Final Fantasy X-2 Dark Knight Cosplay

Cosplay armor, Photo by Nathan Sharratt, Creative Commons

All three girls wear very similar armor in this dressphere -- so similar, in fact, that it's useful to consult all three dressphere screenshots for comparison and resolution of details.

The armor is the hard part: what materials can you use to create armor without breaking the bank? There's Wonderflex, but it's expensive and a challenge -- see this step by step diary of making armor with it, and this construction diary of Sephiroth armor using Wonderflex and paperclay. A common alternative is Styrene, which is available on Amazon in white or black. Here's a AmethystAngel's Armormaking Website with great tutorials on cosplay armor and props with Styrene. A third, inexpensive alternative is craft foam, which lets you make armor like this. See this excellent craft foam armormaking tutorial as well as this blog on foam armor and props (and why styrene doesn't work for everyone). Also, here's an excellent fiberglass cosplay armor tutorial. Still pondering? Here's a directory of cosplay armor tutorials. Whew!

On top of the armor issues, you've got the weapons. Rikku's Dark Knight costume comes with Auron's Masamune, Yuna wields Tidus' Caladbolg, and Paine carries a spiky version of her regular warrior sword. I'll share screenshots of the weapons below, but how do you get started? How about a wood base, as in this how-to tutorial on making Paine's sword, embellished with paperclay to model the decorations? (See this example of paperclay for Sorceress Edea's headpiece, and cosplayer Siren's review of Paperclay). Alternatively, some cosplay prop makers create excellent swords out of cardboard layers or even foam board. Also, craft foam may work for blade detailing (that's Oerba Yun Fang's Blade Lance).

These are just some ideas and links to some good tutorials to get you started -- I am NOT an expert, so I've recommended tutorials written by expert cosplayers instead!

Click concept art (right) to enlarge

Yuna's Dark Knight armor has her well buttoned up. In keeping with Nomura's asymmetrical shoulder armor (Cloud, Auron, Wakka, Tidus, Lightning, and who knows how many others) she's got extra armor on the left shoulder. This is actually correct for medieval European armor -- see Henry VIII's suit of armor, which seems to loan some bits to Yuna's minus the impressive codpiece. I think FFX-2's Dark Knight costume in general is meant to be exaggerated European knight armor (hence the name) whereas the Samurai dressphere is, of course, medieval Japanese armor reinterpreted.

The Dark Knight armor is so dark that it's hard to make out details, so I've boosted brightness in some of the screenshots below. For true color, plus details like the spike on the top of the shoe, see Ultimecia's texture rip of the Dark Knight Dressphere, which are all the puzzle pieces (some of them stretched, duplicated and flipped) that make up Yuna's in-game Dark Knight model. Also see screencaps of Rikku's Dark Knight armor below; construction is similar, and Rikku's is lighter-colored and easier to see.

Yuna is carrying Tidus' Caladbolg Ultimate Weapon. I wish I knew how this cosplayer made his, but see the propmaking / armor links above. Below are Caladbolg screenshots and concept art, plus (bottom right) the Play Arts Arms prop for Squeenix's Tidus Action figure, which appears true-to-game.

Click thumbnails to enlarge:

Click concept art (right) to enlarge

Rikku's Dark Knight armor is very similar to Yuna's (see especially the texture rip above) and a little skimpier. Also, the concept art suggests a bronze rather than blue cast. As with manu of her costumes, Rikku adds triangular spikes or dags and bell/trumpet sleeves.

She is wielding Auron's ultimate weapon, Masamune. Or perhaps it's wielding her. See concept art below plus the Play Arts Arms replica which is a good likeness with extremely subtle differences in the filigree on the blade (Square-Enix merchandise, so use it if you like it).

UPDATE: See PrettyGoth_Ink's model rips of Masamune and Rikku Dark Knight (more Masamune on prev. page) and icons.

Click thumbnails to enlarge:

Click concept art (right) to enlarge -- large view INCLUDES sword:

Again, Paine's Dark Knight armor is fairly similar to Yuna's and Rikku's, except for more spikes and different shoulder and helmet pieces. I think she's wearing heels even in this outfit. There may be a slight green cast to the armor, whereas Yuna's is blue and Rikku's gold.

Paine's sword is original to FFX-2: it's her warrior sword hilt with lots more spikes on the blade. See this tutorial on making Paine's sword; the hilt is the same but the blade will be different. Also see samurai dressphere for a different view of hilt.

Video of Paine in combat with Dark Knight: all through this in-game clip.

Click thumbnails to enlarge: