Variants

Bayonetta Variants

Variants are the equivalent to a person in an alternate reality within the Human World. Variants of nearly everyone, notably the titular witch Bayonetta, Jeanne, Luka and more, are spread throughout the Multiverse, as explored in Bayonetta 3.

Diversity of a variant is a wide spectrum in terms of appearance, personality, and ability; some variants can differ from each other drastically in all of these details, but tend to share traits unique to the person they represent, as well as an undefined spiritual connection. Some worlds may even have variants of those who are no longer alive in other worlds, such as Rosa, or have no alternate variant to speak of, such as Viola.

Cereza is the younger self of Bayonetta who was pulled from her time by Balder and brought 500 years into the future as part of his scheme to awaken the Left Eye.

Her return to her time with knowledge of the future creates an alternate universe, one where she was never sealed away or lost her memories.[1]

Cereza, A Flower, Yet to Bloom

Cereza is a variant based on the protagonist of Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon. This witch-in-training ventures into the Avalon Forest in the hopes of finding something that will save her mother; upon running afoul with the faeries that live there, she inadvertently manages to summon a demon into her doll to assist her.

This Cereza is briefly playable in a secret chapter in Bayonetta 3, unlocked by finding the keys to the Old Picture Book; a costume resembling her can also be unlocked upon completing a special requirement inside the chapter.

Bayonetta is a variant that hails from the Records of Time: The End Universe. Her appearance is identical to Bayonetta from the second game in the series, albeit the timeline of events plays out differently.[2]

Transported 500 years into the past, this version of Bayonetta is pitted against angels and demons alongside her mother before she is confronted by the Masked Lumen.

Bayonetta β0, The Indomitable Witch

Bayonetta β0 is a Bayonetta variant from Viola's universe, who is also her mother. She is identical to Bayonetta's appearance in the first game, save for her beauty mark being located under her left eye. She wields Whittingham Fair, a set of guns that look strikingly similar to Scarborough Fair.

Joining Connor Sigurd's resistance, she fought tirelessly against Singularity's invasion but was ultimately defeated by his absolute might on the streets of a ruined New York, and after bestowing the last of her magic power upon Viola, she was wiped from existence.[3]

Bayonetta β1, The Street-Smart Witch

Bayonetta β1 is a Bayonetta counterpart encountered on the first parallel world Bayonetta visits. Bayonetta β1 has long pink hair pulled up in a pony tail and wrapped in a yellow bow. Her outfit consists of a two-piece set of a black top and shorts with straps all across, yellow stockings strapped like chaps, black high heels stylized after sneakers, and a silver jacket, zipped down to her stomach. The back of the jacket also unzips.

She battles commanding the Infernal Demon Phantasmaraneae and uses Ignis Araneae Yo-Yo tp channel his power. With a base of operations in Shibuya, she fights alone against the oncoming Homunculi invasion.[3]

An Echo of Memory from Bayonetta β1's perspective suggests that she became a full-fledged Umbra Witch only recently, and is very pleased to have finished her training.

While successful in destroying the Iridescent Core and downing Iridescent, Bayonetta β1 is taken unaware by Uncinus bursting out of the ground and is caught in the jaws of them. Bayonetta is too late to save her counterpart, but receives the Ignis Araneae Yo-Yo from Bayonetta β1 before she dies. Iridescent absorbs her power, transforming it into Arch-Iridescent.

Bayonetta β2, The One-Eyed Witch

Bayonetta β2 is a Bayonetta counterpart encountered on the second parallel world Bayonetta visits. Bayonetta β2 wears a crimson Gekka, along with a dark purple and gold Armor on her limbs. Her calf-long black hair is pulled into two ponytails wrapped into buns decorated with red conical ornaments. Likewise identical to Bayonetta, this Variant has scars across her face and is missing her right eye, the socket covered by a red eye patch.

As a general leading several thousand troops, she wages her own war against the Homunculi in the midst of a war-torn China. She had previously enjoyed a carefree, untethered life, but seems to have later formed a bond with a general who later lost his life in battle, and she took command in his stead.

Having survived an almost incomprehensible number of deadly encounters, rumours about the origin of the eyepatch over her right eye abound. Some say she sacrificed the eye to save a friend, others say she lost it in a wager with an enemy, and still others say she sealed it herself to curb her own fearsome power. The truth is that the impressive figure she cuts as she rages across the field of battle has led her to be known as "The One-Eyed Witch". It is said that no army can stand before the power of her Dead End Express, imbued with the power of the Infernal Demon Wartrain Gouon, but in the face of the relentless Homunculi onslaught it may only be a matter of time.[3]

An Echo of Memory from her perspective has Bayonetta β2 reflect upon the general that she served, implied to be a Luka variant; though his attempts at grandeur came off as unintentionally humorous, she came to understand that by showing his own moments of weakness he could lift the spirits of his men and inspire them to fight on even when all hope seemed lost. Upon his death, she resolved to use her strength to lead by example and protect the land he loved in his place.

She and Bayonetta fight Pyrocumulus with the aid of Wartrain Gouon, but the Homunculus unexpectedly emerges from the lava it fell into and forcibly absorbs her into itself; Bayonetta tries to stop it, but does not succeed. Upon absorbing Bayonetta β2's power, Pyrocumulus transforms into Arch-Pyrocumulus.

Bayonetta β3, The Cloistered Witch

Bayonetta β3 is a Bayonetta counterpart encountered on the third parallel world Bayonetta visits, who is also the ruler of a nation that stretches across an entire desert. Bayonetta β3 is perhaps the most striking Bayonetta variant, as her skin tone is quite dark and her overall colour palette is a complete mirror of her original one being clad in white and having silver hair. Her costume consists of flowing, wispy robes, with ornamental golden elements encrusted with teal jewels and her limbs are covered in a black matter. Bayonetta β3 wields the Simoon weapons and forges with a pact with Malphas during the events of Bayonetta's visit.

Although she receives instruction in the magic arts from her retainer Jeanne, her somewhat timid demeanour prevents her from mastering them completely, and while she is a Bayonetta counterpart, she alone suffers from an apprehension that keeps her from being worthy of the Arch-Eve mantle. Although she is a kind witch who is averse to conflict, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance, her resolve to finally become a warrior and unlock the limitless potential hidden inside could become the key to saving existence.[3]

Bayonetta β3 makes her first direct appearance after the battle with Cirrocumulus and Cirrostratus, mercy-killing Jeanne β3 before her power is completely lost to Singularity. She then aids Bayonetta in fighting Stratocumulus, and when Bayonetta is about to be sucked into a black hole formed by its defeat she gives up the Simoon and Malphas to ensure that she can escape, sacrificing herself in the process.

Bayonetta β4, The Phantom Thief Witch

Bayonetta β4 is a Bayonetta counterpart encountered on the fourth parallel world Bayonetta visits. Bayonetta β4's getup is not unlike that of a magician, with a dapper suit covered by a matching red and blue cape and hat; the latter is also part of her weapon set, Abracadabra. As opposed to the black hair of her main counterpart, she has blonde hair (possibly inherited from Balder). In battle, she commands the Infernal Demon Mictlantecuhtli.

She makes a living as a travelling performer, circling the globe showing off incredible illusions and sleight of hand - but her true persona is that of the mysterious thief Papillon d'Ombre the 2nd, daughter of master thief Papillon d'Ombre. However, the women are not simply thieves stealing from the corrupt and giving it to the unfortunate, but are in fact Umbra Witches who have devoted their lives to reclaiming Umbran treasures that have been scattered around the world.

After being chased tirelessly by Inspector Enzeau, the Interpol officer charged with bringing in the mother-daughter pair of master thieves, she has begun to form an odd kind of friendship with him as she continues to give him the slip.[3]

She confronts Bayonetta not long after the latter is forced to kill her mother, and in the aftermath of their battle is enslaved by Singularity through a Perlucidus. Bayonetta defeats her possessed counterpart with the help of Baal Zebul, hoping that she can find peace with her mother as she breaks apart.

Bayonetta 1, The Witch in Remembrance

Bayonetta 1 is a Bayonetta counterpart who appears during the final battle with Singularity.

She appears to be a possible Arch-Eve from a world very similar to Bayonetta's, but her eyes give off an intensity that hints at an almost unfathomable number of trials and hardships. Her weapon choice is Scarborough Fair, a set of four handguns. With her lithe movement and unmatched aim, she takes out targets in the blink of an eye.[3]

It is implied that Bayonetta 1 is the same Bayonetta from the initial timeline of the first Bayonetta (or one that is nearly identical to it), as she uses the same mannerisms and dialogue that she once used on the time displaced Cereza when she arrives. This is further emphasized by her wearing the original costume from the first game, wielding Scarborough Fair instead of a variant weapon, having her beauty mark in the same place, having one red ribbon in her hair instead of two, and utilizing the original model of Madama Butterfly from the past two games when summoning her as part of Demon Slave.

Bayonetta 2, The Witch with Discerning Eyes

Bayonetta 2 is another Bayonetta counterpart who appears during the final battle with Singularity.

Even though her pact is with Madama Butterfly (as evidenced by her shadow), she summons Labolas as her Infernal Demon.

She also appears to be from a world very similar to Bayonetta's, and is almost exactly alike in appearance and fighting style. Among all of Bayonetta's counterparts, she seems to have walked an almost identical path. Filled with confidence, her sharp gaze appears to be fixed on the future, and gives pause to any who stand against her. With her four guns titled Love Is Blue, she uses the Bullet Arts combat style passed down by the Umbra Witches to battle as if dancing.[3]

Like with Bayonetta 1, it is hinted that Bayonetta 2 is from the main universe of the game series due to her identical beauty mark location and her bio's direct reference to her experiencing almost identical events. However, it is also possible that she could be the variant found in the Records of Time: The End universe, but this is never confirmed.

Dark Eve, Caster of Strife

Dark Eve is the shadow of what was once the Alphaverse counterpart of Bayonetta.

Once a resident of the Alphaverse, the world where Singularity was born, she was also that world's Arch-Eve. Working together with its Arch-Adam, she fought to stop Singularity but was utterly destroyed, and her body was destroyed. She managed to barely survive as a residual consciousness, but as Singularity continued to erase more and more parallel worlds, the consciousnesses of those worlds' Arch-Eves flowed into the Alphaverse where they merged and became Dark Eve.

Her body is composed of those swarming, warped hearts and no longer possessed of any clear awareness, acting solely on an impulse to destroy. Her existence is masked even to Singularity's eye, and she simply roams the Multiverse, attacking everything she comes across.[3]

Dark Eve wields Cassiopeia as a weapon and summons the Kraken to fight at her side. It is implied she is the one responsible for Kraken's appearance during the Prologue of Bayonetta 3. She is banished by Viola, who earns the right to call herself "Bayonetta" from her mother's spirit.

During the battle with Singularity Balance, Bayonetta shatters Singularity's energy field, freeing countless absorbed variants from universes long gone to fight alongside her. These vary from simple costume swaps and unused concepts from the first game, to completely new appearances. Their bodies seem to be unstable as they flicker and quiver, seemingly glitching between realities.

The following Witches were seen fighting alongside Cereza and other variants. Their costumes are either recolored or made with slight alterations, and appear in the game files.

These Witches are either made of completely unique designs, or unused Bayonetta concepts from the first game, updated with detail and a fresher look. Presumably not intended to appear in 3D, or their models not being finished in time, these only appear as 2D graphics.

Bayonetta 1 Concept Art Arch-Eve with Scarborough Fair.

Bayonetta 1 Concept Art Arch-Eve with blonde braids.

Bayonetta 1 Concept Art Arch-Eve with auburn hair.

Nurse-themed Arch-Eve.

Pirate themed Arch-Eve.

Ballet-themed Arch-Eve.

Futuristic-themed Arch-Eve.

East Asian-themed Arch-Eve.

Jeanne, Cereza's Best Friend

Jeanne is a variant based on the younger Jeanne from Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon. She appears in a secret chapter in Bayonetta 3, unlocked by finding the keys to the Old Picture Book, where, at the end of the chapter, she senses Cereza is in danger in Avalon Forest.

Jeanne β0 is a variant of Jeanne that resided in Viola's universe.

Although she is not seen or heard of within Bayonetta 3, Viola makes specific mention of her death at the hands of Singularity when first meeting Jeanne and Bayonetta.

Jeanne β1 is a variant of Jeanne from the same universe as Bayonetta β1. Clad in a yellow version of Jeanne's Bayonetta 2 biker suit with long platinum hair, she is only seen in a vision being slain by an Asperatus.

An Echo of Memory that appears to be from her point of view suggests that Jeanne β1 has a strong competitive streak with her world's Bayonetta, although much to her frustration their contests always seem to end in draws.

Jeanne β3, The Unwavering Witch

Jeanne β3 is an Umbra Witch Bayonetta encountered on the third parallel world she visits who serves as a retainer to the princess Bayonetta.

Jeanne β3 is visually a very different variant, as her darker skin tone is accompanied by a black, short hairdo, similar to her original design from Bayonetta. She wears an outfit completely contrasting with her universe's Bayonetta, instead being black like her hair with red gemstones as opposed to Bayonetta's teal ones. She dons a headpiece made of multiple angular elements, and triangular earrings. In battle, Jeanne β3 wields the Ribbit Libido-BZ55 as her weapon of choice.

Possessed of an incredible magic power, she excels at summoning and manipulates the Infernal Demon Baal at will. As Bayonetta's instructor in both magic and combat, she is hard on her pupil but their relationship has grown beyond that of servant and master, and they are more like sisters bound by a strong bond of trust that lead Jeanne to face the encroaching threat facing the world in Bayonetta's stead, going off to face this new enemy alone. Her noble spirit and strong mind make her the Arch-Eve of this world, but she knows the true power that lies within Bayonetta and yearns from the bottom of her heart for the princess to take her place as the true Arch-Eve.[3]

Luka β0 was a variant from Viola's universe who was her father.

Not much is known about this variant other than he & Bayonetta β0 fell in love and had Viola together; also that he used to tell Viola stories of the potential existence of other worlds. He is not seen after Singularity invades, presumably having died/disappeared before this event.

Lukaon, The Wandering King of Twilight

Lukaon is a mysterious variant of Luka and the leader of the Faeries, residents of a particularly far-flung part of the Multiverse that possess a mysterious power humans do not. It is said that since long ago, the faeries have hidden themselves in worlds where humans live, leading quiet existences, and hints to the truthfulness of that idea can be seen in folk tales and legends from around the world.[3] While being a variant of Luka, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon introduces Prince Lukaon from the main universe who perished when he was a child; this may imply that the Lukaon from Bayonetta 3 is also a variant of Prince Lukaon.

As a result of Singularity's erasure of numerous parallel worlds, resonance between the counterparts occurs, and Lukaon's power has an effect on Luka, and later, his blood relative Viola.[3]

Viola encounters Lukaon while lost in Ginnungagap. Not appearing to be a resident of Paradiso, Inferno, or the World of Chaos, he merely leaves behind mysterious words that leave it unclear if he was friend or foe before leaving Viola alone with her thoughts. However, he was later revealed to be the king of a group known as "faeries" that reside in a secluded corner of the human world, and a counterpart of Luka. Like Luka, he was guided by a voice in his head that compels all Arch-Adams to seek "the single truth", and he has travelled continuously between worlds.[3]

When he arrives in the Alphaverse, Lukaon regroups with Bayonetta after he rescues Luka from certain death. As the Alphaverse begins to collapse, Lukaon, sensing what must be done to stop Singularity, calls forth the remaining Arch-Adams, including himself, to merge with Luka. As a result of meeting Lukaon face to face, Luka is reawakened as "Arch-Adam Origin", granting him control of his Strider form to fulfil his true purpose and assist Bayonetta in defeating Singularity once and for all.

Dark Adam, Vengeful Revealer

Dark Adam is a tragic symbol and former counterpart of Luka who lived in the Alphaverse until being overtaken by malicious forces.

Once a soldier fighting to stop Singularity's plans for domination, he fell in battle and his body was destroyed - but his consciousness survived. Intent on getting revenge, he called out to other counterparts throughout the Multiverse but his thirst for vengeance drew only malevolence, and he was transformed into a thing of hate, his former emotions now gone.

Dark Adam's call of "the single truth" troubled Luka for years, eventually bringing him to Thule where Dark Adam was able to merge with Luka's body, which had just gained the power of the faerie. Dark Adam could be thought of as a polar opposite to Lukaon, with both of them vying for Luka, the Arch-Adam Origin, and imparting their own darkness and light.[3]

An Echo of Memory from his perspective suggests that Dark Adam is no longer sane or even lucid, and the mere act of viewing the Echo threatens to induce madness in whoever witnesses it.

Rosa is a variant from the Records of Time: The End Universe. She is identical to the main universe's Rosa, brandishing the Robes of Banishing and Unforgiven as her weapons of choice. She briefly fights alongside her daughter against the angelic hordes before the two are separated.

Rosa β4, The Witch of Steel

Rosa β4 is the mother of the Bayonetta counterpart encountered on the fourth parallel world that Bayonetta visited. Rosa β4 wears the Robes of Banishing as her original incarnation, but they are split into shades of red and blue to match Bayonetta β4's colour scheme when wielding Abracadabra. Instead of a butterfly mask, she wears a monocle akin to what Balder wears. In combat, Rosa β4 uses the Tartarus set of weapons and summons the Umbran Clock Tower as her chosen demon. She is also capable of summoning and piloting the Umbran Armor.

In her universe, Rosa is the first Papillon d'Ombre. With her daughter, she works to reclaim scattered Umbran treasures, making her way through the unseen corners of the world. Her magic power is much stronger than that of her daughter, and she could easily level an entire city were she so inclined.

Although she and her daughter are surprised by the persistence of Inspector Enzeau at every turn, they've come to view his attempts to catch them as a form of entertainment, and consider thinking of new ways to tease and torment him a guilty pleasure.[3]

When Bayonetta encounters her, Rosa β4 attacks without warning. Noticing that her eyes are glowing green and that a tether of light like those of the Homunculi is visible on her back, Bayonetta realizes that she is being mind-controlled by Singularity through a Perlucidus and must fight her to claim the Chaos Gear she possesses. Upon being defeated, Rosa β4's mind reasserts itself long enough to ask Bayonetta to kill her before Singularity can take control of her again. Bayonetta reluctantly does so and Rosa β4 thanks her as she dies, revealing that she recognized Bayonetta as her daughter's alternate self.

Masked Lumen is a variant of Balder from the Records of Time: The End Universe.

Visually, he has the exact same appearance, with a gold and white robe and golden mask. The mask loses a piece after a small fight with the Bayonetta from this universe, revealing that he possesses the Right Eye.

MC Enzo is a variant in the first parallel world that Bayonetta visits. Seen on the giant monitor within Shibuya, he is the host of a TV show alongside his co-host Rodin.

Enzo β2 is a variant in the second parallel world that Bayonetta visits. This Enzo is a soldier, briefly encountered shouting after Luka when the journalist staggers into him as he is carrying a ladder.

Unused files reveal that Enzo β2's title was meant to be The Talkative Soldier.[4]

Enzo β3 is not seen in person, a painting of this world's Enzo is visible in the third parallel world that Bayonetta and Viola visit.

Inspector Enzeau is a variant of Enzo in the fourth parallel world that Bayonetta visits.

An Interpol inspector who is assigned to catch Papillon d'Ombre and her partner-in-crime, Enzeau is constantly outwitted by Bayonetta β4 and Rosa β4 in his attempts to apprehend them.

Unused files reveal that Inspector Enzeau (Enzo β4)'s title was meant to be The Defective Detective.[4]

Connor Sigurd, Vanguard of the Resistance

Connor Sigurd is the man who led the anti-Singularity resistance on Viola's world, alongside that world's Bayonetta. He doesn't possess any special abilities, but his quick thinking and cool judgement have gotten him through countless difficult situations.

Among the members of the resistance group, he took a special interest in the still-immature Viola, treating her like family and supporting her outside of battle as well as on the field. However, heavily outnumbered by the enemy, his fellow soldiers were decimated and after leaving his final hopes with Viola and giving her the means to travel to another world, Sigurd himself succumbed to Singularity's attack that led to his death.[3]

Midmyers Sigurd, Student of the Multiverse

Midmyers Sigurd is a G.O.R.C scholar and scientist who has dedicated his life to researching the nature of the Multiverse, Sigurd was the first one to discover the nature of the World of Chaos, a world made up of multiple layered universes stacked up against each other. He began to research the Multiverse at a secret agency and subsequently discovered the existence of the Homunculi and their plans to erase all the others worlds of the Multiverse except for their own, the Alphaverse.

During his attempts to prepare for battle with Singularity, Sigurd managed to create a method of communication between worlds in the Multiverse and was able to contact his own Multiverse counterpart, resistance commander Connor Sigurd.[3] During this time, he was also made aware of the existence of the Chaos Gears, objects that would allow travel between universes. However, he was killed by Singularity, who assumed his identity and repurposed the real Sigurd's corpse as a nerve control center for the Aureole Homunculi.

Demons

Homunculi