Gladiolus Amicitia Gladiolus Amicitia is a companion of Prince Noctis and a party member in " Final Fantasy XV " . Although not directly controllable , he is in Noctis ' s party and the player can co - opt moves with him and issue him commands . He is a childhood friend of Noctis and Ignis , the eldest son of Clarus Amicitia and older brother to Iris Amicitia . As a member of the Crownsguard , Gladiolus acts as the shield of Noctis , like his father has been to King Regis . He has known Noctis since childhood and considers him a brother . Gladiolus is the main playable character in his own DLC episode , and in an added segment to Chapter 13 . Profile . Appearance . Gladiolus is a tall man with a large build . He wears black leather trousers with a small side chain , and an open black shirt with nothing but a pendant underneath . In the " no jacket " version of his outfit , he wears a black tank top with the Crownsguard ' s insignia in gray . He has a small arm sleeve over his left wrist , and wears black shoes with red soles . He has amber eyes , a long scar over his left eye . Gladiolus has a large tattoo of a bird of prey that covers his entire back and extends down his arms . The full tattoo is not usually visible in the game , but can be seen on his model that Square Enix shared as a " fan kit " . Which bird species it depicts is never addressed , but it could be a crow . He obtains more scars during the game . His long brown hair is shaved along the sides , and he sports a jaw beard . Like all party members , he has skull motifs to his outfit ; the buttons on his jacket have skulls on them , his necklace has two golden skulls , and there is a small skull on his belt buckle and on the tag of his trousers ' zipper . Ten years later , Gladiolus the sides of his hair have grown back . His hair is longer , and he keeps it in a small ponytail . The tattoo on his arm has slightly faded , and he wears the Kingsglaive uniform . Personality . Gladiolus is a cheerful person , contrasting with his imposing physique . Gladiolus has been a fan of the great outdoors since he was young , and has collected various Coleman camping equipment items . He enjoys fighting , and thus researches techniques and skills . Gladiolus comes from a family that has always been protectors of the Lucis royal family , and is the only party member with a militaristic background . Not only is he trained to protect Noctis , but he ' s also his friend . Gladiolus freely expresses his opinions on what ' s necessary and acts as a pillar in ensuring that the team doesn ' t sway from their goal . This directness gets him into arguments with Noctis . Gladiolus holds Noctis to a high standard as the heir apparent , and becomes impatient with him if he doesn ' t think Noctis is trying hard enough . Their confrontations can escalate to a physical level , Gladiolus grabbing Noctis by the shirt to lecture him , and generally acting in a threatening manner . However , he takes great pride as Noctis ' s sworn shield and instinctively jumps between Noctis and anyone who tries to harm him . Stemming from this , Gladiolus is blunt when it comes to humor . Gladiolus is confident in his abilities , but at times fears he is not strong enough for the position of the future king ' s shield . Story . Gladiolus initially disliked Noctis for his uncooperative attitude , but was forced to train him and the two would spar at a Citadel training room . Gladiolus blew off steam about it back home when playing with his sister Iris , wishing that he would become guardian to Regis like his father rather than Noctis . One day , the curious Iris insisted upon seeing Noctis , but while waiting at the Citadel , she chased a cat and got lost in a wooded area outside the palace while Noctis followed . While Gladiolus searched the palace Noctis brought the distressed Iris back . To cover for her , he claimed responsibility for her getting lost , submitting to being grounded by his father . Gladiolus learned the truth from his sister and was favorably impressed by Noctis ' s actions . The two bonded of mutual respect , which would develop into a brotherly love and friendship over the years . " Final Fantasy XV Prologue Parting Ways " . At the Crownsguard ' s training hall , Clarus , Gladiolus ' s father , tells his son about the security measures in place during the signing ceremony of the treaty between Lucis and the Niflheim . The peace has brought along many changes , including the role of the Crownsguard , whose new place will be with the people now rather than the king . Clarus doesn ' t mind , as protecting the populace ensures their support for Regis . The Amicitia family has but one duty : to safeguard and support the king . Clarus asks Gladiolus to keep Prince Noctis safe , not just as the next king , but as a comrade and a true friend . Cor Leonis arrives with Prompto Argentum who has come for his Crownsguard uniform . Prompto is nervous to be meeting Clarus , and affirms he has completed his self - defense training for the journey before leaving with Gladiolus . They are scheduled to accompany Noctis on his trip to Altissia the following day . Prompto wants to show his parents his new clothes , while Gladiolus is going out to eat with his family . Night has fallen by the time Ignis , Prompto , and Gladiolus arrive to help Noctis clean his apartment . Gladiolus has packed camping equipment for the road , including cooking equipment for Ignis . In the morning , Noctis , Gladiolus , and Prompto are awakened by Noctis ' s alarm while Ignis is already awake and ready . They head off to the Citadel . " Final Fantasy XV " . Gladiolus accompanies Noctis and his friends on a road trip across the lands toward Altissia where they are to meet Noctis ' s betrothed , Lunafreya Nox Fleuret . King Regis sends them on their way , but they are soon forced to push their car , the Regalia , to a service station after it breaks down . Afterward they continue to Galdin Quay but find the ferry is not running . They stay the night but the next morning learn the crown city has been attacked by the Empire during the treaty - signing ceremony and Regis , Luna and Noctis are all reported dead . Gladiolus tries to stay on top of the situation and tells Noctis to keep his cool . They try to return to the city but find it blockaded , and rendezvous with Cor Leonis , the marshal of the Crownsguard . It turns out that while Luna had escaped , Regis has been killed and Insomnia has been destroyed by the Empire ' s daemons and magitek troops . Noctis embarks on a journey to reclaim his kingdom by collecting the Royal Arms of his forebears and forging covenants with the astral s with faraway help from Luna . Gladiolus stays by his side and supports him , but is at times frustrated with Noctis who struggles with the burdens he ' s been left with . Iris calls Noctis to let him know she is safe , and they head to Lestallum to see her . When they head to the Disc of Cauthess at the beckoning of the astral god Titan , Noctis and Gladiolus become separated from Ignis and Prompto . Gladiolus protects Noctis alone , and asks him to reaffirm his conviction to become the king . After Noctis forges a covenant with Titan they escape , but their car has been seized by the Empire and they must infiltrate an imperial base to retrieve it . They are accosted by Luna ' s brother Ravus Nox Fleuret who works for the Empire . When he threatens Noctis Gladiolus steps between them , but Ravus uses his superhuman strength to slam Gladiolus to the side , hurting his arm . Gladious was greatly affected by his inability to protect Noctis from this experience . When they return to Lestallum they discover the Amicitia family butler , Jared Hester , has been killed by the Empire , and Iris wants to leave Lestallum with Jared ' s grandson Talcott . They take Iris to Cape Caem , and along the way Gladiolus has a chance to fight alongside his sister , and have Noctis pick flowers for her , knowing this would make Iris happy . Caem is a rural outpost that has a secret harbor for King Regis ' s boat , but as Noctis , Ignis and Prompto head off to find mythril to repair the ship with , Gladiolus opts to stay out of it to embark on a personal quest to become a better shield for Noctis . As depicted in Final Fantasy XV Episode Gladiolus , Gladiolus calls Cor Leonis , the marshal of the Crownsguard , to take part in the legendary trial of Gilgamesh . Gladiolus fears he is not strong enough to be the King ' s Shield , having lost to Ravus at Aracheole Stronghold . Cor takes Gladiolus to deep ruins that were discovered thirty years ago , but Cor is the only one to have emerged alive from the trials , even if he lost to Gilgamesh as well . Gladiolus posits he fears nothing , his only wish to prove his worth even if Cor cautions him from leaving his position as Noctis ' s Shield . Gladiolus gets to know Cor during their trek to the bottom of the ruins , and when he faces Gilgamesh he emerges victorious . Gilgamesh recognizes Gladiolus as worthy of protecting the Chosen King when Gladiolus admits the only thing he fears is not being strong enough for his role . Gladiolus inherits the Genji Blade from Gilgamesh , Cor ' s old katana Gilgamesh had kept as a trophy , and returns to the others with it . Gladiolus works as a hunter and stumbles across Noctis as he is clearing out the Lestallum EXINERIS Industries power plant of daemons . Noctis recognizes him through the sound of his voice , and after Gladiolus removes his protective suit Noctis finds he has a new scar on his face , although Gladiolus doesn ' t explain his escapade further . With the ship repaired , the party heads off to Altissia where Luna is to rouse the sea goddess Leviathan so she can forge a covenant with Noctis . The local government expects this to lead to trouble and Gladiolus , Ignis and Prompto are on evacuation duty while Noctis and Luna approach the astral . Noctis forges his covenant and receives the Ring of the Lucii from Luna — a royal heirloom Luna had saved from Insomnia that would let Noctis wield the combined powers of his ancestors . When Noctis awakens days after his battle with the Leviathan , he learns Luna has died and Ignis lost his vision at the evacuation . Overcome by grief , Noctis becomes withdrawn and refuses to wield the ring . This infuriates Gladiolus , who views Noctis ' s inability to cope as a sign of him not being ready for the task they have at hand : reclaiming the stolen Crystal of Lucis , and defeating the Empire . Gladiolus also disagrees with Ignis ' s decision to continue with them despite his disability . As they head off to a Royal Tomb to find another Royal Arm , Gladiolus berates Noctis out of frustration . After they find the weapon Ignis speaks up to heal the rift that has formed between them . As they continue toward the imperial capital , they discover daylight is vanishing from the world now that Luna , the Oracle with the powers to fight the plagues of darkness , has died . Their train is halted by imperial forces and daemons , and Gladiolus and Ignis get the train moving again while Noctis and Prompto fight off the assault . Afterward , a frantic Noctis calls Ignis to inform him that Prompto has fallen off the train , and they assume he has been captured by the Empire . Noctis drives the party to the imperial capital until the Regalia is destroyed and they abandon it . Gladiolus and Ignis are separated from Noctis who continues alone , finding he is unable to use his magic and resorts to finally wielding the ring . Gladiolus and Ignis are brought to the imperial magitek laboratory Zegnautus Keep by Chancellor Ardyn Izunia , a mysterious man who wields the powers of darkness who has been following them since Lucis . Ardyn returns them their weapons and directs them through the laboratory . At first , they view security footage and find only one tape was not wiped from the console : the tape of Ravus confronting the daemon - transforming Emperor Iedolas Aldercapt , before being tossed into the Keep , and then killed by Ardyn disguised as Noctis . The two continue to follow Ardyn ' s directions through the Keep while fighting off daemons , before confronting the Foras which can speak and thirsts for the Crystal . They catch up with Noctis and save him from a trap , and head off to rescue Prompto . When they are ambushed by a horde of daemons Noctis ' s friends urge him to go to the Crystal alone with the belief the Crystal ' s powers of light can save them . Noctis reluctantly leaves his friends behind , but when he gets to the Crystal he is absorbed inside it . When his friends follow they only find a gloating Ardyn . After Noctis disappears the sun doesn ' t rise again and the world is overtaken by daemons . Gladiolus , Ignis and Prompto return to what remains of Lucis and become daemon hunters . Ten years later , Noctis returns , ready to fulfill the prophecy as the True King and return light to the world . Donning the uniforms of the Kingsglaive , an elite force of soldiers who once had the task of protecting the king , Gladiolus , Ignis and Prompto accompany Noctis once more to the ruins of Insomnia . Gladiolus treats Noctis with newfound respect , referring to him as Your Majesty . During their final meal together Noctis struggles expressing the gratitude he feels toward his friends and the fact he will have to die to bring light back to the world . Gladiolus had met a girl that he planned to introduce to the others after everything would be over . They head to the ruins of Insomnia where countless daemons and magitek troopers await them . They fell the astral god of fire Ifrit and Noctis battles Ardyn one - on - one with the power of kings . After Ardyn dies asking for Noctis to meet him " on the other side " , Noctis sends his friends away in a manner similar King Regis sent their party off ten years ago , not wanting them to witness his death . Noctis gives up his life to destroy Ardyn ' s soul in the afterlife with the memories of his friends by his side , and the sun finally rises . Gameplay . Gladiolus is a party member who acts autonomously in battle . He can rescue party members in Danger status , invoke link - strikes with Noctis and perform Techniques and use items on himself by the player ' s beckoning . His skill is " Survival " which has him find items upon winning battles ; the higher the Survival skill level , the better items he can find . Survival levels up by running on the field . He is the toughest party member with the most HP and the best defense . His abilities let him do damage to enemies . Gladiolus is directly playable in Final Fantasy XV Episode Gladiolus , and in Verse 2 of Chapter 13 of " Final Fantasy XV " . Musical themes . " Shield of the King " is the main theme of " Final Fantasy XV Episode Gladiolus " . It is composed and arranged by Keiichi Okabe as part of " Final Fantasy XV " x " NieR Automata " collaboration . When composing it , Okabe felt that Gladiolus shouldered a similar fate to the one 2B faces in " NieR " . He wanted the music to express Gladiolus ' s battle - driven image , as well as the underlying destiny he faces . Creation and development . Gladiolus ' s design was redone from his original appearance for " Final Fantasy Versus XIII " by Yusuke Naora , the art director of " Final Fantasy XV " . In his old design he wore a black undershirt with his unbuttoned leather shirt but has since been made bare - chested , and his trousers and jacket have been made more detailed with pockets and seams . Gladiolus was altered to look more intellectual . His eyes were narrowed to achieve a " sultry gaze into the distance " . He needed a powerful physique to act as Noctis ' s shield , and thus Naora looked at reference material of martial artists to rework his chest and abs . Director Hajime Tabata has explained that black has historically been treated as a special color in Lucis . Thus the attire of the royal family , and those in occupations closely tied to it , wear black . Voice . Gladiolus is voiced by Kenta Miyake in the Japanese version . He is voiced by Chris Parson in English version . In the credits for " Kingsglaive : Final Fantasy XV " , Parson ' s name is misspelled as " Parsons " . Merchandise . Gladiolus is available as a Play Arts - Kai - figure . Other appearances . " " . Gladiolus appears as a guide to the player . Etymology . Together , his full name literally reads : " Short sword , friendship " .