Is Zodiark evil?

[RopeDrink]

Arbert from the WoD quest-line words it in the simplest form: "We were blind to the truth once so I tell you this as one fool to another. Light, Dark, it doesn't matter. What matters is how you choose to use them".

Zodiark and Hydaelyn are two sides of the same coin. We know that both light and dark (unchallenged) pretty much nets the same result in terms of the worlds they inhabit, ie. total destruction, as evidenced by the WoD quest-line. Just listen to the tale of the FFXIV-WOD's to hear what it was like having Hydaelyn achieve victory on their shard. We didn't know it at the time, but it's a pivotal example of what would spring-board us to becoming WoD's in an upcoming expansion - the fact that if we didn't, and continued doing what we've been doing, we'd have had the exact same fate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMMr_BZddAw

As such, it would be a safe assumption that Zodiark is not entirely evil, just that it is the opposite side. In short, this topic has appeared in past FF games as well, such as the Warriors of Darkness in FFIII - representing Dark does not make you inherently evil, much like representing Light doesn't make you inherently good. The difference is that we have represented Light/Hyde since the beginning and thus have the bias of one side. To enjoy our world the way it is, we need balance, yet that balance requires a constant loop between Light/Dark in their never-ending battle for supremacy.

Elidibus is a counter-example to this. We see him as bad because he's an Ascian, one who wishes the death of the WoL to redress the balance issue, whereas the non-white Ascians are almost exclusively on the side of Dark and will typically do what is necessary to tip the scales in favour of Zodiark (just like we've been tipping the scales in favour of Hyde).