Top Ten Duels in the Suikoden Series

The duel at Tenzan Pass occurs at the very end of the game, assuming you didn't get the default ending already. Riou returns to meet Jowy at the place they promised to return to, but fate has had its way with the two friends. They are given their runes and fated to duel - a real Duel of the Fates.

This duel can lead to multiple endings. If Riou defends the entire time and never attacks Jowy, and if you meet the requirements for the good ending, the duel will end with them going together, finding Nanami alive, and journeying in the good ending. Of course, you can attack Jowy, where he dies, and Nanami wouldn't have been alive either.

After the epic climax that involves three entire parties of six to take down one psychopath of a mad prince, not to mention a shower of arrows hitting him and his men, Luca Blight still stands strong. Yes, the prince - and for a short time, king - of Highland has a memorable duel with Riou, which is his true last stand.

He is down to about an eighth of his health when you duel him, but he can still do damage if you can't read his attack patterns. Winning and finally ridding the world of Luca Blight is a truly epic moment.

Many players consider this the most difficult duel in the entire series. Some attribute it to Pahn not being a required character after he's actually recruited. In any case, Teo (your character's father) is ready to storm your castle, and your bodyguard Pahn stands in his way.

Teo will hit hard and has a lot of health, making this a difficult duel. Although you can lose it, you will permanently lose Pahn if you do.

This is the most interesting duel because you can have numerous characters duel Childerich if they are in the Prince's party at the time. During this duel, Childerich drinks a Raging Nostrum drug, which enhances his strength but makes him lose his sanity.

This makes it relatively easy to read his attacks, but if you duel and lose with any of the characters in parentheses (Zegai, Belcoot, or Richard), they will permanently die.

This duel is actually optional because it is on a path that will not net you a good ending, but it's worth seeing at least once. You need to win this duel with Roy (the Prince's doppelganger) to get a special scene involving Roy's sacrifice when arrows start hitting him after the duel.

It buys enough time for the dragon cavalry to come to the Prince's aid. As I said, Roy will die no matter what on this path, and you won't get the best ending, but it is a very notable scene.

This duel happens if you got all the Stars of Destiny and have access to Luc's chapter. It's an interesting variant as it is a duel between two powerful mages, with you controlling Luc.

It's yet another battle for True Runes too.

Suikoden V had some of the best duels in the series. Gizel is surprisingly affable, knowing full well of his current situation but knowing that he cannot coexist with his enemy's army. Therefore, he must duel with his brother-in-law.

He knows he lost too.

There are not a lot of duels in Suikoden IV, and most are really easy. However, the duel with Troy is notable as it's basically the very last thing you do in the game. Troy and Lazlo are just another pair fated to battle.

When Troy loses, he essentially goes down with his ship, knowing he is defeated.

Han previously dueled Genkaku, his old friend, but due to the circumstances, won without even battling. Here, Riou, the adopted grandson of Genkaku, gets to face him in a duel.

Riou must win, and Han will die, but he gives the sad backstory of the runes and hopes that Riou wins in the end.

The third and final duel in Suikoden 1. Tir, the main protagonist, must eventually fight his father as the leader of the Liberation Army, while his father remains loyal to the Empire. It's easier than the duel with Pahn but still memorable because Teo dies at the end. He dies content, knowing his son has surpassed him.