So I was thinking about how RK handles characters Elemental Affinities, and figured I'd go through with who gets what and how fitting it is and what they SHOULD get if it wasn't fitting, as well as potential alternatives (like some characters have ones that fit, but I'd have expected something else.)
To be clear, an Imperil Element does not preclude elemental affinity. For someone to be considered an elemental affinity, they need to get an En-element, or multiple soul breaks of that element, Record Materia and Record Spheres could help too but not checking those too heavily because lazy. Without further ado, let's get started!
Skipping Cores because Tyro is inconsistent and Cores are not people, so they don't count.
Warrior of Light: Holy. A given, honestly.
Garland: Darkness. Default villain element, fits him anyway.
Sarah: Gets a Holy Soul Break, but only one. It's the "default White Mage" element so whatever, argue this one doesn't count.
Wol: Arguably Lightning, because he gets one Lightning Soul Break, but only one. Honestly nothing would fit him so...
Master Monk and Matoya are too new, so...
Firion: Holy. No real elemental affinity; you could argue a few based off weak evidence, but honestly, dartboard logic works here, so whatever.
Maria: Earth. ...see Firion really, they just went with Earth because...reasons.
Guy: Earth. Ok, this one actually kind of fits because it works for a BIG STRONG WILD MAN.
Leon: Darkness. He's a Dark Knight, so really there was only one choice.
Minwu: Holy...but only one Soul break so debatable. "Default White Mage Element" etc.
Gordon: Fire. Well, the Fire of Kashuan or whatever it's called are a notable part of FF2, and he's the prince, so the association is there, works about as well as you'd get.
Leila: She gets 3 different elemental Soul Breaks, being Poison (because Thief?), Water (because Pirate), and Lightning (because she starts with Thunder spells) so...N/A.
Ricard: AHAHAHAHA he doesn't get Soul Breaks...well, he gets a Fire one and a Wind one. Dragon and Dragoon element, whatever.
Josef: Ice. He comes from Semitt, the Ice Country, and his main dungeon is the Ice Caves, so this works.
Emperor: Darkness. Default Villain element; they did give him a Wind Soul Break (dual-elemental with Darkness), probably a reference to the Tornado, so we can call Wind a secondary.
Luneth: Wind. He has no elemental affinity, but I guess because he has that Adventurous personality associated with Wind-elemental characters, and the crystal he goes to on his own is the Wind crystal, I'll let it pass.
Arc: None, though there seems to be a hint at Water with him with moves like "Renewing Rain."
Refia: Fire. Monks seem to get Fire or Earth, if they don't have a clear elemental affinity. In Refia's case, Fire feels more deliberate since she is a Black Smith apprentice, so blatant Fire association there.
Ingus: Earth. Pretty much "by default" since the other Crystals are covered, and Earth does fit the Stalwalt Warrior about as good as any.
Desch: Lightning. I think he uses Thundara as an ally, and he is kind of a techie, so that'll do. Fire would have fit as well, given the Owen's Tower thing, but Lightning is still fair
Onion Knight: Non-Elemental. Blank Slate, he's best left having no elemental affinity honestly.
Cloud of Darkness: Darkness AND Holy. I have to say...well done RK, for actually recognizing her plot. Most would have fallen victim to her name, but a big part of the character is she appears when there's an inbalance in the two, using whatever is greater (appearing first during flood of Light, in fact, being stopped by the Warriors of Darkness), so it actually makes sense they'd use both in-spite of her name!
D. Cecil: Darkness. ...not wasting my time on this one.
P. Cecil: Holy. Ditto.
Kain: Lightning. Not quite sure why here, I think it was just timing where they released his BSB alongside Lightning Drive and wanted Kain to show off Lightning Drive, so decided to go that way; I'd have made him Wind since "Dragoon Element" and he joins with the Wind Spear, Abel's Lance using Tornado, etc.
Rydia: Earth primary, Holy secondary seems to be the angle. Given Titan association and how she lived underground for a long time, that fits. Holy fits with how Mist Dragon is Holy elemental (in FF4DS anyway)
Rosa: Holy (well, one Soul Break anyway). White Mage Element, moving on.
Yang: Earth. Default Monk Element, proving how lazy they were with the character, since if they did their homework, he SHOULD be Wind, because Fabul has the Wind Crystal, but nope, Yang's gotta be as generic a Monk as you can get.
Palom: Lightning. He gets some multi-elementals, but all are Lightning. I'll...go with it, because you associate that part of FF4 with blowing things up with Lightning spells thanks to Baron Underwater Passage.
Porom: No Element yet, probably will be Holy if she ever does because White Mage element.
Tellah: Blow Self Up With Meteors Elemental. You know it's true!
Edge: Water. He gets a Fire and Lightning one, but Water appears more often. I guess they did this because "Anti-Rubicante" logic, even though his personality and starting skillset involve Fire...
FuSoYa: Beard Elemental. That is all.
Golbez: Darkness. Actually fits his plot, besides "Token Villain Element" so...
Cid: Lightning. Techie, so I guess that fits; also gets Lightning equips in FF4a, so there you go.
Ceodore: Holy. Pretty much a given.
Going to say this now, FF5 pisses me off because most of the characters have clear elemental affinities but they decided to say "fuck that" here.
Lenna: Nothing, she will probably be Holy because White Mage element, she SHOULD be Water (even if she can't use it much granted) because that's what her Crystal is.
Galuf: Fire/Earth, and only on one Soul Break, and it's pretty much entirely because "those are the Monk elements." His Element should be Earth only though because, you know, that's his elemental crystal.
Gogo: Water. Because Mime is gotten underwater or something...
Gilgamesh: Excalipoor Elemental. Really, what else could it be?
Bartz: Wind primary, quad elemental secondary. Ok, Bartz does have several Wind Elemental Soul breaks and THAT fits, but for some reason tehy decided HE"S QUAD ELEMENTAL because...shut up. They also gave him a Water BSB because **** you basically.
Faris: Gets Water, Lightning and Wind for no good reason, even though she's very clearly the Crystal of Fire and SHOULD be using that. Faris is probably one of the least fitting character builds in the game as a whole honestly.
Dorgan: Wind. Well he's Bartz's dad so sure.
Ex-death: Darkness. Villain element, whatever.
Krile: Fire. Ok, there's legitimately no good excuse for this one; I mean, ok, Fire Lash was a relic but the Soul Break was a non-elemental buff...SCREW THAT SHE'S FIRE!!! You know, there's multiple arbitrary Earth Mages, and here we have a Mage with a clear Earth elemental affinity, and they don't use it...
Terra: Fire primary, gets Water as a secondary. Fire is a given, Water probably because of Flood from Dissidia being one of her trademarks, but yeah, Fire is clearly her primary and that's the one that fits.
Locke: Fire primary, Holy secondary. I would have personally gone with wind, but given the Phoenix association, Fire is a fair element to give Locke if you want to take that angle, and Holy fits as a 2ndary with that.
Celes: Holy and Wind. So...Celes has a strong association with Ice in FF6...yet for some reason they decided she should be Holy and Wind, being all Paladin like and such...yeah, that makes absolutely no sense to me. Really botched this one guys, because while there's many ambiguous elements for characters, Celes is one of the few who has a clear elemental association and they basically screwed it up entirely.
Mog: Earth. Geomancer element, fair enough.
Edgar: Poison. I would have gone with Lightning because of the Machinist, but...Poison is fine because that's the one element he CAN use in game (if through one early game attack), so it actually works.
Sabin: Fire. Again, Fire or Earth are "Default Monk elements" but in Sabin's case, thanks to Fire Dance (and the early Fire Knuckles), he has some Fire association, as well as being royalty in a Desert Kingdom, so it works.
Shadow: Darkness. He's an assassin, so it works, for all that I would have kneejerked Wind because Ninja element.
Cyan: DeNA Hates You element. Only explanation I got.
Gau: Lightning...but only one Soul Break, and probably because of the Rage they chose...really you could get away with anything for Gau though.
Setzer: Fire...on one attack...honestly I'd choose Wind because of the Airship association, Fire was probably just because of the one explosive Soul Break and that's his only elemental soul break so arguably doesn't count.
Strago: Water. People associate Strago with Water thanks to Aqua Rake so fair enough.
Relm: Holy. White Mage element...meh...boring
Kefka: Poison. For once didn't go "Villain = Darkness" and instead based off him off one of his more infamous moments, so well played!
Leo: Holy. Knight element, it would be that or Lightning.
Cloud: Wind. Not the element I would have chosen personally, but I can't say it doesn't fit because they were obviously going "well Finishing Touch is a giant Tornado" which is about as good as decision as you'll get, so I'm cool with this.
Barret: Gets a Lightning and a Fire one...yeah, he's not really aligned...
Tifa: Earth. Monk Element, as I said before...to be fair, she was a mountain guide so I guess there's that?
Aerith: Holy. WHite Mage element but unlike others, this one actually works on several levels for a few obvious reasons.
Red XIII: Lightning...but only one Soul Break and because he was using Trine, so willing to say that doesn't count. Otherwise, Non-elemental.
Yuffie: Water. Leviathan association, so fair enough. She gets one Earth one but that's because of Landscaper in FF7 proper.
Cait Sith: Reeve Elemental. You can't tell me I'm wrong!
Vincent: Fire. I guess Galian Beast is his most iconic Limit, and that is Fire Elemental, and he wears Red so...
Zack: He gets one Wind/Earth Soul Break...so I'm going to say nothing yet.
Sephiroth: Fire and Dark. He gets two elements and equally represented here. Both fit since Darkness is the villain element and Sephiroth actually has a design and plot that'd work there. Fire works because Sephiroth imagery often involves Fire, including his most iconic scene.
Cid: Wind. Pilot who is also a Dragoon...seriously, if it was anything else I'd have been questioning DeNA decisions...
Reno: Lightning. His actual elemental affinity in FF7, given he absorbs Lightning, has a taser rod, etc.
Angeal: Holy. ...just look at his freaking name if you need further reasons
Rufus: Darkness. I guess "Villain Element" logic here?
Squall: Ice. Fits his personality, and was probably done because FF8 has a strong Ice slant after a point for Ifrit CMs, but I always figured Squall was Ice so yeah!
Rinoa: Earth. Ok, this one doesn't really make any sense, the best I heard was "Brothers is located near Galbadia, which is Rinoa's Hometown!" You'd think with the Angel association, she'd be Holy, but I guess being a Black Mage that wouldn't work well...
Quistis: Poison. I guess a Blue Mage means Malboro Breath, so one of the few you could twist into being Poison elemental. Plus it works as a strategist element since it's status based or something.
Zell: Chicken Wuss Elemental. Moving on!
Selphie: Holy. White Mage element...to be fair she does get a unique move called Rapture...
Irvine: He gets one Fire Soul Break...because he gets a "Flame Shot" limit in FF8...yeah, I don't think that fully counts?
Seifer: Darkness. He should be Fire, because Squall's opposite and a heavy Fire association in FF8, but NOPE! HE'S DARKNESS BECAUSE VILLAIN! He even gets Lightning and Wind in another Soul Break...suggesting further "Why doesn't he have Fire?"
Laguna: None really; he does get an Ice and a Lightning one, but really, his only true element is Machine Gun
Edea: Ice and Darkness. Like Sephiroth, it's equal, but unlike Sephiroth, Darkness feels forced because "Villain element." Ice she has a strong association with given Ice Strike and all that.
Fujin: Wind. If she was anything else, I'd
RAGE.
Raijin: Thunder. ...ditto...ya know.
Zidane: Wind. Basically the "Thief" element, works about as well as anything else, I guess.
Garnet: Lightning w/ Holy secondary. Lightning because Ramuh association as her first Summon she can actually use so I guess that's fine, Holy because Alexander association, which also works.
Vivi: Fire. Fitting because that's the element he's seen using most commonly. He gets Dark and Poison as well but in solo spells that were matching their home element.
Steiner: Fire. I guess because of the Vivi aspect, Fire fits him as well, so whatever.
Freya: Wind. Dragoon element.
Quina: Symbolic of Every Bad Decision DeNA Makes Elemental. I'm sticking by this claim too!
Eiko: She gets one Wind spell but I don't count that because that was just matching Fenrir in FF9; she'll be Holy in the grand scheme of things I'm sure.
Armarant: Fire. Monk element, but he also calls himself the "Flaming Armarant" so...
Beatrix: Holy. She's a Paladin, as if she could get away with anything else...
Kuja: Darkness. Oh look, they stereotyped an element on him despite how many people say he's a rare example of a Holy elemental villain, who even calls himself an Angel (...of Death.) God damn it DeNA, why?
Tidus: Water. Between Blitzball, and his trademark Weapon being Water elemental, this felt obvious.
Yuna: Holy. White Mage element, so really to be expected.
Wakka: Gets one Water soul break but I don't count that, so really he's just Non-elemental.
Lulu: Mostly Ice...which fits her personality. She also gets Fire, Water and Lightning on other Soul Breaks, but Ice appears most often, the other 3 are because that was her thing in FF10.
Kimhari: Water. Yeah I can't really explain this one; I'd have gone with Ice because of mt. Gagazet myself.
Rikku: She gets a Water Soul break but that's one in a sea of Non-elemental, so I'll go with explosions...just...explosions...
Auron: So here's a guy with a Soul Break aclled Tornado...that is Fire Elemental....I mean, I get WHY but shouldn't it be Fire/Wind? Whatever, Auron is basically Non-elemental otherwise.
Jecht: Darkness. Villain element, he gets Fire on one I guess because you fight him a lava filled arena...and monk element...
Braska: Fire. Really, they could have gotten away with just about anything that wasn't Darkness here so...
Paine: Gets multiple elements...none of which I'd associate her with...so yeah, no real association.
Seymour: Darkness. Villain element, but also Anima is the "Dark Aeon" so...
Shantotto: No real heavy elemental alignment, she could get away with just about anything that wasn't Holy though.
Ayame: See Shantotto, only I know less about her.
Curilla: Holy. Apparently she's a Paladin so...
Prishe: Non-elemental...How the hell is she NOT Holy elemental when she's got a JESUS DROP KICK OF DEATH?
Lion: Non-Elemental, not that she has an elemental association...
Vaan: Nothing, though Fire/Wind should be used on him.
Balthier: Fire elemental. I guess that kind of works based off his attack animations...
Fran: Lightning. She's apparently really good with machines so...
Basch: Holy primary, Dark secondary. He's a noble Knight, but he has some Dark-looking Quickenings so yeah.
Ashe: Lightning. Given she's got the whole DIVINE CHOSEN ONE thing but isn't actually a divine or religious character or anything, Lightning fits.
Penelo: Holy. White Mage element, I think her Quickenings support this too.
Gabranth: Darkness. Villain element, plus his Quickenings are the same as his brothers.
Larsa: Potion elemental. AS HE SHOULD BE!
Vayne: Darkness. Villain element, about as good as you'll get for hi.
Lightning: Lightning. This doesn't fit at all. I mean seriously, HOW COULD THEY PUT THIS ON HER!? FAIL HORRIBLY DeNA!!!!
Snow: Ice. ...likewise, what the hell guys? HOW COULD YOU SCREW THIS UP SO BADLY?!
Vanille: Nothing. She SHOULD be Earth Elemental because of Hecatoncheir, but they'll make her Holy if they ever give her one because White Mage.
Sazh: gets ONE Fire SOul Break, but that fits because of Brunhyldr.
Hope: Holy. He gets Alexander, so really, what else would they give him?
Fang: Wind. Dragoon Element, also gets a huge flying Dragon as her Eidolon.
Serah: Ice. Ok this one is stupid, and I don't mean in an ironic way. In FF13-2, Ice is one of her WORSE elements, with Fire being her best and Lightning being a close second. There's nothing about Serah that would make her fit Ice either, be it personality, history, etc. If anything, the fact that she sleeps with Snow means she should be something OTHER than Ice!
Cid: Holy. Ok, he's FF13's villain rep...but they actually paid attention to things like his design and attacks unlike Kuja and appropriately gave him an element that fits rather than going "DARKNESS IS THE (VILLAIN) HEARTS TRUE ESSENCE!"
Noel: Nothing. Wind or Ice would work on him but nothing yet so...
Y'shtola: Nothing; she gets a default Water Soul Break, and should be Wind or Earth given FF14 Conjurers...but they'll White Mage elemental her down the line.
Thancred: He has Wind, FIre and Poison. Ok each make sense in a different way, with Wind because of his role, Fire because he's from the Thanalan region, and Poison because of his effect on women...ok, that last one was a stretch...
Yda: Fire, with some Earth...because Monk...
Papalymo: Fire and Ice...because that's what Thaumaturges did in FF14.
Alphinaud: Wind. Mostly just a result of him being released in the Garuda event and the same event Tiamat is released and...honestly really you could get away with anything for him.
Minfillia: Holy. because, you know, she's totally fitting of a Paladin...with...reasons...and stuff...look she should be "Damsel in Distress" elemental and DeNA should feel ashamed for themselves.
Noctis:
?? at this point. He should be Holy given his plot in FF15.
Ramza: Holy...on one move...honestly nothing is really stand out for him in this regard, he should probably just be Buttpants Elemental.
Agrias: Holy. Well it's not like she's a HOLY Knight or anything...
Delita: Nothing really. Should just be Back Stab With Flowers Elemental.
Ovelia: Holy. Because White Mage.
Mustadio: Guns Elemental. Because Guns.
Orlandu: Holy elemental because Holy Swordsmen, Thunder as 2ndary because TG Cid.
Gafgarion: Darkness. I mean, it's not like he's a DARK Knight or anything...
Rafa: Nothing yet; she gets Fire and Lightning but mostly because that's what those two moves did in FFT.
Malak: Darkness. I guess they want to represent "Untruth" in a way that makes it different from Truth and...look, I'm putting more thought into Malak than anyone should.
Reynn: Ice. Well, Shiva was the female of the early Summon trio, though I'd give her Wind thanks to Serafie, which totally goes with her, but let's not get into that.
Lann: Fire. Tama totally rides on his head nad is Fire Elemental, and Ifrit goes with Lann if Shiva goes with Reynn, because Ramuh is basically the Rayquaza of the two.
<Maechen> And that, as they say, is that...
