Intelligence Tier List

[Deus]

I figure it be presumptuous of me to make a definitive and absolute intelligence tier list when I'm so new. So this is just the Intelligence tier list.

Power isn't everything for me. A villain needs to know how to use that power.

So this would be identical to the power tier thread only...ranking smarts. For the heroes you would probably rank their intelligence by their known experience in combat or any shown feats of tactical insight.

For the villains you'd base their spot on their schemes or again, their experience. I would also think how well their plans worked would help their placement.

I would suggest thought hat the one major difference between this thread and the power thread is we use Seymour in place of Jecht. Jecht wasn't a villain so he obviously never plotted anything.

So...does anyone have a list to start out? I'm not quite sure on this and I'm interested in what people here think.

 

[DrakeClawfang]

As much as I hate him, Sephiroth is probably the smartest. He spent five years in the Lifestream re-learning all the Cetra knowledge humans have forgotten. All this intelligence and he's still an idiot and keeps challenging Cloud, amazing...

Besides Sephy, obviously Golbez and Mateus, as seen in Dissidia they're some pretty crafty schemers.

 

[The Twilight Mexican]

As much as I hate him, Sephiroth is probably the smartest. He spent five years in the Lifestream re-learning all the Cetra knowledge humans have forgotten. All this intelligence and he's still an idiot and keeps challenging Cloud, amazing...

Sounds like a contradiction. XD

Really, Seph doesn't demonstrate all that much cunning. He lucked out in getting the Cetra's knowledge because Cloud chucked his ass into the mako pit in Nibelheim and killed him. Even in Dissidia, all he does is figure out that he needs to piss Cloud off so that Cloud can get his crystal, as he believes that will help him get the fuck out of there.

Really, Seph may be one of the most well-informed villains, but he's not what I'd call the sharpest sword on the rack.

I'd give that title to either Emperor Mateus or Vayne -- one of them in first place, the other in second. Dycedarg, Kuja, Seymour and Ultimecia would be in the running for the next spots.

Hell, even Exdeath is pretty clever compared to Sephiroth. As Kefka said, Seph's just a sadist. There's nothing impressive about his schemes.

We also never see any particularly stunning plans from Garland, any villains in FFIII, Zemus or Kefka.

If anyone makes an actual list, it would probably be more interesting as a top 5 than a top 10. Several of these guys have nothing impressive to show for themselves. XD

Besides Sephy, obviously Golbez and Mateus, as seen in Dissidia they're some pretty crafty schemers.

Golbez would fall more into the hero side of things when it comes to his plots.

 

[ForceStealer]

Well are we going for intelligence or cunning? If it's straight intelligence, like IQ, probably Sephy. But he certainly doesn't get cunning, his plans are pretty straightforward. (Absorb shit tons of power!!!!) Not that he doesn't manipulate people, but still those aren't usually incredibly well-crafted schemes, he just appeals to their emotions (taking Tifa's form to trick whoever has the black materia, for example)

 

[Deus]

Well I was thinking a combiation of the two as I said in the O.
Judge them by a combination of how goo dtheir shceming was as well as their experience/knowledge.

 

[Tennyo]

Sephiroth has potential to be high up on the intelligence list, but he loses out due to his massive ego. That is the only reason to explain why he thought taking on Cloud again was a good idea. He's far too full of himself to see logic where his enemies are concerned. He wants too much to show off and make a point and have his revenge that he loses sight of his ultimate goal.

 

[Deus]

Ultimecia and Sephiro seem to be intelligent but their egos get in the way.

Seymour's plan was decent enough but its execution sucked. "I shall continuously waste magic/spirit power to transform...when as a normal Unsent your weapons do no damage!"

I'm starting to play FFV so I'll give my cerdict on Exdeath later....

Kuja and Vayne, from what I hear of him, are the smartest in my book. Theyhave knowledge, practical sense and they go along way ina ccomplishing their ambition.

 

[Cat Rage Room]

Actually I think Golbez is pretty high up there. You ever notice that throughout the entire game almost, if not of his plans work to conclusion? He never really fails at any of his tasks.

 

[LicoriceAllsorts]

Do Shinra/Rufus count as villains? Their plans for world domination were pretty successful in the short term, though obviously destined to fail in the long term; Rufus outsmarts the remnants (not difficult, admittedly) and is an arch-manipulator, and he always seems to land on his feet.

 

[Deus]

You can use Rufus if you like, yes.

 

[Deus]

I haven't played the game but I've heard this Xando character from FF3 was pretty smart. Accomplished a bit too.
Where would they rank?

 

[Gym Leader Devil]

Ultimecia and Sephiro seem to be intelligent but their egos get in the way.

Seymour's plan was decent enough but its execution sucked. "I shall continuously waste magic/spirit power to transform...when as a normal Unsent your weapons do no damage!"

^This

I'm starting to play FFV so I'll give my cerdict on Exdeath later....

Kuja and Vayne, from what I hear of him, are the smartest in my book. Theyhave knowledge, practical sense and they go along way ina ccomplishing their ambition.

To me, intelligence is a lot like power. You can be smart as shit and not apply it properly. I've known tons of people who were, imo, brilliant... but they worked shitty jobs as call reps and fast food employees, cause they didn't make any real use of their intellect.

Sephiroth meets all sorts of categories for having knowledge, and he does apply it relatively well. The fact that his schemes are straighforward, such as the above mentioned "Abosrb a shitload of power!!!" scenario, actually seems intelligently reasoned to me. Simple can be effective. Which makes more sense in terms of applying intelligence to kill someone: Big 'ol James Bond type death trap, or find em and cut em in half with a sword? Simple can be smart. On the other hand, I agree its not brilliant to come back from the dead and immediately engage in a fight with the guy who done kicked his ass three times. Takes points away from him for that.

I'd put Mateus near the top, his intelligence is pretty well illustrated in Dissidia when he manages to plot out a scheme to get himself a tainted crystal that will let him survive whatever the hell happens.

I do also like the idea of putting Rufus up for the FFVII slot, really. Unlike Sephy, he lacks the super-human raw strength and magical ability overall, so he has to actually use his intelligence to get by. Sephiroth is smart, Rufus is smart AND cunning.

Aside from them, Ultimecia should be high on the list, as should Golbez. But I'm not confident enough to actually make a list.

 

[ForceStealer]

Rufus is also filthy rich remember. A power even Sephiroth lacks