Best battle themes

[Wolf Kanno]

What it says on the tin, what are some awesome RPG battle themes you've listened to over the years?

[Fynn]

Are we talking standard battle themes only or any battle themes?

[Wolf Kanno]

Any of them. Just try to keep your examples to a minimum if you're linking videos.

[WarZidane]

Listing just some is always such a daunting task, there are so many amazing battle themes I've heard over the years that narrowing them down becomes harder and harder :p
I'll just stick to URL links so the thread doesn't become cursed like another recent thread did.

I expect most of the themes I'll list in this post will be (final) boss themes, which in a way makes sense because that's probably where you want your battle music to shine the most. That said, maybe if I feel like it I'll make another post later with just regular battle music :p

Ar nosurge - Ra Ciel Reincarnation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8tiJ8oHfao
Ar Tonelico 2 - EXEC_over.METHOD_SUBLIMATION/.~omness chs ciel sos infel: https://youtu.be/G8YOoQ-Py88
Ar Tonelico - EXEC_HARMONIUS/. : https://youtu.be/28ySSYp8fnQ
Ar Tonelico 2 - METHOD_REPLEKIA/. : https://youtu.be/4UwIP-gsHHY
Yakuza 0 - Pledge of Demon: https://youtu.be/K7R_xQUiZvg
Yakuza 6 - Destiny: https://youtu.be/_ynAxA770tk
Octopath Traveler - The One They Call the Witch: https://youtu.be/HxprIHuxG_s (See also Daughter of the Dark God, a slightly different version)
Xenoblade Chronicles X - Uncontrollable: https://youtu.be/xOeb7StJlRc
Nioh 2 - Tokichiro II: https://youtu.be/-1VaHo4dnng
Atelier Ayesha - MARIA: https://youtu.be/EVcc16o0SaY
Caligula Effect Overdose - Peter Pan Syndrome (boss version): https://youtu.be/NiCi_O41a-0
Ao no Kiseki Evolution - The Azure Arbitrator: https://youtu.be/E4-eqVc_G0U (I can never decide which version of this I like more, so since I posted the other in a different thread, this thread gets the Evo version)
Trails in the Syk SC Evolution - The Merciless Savior: https://youtu.be/vJO4oJ0Uce4 (same as above really)
Trails of Cold Steel 4 - Majestic Roar: https://youtu.be/mY3YczOUGcM
Trails of Cold Steel 4 - To the Future: https://youtu.be/F_8Sh9zL59s

I'll leave it at 15 for now, don't want to go overboard :erm:

[Wolf Kanno]

I'll post a few more later, but I've come to the realization that at Square, if you wanted a battle theme done right, you didn't ask Uematsu, you asked Kenji Ito.

SaGa series battle theme rock arrangement album ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL75vuHQhI0&t=43s

For those wondering what the actual track list is:



Burning Blood ~ SaGa 2 (story theme)
Dreadful Fight ~ SaGa 2 (Boss Theme)
Lethal Strike ~ SaGa 2 (Battle Theme)
Save the World ~ SaGa 2 (Final Boss Theme)
The Conflict ~ Romancing SaGa (Battle Theme 1)
Beat Them Up! ~ Romancing SaGa (Boss Theme)
Battle with Kujinishi ~ Romancing SaGa 2 (Boss Theme)
Battle 2 ~ Romancing SaGa 3 (Battle Theme)
Magical Tank Battle ~ Romancing SaGa 3
Gen's Castle Battle ~ Romancing SaGa 3
Battle 1 ~ SaGa Frontier (Battle Theme)
Battle 3 ~ SaGa Frontier (Battle Theme)
Battle 4 ~ SaGa Frontier (Boss theme)
Last Battle ~ T260G ~ SaGa Frontier
Last Battle ~ Emelia ~ SaGa Frontier
Trick ~ SaGa Frontier (Orluge's Manor)
Last Battle ~ Asellus ~ SaGa Frontier
The Seven Heroes Battle ~ Romancing SaGa 2 (Seven Heroes boss theme)
Four Noble Devils ~ Romancing SaGa 3 (Sinistral boss theme)
Four Noble Devils 2 ~ Romancing SaGa (True Sinistral Boss theme)
Believing My Justice ~ Romancing Saga: Minstrel Song (Boss Theme)
Schirach Battle ~ Romancing SaGa (Special Boss theme)
Melody of Evil and Divinity ~ Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song (Boss Theme?)
Battle 5 ~ SaGa Frontier (Metal Black battle theme)
The Last Battle ~ Romancing SaGa 3
Last Battle ~ Romancing SaGa 2
Beat of the Evil ~ Romancing SaGa (Saruin theme)
Coup de Grace ~ Romancing SaGa (Final Battle theme)
Decisive Battle, Saruin! The Battle with Saruin ~ Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song

[Depression Moon]

Last Surprise and Take Over are really good in persona 5. There's nothing like hitting an All-Out Attack on "You'll never see it comiiiiiing!"

Ooh and the final final boss theme with Keep Your Faith yooooo!

And I do like the boss music in some of the fights in Kingdom hearts. I was trying to find the song, but it's hard navigating the ost for KHIII on YouTube.

[WarZidane]

Since my previous post was all boss themes, some normal battle themes this time:

Digital Devil Saga 2 - Battle for Survival: https://youtu.be/j_yq5VhWnC0
Atelier Meruru - Estrella: https://youtu.be/C-568wsfXLU
Ar nosurge - Mikazuchi: https://youtu.be/Z0UPv26z5Pg
Yakuza 7 - Ijincho battle: https://youtu.be/ZVFgdIeXC1U
Wild Arms 3 - Gunmetal Action: https://youtu.be/i_M4gUcrivw
Wild Arms 4 - Gun Blaze: https://youtu.be/vct85uQ2iIQ
The Last Remnant - Sword Sparks: https://youtu.be/dQXIhUhIg1U
Octopath Traveler - Battle II: https://youtu.be/eYnN1m5L17I
Xenoblade Chronicles X - Black Tar: https://youtu.be/GsN3GWhaxaA
Ao no Kiseki Evolution - Seize the Truth: https://youtu.be/oxXfJR-6ry0

[Vermachtnis]

Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth - Royal Knights (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eMP7FTGV2I)
Trails in the Sky - Sophisticated Fight (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhmhaf8xTAc)
Trails of Cold Steel 2 - Tie a Link of ARCUS (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In8CXaX1m-M)
Final Fantasy XIII - Blinded by Light (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfu0XBf8kmk)
Final Fantasy XIV - Maker's Ruin (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l69nQsEHxI)
Dragon Age: Inquisition - Your Heart Shall Burn (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdCLZaxmD2M)