Warriors of Light

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Warriors of Light
(光の戦士, Hikari no Senshi?)
Background information
Type	Chosen guardians
Affiliation(s)	Crystal

The world lies shrouded in darkness.
The winds die...
The seas rage...
The earth decays...
But the people believe in a prophecy, patiently waiting for its fulfillment.
'When darkness veils the world, four Warriors of Light shall come.'
After a long journey four young warriors did at last appear...
...and in the hand each was holding a crystal.

Intro to the original Final Fantasy.

The Warriors of Light, also called Light Warriors, Warriors of the Light, Knights of Light, or Heroes of Light, is a recurring theme in the Final Fantasy series. Four heroes are chosen by the crystals—be it by a prophecy, a will, or by fate—to embark on the dangerous journey to fight evil or restore balance to the world. In the games they appear in, the Light Warriors are always the characters controlled by the player.

Appearances

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow. (Skip section)

Final Fantasy

The Warriors of Light seen from behind.

The Warriors of Light are four youths spoken of in Lukahn's prophecy that appear in Cornelia to save the captured Princess Sarah from the clutches of the corrupted knight, Garland. Unlike in later appearances, these Warriors each hold the crystals themselves. Their mission is not to save the crystals, but to destroy the Four Fiends of each of the four elements and to save the world by restoring the light to the crystals they hold. After defeating the Four Fiends, the Light Warriors travel into the past to defeat the cause of all the evil, Chaos, who turns out to be their first foe, Garland. The evil force had created a cycle of destruction passing through time that the Warriors of Light end once and for all by destroying Chaos.

The Light Warriors are not given names and, instead, are named by the player. Their job classes are also assigned by the player at the start of the game. In the novelization Final Fantasy: Memory of Heroes the warriors are named Setro, for the Warrior, Zauver, for the Thief, Flora, for the White Mage, and Teol, for the Black Mage.

Final Fantasy III

Artwork of the Warriors of Light (Famicom).

The Warriors of the Light are four orphaned youths that live on the Floating Continent. In the original game, they are not given names, but the 3D version names them Luneth, Arc, Refia, and Ingus, and gives them a short backstory. They travel the world appearing at the four crystals of each element, gaining jobs at each one they find. Their goal is defeat the power of Darkness from destroying their world.

After traveling into the World of Darkness, the Warriors of the Light find their opposing Warriors of the Dark who once saved the world themselves from the destructive power of Light. The four Dark Warriors aid the four orphans during the final battle against the Cloud of Darkness.

Final Fantasy V

Artwork of the Warriors of Light, from left to right; Bartz, Lenna, Krile, and Faris, by Yoshitaka Amano.

There are two groups of warriors. The four Warriors of Dawn—Galuf, Dorgann, Kelger, and Xezat—defeated the evil Exdeath and sealed him in a remote cavern, using the power of the four crystals of another world. Though three of the four return home to their world, Dorgann stays behind, feeling guilty for bringing a great evil to an innocent world. While there, he has a son, Bartz, but dies of grief after the passing of his wife, Stella.

Bartz becomes a wanderer and one day gathers a group of warriors in his own group, branded the Warriors of Light by the Wind Crystal. These four, who include the Dawn Warrior Galuf and the royal Tycoon sisters, Lenna and Faris, are chosen by the crystals to protect them and destroy evil. They fail each time, and each crystal is shattered by Exdeath's forces. When each crystal is broken, the shards become job classes for the Warriors.

After the four crystals are destroyed Exdeath returns. The Light Warriors travel to the Dawn Warriors' world and while there, each of the original Warriors of Dawn sacrifice themselves to try and defeat Exdeath, including Galuf, who is replaced by his granddaughter, Krile, who completes the second generation of warriors.

Exdeath fuses the two worlds together so as to gain more power from the Void. The Warriors of Light travel into the Interdimensional Rift, fighting through his horde of demons, and slay Exdeath with the aid of the spirits of the Dawn Warriors. It is revealed that whenever the world is on the brink of being consumed into the Void, four spirits will be born who will give birth to light, referring to the formation of the Warriors of Light.

Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals

The four Light Warriors, Linaly, Prettz, Rouge, and Valkus.

200 years after the end of Final Fantasy V, the crystals again come under threat, now from the evil Ra Devil. A descendant of Bartz, Linaly, gathers her friend Prettz, the pirate Rouge, and the general Valkus to defeat this threat. The unlikely team is sent off to the Black Moon to save the world.

While the story focuses on Linaly and Prettz, and none save for Linaly possess any magical properties, the four band together to face the oncoming evil subtly mirroring the Warriors of Light from Final Fantasy V, although they are never officially referred to as the Warriors of Light.

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

"The knight of light".

Lightning is called the "the knight of light", a synonym for "the warrior of light" by Zoe in the Yusnaan Slaughterhouse before the fight begins. Lightning has been chosen as the savior of souls by the god Bhunivelze.

Final Fantasy XIV

The Warriors of Light tattoo.

The Warriors of Light are stated to be the band of adventurers (i.e. the players) that helped protect the city-states and form the Eorzean Alliance during the events leading up to the Seventh Umbral Era. They took to the field during the Battle of Carteneau on the plains of Mor Dhona and were lost during the unleashing of Bahamut. Their name derives from the fact that whenever people try to remember them, all they can remember is a silhouette surrounded by a blinding light.

Characters created for the original game have a special tattoo on their neck, indicating they are one of the Warriors of Light. It can be hidden (or unhidden) with command "/lmark". They have a different intro upon starting the game, appearing in a flash of light and walking to their chosen city state, and there are minor edits to the text of some quests. They receive a chocobo whose beak has been branded with the same mark, implying this was their original chocobo from the previous era.

Near completion of the main plot, the Scions of the Seventh Dawn and all player characters (i.e. including those created in A Realm Reborn) are referred to as Warriors of Light by the leaders of the Grand Companies. The player character is referred to as a Warrior of Light specifically by Hydaelyn, and becomes widely known and referred to in-game as the Warrior of Light thereafter.

The concept of the Warrior of Light existed for eons in each and every world. Elidibus exploited this by becoming a Warrior of Light himself to aid in the Ascians' Ardor as his duty as Emissary. During the final battle of Norvrandt, Elidibus used the Crystal Tower to summon shades of heroes from other worlds, drawing upon their hopes to feed his power as a primal. He merges with them to become a version of the first Warrior of Light in a final bid to defeat the player character, but is defeated by the adventurer and the Exarch.

Ajora Glabados and Ramza Beoulve are known to be Warriors of Light from the ancient past. Ardbert was the Warrior of Light on the First.

Minion of Light is a minion the player can acquire.

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest

When Benjamin and Phoebe approach the statue at the top of Doom Castle, the statue calls them the Knights of Light, and the Crystals entrust them with their power.

Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light

Artwork by Akihiko Yoshida. From left to right: Aire, Jusqua, Brandt and Yunita.

Brandt, Aire, Yunita, and Jusqua are chosen to be the Heroes of Light, also referred to as The Children of Hope, in the present by the Crystal to replace Rolan, the sole Hero of Light from the past. Rolan was chosen as a Hero of Light at an unknown point in the past by the Crystal to fight Dark Lord Chaos. Rolan sealed Chaos in the Star Chamber in the center of the planet. In the present Rolan's soul has been corrupted by Lucifer, one of Chaos's servants, and lost his powers as a Hero of Light.

The Heroes of Light do not have innate powers that set them apart from others. Instead, the Crystal simply chooses a person, or people, who have strong hearts filled with hope and other positive emotions, or who have hearts with the potential to be filled with hope, and grants them crowns, which function like jobs from other Final Fantasy games, allowing them to gain powers based on which crown they choose to wear.

Final Fantasy Dimensions

Four of the eight main characters of the game are the Warriors of Light: Sol, Aigis, Sarah, and Dusk.

At the beginning of their adventure, the Warriors of Light are chosen by the Crystal of Lux, and are blessed with its power. During their journey, they find five crystal shards which bless them with the Dragoon, Bard, Memorist, Paladin and Seer jobs.

Dissidia Final Fantasy (2008)

The Warriors of Cosmos during the final cycle.

The Warrior of Light represents the original Final Fantasy, modeled after the Warrior class from said game. The Warriors of Cosmos, chosen representatives of the goddess, are also referred to as the "Warriors of Light". Each warrior is in search of a crystal, which holds a part of Cosmos's power.

Shantotto was once a member, having abandoned the war long ago for her own research.

Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy

The Warriors of Cosmos during the 12th cycle.

Warrior of Light returns in the prequel to Dissidia along with the other Warriors of Cosmos whose membership during the previous 12th cycle included Kain Highwind, Tifa Lockhart, Laguna, Yuna, Vaan, and Lightning before the six sacrificed themselves to ensure their allies' survival in the next cycle.

Terra, Cloud, and Tidus appear in the cycle as the antagonistic Warriors of Chaos, but switched sides prior to the 13th cycle. Jecht was originally a member of the Warrior of Cosmos until he was captured and converted into a Warrior of Chaos.

Other than Shantotto's background story being revealed, the game reveals Prishe to also be a former member who brought the Warrior of Light to Cosmos.

Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia

When the battles fought on behalf of Materia and Spiritus begin to destroy their warriors, the two gods create a new world as a haven for recovery. This world is soon threatened by Torsions that warp its fabric. Individuals that fall through the Torsions from their own worlds are deemed to be Warriors of Light by Mog. Together, they journey across the landscape to battle the monster hordes that emerge from Torsions, which usually closes the rift.

Later, Shantotto reveals that the "Light" which the warriors carry is not simply the ability to close Torsions but to open that as well, a fact that proves unsettling. Mog also begins to recruit less benevolent individuals (such as Seymour Guado because they carry this power in equal measure. This leads to speculation by some party members that there is an imbalance towards the light, which could be as harmful as darkness.

Final Fantasy All the Bravest

The Warriors of Light are mentioned in the epilogue, referring to them the player's entire party. They have restored the balance to the dimension, reclaiming it from the forces of darkness.

Spoilers end here.

Mobius Final Fantasy

According to a long-dated prophecy, a Warrior of Light will appear in Palamecia, the land of hope unbound, to slay Chaos and save the world. Wol came to this world as one among many Blanks who share his name, lack of memories, and the possible fate of becoming the next Warrior of Light. He eventually discovers there were more Warriors of Light in the past.

Meia, a "heretic" witch, fell in love with one such Warrior of Light, but because this affair went against prophecy, he was executed and she was condemned to face similar trials to Wol's. While she begins as an adversary, in truth she fights to avenge the loss of her past love, entering into an uneasy pact with Wol.

Alongside Wol and Meia, Warriors of Light and other main characters from the Final Fantasy series appear as ability cards to use in battles, but few, if any, are involved in the main story.

World of Final Fantasy

The Captain of the Guard turning into the Champion Warrior of Light alludes to the original Final Fantasy whose main cast consists of a group of nameless people, but in the first Dissidia Final Fantasy one of them was redesigned into his own character.

Final Fantasy Trading Card Game

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Related content

Fabula Nova Crystallis: Final Fantasy

File:FFT0 Vermilion Bird Crystal New l'Cie.png

The Vermilion Bird Crystal is seeking for a new l'Cie to serve her in Final Fantasy Type-0.

The concept of l'Cie alludes to the Warriors of Light, a group of warriors brought together by circumstance are chosen by the crystal that gives them a mission to save the world, and often grants special powers to achieve said mission. This is part of a larger concept of Fabula Nova Crystallis: Final Fantasy in re-imagining the series's core concepts in new ways. In previous games becoming a Warrior of Light was shown in a positive and heroic light, whereas the Lightning Saga explores the concept of servitude to the crystal (fal'Cie) in a more sinister light, bringing the chosen "warrior's" free will into question.

In Final Fantasy Type-0, becoming a l'Cie is an honor, as the chosen can serve their respective Crystal and protect their nation and its people, but many see it as the l'Cie giving up their humanity as l'Cie are meant to follow the Crystal's Will rather than their own.

Final Fantasy XV

King Regis and the heir to the throne, Prince Noctis.

Final Fantasy XV started as Final Fantasy Versus XIII and a part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis series. As the project became a main series entry, its connection to Fabula Nova Crystallis was diminished, but various design elements of the latter remain.

In the opening loading screen of the game, there's a line that says.

In a time unknown, only a prophecy keeps hope alive in people's hearts. "When darkness veils the world, the King of Light shall come."

This is similar to the opening lines of the first Final Fantasy:

The world lies shrouded in darkness. The winds die... The seas rage... The earth decays... But the people believe in a prophecy, patiently waiting for its fulfillment. "When darkness veils the world, four Warriors of Light shall come."

In the world of Final Fantasy XV, the kings of Lucis serve as the "Warriors of Light", being servants of the Crystal and thus bound to its will through their ancient pact with the Astrals and able to use a special kind of magic via the Crystal's power: this magic, and other magic related to the gods as wielded by the Oracle, comes at the cost of physically debilitating the wielder to a fatal degree if overused.

Noctis Lucis Caelum and his companions Gladiolus Amicitia, Ignis Scientia and Prompto Argentum serve as the Warriors of Light for Final Fantasy XV, with Noctis being chosen by the Crystal to perform a ceremony to cleanse the world of Eos of a scourge that generates monstrous daemons and lengthens the nights until all daylight vanishes. He is known as the King of Kings, or the True King.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers

Main article: Crystal Bearer (The Crystal Bearers)

Crystal Bearers are people with magically infused pieces of Crystal inside their bodies that grant them magical powers triggered through mental focus. A Bearer's magic power is somewhat unique, ranging from the control of a specific element of nature to the ability to reshape matter and even the power to bend time or space.

Non-Final Fantasy guest appearances

Bravely Default

Artwork by Akihiko Yoshida. From left to right: Edea, Tiz, Agnès and Ringabel.

Tiz Arrior, Agnès Oblige, Edea Lee, and Ringabel are chosen by a deceased alternate world version of Agnès to be the Warriors of Light: referring to them as the embodiment of her will to stop Ouroboros. This was hinted in the game's announcement trailer that addresses the player as a Warrior of Light. During the final chapter, Airy remarks that no other "Warriors of Light" have impressed her like the foursome.

In popular culture

The four main characters from 8-Bit Theater refer to the Warriors of Light from the original Final Fantasy. Aside from the "Light Warriors" (Fighter, Thief, Black Mage, and Red Mage) there is also the "Real Light Warriors", who, thanks to a decision to grind before starting their adventure and very bad luck, end up falling far behind the first group on their travels.

References

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