Archfiends

The Archfiends , also known as Elemental Lords (Game Boy Advance) and Four Fiends of the Elements (Super Nintendo and PlayStation), are a group of powerful elemental beings that serve Golbez in Final Fantasy IV.
They consist of Scarmiglione, the Blighted Despot, Cagnazzo, the Drowned King, Barbariccia, the Empress of the Winds, and Rubicante, Autarch of Flame. The Archfiends allude to Chaos's Four Fiends from the original Final Fantasy.
== History ==
=== Final Fantasy IV ===
The Archfiends are minions of Zemus, who placed them under Golbez's command. As the strongest monsters under his control and the generals of his army, the Archfiends are dispatched after Cecil Harvey when he begins searching for a way to become a Paladin. Golbez sends Scarmiglione to Mount Ordeals to kill Cecil, as his undead were immune to Cecil's dark sword. With the assistance of Palom, Porom and Tellah, Cecil defeats Scarmiglione's zombies and as well as Scarmiglione himself, forcing him to reveal his true form as an undead. Cecil prevails and Scarmiglione plummets to his death.
After returning to Baron, the King reveals his true form as Cagnazzo, who had killed the true king some time ago as part of Golbez's plan to take over the kingdom. With his last breath, Cagnazzo collapses the walls of the throne room's antechamber, forcing Palom and Porom to petrify themselves to save Cecil.
After agreeing to exchange the final Crystal Golbez needs for the life of Rosa Joanna Farrell, Cecil and his companions climb the Tower of Zot and defeat the Magus Sisters, minions of Barbariccia. After defeating them and confronting Golbez, Tellah forces him to retreat by unleashing Meteor, and both Rosa and Kain Highwind join Cecil. Barbariccia herself emerges to battle them, using strong winds to avoid many attacks. Through Kain's Jump attacks, Barbariccia's storms are overcome and she dies, collapsing the tower around her.
Rubicante destroys Eblan whose survivors flee to a nearby cave. With Golbez incapacitated after Meteor, and the subsequent battle at the Dwarven Castle, Cecil and his companions turn their attention to the Tower of Babil and retrieving the Crystals. In the underground portion of the tower, the party confronts Dr. Lugae, who tells them Rubicante had moved the Crystals to the upper portion of the tower. After killing Lugae and returning to the surface, the party enters the tower with the assistance of Edge and defeat Rubicante.
thumb|200px|left|The Archfiends revived.
Zemus revives the Archfiends in the Giant of Babil in a final chance to redeem themselves and defeat Cecil. They fail and are again destroyed. Their malice survives, and can be battled as the optional superboss, Geryon.
=== Final Fantasy IV: The After Years ===
The Crystals summon the Archfiends from the dead in the True Moon Subterrane against their will. After each of them die, they will thank the party, showing a more benign side to themselves.
If Golbez is in the party, they will each recognize and speak with him, showing a great deal of respect as well as happiness. Rydia will note that each Archfiend is as much a part of the world as themselves. Scarmiglione also claims to be a spirit of the land, implying that the Archfiends are living incarnations of the elements of Earth.
== Battle ==
Every Archfiend has two battle sprites.
Scarmiglione (2D and 3D) is fought upon Mount Ordeals. Cagnazzo (2D and 3D) posed as the king of Baron before being fought inside Baron Castle. Barbariccia (2D and 3D) is fought after the defeat of the Magus Sisters in the Tower of Zot. Rubicante (2D and 3D) is fought in the Tower of Babil.
The four Archfiends are fought a final time together in the Giant of Babil after Zemus raised them.
== Musical themes ==
The battle theme that plays whenever fighting the Elemental Archfiends is called "Battle With the Four Fiends".
== Other appearances ==
=== Final Fantasy ===
The Archfiends appear in the Game Boy Advance and PlayStation Portable remakes as optional bosses in Hellfire Chasm, one of the bonus dungeons for the remakes.
Scarmiglione_DoS.png|Dawn of Souls artwork of Scarmiglione.
Cagnazzo_DoS.png|Dawn of Souls artwork of Cagnazzo.
Barbariccia_DoS.png|Dawn of Souls artwork of Barbariccia.
Rubicante_DoS.png|Dawn of Souls artwork of Rubicante.
=== Final Fantasy XIV ===
The Archfiends appear as major antagonists of the post-release storyline for the Endwalker expansion, serving Golbez of the Thirteenth. They are voidsent given great power after Golbez allows them to feast upon the aether of the dragon Azdaja. Scarmiglione and Cagnazzo appear as end-of-dungeon bosses, while Barbariccia and Rubicante appear as trial bosses.
Scarmiglione from Final Fantasy XIV.png|Scarmiglione.
Barbariccia from Final Fantasy XIV.png|Barbariccia.
Cagnazzo FFXIV.png|Cagnazzo.
Rubicante XIV.png|Rubicante.
=== Dissidia Final Fantasy and Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy ===
The Archfiends appear as summons. Their effects differ, but all are triggered by the use of the opponent's summon: After the opponent's summon is used, they instantly act.
There are four equipment pieces named for the Archfiends—Barbariccia's Wristlet, Rubicante's Cowl, Cagnazzo's Carapace, and Scarmiglione's Fang. When all four are equipped, the wearer gains the "Elemental Archfiend" combination.
In Dissidia 012, they also give the player tutorials in the Labyrinth.
====Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia====
Rubicante is an obtainable party member and is currently the only Archfiend to be represented. Most of his abilities are based upon his affinity with Fire. 
=== Theatrhythm Final Fantasy ===
The four Archfiends appear as enemies.
Theatrhythm Scarmiglione.png|Scarmiglione's appearance in Theatrhythm.
Theatrhythm Cagnazzo.png|Cagnazzo's appearance in Theatrhythm.
Theatrhythm Barbariccia.png|Barbariccia's appearance in Theatrhythm.
Theatrhythm Rubicante.png|Rubicante's appearance in Theatrhythm.
=== Pictlogica Final Fantasy ===
The four Archfiends appear as enemies.
== Non-Final Fantasy guest appearances ==
=== Hanjuku Hero: Aa, Sekaiyo Hanjukunare...! ===
A parody of the Four Archfiends from Final Fantasy IV makes an appearance in the 4th chapter of the game, the chapter number itself acting as an allusion. The seasons have been stolen, and must be returned by defeating the Four Archfiends. They each have a castle, and are located on the four corners of the map. Sprimiglione , the Fiend of Spring, is found in the northeast castle. Summacante , the Fiend of Summer, is found in the southwest castle. Fallicia , the Fiend of Fall, is found in the northwest castle. Winazzo , the Fiend of Winter, is found in the southeast castle.
Hanjuku Hero - Sprimiglione Field.png|Sprimiglione (Field)
Hanjuku Hero - Samakante Field.png|Summacante (Field)
Hanjuku Hero - Fallicia Field.png|Fallicia (Field)
Hanjuku Hero - Winazzo Field.png|Winazzo (Field)
Hanjuku Hero - Sprimiglione.png|Sprimiglione
Hanjuku Hero - Samakante.png|Summacante
Hanjuku Hero - Fallicia.png|Fallicia
Hanjuku Hero - Winazzo.png|Winazzo
== Gallery ==
Scarmiglione-FFIV-Amano.jpg|Scarmiglione
Caignazzo.jpg|Cagnazzo
Barbariccia-FFIV.jpg|Barbariccia
Rubicante.jpg|Rubicante
== Etymology ==
The four Archfiends are named after four of the twelve named Malebranches in the 8th Circle of Hell, the Malebolge, from Dante's Divine Comedy. In particular, "barba riccia" is Italian for "curly beard", an obviously male attribute; despite this, the Archfiend Barbariccia is the only one with clear female features.
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Category:Antagonists
Category:Characters in Final Fantasy IV