We have compiled for you the biggest and most interesting references from every main Final Fantasy that appear in Final Fantasy XIV.
Final Fantasy XIV is so packed with Easter eggs and elements from other FF games that you don’t even know where to start. This MMORPG is an amusement park, and long-time fans of the series will discover something familiar around every corner.
In addition to countless NPCs, enemies, items, weapons, and place names, there are also larger references and Easter eggs that you will discover in FFXIV.
In this article, you will find Easter eggs for every main FF game that came before FFXIV.
Final Fantasy I – Warriors of Light
Who are the Warriors of Light in FFI? The most prominent reference to FFI in the MMORPG is the designation of the player character as “Warriors of Light”.
In the very first game of the Final Fantasy series, the Warriors of Light were four young people who appeared one day in the kingdom of Cornelia. Their goal is to restore the balance between light and darkness in the world. To do this, they must defeat the chaos of fire, water, earth, and air, which have tainted the crystals.
Who are the Warriors of Light in FFXIV? In FFXIV, the term “Warriors of Light” was initially used to refer to the player characters present in version 1.0 of the MMORPG.
These were adventurers who defended the city-states of Eorzea during the decisive battle against the Empire of Garlemald. When the people of Eorzea tried to remember the faces of these adventurers, they only saw figures in dazzling light. Hence the name “Warriors of Light”.
Throughout the story of Final Fantasy XIV, however, all player characters are referred to as such because they are the chosen ones of the goddess Hydaelyn.
More references from FFI:
- Witch Matoya and her brooms are NPCs from FFI. The music that plays in her cave is also from FFI.
- The final boss of Tam-Tara, Grand King Galvanth, is a Pisco demon from FFI.
- Boss Chaos from the Omega raid is the final boss of FFI. During his DPS check, he summons a dark crystal that could be found in the Chaos Shrine.
Final Fantasy II – Wild Rose
What is “Wild Rose” in FFII? The “Wild Rose” rebellion plays a central role in the story of FFII. It is a group of resistance fighters led by Princess Hilda of Fynn.
Firion, the main character of Final Fantasy II, joins the rebels to aid them in their struggle against the evil Empire of Palamecia. Hilda then reveals to him the password that the rebels use to recognize each other. The password is, of course, “Wild Rose”.
What is “Wild Rose” in FFXIV? Just like the rebels of the Wild Rose in FFII, the Scions of the Seventh Dawn play a central role in Final Fantasy XIV. The members of the Scions stand up against the Empire of Garlemald, which is a strong parallel to FFII.
The password that members use to identify themselves is “Wild Rose”. Players receive it from Minfilia, the leader of the Scions.
More references from FFII:
- The battle music from Final Fantasy II is used in several places in FFXIV.
- The outfit of Firion is a veteran reward.
- Just like the Empire of Palamecia, the Garleans use Dreadnought-class airships.
Final Fantasy III – The Crystal Tower
What is the Crystal Tower in FFIII? In the story of Final Fantasy III, the Crystal Tower is the residence of the evil mage Xande. Xande could not bear the thought of eventually having to die and went insane.
He decided to destroy the balance between light and darkness. This would lead to the extinguishing of the crystals and cause time to cease to exist. Thus, Xande would never have to die.
Xande chose the Crystal Tower because the balance between light and darkness was most distorted there.
What is the Crystal Tower in FFXIV? In the MMORPG, there is an entire raid series built around the Crystal Tower. It was built thousands of years ago by the fallen Empire of Allag and originally served as an energy source.
After the first emperor of Allag, Xande, was revived and seized power in the Empire again, he made a pact with the Voidsent, Cloud of Darkness.
The insane emperor wanted to open a portal to the land of darkness so that the massive Voidsent could spread death and destruction everywhere. But while opening the portal, the ground beneath the Crystal Tower gave way and buried the emperor along with the tower.
In the upcoming expansion Shadowbringers, the Crystal Tower will play an even more important role.
More references from FFIII:
- The airship from FFIII and Cid’s ship from FFXIV are both named “Enterprise”.
- Doga and Unei are NPCs involved in the events surrounding the Crystal Tower in both games.
- FFIII NPCs Desch and Selina are mentioned in a quest about the Sky Pillar.
- Also in FFIII, there are Warriors of Darkness. They defend their world against the onslaught of light.
Final Fantasy IV – Dragoon Armor
Dragoon armor of Kain from FFIV 
Dragoon armor from FFXIV
Where does the signature armor of the Dragoons come from? As one of the main characters of FFIV, Kain played a central role in the RPG. He was the leader of the Dragoons, who were subordinate to the king of Baron.
As a Dragoon, he wore special armor that set him apart from other warriors. This armor has been faithfully recreated in Final Fantasy XIV and is worn by the Dragoons of Ishgard.
When inactive in-game for a long time, male Dragoon characters assume the same pose as Kain in Final Fantasy IV. It is also shown in the official artwork for Dragoons.
More references from FFIV:
- The housing area “Mist Village” is simply called Mist in English. That was the name of the summoners’ village in FFIV.
- Calcabrina is a boss that appears in both games.
- The Tantra armor set of the monks is based on Yang’s outfit from FFIV.
- The boss Mist Dragon from the Kargland dungeon is also a boss and later a summon from FFIV.
Final Fantasy V – Exdeath
Who is Exdeath in FFV? The origin of Exdeath is explained in the backstory of FFV. Long ago, humans decided to banish all evil spirits to a forest and seal them in a tree there.
The concentrated evil inside the tree eventually condensed, after many years, into the humanoid being Exdeath, who became the main antagonist of Final Fantasy V.
Who is Exdeath in FFXIV? In the Omega raid of FFXIV, Exdeath, as well as his stronger form, Neo Exdeath, is one of the final bosses that players must defeat.
Omega created Exdeath from the data it gathered about the legends and myths of the world. It searched for powerful beings to challenge the player characters.
More references from FFV:
- The enemy Gilgamesh from FFV can be fought multiple times in FFXIV and plays an important role in the stories surrounding Hildibrand.
- As in FFV, players can fight against the Siren on the ship graveyard during the story of FFXIV.
- FFV character Krile Mayer Baldesion is one of the main NPCs in FFXIV. Her grandfather Galuf plays an important role in the story surrounding Eureka.
- Bosses like Calofisteri, Halicarnassus, Byblos, Alte Roite, and many others appear in both games.
Final Fantasy VI – Kingdom of Doma
What is Doma in FFVI? In the story of FFVI, the Empire under Emperor Gestahl sets out to conquer neighboring kingdoms with the help of Magitec.
One of these kingdoms is Doma. During the siege of the castle of Doma, Kefka poisons the drinking water, killing a large portion of the castle’s inhabitants.
Among them is the family of Cyan, one of the main characters of Final Fantasy VI, who subsequently joins the resistance against the Empire.
What is Doma in FFXIV? For the first time, players visit Doma during the Stormblood expansion. It is a kingdom that has suffered under the rule of the Empire of Garlemald for many years.
Together with the prince of Doma, Hien, players manage to liberate the kingdom and strengthen it against further invasion from the Empire.
Hien is the son of the late king, Kaien. “Kaien” is the Japanese spelling of Cyan.
More references from FFVI:
- Magitek technology and many machines of the Empire of Garlemald are modeled after the originals from FFVI.
- The raid Omega: Sigmascape centers around bosses from FFVI.
- The airship Blackjack from Setzer appears in a quest of the Wild tribe of the Ixal.
- Azys La is based on the Flying Continent from FFVI.
- The character Ultros can be fought along with his friend Typhoon in the Hildibrand storyline.
There is more to see on the next page.
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