The Final Fantasy series has cultivated a reputation both for its iconic characters and for sticking to archetypal representations across its many iterations. While this might seem like a contradiction, it is also just a reflection of how we tend to categorize unique personalities in the real world, as with the MBTI® system.
Final Fantasy IX does some of the best character work of the entire franchise. Each character has a fully developed story arc that showcases their unique features, making it one of the easier parties to map onto the MBTI® system.
16 Quina Quen - ESFP
There is no one quite like Quina; even the other Qus find their zeal for frogs weird. Being one-of-a-kind with an artistic aesthetic is also an ESFP’s modus operandi.
ESFPs love being around people but can get easily bored and find it hard to stay focused on the task at hand. Quina would rather be eating than fighting and gets distracted by any delicious foods that happen to come his way.
15 Eiko Carol - ESFJ
ESFJs are warm-hearted and loyal, and can often be found surrounded by people. Substitute moogles for people, and that describes the youngest member of the party, Eiko.
ESFJs have a strong sense of social responsibility. Once a member of the party, Eiko is devoted to her companions (especially Zidane). ESFJs can be a little bit needy, especially when the monkey-tailed adventurer they are trying to impress ignores them for some princess.
14 Kuja - ENFP
ENFPs are enthusiastic, talkative, friendly people, and at first glance, Kuja might seem like a strange candidate for this category. But despite his status as the main villain of Final Fantasy 9, Kuja suffers from an unresolved deep desire to connect with others like him.
ENFPs also balk at being managed, preferring to set their own path. Kuja certainly displays this when he rebels against Garland and the path set before him.
13 Prince Puck - ENTP
ENTPs aren’t so concerned with other people’s feelings when there is an interesting debate or experiment at hand. Prince Puck has no issue with ordering around Vivi, or leaving his homeland without mention, but it’s not that he’s flighty or impulsive.
Puck always has a plan up his sleeve. The results might stir the pot, but they inevitably lead to interesting experiences for himself, whether that’s a royal play, or tracking down a missing dragon knight from his kingdom.
12 Queen Brahne - ESTP
ESTPs are fearless trailblazers, and Queen Brahne certainly brings that to her rule of Alexandria. Although technically manipulated by Kuja at the time, she uses Bahamut and manufactures Black Mages, which are unquestionably bold decisions.
ESTPs are people-focused, and until the events of the game, Alexandria is a prosperous and joyful place under her rule. But ESTPs can also be impatient and defiant and can often engage in risky behavior, as when Brahne shoots at her own daughter with the cannon.
11 Beatrix - ESTJ
It’s nothing personal, but if you get in their way, an ESTJ will take you out. Beatrix similarly appears as a cold-blooded foe on multiple occasions, although she counts at least a few allies in the party at all times.
ESTJs are excellent at mobilizing and organizing their followers. It’s clear that Alexandria’s forces under General Beatrix are much more competent and disciplined than the Knights of Pluto.
10 Zidane Tribal - ENFJ
Zidane quickly becomes the de facto leader of the party early on in the game, falling into the role so naturally and agreeably that he can only be an ENFJ. Zidane spends the game comforting, encouraging, forgiving, and uniting his friends and party members. It’s not until close to the end of the game that he starts to focus on solving his own problems.
Placing the emotional well-being of his friends first and foremost, at the expense of his own concerns, is the height of ENFJ behavior.
9 Cid Fabool IX - ENTJ
ENTJs are passionate natural leaders with excellent strategic abilities, skills that come in very handy for the leader of the biggest kingdom on the Mist Continent. The fabulously dressed Regent Cid must manage both the many districts of Lindblum and the many moving parts in his airships.
An ENTJ’s desire to manage things efficiently means they can be bad with their feelings, and impatient. This ENTJ tendency gets Cid in hot water in his romantic life.
8 Stiltzkin - ISFP
Always up for a new adventure, ISFPs cannot be contained. They are deeply independent and march to the beat of their own drum, and any other moogle will tell you, that Stiltzkin is a bit overzealous is his thirst for adventuring, kupo.
ISFPs can be very charming and agreeable, but can also be unpredictable. Stiltzkin’s letters to his friends are similarly entertaining and thoughtful, but also describe many an unexpected caper.
7 Freya Crescent - ENFP
Popular and easy-going adventurers, ENFPs have friends around the world. Freya’s connections, whether to Tantalus or the Cleyrans, often moves the story along.
It’s a good thing that ENFPs are not daunted by long distances in relationships, since Freya also spends the game searching for her long-lost love. ENFPs are devoted romantic partners, as Freya is to Fratley, but can sometimes be extremely overemotional, and beat themselves up when a relationship doesn’t work.
6 Vivi Ornitier - INFP
INFPs are gentle humans who are prone to being overly critical of themselves. This perfectly describes Vivi at the start of the game; self-conscious, shy, and with his self-esteem so low he has trouble getting his magic to work at all.
Although INFPs can seem like pushovers, they have an inner will of iron when it comes to their values. When the Black Mages are threatened, Vivi finds his mettle and steps up to battle to avenge them.
5 Dr. Tot - INTP
Dr. Tot is a brilliant scholar who helps the party on multiple occasions with his vast store of knowledge on rare items, healing, the history of summoners, and even how to write a love letter.
INTPs are deeply intellectually curious people, although they can be absent minded and easily lose their train of thought. Dr. Tot is no stranger to a rambling story, but it’s his curiosity along with his wide ranging knowledge that make him an INTP.
4 Amarant Coral - ISTP
ISTPs are most known for their love of solitary work, and Amarant is adamant that he only works alone. He’s good at his mercenary work too, as an ISTP should be; he’s exceptionally competent with his impressive claw weapon.
ISTPs can be reserved and insensitive around people; Amarant has no trouble picking fights and insulting his companions. But he sticks around partly because he wants to see where the party goes next. As an ISTP he can’t resist the allure of something new.
3 Adelbert Steiner - ISTJ
Steiner is a classic ISTJ: he is devoted to keeping order. ISTJs are extremely responsible types and Steiner unfailing in his sense of duty. He is there for Garnet no matter what, with his powerful sword attacks at the ready.
ISTJs can sometimes go overboard with their desire to operate by the book, and Steiner is no exception, remaining steadfast in his desire to bring Garnet home, despite Brahne’s abhorrent behavior.
2 Garnet Til Alexandros XVII (Dagger) - INFJ
INFJs are high-minded defenders of justice and simultaneously enormous worriers who over-plan everything. Garnet exhibits both behaviors throughout FFIX.
Garnet plans so well at the start of the game that she’s the most essential actor in her own kidnapping. But halfway through the game she becomes so anxious about her future role that she loses her voice completely. This juncture of competence and fragility is where INFJs live.
1 Garland - INTJ
Highly intelligent, ambitious, and somewhat reclusive, INTJs will follow their experiments to the bitter end. They often rise to the top the ranks of whatever careers they choose, because they are simply more dedicated than everyone else.
Garland spends literal millennia working endlessly towards rebuilding Terra, his home planet. He doesn’t care what the cost is to himself or the inhabitants of Gaia. This singlemindedness is what makes him an INTJ.
NEXT: Which Games You Should Play Based On Your Myers-Briggs Personality Type
