Boss theme

Boss themes are recurring pieces of music in the Final Fantasy series. They play during the majority of the boss fights in a game.
Boss themes do not play in every boss battle. Final bosses have had their dedicated theme since Final Fantasy III, and normally, special themes accompany series of bosses fought in sequence before the final battle. Certain bosses may have their respective battle motif: Gilgamesh, a recurring boss in Final Fantasy V, is faced with his leitmotif, "Clash on the Big Bridge", playing in four out of five encounters; Jenova, from Final Fantasy VII, is fought while her eponymous theme plays, and "Jenova Absolute" plays solely during the last battle against her.
Some groups of antagonists share a single theme: Golbez and his Archfiends, from Final Fantasy IV are fought to the sound of "Battle With the Four Fiends". Finally, some bosses are fought while an ongoing background theme plays, such as in the initial sequence of Final Fantasy VII, and in Chapter 12 of Final Fantasy XIII where "Opening - Bombing Mission" and "Eden under Siege" play continuously, respectively.
For more specific information regarding boss themes not explored on this page, see List of battle themes.
==Appearances==
===Final Fantasy===
Originally, there was no distinction between the boss battle theme and the main battle theme, but in later remakes three normal boss themes and a final boss theme were created. The first, "Inside the Boss Battle", plays during minor boss battles such as Garland or the Vampire.
===Final Fantasy II===
In the original Famicom version, both "Battle Theme 1" and "Battle Theme 2" played during boss battles, with the former also playing during random encounters and the latter playing at the final battle.
In the remakes, a remastered soundtrack included two new remixed battle tracks by Tsuyoshi Sekito. "Battle Scene B" is a remix of "Battle Theme 2" plays during easier boss fights, while "Battle Scene A", a remix of "Battle Theme 1", plays during more difficult ones. In the Pixel Remaster version when playing with the Classic soundtrack, "Battle Theme 1" plays during most encounters, with "Battle Theme 2" playing only during the final battle.
===Final Fantasy III===
"Battle 2" plays during all normal boss fights. This is the only main series game to have a single theme that plays during every boss fight, with the clear exception of the final boss.
===Final Fantasy IV===
"Battle 2" plays for normal boss battles (it begins with the intro to a traditional normal battle theme). Additionally, "Battle With the Four Fiends" plays during fights with the Archfiends, Golbez, and some bosses in the final dungeon.
====Final Fantasy IV -Interlude-====
The same boss theme from Final Fantasy IV is used.
====Final Fantasy IV: The After Years====
The boss themes from the original Final Fantasy IV return. However, a new battle theme called "The Dispossessed Eidolons ~Minudes~" plays during all battles with Maenads and Eidolons at the end of each episode.
===Final Fantasy V===
"Battle 2" plays during most boss battles, with exception of the battles against Gilgamesh and Exdeath. The theme also appears in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy and Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call.
===Final Fantasy VI===
"The Decisive Battle" plays during most boss fights, while "Battle to the Death" plays during even more challenging boss battles, such as Ultima Weapon and the Warring Triad.
===Final Fantasy VII===
"Fight On!" is the normal boss battle theme. It plays on almost every boss battle after the Guard Scorpion, with rare exceptions.
===Final Fantasy VIII===
"Force Your Way" is the normal boss battle theme that plays for almost all boss battles, with the exception of battles against Sorceresses, Bahamut, Diablos, and Ultima Weapon.
===Final Fantasy IX===
"Battle 2" is the normal boss battle theme.
===Final Fantasy X===
"Enemy Attack" plays during almost every boss battle, but it is replaced with "Challenge" in some instances, particularly in the endgame. "Enemy Attack" was composed and arranged by Junya Nakano while "Challenge" was composed and arranged by Masashi Hamauzu.
====Final Fantasy X-2====
"YRP Battle 2" is used during most boss battles with exception of the Leblanc Syndicate, aeons, and optional bosses.
===Final Fantasy XI===
The original game and its expansions have boss themes that play during boss battles and other battlefield events. "Tough Battle" plays in the original games' boss battles/battlefields (including most add-on expansion bosses). "Tough Battle #2" plays during Rise of the Zilart boss battles/battlefields.
"Turmoil" plays during Chains of Promathia boss battles/battlefields, as well as during Limbus. "Hellriders" plays during Treasures of Aht Urhgan boss battles/battlefields, as well as during Einherjar. Wings of the Goddess has three different themes that play during various boss battles/battlefields: "Kindred Cry," "Under a Clouded Moon," and "Run Maggot, Run!" "Keepers of the Wild" plays during boss battles/skirmishes in Seekers of Adoulin. 
===Final Fantasy XII===
"Boss Battle" plays during fights with the normal bosses, with a shortened version played during minor boss fights. The Zodiac Age version introduces "Fury of the Entites" and "The Guardians", which replace the original boss themes in certain fights.
===Final Fantasy XIII===
"Saber's Edge" is the main boss theme of the first nine chapters, as well as the background theme during part of the party's assault on Eden.
====Final Fantasy XIII-2====
"Limit Break!" serves as the boss theme for the majority of boss battles. However, "Worlds Collide" is used for the bosses Paradox Alpha, Aloeidai and Kalavinka.
====Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII====
"The Showdown" is the boss theme of regular boss battles.
===Final Fantasy XIV===
The original 2010 version contains three regular boss themes, each depending upon the region where the boss is fought. All are unnamed and can only be found on betas for the game. Each primal has unique boss themes, which are reprised in A Realm Reborn: "Fallen Angel" for Garuda, "Primal Judgment" for Ifrit, "Under the Weight" for Titan, and both "Seven Jesters" and "Good King Moggle Mog XII" for Good King Moggle Mog. "Imperium" serves as the boss theme for the battle against the Lunar Transmitter and the machine-like monsters defending it.
From A Realm Reborn onward the vast majority of and bosses possess unique boss themes drawing from a multitude of genres, and each expansion release features s with one or more shared boss theme which generally reprises elements of the expansion's main theme.
Notable boss themes include:
* "Nemesis", boss theme for most A Realm Reborn dungeon end bosses
* "Thunderer", boss theme for some of the Ascians and Twintania
* "Through the Maelstrom", boss theme for Leviathan
* "Thunder Rolls", boss theme for Ramuh
* "Oblivion", boss theme for Shiva
* "Ominous Prognisticks", boss theme for Heavensward dungeon end bosses
* "Unbending Steel", boss theme for Ravana
* "Metal", boss theme for some bosses in the raids
* "Fiend", boss theme for Sephirot
* "Revenge Twofold", boss theme for post-patch 3.3 Heavensward dungeon end bosses
* "Equilibrium", boss theme for Sophia
* "Exponential Entropy", boss theme for the Cruise Chaser
* "Rise", boss theme for Alexander Prime (phase 2)
* "Triumph", boss theme for Stormblood dungeon end bosses
* "Beauty's Wicked Wiles", boss theme for Lakshmi
* "Amatsu Kaze", boss theme for Byakko
* "Wayward Daughter", boss theme for Tsukuyomi
* "Sunrise, boss theme for Suzaku
* "eScape", boss theme for Omega
* "Insatiable", boss theme for Shadowbringers dungeon end bosses
* "What Angel Wakes Me", boss theme for Titania
* "Return to Oblivion", boss theme for Shiva in the raids
* "Finality", boss theme for Endwalker dungeon end bosses
* "Endcaller", boss theme for Zodiark
* "Your Answer", boss theme for Hydaelyn
* "Hic Svnt Leones", boss theme for Hesperos
* "In the Balance", boss theme for Nald'thal
===Final Fantasy XV===
While there are multiple boss themes, "Omnis Lacrima" is by far the most common. In the Final Fantasy XV Episode Duscae demo, it plays when fighting Deadeye. In the game proper, it plays when fighting most monster bosses, such as the aforementioned Deadeye, Grootslang, Kujata, Griffon, and Zu.
Other boss themes include:
*"Invidia", the boss theme that plays in the boss battles against the Niflheim Empire.
*"Apocalypsis Noctis", which plays against Titan. "Apocalypsis Aquarius" is the version of the theme that plays against Leviathan.
*"Ravus Aeterna" plays in the battle against Ravus.
*"Hellfire", which plays against Ifrit.
Downloadable content introduces more boss themes:
*"The Trials of the Shield", upon facing tougher daemons in each trial in Final Fantasy XV: Episode Gladiolus.
**Also plays as well when facing against Cor as an optional boss in the Final Trial.
*"A Tear-Stained Sword", which plays against Ravus in Final Fantasy XV: Episode Ignis.
**"Apocalypsis Magnatus", plays in an optional boss against Noctis.
===Final Fantasy XVI===
The game features several boss themes, with "On the Shoulders of Giants" being the most commonly used for boss encounters. "No Risk, No Reward" is used for several early game bosses before being reserved strictly for notorious mark battles, while "To Sail Forbidden Seas" is the background track for battles against Dominants.
===Final Fantasy Tactics===
"The Pervert" plays during battles with the Lucavi. "Decisive Battle" and "Under the Stars" are also used in single major battles: the battle against the Corpse Brigade's troops at the Merchant City of Dorter and the battle against Isilud Tengille, respectively.
"The Pervert" is named "Helldance" in the in-game sound test mode of The War of the Lions version.
===Final Fantasy Tactics Advance===
"The Road We Both Aim For" plays during battles that involve Totema.
===Final Fantasy Type-0===
"War: Howl of the Dreadnought" is the main boss theme for most of the powerful bosses.
===Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles===
"Monster Dance ~Rondo~" is the boss theme.
====Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates====
One of this game's boss themes is titled "One-On-One Battle!".
====Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time====
"Boss Theme 1" is used for most bosses, but "Boss Theme 2" is used in fights in bosses near the end of the game.
===Final Fantasy Adventure===
"The Bloodsands", also known as "The Arena", could be considered the first boss theme, as it plays during the fights with both Jackals. It also plays during the first otherwise normal fights on the steppe near Topple and against a werewolf in Kett. "Battle 1" otherwise plays against minor bosses, while "Battle 2" (otherwise titled "Courage and Pride [from the Heart]") plays against major bosses including Julius's first two forms.
===The Final Fantasy Legend===
The boss theme is "Fierce Battle", which plays during battle with the Four Fiends, Machine, Ashura and also during tense, pre-battle sequences against these same bosses, transitioning without cut into the battle itself. Lesser bosses are all simply variations of minor enemies and so are fought against the standard battle theme.
===Final Fantasy Legend II===
The boss theme is "Decisive Battle", plays against the New Gods and several other unique foes, including WarMach.
===Final Fantasy Legend III===
The boss theme is "Gods of Another Dimension", which plays against all major Purelander bosses.
===Final Fantasy Mystic Quest===
The boss theme is "Battle 2", and plays during every boss battle except the battle with Behemoth and Dark King. It utilizes rock-style music with electric guitar like beats.
===Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light===
"A Strong Enemy" is the normal battle theme for most bosses, and plays during the first part of the battle with Chaos. "The Demon King's Servants" play against stronger bosses, and also plays during the second round of the Chaos battle.
===Final Fantasy Dimensions===
"Against the Threat", known in Japan as "Face the Threat", is the normal boss theme. Its opening sounds similar to "Force Your Way" from Final Fantasy VIII.
===Final Fantasy Brave Exvius===
"Onslaught" is the normal boss theme, and plays during most boss battles. "Celestial Battle" plays during boss battles against espers and key battles, such as those against the Sworn Six of Paladia.
For event bosses, many of the past series' boss themes are reused, and played in their original version. In a similar vein, story bosses which reference past games (such as the Guardian battle that mirrors the fight against same enemy in Final Fantasy VI) play a soundtrack from its respective game – in this case, "Protect the Espers!".
===World of Final Fantasy===
Most boss battles use the normal boss theme "Mega World of Battle", with exception of the battles against the main antagonists and Gilgamesh. 
"Giga World of Battle" plays during the first boss battle against Brandelis, four of the Pleiad's Seven, and most Intervention Quest bosses. This theme also plays against the first two final battles of the game. 
"Terra World of Battle" plays during the battle against the "Cogna Lord" bosses and battle against the Plumed Knight and the Knight in the Golden Mask atop Castle Exnine in Chapter 21, and during the battle against the Plumed Knight once more (as Pellinore) in the game's antepenultimate boss battle.
"Ex World of Battle" plays during several boss battle against Brandelis: in Castle Exnine as King of Bahamut, and in the penultimate boss battle as Exnine Bahamut atop The Crystal Tower. 
Category:Musical themes