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{{InfoCharacter
{{game|KH1|FM1|KH2|FM2|UCX}}
{{suite}}
{{Character
|name=Sephiroth
|name=Sephiroth
|image=[[Image:OneWingedSephiroth.jpg|250px]]
|katakana=セフィロス
|game=Kingdom Hearts
|romaji=Sefirosu
|kana=セフィロス (Sefirosu)
|fr=Séphiroth
|world=Olympus Colleseum
|type=Entelechy
|role=Optional Boss/ Antagonist
|image=[[File:Sephiroth KHII.png|350x400px]]
|first=[[finalfantasy:final_Fantasy_vii|Final Fantasy VII]]
|charworld1=Radiant Garden
|charworld2=Olympus Coliseum
|origin=Final Fantasy VII
|company=Final Fantasy
|enva=Lance Bass
|envan={{KH}}
|enva2=George Newbern
|enva2n={{KHII}}
|java=Toshiyuki Morikawa
|game1=Kingdom Hearts
|game2=Kingdom Hearts II
|game3=Kingdom Hearts Union χ
|journalKH=Once known as the greatest of swordsmen, his whereabouts have been unknown for some time. He challenged Sora to a one-on-one duel. No one knows why he has suddenly returned. Apparently, he and Cloud have crossed paths before.<br><br>"Final Fantasy VII"
|journalKH2=Final Fantasy VII<br><br>An unsurpassed swordsman who was once revered as a hero.<br><br>For a long time Sephiroth's whereabouts were unknown, and no one can say for sure why he has returned.<br><br>He seems to have some connection to Cloud's past.
|journalUX='''Sephiroth'''<br>KINGDOM HEARTS II (2005)<br>An unsurpassed swordsman once revered as a hero.<br><br>'''Illustrated Sephiroth'''<br>KINGDOM HEARTS II (2005)<br>The ultimate swordsman who was once a hero. He's involved in the events of Cloud's past.<br><br>'''WORLD OF FF Sephiroth'''<br>WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY (2016)<br>A Medal celebrating the collaboration with WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY.<br><br>'''Boss'''<br>When this one-winged angel's HP gets low, it'll begin unleashing attacks that lower your strength and defense.
}}
}}
{{Q|Absurd. Defeating me is meaningless. You know that more than anyone, Cloud. No matter how many times I fall, your darkness keeps calling me back!|Sephiroth to Cloud}}
'''Sephiroth''' is a mysterious swordsman with a connection to [[Cloud]]'s past. Cloud considers Sephiroth a representation of his own inner darkness. He, along with Cloud, [[Tifa]], [[Aerith]], [[Yuffie]], [[Zack]], and [[Cid]], originates from the Squaresoft game ''{{ff|Final Fantasy VII}}'', where he serves as the {{ff|Sephiroth|main antagonist}}. So far, Sephiroth is the only main antagonist from the ''Final Fantasy'' franchise to appear in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series.
==Development==
Sephiroth originally appeared as an optional boss in the international version of ''Kingdom Hearts'', and was retained for the ''Kingdom Hearts Final Mix'' version of the game, which also added a short scene between him and Cloud. In ''Kingdom Hearts II'', his role was greatly expanded, giving him a short side-story featuring him, Cloud, and Tifa.{{fact}}<!--there should be a cite about this in one of the Nomura interviews; explain more about the side story, like why they did it, what the purpose is, basically whatever Nomura said.-->


'''Sephiroth''' is the embodiment of [[Cloud]]'s dark side. He is voiced by Lance Bass in [[Kingdom Hearts]]. Toshiyuki Morikawa voices Sephiroth in the Japanese version of [[Kingdom Hearts II]], and by George Newbern in the English version. He is regarded as one of the most powerful of all villains in the Kingdom Hearts series (though he is only an option to duel in KH1 and is concerned only with Cloud in KH2), and Sora has to be at a relatively high level in order to survive Sephiroth's attacks.
==Story==
===''[[Kingdom Hearts Union χ]]''===
{{sec-stub}}
<!--in-universe, state what happened and leave implications to the reader


He, along with Cloud, Tifa, and [[Cid]], comes orginally from the Square game ''Final Fantasy VII''. It has been implied by some fans of Kingdom Hearts in KH2 along with several words from the angel himself that Sephiroth might be some dark version of Cloud. This subplot so far hasn't been touched though it might be shown in future games
In the cinematic for Quest No. 333, "The Final Trial Pt. 8," a black feather falls in Cloud's hands at the Underworld Caverns: Depths. It's implied that Cloud is searching for Sephiroth, explaining why he willingly went to the Underworld and escaped as soon as he gathered the feather.
-->
<!--See [[Mickey Mouse]]
Sephiroth also appears as a medal.-->


==Journal Entry==
===''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]''===
===Kingdom Hearts===
While Terra is in Olympus Coliseum, Zack reveals that he aspires to become a hero like "another," referring to Sephiroth.<ref>'''''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Ultimania]]''''', '''Interviewer''': "Who is the hero "similar to Terra" that Zack aspires to be like?" / '''Tetsuya Nomura''': "As in the original game, it's Sephiroth. In ''Kingdom Hearts Final Mix'' and ''Kingdom Hearts II'', Sephiroth was portrayed as a being of darkness, but at the time of ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'', we don't know whether or not he was a being of darkness." [https://www.khinsider.com/forums/index.php?threads/bbs-ultimania-plot-mysteries-nomura-interview.147009/ Translation via Krexia].</ref> Later, after Master Xehanort's defeat, a black feather falls before Zack as he watches Hercules train, hinting at Sephiroth's presence.
''"Final Fantasy VII"''


''Once known as the greatest of swordsmen, his whereabouts have been unknown for some time. He challenged Sora to a one-on-one duel. No one knows why he has suddenly returned. Apparently, he and Cloud have crossed paths before.''
===''Kingdom Hearts''===
[[File:One-Winged Angel 01 KH.png|thumb|left|Sephiroth challenges Sora as the contender for the Platinum Match.]]
Needing to find Sephiroth, [[Cloud]] decides to ally with [[Hades]]. Hades promises to locate Sephiroth in exchange for Cloud defeating Hercules in a tournament, with no intention of honoring his agreement.{{fact}}


===Kingdom Hearts II===
Sephiroth appears during the [[Platinum Match]] at Olympus Coliseum, and after a difficult fight, Sora narrowly seizes victory. As Sora leaves the stadium, Cloud enters. Sephiroth invites Cloud to turn to the darkness, but Cloud refuses, launching into a high-speed aerial battle whose outcome is left unobserved.
''"Final Fantasy VII"''
{{-}}


''An unsurpassed swordsman who was once revered as a hero. For a long time Sephiroth's whereabouts were unknown, and no one can say for sure why he has returned. He seems to have some connection to Cloud's past.''
===''Kingdom Hearts II''===
[[File:Sephiroth Descends 01 KHII.png|thumb|Sephiroth interrupts the gang on their way to stave off the invasion, and inquires about Cloud's whereabouts.]]
Right before the invasion of Hollow Bastion, Cloud warns Sora and company about Sephiroth, and his ways of the darkness. Later, as Sora exits the castle to help defend against the invasion, Sephiroth appears. He asks about Cloud's whereabouts, and although Sora says nothing, Donald and Goofy retort that Cloud recognizes Sephiroth to be the manifestation of his own darkness. Seeing that Cloud is becoming enlightened and desiring to fight him, Sephiroth takes his leave.


==First meeting==
During the battle, Cloud is surrounded by [[Heartless]], but Sephiroth intervenes, defeating them all in one slash. Cloud intends to defeat his nemesis to escape the darkness, but Sephiroth only replies that Cloud would never be able to do so, and would always cower in the light. Cloud vehemently denies his dark counterpart's claims, but Sephiroth is undeterred, and leaves just as Tifa arrives.
During the Platinum Match, at [[Olympus Coliseum]], Sephiroth appears and fights Sora. He is a secret boss available in all but the regular Japanese version. After being defeated by Sora, Cloud finally meets Sephiroth. Sephiroth implores Cloud to turn to the Darkness, which Cloud refuses. The two engage in a high-speed battle in the air, the outcome of which is unknown.


==Second meeting==
[[File:Conclusion 03 KHII.png|thumb|left|Sephiroth battles Cloud while tempting him to embrace his inner darkness.]]
Right before the invasion of [[Hollow Bastion]], Cloud warns Sora and company about Sephiroth, and his ways of the darkness. Later, as Sora exits the castle to go help defend against the invasion, Sephiroth appears. He asks about Cloud's whereabouts, but Sora doesn't answer, though he and his friends reveal that Cloud realizes that Sephiroth is the manifestation of Cloud's darkness. Seeing that Cloud is becoming enlightened and desires to fight him, Sephiroth takes his leave.
After the [[Master Control Program]] is defeated, Sora encounters Sephiroth at the {{c|Dark Depths|rg}} at [[Hollow Bastion]]. The villain again asks about Cloud, but Sora and his companions do not reveal anything. He then inquires about Sora, [[Donald Duck|Donald]], and [[Goofy]]'s identities, but again, they refuse to answer. Sephiroth then notices Sora's [[Keyblade]] and attacks, intending to test Sora's power and that of the Keyblade. Even though Donald and Goofy accompany Sora when he confronts Sephiroth, they do not fight alongside him, as Sephiroth only wishes to battle the Keyblade master. Sora appears to overcome him, but Sephiroth simply shrugs off the battle. Sephiroth compliments Sora on his skill in wielding the Keyblade, but says that Cloud is the only one that could "eliminate him." Sephiroth then tells Sora to find Cloud so that they could settle their feud.


During the battle, Cloud is surrounded by [[Heartless]], but Sephiroth intervenes, defeating them all in one swipe. Cloud intends to defeat his nemesis to escape the darkness, but Sephiroth only replies that Cloud will never be able to do so, and will always cower in the light. Cloud vehemently denies his dark half's claims, but Sephiroth is undeterred, and leaves just as [[Tifa]] arrives.
Cloud arrives later, and initiates a battle with Sephiroth, who desires to draw Cloud into the darkness. However, Tifa protects Cloud, saying that Cloud does have light in him, and that, even if he didn't, then he just needed to be surrounded by light. Nevertheless, Sephiroth and Cloud start off for another battle, and after Tifa's intervention, Cloud glows in light, surprising Sephiroth and causing him to drop his guard. The two disappear in a brilliant flash of light.
{{-}}
==Other appearances==
===''Dissidia Final Fantasy''===
Sephiroth's appearances based on his outfit from ''Kingdom Hearts'' has appeared as an alternate costume for him in the ''{{ff|Dissidia Final Fantasy}}'' series.


After the [[Master Control Program]] is defeated, Sora encounters Sephiroth at the Dark Depths. The villian again asks about Cloud, but Sora and his companions don't reveal anything. He then inquires about Sora, Donald, and Goofy's identities, but again, they refuse to answer. Sephiroth then notices Sora's [[Keyblade]], and attacks, intending to defeat Sora so that the Keyblade might come to him. However, Sora appears to overcome him, but Sephiroth justs seems to shrug off the battle (he appears unhurt, and not even tired, Sephiroth complements Sora on his skill with the Keyblade but says that Cloud is the only that can "eliminate him", Sephiroth then asks Sora to find Cloud so that they can settle their feud).
In ''{{ff|Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy}}'', his "Kingdom Hearts Gear" outfit is available as downloadable content.


Cloud arrives later, and a battle begins, with Sephiroth desiring to draw Cloud into the darkness. However, Tifa protects Cloud, saying that Cloud does have light in him, and that, even if he doesn't, then he just needs to be surrounded by light. Nevertheless, Sephiroth and Cloud start off for another battle, but disappear in a brilliant flash of light. Their location and status are unknown.
In ''{{ff|Dissidia Final Fantasy NT}}'', his "One-Winged Angel" outfit is available as a purchasable item in the in-game shop.
{{-}}


== In Battle ==
==Design==
In all incarnations, Sephiroth is portrayed as a master swordsman, wielding a long blade called ''Masamune''. In the Kingdom Hearts universe, Sephiroth has a large repertoire of techniques that reflects some of abilities he used in Final Fantasy VII. He can move about the battle ground with impressive speed, even fly, and occasionally teleports. He can also activate his attack "Stigma" which summons gigantic pillars of flames that can suck matter in, he can send out orbs of darkness called "Shadow Flares", and his most powerful attack "Super Nova" where he calls down meteors that spin around him and then explode. His most noticable technique is ''Descend Heartless Angel'', an attack that drains an opponent of all their magic, leaving the player with 1HP and no MP, if he is not interrupted in time. He can even use [[Cloud]]'s attack "Omnislash" where he flies around the arena slashing wildly.
Sephiroth's appearance in both ''Kingdom Hearts'' and ''Kingdom Hearts II'' is largely the same as his appearance in the various games of the ''{{ff|Compilation of Final Fantasy VII}}'', albeit with a few significant differences. He has his distinctive long, silver hair with long bangs that frame his face, and dresses in a black leather coat. The coat has a large collar that reaches his ears even when folded back, and is kept closed by a black belt with a silver buckle around his waist. Unlike in the ''Final Fantasy'' games, Sephiroth's coat has a red-violet lining in the front. It is also noticeably more tattered in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' games. In ''Kingdom Hearts'', Sephiroth also has regular blue eyes, unlike the green, catlike eyes he and his Remnants have in the main series, and he is right-handed rather than left. The sleeves of his coat end in metal rings in place of normal cuffs, and he wears black leather gloves. There is an odd, black and red, fin-like growth on each forearm. Sephiroth's face looks strikingly like Cloud's, which Goofy comments on in ''Kingdom Hearts II''. This similarity may explain Sephiroth's difference in eye color from his original incarnation.


In [[Kingdom_Hearts|Kingdom Hearts]], Sephiroth is one of the hardest bosses, rivaling [[Kurt_Zisa|Kurt Zisa]] and [[Phantom|Phantom]], however, in [[Kingdom Hearts Final Mix]], Xemnas (known at the time as the ''Unknown'') also proved to be difficult. In [[Kingdom_Hearts_II|Kingdom Hearts II]], he is also one of the hardest bosses, the difficulty of which is rivaled by the challenge of the Hades Paradox Cup and Xemnas again. [[Kingdom Hearts II:  Final Mix+]] also has the Organization XIII battles, along with Terra and Roxas, fights that greatly dilute Sephiroth's notorious difficulty.
Sephiroth's chest is exposed, revealing a grey strap around his abdomen with two black belts over it, as well as two brown, overall-like straps that intersect over his chest. He wears black pants and black knee-high boots, with two grey belts wrapped around each boot as well as a silver pauldron over each shoulder. In both games, Sephiroth sports a large, navy blue wing on his right shoulder, a design feature that has carried over to several characters associated with {{ff|Jenova}} in the ''Compilation of Final Fantasy VII''. In ''Kingdom Hearts II'', he gains two more wings of the same color, one of which sprouts from each of his hips, possibly referring the multiple wings of his {{ff|Safer∙Sephiroth}} form as the final boss of ''Final Fantasy VII''. Sephiroth carries his iconic sword, Masamune, as his weapon. Sephiroth is one of only two characters who does not reappear in their ''Advent Children'' attire, the other being Cid.


==See Also==
==Personality==
*[[Platinum Match]]
Sephiroth is cold, calculating, and ruthless, though not entirely uncaring. He is taciturn and focused, determined to draw Cloud down the path of darkness. Like many ''Final Fantasy'' characters, Sephiroth displays stoic personality traits, coupled with an almost monotone voice. Almost emotionless, he never overreacts to anything. Sephiroth is incredibly powerful, both physically and mentally, and is convinced that his power surpasses that of anyone else.  However, he is not as arrogant as others who had fallen to the darkness, such as [[Maleficent]] and [[Jafar]], but gauges his opponents and admits their skill when they prove it, as he does at the end of his battle with Sora in ''Kingdom Hearts II''.
*[[Cloud Strife]]


==Abilities==
{{main|Game:Sephiroth}}
In all incarnations, Sephiroth is portrayed as a master swordsman, wielding a long blade known as the Masamune. In the ''Kingdom Hearts'' universe, Sephiroth boasts a large repertoire of techniques that reflect some of the abilities he used in ''Final Fantasy VII''. He moves about with impressive speed, and is able to fly and teleport. His "Firaga Wall" attack summons gigantic pillars of flames that can suck matter in. Another attack sends out orbs of darkness called "Shadow Flares". His most powerful attack, "Meteor," calls down meteors that revolve around him before exploding.


[[Category: Enemies]]
His most noticeable technique is "Heartless Angel", which that drains Sora's MP and defeated him instantly (unless Second Chance is equipped, in which case he will be left with 1 HP), if he is not interrupted in time, immediately followed by "Flash", which is fatal unless blocked via Reaction Command. He also uses a variation of Cloud's "Omnislash", in which he flies around the arena slashing wildly. In both games, all of his attacks are extremely powerful, able to easily kill Sora even with maxed stats. Sephiroth has extremely high HP in both games. To add to the difficulty, Sora must fight Sephiroth one-on-one without any help from his allies.
[[Category: Bosses]]
 
[[Category:Final Fantasy characters]]
In ''Kingdom Hearts'', Sephiroth ranks as one of the hardest bosses in the game, rivaling [[Kurt Zisa]] and [[Phantom]], but is arguably surpassed in difficulty by [[Xemnas]], known at the time as "Unknown". In ''Kingdom Hearts II'', he is also one of the hardest bosses, but is again surpassed by the [[Organization XIII's Replica Data]] and the [[Lingering Will]].
[[Category: Kingdom Hearts]]
 
[[Category: Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix]]
==Origin==
[[Category: Kingdom Hearts II]]
[[File:Sephiroth FFVII.png|250px|left]]
Sephiroth debuted as the main antagonist in ''Final Fantasy VII''. Once revered as a great hero, his discovery of the mysteries surrounding his origins and nature drives him to insanity. Easily recognizable by his foreboding appearance and frighteningly long sword, Sephiroth aspires to become a supreme being by using a destructive item known as the Black Materia to cast Meteor and devastate the world, wherein he would absorb the energy used to heal the Planet, and attain godhood. Sephiroth has developed a murderous obsession with Cloud Strife, who constantly impedes him.
 
Almost all of Sephiroth's attacks in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series, such as "Supernova", "Heartless Angel", and "Shadow Flare", are named after attacks he uses in the ''Final Fantasy'' series. The few attacks he does not know in the ''Final Fantasy'' series, such as "Meteor" and "Flash", are still named after attacks in the series. Sephiroth's ''Kingdom Hearts'' appearance heavily influences his attacks in ''{{ff|Dissidia Final Fantasy}}'', such as his Flash attack from ''Kingdom Hearts II'' appearing as "Oblivion", and his Shadow Flare, which uses similar graphics to the two ''Kingdom Hearts'' games in the original Japanese version of ''Dissidia''. His Heaven's Light HP attack resembles his aerial combo in ''Kingdom Hearts II'', and in his EX Mode, Sephiroth takes on a purple aura similar to that he takes on in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series when his HP is low. Sephiroth also quotes or paraphrases many of his ''Kingdom Hearts'' lines, such as "It's time" (based on "The time has come") and "Know your place."
{{-}}
==Notes and references==
{{reflist}}
 
{{KH1}}
{{KH2}}
{{UCX}}
{{FFCharacters}}

Latest revision as of 18:58, 21 February 2024

Sephiroth

Sephiroth KHII.png

Japanese セフィロス
Rōmaji Sefirosu
Voice actors (Ja:) Toshiyuki Morikawa
(En:) Lance Bass [KH I]
George Newbern [KH II]
Homeworld Radiant Garden
Olympus Coliseum
Origin Final Fantasy VII
Games Kingdom Hearts
Kingdom Hearts II
Kingdom Hearts Union χ
Sephiroth

Kingdom Hearts
Once known as the greatest of swordsmen, his whereabouts have been unknown for some time. He challenged Sora to a one-on-one duel. No one knows why he has suddenly returned. Apparently, he and Cloud have crossed paths before.

"Final Fantasy VII"
Kingdom Hearts II
Final Fantasy VII

An unsurpassed swordsman who was once revered as a hero.

For a long time Sephiroth's whereabouts were unknown, and no one can say for sure why he has returned.

He seems to have some connection to Cloud's past.
Kingdom Hearts Union χ
Sephiroth
KINGDOM HEARTS II (2005)
An unsurpassed swordsman once revered as a hero.

Illustrated Sephiroth
KINGDOM HEARTS II (2005)
The ultimate swordsman who was once a hero. He's involved in the events of Cloud's past.

WORLD OF FF Sephiroth
WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY (2016)
A Medal celebrating the collaboration with WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY.

Boss
When this one-winged angel's HP gets low, it'll begin unleashing attacks that lower your strength and defense.
"Absurd. Defeating me is meaningless. You know that more than anyone, Cloud. No matter how many times I fall, your darkness keeps calling me back!"
—Sephiroth to Cloud

Sephiroth is a mysterious swordsman with a connection to Cloud's past. Cloud considers Sephiroth a representation of his own inner darkness. He, along with Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, Yuffie, Zack, and Cid, originates from the Squaresoft game Final Fantasy VII, where he serves as the main antagonist. So far, Sephiroth is the only main antagonist from the Final Fantasy franchise to appear in the Kingdom Hearts series.

Development[edit]

Sephiroth originally appeared as an optional boss in the international version of Kingdom Hearts, and was retained for the Kingdom Hearts Final Mix version of the game, which also added a short scene between him and Cloud. In Kingdom Hearts II, his role was greatly expanded, giving him a short side-story featuring him, Cloud, and Tifa.[citation needed]

Story[edit]

Kingdom Hearts Union χ[edit]

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep[edit]

While Terra is in Olympus Coliseum, Zack reveals that he aspires to become a hero like "another," referring to Sephiroth.[1] Later, after Master Xehanort's defeat, a black feather falls before Zack as he watches Hercules train, hinting at Sephiroth's presence.

Kingdom Hearts[edit]

Sephiroth challenges Sora as the contender for the Platinum Match.

Needing to find Sephiroth, Cloud decides to ally with Hades. Hades promises to locate Sephiroth in exchange for Cloud defeating Hercules in a tournament, with no intention of honoring his agreement.[citation needed]

Sephiroth appears during the Platinum Match at Olympus Coliseum, and after a difficult fight, Sora narrowly seizes victory. As Sora leaves the stadium, Cloud enters. Sephiroth invites Cloud to turn to the darkness, but Cloud refuses, launching into a high-speed aerial battle whose outcome is left unobserved.

Kingdom Hearts II[edit]

Sephiroth interrupts the gang on their way to stave off the invasion, and inquires about Cloud's whereabouts.

Right before the invasion of Hollow Bastion, Cloud warns Sora and company about Sephiroth, and his ways of the darkness. Later, as Sora exits the castle to help defend against the invasion, Sephiroth appears. He asks about Cloud's whereabouts, and although Sora says nothing, Donald and Goofy retort that Cloud recognizes Sephiroth to be the manifestation of his own darkness. Seeing that Cloud is becoming enlightened and desiring to fight him, Sephiroth takes his leave.

During the battle, Cloud is surrounded by Heartless, but Sephiroth intervenes, defeating them all in one slash. Cloud intends to defeat his nemesis to escape the darkness, but Sephiroth only replies that Cloud would never be able to do so, and would always cower in the light. Cloud vehemently denies his dark counterpart's claims, but Sephiroth is undeterred, and leaves just as Tifa arrives.

Sephiroth battles Cloud while tempting him to embrace his inner darkness.

After the Master Control Program is defeated, Sora encounters Sephiroth at the Dark Depths at Hollow Bastion. The villain again asks about Cloud, but Sora and his companions do not reveal anything. He then inquires about Sora, Donald, and Goofy's identities, but again, they refuse to answer. Sephiroth then notices Sora's Keyblade and attacks, intending to test Sora's power and that of the Keyblade. Even though Donald and Goofy accompany Sora when he confronts Sephiroth, they do not fight alongside him, as Sephiroth only wishes to battle the Keyblade master. Sora appears to overcome him, but Sephiroth simply shrugs off the battle. Sephiroth compliments Sora on his skill in wielding the Keyblade, but says that Cloud is the only one that could "eliminate him." Sephiroth then tells Sora to find Cloud so that they could settle their feud.

Cloud arrives later, and initiates a battle with Sephiroth, who desires to draw Cloud into the darkness. However, Tifa protects Cloud, saying that Cloud does have light in him, and that, even if he didn't, then he just needed to be surrounded by light. Nevertheless, Sephiroth and Cloud start off for another battle, and after Tifa's intervention, Cloud glows in light, surprising Sephiroth and causing him to drop his guard. The two disappear in a brilliant flash of light.

Other appearances[edit]

Dissidia Final Fantasy[edit]

Sephiroth's appearances based on his outfit from Kingdom Hearts has appeared as an alternate costume for him in the Dissidia Final Fantasy series.

In Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, his "Kingdom Hearts Gear" outfit is available as downloadable content.

In Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, his "One-Winged Angel" outfit is available as a purchasable item in the in-game shop.

Design[edit]

Sephiroth's appearance in both Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II is largely the same as his appearance in the various games of the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, albeit with a few significant differences. He has his distinctive long, silver hair with long bangs that frame his face, and dresses in a black leather coat. The coat has a large collar that reaches his ears even when folded back, and is kept closed by a black belt with a silver buckle around his waist. Unlike in the Final Fantasy games, Sephiroth's coat has a red-violet lining in the front. It is also noticeably more tattered in the Kingdom Hearts games. In Kingdom Hearts, Sephiroth also has regular blue eyes, unlike the green, catlike eyes he and his Remnants have in the main series, and he is right-handed rather than left. The sleeves of his coat end in metal rings in place of normal cuffs, and he wears black leather gloves. There is an odd, black and red, fin-like growth on each forearm. Sephiroth's face looks strikingly like Cloud's, which Goofy comments on in Kingdom Hearts II. This similarity may explain Sephiroth's difference in eye color from his original incarnation.

Sephiroth's chest is exposed, revealing a grey strap around his abdomen with two black belts over it, as well as two brown, overall-like straps that intersect over his chest. He wears black pants and black knee-high boots, with two grey belts wrapped around each boot as well as a silver pauldron over each shoulder. In both games, Sephiroth sports a large, navy blue wing on his right shoulder, a design feature that has carried over to several characters associated with Jenova in the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII. In Kingdom Hearts II, he gains two more wings of the same color, one of which sprouts from each of his hips, possibly referring the multiple wings of his Safer∙Sephiroth form as the final boss of Final Fantasy VII. Sephiroth carries his iconic sword, Masamune, as his weapon. Sephiroth is one of only two characters who does not reappear in their Advent Children attire, the other being Cid.

Personality[edit]

Sephiroth is cold, calculating, and ruthless, though not entirely uncaring. He is taciturn and focused, determined to draw Cloud down the path of darkness. Like many Final Fantasy characters, Sephiroth displays stoic personality traits, coupled with an almost monotone voice. Almost emotionless, he never overreacts to anything. Sephiroth is incredibly powerful, both physically and mentally, and is convinced that his power surpasses that of anyone else. However, he is not as arrogant as others who had fallen to the darkness, such as Maleficent and Jafar, but gauges his opponents and admits their skill when they prove it, as he does at the end of his battle with Sora in Kingdom Hearts II.

Abilities[edit]

Main article: Game:Sephiroth

In all incarnations, Sephiroth is portrayed as a master swordsman, wielding a long blade known as the Masamune. In the Kingdom Hearts universe, Sephiroth boasts a large repertoire of techniques that reflect some of the abilities he used in Final Fantasy VII. He moves about with impressive speed, and is able to fly and teleport. His "Firaga Wall" attack summons gigantic pillars of flames that can suck matter in. Another attack sends out orbs of darkness called "Shadow Flares". His most powerful attack, "Meteor," calls down meteors that revolve around him before exploding.

His most noticeable technique is "Heartless Angel", which that drains Sora's MP and defeated him instantly (unless Second Chance is equipped, in which case he will be left with 1 HP), if he is not interrupted in time, immediately followed by "Flash", which is fatal unless blocked via Reaction Command. He also uses a variation of Cloud's "Omnislash", in which he flies around the arena slashing wildly. In both games, all of his attacks are extremely powerful, able to easily kill Sora even with maxed stats. Sephiroth has extremely high HP in both games. To add to the difficulty, Sora must fight Sephiroth one-on-one without any help from his allies.

In Kingdom Hearts, Sephiroth ranks as one of the hardest bosses in the game, rivaling Kurt Zisa and Phantom, but is arguably surpassed in difficulty by Xemnas, known at the time as "Unknown". In Kingdom Hearts II, he is also one of the hardest bosses, but is again surpassed by the Organization XIII's Replica Data and the Lingering Will.

Origin[edit]

Sephiroth FFVII.png

Sephiroth debuted as the main antagonist in Final Fantasy VII. Once revered as a great hero, his discovery of the mysteries surrounding his origins and nature drives him to insanity. Easily recognizable by his foreboding appearance and frighteningly long sword, Sephiroth aspires to become a supreme being by using a destructive item known as the Black Materia to cast Meteor and devastate the world, wherein he would absorb the energy used to heal the Planet, and attain godhood. Sephiroth has developed a murderous obsession with Cloud Strife, who constantly impedes him.

Almost all of Sephiroth's attacks in the Kingdom Hearts series, such as "Supernova", "Heartless Angel", and "Shadow Flare", are named after attacks he uses in the Final Fantasy series. The few attacks he does not know in the Final Fantasy series, such as "Meteor" and "Flash", are still named after attacks in the series. Sephiroth's Kingdom Hearts appearance heavily influences his attacks in Dissidia Final Fantasy, such as his Flash attack from Kingdom Hearts II appearing as "Oblivion", and his Shadow Flare, which uses similar graphics to the two Kingdom Hearts games in the original Japanese version of Dissidia. His Heaven's Light HP attack resembles his aerial combo in Kingdom Hearts II, and in his EX Mode, Sephiroth takes on a purple aura similar to that he takes on in the Kingdom Hearts series when his HP is low. Sephiroth also quotes or paraphrases many of his Kingdom Hearts lines, such as "It's time" (based on "The time has come") and "Know your place."

Notes and references[edit]

  1. ^ Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Ultimania, Interviewer: "Who is the hero "similar to Terra" that Zack aspires to be like?" / Tetsuya Nomura: "As in the original game, it's Sephiroth. In Kingdom Hearts Final Mix and Kingdom Hearts II, Sephiroth was portrayed as a being of darkness, but at the time of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, we don't know whether or not he was a being of darkness." Translation via Krexia.