Ultima (song)

"Ultima" is the boss theme of the Ultima Weapon in Final Fantasy XIV. Remixes are used when the player fights the other Weapons.
==Lyrics==
The lyrics of "Ultima" are nonsensical and have no meanings. According to Masayoshi Soken, the vocals were randomly generated using a special software with standard preset based on Latin. However, the Eorzean Symphony version of "Ultima" has English lyrics, released on the Eorzean Symphony: Final Fantasy XIV Orchestral Album.
These lyrics were modified for The Primals' arrangement as well as "In the Arms of War", and praise Ultima and the Heart of Sabik. The lyrics of the Scions & Sinners arrangement were released on the Scions & Sinners: Final Fantasy XIV ~Arrangement Album~.
===Eorzean Symphony version===
;English
:Heart of darkness beatheth, Ultima
:Iron enigma treateth, Ultima
:Shielding light retreateth, Ultima
:Hydaelyn defeated. Ah, Ultima
:Witness
:Witness
:Witness
:Witness
:Witness
:Beat, the Heart of Sabik, the Heart of Sabik, the Heart of Sabik
:Beat, the Heart of Sabik, the Heart of Sabik, the Heart of Sabik
:Witness
:Witness
:Witness
:Ah, rise, Ultima!
:Witness Ultima
:Darkness come, rend the shield of light
:Destruction
:Salvation
:Ultima!
:Witness
:Ah, witness
:Ah, witness
:Ah, witness
:Ah
:Heart of darkness beatheth, Ultima
:Shielding light retreateth, Ultima
:Beat, the Heart of Sabik, the Heart of Sabik, the Heart of Sabik
:Beat, the Heart of Sabik, the Heart of Sabik, the Heart of Sabik
:Witness Ultima
:Witness Ultima
:Witness!
;Japanese translation
:闇なる心臓が鼓動する、アルテマ
:鉄なる神秘が到来する、アルテマ
:盾なる光は、消え去りて、アルテマ
:破れしハイデリン、嗚呼、アルテマ
:刮目せよ
:刮目せよ
:刮目せよ
:刮目せよ
:刮目せよ
:鼓動せよ、黒聖石サビク、サビク、サビク
:鼓動せよ、黒聖石サビク、サビク、サビク
:刮目せよ
:刮目せよ
:刮目せよ
:嗚呼、目覚めよ、アルテマ！
:刮目せよ、アルテマ
:闇よ来たれ、光の加護を打ち払え
:破壊
:救済
:アルテマ！
:刮目せよ
:嗚呼、刮目せよ
:嗚呼、刮目せよ
:嗚呼、刮目せよ
:嗚呼
:闇なる心臓が鼓動する、アルテマ
:盾なる光は、消え去りて、アルテマ
:鼓動せよ、黒聖石サビク、サビク、サビク
:鼓動せよ、黒聖石サビク、サビク、サビク
:刮目せよ、アルテマ
:刮目せよ、アルテマ
:刮目せよ！
===Scions & Sinners version===
:Beat, the Heart of Sabik, the Heart of Sabik, the Heart of Sabik
:Beat, the Heart of Sabik, the Heart of Sabik, the Heart of Sabik
:Witness
:Witness
:Witness
:Witness
:Ah, rise, Ultima!
:Witness Ultima
:Darkness come, rend the shield of light
:Destruction
:Salvation
:Ultima!
:Heart of darkness beatheth, Ultima
:Shielding light retreateth, Ultima
:Beat, the Heart of Sabik, the Heart of Sabik, the Heart of Sabik
:Beat, the Heart of Sabik, the Heart of Sabik, the Heart of Sabik
:Witness Ultima
:Witness Ultima
:Witness Ultima
:Darkness come, rend the shield of light
:Destruction
:Salvation
:Ultima!
:Ultima!
:鼓動せよ、黒聖石サビク、サビク、サビク
:鼓動せよ、黒聖石サビク、サビク、サビク
:刮目せよ
:刮目せよ
:刮目せよ
:刮目せよ
:嗚呼、目覚めよ、アルテマ！
:刮目せよ、アルテマ
:闇よ来たれ、光の加護を打ち払え
:破壊
:救済
:アルテマ！
:闇なる心臓が鼓動する、アルテマ
:盾なる光は、消え去りて、アルテマ
:鼓動せよ、黒聖石サビク、サビク、サビク
:鼓動せよ、黒聖石サビク、サビク、サビク
:刮目せよ、アルテマ
:刮目せよ、アルテマ
:刮目せよ、アルテマ
:闇よ来たれ、光の加護を打ち払え
:破壊
:救済
:アルテマ！
:アルテマ！
==Game appearances==
===Final Fantasy XIV===
"Ultima" plays in the second phase of the battle between the Warrior of Light and the Ultima Weapon in ( pre-patch 6.1), after Lahabrea takes control of the Heart of Sabik to unleash Ultima in an attempt to kill the Warrior. "Ultima" is also used as the only battle theme in .
It is track 110 on the A Realm Reborn: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack.
====Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward====
"Ultima" plays as the boss theme against Proto Ultima in , the third and last part of alliance raid series.
====Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood====
The Eorzean Symphony orchestral arrangement of "Ultima" was used in the final phase of , in which the Warrior of Light fights the Ultimate form of the Ultima Weapon.
"Ultima (Orchestral Version)" is track 94 on the Stormblood: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack.
====Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers====
"Ultima" plays as the boss theme against Arch Ultima in the solo duty in which the player controls Estinien Varlineau.
The remix of "Ultima" by The Primals is used in the first phase of the battles against the Ruby Weapon in , Emerald Weapon in , and Sapphire Weapon in a Quest Battle. Another remix, "In the Arms of War", is the battle theme of the Diamond Weapon atop .
"Ultima (Scions & Sinners)" is track 24 and "In the Arms of War" is track 82 on the Death Unto Dawn: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack.
====Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker====
"Ultima" is featured in "The Final Day", the medley for the first phase of the battle with the Endsinger in .
"Ultima" returns as the boss theme against the Ultima Weapon in .
===Dissidia Final Fantasy NT===
"Ultima (Arrangement)" is an arrangement by Tsuyoshi Sekito which appears in the game.
It is track 4 of disc 2 on the Dissidia Final Fantasy -Arcade- Original Soundtrack Vol. 2, and track 61 on the Dissidia Final Fantasy NT Original Soundtrack.
===Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call===
====Theatrhythm Final Fantasy All-Star Carnival====
====Theatrhythm Final Bar Line====
===Final Fantasy Record Keeper===
"Ultima FFRK Ver. arrange from FFXIV" is an arrangement by Shotaro Shima which appears in the game. It was performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Mih Khetto Chorus.
It is track 15 of disc 1 on the Final Fantasy Record Keeper Original Soundtrack Vol.3.
==Arrangement album appearances==
===Final Fantasy XIV Orchestral Arrangement Album===
An orchestral arrangement was released with Sachiko Miyano as the arranger and recording director. It was conducted by Hirofumi Kurita and performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.
===The Primals: Out of the Shadows===
An arrangement of "Ultima" appears on The Primals' third album.
===Scions & Sinners: Final Fantasy XIV ~Arrangement Album~===
A band arrangement of "Ultima" was released on the album, performed by The Primals, with vocals provided by Michael-Christopher Koji Fox.
For the album, The Primals made a music video for "Ultima". The music video stars Koji Fox as Lahabrea and as the lead singer, sitting on a ruined throne which resembles the Ultima Weapon, and also features Masayoshi Soken on electric guitar.
==Live performances==
===Eorzean Symphony: Final Fantasy XIV Orchestral Album===
An orchestral arrangement of "Ultima" was conducted by Hirofumi Kurita, and performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Mih Khetto Chorus.
It is also on the Eorzean Symphony: Final Fantasy XIV Orchestral Album (Concert version).
===Eorzean Symphony: Final Fantasy XIV Orchestral Album Vol.2===
An orchestral arrangement was again conducted by Hirofumi Kurita, and performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Nikikai Chorus Group.
It is also on the Eorzean Symphony: Final Fantasy XIV Orchestral Album Vol.2 (Concert version).
===Final Fantasy XIV Digital Fan Festival 2021===
"Ultima (Scions & Sinners)" was performed by The Primals during the Digital Fan Festival 2021.
===The Primals: Live in Japan - Beyond the Shadow===
An arrangement of "Ultima" by GUNN was performed live by The Primals and recorded as track 3 on the album.
===Eorzean Symphony: Final Fantasy XIV Orchestral Album Vol.3===
"Ultima" was again performed and recorded during the Final Fantasy XIV Orchestra Concert 2022 -Eorzean Symphony-, conducted by Hirofumi Kurita and performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.
It is also on the Eorzean Symphony: Final Fantasy XIV Orchestral Album Vol.3 (Concert version).
==Compilation album appearances==
===Final Fantasy Villains===
"A REALM REBOEN : FINAL FANTASY XIV : Ultima" is track 14 on the album.
===Untempered: Final Fantasy XIV Primal Battle Themes===
"Ultima" is track 10 of disc 1 on the album.
===Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary Tracks 1987-2017===
"Ultima" is track 35 of disc 2 on the album celebrating Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary.
===Final Fantasy XIV - The Best===
"Ultima" is track 13 and "Ultima (Orchestral Version)" is track 35 on the album.
===Untempered 2: Final Fantasy XIV Primal Battle Themes===
"Ultima (Orchestral Version)" is track 15 of disc 1 and "Ultima (The Primals)" is track 9 of disc 2 on the album.
===Final Fantasy XIV Vinyl LP Box===
"Ultima" is track 5 on side B of the A Realm Reborn Vinyl LP album.
===Final Fantasy Series 35th Anniversary Orchestral Compilation Vinyl===
"Ultima" from Final Fantasy XIV Orchestral Arrangement Album is track 3 of side D on disc 2 on the album celebrating Final Fantasy 35th Anniversary.
==Behind the scenes==
"Ultima" was composed by Masayoshi Soken and arranged by Nobuko Toda and Yoshitaka Suzuki (as "Film Score"). The Eorzean Symphony version was arranged by Sachiko Miyano and had lyrics by Koji Fox.
The Primals' remix of "Ultima" is popularly known among fans as "Big Fat Tacos", because the first lyric, "Beat, the Heart of Sabik, the Heart of Sabik, the Heart of Sabik", is often misheard as "Big fat tacos, big fat tacos, big fat tacos, so big". Fans made deliberately incorrect lyrics videos for "Ultima" in which the first lyric is claimed to be "Big fat tacos", and Husky by the Geek titled his remix of "Ultima", "Weapon Theme (Big Fat Tacos / Ultima) on Guitar". Square Enix has embraced the "big fat tacos" mondegreen as part of their marketing of Sorrow of Werlyt; on International Taco Day (October 4) of 2020, they tweeted "Big fat tacos, Big fat tacos, Big fat tacos, so big", and later referred to Emerald Weapon as "Big fat tacos... but it's green".
==Etymology==
The Japanese name of "Ultima" is . 
==Citations==
Category:Battle themes from Final Fantasy XIV
de:Ultima (Musik)