All Bosses in Final Fantasy XIII from Easiest to Hardest

With Final Fantasy XVI finally coming to PC in the following weeks, there is no better time than now to reflect on the game that kicked off this modern era of Final Fantasy. Calling Final Fantasy XIII a controversial release would be a huge understatement, but it is an important step in the journey that is its franchise. Controversial does not equal bad and even though there are many dedicated critics of this entry, there are just as many dedicated lovers of what it brought to the table.

One of those changes is its combat, specifically its stagger system. This system has made its way into the games that came after Final Fantasy XIII and the games’ encounters are balanced around it. Final Fantasy XIII‘s boss battles are some of the most interesting in the series. Also, these battles tend to have a much higher skill floor when compared to the games that came before. They demand a mastery of the game and its systems. Here is a definitive list of every boss in Final Fantasy XIII from easiest to hardest.

21. Manasvin Warmech

This enemy is not only the first boss but the first encounter in Final Fantasy XIII. You could argue that this boss isn’t harder than the previous entry on the list. However, I place it here because it has access to a slightly stronger area of effect attack while the previous entry usually spams basic single-target attacks.

20. Dreadnought (First Encounter)

Kicking off our list is the first Dreadnought encounter. Players will find this mechanical fiend early in the game in the Vile Peaks. It makes sense for this boss to be near the bottom of our list since it’s a fight testing the player on the extensive Paradigm System. The boss will primarily just counter your efforts with basic attacks while throwing in a special move every 4 turns.

19. Garuda Interceptor

This boss is faced with two battles back to back. Both phases aren’t the most difficult fights on the list but players must employ two similar yet different strategies to emerge victorious. During the first fight, it has a low chain resistance, and it is easy to stagger. In the second battle, the creature raises several barriers around itself, making it harder to damage.

18. Aster Protoflorian

In the Sunleth Waterscape, players will run into the next entry on our list. Much like the other bosses in this title, this is a test. The Aster Protoflorian tests your ability to manage debuffs. With a good strategy and correct usage of the Paradigm shift system, this boss is completely trivial. However, I would be lying if I didn’t say this fight gave me trouble my first time through the game.

17. Odin

Some of the most iconic matches in Final Fantasy XIII are the Eidolon fights. Next on our list is Odin, one of the first players will face. This fight sets a precedent for the Eidolon fights to follow after. It’s more of a puzzle than a traditional fight. Players must focus on defensive paradigms.

16. Enki and Enlil

These twin bosses in the Sunleth Waterscape rank rather low on our list of difficulty because the fight is a test of stagger management. Enki has more HP than Enlil so it’s good to prioritize Enlil first. After defeating Enlil, just wear Enki down with thunder to exploit its weakness.

15. Shiva Sisters

Similar to the Odin fight, the Shiva Sisters’ boss fight is more of a puzzle. This fight is easier to mess up than the Odin fight since it requires precise timing alongside Paradigm management. Expect to fail this fight a few times before nailing its timing.

14. Havoc Skytank

The bosses are slowly starting to snowball in terms of difficulty with this entry on the list. The Havoc Skytank is going to be a struggle at first but is manageable with the right tactics. The melee party members will only be able to use ruin except for Lightning whose weapon can transform into a gun. This fight asks you to ignore the auto-battle option because selecting Lightning’s ranged attack command greatly increases her usefulness in this fight.

13. Hecatoncheir

Vanille’s Eidolon battle is one of the more difficult ones of the bunch. Hecatoncheir is the last Eidolon you’ll face in battle. Defeating him requires the player to balance all aspects of combat; staying healthy, removing debuffs, and maintaining a steady offensive. At this point of the game, you should be comfortable with the combat system but that doesn’t mean this bout will be an easy one.

12. Midlight Reaper

This boss’s creepy design gives off the feel that its going to be a very difficult encounter. Lucky for the player, it’s vulnerable to debuffs such as Imperil and Deprotect. On top of that, it’s weak to Fire and Ice as well. As long as you keep up your debuffs and stay on the offensive this boss is a complete pushover.

11. Brynhildr

This entry is my vote for the hardest Eidolon battle, even though we have two above it in the list. Research showed that more people had issues with those over this one but to each their own. This one also requires proper timing but instead of leaning into your defensive prowess, you must stay on the offensive.

10. Cid Raines

At the top of the top 10 is Cid Raines. His fight is considered a fairly difficult one because he can match you in terms of Paradigm Shifts. He also deploys very powerful attacks the closer he gets to defeat. Be sure to stay on top of the timing of your strategy shifts. Also, the use of Fortisol and Aegisol is almost necessary.

9. Dahaka

Dahaka has a huge health bar when compared to the entries that came before it. Not only is it tanky, it has access to very powerful attacks that can lead to struggle if you’re not prepared for them. You can reduce the difficulty of this battle by having good equipment and a balanced repertoire of Paradigms.

8. Bahamut

When people debate the hardest Eidolon battle in the game, they tend to land on either Sazh’s, this entry, or the next. Fang’s Eidolon fight is kind of like a race. Players must quickly build the Gestalt meter while mitigating Bahamut’s damage as much as they can. Bahamut’s whirlwind, umbral vise, ignis combo can be devastating. More so than others, good Paradigm management is paramount.

7. Alexander

Earning the spot of the hardest Eidolon fight on the list is Alexander, Hope’s Eidolon. This fight has the potential to be more frustrating than others on the list but it has a very simple strategy. Rotating between Protection, Mystic Tower, and Combat Clinic should be enough to deal with this battle. However, if you’re not used to using these defensive paradigms I can see how you would get stuck here.

6. Barthandelus ( Second Encounter)

This battle plays very differently from the first one. Instead of prioritizing single-target laser attacks, Barthandelus uses devastating area-of-effect spells. On top of that, you have to worry about not being able to beat him before he casts Doom on the party leader. He’s a major DPS check and if you haven’t been rotating your saves, you could find yourself in a tough spot if you can’t kill him fast enough.

5. Tyrant

While technically not a boss, Tyrant is one of the most difficult encounters in the game thus earning it a spot on this list. If you don’t initiate combat with a preemptive attack you run the risk of Tyrant creating a Centaurion Blade. This blade is fast and powerful greatly reducing your chance of success. Very high damage-dealing potential on top of a massive health bar.

4. Proudclad

A machine piloted by Yaag Rosch, this boss has multiple phases that both require different strategies. At first, the Proudclad will utilize a weak but consistent bombardment of lasers before relying on a more balanced strategy. Adaptability will be very important for this fight and without it expect to face the Proudclad until you get it right.

3. Attacus the Soulless

It makes sense for the top of the list to be mostly optional encounters. Kicking off the top 3 we have Attacus, an optional boss with extremely high HP. Defeating Attacus will require a deep understanding of Paradigm Shifts. There is a strategy that can trivialize this fight but you have to go searching the internet for it which isn’t to be expected for the average player. A solid set of Paradigms and equipment are required to get through this fight the intended way.

2. Vercingetorix

Number 2 is another optional boss that can be challenged after beating Missions 27 to 51 of the Cie’th Stone and beating Barthandelus in Oerba. You could consider this entry a super boss along withLong Gui. Vercingetorix demands a mastery of every part of the game’s systems and shouldn’t even be considered without a perfectly built team. A maxed-out Crystarium, good damage-reducing accessories, and other miscellaneous accessories that apply buffs are all expected. On top of Vercingetorix’s massive health bar and damage potential, if you haven’t defeated it in 30 minutes of battle time, Vervingetorix will cast Doom similar to other bosses on the list.

1. Orphan

The only reason Orphan is above the previous two entries is because debatably he is the hardest required fight in the title. You can’t even damage him without staggering him first. Players can expect a tough battle across multiple phases where they are required to have perfect Paradigm management and timing to overcome Orphan’s ability to instantly kill your party members. A fight fitting for the final boss of the game.

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