Wakka is a twenty-four-year-old professional blitzball player, characterized by a long reddish-orange quiff, muscular body, and a Besaid Island accent (the real-world equivalent of which would be a Pacific Islander accent). As such, he uses such speech-mannerisms as saying "brudda" for "brother" and sometimes finishing sentences with "ya?". His name means "water" in Ainu. In addition to being one of Summoner Yuna's guardians and childhood friends, he is captain of the Besaid Aurochs, a blitzball team that – as of the beginning of Final Fantasy X – went twenty-three years (One of the Luca Goers says 'At least you broke the twenty-three-year streak' if you lose to them in the Finals Round at the Tournament) without winning a single game. He uses blitzballs as his weapons in battle. Wakka is one of the three players that can fight underwater.
Wakka is one of the first people to befriend Tidus after his arrival in the mainland of Spira, due both to his blitzball prowess and his resemblance to Wakka's deceased younger brother, Chappu. Chappu, Lulu's former lover, was killed in battle while using a machina weapon provided by the Al Bhed, and for this reason, Wakka's religious distaste of the Al Bhed hardened into a more personal grudge. Wakka's hatred of the Al Bhed slowly transforms from racism into respect during the course of Final Fantasy X, as he closely befriends one of their number (Rikku), learns that Yuna is half Al Bhed, and realizes the irrational nature of his prejudice. Despite his former mistrust of machina and the Al Bhed, he takes to their airship with few misgivings and also fights unquestioningly in their defense during an attack on their city on Bikanel Island. Wakka and Lulu develop a deeper relationship of their own, marrying one another in the six months that follow the end of Final Fantasy X. In Final Fantasy X-2, Wakka stresses over the responsibilities of being the father of Lulu's soon-to-be-born baby, claiming it is "tougher than fighting Sin". He names their son "Vidina"—the Al Bhed word for "future"—after he is born.
