Final Fantasy X-2 Black Mage Cosplay

Black Mages and their pointed, floppy hats have been around since Final Fantasy I (right). In fact, to start with, Final Fantasy X had a typical Final Fantasy Black Mage design as well. Designer Nomura decided to mix things up (and torture the animators) by ditching the hat and scarecrow look favored by most Black Mages for Lulu's battle corset and belts, but in Final Fantasy X-2, we return to a more traditional Black Mage costume -- almost. There are still traces of Lulu's black leather and corset style in the Black Mage dresspheres of Rikku, Yuna, and especially Paine.

Their shoes are like black versions of Shelinda's pointy shoes. We can't see Paine's very well, but she normally takes the style worn by Yuna and Rikku, and adds a heel to it.

They're each wielding one of Yuna's staves from Final Fantasy X, which I'll cover below under the matching costume.

Click concept art (right) to enlarge

Yuna's Black Mage costume is fascinating: floppy hat like Black Mage classic, fishnet fingerless gloves and leather corset that might do for Lulu, and feather-like sleeves and a tail-- except it's not a tail, because there's a matching feather-like panel down the front. I can't tell whether the front and back "feather" panels are hanging loose to the ground, or whether they're attached to those straps around her ankles. Probably the former, or she couldn't walk!

See game data textures for Yuna's black mage dressphere, which are the pieces used to put together Yuna's in-game model. Also useful for shoes, leather sleeve covers, and (maybe) the fingerless gloves for all three girls!

Yuna's staff in this dressphere is her old Celestial Weapon, Nirvana. See Angelwing's lovely Nirvana replica, Rhonda's Nirvana, and this Nirvana-in-progress using Paperclay to sculpt the staff head. Below, I've got concept art of Nirvana plus a photo of a Play Arts Arms (props for Final Fantasy action figures) Square-licensed replica of the weapon.

Click thumbnails to enlarge:

Click concept art (right) to enlarge

Rikku's got the old Black Mage pants modified to be multicolored tights. She's also got her zig zag dags all over the place. I think she's wearing dark fingerless gloves, although it's hard to see her hands.

The rod is Yuna's El Dorado in FFX, the base model for a grab bag of different wands and staves. You've probably never seen it before, but luckily, Rikku's black mage concept art (right) gives us a pretty clear view. See the concept art below, and also this rough sketch, this cosplay prop and this one for ideas.

BONUS: See PrettyGoth_Ink's fantastic Black Mage Rikku Icons and Wallpapers, with close-ups of costume and staff details from the in-game model, plus her Rikku model rips/poses. WOW.

Click thumbnails to enlarge:

Click concept art (right) to enlarge:

Whoa. Paine always takes whatever the other two are wearing and makes it more edgy and sexy. She's ditched the kimono-like wrap underneath. Feathery pants hems and a pointed collar add other unique touches.

She's wielding Yuna's Enchanted Rod from FFX. See this discussion thread of "Rod of Wisdom" (same physical model as Enchanted Rod), this Enchanted Rod tutorial (missing images, but instructions are useful), this Rod of Wisdom WIP photo, and these prop construction photos.

Her shoes are covered, but based on most of her other costumes, I'd guess it's the same pointy-toed shoes that Rikku and Yuna wear in this dressphere, except with a heel like Paine wears in nearly every dressphere (see alchemist).

Click thumbnails to enlarge: