Final Fantasy: 25 Greatest Summons

A figure from Mesoamerican mythology, Quetzalcoatl (the name was truncated for space reasons) is depicted as a feathered serpent and the god of wind, amongst other things. It’s therefore unclear as to why he was depicted as a bird or made lightning elemental in his one and only appearance in Final Fantasy VIII, particularly given the creation of a wind elemental summon (the more forgettable Pandemona) for the game.

As one of the first summons received in a game where they are of critical importance to player development, however, Quezacotl stands out as a reliable companion from beginning to end given the prevalence of mechanised enemies (particularly bosses) that are weak to lightning. The much-maligned Draw mechanic resulted in summons being one of the better ways to inflict magical damage throughout much of the game and the sleek thunder bird was ever dependable for some swift punishment.

The fact that he gives players the ‘Card’ ability, key to immersion in the addictive Triple Triad minigame and essential for progressing through the game without levelling up (key to stat optimisation) also gives Quezacotl a special place in the hearts of powergamers. It’s a shame he’s not reappeared since, only appearing as a boss (and looking very different) in XV.