Your favorite villain pre-Shadowbringers?

[thegreatonemal]

Rowena.


Seriously, how badly in-debt is Gerolt that we had to go to Eureka to help him pay it off?

More like the love story of the ages. Hes in that debt for her

[Rosentretter]

Lakshmi, specially the first time she appears, like "you asked me to give your daughter back, there she is". Her non empathy with her worshipers, her resting b*tch face, the music and the aesthetics makes her my favorite villain. She's the image of beauty the Ananta wanted to see, but, as it happens in a 99% of cases, beauty hides how empty can someone be.

Also Y'shtola, not wanting to be Magnai's Nhaama. How dare she.

[Sylvina]

Regula Van Hydrus (sorta counts but he died a hero) and Gaius Van Baelsar.

[Berteaux_Braumegain]

I don't for my opinion. I think every villain from the game just have reasons to do what they do.

I forgot about Gaius I'm sorry
Nidhogg wish to get revenge over humanity
Yotsuyu hate her people and wish to dominate them because of her sad past
Zenos wish to face a worthy opponent (remind me a little of Lu Bu in dynasty warriors by moment)

As for the ascient... They are just like "hey people! We're going to make shit so you can shit on us be cause we are shitty guys!"

Gaius wants to unite the world under the Empire, but doesn't want to go about unnecessary murder for that goal because he sees everyone as a potential citizen. The Ultima Weapon was a weapon for intimidation, but it was also meant as a solution to Eorzea's Primal problem.

He also is against Nael dropping Meteor on Eorzea and the attempt at using chemical warfare (Black Rose) on Ala Mhigans.

[ShinShimon]

I still like myself despite what we did to Gaius.

[DevonEllwood]

I still like myself despite what we did to Gaius.

WoL gets my vote for best villain.

[Edax]

Gaius wants to unite the world under the Empire, but doesn't want to go about unnecessary murder for that goal because he sees everyone as a potential citizen. The Ultima Weapon was a weapon for intimidation, but it was also meant as a solution to Eorzea's Primal problem.

Given what we saw of Ala Mhigo and Doma, Gaius was sure as heck not doing anyone any favors.

[wereotter]

Rowena.


Seriously, how badly in-debt is Gerolt that we had to go to Eureka to help him pay it off?

I was just about to mention Gilgamesh from the Hildebrand storylines.... then I remembered that Rowena is definitely the ultimate villain of this game. I'm pretty sure that somehow every player in the game is ears deep in debt to her as well. Not to mention that there's the lore tidbit that all those ladies working in Revenant's Toll, Idyllshire, and Rhalgar's Reach are literally her property, like she owns those people, and then forcibly changes their names to reflect that she owns them.

[Enla]

Gaius and Elidibus.

[Vahlnir]

Probably Thordan and the Knights Twelve.