Kefka vs. Sephiroth

[The Crystal]

If we want to compare power sources, Kefka gains his power from three diety-level otherworldly beings. Sephiroth gains his power from an alien (I happened to check the wikipedia article recently which states that Sephiroth was able to overpower Jenova and control Jenova. Considering Sephiroth isn't the most mentally stable, given his "generally cool guy to psycho in just three months!" thing and in terms of raw power, he was a genetically enhanced human). Kefka's obviously got the higher power source here.

Sephiroth's source of power is Jenova AND the Lifestream. Lifestream is the source of all magic and life in the world of FFVII, and Sephiroth actually suceeded in controlling it, in AC.

And then we get down to combat and tactics. Kefka's crazy but he's also pretty crafty. Just judging from his character, I'd say Kefka's got this one in the bag.

Well, this is only your opinion, and I will give my: I would say that if we give prep to them Kefka could win, but in a direct combat Sephiroth would be the winner.

Also, let's look at the groups that took either boss down (I'll even ignore FFVI's secret characters but not FFVII's, since the latter actually are involved in the plot).

Kefka is confronted by twelve people. Remember, you set your party order so that you can access all of them.

1. Terra, a young half-esper who received imperial training in combat.

2. Locke Cole, a reasonably young man who's been going into dungeons, fighting monsters and taking their stuff for several years. Lots of on-the-job training.

3. Cyan, a Knight retainer to his lord in Doma Castle.

4. Shadow. Freakin' Ninja.

5. Edgar. While the king and not as heavily combat-trained, a skilled machinist.

6. Sabin. Years of martial arts discipline under probably one of the greatest martial artists in the world. Trained in the mountain. Probably fought bears.

7. Celes, imperial general infused with magical energy. Since she wasn't under the slave crown, her training is probably even more complete than Terra's.

8. Strago, an old and experienced blue mage with knowledge of espers and powerful magic.

9. Relm, a young girl descended of the mage knights with the power to bring her paintings to life. Currently winning for least-impressive character.

10. Setzer, a gambler and airship owner. Instantly takes Relm's position for least impressive.

11. Mog, random cute thing that can summon the power of nature by dancing. Also, as this game tells us, Moogles are apparently quite skilled with various implements of killing you.

12. Gau, a young boy who grew up surrounded by monsters in the Veldt.

Now let's move on to FFVII. And in this one, it just takes three of the following.

Cloud, failed clone. Was a grunt in the Shinra army.

Tifa, young girl with martial arts training. Not a terrible fighter, but I'd definitely say she's nowhere near as well trained as Sabin, who was actively and constantly training.

Barret, an angry black man with a gun grafted to his arm. He's been doing the terrorist thing for a few years, but he doesn't have the martial background most of the FFVI characters have.

Red XIII, a member of an ancient race. He's young by his race's standards, and aside from his obvious physical advantage he wasn't really combat trained.

Cait Sith. Do I really need to say anything here?

Cid, a pilot who can inexplicably use a spear. Not really buying that this guy has a lot of training.

Yuffie. Also ninja, albeit an immature and bratty one. With a dash of thief as well. I'd say Shadow wins over her.

Vincent, a former turk vampire with a gun. I think he's impressed me the most in this lineup, and he's not even a required character.

Avalanche are much better fighters than the Returners. AC and DoC proves that.

And then we get to their source of power. Espers are otherworldy beings of great power. Materia is a naturally occurring substance refined to create magical effects, often reducing one's physical capabilities. Espers, on the other hand, actually ENHANCE their user as their user grows in strength.

In the story, Materia don't reduce the phisycal capabilities of anyone.

Kefka just has the higher level of power here, and it took a LOT stronger (and bigger) team to take him down than Sephy.

Like I said before, AC and DoC proves that Avalanche are better fighters than the Returners.

And Kefka having the higher level of power is just opinion. In my opinion, using the corrupted version of the source of magic in the world, to transform the planet in a dead vessel and use it to travell the universe, is much more impressive than destroying some cities with a light from the sky.