Why Emet-Selch Is The Best Villain (FFXIV Lore)

Emet-Selch consistently places well in popularity polls for Final Fantasy XIV. But why is a villain such a fan favorite? Let's dissect his character under the microscope of what makes for a well written villain. Is he the best Final Fantasy villain ever? Maybe so!

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[Eppon]

I'll never forget the first cutscene with Emet-selch in it. Mostly because it involves him proudly monologuing in front of the Garlean throne before being unceremoniously shot down by his grandson, his lifeless body comically flopping down the stairs before resting by Varis' feet with an utterly goofy expression. Only to for him to port back in with another body and continue monologuing, although a lot more bored now. And nobody even remotely mentions or references what happened. It was a masterpiece.

[Zeppelee]

Fun fact: Emet-Selch/Hades ranked #1 in a character popularity ranking of FFXIV characters, and is ranked at #5 in the Final Fantasy series overall.

[danielpina]

One thing i loved about Emet’s design was his constant slouch, like he’s carrying a great weight throughout all that time. Not till you finally face him does his slouch disappear, like he can finally put down that weight at the end

[EternalFellows]

Emet-Selch: For those we have lost, for those we can regain.

WoL: For those we have lost, for those we can yet save.

[GarredHATES]

Kefka: “I’m the best villain because I destroyed the world!”
Emet-Selch: “only one?”

[devilry]

One of the things I really like about Emet-Selch, compared to many "redemption arcs" in other games, is that his experiences never become fully reconcilable with the WoL's. As much as he comes to believe in the WoL's ability to usher in a better future, he knows that it will still never be the future he wants, which lies in his past. The fact that he still gives everything for the WoL in their time of need (albeit not without sass) speaks to the depth of his friendship with Azem. To understand each other is not to pretend that the differences magically go away in the face of a "common humanity" (like so many redemption arcs do) but to believe that one can forge friendship without erasing those differences.

[Ranixo]

Elpis Hades: "Why would I do something so Asanine and Megalomaniacal?!"
Me: "EMOTIONAL DAMAGE."

[antonyocallaghan]

The reason he helps you against Elidibus is because now that he finally rejoins the athereal sea, he remembers the events of Elpis, and so, knows the WOL is the only way to stop the endsinger.

[MieHanz]

There's a disappearing amaroutine shade that reenacted his goodbye with Hythlodaeus. You cant approached them too close or they'll disappear. It's near the lift to the top where we first descents down to Amarout street.

[Avresem]

What resonated the most for me in Emet Selch was the desperation. Not the pleading of someone about to die, or the frustration of someone that's been inconvenienced by life and the world. This is a man who lost everything in the process of trying to save it. This is a man who has no refuge from the reminders of that failure save what his memory can conjure up; and even such daydreams are ephemeral and a pale shadow of what he wants. He tried to move on, he tried to make due with what the world offered now, and everything he saw was insufficient. So he clung to his dream; at the expense of all else and of everyone else. He became bitter and spiteful, in the service of the one thing he felt could fix things.

Emet Selch is someone I am deeply sympathetic to, and one of the most relatable antagonists I've ever known.

[Derpinator]

I think another reason Emet-Selch resonates with players is that he echoes that part of us that clings to what we grew up with, both the bad and the good. He's the fan that loathes a sequel for doing something too new, he's the parent that forces his children to have his old hobbies, and he's the gamer that attacks the console lines that he didn't grow up with. On the other hand, he's the fan that cheers for a new release of an unpopular franchise, he's the parent that keeps old toys so others can play with them, and he's the gamer that keeps games he'll never play again.

[XthTerrorOfDeath]

Emet-Selch is hands down the best Villain in the entire Franchise imo, I doubt they can ever top him. The fact they made me care so deeply for the 'bad guy' that I was crying when he died, and crying again when he said his goodbyes in Ultima Thule is just mindblowing.

[mayalewis]

I loved meeting him again in Elpis and finding out whilst hes always been a grouch he has also always been a huge softie and helping people no matter how many times he grumbles about it

[NPDStudio]

Whenever I think of Villains with heartbreaking lines, I always think of Emet's.
His villainous declaration:
"I will bring back our brethren, our friends, our loved ones. The world belongs to us & us alone."

[Ahrosartgaming]

He will forever be one of my fav characters. Hades, Hythlodaeus and Azem's friendship touched me so deeply, and I will cherish that lore and take it with me as I continue playing. Probably even after the game ends, I'll still be obsessed with them.

[nightlord]

Shadowbringers is without a doubt one of the greatest stories I've ever had the privilege to play through, and perhaps 90% of that stems from how incredibly well written Emet-Selch was as the "villain" of the tale.

[MisplacedShadow]

Honestly I loved Emet Selch. He was written so well, and honestly shadowbringers really was the best expansion in my opinion.

[riflemanc]

I would like to see more of his relationship with Azem, Venat, and Hythlodeaus in the future.

[jword]

What I find so compelling about Emet is that from his point of view the calamities he caused weren’t murder because he doesn’t consider sundered souls as “people”. He plans to rejoin all souls so in his view everyone will be better off once the Ascians are restored.

[la_motte]

I've never felt so sad about any fictional character dying before. It took me actual days to mourn him after his end in SHB, much to the confusion of the people around me. That moment on Elpis, when we see him again and our eyes meet is so powerful. Needless to say, I had to stop and get the tissues out. How beautiful and cruel of the game to take him from us again and again....I wonder if there will be another reunion in the future? He'd tell us off for it, of course 😅