| “ | Mother, let's take back the Planet together. I... I had an epiphany. Let's go to the Promised Land... Mother... They're here again. You should have ruled this planet. You were stronger, smarter. But then they came... Those inferior dullards... They came and took this planet away from you. But don't be sad, mother... I am with you now. Ah... We meet at last, mother. | „ |
| ~ Sephiroth |
| “ | All of the Planet's spiritual energy. All its wisdom... all its knowledge... I will absorb it all. I will become everything... and everything will become me! [...] When the Planet is wounded it gathers spiritual energy into the wound to heal it. The amount of energy collected is proportional to the size of the wound. Now, what would happen if the Planet suffered an injury great enough to destroy it? How much spiritual energy would be gathered? I will be at the center of that wound, all that energy will be mine, I will become one with the energy of the Planet, I will become a new life, a new being! I will meld with the Planet and become that being, since lost, who used to rule the hearts of men- I will be reborn as God! Behold, the ultimate destructive magic, Meteor. | „ |
| ~ Sephiroth's plans of ascension (Translated from Japanese) |
| “ |
|
„ |
| ~ One-Winged Angel Lyrics (Translated from Latin) |
| “ | I will... never be a memory. | „ |
| ~ Sephiroth's last words |
Summary
Sephiroth (セフィロス Sefirosu) is the main antagonist of Final Fantasy VII and one of the main villain's in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, with an important role in the prequel Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- and a supporting appearance in Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII- and later a central character in the First SOLDIER chapter of Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis.
Unstoppable warrior, unrivaled swordsman and brilliant tactician, Sephiroth played a fundamental role in ending the war against the faraway land of Wutai, solidifying his reputation as the undisputed best warrior to have ever been in SOLDIER, the Shinra Electric Power Company's private military, as well as held by the people as the hero who inspired many to join Shinra's lines, among whom were Genesis Rhapsodos and Cloud Strife. However, not everything was glory for Sephiroth, the company's corrupt side and their unethical practices, as well as being little more than their propaganda tool began to wear away Sephiroth's state of mind, with the eventual rebellion and apparent death of his two best friends at Shinra's hands furthering his disillusionment and the decision to resign after completing one final mission in the town of Nibelheim.
That fated mission, however, would not be the end and everything would take a turn for the worse: in Nibelheim, Sephiroth would discover his origins as a product of Shinra's genetic experiments using an ancient lifeform called Jenova, meaning his birth itself was with the purpose to be Shinra's tool through the use of the biological material of what was presumed to be a Cetra, an ancient being connected to the Planet itself. This revelation broke Sephiroth's already damaged mind and led him turn on humanity itself, declaring himself and Jenova the true, worthy rulers of the Planet, over the traitorous humans who turned their backs on them and the Cetra. Thus, falling from the greatest hero people had known to the greatest threat the world had faced.
Powers and Stats
Tier: At least 4-A, likely 2-A, higher with Spiritual Energy | 3-B, likely 2-A, higher with Spiritual Energy, far higher with Meteor | At least 3-B, likely 2-A, far higher with Spiritual Energy | 2-A, far higher with Spiritual Energy
Key: Before Crisis & Crisis Core | Final Fantasy VII | Advent Children | Dissidia
Name: Sephiroth
Origin: Final Fantasy
Gender: Male
Age: Early to mid-20s (Crisis Core and Before Crisis) | Late 20s, physically early to mid-20s (FFVII)
Classification: 1st Class SOLDIER, the Silver SOLDIER, Human Infused with JENOVA's DNA, Hero, Fallen Hero
Powers and Abilities:
Intrinsic Abilities:
- Spiritual Energy Manipulation (Mastered and Departure)
- Jenova Inheritance (Incubation)
- SOLDIER Program (Augmentation and Training)
Individual Abilities:
- Superhuman Physical Characteristics, Weapon Mastery & Genius Intelligence (Recognized as way too brilliant,[1] even among the 1st Class elite of SOLDIER, an unit renowned for their strength, Sephiroth skills and combat capabilities were on a league of their own,[2] that made him the strongest in the world,[3] to the point tales about him understated how powerful he was.[1] Sephiroth is famous for being the only one capable of properly wielding the Masamune,[1] with peerless skill at that, represented in-game by perfect accuracy[1] and always dealing critical hits.[1] Even the other champions of SOLDIER could at best[4] make Sephiroth fight seriously,[5] only to find themselves[4] completely outmatched afterwards.[2] Furthermore, Sephiroth is also capable[4] of following the research of Shinra's top scientists,[4] which involves fields such as genetics and biology, despite having no relation to his SOLDIER duties.)
- Enhanced Senses (Can sense the power[6] of his enemies. Capable of slicing bullets and rockets with enough precision[7] to redirect them to new targets. Can easily perceive and counter attacks[4] he can't see and react to surprise attacks better than Zack,[4] who can sense animals hunting in the wild,[6] as well as quickly defend[4] from sneak attacks[4] and easily tell when enemies are sneaking on him[4] or spying on him and the Turks,[6] the latter who failed to notice it despite being able to sense bloodlust.[6] Zack can also detect the Turks themselves trying to catch him off guard,[4] despite them being experts in espionage.[6])
- Acrobatics (All Types; Can casually jump dozens of meters[4] without any kind of impulse, fall from great heights[4] without issue, fight without hindrance in closed[4] and narrow spaces.[4] Far more physically capable than SOLDIER candidates, who are trained in parkour[8] and can run up walls.[8])
- Pressure Points (Critical Hits; Sephiroth makes a point[4] to take out enemies with one strike, aiming for critical blows[1] to take out enemies in a single hit.)
- Limited Fire Manipulation (Sephiroth's cuts with the Masamune cause such intense friction[5] that they ignite[7] the sliced parts of struck objects.)
- Supernatural Willpower (While all SOLDIER members are required by default to have a mind strong enough to endure being bathed[9] in Mako and not succumb[9] to Mako Poisoning,[10] nor have mental damage[11] caused by Jenova's cells injected[9] into their bodies, Sephiroth is still an exceptional case. Even after falling into the Lifestream itself and having his body destroyed by it,[2] Sephiroth could retain his individuality[12] due to the sheer strength[1] of his will,[2] instead becoming a traveler[1] of the Lifestream. This far outclasses the level of willpower of any SOLDIER member[5] or Spiritual Energy user[1] of comparable level.)
- Social Influencing (Reputation; Sephiroth's achievements in SOLDIER has earned him widespread admiration[2] among people, being considered[2] an outright hero.[7] Many join the unit[13] simply out of idolization for him.[2])
Spiritual Energy Techniques:
- Energy Manipulation & Damage Boost (Can increase the destructive power of his attacks by wreathing his weapon[4] with his Spiritual Energy. Of particular note is Octaslash,[7] his Limit Break,[11] as Limit Breaks stated to reach power far beyond[1] the user's normal capabilities.)
- Vibration Manipulation & Paralysis Inducement (His swings can cause massive shockwaves[6] and he can even launch them[6] through the air at distance. Unless blocked or completely avoided, these shockwaves can momentarily paralyze the target.)
- Energy Projection (Via Zanshin, a crescent moon shaped projectile[4] he releases from his slashes. Can also create, through the floor, a stronger massive energy wave[5] by channeling his Spiritual Energy and stabbing the ground.)
- Air Manipulation (His slashes can cut through air[6] dozens of meters beyond his physical reach.)
- Durability Negation (The Draw Slash technique creates a crescent wave that can cut through the enemies' defenses.[4])
- Life Manipulation & Homing Attack (Heartless Angel drains the enemy's life force[4] leaving them at death's door. The attack tracks the position of the target.)
- Limited Dimensional Travel (Can enter by himself[4] to the different realm where Summons[11] take their enemies to engage battle.)
Materia:
- Magic (Materia) (Sephiroth is provided Materia by the Shinra Company[4] for his missions and thanks to his performance he has earned high level ones.[4] Additionaly, as a 1st Class SOLDIER,[4] he is allowed to use personalized equipment, including Materia he could have obtained on his duties or developed himself through Materia Fusion.[4])
- Fire Manipulation (Via Firaga.)
- Ice Manipulation (Via Blizzaga.)
- Electricity Manipulation (Via Thundaga.)
- Earth Manipulation (Via Quaga.)
- Explosion Manipulation & Radiation Manipulation (Via Flare, which is consistently described as a nuclear explosion.[14])
- Matter Manipulation (Sub-Atomic to Macro-Quantum; For the former, Flare creates a nuclear reaction,[14] while for the latter, the Blizzard and Fire spells affect the target's electrons.[15])
- Energy Projection (Via the Energy spell.)
- Damage Reduction via Forcefield Creation (Via Wall, which grants Protect and Shell,[6] halving both physical and magical damage.)
- Regeneration (Mid; Via Regen, which allow him to recover from wounds[6] that normally would slow him down.)
- Resurrection (Via Raise and Arise, however the user cannot cast these spells on themselves, making them unavailable in single combat.)
- Healing (Via Cure, Cura and Curaga.)
- Power Modification (Has access to 3 copies of All Materia, allowing him to turn single target Magic into area of effect abilities.)
- Homing Attack (Magic can track and spawn on the position of the target. The Energy spell homes on the enemy.)
Summoned Materia:
- Creation (Sephiroth can materialize four large elemental Materia,[4] resembling the Huge Materia, of fire, ice, lightning and support, each having properties of their own.)
- Fire Manipulation, Ice Manipulation & Electricity Manipulation (The Fire, Ice and Thunder Materia respectively use the Fire, Blizzard and Thunder series of spells.)
- Matter Manipulation (Macro-Quantum; The Blizzard and Fire spells affect the target's electrons.[15])
- Absorption (Each Elemental Materia absorbs their respective element instead of taking damage from it.)
- Healing (The Support Materia can cast Cura.)
- Damage Reduction via Forcefield Creation (The Support Materia can cast Barrier and MBarrier[4] to halve physical and magical damage, respectively.)
- Regeneration (Mid; The Support Materia can cast Regen, which allows to recover from wounds[5] that normally would slow the user down.)
- Power Nullification (The Support Materia can cast Dispel to disable enhancements and effects of the enemy.)
Resistance to:
- Spiritual Energy Resistances (Mastered and Departure)
- Jenova Inheritance Resistances (Incubation)
- SOLDIER Program Resistances
- Fire Manipulation, Ice Manipulation & Electricity Manipulation (While the Support Materia doesn't absorb any elements, it takes much less damage than normal from them.)
- Additional Resistances to Status Effect Inducement (Sephiroth is immune to all the Status Ailments[4] found in Crisis Core, which includes:
- Death Manipulation (Unaffected by Death inducing abilities and Odin's Zantetsuken. )
- Poison Manipulation & Corrosion Inducement (Unaffected by the Poison ailment, which includes acid attacks.[1])
- Stun Inducement (Unaffected by Stun.)
- Sense Manipulation (Voice; Unaffected by Silence.)
- Time Stop (Unaffected by Stop.)
- Curse Manipulation (Unaffected by Curse.)
- Empathic Manipulation & Memory Manipulation (The Curse status affects the Digital Mind Wave,[4] an interface that represents the memories,[4] as well as emotions and bonds[4] of the SOLDIER operative with people important to them, having a direct effect[4] on their Spiritual Energy and their strength.[16])
- Power Nullification (Silence prevents the use of Magic,[4] which is both a magical and mental ability triggered through a mind link with Materia.[17] Curse prevents the use of the Digital Mind Wave,[4] meddling with emotions, memories and the Spirit, thus blocking Limit Breaks[4] and other Spiritual Energy abilities.[4])
- Gravity Manipulation (Takes no damage from Gravity-based abilities.)
- Fire Manipulation (Casually walked through the flames[1] of Nibelheim as it burned down. Unaffected by being bombarded by flame projectiles[4] from Genesis' Homing technique.)
Intrinsic Abilities:
- Spiritual Energy Manipulation (Awakened and Departure)
- Jenova Inheritance (Completion)
- SOLDIER Program (Augmentation and Training)
- Sephiroth's humanoid body and his Jenova copy bodies should have all the swordsmanship related abilities he previously displayed in Before Crisis and Crisis Core, with varying extents of power.
Individual Abilities:
- Transformation (Can turn from a human looking body into Bizarro Sephiroth/Sephiroth Reborn and into Safer Sephiroth.)
- Large Size (Type 1; As Bizarro Sephiroth/Sephiroth Reborn and Safer Sephiroth.)
- Genius Intelligence (Extraordinary Genius; After falling into the Lifestream, Sephiroth began travelling it[1] and absorbing its knowledge,[2] vastly increasing his wisdom through generations of information.[9] Eventually, acquired the knowledge and surpassed the Cetra and those that came after, whose knowledge allowed them to control[4] and channel the powers[4] of the Planet.)
- Paralysis Inducement & Sense Manipulation (Vision; Safer Sephiroth's regular attacks paralyze and blind[1] those struck.)
- Absorption (Not-Combat Applicable; During his time in the Lifestream he absorbed vast amounts of power and knowledge. It's unknown if Sephiroth can use this ability on other power sources.)
- Summoning (Non-Combat Applicable; Via Meteor, through the use of the Black Materia, Sephiroth can call forth a massive comet from the depths of space[9] to crash into the planet. This is the only spell or ability strong enough to overpower the Lifestream and truly endanger the Planet itself.[1] However, due to needing amounts of Spiritual Energy that exceed that of Sephiroth, requiring him to resort to external sources,[1] and the comet taking at least seven days to arrive,[1] it cannot be used in proper combat.)
Absorbed Lifestream Knowledge:
- Natural Magic (Materia) (After falling into the Lifestream, Sephiroth absorbed a vast amount of knowledge[9] and also of power,[6] including that of the Cetra[1] and the wisdom of those that came after their extinction, thus surpassing the Ancient race. This encompasses their ability to channel[4] the powers of the Planet directly,[4] attaining this way the power to cast Magic with his own Spirit dispensing with the need to use Materia as a medium. This grants Sephiroth all the spells he previously had thanks to Materia plus several new ones.
- Gravity Manipulation (Via Graviga)
- Time Manipulation (Slowdown; Via Slow, which halves the target's speed.[1])
- Time Stop (Via Stop)
- Petrification (Via Break)
- Sleep Manipulation (Via Sleepel.)
- Power Nullification (Via Dispel, which disables all augments and enhancements on the enemy.)
- Death Manipulation (Via Death Sentence, which inflicts Doom,[1] killing the target in 30 seconds.)
- Hellfire Manipulation (Via Shadow Flare.)
- Furthermore, Sephiroth should have all the abilities that Materia can grant, which would include:
- Magic Materia and all spells that can be obtained.
- Summon Materia and all Summoned Beasts.
- Command Materia and all Special Commands.
- Enemy Skill and all the learnable abilities from different monsters and foes.
- Support Materia and all Support Abilities.
- Independent/Complete Materia and all Support Abilities.
Individual Spiritual Energy Techniques:
- Energy Projection (Via Stigma and Pale Horse, which take the form[1] of massive beams[1] of Spiritual Energy.)
- Explosion Manipulation (Via Sephiroth Shock and Deen, which are blasts[1] of Spiritual Energy[1] on the target's position.)
- Poison Manipulation & Time Manipulation (Slowdown; Stigma inflicts Poison and Slow.)
- Transmutation (Frogs), Size Manipulation (Mini) & Empathic Manipulation (Sadness; Pale Horse inflicts Toad, Mini and Sadness. The latter reducing[1] damage taken but also greatly reducing damage dealt and the speed at which special abilities are charged.)
- Healing (Via Bizarro Energy.)
- Life Manipulation & Resistance Negation (Heartless Angel[1] now affects a all enemies, working on the main party, who were unaffected[1] by the Spirit warping properties[18] of the Lifestream and are far stronger than Zack was when he fought Sephiroth in Nibelheim, being strong enough back then to endure the massive concentrations[5] of Spiritual Energy in the Cave of Wonders.)
- Statistics Reduction (Frog[1] reduces the enemy's offensive power to 1/4, while Small[1] reduces it to the point the enemy can't even deal damage.)
- Power Nullification (The Frog status[1] blocks all physical, mental and spiritual abilities. Aurora Fence disable all augments on all enemies.)
Supernova:
- Pocket Reality Manipulation (To cast Supernova, Sephiroth creates a dimension[1] containing an alternate Milky Way[1] and Solar System,[9] similar to the method in which Summons employ[11] their personal realms.)
- Fire Manipulation (Aside the massive amounts of heat a supernova explosion causes in itself, before the blast proper, Sephiroth causes the Sun to swell to the point it reaches Earth. The heat it emits in this state is so extreme it disintegrates both Venus and Mercury[9] without leaving a trace.)
- Explosion Manipulation & Vibration Manipulation (The explosion caused by the Supernova is large enough to consume the Solar System,[9] and bright enough to illuminate the Milky Way, emitting shockwaves enveloping everything.)
- Spatial Manipulation (The blast itself destroys dimensional space.[19])
- Radiation Manipulation (Supernovae emit massive amounts of radiation,[20] including such as ultraviolet light, gamma rays, neutrinos and radioactive atoms, as well as X-rays.[21])
- Matter Manipulation (Macro-Quantum; Supernovae cause nucleosynthesis,[22] the creation of new atomic nuclei through fusion of subatomic particles, and the shock of the explosion spreads elements,[23] atomic and sub-atomic matter, including the creation and scattering of neutrinos, the largest source of energy of the supernova.)
- Status Effect Inducement (Sephiroth's Supernova inflicts several ailments,[1] which include:
- Madness Manipulation (Type 2; Via Confusion.)
- Time Manipulation (Slowdown; Via Slow, halving the target's speed.)
- Sense Manipulation (Voice) & Power Nullification (The Silence ailment prevents the use of magical and mental abilities.)
Resistance to:
- Spiritual Energy Resistances (Awakened)
- SOLDIER Program Resistances
- Jenova Inheritance Resistances (Completion)
All previous resistances, plus Additional Resistances to: Status Effect Inducement (Sephiroth has developed resistance to all ailments found in the setting[14] aside the ones he already had. This would be thanks to obtaining the effects of Added Effect[1] or Status Ward,[5] or his own evolution alongside Jenova. Said effects would include:
- Body Puppetry: (Unaffected by Manipulate.)
- Paralysis Inducement (Resists Paralysis.)
- Sense Manipulation (Sight; Resists Blind.)
- Sleep Manipulation (Resists Sleep.)
- Madness Manipulation (Type 2; Resists Confusion and Berserk.)
- Transmutation (Resists Toad.)
- Petrification (Resists Petrification.)
- Size Manipulation (Resists Mini)
- Time Manipulation (Slowdown; Resists Slow)
- Statistics Reduction (Frog[1] reduces the enemy's offensive power to 1/4, while Small[1] reduces it to the point the enemy can't even deal damage.)
- Power Nullification (The Frog status[1] blocks all physical, mental and spiritual abilities. Silence prevents the use of Magic,[4] which is both a magical and mental ability triggered through a mind link with Materia.[17])
- Empathic Manipulation (Resists the effects of the Fury and Sadness ailments.)
- Explosion Manipulation, Vibration Manipulation, Heat Manipulation, Spatial Manipulation & Radiation Manipulation (Despite being engulfed by it, Sephiroth is completely unaffected[1] by his own Supernova.)
- Power Mimicry, Power Absorption & Power Modification (Due to absorbing vast amounts of knowledge from the Lifestream and making it his own, Sephiroth's Magic is ingrained into his Spirit in the same way Limit Breaks or such Spiritual Energy techniques are, making them unable to be stolen or altered. However, due to being a version of the knowledge of the Lifestream, it can still be copied through mediums that use Spiritual Energy, like Materia.)
- Resistance, possibly Absorption of: Fire Manipulation, Ice Manipulation, Electricity Manipulation, Earth Manipulation, Water Manipulation, Air Manipulation, Gravity Manipulation & Holy Manipulation (Thanks to obtaining the powers of Elemental[1] and Elemental Ward,[5] Sephiroth has grown resistant to and even possibly absorb the elemental powers found on the Planet.)
- Spiritual Energy Manipulation (Thaumaturge and Departure)
- Jenova Inheritance (Liberation)
- SOLDIER Program (Augmentation and Training)
- Plus all previous abilities.
Resistance to:
- Spiritual Energy Resistances (Thaumaturge and Departure)
- Jenova Inheritance Resistances (Liberation)
- SOLDIER Program Resistances (Augmentation and Training)
- Plus all previous resistances
All previous abilities enhanced plus:
- Supernatural Willpower (A person's will is power there and enables them to do a multitude of things the stronger their will.[24])
- Reactive Power Level (The greater someone's will, the greater their power.[24])
- Law Manipulation (Beings with strong wills can overwrite the laws of the world and bend them to their will.[24])
- Creation (With a powerful enough will, a person can create various things such as phone lines, airships and even entire countries and worlds.[24])
- Sealing (Can seal off large areas and people with her will, such as Cecil sealing himself in Castle Baron or the cast sealing Kefka inside a Torsion.[24])
- Dimensional Travel (Characters can open Torsions, rifts in space-time to travel various dimensions.[24])
- Immortality (Types 2 & 8; Due to the crystal core of darkness's influence in the hands of Ardyn, warriors will not die no matter how injured they are. Will exist as long as Chaos does, confirmed by the Emperor.)
Eidolons/Summons:
- Summoning (Can summon various Eidolons from Summonstones and the World of Illusions.)
- Hellfire Manipulation (Via Ifrit, Phoenix, Rubicante and Marilith.)
- Ice Manipulation, Absolute Zero & Duplication (Via Shiva whose cold and aura are stated to reach Absolute Zero including her Diamond Dust,[25] Shiva can duplicate herself[26])
- Water Manipulation (Via Kraken, Cagnazzo and Leviathan)
- Necromancy (Via Lich)
- Spatial Manipulation, BFR & Deconstruction (Atomic; Via Atomos who manipulates space,[27] crushing enemies down to the atomic level[19] and can warp them into another dimension.)
- Death Manipulation & Space-Time Manipulation (Via Odin, whose Zantetsuken instantly kills an enemy and opens a rift in space time to take their remains.[28])
- Matter Manipulation (Sub-Atomic) & Radiation Manipulation (Via Megaflare, which is stated[29] numerous times to be a nuclear power.[30])
- Attack Reflection (Via Carbuncle)
- Poison Manipulation & Corrosion Inducement (Via Eidolons such as Malboro, who can inflict the Poison status effect, which is also stated to corrode the target.[31])
- Darkness Manipulation & Perception Manipulation (Via Eidolons such as Malboro and Lich, which can inflict the darkness status ailment via various equipment, which would render the target blind.[32]
- Power Nullification (Via Eidolons, such as Malboro and Sylph who can inflict the Silence status which would render the target's ability to use magic null.)
- Petrification (Via Malboro's Bad Breath)
- Resurrection (Phoenix can revive fallen party members.[33]
- Light Manipulation & Holy Manipulation (Via Alexander)
- Explosion Manipulation & Self-Destruction (Via Bomb)
- Healing (Via Sylph & Asura)
- Earth Manipulation (Via Titan)
- BFR (Via Typhon)
- Soul Manipulation (Via Zalera, the Death Seraph, who has the power to absorb the souls of all living beings.[34]
Resistance: All previous resistances plus
- Soul Manipulation Can resist the powers of Zalera, the Death Serpah, who can absorb the souls of all living beings.[34]
- Empathic Manipulation & Madness Manipulation (Type 3; Resistant to the effects of the True Moon, which is capable of affecting the hearts and minds of all living beings on the planet.[27])
- Gravity Manipulation (Unaffected by the gravitational pull of the True Moon, which even the Lunar Whale couldn't escape from.[27]
- Spatial Manipulation, BFR & Deconstruction (Atomic; Can resist the Atomos' powers, who manipulates space,[27] crush enemies down to the atomic level[19] and can warp them into another dimension.)
- Radiation Manipulation (Can fight and survive on the moon.)
- Absolute Zero (Can survive Shiva's ice attacks,[26] which reaches these temperatures.[25])
- Regeneration Negation (Has the same type of regeneration as Exdeath who faded away after being killed[33] by Cecil Harvey during the events of Destiny Odissey, and can still come back through Chaos' resurrection[33] during the events of Shade Impulse.)
- Darkness Manipulation, Statistics Reduction, Corruption (Type 2), Curse Manipulation, Transmutation, Necromancy, Mind Manipulation, Time Manipulation, Time Stop, Void Manipulation & Existence Erasure (Can fight and resist the Darkness employed by the Cloud of Darkness in combat, which has all these properties[35]: mere exposure to it can drain the strength of living beings, turn them into wicked version of themselves or cast a curse to turn them into ghosts of different beings altogether, while also control their minds and use them as their servants. In larger amounts, Darkness begins to rob away the time of individuals until it stops and freezes them in time. Darkness can also be used to reanimate the dead, but above everything, Darkness is used to return everything to the absolute nothingness that is the Void.)
Attack Potency: At least Multi-Solar System level (Already during the era before the events of the original game, Sephiroth was the strongest in the world and there was no conceivable threat that could lead to his defeat.[3] While it's unclear[5] if he gave his all, Sephiroth seriously fought Zack Fair and defeated him in a duel one-sided to the point it was stated[2] it could be easy to forget they both were 1st Class SOLDIER. By that point, Zack had already defeated Minerva a being superior to Summons,[5] stronger than Zirconiade and thus far above Bahamut Fury and ZERO. Sephiroth likely compares to original body Jenova, as he was the perfect product[36] of the Jenova Project, and his Spirit was so strong she couldn't[9] overtake him. Jenova was such a threat the Planet created the 8 Weapons to eliminate her, each Weapon being around as strong as Minerva[Statistics Values 1]), likely Multiverse level+ (Stronger than the combined 8 Weapons, with each Weapon capable of posing a threat to Cloud Strife after he had become far stronger since he returned from Ivalice, where he took part in Ramza Beoulve's army and participated in the defeat of a full power Ultima, the Angel of Blood and Zodiark, the Keeper of Precepts, beings who at a mere echo of their true strength were a great challenge for Vaan and Balthier, who had defeated Gilgamesh twice), higher with Spiritual Energy (Spiritual Energy increases the destructive power of the user's techniques. In particular, Limit Breaks are stated to reach power far beyond the user's regular capabilities[1])
Speed: Massively FTL+ (Could easily keep up and outpace Zack Fair in a very one-sided fight. Zack had already defeated Minerva, a being superior[5] to Summons, including Zirconiade and, by extension, being far stronger than Bahamut Fury[Statistics Values 2])
Lifting Strength: Stellar (Could easily overwhelm Zack Fair in their duel, whom had defeated Minerva, a being stronger than Summons and far superior to Typhon[Statistics Values 3]), likely Multi-Stellar (Far more powerful than the Ultima Demons in Ivalice, who could quickly move around the stars in the sky[37] with their Almagest attack), possibly Immeasurable (Much stronger than Gilgamesh, who was comparable, if weaker than Neo-Exdeath, who had become one with the Void. Gilgamesh was bested in combat by Vaan and Balthier, who found a tough challenge in Ultima and Zodiark at an echo of their power, but Sephiroth compares to Cloud and Balthier after they had participated in the defeats of Ultima and Zodiark at their full might)
Striking Strength: At least Multi-Solar System level[Statistics Values 1], likely Multiversal level+
Durability: At least Multi-Solar System level (Withstood Zack's attacks without visible injury[4] or exhaustion, which would also include his Summons. Zack had already defeated Minerva a being superior to Summons, putting her above Zirconiade and thus making her far more powerful than Bahamut Fury and ZERO[Statistics Values 1]), likely Multiverse level+ (Can easily brush off Zack's attacks, who is stronger than individual Weapons, with each Weapon being a strong opponent for Cloud, who had become far stronger since fighting in Ramza Beoulve's army during his stay in Ivalice, where he could harm a full power Ultima, the Angel of Blood and Zodiark, the Keeper of Precepts, beings who at an echo of their true strength were a challenge to Balthier and Vaan, after they had defeated Gilgamesh)Attack Potency: Multi-Galaxy level (Stronger than the individual members of the main party and by extension the Knights of the Round under their command[Statistics Values 4]), likely Multiverse level+ (Far more powerful than ever before. After falling into the Lifestream, Sephiroth became its traveller,[1] absorbing power and knowledge[6] to then begin building a new body[2] for his rebirth through the Reunion, the same process that allowed Jenova to attain her ultimate form,[9] to then become a being described as godlike[38] and nearing godhood[38]), higher with Spiritual Energy, far higher with Meteor (In spite of all his power, the ultimate destructive spell[1] was the only method Sephiroth had to break through the defenses the Planet has, thanks to the Lifestream, to cause a wound[1] large enough to carry out his plans)
Speed: Massively FTL+ (Could catch and move a comet at these speeds through outer space using his telekinesis. Capable of reacting to his own telekinesis. Superior to the Knights of the Round[Statistics Values 5])
Lifting Strength: Stellar[Statistics Values 3], likely Multi-Stellar, possibly Immeasurable (Has become much more powerful than before by travelling the Lifestream, absorbing knowledge and power, and building a new body through the Reunion)
Striking Strength: Multi-Galaxy level[Statistics Values 4], likely Multiversal level+
Durability: Multi-Galaxy level (Can endure the Knights of the Round's Ultimate End[Statistics Values 4]), likely Multiverse level+ (Far more powerful than before after absorbing vast knowledge from the Lifestream and completing the Reunion to build a new body, described as nearing godhood)Attack Potency: At least Multi-Galaxy level[Statistics Values 4], likely Multiverse level+ (Exists as a Spirit, released from the far more limited existence of a mortal body.[18] By lurking within the Lifestream, building up his power,[2] Sephiroth has become even more powerful than before. Even while holding back, easily dominated the duel against Cloud, despite him also having grown far stronger, something Sephiroth was genuinely impressed by. Just a little earlier, Cloud had easily defeated Kadaj who was stated[12] to be as strong as Sephiroth was in the original game. Sephiroth has been stated[39] in repeated occasions[40] by the creators to be[41] the most powerful[2] character in Final Fantasy VII, which puts him above other formidable warriors such as Weiss the Immaculate and Vincent Valentine), far higher with Spiritual Energy
Speed: Massively FTL+ (Has become far stronger than before by accumulating his power[2] when lurking within the Lifestream. Could easily outpace and overwhelm Cloud in their duel, who also had become much more powerful and easily defeated Kadaj, who is stated[12] to be as powerful as Sephiroth was in the original game), possibly higher (Exists as a Spirit that, unlike most spiritual beings, is completely unbound by the will of the Planet[18] and the flow of the Lifestream.[42] By themselves, Spirits are entities freed from the limitations of the flesh[18] but are in turn taken by the stream of the afterlife the way the Planet wishes. Sephiroth exists outside that current, being capable of moving at will, anywhere he pleases in "a heartbeat"[42] in the otherworld of the Lifestream, where the concepts of space-time differ,[42] space being arbitrary and time being meaningless, all while the Planet actively tries to take him back.[18] Sephiroth is also capable of returning to the world of the living, simply being prevented from doing so due to lacking the memories to manifest completely)
Lifting Strength: Stellar[Statistics Values 3], likely Multi-Stellar, possibly Immeasurable (Far stronger than before, as he kept kept taking power from the Lifestream. Could easily overwhelm Cloud, despite Cloud becoming strong enough to easily defeat Kadaj, who is as strong as Sephiroth was in the original game)
Striking Strength: Multi-Galaxy level[Statistics Values 4], likely Multiversal level+, far higher with Spiritual Energy
Durability: At least Multi-Galaxy level[Statistics Values 4], likely Multiverse level+ (Has continued to absorb power and knowledge during his time inside the Lifestream, becoming even more powerful than before)Attack Potency: Multiverse level+ (Draws power from the Gods of the Cycle, making him far stronger than before. Participated in the defeat of Shinryu), far higher with Spiritual Energy
Speed: Massively FTL+, possibly far higher (Comparable to other Warriors of the Cycle. Took part in the defeat of Shinryu)
Lifting Strength: Immeasurable (As a warrior of Spiritus and by drawing power from the Gods of the Cycle, is superior to Exdeath and Enuo in their original game, the former whom had merged and become one with the Void, the latter who could control it)
Striking Strength: Multiverse level+, far higher with Spiritual Energy
Durability: Multiverse level+ (Can fight the other Warriors of the Cycle. Survived Shinryu's attacks)
Stamina: There are two important moments in the story that set apart Sephiroth's endurance, when he was still an individual of flesh and blood and after he existed as a spiritual being:
Superhuman (Sephiroth has never shown to truly exert himself in battle, remaining unfazed even against opponents such as Genesis and Zack, who have managed to make Sephiroth fight seriously, and despite the two of them showing visible exhaustion and effort. Even detrimetal conditions like the seven days he spent researching the Jenova Project in the Nibelheim Mansion, without food or sleep, didn't harm his performance in battle in the slightest against an opponent as strong as Zack, who by that time was the other uncontested strongest member of SOLDIER. After being impaled through the torso with the Buster Sword, despite visibly hurt, Sephiroth could still display an overwhelming power to dominate Cloud, when everyone though such injury would prove to be disabling to begin with. Following his fall into the Lifestream, Sephiroth's made vast amounts of its knowledge his own and gained access to a replenishing pool of Spiritual Energy that would never exhaust through use, while making an active effort to rebuild his body and control the Jenova fragments through the Planet, all without any strain on his end)
Infinite (Sephiroth no longer has a physical body, being now a Spirit who had ascended to a separate entity from the Lifestream. Spirits are incomparably less limited than physical beings, lacking all of the weaknesses of the flesh. Managed to fight Cloud for several hours without even needing to catch his breath, despite his opponent's best efforts)
Range: Two important moments, before Sephiroth fell into the Lifestream and after doing so and absorbing the knowledge from the Planet:
Extended Melee Range (With the Masamune), Hundreds of Meters (With Spiritual Energy techniques and Magic)
Multiversal+ (His influence can reach the living world from the Lifestream, which more than an energy current is another realm with differing time and space, originating universes and even reaching places beyond space-time altogether. Sephiroth's Negative Lifestream was causing a very real danger of contaminating the entire Lifestream and Jenova had begun merging with it to the point the Spirits of the dead would return to her instead to the Planet)
Standard Equipment
SOLDIER members in 3rd and 2nd Rank are provided supplies directly by the Shinra Company. 1st Class members, however, are allowed to use their own personalized gear, which is likely to be Sephiroth's case.
Aside the evident case of the Masamune, Cloud's recounts of the Nibelheim Incident show Sephiroth did have protective gear with him as well as Materia. This was more or less confirmed in Crisis Core when Sephiroth was seen using many of the Materia Cloud recalled as well.
Rarely, the Spiritual Energy of the Lifestream may be particularly abundant in an area, to then concentrate for years and condense and crystalize, becoming Materia. In the modern day, the Shinra Electric Power Company artificially manufactures Materia through their extraction of Mako, the term they've given to the Spiritual Energy. Contained in Materia is the wisdom of the Cetra, the ancient people of the Planet who were spiritually connected to it and could access its powers. Materia grants this knowledge to the user and allows them to be able to call upon those powers themselves in many ways, most notably in the form of Magic.
There are many types of Materia, represented by different colors: green (Magic), red (Summoning), yellow (Commands), blue (Support) and purple (Independent). Materia can be equipped in many different ways: Cloud and the party slot them into their weapons and armor, with Vincent also putting them in keychains attached to his guns, and Zack can carry up to six in his person. While Materia cannot be inserted into the body without harmful effects, it can be used without needing to equip it.
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Intelligence: Sephiroth is an individual of remarkable intellect from the very start. However, his fall into the Lifestream would be the turning point in which his knowledge would reach a level far above what would normally be possible:
Genius (Renowned as a brilliant tactician and fighter during his days as a 1st Class SOLDIER, Sephiroth is an unparalleled swordsman and a legendary war hero who ended entire conflicts virtually single-handedly. As SOLDIER's top warrior he has full knowledge of combat strategy and immense amounts of experience from fighting all sort of enemies in many different missions, from stopping rebel factions, terrotist cells, slaying monsters, field testing new war and combat technologies, and reducing enemy armies. His aptitude and capabilities is such that Sephiroth could coach SOLDIER's other ace, Zack Fair, and cause such inspiration on people that many aspirants joined solely to follow Sephiroth, including another elite of the unit, Genesis Rhapsodos. Aside from his military talent, Sephiroth is shown to have noticeable scientific intellect, being implied to be well versed in the studies Professor Hojo and Gast Faremis, both Shinra's top scientists and scientific geniuses, later stated to be studying their research and managing to understand the entirety of the library in the Shinra Mansion in a matter of days, reaching incorrect conclusions solely due to the outdated nature of the documents.)
Extraordinary Genius (After falling into the Lifestream, Sephiroth became a traveler of it, gradually absorbing more power, but more importantly, more knowledge. This process allowed him to attain the memories and wisdom of every living being that had died and returned to the Planet, accumulated within the Lifestream through generations since life began. Eventually, Sephiroth obtained the knowledge of both the Cetra and even those that came after them, surpassing the Ancient race that could use said knowledge to control the powers of the Planet itself, and finding the secrets of the life on the Planet and forbidden powers such as Meteor and Holy. This newfound wisdom allows Sephiroth to use Magic without having to resort to Materia to access the knowledge of the Cetra, even obtaining for himself the powers that all Materia could grant, reaching an understanding no living being could hope to achieve.)
Weaknesses: Despite his overwhelming strength and brilliant tactics, Sephiroth is not invincible. Though renowned as the strongest, he does have important shortcomings as a warrior, most of the time that being himself:
Normally Sephiroth lacks a true weakness as a warrior, being not only powerful without equal, but also absolutely pragmatic and no-nonsense, always seeking to quickly take out enemies. However, after Sephiroth discovered his origins, following a long episode of traumatic events, his worn out mental state collapsed and his ego grew completely out of control, developing a superiority complex and level of arrogance that wasn't there before. Rather than quickly winning his battles, Sephiroth became more focused on showing his superiority to his opponent, made worse given Sephiroth's status as unmatched in battle: as he has never been pushed to the limit in a fight, he has complete confidence in his strength. This is such that even when absolutely enraged, Sephiroth will torture and humilliate his enemy to try put them in their place rather than dispatching them.
None notable. Despite implications that some of his actions were a spiteful revenge on a specific few, Sephiroth's utmost priority are carrying out his plans of ascension, thus he fights seriously to ensure so, unlike before.
Sephiroth's ego and sadism are stronger than ever, spending more time focused on making his enemy suffer and feel powerless rather than defeating them, reason why he dragged for hours a fight he could have won in moments. That said, this behaviour was directed at Cloud, who Sephiroth had a very personal vendetta against and whom Sephiroth had used to focus his hatred to strengthen his Spirit, so it's possible that this lack of pragmatism is directed solely at that specific person.
Notable Attacks/Techniques:
Among the cast of Final Fantasy VII, Sephiroth is an unique case given the varied amount of power sources he has access to. While he began with the same limitations as most others, that is having to develop techniques using his Spiritual Energy and rely on Materia to use Magic, as the story progressed Sephiroth got access to new, unnatural powers in the form of Jenova's abilities, the knowledge he obtained from the Lifestream and his ascension into a baneful and abnormal existence within the Planet, thus gaining an unmatched power and capabilities nobody in his world has.
Abilities used by Sephiroth during his days as a SOLDIER operative for Shinra. These are divided into three groups: Spiritual Energy techniques Sephiroth developed to complement his swordplay; Magic he accessed by utilizing Materia, still having that limitation; and a few psychic abilities developed as the legacy of Jenova began to awaken in him, which he quickly mastered by the moment he had to employ them in combat. During this time, despite his strength, Sephiroth was for bound by the same rules as most other people.
| Ability | Type | Classification | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spell | Classification | Required Materia | Extra Effect | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Releases three explosive homing fireballs towards the target. Can also cast a explosive flames on their location. | ||||
| Causes a large ice block to materialize and crush the opponent. Can also create a stream of icicles to surround and strike the opponent, freezing them in an instant. | ||||
| Shoots three powerful bolts of lightning from his hands towards an enemy. Can also cast a powerful lightning bolt to strike the enemy from the sky. | ||||
| Causes the ground to shake, tear apart and rocks to raise and strike the opponent. | ||||
| A series of increasingly powerful healing spells. A wave of energy heals physical damage sustained. | ||||
| A light comes down to a fallen ally and restores them back. Raise returns a small amount of health, but Arise fully heals them as well. | ||||
| For a while a healing force engulfs the target, gradually but quickly restoring their health, to the point they could be fully healed in minutes. | ||||
| Casts a barrier that halves both physical and magical damage. | ||||
| Shoots a sphere of energy that homes on the opponent and strikes them several times. | ||||
| Creates a localized nuclear explosion on a single enemy. Sephiroth's variant creates a large nuclear blast that engulfs the whole area. |
| Spell | Classification | Summoned Materia | Extra Effect | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
After falling into the reactor, following the Nibelheim Incident, due to possessing an unfathomably strong will, Sephiroth didn't return to the Planet, rather he became a traveller of the Lifestream, absorbing vast amounts of power and knowledge and enduring, preparing for his resurrection. At this time his link with Jenova was completed and both became more akin to a single entity working together. Thanks to this, Sephiroth not only developed far stronger techniques of his own, he also fully accessed the powers of Jenova he had inherited thanks to the Jenova Project, as well as obtained such amount of knowledge from the Lifestream that he grew capable of using Magic as his own, without needing Materia as he had surpassed the Cetra and didn't need their knowledge to harvest the powers of the Planet. Sephiroth had effectively grown into an absolutely abnormal being, freed from the limitations of most other living creatures.
| Ability | Type | Classification | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ability | Type | Classification | Additional Effect | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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- While the Supernova has been openly stated to be Sephiroth's ultimate attack and treated as such in its appearances, it has never been openly said to be a Limit Break the same way Octaslash is.
| Spell | Classification | Required Materia | Extra Effect | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
In addition to these, Sephiroth has completely surpassed the Ancients in knowledge after he fell into the Lifestream and became its traveler- acquiring their knowledge. Because Materia contain the knowledge of the Ancients, and are condensed fragments of their knowledge, Sephiroth should be able to utilize the abilities of every Materia in the series- without the Materia themselves (barring the Black and White Materia), due to acquiring all of the knowledge of the Ancients- and surpassing them.
| Name | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
This also includes the abilities of the Enemy Skill Materia, which replicates how foes (whether it be creature or machine) utilize their Spiritual Energy / Mako. Potentially allowing Sephiroth to have access to nearly every attack within the series itself. Though, most of these are not notable.
After his initial defeat at the Planet's Core, Sephiroth chose to remain as a Spirit within the Lifestream, free from the limitations of the flesh. He managed to escape the assimilation from the Lifestream, as he spread his influence through the Geostigma disease and lurked within the Planet accumulating his power. This led to him become an even more powerful and unnatural entity within the Planet, possessing completely baneful capabilities towards the life in the world itself. In many ways he had trascended what Jenova was as the Calamity from the Skies, becoming a different and stronger entity entirely.
| Ability | Description |
|---|---|
Notes
- Currently this profile only covers the continuity of the original game. Content regarding Remake and Rebirth is currently in the works.
- In-depth explanation on how Final Fantasy VII scales to Final Fantasy Tactics can be found here.
- In-depth explanation on why Sephiroth inherits all the powers found in Materia can be found here.
- Elaboration on Jenova's scaling can be found here.
- Guide to status effects found in the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII can be found here.
Gallery
Notable Matchups
Victories:
Losses:
Inconclusive:
- Kirin (Azure Striker Gunvolt) Kirin's Profile (Bizarro/Reborn Sephiroth was used. Prevasion was allowed for Kirin; Speed was equalized)
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 1.31 1.32 1.33 1.34 1.35 1.36 1.37 1.38 1.39 1.40 1.41 1.42 Final Fantasy VII (1997)
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 Final Fantasy VII: 10th Anniversary Ultimania (2007)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Gamaga Magazine Interview: October 30th, 2007 Issue (2007)
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 4.27 4.28 4.29 4.30 4.31 4.32 4.33 4.34 4.35 4.36 4.37 4.38 4.39 4.40 4.41 Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-: Reunion (2022)
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- (2007)
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII- (2004)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis (2023)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Final Fantasy VII: The First SOLDIER (2021)
- ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 Final Fantasy VII: Ultimania Omega (2005)
- ↑ Final Fantasy VII Remake: Ultimania (2020)
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-: The Complete Guide (2007)
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children -Reunion Files- (2006)
- ↑ Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020)
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Final Fantasy Series (1987-)
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Final Fantasy IV: Documents on Settings Book. Black Magic Guide (1991)
- ↑ Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-: Official Website English (2007)
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Final Fantasy VII: On the Way to a Smile - Episode Yuffie (2009)
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 Final Fantasy VII: On the Way to a Smile - Lifestream Black (2009)
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Dissidia Final Fantasy (2008). Japanese Version
- ↑ Health Physics News: Specialists in Radiation Protection. Answer to Question #10108 Submitted to "Ask the Experts" - "How much radiation is produced by a supernova?" - (February 24th, 2012)
- ↑ National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Imagine the Universe!: Supernovae (Basic) - (September, 2009)
- ↑ Energy.gov - Office of Science: DOE Explains… Supernovae - (Retrieved 2024)
- ↑ National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Imagine the Universe!: The Dispersion of Elements - (March, 2017)
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Final Fantasy Explorers. Japanese Website Summon profiles (2014)
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Dissidia Final Fantasy NT
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 Final Fantasy IV:The After Years
- ↑ War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius
- ↑ Final Fantasy IV: The After Years Novel, chapter 5, page 270
- ↑ Final Fantasy IV: The After Years Novel, chapter 5, page 271
- ↑ Final Fantasy IV Series Guidebook
- ↑ Final Fantasy V GBA Manual
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 Dissidia Final Fantasy (2008)
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 Final Fantasy XII
- ↑ Final Fantasy III (Remake) - (2006)
- ↑ Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-: Ultimania (2007)
- ↑ Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions (2007). Skill Description - Japanese Version
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 Final Fantasy: Ultimania Archive - Volume 2 (2018)
- ↑ Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Limited Edition Package - Staff Commentary Summary (2006)
- ↑ Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade: Famitsu Interview - (February 25th, 2021)
- ↑ Final Fantasy VII Remake: Material Ultimania (2021)
- ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 Final Fantasy VII: The Maiden Who Travels the Planet (2005)
Notes/Explanations
Discussions
| Discussion threads involving Sephiroth (Final Fantasy) |