Shantotto

Lore & Background

In the thirteenth war between Cosmos and Chaos, Shantotto appears as a secret character representing Final Fantasy XI. The narrative setup for Dissidia Final Fantasy involves twenty-two total playable characters: ten heroes and ten villains from Final Fantasy I through X, plus these two secrets. While the main story follows the ten warriors of Cosmos on their Destiny Odysseys to retrieve crystals, Shantotto's inclusion expands the scope of the conflict. She is not initially available in all gameplay modes; like the ten main villains, she must be unlocked for access outside of Arcade mode. Her selection by the developers was driven by her popularity rather than a direct rivalry with a specific hero from her own game, distinguishing her recruitment from other characters who were chosen based on strong rivalries.

In Their Own Story

Shantotto's narrative path in Dissidia Final Fantasy is tied to the 'Distant Glory' storyline. This mode introduces her and Gabranth in two different areas where they are trapped, forcing them to find a way out rather than following the standard Destiny Odyssey structure of the main heroes. Unlike the ten warriors who fight to restore balance for Cosmos or the villains fighting for Chaos, Shantotto's specific journey involves navigating these isolated scenarios within World B. Her story is separate from the overarching conflict where the gods summon warriors for the thirteenth war, serving as an alternate narrative thread that allows players to experience her character through a unique mode exclusive to these secret fighters.

Reader's Guide

Shantotto is available as a playable character in Dissidia Final Fantasy but requires specific conditions to unlock. Initially, only the ten main heroes are playable across all modes. The ten main villains and Shantotto can be used immediately in Arcade mode, which converts the game into a traditional fighting experience with role-playing elements removed. To use her in Story Mode or other standard gameplay, players must first beat any tier of the Arcade mode (Normal, Hard, or Time Attack) to earn Player Points (PP). These points are then spent in the PP Catalog to purchase Shantotto for use outside of Arcade mode. Once unlocked, she joins a roster that includes villains like Golbez, Sephiroth, Kuja, and Jecht, who also start as available in Arcade but require PP to be used elsewhere.

Did You Know?

• Shantotto was chosen for Dissidia Final Fantasy based on her popularity rather than a specific rivalry with another character.
• She is one of only two secret characters in the game, the other being Gabranth from Final Fantasy XII.
• Players can use Shantotto immediately in Arcade mode but must purchase her via the PP Catalog to play her in Story Mode.
• The game features a total of twenty-two playable characters: ten heroes, ten villains, and these two secrets representing Final Fantasy XI and XII.