Nest, he hit back with enough force to send the lordling flying and shared his experience at giving his all and yet failing. He retorted that Emmanellain must learn to live with the consequences of his actions, as he himself has.

Thancred rescued Alisaie Leveilleur after her run in with the Warriors of Darkness, having been keeping an eye on them. He fought alongside the other Scions against the Warriors of Darkness at the Bowl of Embers. Thancred later arrived with Hilda on an airship to pick the Scions up on top of Baelsar's Wall just as Ilberd Feare set into motion his plan to summon a primal using the Eyes of Nidhogg and the sacrifice of himself and his soldiers. Soon realizing what Papalymo intended to do, Thancred carried Yda over his shoulder back to the airship despite her protests. The airship got away just as a shell of light engulfed the manifesting primal.

Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood

The Eorzean Alliance faced Garlean forces in the battle of Ala Mhigo. Thancred had done his part by spreading discontent upon the Garleans with rumors of the imperial crown prince, Zenos yae Galvus, being possessed.

During his time in the imperial provinces, he met a Hrothgar named Rostik who taught him the ways of the Gunbreaker. Thancred was subjected to the Crystal Exarch's Calling and his soul was separated from his body.

Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers

Thancred spiriting Ryne from Eulmore.

Thancred ended up transported to the First (a reflection of the Source world) years before the Warrior of Light followed suit. He decided to do his part by hunting sin eaters, the creatures corrupted by light that plagued this realm. He heard of "Minfilia" that was revered as the Oracle of Light in this realm, and her current reincarnation was being held captive in Eulmore. Thancred rescued the girl, making her his apprentice while using her magick to complement his role as a Gunbreaker.

Thancred accepting Ryne.

Their relationship was initially awkward as Thancred still loved the Minfilia he had known and was thus emotionally distant from her reincarnation. Thancred knew the girl's awakening as the new Oracle of Light would mean his Minfilia would cease to be. Seeing the girl's resolve when she protected him from Ran'jit and expressed her desire to follow her own path, Thancred battled the Eulmorean general and drove him off while nearly being killed in the process. By the time Thancred was reunited with the girl after she became the new Oracle, he named her "Ryne" and began opening up to her. After the newly-arrived Warrior of Light defeated the Ascian Emet-Selch and saved the First, Thancred remained by Ryne's side as they traveled outside Norvrandt and discovered Eden while hunting down more Lightwardens. Joined by the Warrior and Urianger Augurelt, Thancred helped Ryne restore the aether flow to the land while relieved she has made a friend in Gaia.

Thancred returned to the Source, recuperating before proceeding to investigate the current status of Garlemald with Urianger accompanying him. Later, he served as the group's tank at braving Paghl'tan before fighting the Lunar Primals.

Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker

Thancred and his fellow Scions departed to Sharlayan to learn more about the coming of the Final Days. He, alongside the Warrior of Light, Urianger, and Estinien Varlineau headed to Thavnair in search of Hannish alchemists' wisdom to combat the Telophoroi cult's enthrallment. As they had never set foot on Thavnair, they used an experimental aetheryte to go there, and became inflicted with severe aetherial sickness. Still, Thancred asked the Warrior to accompany Estinien, who "is very bad with coins".

Arriving in the Great Work, Thancred assisted the alchemists there, led by Nidhana, to provide a charm against the Telophoroi. When Fandaniel kidnapped Nidhana, Thancred served as the group's tank as they explored the Tower of Zot.

As the Eorzean Alliance planned to infiltrate Garlemald itself to fight the Telophoroi on their homeland while aiding the affected Garlean civilians, Thancred went alongside Urianger to get help from Bozjan and Dalmascan resistance. He also reunited with his Gunbreaker master, Rostik Liubasch.

Arriving in Garlemald proper, Thancred led the scout party consisted of him, Estinien, Bozjan, and Dalmascan contingent. He infiltrated the Vth legatus' base to hinder their attack on the Eorzean Alliance. Later, he and the Scions became the main force in the attack on the Tower of Babil.

After the Warrior destroyed Zodiark on the moon, Thancred alongside Y'sthola and Urianger departed there to accompany the Warrior of Light on further investigations. They learned that if the Final Days fully consumed the Source, all of the reflections would be lost as well, and Thancred worried about Ryne on the First. Realizing that Hydaelyn had created the moon as a vessel for the people of the world to escape the star, the group headed to Bestways Burrow where they met with the Loporrits, the caretaker of the moon.

After involved in the Loporrits' plan to repurpose the vessel to better suit the people of the planet below, Thancred alongside the Warrior and Y'sthola returned to Old Sharlayan. That night, he visited the Warrior's room to talk with them about his worry for Ryne, and asked the Warrior to stop him should his worry get in the Scions' way.

The next day, as the Final Days fell upon Thavnair, Thancred worked alongside his fellow Scions at protecting the people there. After a massive attack at Radz-at-Hand, the group dispersed as Thancred accompanied Y'sthola and Urianger to help elsewhere. As the Warrior of Light returned to the First, Thancred asked them to pass his regards to Ryne.

After the Warrior of Light returned from Elpis, Thancred accompanied the Scions to the discussion with Sharlayan's Forum. He helped the Labyrinthos researchers prepare the spaceship Ragnarok. When he, the Warrior of Light, and Urianger were assisting in Sharlayan Hamlet, Thancred recognized Moenbryda's parents when they arrived to console Urianger.

Thancred joined the Scions in exploring the aetherial sea to seek out Hydaelyn. When the goddess tested them to see their worthiness of challenging Meteion in the edge of universe, Thancred served as the group's frontline fighter and they emerged victorious.

After the Ragnarok arrived in Ultima Thule, Meteion ambushed the Scions while declaring the place could not support life. Thancred was the only one to pull through her ambush, and later revealed that his strong emotions of "survive" transformed into dynamis that let the group survive in Ultima Thule's inhospitable environment. Later, the Warrior resurrected Thancred and the rest of the Scions, and they explored the recreation of the Dead Ends.

Confronting Meteion who transformed into the Endsinger, Thancred and the Scions were overwhelmed before being saved by the Warrior of Light back to Ragnarok. He later prayed alongside his fellow Scions, empowering the Warrior of Light in the fight against the Endsinger with dynamis. After the Warrior returned, he expressed his reliefs.

Upon the Scions disbanding, Thancred decided to travel with Urianger, helping people as always.

Characteristics

Appearance

Thancred in Heavensward.

Thancred is a Hyur of medium height and ash-blond hair. He has neck tattoos like his fellow Archon allies Yda, Papalymo, Urianger, and Y'shtola. He wears a white long-sleeved shirt covered by black tunic with leather belts over his left shoulder and a black belt on his waist. He wears white fingerless gloves and greenish pants with a heavily patterned black leather greaves and sandals. Thancred's attire changed during the events of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, now wearing a white belt and Sharlayan goggles on his left shoulder.

Ever since Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward Thancred's hair has grown longer and his left eye has changed from brown to gray, which he covers with an eye patch. While he maintains it is purely cosmetic, in the rare instances his eye is visible, it is notably silver instead of the original brown.

In Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers, he reverts to his original hairstyle, having done away with the eye patch and now wears a white version of the Gunbreaker's Bodyguard relic armor, wielding the Lionheart relic weapon. When fighting at Garlemald in Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, Thancred wears the Bozjan armor of fending.

Personality

Thancred in Shadowbringers.

Thancred is an intelligent smooth-talker with a fondness for women, though he does get flustered when Minfilia Warde points out some of the shadier elements of his past, even as a compliment. Thancred is devoted to Minfilia and views her as a close friend, akin to a sister. Following the Calamity, Thancred became a workaholic to the point of exhaustion, trying to fill in the shoes of Louisoix Leveilleur.

After learning that Minfilia had become the Word of the Mother, Thancred's disposition changes, becoming less cheerful and more stoic and hardened, though he still retains his dry wit. Despite this, Thancred has come to accept Minfilia's fate. He is devoted to the Scions of the Seventh Dawn's cause and has become something akin to their spy and recon-agent, willing to delve into hostile territory. The other Scions are fond of Thancred and view him as a close friend, especially Urianger and Y'sthola. Thancred in return is protective of his friends and allies and, in particular, holds the Warrior of Light in the highest esteem. In the later patches of Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood, Thancred is revealed as a cunning and clever tactician.

In Shadowbringers, Thancred's feelings and inner-conflict over Minfilia's fate are laid bare. He is initially reluctant to accept her reincarnation in the First, Ryne, but follows his Minfilia's wish to look after the girl while keeping emotionally distant. This leads Ryne to believe that Thancred hates her, for which he later apologizes. Upon his final departure from the First and saying his goodbyes to Ryne, Thancred proclaims how proud he is on how far she has come.

Gameplay

Battle

Thancred in Role-Play mode.

Thancred fights alongside the player as a guest character in many of the main scenario quests. Although he styles himself as a Bard, he is treated as a Gladiator in battle. When the Rogue class was added in patch 2.2, Thancred's past with the Rogues' Guild was revealed and from then on is treated as a Rogue.

In Shadowbringers, Thancred becomes a Gunbreaker and an NPC party member in the Trust System. Due to his inability to manipulate aether, he cannot use cartridge-based weaponskills unless Ryne is in the party. In later patches and Endwalker, this role extends to Y'shtola and Urianger.

Thancred becomes a temporary playable character during the instanced duty in Full Steam Ahead. He has access to Soothing Potion, Solid Barrel Combo, Rough Divide, Nebula, and Smackdown. During certain moments in the instance he can use Perfect Deception, Souldeep Invisibility, Shining Blade, and Leap of Faith. His second playable instance is in the quest A Frosty Reception, in which he must utilize stealth to complete his objectives. He has access to Silent Takedown, Swift Deception, and can use Bewilderment Bombs on guard dogs.

Triple Triad

Thancred Card
	Card No.	46
	Total stats	20
	Type	Scion
	Description	“I've been something of a liability of late, I know. 'Tis high time I set about making amends.”
	Obtain	Won from Fufulupa, Western Thanalan (22, 17) or Hab, Southern Thanalan (24, 40)

Heavensward Thancred Card
	Card No.	142
	Total stats	25
	Type	Scion
	Description	“If nothing else, you might have warned me that I would emerge from the Lifestream in the altogether.”
	Obtain	Obtain 150 unique Triple Triad Cards

Shadowbringers Thancred Card
	Card No.	284
	Total stats	25
	Type	Scion
	Description	“Gods know, I'm proud of you. I always will be. You deserve all the happiness in the world and more.”
	Obtain	Obtain 300 unique Triple Triad Cards

Cosmetics

Wind-up Thancred is a minion that was first available as a reward from the 2014 event of The Rising, and can presently be purchased from the Online Store. Dress-up Thancred can be exchanged for Khloe's Bronze Certificate of Commendation from completing a Wondrous Tails journal with one line.

Thancred's Attire and Thancred's Modish Attire are optional attire sets for male characters that can be purchased from the Online Store.

In Trust, Thancred has 3 outfits. His Gunbreaker garb is the default outfit. After levelling him to 80 in Avatar mode at Shadowbringers, the player could unlock his Heavensward garb, although he still fight as a Gunbreaker. In Endwalker, upon levelling him to 90, the player will unlock his Bozjan Armor of Fending garb.

Other appearances

Main article: Thancred Waters other appearances

Thancred has appeared in the following games throughout the Final Fantasy series:

• Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia as a playable character.
• Theatrhythm Final Fantasy All-Star Carnival as a playable character.
• Pictlogica Final Fantasy as a playable character.
• Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade as a Legend.
• Final Fantasy Record Keeper as a playable character.
• Final Fantasy Brave Exvius as a summonable vision.
• War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius as a summonable vision and in vision cards.
• Final Fantasy Trading Card Game as a card.
• Triple Triad as cards.

Other media

Thancred appears on a sticker set for the LINE communications app. The sticker set he appears in is titled "ファイナルファンタジーXIV. He appears in a second set, titled "FINAL FANTASY XIV Vol. 2".

"Sorry to keep you!"

"Hi~"

"YOSHIDAAAAA!"

Behind the scenes

In patch 3.4, Thancred's in-game model was slightly altered. His right eye was returned to its original brown while his left (seen when he and Krile are at the imperial castrum) remained the silver it was originally changed to, indicating that the eye patch is not "purely cosmetic".

Voice

Thancred is voiced by Taliesin Jaffe (credited as T. Axelrod) in the English version of A Realm Reborn. He shares his voice actor with Edge Geraldine from Final Fantasy IV. Since Heavensward, he is voiced by Peter Bramhill.

Since A Realm Reborn, Thancred has been voiced by Yuichi Nakamura in the Japanese version. He shares his voice actor with Cid Raines from Final Fantasy XIII.

Gallery

Main article: Thancred Waters gallery