Al Bhed

Heretics of the Desert: Wielding forbidden Machina to fight Sin where faith fails.

The Al Bhed are a unique ethnic group in Spira, distinguished by their green eyes with spiral-shaped pupils. They play an important role in the storyline and world of the games. The main character Rikku is Al Bhed, and Yuna is part Al Bhed on her mother's side. The culture and conflicts of the Al Bhed permeate the games, and with the collapse of the teachings of Yevon and the wider acceptance of machina at the end of Final Fantasy X, prejudice against the Al Bhed seems to have eased significantly by the time of Final Fantasy X-2, though it is still present.

Quick Facts

Primary language: Al Bhed language (written in a substitution cipher)
Homeland: Bikanel Island
Notable members: Rikku, Cid

Lore & Background

The Al Bhed speak their own language, which is really just a substitution cipher. Fumi Nakashima, the sub-character chief designer, concentrated on giving characters from different regions and cultures distinct styles of clothing. Nakashima wanted the machine-oriented society of the Al Bhed to stand out and had them wear masks and goggles to give them a strange and eccentric appearance. The Al Bhed's headquarters is called "Home" and is located on the desert island of Bikanel. With the collapse of the teachings of Yevon and the wider acceptance of machina at the end of Final Fantasy X, prejudice against the Al Bhed seems to have eased significantly by the time of Final Fantasy X-2, though it is still present.

Reader's Guide

The Al Bhed are a unique ethnic group which plays an important role in the storyline and world of the games. Assistance is gained through a cast of supporting Al Bhed characters, prevalent in Final Fantasy X-2.