Rufus Shinra

3. Deepground
   Description: A top-secret, highly experimental military faction buried deep beneath the ruins of Sector 0 in Midgar, completely hidden from the public eye.
   What the organization does: Originally designed as a medical and elite training facility for Shinra military forces, the group evolved into a rogue army of genetically modified, cybernetically enhanced super-soldiers who answer only to their own tyrannical commanders.
   Reason why its an enemy: Although originally a Shinra asset, Deepground broke away from executive corporate control. Rufus treats them as a volatile threat because their rogue super-soldiers actively try to overthrow the surface world and slaughter the regular Shinra military, directly defying his executive authority.

4. The Remnants of Sephiroth
   Description: A trio of physically engineered, silver-haired manifestations—Kadaj, Loz, and Yazoo—born from the residual spiritual energy and will of Sephiroth.
   What the organization does: They command hordes of shadow-like monsters, spread the debilitating Geostigma virus across the population, and ruthlessly hunt down the severed head of Jenova to trigger a complete rebirth of Sephiroth.
   Reason why its an enemy: The Remnants openly mock Rufus and hold him hostage during the events of Advent Children. Their singular goal of bringing back Sephiroth threatens to destroy the world entirely, which directly conflicts with Rufus's personal ambition to rebuild society and maintain his family legacy.

1. Avalanche
   Description: An eco-terrorist insurgent group divided into multiple cells, ranging from political activists to extreme ideological militants.
   What the organization does: They stage high-profile acts of sabotage, corporate espionage, and violent bombings against Shinra infrastructure—most notably targeting and destroying the city's Mako Reactors—to stop the extraction of the planet's life force.
   Reason why its an enemy: Avalanche poses a direct existential and financial threat to the Shinra corporate empire. Their destructive campaigns directly disrupt Rufus's revenue streams, challenge his absolute authority, and aim to completely dismantle the global power structure he fought to inherit.

2. Wutai
   Description: A proud, independent nation located on the western continent that maintains a fierce anti-Shinra stance following its defeat in a major historical war.
   What the organization does: Wutai operates as a sovereign government while actively funding underground resistance networks, conducting guerrilla warfare, and utilizing highly trained ninja cells to destabilize Shinra's political and corporate control across the globe.
   Reason why its an enemy: Wutai represents the final bastion of geopolitical defiance against Shinra's monopoly. Rufus views their lingering resistance and secret funding of anti-Shinra factions as a major barrier to his goal of total global unification under his corporate rule.

11. Elena
    Occupation: Junior Enforcer for the Turks
    Personality: Enthusiastic, clumsy, short-tempered, and deeply eager to prove herself. She takes her job incredibly seriously but often blabs top-secret corporate information by accident.
    Age: Early 20s.
    Appearance: Standing at 168 cm (5'6"), she features short, bright blonde hair styled in a neat, chin-length bob with asymmetrical bangs. She has brown eyes, a fair skin tone, and a slender, athletic, flexible body figure. Her facial features are youthful, expressive, and sharp, and she uniquely wears a modified version of the dark Turks suit with a shorter skirt or tailored trousers to facilitate her martial arts kicks.
    Weapon: Handgun, specialized throwing grenades, and rapid martial arts acrobatics.
    Relationship to Rufus: Subordinate enforcer. Rufus views Elena as an unrefined novice but respects her dedication to the Turks. Elena idolizes Tseng and treats Rufus with absolute, nervous corporate reverence, constantly striving to execute his orders perfectly to earn a permanent spot among his inner elite.

10. Palmer
    Occupation: Head of the Shinra Space Program
    Personality: Cowardly, greedy, incompetent, and childish. He is obsessed with buttering his tea, easily frightened by combat, and completely useless in executive meetings.
    Age: Light 60s.
    Appearance: Standing at a short 163 cm (5'4"), he features short, balding gray hair with patches on the sides. He has small brown eyes, a pale and sweaty skin tone, and an obese, round, short body figure. His facial features are puffy, double-chinned, and constantly shifting into expressions of panic or greed, and he uniquely wears an oversized, ill-fitting dark blue corporate suit that fails to hide his massive frame.
    Weapon: A prototype Magitek Ray Gun (and occasionally steering runaway trucks).
    Relationship to Rufus: Subordinate executive. Rufus treats Palmer with utter indifference and open mockery. Because the Space Program was defunded long ago, Palmer holds zero political power, and Rufus only keeps him on the board because he poses absolutely no threat to his position as President.

9. Reeve Tuesti
   Occupation: Head of Urban Development for the Shinra Electric Power Company / Secret Leader of Avalanche
   Personality: Compassionate, civic-minded, practical, and highly empathetic. He is the only Shinra executive who genuinely cares about the well-being of the working class and citizens.
   Age: 35.
   Appearance: Standing at 180 cm (5'11"), he features short, dark brown hair styled in a neat, professional business cut. He has brown eyes, a fair skin tone, and a standard, slender, professional body figure. His facial features are gentle, mature, and clean-shaven except for a meticulously trimmed, thick beard and mustache, and he uniquely carries a remote control device used to operate his robotic proxy, Cait Sith.
   Weapon: Cait Sith (a remote-controlled toy cat riding a giant stuffed Moogle).
   Relationship to Rufus: Subordinate executive and secret political rebel. Rufus views Reeve's humanitarian concerns as a corporate weakness but keeps him around because his engineering skills are vital for rebuilding infrastructure. Rufus is constantly suspicious of Reeve's loyalty, unaware for a long time that Reeve is actively leaking information to Avalanche under his corporate nose.

8. Sephiroth
   Occupation: Rogue Shinra SOLDIER / Would-be God (Former Legendary First Class SOLDIER)
   Personality: Arrogant, cold, detached, and completely psychotic. He possesses a god complex and views all life, including the planet itself, as fuel for his own ascension.
   Age: Chronologically in his late 20s at time of death (physically frozen).
   Appearance: Standing at an imposing 185 cm (6'1"), he features exceptionally long, silver-white hair styled with a neat center part and two distinct bangs framing his face. He has cat-like, glowing green Mako eyes, a pale skin tone, and a tall, powerfully muscular, athletic body figure. His facial features are ethereal, symmetrical, and strikingly handsome, and he uniquely possesses a single black wing coming out of his right shoulder while dressed in a long, black leather coat with silver pauldrons.
   Weapon: The Masamune, an incredibly long, single-edged nodachi sword.
   Relationship to Rufus: Ultimate existential threat and nemesis. Sephiroth assassinated Rufus's father to destabilize the company, and his plan to destroy the world directly conflicts with Rufus's desire to rule it. Rufus dedicates the entire military might of Shinra to hunting Sephiroth down, seeing him not just as a global threat, but as a personal insult to his absolute authority.

7. Cloud Strife
   Occupation: Mercenary / Eco-terrorist (Former First Class SOLDIER candidate)
   Personality: Guarded, aloof, and stoic on the surface, but possesses a strong sense of justice and deeply cares for his allies despite trying to appear detached.
   Age: 21.
   Appearance: Standing at 173 cm (5'8"), he features short, bright blonde hair styled into wild, spiky, gravity-defying tufts. He has striking Mako-infused glowing blue eyes, a fair skin tone, and a lean, toned, but deceptively slender body figure. His facial features are youthful, sharp, and angular, and he uniquely carries the massive Buster Sword strapped to his back while wearing a dark, asymmetric single-pauldron mercenary outfit with a distinct silver wolf badge on his shoulder.
   Weapon: The iconic Buster Sword (and various other broadswords).
   Relationship to Rufus: Direct enemy and combat rival. Their relationship is defined by corporate oppression versus civilian rebellion. Rufus views Cloud as a dangerous anomaly and a threat to Shinra's stability, leading to an iconic duel on the Shinra Headquarters helipad. In Advent Children, this relationship shifts into a tentative, distrustful truce as Rufus hires Cloud to protect him from Sephiroth's remnants.

6. Scarlet
   Occupation: Head of Weapons Development for the Shinra Electric Power Company
   Personality: Sadistic, vain, highly intelligent, and ruthlessly ambitious. She takes immense pleasure in warfare, weapon design, and inflicting physical pain.
   Age: Late 30s to early 40s.
   Appearance: Standing at 175 cm (5'9"), he features shoulder-length, bright blonde hair styled into perfectly coiffed, voluminous waves. She has green eyes, a pale and immaculate skin tone, and a curvaceous, hourglass body figure. Her facial features are sharp with high cheekbones and bright red lipstick, and she uniquely wears a low-cut, tight red evening dress with a high leg slit, even in war zones, and uses a human subordinate as a literal footstool.
   Weapon: Experimental heavy artillery, mech suits (like the Crimson Mare), and macro-weapons like the Mako Cannon (Sister Ray).
   Relationship to Rufus: Subordinate executive. Rufus tolerates her due to her genius in weapon design, but he remains highly vigilant of her plotting. Scarlet complies with Rufus's rule because his aggressive military expansion aligns perfectly with her desire to test new weapons of mass destruction.

5. Heidegger
   Occupation: Head of Public Security for the Shinra Electric Power Company
   Personality: Loud, sycophantic, arrogant, and incredibly cruel to his subordinates. He laughs off failures with a booming roar but is deeply insecure about his standing.
   Age: Late 50s.Appearance: Standing at a towering 195 cm (6'5"), he features short, graying dark brown hair styled in a blocky cut. He has brown eyes, a ruddy, flushed skin tone, and a massive, heavily built body figure. His facial features include an aggressive, wide face with a thick, full beard that connects to his mustache, and he uniquely wears a highly decorated military dress uniform adorned with medals and armor-plated shoulder pauldrons.
   Weapon: Control over the Shinra Military Junta, giant mech suits (like the Proud Clod), and heavy firearms.
   Relationship to Rufus: Subordinate executive. Heidegger spent years catering to Rufus's father, making Rufus deeply distrustful of him. Rufus treats Heidegger with open contempt, frequently berating his tactical incompetence and threatening to replace him.

4. Rude
   Occupation: Elite Enforcer for the Turks
   Personality: Quiet, laconic, deeply disciplined, and fiercely loyal to his partners. He rarely speaks unless absolutely necessary and possesses a hidden chivalrous side.
   Age: Early-to-mid 30s.
   Appearance: Standing at 185 cm (6'1"), he features a completely bald, shaved head with no hair length. He has amber/light brown eyes, a tan/olive skin tone, and a broad-shouldered, heavily muscular, imposing body figure. His facial features consist of a sharp jawline, a strong chin, and a neatly trimmed goatee, and he uniquely wears distinctive gold-rimmed sunglasses at all times, even at night or during intense combat.
   Weapon: His bare fists, utilizing devastating grappling techniques and shockwave-inducing ground strikes.
   Relationship to Rufus: Elite corporate enforcer. Alongside Reno, Rude serves as the physical vanguard protecting Rufus from direct threats. He treats Rufus with quiet corporate respect, fulfilling questionable orders with unwavering compliance.

3. Reno
   Occupation: Elite Enforcer for the Turks
   Personality: Cynical, lazy on the surface, rebellious, yet surprisingly professional and lethal when a job demands it. He possesses a cocky, street-smart attitude.
   Age: Mid-to-late 20s.
   Appearance: Standing at 175 cm (5'9"), he features long, vibrant, fiery red hair styled into a spiky, wild, and unkempt look gathered into a loose, messy ponytail at the back. He has green eyes, a fair skin tone, and a slender, wiry, highly agile body figure. His facial features include sharp eyes and two prominent, symmetrical red tattoo marks on his cheekbones, and he uniquely keeps his white dress shirt completely unbuttoned at the collar and his tie loosely undone, deliberately breaking corporate dress code.
   Weapon: Electromagnetic Rod (E-Rod) capable of emitting high-voltage electrical currents.
   Relationship to Rufus: Elite corporate enforcer. While Reno frequently grumbles about the heavy workload and Rufus's demanding nature, he obeys Rufus's commands without hesitation, acting as the frontline muscle for the President's personal agenda.

2. Tseng

• Occupation: Leader of the Turks (Shinra Administrative Research Department)
• Personality: Stoic, fiercely loyal, professional, and calm under immense pressure. He strictly separates his personal feelings from his duties.
• Age: Early 30s.
• Appearance: Standing at 182 cm (6'0"), he features very long, jet-black hair styled with a neat center part and pulled straight back past his lower back. He has dark brown eyes, a pale, smooth skin tone, and a tall, lean, athletic body figure. His facial features are sharp and refined, and he uniquely possesses a distinct bindi-like red dot on the center of his forehead while being impeccably dressed in a dark, form-fitting Turks corporate suit.
• Weapon: Custom automatic handgun and seasoned martial arts.
• Relationship to Rufus: Direct subordinate and leader of his personal security force. Despite Tseng initially working for Rufus's father, Rufus trusts Tseng implicitly to execute covert, high-stakes missions. Tseng serves as Rufus's primary shield, intelligence gatherer, and enforcer.

1. President Shinra

• Occupation: Founder, President, and CEO of the Shinra Electric Power Company
• Personality: Greedy, authoritarian, corrupt, and dismissive. He views cities and human lives merely as expendable assets for financial profit.
• Age: Late 50s to early 60s (deceased).
• Appearance: Standing at roughly 175 cm (5'9"), he features short, graying brown hair styled in a slicked-back look with a slight widow's peak. He has dark brown eyes, a fair and visibly aging skin tone, and a heavy-set, stocky, rotund body figure. His facial features are defined by a prominent mustache, thick eyebrows, and deep-set wrinkles, and he uniquely wears an opulent, tailored business suit with gold accessories and a heavy corporate coat draped over his shoulders.
• Weapon: Military-grade orbital satellites and the absolute wealth of the Shinra army.
• Relationship to Rufus: Biological father. The two shared a bitter, resentful dynamic. Rufus despised his father's method of controlling people with money and actively funded anti-Shinra insurgencies to overthrow him. President Shinra ultimately sidelined Rufus by sending him away on extended business before being assassinated.

Unlike his father, who sought to control the global population through financial dependency and corporate leverage, Rufus explicitly chooses to rule the world through fear. He is cold, ruthlessly pragmatic, highly ambitious, and possesses an intense pride. Despite his villainous actions, he harbors a strong rebellious streak and openly despises his father's outdated corporate strategies, seeking to restructure the world under his own absolute authority.

Rufus is a name of Latin origin, and means "red-haired". In a March 4, 2020 interview, Yoshinori Kitase explained that the word "SHINRA" derives from the word "myth" in Japanese (神話, shinwa?) because SHINRA was about becoming god and controlling everything.

Rufus is one of the few Final Fantasy characters with a last name written in kanji and a first name in katakana and, along with his father, the only character in Final Fantasy VII (and the series in general) with kanji in the name that isn't a title or a nickname.

Rufus possesses unmatched economic and political power as president. His position allows him to utilize Shinra's resources and personnel. Rufus is trained in combat, showcasing impressive speed, dexterity, and deadly marksmanship. He wields a custom-made shotgun that can separate into dual pistols for both ranged and close combat. This versatile weapon also allows him to gain distance, dodge attacks, throw off opponents, and perform air dashes.

Rufus carries two coins that he flips in battle to trigger various effects, such as smokescreens, explosions, and charged shots with homing properties; said coins are even utilized as airborne mirrors to bounce his bullets around for confounding patterns to add more to his marksmanship. He can also summon his personal military hound, Darkstar, to cast magic, healing, or supporting spells.

In combat, Rufus easily parries and maneuvers behind foes to target their blind spots, even forcing the skilled swordsman Cloud to act defensively. Despite his speed and varied tactics, Rufus constantly needs to reload his gun, making him vulnerable to attacks and leaving him staggered at times.

Rufus has a business relationship with the other Shinra executives. He organizes board meetings and listens to their input, but questions their lack of effort to stop his father and demands the same loyalty. He regards incompetent subordinates coldly, especially Heidegger, and is wary of Hojo's experiments. Despite past conflicts, Rufus began commanding the Turks after saving them from losing their jobs and execution. In return for his actions, they swore loyalty and serve as his faithful retainers. Rufus was also a former friend of Glenn, but eventually killed him over an unknown dispute.

After nearly dying in Diamond Weapon's attack, Rufus dramatically changed his perspective. He realized all of the wrongs that Shinra had committed and sought to redeem himself and the company. With the aid of the Turks, Rufus began working for the benefit the planet, coordinating the construction of Edge, helping defeat the remnants of Sephiroth, and secretly funding the World Regenesis Organization.

“But, I do things differently. I'll control the world with fear. It takes too much to do it like my old man. A little fear will control the minds of the common people. There's no reason to waste money on them.” — Rufus

Rufus is a confident, calm, and charismatic leader who is ruthlessly ambitious and callous, striving for nothing but the best. He is fearless and entitled, ruling through fear rather than money, determined to maintain Shinra's control over the world, and believing that everything the company owns is rightfully his. Rufus is enigmatic, rebellious, and cunning, covertly leading Avalanche and Wutai in a scheme against Shinra to dominate the world. He is also adaptable and sharp-witted, always ready to take action and taunt his enemies.

Rufus had a strained relationship with his father, President Shinra. While his father loved him and used his birthday as a passkey, he often neglected Rufus during childhood due to his busy schedule. Despite eventually being appointed as Shinra's vice president, Rufus received no executive authority and his father warily regarded his aspirations to rule the world through fear. Despite their shared goal to discover the "promised land", Rufus disagreed with his father's leadership and undermined his decisions during meetings. He rebelled against his father, working with Avalanche to overthrow him, but failed.[5] Rufus seemed unfazed by his father's death, seized the opportunity to become Shinra's next president, and aimed to lead the company into a new era.

Rufus is a young man with a slim build, fair skin, blue eyes, and short, slicked-back blond hair. He claims to resemble his mother more than his father.[28]

In Final Fantasy VII, Rufus wears a black turtleneck under a white dress coat with a gray collar over another white dress coat, paired with cuffed white dress pants and brown dress boots. In Final Fantasy VII Remake, his hair is slightly longer and platinum blond. He dons a double-breasted white business suit resembling a trench coat over a charcoal gray dress shirt with a black tie. He wears baggy white pants similar to a hakama, with white belts resembling himo straps draped around his waist, black fingerless gloves, and black leather boots.

Rufus eagerly organized a team, met them in Junon, and headed for the temple via helicopter, commencing "Where Angels Fear to Tread". Accompanied by Hojo, he learned that the temple was not the "promised land", but rather a place for a "reunion" and a "watershed moment for mankind". Rufus tasked the Turks with investigating the temple and later witnessed its collapse after Cloud handed Sephiroth the black materia before escaping.[40]

Rufus returned to Midgar during "End of the World", denied Hojo's offer to treat a gravely injured Tseng, insisting that the medical team would handle it, asserting that Hojo had enough "material". He asked for an explanation regarding the phenomenon at the temple from Hojo, who refused to draw any scientific conclusions and suggested that Shinra could dream far bigger, to which Rufus agreed.[31]

Rufus later observed Midgar from his office and received a visit from Glenn, who inquired about Viceroy Sarruf's absence at Lodbrok's broadcast. Rufus sarcastically remarked that Sarruf would have attended if the set was more expensive. Glenn criticized Rufus' "rich kid" attitude and Rufus suspected that the renewed war with Wutai was a distraction from Sephiroth. As Glenn applauded, he transformed into Sephiroth, revealing that his plans for the "promised land" were in motion. Rufus shot Glenn in the back, revealed to be another robed figure only assuming Glenn's visage. The body taunted Rufus about Glenn's death, enraging Rufus, who shot him repeatedly.

Rufus held a board meeting regarding the Magnum Materia Project and the newly emerged Weapons during "Those Left Behind". He assured the executives that they would get what they wanted and mentioned that Wutai was also after the materia. When Reeve asked for an explanation on Shinra using Avalanche's activities as cover to sabotage their mako reactors and destroy Sector 7, Rufus criticized his father's decisions. He questioned why none of the executives had tried to stop his father, declared that Shinra must evolve, and demanded their loyalty.[37] During "The Long Shadow of Shinra", Rufus was reading in his office when Heidegger informed him that the Nibelheim survey team had been ambushed. They both suspected that Wutai was responsible, causing Rufus to smirk.[38]

During "A Golden Key", Rufus joined the Turks at the Gold Saucer to secure the keystone to the Temple of the Ancients in a special colosseum event hosted by Dio. After the Turks gave the keystone to Cait Sith, Rufus and Darkstar challenged Cloud to a rematch, still considering him a formal Shinra employee, and personally wanting to dispose of him. Rufus was defeated and escaped using a smoke bomb. Rufus later held a meeting to address Glenn's broadcast from Wutai declaring war on Shinra and dismissed questions about Viceroy Sarruf, who had not appeared in the broadcast. He monitored Cloud's party outside the Shinra Manor and prioritized pursuing the Ancient Aerith to the Temple of the Ancients, believing that it led to the "promised land". He assured Reeve of his intention to respond to Lodbrok's broadcast.[39]

Pursuit of Sephiroth

At some point prior to "Deeper into Darkness" in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Rufus assigned the Turks to pursue the black-robed figure.

Rufus arrived in Junon for his inauguration ceremony during "Dawn of a New Era". He was surprisingly visited by Wutai emissary Glenn Lodbrok, who he thought was dead. When questioned, Rufus affirmed his intent to pursue his late father's plans to go to war with Wutai over the magnum materia, but acknowledged the need for a new approach. Glenn criticized Rufus' pursuit of the "promised land" and urged him to fulfill his presidential duties. Glenn mockingly congratulated an angered Rufus on "Viceroy Sarruf's" behalf. Despite Heidegger's warnings that it would violate the ceasefire with Wutai, Rufus ordered the Sister Ray to be fired during the inauguration parade as a show of power.[36]

During the parade, Rufus rode in a car, waved to the cheering crowd, and fired the Sister Ray to end the ceasefire with Wutai and ring in the new world order. Tseng warned him about the presence of Cloud's party, but Rufus assured him that he would handle them. In his speech, Rufus honored his father, vowed to find the "promised land", and addressed Shinra's past and future. He watched the military units' performances, commended Midgar's Seventh Infantry, and invited a disguised Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith on stage. Rufus privately emphasized the need to rebuild Midgar and proposed ignoring the party's bounties if they avoided Midgar and killed Sephiroth due to Shinra's lack of resources. Cloud's party agreed, mentioned the black-robed men as a lead, and Rufus confirmed their connection to Sephiroth. However, Yuffie's assassination attempt on Rufus jeopardized the deal with Heidegger saving Rufus with a minor scratch to his back.[36]

Rufus returned to Midgar after an extended business trip during "Deliverance from Chaos" in Final Fantasy VII Remake. He personally fought Cloud alongside his military hound, Darkstar, while sending troops after the rest of Cloud's party. Throughout the battle, Rufus exchanged taunts with Cloud, was amused by his bravado, and remarked that he owned him for being a former member of SOLDIER. During the fight, Rufus unknowingly came into contact with the Whispers, which allowed him to perceive them.[32] Cloud disarmed Rufus, who declared a new beginning for Shinra and retreated via helicopter.

Rufus assumed the position of Shinra's new president after his father's death during "Destiny's Crossroads". He noticed the Shinra Building being swarmed by Whispers and that Tseng was unable to see them, leaving him puzzled. Despite being troubled by the sight, Rufus had Tseng bring in the Turks and the Shinra executives lined up before him, ignoring Heidegger addressing him as vice president.

Rufus remained under house arrest for four years, continuously monitored by the Turks. On December 19, 0006, during "The Choices We Made in the Beginning and the End", he taunted Tseng about a defecting Turk.[14] On February 20, 0007, during "The Consequences of Our Choices", Rufus mocked Tseng for the Turks betraying Shinra, warning of the army's plan to end them. Tseng assured him that they would not jeopardize the company, leading Rufus to admit that he overestimated them. Reeve Tuesti was unable to find Rufus, who asked Tseng for his opinion on Cait Sith.[15]

On October 1, 0007, during "Resolve to Reach the End", Rufus informed Tseng about Avalanche operatives heading to Corel Prison and updated his cell's surveillance system to monitor worldwide events. He was confident in his chances to wrest the company from his father. He urged Tseng to rescue Verdot and another captured Turk, emphasizing that the Turks' survival was crucial.[16] During "The Threat that Pierces the Heavens", Rufus asked an agreeing Tseng if he was prepared to rescue Verdot and provided his exact location in exchange for the Turks' loyalty.[17] On October 5, during "Veering Wildly Towards an Unstoppable End", Rufus was released from his arrest, deceiving his father into believing that he had changed his perspective, but actually saw it as an opportunity to seize control of Shinra. He proposed a plan to his father that promised glory for the company.[18]

During the epilogue of Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII-, Rufus surprised Scarlet by attending a meeting regarding the Turks' punishment for their actions. He declared that the Turks had proven their loyalty by assassinating Fuhito and Verdot. When Tseng thanked him on behalf of the Turks, Rufus dismissively responded that it was not for their sake.

In January 0003, during "All of Our Resolve and Longing", Rufus and Fuhito met after Avalanche's HQ in Wutai was destroyed, content that they had fooled Shinra into thinking that Avalanche was wiped out. Rufus suggested eliminating the Turks' leader, Verdot, for getting too close to the truth, acknowledging their inability to handle all of the minor inconveniences. They planned their next move for the rocket launch ceremony.[11] On April 12, the Turks guarded Rufus while attending the Shinra No. 26 launch in Rocket Town during "Onward to the Distant Heavens". He felt that space exploration was pointless and argued with Cid Highwind over it. Rufus collaborated with Avalanche to sabotage the launch, questioning his father's intentions and asserting that he could lead Shinra more effectively. When the launch was canceled and space program funding was suspended, Rufus wondered how his father would publicly respond.[11]

On May 8, 0003, during "The Muddy Course of Inexorable Fate", Rufus left Shinra HQ to coordinate with Avalanche in Corel, but was unexpectedly discovered by the Turks in the unfinished mako reactor. He later accused Avalanche of breaking their agreement by occupying the reactor and Verdot exposed him as the Shinra informant and secret leader of Avalanche. Rufus offered to drop the matter if Fuhito killed the Turks, but was betrayed and regretted his actions. He was protected by the Turks as Avalanche attacked and urged them to prevent the reactor's explosive destruction.[12] During "An Eruption of Fanged Chaos", Rufus assumed that the Turk inside the reactor had perished. Upon recovering them, Rufus was escorted back to the Shinra Building and put under house arrest. President Shinra falsely claimed to the public that Rufus was abroad on an extended business trip.[13]

In December 0000, during Chapter 2 of Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-, Rufus was appointed vice president of Shinra. Shinra personnel were notified by email and informed that he had departed on a long-term business trip, with details undisclosed for security reasons.[3][4] Sometime after Rufus became vice president, he secretly funded Avalanche, acting as an informant and closely working with their leader, Fuhito. He aimed for Avalanche to overthrow his father so he could take his position.[5]

On February 30, 0001, Rufus video-called President Shinra and Reno in Junon to check on the troubling situation with Avalanche during "In the White Light of Day, the Assassin Smiles" in Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII-. He watched Aphromia in action, praised her performance, and was eager to see more of her work.[6] On December 22, 0001, during "This Night in an Untainted World", Rufus attended an executives' meeting following Avalanche's attack on Junon, requested a damage report, and clued his father and the executives into a Shinra informant leaking information to Avalanche. He questioned his father's leadership and advised caution.[7]

On January 2, 0002, Rufus criticized his father for the kidnapped SOLDIER operatives and the failed mission near Icicle Inn during "A Light That Penetrates Through the Darkness", inquiring about his plans regarding the informant.[8] On June 17, during "The Lone Discerning Alignment", Rufus was surprised by Professor Hojo's abduction by Avalanche and asked Verdot for a report. He agreed with his father about Hojo's untrustworthiness and possibility of switching sides, but opposed calling in Sephiroth.[9] On August 9, Rufus suggested using the army to capture the Ancient Aerith Gainsborough forcefully, deeming it unnecessary to involve the Turks during "The Dash to Freedom". He disagreed with the president's cautious approach to capturing Aerith and searching for the "promised land".

Home: Midgar
Age: 27
Affiliation: Shinra Electric Power Company
Occupation: President of the Shinra Electric Power Company
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Hair color: Platinum Blond
Skin: Fair
Eye color: Blue
Laterality: Right-handed
Weapon of Choice: Custom double-barreled shotgun
Companion: Dark Nation (Original) / Darkstar (Remake), a genetically modified military hound

Rufus is the son of President Shinra and the former vice president of the Shinra Electric Power Company, succeeding his father as president. He is immensely prideful, cold, and ambitious with a rebellious streak. Rufus rules through fear, aiming to break outdated practices and lead the company into a new era. He works closely with the Turks, with Tseng as his right-hand man. Rufus is also the half-brother of Lazard Deusericus and Evan Townshend.

Rufus is trained in the art of combat and personally enters the battlefield. He wields a custom-made shotgun and is accompanied by his military hound, Darkstar. He is exclusively fought by Cloud Strife.