Emperor Mateus / Dissidia The Emperor is a villain fighting for the side of Chaos in the original " Dissidia Final Fantasy " and " Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy " , who also appears in the arcade version . Representing " Final Fantasy II " , he performs powerful magic . With an iron fist , he will stop at nothing to achieve his objectives . As one of the higher - ranked villains , outranked only by Garland and thus his second - in - command , he plots with Ultimecia to take control of the world , rather than most of the other villains , who seek to destroy it . His desire to rule all in a war - torn world stands in opposition to his nemesis , Firion , and his dream of a world free of war and oppression . While Firion is his nemesis in the original " Dissidia " , his main rival in the " Dissidia 012 " storyline is Yuna , whom he blames for meddling with Tidus ' s memories , and subsequently losing a warrior of Chaos . The Emperor fills the absence with Jecht . Profile . Appearance . " Dissidia Final Fantasy " and " Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy " . The Emperor ' s outfit is based on his Yoshitaka Amano for " Final Fantasy II " , which also matches his . He wears gold and purple armor decorated with small spikes , purple and white stripes , and demonic faces , including one on his back obscured by his hair . His gauntlets sport extended claws . He wears a purple crown with a snake head and he has a purple cape and long blond hair . He has four golden purple - tipped spikes atop his head implied to be part of his crown . The Emperor ' s first alternate outfit , " Silver Despot , " is a palette swap based on an of the " Final Fantasy II " cast , coloring his armor white , black and purple . The Emperor ' s second alternate outfit , " Violet Robe , " is based on in the " Final Fantasy Origins " FMV , giving him a primarily black robe with dark purple details , high shoulders , knee - high boots and a large purple sash around his waist . The Emperor ' s hair is styled differently , stylized to resemble a single larger pair of horns , and his hair is longer . As a bonus downloadable outfit , " Arubboth " or " Emperor of Arubboth " , the Emperor takes on the form of the as seen in the Soul of Rebirth bonus quest . The Emperor wears a pale yellow and gold robe with light purple linings that bares his upper torso and shoulders . He has a different hairstyle and several white wings . His eyes are perpetually closed . In EX Mode , not becoming a demon like in the Emperor ' s other outfits , a golden crest extends from behind his shoulders as seen in his Emperor of Heaven sprite , even though his EX Mode is still called " The Power of Hellfire " . The Emperor ' s manikin , Imitation Despot , is yellow with orange highlights . " Dissidia Final Fantasy " ( 2015 ) . His overall appearance is the same , but the horns on top of his head have a more metallic luster to set them apart from his hair . Personality . The Emperor ' s personality from " Final Fantasy II " is expanded on . He is calm and almost never loses control of his emotions , as he believes his plan will succeed without fail . The only time he loses control is upon being defeated by Firion late into the thirteenth cycle , where is shocked he could be beaten twice . Even then , the Emperor stands resolute that he would return from the dead so long as Chaos exists . His intelligence is demonstrated when he formulates the plan to kill Cosmos for good and end the war in Chaos ' s favor using the Crystals . Even earlier he deduces that the Warriors of Cosmos are deliberately throwing the fight to ensure Cosmos survives into the next cycle , and realizes the implication that someone within the Warriors of Chaos had leaked the information relating to the past cycles to the Warriors of Cosmos . The Emperor is treacherous , creating dark crystals to ensure his own survival , having anticipated that Chaos would attempt to commit suicide when killing Cosmos . Despite this , he vows to return as long as Chaos lives upon being defeated . He is skilled at misleading even his allies , such as during the twelfth cycle when he suggests to Chaos that they should recruit the recently disabled Jecht into their ranks . The Emperor abhors nihilistic viewpoints , and Garland compares him to Kefka . He has an interest in Terra Branford , disappointed she would be commanded by Kefka again , and in the previous cycle , he offers to have her come under his command . Story . Previous cycles . The Emperor served as a simple warrior , but grew tired of being used , and decided to overthrow Chaos and conquer the world . He is observant enough throughout the cycles to realize that challenging Chaos head - on would not benefit him due to the latter ' s status as a god , so he decides to put his machinations on hold until an opportunity would arise . Twelfth cycle . The Emperor aids Garland while fighting the Warrior of Light and Lightning . Later , the Emperor , alongside Ultimecia , works with Kefka to ruin Kuja ' s chances of defecting to the Warriors of Cosmos side . After Kuja is forced to attack the Warriors of Cosmos , the Emperor seemingly buys Kuja ' s fake defection to lure the Warriors of Cosmos into a trap , but nonetheless warns him against angering the members of the Warriors of Chaos , lest he ends up having his defeat arranged by them . Displeased Yuna awakens Tidus ' s memories , the Emperor attempts to kill her , but Tidus takes the blow meant for her . Amid his battle with Yuna , the Emperor falls back after seeing Jecht ' s sacrifice and spirits him away . The Emperor meets with Golbez under the impression that someone in their camp mentioned the crystals to Cosmos ' s warriors , who should not remember the events of a previous cycle . The Emperor plans to take advantage of the dormant shard within Jecht and plans to eliminate the Warriors of Cosmos in one fell swoop by having the Warriors of Chaos attack Cosmos directly . Bringing the unconscious Jecht before Chaos , the Emperor offers the god to convert Jecht to their side despite Garland ' s belief the Emperor has ulterior motives . The Emperor joins the group under Garland to stop Lightning ' s team from advancing , battling Yuna before falling back . Thirteenth cycle . Allying himself with Ultimecia to destroy Cosmos and end the cycle of war in Chaos ' s favor , the Emperor convinces Jecht that he can return to his homeworld with Tidus if he helps him . The other villains follow the Emperor ' s plans , which include testing the heroes ' resolve and eventually allowing them to claim their Crystals . After a fight with Golbez , he learns from Exdeath that Golbez has been exposed as a traitor , although he plans to wait it out . The Emperor and Ultimecia approach Sephiroth and offer him a role in their alliance , but are rejected . The Emperor notices Bartz spying on them but allows him to escape , having sensed the Warrior of Light approaching , and instead dispatches Exdeath to pursue Bartz . Though the Emperor attempts to bribe his loyalty by presenting a fake Crystal , the Warrior of Light sees through the deception . After the Warrior claims the Crystals are not earned by mercy , but by strength , the Emperor attacks him . He loses and disappears , but not before he questions the Warrior ' s resolve , telling him that he will know the whole truth of the battle soon enough . He later meets with Garland , discussing that Terra will end up back on Chaos ' s side , although he resents she would be at the hands of Kefka . When Garland compares the Emperor to Kefka in terms of scheming , the Emperor rebukes him , reminding him that unlike Kefka and his nihilistic motives , he wants to escape the cycles of conflict and " start anew . " Kefka meets with the Emperor about what Sephiroth is planning . Kefka does not care , but is surprised to learn Sephiroth killed himself in front of the Emperor in the last battle . They decide to keep an eye on him . Shortly after Garland falls to the Warrior of Light , the Emperor reports to Chaos , and ponders whether Chaos has his full power returned . Chaos asks about their ultimate plan relating to the Crystals . The Emperor , realizing Chaos now fully remembers the prior cycle , explains the plan hasn ' t been enacted yet . When Chaos questions him , the Emperor promises to end of the cycle . When Jecht and Tidus confront each other , the Emperor halts them and tells Jecht that Tidus wishes to fight him out of hatred , which goes against their plan . Jecht departs and the Emperor battles Tidus himself , telling him he cannot find his Crystal if he fights for hatred . Golbez speaks to Jecht and questions his role in the Emperor ' s plan , implying the Emperor will betray his trust . When Jecht learns the Emperor ' s true plan he refuses to assist him further , and attacks him . Tidus and Firion witness the fight , and Tidus leaves to follow Jecht and fight him . Taking advantage of Firion by himself , the Emperor questions the youth ' s goal in comparison to his friends ' , who have abandoned him to fulfill their desires . When Firion says he wishes to end the war , the Emperor mocks him , and Ultimecia appears to battle Firion . Though she loses , both Ultimecia and the Emperor accuse Firion of being too weak to fulfill his dream , and tell him he is but Cosmos ' s tool . In spite of the Emperor ' s words , Firion is newly inspired by Cosmos and continues on . The Emperor encounters Firion again at the Dimensional Fortress , claiming his dream is too foolish to realize . The Emperor subdues Firion , but Tidus and Cloud arrive to defend their comrade . The Emperor flees , inviting Firion to come battle him alone and prove himself . The two meet in Pandaemonium , with the Emperor again trying to convince Firion that he ' s but a tool of war . Firion refuses , claiming he has friends who believe in his dream . They do battle and the Emperor uses Dreary Cell to trap Firion , taunting Firion with how he should have disposed his fantasy and accepted him as master . The Emperor is caught off - guard when Firion ' s weapons telekinetically blow through his Dreary Cell . After Firion reaffirms his conviction to pursue his dream despite the Emperor ' s derision , Firion is victorious and claims his Crystal . The Emperor begins to fade , but taunts Firion about his goal to end the war , and that Firion would yet be begging for the Emperor ' s rule . After Chaos kills Cosmos , the Emperor reveals Jecht ' s true nature as a former Warrior of Cosmos , and that he manipulated Jecht to fight Tidus to create Crystals attuned to darkness that will allow him to survive after Chaos destroys existence , leaving him reign over the remnants of reality and become the new god . The Emperor reveals himself to the other Warriors of Cosmos , explaining he returned from the afterworld , claiming the world is in dire need of a new ruler . Firion lashes that its because of fiends like the Emperor that conflict never fades . The Emperor implies that things are going to get worse . He returns to the other Warriors of Chaos who are now striving for their individual goals , remarking that the future is not the Warriors of Cosmos ' s to give or take . He is confronted by Golbez , both of their schemes exposed , who claims the Warriors of Cosmos have the power to destroy Chaos and restore the worlds to their former state . After all but Garland are defeated , the Emperor meets the Warriors of Cosmos and reveals it was his plan that ensured they gathered the Crystals so Cosmos could be killed for the cycle to end and the Emperor to rule over existence after Chaos is destroyed . He underestimates the resolve of the Warriors of Cosmos , and is killed despite claiming he will return as long as Chaos exists . The Emperor ' s plan to kill off everyone , including Chaos , ends the cycles of war in a comparatively peaceable manner , as an alternate reality of what would have happened reveals that had the Emperor not done this , the consequences would have been far more serious . Official Quests . In " Tidus ' s Quest 012 : A Dream in Chaos " , the Emperor allows Tidus to battle him to recover some of his memories in the 12th cycle , allowing Tidus to remember Jecht is his father whom he hates . He plays a small role in " Sephiroth ' s Quest 012 : The Hero ' s Memory " , being a witness to Sephiroth ' s suicide . In the 13th cycle quest " Sephiroth ' s Quest 013 : Shape of the World " , the Emperor witnesses Sephiroth awaken with his memories of the 12th cycle intact , and tells him Cloud is now a Warrior of Cosmos . Gameplay . " Dissidia Final Fantasy " and " Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy " . The Emperor is described as a Trap Master , his arsenal consisting of various traps , such as exploding mines and crests of energy which can paralyze the opponent . Most of his attacks , including his Flare HP attacks , allow the Emperor to continue moving and attacking to pressure the opponent , or give him time to charge up his signature Starfall attack . As a downside , his victory largely depends on the terrain and plane : in smaller areas his traps are difficult to avoid , but in larger areas he has more room to lay said traps and for his Flare spell to track enemies . Most of his Bravery attacks can be blocked or dashed through , and some can be reflected to damage the Emperor . If the opponent uses a guard - crushing attack to reflect the Emperor ' s Flare , it will begin to track the Emperor himself instead . Boss . In " Dissidia " , the Emperor is fought in Destiny Odyssey I , II , and X , Shade Impulse , Distant Glory , and Inward Chaos . In " Dissidia 012 " , the Emperor is fought in Where Memories Wait , An Undocumented Battle , Entrusted Power , Seeds of Hope , Champions of her Will , and Conclusion of the Cycle chapters of Story Mode . EX Mode . The Emperor ' s EX Mode is Power of Hellfire , where he takes on the form of the Emperor of Hell , his form when faced as the final boss of " Final Fantasy II " . His body becomes bulkier , his clothing is darker with more pronounced spikes , and his face and crown become demonic in appearance . He gains the ability " Blood Magic " , where the Emperor will heal an equivalent amount of HP whenever the opponent ' s HP is damaged . In his Arubboth costume , however , he instead gains his Light Emperor form . The Emperor ' s EX Burst is Absolute Dominion . The player must enter the commands that appear on the screen as the Emperor charges with energy . Successfully entering the commands will have the Emperor end the EX Burst with Entice , where he enters his human form and shocks the enemy repeatedly before light gathers from all around to consume the two in a blast . Failing to enter the commands will have The Emperor end the EX Burst with Cyclone . Equipment . The Emperor can equip swords , daggers , rods , staves , bangles , hats , hairpins , clothing , and robes . In " Dissidia 012 " , the Emperor can no longer equip swords , but he can equip poles and headbands . " Dissidia Final Fantasy ( 2015 ) " . Type : < br > Unique System : Creation and Development . The Emperor is voiced in the Japanese versions by Kenyu Horiuchi and in the English versions by Christopher Corey Smith who voices him with a deep , vaguely British accent with a bit of a dramatic flair . This is similar to British singer and actor , in particular his role as from the Jim Henson film " " ( whom the Emperor coincidentally has some resemblance to ) .