Cid Pollendina

Overview

Cid Pollendina is a character in Final Fantasy IV and its sequel Final Fantasy IV: The After Years. Serving as the chief airship engineer for the Kingdom of Baron, he is the inventor and foremost authority on airships within the world. He acts as a father figure to young characters such as Cecil Harvey and Kain Highwind, possessing a stubborn demeanor balanced by a warm and compassionate nature.

Appearance

He is a middle-aged man with a sturdy, muscular build. In Final Fantasy IV: The After Years, he sports a long, white beard while remaining active.

Personality

Cid is a bold and straightforward man who holds deep affection for his airships, refusing to see them used purely as instruments of killing. Deeply caring toward those close to him, he treats Cecil, Kain, and Rosa like his own children. Though he frequently bickers with the sage Tellah and the ninja Edge, he harbors a hidden warmth for both. He appreciates polite individuals like Yang Fang Leiden and abides by a philosophy that physical stamina is fundamental to scientific prowess.

Abilities

In combat, Cid fights as a heavy-hitting front-liner capable of equipping axes, bows, and hammers, along with heavy armor. He commands the specialized innate ability Analyze (Peep), which reveals enemy weaknesses and parameters without consuming MP, outperforming standard magic spells. Furthermore, he possesses extraordinary physical endurance, enabling him to withstand fatal incidents and perform demanding structural modifications on airships even while heavily injured.

Background

Residing in the town of Baron, Cid raised his daughter after losing his wife. He joins Cecil's group to counter the rising threat within the kingdom. During their escape, Cid stays behind to detonate explosives and seal a passage, preventing enemy pursuit; despite appearing to perish, he survives with the aid of dwarves. Despite injuries, he successfully upgrades their airship and later pilots it in battle against the Giant of Babil. He later attends Cecil and Rosa's wedding, and eventually takes the dwarf princess Luca and his grandson Mid as engineering apprentices.

Relationships

Cid acts as a loving father figure to the orphans Cecil Harvey, Kain Highwind, and Rosa Farrell. Though he constantly argues with the sage Tellah, Cid is deeply grieved by his death. His initial clashes with Edge eventually give way to mutual respect. He shares a strong bond of friendship with Yang Fang Leiden. In later years, he mentors both the dwarf princess Luca and his grandson Mid.

Trivia

Due to the timing of his story departure, players primarily utilize hammers and bows with Cid rather than axes. In expanded re-releases of Final Fantasy IV, players are given the option to re-recruit Cid into the active party for the final phase of the game.