The Complete Evolution of Summons

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Ever since their introduction in Final Fantasy III, Summons have become a fundamental part of the Final Fantasy experience. Join us, for our latest Evolution video, as we explore how the various mechanics of Summons have been introduced and evolved over time, from Final Fantasy III all the way up to more modern games like Final Fantasy XIV, XV and the Final Fantasy 7 Remake!
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[@FinalFantasyUnion]

If you'd like to pre-order The Legacy of the Crystal (our upcoming encyclopedic book that delves into every major Final Fantasy game ever released), you can do so over at BackerKit: legacyofthecrystal.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders

[@charlieprince8671]

I think summons are probably the most defining feature of the FF series. I think they way they've used them mechanically and story wise and evolved them has been what has set the series apart from other jrpgs.

[@ChicagoRetroGamer]

100% agree

[@joshuataylor7443]

What about arc rise fantasia, that has summons.

[@systander]

@@joshuataylor7443 what about it?

[@Dracobyte]

Also creatures like Chocobos and Moogles.

[@lllool8404]

Especially more so since FF14.

[@Forever_Zero]

FFX's approach of summons is probably the best, not only gameplay wise but there's the very emotional moment at the end, but I'm also a huge fan of what FFVII Remake did, certainly looking forward for more of it

[@d-dashmedia6010]

Yeah X had the best summons,I hope we get some lore behind summons in furure installments of 7Remake

[@pn2294]

I think FF7R is better though I do still love 5 and 8’s gameplay

[@sofaris576]

FFX spoiler: Yes the gameplay of summons is super fun. With the right strat and Abilltys Bahamut can solo Yunalesca. I love summons in FFX

[@jameslabbe4119]

Also each one just being jaw dropping gorgeous with creative designs. Even Bahamut, which trades a conventional dragon design for something more god-like.

[@Croftice1]

I love how they incorporate Yuna into the process of summoning. Every other FF has a generic animation regardless of who performs it, or if there's a dedicated summoner (like Rydia or Terra), then the same animation for every summon. But Yuna performs different animation for each Aeon she calls and even interacts with them during the summoning and sometimes even later. I love that neat detail there. Even something so trivial like catching Shiva's cloth. And in case of Anima, at least she's speaking to her after it's done.

[@64power72]

Please do a evolution of chocobo next.

[@Lvl4Henchman]

They got... More feathers.

[@ChristopherSmith-sb2ow]

We agree

[@Ds117]

Great idea that would be sick

[@KenjiShiratsuki]

Wait a second, FFT didn't have summons learned from weapons at all. They were learned on the job screen like every other ability, you spent JP on them. Only the Samurai required specific weapons and that wasn't even to learn the skill, but to use it.

[@TFHDeathUA33]

I'm thinking they either confused the Tactics Advanced games for Tactics or didn't show that they were talking about Tactics, Tactics Advance, and Tactics Advance 2.

[@jacobawojtowicz]

1000 hours in this game and I didn't know you could just learn Lich for free. But I was pretty damn sure the items weren't a thing.

[@kamikaze82]

Overall, excellent video. One error I noticed was in the Tactics section. Summons can be learned by being hit by them, but they don't learn them by weapons equipped by the summoner. That's a system in the Tactics Advance series. The original Tactics had them being learned with accumulated JP, just like every other class.

[@StevenBryceWroten]

Another fun thing from Bravely Default is that there was an optional end game job called Conjurer which used the summons to instead cast buffs.

[@ern1813]

This man summoned a huge amount of effort to make this video👏

[@develynseether4426]

This is why FFIII will always be in my top 5 FF games, the amount of jobs to level and the summons was just epic.

[@daku5413]

One interesting design choice in Bravely Default was that the summons featured modern technology in their animations. Girtabulu is a modern city, Hresvelgr is a plane, Prometheus is a train, Deus Ex is a steampunk TV spider and Susano-o beats up people with power poles. Only Zisuadra shown in this video is the only one doing a classical fantasy attack without modern technology. As the rest of the game is standard FF fare, with magitech only going as far as airships, it gave the summons an alien and outerworldly feel. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKGvhZmVg5Zno7c here you can see for yourselves.

[@andreaspavlides7560]

Wonderful job as always, thanks Union. Evolution of Moogles, Mog and Chocobos would be interesting next! 😆

[@dustinhatfield8373]

I feel like it was worth mentioning how ff12 gave the classic summons typically present in the games not in Ivalice a cameo as flagships on the Imperial fleet. Heck Bahamut was essentially the final threat defeated

[@shytendeakatamanoir9740]

While FFX summons are definitely awesome, I also really like the FFVI approach for its more strategic feel. It's mostly used for character building, but since their usage is limited in battle, you have to be careful when to use them.

[@neblettadam]

And my day just keeps getting better and better with this vid!

[@Harpsibored]

The summons in FFIX will always be my favorite story-wise (although gameplay wise, definitely FFX). Most iconic moment from FFIX is easily the Alexander vs. Bahamut showdown. Such an amazing payoff after spending discs wondering what the hell Brahne wanted those jewel fragments for and why were they split in the first place.

[@DashingDavid]

40 minute Final Fantasy Union video? Hell yeah. Sign me up.

[@zidaryn]

19:27 You missed one thing when talking about XII. The names for the Espers were different from any of the summons seen in the series so far. This is partially due to the names of various ships in the world having the names of various summons, ie: Shiva and Ifrit. Still a great vid as always.

[@pasqualembisceglia1989]

I like all Summons for Dagger and Eiko in Final Fantasy IX.

[@tylersmith9868]

Ew

[@galone]

I believe in FFXII tho, Zodiark was the only one who didn't rebel. It was sealed away because of its terrifying growing powers despite being a "child".

[@TheAuron32]

yep, something that extremely powerful was kept as a kid, kinda scary when you think about it... The Gods where right to be afraid too, look at what he can do to you fighting him, can you imagine if he could grow and was convinced to rebel?! do it SE, you know you want to... EDIT: thinking on it, he could end up being as powerful as his FF14 namesake, capable of re-writing the laws of the planet.

[@NightsFenris]

@@TheAuron32 see it like this with his finisher in the cutscene he destroys space, time and reality in this place

[@denispodic7780]

Great video, my dude! Always happy to see an in-depth vid on my fav franchise of all time. One slight correction, though.... You had earth & wind summons in IV, in the forms of Titan and Sylph. No offense or anything.

[@TheEpitomeofSass]

this was a really interesting video!! very comprehensive and I learned alot. thank you, you two, for all the work you put into it!!! ALWAYS giving quality work

[@jmforbes5529]

I really love that Melodies of Life is the background music playing in this video

[@ChicagoRetroGamer]

Oh man, I remember my very first summon, what a great, cool way to show a magical attack!

[@KaminoZan]

Oh, you tease... here I was thinking you finally made the "Evolution of Summoners" video and instead.... Holy Bahamut, you put out something better than that! WOO!

[@gorimbaud]

While you mentioned the Summon ability school from Record Keeper, I think you missed a big feature that is just as related: Magicite. After defeating various elemental boss fights, many of which are based on summons throughout the franchise, you're given magicite items that you can level and apply special passive abilities to, with one set as the main that can be summoned to help in combat. At the 6* level, the elemental bosses are all classic summons from the franchise, like Ifrit, Shiva, and Ramuh, culminating in a series of fights against Odin that unlock his own magicite. The Japanese version of the game has introduced the next level of magicite battles, against Neo Bahamut and Bahamut Zero, though the Global version is still a few months off from that. Magicites are also one of the few areas in the game that implement FFRK's unique story and cast.

[@MCPunk55]

You know, my favorite Ifrit appearence is Final Fantasy VIII. Earrings, drops a giant meteor on your head.

[@TheAuron32]

nice video, i was curious how would cover them in FF14, so much lore in that game alone. my favourite game for them is (equips flame shield) FF 13, I love how it makes the connection between summoner and summon monster that much closer, seeing Odin allow Lightning to use HIS WEAPON was amazing, especially during the return to Cocoon part when its just her and Odin against the big mech, the bond is so strong that even 500 years later, he STILL helps her in the form of a chocobo.

[@Kamyuyon]

forgot FF Tacticas A2, my favorite :( But I get it, the Espers there are pretty much the same as in tactics or revenant wings. Great video!

[@standard2998]

Just want to add something that doesn't get mention in the video. The First "Summonable" monster is actually wyvern from FF II.

[@Harpsibored]

I mean.....kiiiiiiiiinda? Don't you just call him once and he brings you through the tornado on the map screen? (not in battle)

[@standard2998]

@@Harpsibored you can use it in battle and will cast blaze.

[@venabre]

FFX being my first Final Fantasy game slightly ruined summons for me because I loved being able to control them and could never really get used to summons just using one attack and then leaving once I went back to play the earlier games

[@steveozone4910]

You'll like the Zodiac age then

[@Kristalya]

Aeon is the most beautiful name choice for summoned creatures! 💖

[@thefabulous127]

Haven't even watched it yet .This will be a good one ,I'm calling it

[@Crim_Zen]

Two things you missed about Opera Omnia and War of the Visions, the summons in those did have a story tied to them. In Opera Omnia you got the summon story when doing the challenge modes for each summon. As for Visions, the rings the main cast use are all summoner items, with Macherie's ring calling on the Espers (they called them Espers in this game.) As for the current timeline in Wotv, Macherie has just summoned Ramuh into the world as a story npc. This list might need an update with the current evolution of the franchise.

[@maxhall7171]

Yoo ff union coming in clutch with new content

[@neoshadowdukeofgames8223]

Y’all should do an evolution of chocobo and an evolution of moogles video with Lauren wearing her chocobo and moogle outfits

[@mageyplss]

Evolution of moogles next please!

[@KotaManyColors]

Summons truly are an Eikonic element of the series

[@djnealb2]

I'm also interested to see how how (or if) Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin handles summons, since they weren't in the original Final Fantasy but have become such a staple since then.

[@finalfantasymadness4512]

I don't think SE teased Summoner job

[@d-dashmedia6010]

Never thought of that tbh good point

[@SoloWan_XIII]

There are none, but they may add it with the upcoming dlc/season pass? There is one related to the King of Dragons (which should be Bahamut of course), but unfortunately there is no Summoner job yet in the game 😅.

[@Croftice1]

A small correction here. Actually the Aeons weren't the manifestation of the Dreams of the Faiths, they were the mainfestations of the Faiths themselves, as seen with the Faith of Bahamut speaking to Tidus on many occasions (the first time in Dream Zanarkand at the begining of the game, then later in some of the temples thrughout Spira). He was no Dream of the Faiths, he was the Faith of Bahamut. Tidus was actually one of the Dreams touched by Sin and brought to Spira during it's attack on Dream Zanarkand. Just a detail, but I personally think every detail is important. So yea.

[@OmniOmegaKiller]

How Auron was in dream and he was guardian to father Yuna and get killed by Yunalesca and then he get life back (how?) and then he did go to the Dream Zanarkand.

[@blackmagekongs2588]

The changes they made to summoner in ff14 endwalker is amazing. Finally you feel like an actual summoner when you summon ifrit, garuda, and titan. I just wish they stuck around a little longer. As for my favorite summons in the series, ff9 still has imo the best looking summons in the series.

[@lushdontu4015]

Don’t let the aesthetics fool you. Elemental ruin spam.

[@blackmagekongs2588]

@@lushdontu4015 ya gameplay-wise its simple, but i was merely talking about how it looks better

[@maxspecs]

If they stuck around too long, they’d temper everyone around you!

[@blackmagekongs2588]

@@maxspecs well im sure it would get on somebody's nerve if they didnt change their summon size XD

[@joshuataylor7443]

Can you explain to me why you like there designs?

[@isaacgraff8288]

Could be interesting to see summons as an ancestral Deity. I am thinking a little bit like type zero or FFX where they are controllable with a touch of FF Tactics Advanced where they are associated with a specific race/tribe. I guess my thought also adds Trance from FF9. When _____ happens, this characters becomes Ifrit for a brief time. To me it sounds fun

[@____________838]

Replace Trance with a Summon? Sounds great!

[@isaacgraff8288]

@@____________838 Kind of. It was a fun thought

[@insertcoolnamelater9334]

Wow, I played through FF8 multiple times. I never knew about the Affinity system.

[@pn2294]

They honestly didn’t make it consequential enough though most people would complain if they did.

[@Harpsibored]

@@pn2294 Yeah the affinity only mattered if you actually summoned them in battle, which is completely unnecessary once you master junctioning. Well, except Doomtrain. He's a fun summon.

[@promethiac2641]

This is an excellent video on the subject!

[@tymemaster]

This might not be for this video but the summons of ff12 are also the totema of ffta and the zodiac braves of fft all apart of ivalice's lore

[@cloudbloom]

I love this series thanks for making them

[@calvinmatthews1527]

IMAO, Final Fantasy X will always have the best Summon gameplay with IX being a close second. For the newer games, the summons either feel underwhelming or like some overpowered party member. I hope the IX Remake won't go either of those routes.

[@saedt]

They’re remaking FF9?? :o

[@adiksaff]

32:20 - FFRK mention hype!! ^^ I will never get tired of it! BTW! Recently the replace-party variety of Summons have now also appeared in RK! Now not bound to Summoners, Limit Break Guardians are predetermined based on character / story (e.g. Faris can summon Syldra, Locke can summon VI Phoenix, Ardyn can summon XV Ifrit).

[@Malacite]

I'm very curious to see how they work in 16. I've actually had my own idea for what I feel would be a truly amazing system, wherein you have affinity like in FF8, but rather than standard jobs and gear etc. you assign summons to player characters who then become those summons during battle. Not gonna say anymore than that 'cause 1) it's my idea and 2) would take forever to write it all :P My favorite iterations are by far 11 and 14 though (6 is a close 3rd) because of their heavy ties to their respective narratives, and also I just love 11's version to pieces. Odin is actually one of the biggest villains in 11, and responsible for like 90% of the world's problems (and the creation of the version of Vana'diel the player inhabits - yeah minor WotG spoilers there sorry)

[@jamcalx]

You should add a Snack and drink advisory to these longer vids.

[@hellogoodbyeandallinbetween]

I really enjoyed how ffx incorporated summons into the story

[@carbonc6065]

Excellent work!

[@KonniWynn]

I love the XV summons

[@SoloWan_XIII]

Great content 😄👍🏽! I look forward to see how FFXVI will handle it 😄.

[@coltdeedede]

Another brilliant depp dive!

[@montgomeryfortenberry]

The best summon was that damn train. I loved that bastard even if it took like 3 minutes to watch it play out.

[@LiminalMan777]

Super pumped for this one

[@reiddutchess9955]

What version of final fantasy IV was that when he showed them in the land of the summoned monsters? The sprites looked awesome!

[@shytendeakatamanoir9740]

Possibly the PSP version. I didn't really pay attention, but it would make sense.

[@N7_Lionheart]

Love the use of maybe I'm a Lion

[@Sh1do_0]

I like your videos really much

[@kalin6149]

Got any updates on your book?

[@RaynmanPlays]

The virgin FFIII-FFIX: "I'm Firaga but I take longer to cast." The chad FFX: "I will be your sword _and_ your shield!"

[@Apocalythpe]

I love this series

[@joestout2326]

Tatics advance had my favorite job, Monster Morpher. Personally i think that job would've been better if you became the monster and gain all their strengths and weaknesses. Like picking a frying monster would allow you to fly. But that wouldn't work the greatest in a tactics game 😅

[@saedt]

Why are these so fun to watch? Is this like how older generations enjoyed watching world war documentaries?

[@GreatGloves]

Greetings from Finland!

[@ragna6410]

Bahamut is my absolute favorite summon.

[@Odadian]

Hope FF goes back to its roots soon

[@Tony_409]

I rarely got any summons outside of story events in FFXV. I understand that that they are gods and don't need to obey the whims of mortals but if only there were ways to make them more helpful.

[@eeebee6166]

15 made them basically worthless. One of the many mistakes made in that abominable game. I saw Ramuh maybe twice and Titan once the entire game. It would have been a fine RPG, but it was an absolutely garbage Final Fantasy game.

[@hotcoldman9793]

Great video

[@Vacheresseb]

Great job dudes

[@4717-b7j]

Thank You. 💜

[@wanaan]

I never got Leviathan even once in 15..maybe I should replay the game and see if I can get it sometimes.

[@Terranigma23]

Still sad that Bravely Default 2 don't have a summoner job class.

[@timxty4481]

in war of the vision summons is part of the narative it being summon from macherie necklace

[@billcox8870]

It is with a heavy heart I say that final Fantasy record keeper will be coming to an end on September 29th of this year😢

[@enid22ful]

Will there be a video of the summoner class itself?

[@karasutsuki1733]

I didnt even know Final Fantasy had a Rhythmgame like this

[@godener89]

Hi, I don't know if this has already been said, but I was wondering, since from recent discoveries it seems like the world of Gaya in FF7 is an evolution of Spira from FF10, shouldn't the summon materias be spheres through which the summoner can call upon the various fayths? How does this fit with that whole theory? Thank you for you great work!

[@justmeok2]

Me: 40 min is too long Also me: wow im already 35 minutes in??

[@joshuatayloe8616]

Summons have become synonymous with FF. Another synonymous feature is job class because even in the games that do not specifically have them every game has them with characters aligning with 1 or 2 jobs from previous games. For this reason I think what would be cool is if they combined the 2 ideas where job classes determine the summons a character uses. Then when you choose an advanced class you get an ultimate summon.

[@veghesther3204]

While FF3 NES was the First FF game with summons in that one most if not ALL of them suck save for Bahamuts effect where it doubles your str/Attack stats but does so on the ENTIRE party.

[@WalkerBohAus]

Wait a sec, summon variation started in FF6 not FF7. Remember that in FF6 you can upgrade Odin to Raidin, and ultimately to Crusader.

[@Jeezes718]

Crusader is an entirely separate summon acquired by defeating the 8 dragons. But your right about Odin becoming Raiden.

[@rogown2]

I would add one comment addressing some additional nuance to War of the Visions espers. Their in the narrative, but as more of a mechanic than FFBE. There are artifacts that allow people to call the traditional espers, in addition to the ones that summon visions. The origins and details of function of the artifacts are still unclear.

[@HoneyDoll894]

aren't the player summonable summons just called egi, carbuncles and demi's, as well as fairies? i dont think the game ever refers to them as primals?

[@voshadxgathic]

Sesame Street's Big Bird is a Chocobo. Change My Mind

[@chaoscommandant]

In final fantasy X the elements are fire, water, ice and loghtnkng. Which aeon is Water? I know Ifrit, Xion and Shiva for the other elements, but valefor, Bahamut, anima, Jujinbo and The three sisters are not relative to water. 😅

[@beeniecat9411]

I remember being a guild master for Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade. I think it was called FFAB Beginners Hall.

[@KyleTaylorDesigns]

What about Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin?

[@vampyreslayer007]

I'm guessing this is not going to have the ability to summon. I also was about to ask this same question. 🤔

[@tronixchl2004]

First time i've seen A HUMAN BEING talking about FINAL FANTASY DIMENSIONS II

[@shytendeakatamanoir9740]

Summons legit seems great in that game, too. I will admit I dismissed them as simple mobile games, but they seem to have quite some depth...

[@corwinchapman8270]

Its funny cos whenever I think of Final Fantasy summons aren't on the list of things that come to mind. However, looking back at the series they really are an incredibly integral part of the experience, and have been leaning more to plot relevance over time, coinciding with graphical processing power to better depict their godly stature.

[@thefinalday5858]

so no mention of mega mirages in world of final fantasy

[@4Fabio]

XIV ones are not "mini-versions" anymore since Endwalker

[@kidneystone699]

well technically speaking there are still a "mini-version" if you're not level 90

[@DigitalIP]

Side note, FF Record Keeper is being shut down in September.

[@JamesStrifeMusic]

Wait. Im sorry but what the hell was that wierd cinematic of balamb garden getting destroyed. I dont remember that. Am i the only one who caught that?

[@malcs08]

You said final fantasy 4 when referring to 14

[@cesarhernandez6861]

Shiva's the best and you know why. Bahamut is great I cannot lie.

[@Bayleaf6399]

Evolution of Gunbreaker?

[@ricklewis350]

reat video, but two mistakes I spotted. One, whoile I'm not sure if it was the case in the SNES version of Final Fantasy 4, but in that game the are reffered to as Eidolans. In addition, Titan, Leviathan and Mist Dragon did not deal non Elemantal damage in any version. Mist Dragon dealt Holy damage, Titan dealt Earth, and Leviathan dealt Water.

[@selfloveybear5556]

Well I'm second. But I wonder IF you could make summons in RPG MAKER

[@VGHistory1]

You are third.

[@johnstrelley3917]

God I miss Airborne Brigade.