Galuf's full name is never spoken in the game, but the Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania identifies him as Galuf Halm Baldesion. He is named Galuf Doe in the Final Fantasy V Advance manual, because Doe is a placeholder name. This may be because Galuf initially suffers from amnesia and doesn't recall his full name, and to conceal spoilers.
Galuf has auburn hair and a beard in his field sprite, and white hair and a mustache in his Amano artwork and menu portrait. His Amano artwork depicts him keeping his white hair tied at the back. Galuf's clothing is yellow and green in his field sprite, but but his Amano artwork portrays him with black clothing with golden ornaments and a red sash.
Galuf displays great courage, an indomitable spirit, and a sense of determination to protect the crystals. He is known to crack jokes and puns, although he is often the only one to find them humorous. Galuf is known to plunge headlong into situations without much preliminary planning, such as how he comes up with the plan to steal the pirate ship on the spot. Galuf is extremely loyal to his companions, and if his companions are in trouble, he will not rest until after having rescued them.
Galuf's pride and joy is his granddaughter Krile Mayer Baldesion, whom he cares for deeply. Their relationship is similar to Relm and Strago's relationship in Final Fantasy VI, however it is Krile who often ends up looking out for her grandpa instead of the other way around.
Galuf is from the Second World, where he is the King of Bal. Thirty years prior to the game's events he helped to seal the warlock Exdeath into the First World as one of the Warriors of Dawn. However, thirty years later, when he finds out the crystals involved in his sealing are weakening, he decides to travel to the First World by use of a meteor to prevent Exdeath's return.
When the meteor crash-lands near Tycoon Castle, Galuf's weapon and armor are destroyed, and he suffers a blow to the head, resulting in amnesia. Having forgotten his identity as well as his task at hand, Galuf is found by Bartz and Lenna, and decides to accompany them to the Wind Shrine, having recovered enough of his memory to know that that's where he was going. To get there, Galuf comes up with the idea to steal a pirate ship, but they are caught in the act. The pirate captain Faris joins their cause, and in the Shrine they find the Wind Crystal shattering. The four receive the title of Warriors of Light and embark on a quest to protect the remaining crystals.
In the Ship Graveyard, the monster Siren tries to lure the party into a trap by pretending to be their loved ones - in the case of Galuf, a young girl who addresses him as "Grandfather". While the rest of party becomes ensnared and their souls stolen, Galuf does not recognize the girl due to his amnesia, and proceeds to snap his friends out of their trance.
When the group travels to Walse to save the Water Crystal, they find that a knight in orange armor, rather than the First World's typical blue, has already arrived there to do the same thing. They watch as Garula pushes him aside, and then stop Garula themselves. After the crystal shatters, the knight apologizes to "Lord Galuf" for his failure, but dies of his injuries before Galuf can glean any information as to his own identity.
In Karnak, a werewolf addresses him as "Sir Galuf", and seems to know who he is, but Galuf is puzzled. When he sees Mid and Cid's relationship as grandfather and grandson, he remembers a little bit about his past, and his granddaughter Krile. He also remembers faintly, that the crystals' destruction will bring about Exdeath's return.
In the Ronka Ruins, the final crystal is destroyed, but Galuf's granddaughter Krile travels with a meteor from the Second World, and he finally remembers who he is. Exdeath appears, and travels to his castle back in the Second World. Galuf and Krile go after him, but insist Bartz, Lenna and Faris do not follow, because if they did, they would never find their way back home.
Despite Galuf's warnings, the others follow him to the Second World and are captured by Exdeath and kept as hostages. Galuf, leading a charge across the bridge, is forced to halt when Exdeath displays them. Galuf infiltrates the castle to rescue the three, fighting and defeating Gilgamesh. They escape across the Big Bridge, and go to Galuf's castle, where the others are surprised to find Galuf is the king.
He meets up with his old friend Kelger Vlondett in Quelb, who allows them to pass through to Drakenvale. Later, they meet Xezat, and join him in his campaign to lower the shield around Castle Exdeath. Xezat sacrifices his life to bring the shield's generator down, and Galuf is deeply affected.
In the Great Forest of Moore, they find the Guardian Tree that contains the Second World's four crystals. Exdeath appears and uses the crystals' powers to cast spells at the party. When Krile appears, Exdeath traps her in a ring of fire. Galuf fights Exdeath who is perplexed by Galuf's seeming invincibility, and declares that "all the hatred in the world could never defeat me". Galuf responds that it is neither anger nor hatred he fights with. He has him on the ropes, but Exdeath escapes. Galuf, now drained of all his energy, is dying. His friends do their best to try and cure him with spells and items, but to no avail — Galuf says his final goodbyes and dies. Shortly after he speaks to Krile privately using the power of the Tree. He implores her to fight in his stead, and grants her all of his powers and abilities.
"I'll be in your Heart, always."
—Galuf to Krile, shortly after his death.
Galuf's last appearances are before and after the final battle, where he and the other Warriors of Dawn, along with King Tycoon, aid the Light Warriors to escape the Interdimensional Rift. If anybody falls in battle at the end, Galuf restores them to the real world.
Galuf has the highest raw Stamina stat, this stat is used in calculating the maximum HP and the amount of healing taken from the Regen status. Galuf needs to be the most versatile character, so the party can survive without him and Galuf without the other three characters. For the sake of this versatility, Galuf should start out with physical related jobs, but transition to a magical related job about 2/3 through the game.
In the Gameboy Advance version, Galuf was given the innate element of Earth, therefore the Gladiator's Finisher ability will take this element when using this ability. Unfortunately, the player will not be able to see this unless they hack the game so Galuf can use this job.
Each playable characters have slightly different base attributes and they are therefore slightly better suited for different task(s). Galuf has the highest raw Stamina, which affect HP. Below is the list of Galuf's base stats.
Galuf's theme is considered to be "Four Warriors in the Dawn". It is played during major scenes with Dorgann, Xezat, and Kelger, the other Dawn Warriors.
Galuf appears in the Japan-exclusive Final Fantasy trading card game published by Square Enix in his Amano artwork, as well as representing numerous jobs from Final Fantasy V. As a reference to his sacrifice in Final Fantasy V, one of his Amano cards has the effect that Galuf cannot be Broken in Attack Phase, instead being Broken on the next turn if he would be Broken, and when Broken the player can add a Krile card from their deck to their hand.
Trading card of Galuf's original artwork.
Another trading card depicting the original artwork.
Galuf makes a small cameo in Dissidia Final Fantasy as a tutor from the in-game manuals. He is also directly mentioned by Bartz (though not by name) in-dialogue in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy as one of the few things Bartz remembers from his original world.
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Added by Lycentia
Trading card of Galuf's original artwork.
Another trading card depicting the original artwork.
Trading card of Galuf as Berserker.
Trading card.
Trading card of Galuf as Mystic Knight.
Trading card of Galuf as Monk.
Trading card.
Trading card of Galuf as Summoner.
Knight chibi artwork by Kazuko Shibuya.
Monk chibi artwork by Kazuko Shibuya.
Thief chibi artwork by Kazuko Shibuya.
Dragoon chibi artwork by Kazuko Shibuya.
Ninja chibi artwork by Kazuko Shibuya.
Samurai chibi artwork by Kazuko Shibuya.
Berserker chibi artwork by Kazuko Shibuya.
Ranger chibi artwork by Kazuko Shibuya.
Mystic Knight chibi artwork by Kazuko Shibuya.
White Mage chibi artwork by Kazuko Shibuya.
Black Mage chibi artwork by Kazuko Shibuya.
Time Mage chibi artwork by Kazuko Shibuya.
Summoner chibi artwork by Kazuko Shibuya.
Blue Mage chibi artwork by Kazuko Shibuya.
Red Mage chibi artwork by Kazuko Shibuya.
Beastmaster chibi artwork by Kazuko Shibuya.
Chemist chibi artwork by Kazuko Shibuya.
Geomancer chibi artwork by Kazuko Shibuya.
Bard chibi artwork by Kazuko Shibuya.
Dancer chibi artwork by Kazuko Shibuya.
Unused early concept artwork of Galuf as a Mime by Kazuko Shibuya.
Concept art by Yoshitaka Amano.
Concept art by Yoshitaka Amano.
