Final Fantasy XVI Guide#
Final Fantasy XVI is an action RPG produced by Square Enix and developed by Creative Business Unit III. The series returns to a dark-fantasy foundation built on the themes of Eikons and crystals, putting cold political scheming, forbidden magic, and the extreme spectacle of giant Eikon battles on screen. This guide collects every main quest, side quest, Eikon ability, weapon and piece of equipment, and hidden collectible.
What Kind of Story Is This#
On the continent of Valisthea, nations have fought for centuries over the Mothercrystals, spires that channel aether out into the world. The realms keep one another in check through the power of Eikons, and the Dominants are the people who carry an Eikon inside them. The protagonist, Clive Rosfield, is the Dominant of the Phoenix — until court intrigue and conspiracy strip him of everything, sending him down a road of vengeance for his family and atonement for himself.
Guide Contents#
| # |
Section |
What it covers |
| 1 |
Beginner Basics |
Controls, difficulty, combat fundamentals |
| 2 |
Story Analysis |
Worldview, the full plot, political factions |
| 3 |
Characters |
Main cast, supporting cast, voice actors |
| 4 |
Combat System |
Combat styles, Magic Burst, precision dodge |
| 5 |
Weapons |
Every blade, crafted weapons, ultimate weapons |
| 6 |
Eikons |
All 8 Eikons, traits, abilities |
| 7 |
Abilities |
Ability list, best-ability ranking, builds |
| 8 |
Equipment |
Gear slots, accessories, upgrade materials |
| 9 |
Items |
Consumables, crafting materials, shop lists |
| 10 |
Boss Guides |
Boss fights, Eikon duels, bounty hunts |
| 11 |
Enemy Bestiary |
Regular enemies, elite enemies, elemental weaknesses |
| 12 |
Zone Exploration |
Every region, key locations, fast-travel points |
| 13 |
Quest Guide |
Main quests, side quests, missable quests |
| 14 |
Collectibles |
Rare books, curiosities, music rolls, and more |
| 15 |
Achievements |
Full achievement list and unlock methods |
| 16 |
Hidden Content |
Hidden bosses, secret weapons, Easter eggs |
| 17 |
DLC Content |
Echoes of the Fallen, The Rising Tide, new abilities |
| 18 |
Advanced Techniques |
Combat optimization, AP farming, money making |
| 19 |
New Game+ |
Final Fantasy mode, new gear, trials |
| 20 |
Endgame |
Endgame activities, Arcade Mode, completion checklist |
Game Overview#
| Item |
Detail |
| Release date |
PS5: June 22, 2023 |
| PC release date |
September 17, 2024 |
| Platforms |
PlayStation 5, PC (Steam) |
| Developer |
Creative Business Unit III, Square Enix |
| Director |
Hiroshi Takai |
| Producer |
Naoki Yoshida |
| Scenario |
Michael-Christopher Koji Fox, Shoji Maeda |
| Music |
Masayoshi Soken |
| Language support |
Simplified and Traditional Chinese interface and subtitles |
| Rating |
PEGI 18 |
| Length |
Main story about 35-50 hours; full completion about 70-100 hours |
Combat System in Detail#
Combat is real-time action, abandoning the series’ traditional turn-based “ATB” system:
| System |
How it works |
| Magic Burst |
Follow a landed melee hit with magic; cancel animations to chain combos together |
| Precision Dodge |
Dodge at the exact moment an attack lands to trigger slow motion and a counter window |
| Eikon switching |
Equip abilities from three Eikons and swap between them at any time in combat |
| Movement tech |
Combine sprint, precision sidesteps, and attacks to raise your mobility |
| Kill triggers |
Chain kills into your biggest abilities to keep the combo alive |
New players are advised to start with “Action Focused” mode on “Story” difficulty, then take on “Final Fantasy” difficulty once comfortable. Both modes can be switched at any point in the game.
Eikons and Abilities#
| Eikon |
Element |
Role |
| Phoenix |
Fire |
Early mainstay, close-range bombardment |
| Shiva |
Ice |
Freezing and slowing |
| Garuda |
Wind |
Aerial stance, can pull enemies in |
| Ramuh |
Lightning |
Chaining lightning grids |
| Bahamut |
Light |
High-damage charged attacks |
| Titan |
Earth |
Protection, resists interruptions |
| Odin |
Darkness |
A single heaven-cleaving slash |
| Leviathan |
Water |
Added with the DLC, tide control |
Each Eikon gives Clive its own set of abilities, unlocked and upgraded with Ability Points (AP). Arranging your three equipped Eikons well is the core of dealing damage.
Key Mechanics at a Glance#
- Eikon clash battles: duels between giant Eikons serve as the climactic set-piece boss spectacles.
- Progression: levels and Ability Point (AP) builds grow side by side, with talents cycling freely.
- Will Gauge: deplete an enemy’s will gauge to put it in a “Broken” stagger state, then pile on burst damage while it is downed.
- Episodic structure: clear chapter-by-chapter progression, with every stage visible at a glance.
Quest Content#
Main Quest Structure#
- The main story is split into stretches such as “liberating the domains” and “the royal coup,” with major resupply unlocks typically opening up zones chapter by chapter.
- Missable side quests are marked by chapter; unlocking the “Blackthorne the artisan” side quests early helps consolidate your progress.
Side Quests#
- Side stories round out the world while rewarding gear and favor.
- The Hunt Board system: clear the bounty list in batches for rare materials — a focused sweep every 2-3 chapters is recommended.
Key Features#
| Feature |
Detail |
| Fast real-time combat |
High mobility, long combos, relentless pace |
| The Eikon wars |
Cutscenes and battles push the narrative forward together |
| Mature storytelling |
A dark-fantasy epic of scheming and sacrifice |
| Open spaces |
Multi-zone exploration in a semi-open world |
FAQ#
| Question |
Answer |
| Does this guide cover the DLC? |
Yes — everything in Echoes of the Fallen and The Rising Tide |
| Which versions does it apply to? |
Both PS5 1.xx and PC 1.xx |
| Are hidden bosses covered? |
Yes, see the Hidden Content section |
| Do PC and PS5 controls differ? |
PC supports keyboard + mouse or controller; PS5 is controller only |
Quick-Start Tips#
- Pick a combat mode: newcomers should start with “Story Focused” together with auto-combos
- Spend skill points carefully: prioritize the Precision Dodge and Magic Burst ability lines first
- Side quests: unlock the Blackthorne and Moogle shop side quests as early as possible
- Eikon order: lean on Phoenix and Garuda in the early game; Titan and Bahamut arrive in the mid and late game
- Crafting first: do not skip crafting and upgrading your weapons and equipment
- Explore: every region hides treasure chests and stone-tablet trials
- Hunt Board: check the board promptly for rare materials
Version Record#
| Version |
Date |
Changes |
| 1.0 |
2024-09-17 |
First release, covering the full base game |
| 1.1 |
2024-10-15 |
Added a PC settings and optimization section |
| 1.2 |
2024-12-01 |
Added coverage of the “Echoes of the Fallen” DLC |
| 1.3 |
2025-03-20 |
Added coverage of the “The Rising Tide” DLC, corrected errors |
Recommended Reading Order#
| Step |
Section |
Best for |
| 1 |
Beginner Basics |
All new players |
| 2 |
Characters |
Players who want the story context |
| 3 |
Combat System |
Players who want to sharpen their play |
| 4 |
Eikons |
Players planning their builds |
| 5 |
Story Analysis |
Understanding the plot after clearing the game |
| 6 |
Weapons / Equipment / Items |
Crafting- and collection-focused players |
| 7 |
Bosses / Enemy Bestiary |
Read before challenging bosses |
| 8 |
Zone Exploration / Quest Guide |
Exploration and quest completion |
| 9 |
Collectibles / Achievements |
Perfectionist players |
| 10 |
Hidden Content / DLC |
Post-game content |
| 11 |
Advanced Techniques |
Players chasing mastery |
| 12 |
New Game+ / Endgame |
Second playthroughs and endgame |
Advanced Combat Tips#
- Learn “cancel and jump”: canceling melee recovery frames straight into magic is the foundation of high damage through timing gaps.
- Perfect dodges: put Bahamut’s abilities into a counter stance; consecutive perfect dodges trigger powerful automatic counters.
- Read the arena: adjust your positioning to each boss phase’s move patterns, space, and super-armor rhythm rather than sticking to one fixed formula.
Contributors#
| Role |
Name |
| Lead writer |
NTGame Guides Team |
| Copyediting |
FF16 community volunteers |
| Data verification |
Based on PC version 1.03 |
| Translation |
Bilingual natives |
This guide is based on the PC version released in September 2024 and covers all content through The Rising Tide DLC. In-game data is the final authority.
Playtime Reference#
| Goal |
Estimated time |
| Main story clear |
35-50 hours |
| Full collection |
70-100 hours |
| New Game+ run |
30-40 hours |
| All achievements |
80-100 hours |
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- Path of Exile 2 — a dark action RPG with deep ability-driven build-crafting
- The Last of Us Part I — a narrative-driven adventure of revenge and family
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Full Guides#
In-depth sub-guides — beginner basics, story analysis, characters, the combat system, weapons, Eikons, abilities, equipment, items, boss and enemy guides, zone exploration, quests, collectibles, achievements, hidden content, DLC, advanced techniques, New Game+, and endgame — are available in Chinese on NTGame’s Final Fantasy XVI section.
If you read Chinese, the DLC sub-guide there covers Echoes of the Fallen and The Rising Tide in full.