Ultima Weapon (Final Fantasy XIV)

The Ultima Weapon is a biotechnological weapon in Final Fantasy XIV. Appearing during the events of the initial A Realm Reborn main scenario questline, the Ultima Weapon is a massive Allagan war machine that is being used by the Garlean Legatus Gaius van Baelsar in his plan to overtake Eorzea.
Since its initial appearance, stronger versions have made appearances as Minstrel's Ballad content, with "The Minstrel's Ballad: Ultima's Bane" in Patch 2.1 and a new high-end difficulty raid in Patch 4.3 known as "The Minstrel's Ballad: The Weapon's Refrain".
The Ultima Weapon's appearance is based on the Ultimate Weapon from Final Fantasy VII.
==Story==
===Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn===
The Ultima Weapon is a biotechnological, anti-primal war machine created by the Allagan civilization ages ago that was placed in stasis deep beneath what would later become Ala Mhigo. After the Seventh Umbral Era, the Ultima Weapon was discovered by the Garlean Empire and entrusted to Gaius van Baelsar, who had it absorb the primals Ifrit, Titan, and Garuda to assimilate their abilities. He intended to use the weapon to intimidate the city-states of Eorzea as well as the beast tribes.
Rejecting the terms of the ultimatum, the city-states reinstated the Alliance and launched Operation Archon to strike against Gaius's XIVth Legion and eliminate the Ultima Weapon itself at the Praetorium. Van Baelsar piloted the war machine in the final battle, and the combined might of three eikons proved more than a match for the Warrior of Light and their allies. However, the Mothercrystal repeatedly intervened when the Ultima Weapon gained the upper hand, and gradually stripped all three the absorbed primals from the war machine.
As Gaius became frustrated with the apparent strength of his opponents, Lahabrea appeared and explained the only way to break the shield of Light was to bring down the hammer of Darkness. He revealed the core of the Ultima Weapon, the Heart of Sabik, held a power that had lain dormant for eons: Ultima. Lahabrea activated Ultima, devastating the Praetorium and draining Hydaelyn of the means to shield the Warrior of Light. Despite being on more even terms, the party was able to recieve aid in gathering strength beyond their limits by Hydaelyn, and they destroyed the Ultima Weapon as it tried to cast Ultima again. As it disintegrated, Gaius ejected from the failing war machine.
Following the defeat of the Ultima Weapon, the Wandering Minstrel is encountered in Revenant's Toll and asks the Warrior of Light to recount their battle with the Ultima Weapon to make a song about the climax in The Prateorium. Through his song the Warrior finds themselves re-living their encounter with the Ultima Weapon, but can't help but notice that the Wandering Minstrel took liberties with the story, and the battle is much fiercer than they remember.
===Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood===
While adventuring through an alternate route of the Fractal Continuum optional dungeon, the Warrior of Light encountered two prototypes of the Ultima Weapon - the Ultima Warrior and Ultima Beast. Despite their incredible strength, the Warrior of Light was able to overcome the creatures in battle.
===Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers===
Upon returning from his time in Garlemald, Estinien reveals he encountered a new Garlean prototype of the Ultima Weapon called the Arch Ultima, a Garlean merged with a body similar in design to the Ultima Weapon. Though he managed to disable the creature, he was unable to destroy it completely before escaping the imperial capital.
The reformed VIIth Imperial Legion under Valens van Varro's command reverse-engineers the Ultima Weapon and creates several prototypes based on it, among them the Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, and Diamond Weapons. They deploy the Ruby Weapon to attempt to break the stalemate at the Ghimlyt Dark. It is destroyed by the Warrior of Light at Gaius's behest. The Sapphire Weapon is later stationed at the imperial-controlled town of Terncliff in southern Werlyt, and is destroyed by the Warrior. The Emerald Weapon was later transferred to Castrum Marinum in Western Thanalan and is also destroyed. The Diamond Weapon was stored in Castrum Collinum, later turning on the Legion in a rampage under the command of its pilot Allie, and was later subdued by the Warrior and Gaius. Van Varro was later killed by his own masterpiece, ending the Ultima Weapon project.
==Gameplay==
The Ultima Weapon is the final boss trial of the A Realm Reborn storyline, being fought in the . In the latter half of the boss fight, the party will be given an extra Limit Break gauge from Hydaelyn to perform a Level 3 Limit Break to stop it from casting Ultima.
Patch 2.1 release , featuring an increased difficulty version of the Praetorium's second battle while featuring mechanics from both battles. Emerging victorious from this battle will yield item level 80 accessories. It has a chance of dropping a Faded Copy of The Maker's Ruin.
Patch 4.31 introduced the an Ultimate raid meant to be among the hardest content available, with players facing Garuda, Ifrit, Titan, Lahabrea, and the Ultima Weapon itself in succession. Players are required to Awaken the primals and obtain Beyond Limits buffs to use different roles' Limit Break 3s to survive.
===Triple Triad===
== Musical themes ==
The Ultima Weapon has two battle themes, one for each phase of battle. Both themes were composed by Masayoshi Soken.
The theme played during the first fight is called "The Maker's Ruin", the song contains a Latin chorus chanting. The lyrics were written by Michael-Christopher Koji Fox and Eva Kappeller.
The second part of the fight is fought to the song "Ultima" arranged by Nobuko Toda and Yoshitaka Suzuki. Remixes of this song were later used for the Minstrel's Ballad, the Weapon's Refrain, and The Sorrow of Werlyt.
==Behind the scenes==
The two Ultima Weapon boss encounters during the finale portions of A Realm Reborn were originally part of the Praetorium dungeon. With eight-manned story dungeons being abandoned after the initial launch of A Realm Reborn and the encounter experiencing syncing issues, the original encounters were retired in Patch 6.1, with the Ultima Weapon being given its own trial, The Porta Decumana.
Both Proto Ultima from and the Ultima Beast of the are based on the Final Fantasy VI incarnation of the Ultima Weapon.
== Other appearances ==
=== Pictlogica Final Fantasy ===
Ultima Weapon appears as a boss.
=== Final Fantasy Record Keeper ===
FFRK Ultima Weapon FFXIV.png|Ultima Weapon.
FFRK Ultima Weapon (2) FFXIV.png|Ultima Weapon (Gaius).
FFRK Nightmare Ultima Weapon FFXIV.png|Nightmare Ultima Weapon.
FFRK Nightmare Ultima Weapon D280 FFXIV.png|Nightmare Ultima Weapon (D280).
FFRK Ultimate++ Ultima Weapon FFXIV.png|Ultimate++ Ultima Weapon.
===Final Fantasy Brave Exvius===
=== Mobius Final Fantasy ===
The Ultima Weapon appears as an event-exclusive boss. His appearance is based on his original appearance in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. This boss is only available in high-difficulty quests of Ring of Braves multiplayer region for limited-time as a part of Final Fantasy XIV collaboration:
*"The Ultima Weapon of the Magi" (Difficulty: ★3)
*"The Ultima Weapon of Darkness" (Difficulty: ★4)
*"The Ultima Weapon of the Phantasm" (Difficulty: ★5)
===Final Fantasy Portal App===
Ultima Weapon appears as a Triple Triad card.
==Gallery==
FfXIV-weapon.jpg|Artwork of Ultima Weapon.
FFXIV Ultima Weapon.jpg|Ultima Weapon in-game.
Praetorium fire.jpg|A group of adventurers fighting the Ultima Weapon.
FFXIV Ultima Weapon HM.png|The Ultima Weapon in the Minstrel's Ballad: Ultima's Bane quest.
FFXIV Shiny Ultima.png|Ultima in The Weapon's Refrain
==Etymology==
pt-br:Ultima Weapon (Final Fantasy XIV)
Category:Technology
Category:Antagonists
Category:Final Fantasy XIV