Minwu (Final Fantasy IV)

Minwu is a non-player character in Final Fantasy IV, and a playable character in its sequel, Final Fantasy IV: The After Years. He leads the town of Mysidia, which is populated by Black and White Mages. Minwu is an experienced mage himself, and also a close friend to the wandering Sage Tellah. He is knowledgeable in the Mysidian Legend that speaks of the Chosen One come to save the world.
While all game releases refer to him as just the Elder of Mysidia, he is named Minwu in the Japanese exclusive novelizations of Final Fantasy IV. Final Fantasy IV Game Novel Vol. 1. p. 70 He is thus named after the White Mage Minwu from Final Fantasy II.
== Profile ==
=== Appearance ===
Minwu is an elderly man with a long brown beard. He is bald on the top of his head, and the rest of his hair is long and flows down his back. He has brown eyes. He wears a long purple robe and a necklace with a red pendant.
=== Personality ===
Minwu is a forgiving and kind-hearted man, with a strong sense of righteousness. He is willing to forgive the repentant Cecil Harvey despite the crimes he had committed in Mysidia prior, seeing in Cecil's eyes that he is sincerely sorry. When acting as a mentor for younger mages he is strict, giving Palom extra homework for skipping class.
== Story ==
===Before the events of Final Fantasy IV===
Twenty years before the events of Final Fantasy IV, Troia was under constant monster attacks and was on the verge of being destroyed. In response to the attacks, Tellah and Minwu were sent to the region to deal with the creatures. After successfully defeating the monsters terrorizing the country, the two mages aided the city by teaching the citizens magic in order to defend themselves. When teaching the Epopts magic, the young women refused to learn Black Magic, as they saw it no more than a force of destruction, and would only allow their kind to learn the arts of White Magic. Final Fantasy IV Game Novel Vol. 2. p. 12
After aiding Troia, the two would eventually part ways, with Tellah returning to his hometown of Kaipo, and Minwu choosing to return to Mysidia. Sometime after returning to Mysidia, he would eventually become the elder of the town.Final Fantasy IV Game Novel Vol. 1. p. 70–71
=== Final Fantasy IV ===
When Cecil Harvey leads the Red Wings into Mysidia to steal the Crystal of Water Minwu surrenders the Crystal before too many mages are killed, but becomes embittered with Baron, and seals the Devil's Road leading there from Mysidia.
right|thumb|200px|Cecil speaks to Minwu.
When Cecil returns after being attacked by Leviathan, Minwu says that apologizing will not bring back the dead. He sees in Cecil's eyes that he is truly sorry and understands Cecil is reformed and wishes to take on Golbez. He tells Cecil that only the Holy Knight can defeat evil and sends Cecil to Mount Ordeals to become a Paladin with the twins Palom and Porom as escort and guide. as well as to spy on him to ensure his intentions are pure. Cecil completes the objective and returns with the Mythgraven Blade.
Minwu is surprised Cecil wields this sword, and concludes Cecil is the Chosen One passed down in the Mysidian Legend. He notices that Tellah, the great sage, is traveling with Cecil, and warns him not to fight with a vengeance or to use Meteor. Minwu reopens the Devil's Road leading to Baron, and enters the Tower of Wishes to pray for Cecil's safe and successful journey.
thumb|left|Minwu talking to the party about the crystals and the Lunar Whale.
After Golbez has gathered all the Crystals, Cecil returns to Mysidia, and Minwu asks him to pray with him. The prayers of Cecil, Minwu, and the mages summon the Lunar Whale, a legendary airship that can travel to the moon. Minwu goes to Baron Castle to heal Palom and Porom's petrification, who had turned themselves into statues willingly to protect Cecil and their other friends. He appears on an airship in the attack on the Giant of Babil alongside the twins. Afterward, Minwu leads a service in the Tower of Wishes where everyone prays for Cecil's safety. Thanks to these prayers Cecil and his friends defeat Zeromus and restore peace.
Later, Minwu teaches magic to Palom and Porom, and assigns Palom extra homework for skipping class. He takes the twins to Cecil and Rosa's wedding.
=== Final Fantasy IV -Interlude- ===
Minwu is one of many attendees at Damcyan to celebrate its reconstruction. When monsters begin to pour out of the Sealed Cave, the Elder tells Palom and Porom to do whatever they can to help.
=== Final Fantasy IV: The After Years ===
When Porom leaves Mysidia to seek help from Kain at Mount Ordeals, Mysidia is attacked by the Mysterious Girl and her monsters. Minwu joins Porom in a fight against the Mysterious Girl to defend the Crystal, but he is hit by Ramuh's Judgment Bolt after the Mysterious Girl summons him. Minwu stays in bed after the attack, recovering from his injuries. After Cecil and their friends defeat the Creator, Minwu passes on the title of Mysidia's elder to both Palom and Porom.
== Gameplay ==
Minwu appears in the debug room in the North American and Australian Final Fantasy IV Advance version.
Minwu is temporarily playable during the end of Porom's Tale in The After Years. If the player adds him to the party using codes, his class title is simply given as "Mysidia Elder". As with Golbez in the 3D remake versions of Final Fantasy IV, the player cannot view the Elder's portrait in the original versions of The After Years unless they add him to their party with codes.
=== Stats ===
Despite being at Level 30, his stats are very low and are no higher than 10 to 20, with the exception of his 51 Spirit (with his staff). The Elder only has a maximum of 520 HP.
 Elder 
Level	HP 	MP 	Strength	Speed	Stamina	Intellect	Spirit
30 	520	350	10 	10 	10 	20 	50
===Abilities===
He has access to all White Magic except Holy and Arise.
{|class="IVTAY article-table" style="text-align:center" width="100%"	
Magic 	Level learned
Hold 	Known
Silence	Known
Confuse	Known
Blink 	Known
Protect	Known
Shell 	Known
Slow 	Known
Haste 	Known
=== Equipment ===
He has no equipment except for a Staff in his right hand.
Weapons
Staves	Swords
* Staff
* Healing Staff
* Mythril Staff
* Psycho Spiral
* Protect Staff
* Power Staff
* Aura Staff
* Sage's Staff
* Seraphim's Mace
* Rune Staff
* Nirvana	
*Tokita Sword
Armors
Shields	Head	Body	Arms
*Adamant Shield
*Akiyama Armor	
*Leather Cap
*Headband
* Feathered Cap
*Wizard's Hat
*Green Beret
*Steel Headplate
*Circlet
*Black Cowl
*Beret
*Chakra Band
*Sage's Miter
*Goblin Mask
*Circular Hat
*Hypnocrown
*Cat-Ear Hood
*Ribbon
*Adamant Helm
*Glass Mask	
* Clothing
*Prison Garb
*Bard's Tunic
*Leather Clothing
*Foot Ninja Gear 
*Gaia Gear
*Sage's Surplice
*Bronze Breastplate
*Shinobi Gear
*Kenpo Gi
*Silver Breastplate
*Velure Coat
*Mist Wrap
*Black Belt Gi
*Professor's Robe
*Exorcist Gown
*Red Robe
*Luminous Robe
*Power Sash
*White Robe
*Robe of Lords
*Blue Armor
* Adamant Armor	
* Cursed Ring
*Ruby Ring
*Iron Armlet
*Talisman 
*Silver Armlet
*Rune Armlet
*Diamond Armlet
*Protect Ring
*Adamant Gloves
*Crystal Ring
*Flan Ring
*Sprint Ring
*Economical Ring
*Rear Ring
*Taunt Ring
*Limit Ring
*Single Star
*Twin Stars
*Rapid Ring
*Rapid Ring V2
*Gil Band
*Gil Band V2
*Level Band 
*Level Band V2
*Rare Band 
*Rare Band V2
* Treasure Hunter 
*Treasure Hunter V2
*Debug Ring
==Gallery==
ElderTAYBattle.PNG|Battle sprite (Wii).
==References==
de:Ältester von Mysidia
pt-br:Ancião de Mysidia
Category:Characters in Final Fantasy IV
Category:Guest characters
Category:White Mages
Category:Characters in Final Fantasy IV -Interlude-