Guardian (Final Fantasy VI)

The Guardian is a boss in Final Fantasy VI. It is the most powerful Magitek warmachine, created to defend the Imperial Palace in Vector.
When encountered the first three times, it is indestructible, and the player must flee or have their party killed. The player can first encounter the Guardian if they attempt to enter the Imperial Palace on their first visit to Vector. After the events in the Magitek Research Facility, a Guardian prevents the party from entering the city. Three Guardians accompany Kefka to Thamasa and prevent the player from leaving the village while controlling General Leo, burn down the village and defeat the party. Kefka later absorbs them to turn the espers into magicite. During their appearance in Thamasa, the Guardians' overworld sprite reuses the Magitek Armor sprite with the Magitek soldiers piloting them.
In the final dungeon, the Guardian reappears as a boss guarding Kefka’s Tower. It blocks the player’s path to the Warring Triad at the tower's summit, and this time it is vulnerable to damage. Once approached, the screen flashes red, and the Guardian activates, triggering the battle.
== Stats ==
== Battle ==
The Guardian cannot be defeated until it is fought in the final dungeon; the player needs to flee if they engage it before that.
The Guardian can be a difficult boss. It runs several "Battle Programs" that allow it to mimic former bosses from the World of Balance. Between each program, it resets to its weak default mode. Its Programs run in this order: Ultros, Dadaluma, Air Force, Ultima Weapon. Dadaluma's program can be dangerous because it throws weapons at the party for unblockable damage ignoring Defense. Ultima Weapon's program is also dangerous because it uses Flare Star and Mind Blast. It can also use the Wave Cannon after finishing its countdown. Guardian is weak to .
If Locke is in the party, he can steal the valuable and limited Force Armor.
===Strategy===
The player can exploit the Guardian's weakness with Thundaga. Spells like Flare and Ultima can also ensure an easy win.
== Formations ==
Number	Enemies 	Encounter flags 	Encounter flags 	Encounter flags 	Encounter flags 	Introduction flag 	Musical theme 	Magic AP
Number	Enemies 	Normal 	Back 	Surrounded 	Side 	Introduction flag 	Musical theme 	Magic AP
 	Guardian 	 	 	 	 	Sides, individual 	The Decisive Battle 	0
 	Hide start messages. Prevent triple 7 for Joker's Death.	Hide start messages. Prevent triple 7 for Joker's Death.	Hide start messages. Prevent triple 7 for Joker's Death.	Hide start messages. Prevent triple 7 for Joker's Death.	Hide start messages. Prevent triple 7 for Joker's Death.	Hide start messages. Prevent triple 7 for Joker's Death.	Hide start messages. Prevent triple 7 for Joker's Death.	Hide start messages. Prevent triple 7 for Joker's Death.
 	Guardian 	 	 	 	 	Sides, individual 	The Decisive Battle 	7
 	Hide start messages. 	Hide start messages. 	Hide start messages. 	Hide start messages. 	Hide start messages. 	Hide start messages. 	Hide start messages. 	Hide start messages.
 	Guardian x4 	 	 	 	 	Sides, individual 	Battle 	—
== AI script ==
=== Invincible Guardian ===
At beginning of battle (and only once per battle):
:Self becomes invincible
:Display message: You will go no farther!
If attacked by "Attack":
:If Var1 >= 2:
::Set Var1 = 0
::Display message: No effect!
:Increase Var1 by 1
:Display message: No effect!
:Attack (100%)
=== Kefka's Tower ===
Attack Turns:
1st Turn:
:Display message: ACTIVATING DEFAULT BATTLE PROGRAM
:Attack (33%) or Magitek Laser (33%) or Missile (33%)
2nd Turn: Atomic Rays (33%) or Missile (33%) or Magitek Laser (33%)
:Turn Bit0 of Var0 on
If Bit0 of Var0 is on:
:If Var3 = 0:
::Increase Var3 by 1
::Activate Ultros Battle Program
:If Var3 = 1:
::Increase Var3 by 1
::Activate Dadaluma Battle Program
:If Var3 = 2:
::Increase Var3 by 1
::Activate Air Force Battle Program
:If Var3 = 3:
::Set Var3 = 0
::Activate Ultima Battle Program
If Ultros Battle Program is activated:
:Display Message: LOADING BATTLE PROGRAM...
:Display Message: ACTIVATING ULTROS BATTLE PROGRAM
:1st Turn: Attack (33%) or Tentacle (66%)
:2nd Turn: Attack (33%) or Entwine (33%) or Ink (33%)
:3rd Turn: Attack (33%) or Stone (33%) or Ink (33%)
:4th Turn: Entwine (100%)
:Turn Bit0 of Var0 off (in other words: Go back to Default Battle Program)
If Dadaluma Battle Program is activated:
:Display Message: LOADING BATTLE PROGRAM...
:Display Message: ACTIVATING DADALUMA BATTLE PROGRAM
:1st Turn: Attack (33%) or Shockwave (66%)
:2nd Turn: Attack (33%) or Shockwave (66%)
:3rd Turn: Throw: Mythril Knife or Ashura
::Use: Potion or Hi-Potion
::Use: Potion or Hi-Potion
::Use: Potion or Hi-Potion
::Target: Self
::Magitek Barrier (100%)
:Turn Bit0 of Var0 off (in other words: Go back to Default Battle Program)
If Air Force Battle Program is activated:
:Display Message: LOADING BATTLE PROGRAM...
:Display Message: ACTIVATING AIR FORCE BATTLE PROGRAM
:1st Turn: Magitek Laser (33%) or Diffractive Laser (66%)
:2nd Turn: Magitek Laser (33%) or Diffractive Laser (66%)
:3rd Turn: Magitek Laser (33%) or Launcher (66%)
:4th Turn:
::Display Message: INITIALIZING WAVE CANNON COUNTDOWN COUNT: 3
::Display Message: COUNT: 2
::Display Message: Count: 1
::Wave Cannon (100%)
If Ultima Battle Program is activated:
:Display Message: LOADING BATTLE PROGRAM...
:Display Message: ACTIVATING ULTIMA BATTLE PROGRAM
:1st Turn: Flare (33%) or Meteor (66%)
:2nd Turn: Attack (33%) or Flare (66%)
:3rd Turn: Attack (66%) or Meteor (33%)
:4th Turn:
::Display Message: Focusing energy.
::Flare Star (100%)
If attacked by anything: Attack (33%)
==Behind the scenes==
The nature of the Guardian throughout Final Fantasy VI is inconsistent. When the party encounters it guarding the Imperial Palace, it is operated by two Imperial troopers and seems to be part of the castle's structure, with no visible sprite on-screen. Later when it is guarding Vector, the Guardian uses its field sprite and is mobile, and seems to be autonomous. During Kefka's attack on Thamasa, three Guardians aid him in the attack, and they are represented in the field by Imperial troopers riding Magitek Armor and using a unique color palette. When it makes its final appearance guarding Kefka’s Tower, it once more seems autonomous, controlled by an artificial intelligence of some kind. The discrepancies could be chalked up to the Empire upgrading the capabilities of the Guardian; it began as an immobile defender of the castle that was modified to be mobile and then entered mass production, and is able to operate autonomously or be controlled by a pilot.
==Other appearances==
===Final Fantasy XIV===
The Guardian appears in Sigmascape V3.0 as part of the Omega raids in Stormblood. The Guardian's attack pattern is very similar to how it is in Kefka's Tower, mimicking the attacks of Ultros, Air Force, and Dadaluma. Everliving Bibliotaph takes the place of the Ultima Weapon program.
=== Final Fantasy Record Keeper ===
== Gallery ==
FFVI IOS Invincible Guardian.png|The Imperial Palace Guardian battle (2014).
Guardian-FFVI-iOS.png|The Vector Guardian battle (2014).
FFVI PC Guardian Thamasa.png|The Thamasa Guardian battle (2014)
Guardianbattle.PNG|The Guardian defending Vector (SNES).
de:Wächter (FFVI)
ru:Охранник (Final Fantasy VI)
Category:Bosses in Final Fantasy VI