There's nothing to fear. Antlions are quite docile. They won't harm humans.
The Antlion (アントリオン, Antorion? or アリじごく, Arijigoku?, Antlion), also known as Ant Lion or Antolyon, is a recurring monster in the Final Fantasy series, appearing as a common enemy, a boss, and even a docile creature.
Appearances[]
Final Fantasy II[]
The Antlion is found around the large desert in Palamecia. It has a powerful physical attack that can cause Paralysis, along with an elemental weakness to Ice and Poison.
Final Fantasy IV[]
The Antlion dwells within the Antlion's Den near Damcyan Castle. The secretion it produces when laying eggs can become a Sand Pearl. Cecil, Edward, and Rydia venture into the cave to obtain a Sand Pearl to heal Rosa from her desert fever. They reach the Antlion's nest, seemingly without any trouble, because the Antlion is usually docile and does not attack people. However, it attacks the party due to the influence that is making monsters aggressive, and they have to fight it.
Final Fantasy IV: The After Years[]
The Antlion is an optional boss fought in the Crystals Tale in Damcyan Castle. These docile creatures overrun Damcyan because of the effects of the True Moon.
Final Fantasy V[]
While riding Boko in the merged world, Bartz and Krile fall into an Antlion (also known as Antolyon) pit. After defeating it, Faris helps them climb out.
Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals[]
The Antlion appears near the beginning of Episode 1 when Linaly and Hassam travel through the desert on the way to the Wind Shrine. The monster chases the two, who attempt to escape by chocobo, and almost kill them when Prettz comes to the rescue on his motorbike. He slices its head off, killing the Antlion and saving Linaly and Hassam.
Final Fantasy IX[]
The Antlion is a boss in a sand vortex near Cleyra and lures its prey into its grip. It captures Prince Puck when the Alexandrian army attacks Cleyra. Antlions are also fought later if the party attempts to enter the Desert Palace through the wrong sand pits.
Final Fantasy XI[]
Antlions are a family of creatures of the insect order found in some zones that were added by the expansion Final Fantasy XI: Chains of Promathia. Generally Antlions are not aggressive. There are also jugs that can be used by Beastmasters that summon Antlions as pets.
Final Fantasy XII[]
The Antlion is a mark in the Lhusu Mines. It made its den deep in the mines, where some local children had gotten lost. Additionally, after the battle with Air Cutter Remora, "Tonberry" communicates with "Antlion", who instructs him to withdraw.
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings[]
The Antlion is a common enemy, a non-elemental melee-type of Rank II. There also exists a red-colored Antlion, called the Antlion Queen, as a unique enemy.
Final Fantasy XIV[]
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles[]
An Antlion appears in the Lynari Desert as the stage boss, aided by a variety of Scorpions. It lives in a sandpit.
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance[]
Antlions and the stronger Jawbreaker are regular enemies.
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift[]
Antlions are associated with the element of Earth, and have another variant, the Pit Beast. They also have the slightly disturbing abilities to Cannibalize an ally unit and spew bodily fluids to cause debuffs.
Crystal Defenders[]
Antlions appear as basic, weak enemies and are usually one of the first waves sent.
The Final Fantasy Legend[]
The Ant Lion is an enemy and possible transformation for monster units. It can be found on the eleventh floor of the Tower.
Final Fantasy Legend II[]
The Ant Lion is an enemy and possible transformation for monster units. It can be found on Venus' World and Race World.
Final Fantasy Dimensions[]
Antlion is an optional boss. The Warriors of Darkness have to fight it to get the Sand Pearl to cure a child in Gardenia Slums.
Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia[]
Pictlogica Final Fantasy[]
The Final Fantasy V and IX Antlions appear as bosses. The Revenant Wings Antlion also appears as an enemies.
Final Fantasy Record Keeper[]
The Final Fantasy IV, V, and IX Antlions appear as bosses.
Final Fantasy Brave Exvius[]
Final Fantasy Trading Card Game[]
The Final Fantasy Tactics Advance Antlion appears as an Earth-elemental card.
Other appearances[]
Kingdom Hearts[]
In Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, the Antlion appears as a Heartless boss in Agrabah that Roxas battles. It has a bug-like appearance, and is able to both burrow underground and create sandy whirlwinds.
Octopath Traveler II[]
The Sand Lion appears as the boss of Castti's route in Chapter 2 of Octopath Traveler II. Similar to Final Fantasy IV, it is described as being docile normally, but set off by fighting.
Etymology[]
Antlions are a family of insects, known by the scientific name Myrmeleontidae. "Antlion" usually refers to the larval form of the insect, and they are so named because the larva's typical food is ants, though they will eat other insects as well. Antlions will dig pits in sand inches deep and lurk in the bottom waiting for prey to come close. When the prey falls into the pit, the loose sand on the sides of the pit prevents them from escaping and causes them to fall further down towards the antlion. The antlion's jaws are hollow, and upon biting its prey it will suck out its juices rather than actually eat it. When the antlion is finished, it flicks the husk out of its sandpit and fixes any damage done to the walls, then waits for its next meal to pass by.
"Ant-lions" are also large mythical creatures with features of ants and lions.