Sunday, 5 June 2016

Summon: Ifrit

Ifrit: Also Jinn, a reccuring fire elemental

Appearances: FFIII, FFIV, FFV, FFVI, FFVII, FFVIII, FFIX, FFX, FFXI, FFXIV

Amano concept artwork of Ifrit


Ifrit is a recurring low to mid tier summon associated with fire. In the original SNES version of FFIV he was known as Jinn. His signature attack is 'Hellfire'.

Ultimately, Ifrit comes from Middle Eastern mythology. They are cthonic spirits, spirits that live underground. Cthonic entities are not always evil like demons. Their appearances is that of a large winged creature of smoke and fire and may be either male or female. These creatures were on a level approximately that of demons but it is important to note that they could be both believers or non-believers. They are not inherently evil. Ifrit are noted for their strength and cunning, the former which is stressed in the Final Fantasy games. In the Qu'ran, on the single occasion they are mentioned, the Ifrit come from the Jinn tribe.

However, the Ifrit of Final Fantasy is highly likely to be inspired by Dungeon and Dragon's Efreet monster. Many of the early Final Fantasy monsters have their roots in DnD. Efreet appeared in the earliest version of DnD back in 1974. These creatures are a class of genie (hence the translation of Jinn in FFIV) that predominately live in the Fire Elemental Plane. The appearance of DnD Efreet bear striking resemblance to the early Ifrit of Final Fantasy. Both are tall muscular humanoids with redish or blackish burning skin. They are both often mistaken to be demonic in appearance. The Final Fantasy creature is notable for it's ostentatious horns. The Efreet of DnD are not quite so known for their large horns. Later incarnations of Ifrit, starting around FFVIII, become more bestial in design.

Ifrit's 'Inferno' sprite- FFIII

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